How to prepare for the end | Revelation 6:1-8

How to Prepare for the End | Revelation 6:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: How to prepare for the end

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-8

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

Last week: “How to Live in this world of suffering”
This week: “How to prepare for the end”

I. Intro

My dad died in 2014. He was in his 80s and died because of dementia. He forgot how to swallow. Watching him die like that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But because he knew the disease would eventually take him, he prepared himself financially, mentally, physically, relationally and spiritually. And when his brain forgot how to swallow, he started to die. But he knew that the best was yet to come. I realize that talking about God like this can get me canceled. When people don’t like what you’re saying, they want to just cancel instead of discuss and debate the issues. As a result, it’s getting riskier and riskier to speak truth—especially from the Bible. Yet Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney does so in the middle of the pandemic on a world-wide simulcast where he said the following:

“The best is not behind us. The best is yet to come, especially for those who know Jesus. I would not be able to do a positive summit and try to speak some hope and positivity if I did not say that because that is what I know. I know true peace and happiness comes from knowing Jesus. Jesus is the hope of the world. Always has been, always will be. The hope of the world is not a vaccine. It is not a politician. It is not some stimulus package. It is not any of those things. The hope of the world comes from knowing Jesus. That is what I believe and that is why I know that the best is yet to come.” -Dabo Swinney

https://www.powerofpositivesummit.com/

Where does the courage to say that and risk all he’s accomplished come from? Sheep among wolves, Luke 10:3Power of the resurrection, Phil 3:10How to prepare for what end? The end of my life or the end of the world? Yes, both. Because the answer is the same for both.

But he was ready. We talked about it often. He wasn’t wanting to leave this place but he was at peace about it whenever it happened. He’d trusted Christ at an early age.He’d led his family to follow Christ.He’d walked with Christ the best way he knew how.He’d had the important conversations while he was still thinking well. Hospice was called in when it was time.He was prepared for the end. Are you prepared for the end yet?

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.

Let’s dive into the 5th and 6th seals. The 7th seal is the 7 Trumpets (judgments) we’ll learn about in the weeks to come.

II. The 5th Seal—Martyrs (6:9-11)

A. What’s a martyr? Martyr = witness. So a Christian martyr is someone willing to be a witness even if it kills them in the process.

B. Why were these people martyred? Because they were faithful to the word of God (Proclaim Jesus), and Because they were faithful to the testimony (Embody Jesus).Does your life do these 2 things?

C. They want vengeance, justice and vindication. After all, they died for loving God and loving people like Jesus did/does.

D. Vengeance is God’s job—not ours.

E. God’s character—holy and true.F. God’s method—sovereign and always on time.lG. Future martyrs? Church of Smyrna and us.

III. 6th Seal—The End. (6:12-17)

A. Common throughout scripture to be cosmic, cataclysmic destruction. Could be literal.Could be symbolic. No less real either way. Goal is to lead people to repent and believe. People would rather die than...

B. ...Face God and the wrath of the Lamb.

C. The great leveling begins. God’s justice and mercy are for all no matter your station or status in life.

D. What about you? What are you putting your hope in for your deliverance in the end? Politicians? World leaders? Scientists? Wealthy people? The Military?

Application
How do we prepare for the end?

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.

Share story of Nigerian funeral

Decide if my faith is worth living for. If it’s worth living for, then it’s worth dying for. Saturate your mind and heart with scripture daily. Memorize it as if you might have to live without a printed copy one day. Pray like you might be martyred one day. Proclaim Jesus daily. Embody Jesus daily.

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it.We do this daily as we Proclaim & Embody Jesus.

Let’s pray.

Other notes:

How to Love

Four bullets hit Pope John Paul II – two of them lodging in his lower intestine, the others hitting his left hand and right arm. This assassination attempt on the Pope in May 1981 left him severely wounded and with considerable blood loss – his health was never the same again. In July 1981, the perpetrator, Ali Ağca, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Pope John Paul II asked people to pray ‘for my brother Ağca, whom I have sincerely forgiven’.

Two years later, he was to take the hand of Ali Ağca, then in prison, and quietly tell him that he had forgiven him for what he had done (even though his would-be killer had not asked for forgiveness). He developed a friendship over the years, meeting Ağca’s mother in 1987 and his brother a decade later. In June 2000 Ağca was pardoned by the Italian President at the Pope’s request. In February 2005 Ağca sent a letter to the Pope wishing him well. When the Pope died on 2 April 2005, Ağca’s brother, Adrian, gave an interview saying that Ağca and his entire family were grieving and that the Pope had been a great friend to them.

Pope John Paul II’s response of love and mercy is exemplary. God’s love and mercy is even more extraordinary because ‘At the cross of Jesus, pardon is complete. Love and justice mingle, truth and mercymeet.’

How to Make the Most of Your Life

‘People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like,’ writes Shane Claiborne in his book The Irresistible Revolution. ‘Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery, like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget – her feet. Her feet were deformed.

Each morning I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. One day a Sister explained, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.” Years of loving her neighbour as herself deformed her feet.’

When people are asked about the person whose life they most admire, so often the answer is ‘Mother Teresa’. She made the most of her life. It is a paradox, because her life was a life of self-denial, taking up her cross and following Jesus.

Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 56 • Devotional

Motivated by the Risen Jesus | Revelation 1:9-20

Motivated by the Risen Jesus | Revelation 1:9-20

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: Motivated by the Risen Jesus...

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

Last week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

This week’s title: Motivated by the Risen Jesus...

Last week’s Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word will be blessed by the Lord.”

Summarizing some of my thoughts lately...

1. We see the risen Jesus in all his glory and are motivated to trust and obey. (Rev 1:9-20)

2. When we trust and obey, we’re blessed beyond imagination. (Rev 1:1-8)

3. And finally, we’re blessed to be a blessing to others around the corner and around the world. (The Bible)

We’ll focus on 1 today.

This week’s main idea: “The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches. The incomparable glory of the risen Christ motivates John’s audience to heed what John has been commissioned to write. The matchless splendor of Heaven’s King attracts the attention and compels the obedience of the churches John addresses.” -Hamilton

My Bottom line: When we (the Church) see the risen Jesus today, we’ll be super motivated to trust and obey.

Illustration: (Cf. With Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-8) Isaiah went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am” in a very short time. How long would it take for you to surrender all to Jesus and let him send you wherever to do whatever? How long would it take for you to give Jesus a blank check? Not long if you see him as he is today.

I hope your motivation for trusting and following Jesus will recalibrated today. Checked against the standard. The standard is truth and God’s word.

Why are you following Jesus?

Why are you following Jesus the way you are following Jesus? (Half-heartedly vs wholeheartedly)

I. Introduction: Story + Summary (Doignetus)

II. John’s situation and Commission to write (1:9-11)

III. John’s description of the risen Jesus (1:12-16)

IV. Jesus asserts his authority and commissions John to write (1:17-20)

V. Conclusion: Summary + Story + Application + Vision

Opening story/illustration

Diognetus about Christians to Mathetes (Hamilton, pp. 32-33, 37)

1:9-20 “John’s vision of the risen Christ”

I. “John’s situation and commission to write”

“Unlike the Roman Empire, which is promised peace but delivered brutality and fear, the Kingdom of God promises tribulation and delivers peace and confidence and eternal salvation to those who patiently endure.” Hamilton, Pp. 43-44

“Make no mistakes about it: Your best life is not now. Your best life will begin when the skies are split by the shout of the archangel.” Hamilton, p. 44

Churches listed in order an itinerant preacher would visit them beginning at Island of Patmos (where John was exiled) and moving around Asia Minor.

These cities seemed to be natural centers of communication for itinerant ministry and 7 focal cities with respect to the church’s organization and distribution.

• all but Thyatira had temples dedicated to emperors

• all but Philadelphia and Laodicea lead imperial priests and altars

Note, though an apostle, John shared in the suffering of the church.

John shares why he writes Revelation: Because Jesus told him to!

Read 3rd paragraph in Hamilton, p. 45–it’s powerful!

This is meant to motivate the Church to gladly submit to the word of the risen Christ! This will become clear in chapters 2-3.

1:12-26 “John’s description of the risen Jesus”

• Jesus described in priestly terms

  • References to Zechariah 4

  • 7 lamp stands point to the presence of God in the tabernacle and temple; hence priestly terms

  • Like a priest, Jesus calls the churches to repentance (Chs 2-3)

  • Jesus’ clothing points to a heavenly high priest

• Jesus described in kingly terms

  • References to Daniel 7

  • “Like a son of man” is kingly/messianic term

  • Jesus receives an eternal kingdom (Dan 7 & 10); cf. Rev 1:6 & 9

2 major influences on John’s first vision:

1. The letters to the churches—When you compare Revelation 1 with Revelation 2-3 you see Jesus described the same way

2. The vision of Daniel in ch. 10.

   1. Revelation is fulfilling Daniel’s vision in Daniel 10

   2. When you compare Revelation 1 with Daniel 10 you see Jesus described the same way

   3. Jesus is unveiled as deity in Rev 1:14 in describing like Ancient of Days (reference to God the Father)

“Eyes like a flame of fire” 1:14

3 implications of his blazing eyes:

1. No sin that we commit will escape his notice,

2. He will see every faithful thing his people do, and

3. He will note every injustice done to his people by their enemies.

“Feet like burnished bronze, refined” points to the absolute purity of Jesus.

“Powerful voice” = communicating authority this is to be obeyed. His voice is to drown out other voices that would call you away from true faith and holiness that marks those who truly know God.

Sometimes he does speak in a still, small voice. But there are times when he wants to drown out everything else.

Are you listening? To whom?

3 more...

7 Stars - messengers of 7 churches (Angels, not pastors). Jesus holds in right hand = he is in control

sword in mouth - symbolically Jesus will speak decisive words of judgment.

“Face like the sun” - painful brightness of the sun shining full strength, on which we can’t look

“The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches.”

1:17-20 “Jesus asserts his authority and commissions John to write”

John literally blown away by God’s glory in Jesus. No power on earth does this.

Jesus doesn’t leave John. He tells him not to be afraid. Why?

Because he lives forever and holds the keys of death and hell. That is, he defeated death and the cross as seen in the resurrection.

Jesus is terrifying in his holiness. We should tremble, humble ourselves and repent of our sin before him. But no need to fear for our own lives if we repent and we trust him for he empowers us to live with him forever.

Jesus among 7 lamp stands = Jesus is present in and with his church.

Conclusion:

John’s situation and commission is to write down this vision (Revelation), which includes this powerful description of Christ himself in all his glory so that we will rightly be motivated to 1) Worship Jesus, and 2) Obey him.

“Jesus reveals himself to John the way he does to compel John’s audience to

1. Heed the 7 letters he is about to dictate to John about the present, and to

2. Convince them of the truth of...the end of history in Chs 4-22.” -Hamilton

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Trust God to Put Things Right

Pippa and I enjoy doing crosswords together. When we are stuck on one clue we don’t give up, we move on to the next clue. Every time we find an answer it helps us in resolving some of the other clues. In the end, we are sometimes able to solve most of the puzzle.

In a way, reading some of the difficult parts of the Bible is like trying to solve a crossword puzzle. Rather than getting bogged down in a tricky section, you can use the passages you do understand to help you resolve some of the more difficult ones.

Often I find it hard not only to understand some of the difficult passages in the Bible, but also to understand why certain things are happening in our world. There seems to be so much injustice. There are no easy answers.

I love the second great rhetorical question from yesterday’s passage, ‘Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ (Genesis 18:25). One thing that you can be sure about is that on the last day, when all is revealed, you will see God’s perfect judgment – and everyone will say, ‘That is absolutely right.’ Each of today’s passages tells us something about the fact that, in the end, God will put things right.