Download ppt - Vintage revelation 10.12.14

whchurch.org/sermons

Revelation 1:9-11I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation andthe kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Revelation 1:12-15Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man (Dan 7:13)

clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.

Revelation 1:16-18In His right hand he held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (“…all that goes with it).”

Revelation 1:19-20 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

NUMBERS THAT AREN’T NUMBERS…#3 God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit; holy, holy, holy; etc.)

#3 God

#4 Creation (Four corners of the earth…)

NUMBERS THAT AREN’T NUMBERS…

#3 God

#4 Creation

#6 Imperfection, falling short (666 = falling short of divinity; Nero)


#3 God

#4 Creation

#6 Imperfection, falling short

#7 Perfection (Rev 5:12 = Angels sing 7 attributes of the Lamb)


#3 God

#4 Creation


#7 Perfection

#12 OT = Israel; NT = Apostles; In Rev = God’s covenant people


#3 God

#4 Creation


#7 Perfection

#12 God’s covenant people

#24 Continuity of God’s covenant people throughout history


REVELATION 1-3#7 Perfection, full divinity

- John sees Jesus w/7 stars, lampstands, etc. Jesus tells us they represent angels & the Churches, which also represent the Church in all space/time; one minute they’re in His right hand, the next that same hand is touching John)

REVELATION 5#7 Perfection, full divinity

- The lamb has 7 horns, eyes & 7-fold spirit of God His complete divine power, knowledge & wisdom


- The angles sing 7 praises to the Lamb Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!

11 22 33

44 55 66

77


- The lamb opens 7 seals The complete, definitive judgment of God which is totally & completed sealed until someone who is WORTHY to open it is found

Revelation 7:1-4After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying…

Revelation 7:1-4“Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel…


The question is:- WHO are these 144,000?!- Do we take that # literally?!

Revelation 7:9-12After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9-12And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”


- 12 (“Israel”) x 12 (“Apostles”) = 144 (Covenant Community)



- 10 x 10 x 10 (God’s wholeness) = 1,000 (Huge military regiment)




- 144 (Covenant Community) x 1,000 = 144,000




- 144 (Covenant Community) x 1,000 = 144,000- 144,000 = God’s people in all space/time

THE KINGDOM IS AVAILABE TO ALL!- It’s not available for a select few based on:

* Race or ethnic heritage* Gender* Wealth or social status* Intellectual capacity* Physical health

THE KINGDOM IS AVAILABE TO ALL!- It’s not available for a select few based on:

* Being “good enough” on their own* Being “perfect” in legalistic righteousness* Being literally celibate for life

VERNARD ELLER“Some preachers (say), ‘Don’t you want to be sealed in the 144,000?! You had better get with it… Remember, the competition is stiff – only 144,000!... These interpreters make the number speak of God’s salvation as exclusive, elitist, prohibitive, and impossible; but John wanted the number to speak of the generosity, expansiveness and lavishness of that salvation!”

THE KINGDOM IS AVAILABE TO ALL!The question today is:

* Are you willing to join the self-sacrificial army?* Are you willing to trust & follow the Lamb?* Are you willing to live under the banner

of His love & victory?* Are you willing to at least take a step closer to Him in your heart & mind, to get to know Him & His extended family?