Bartow Baptist Church 

Revelation 1

According to Jewish tradition, John was exiled to the Isle of ____________, because he was preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ...

This book is called 'Revelation' and it is a literal apocalypse, a literal ______________.

The first verse tells us that this revelation is given to the apostle John to show to God's servants, the bond-slaves of Jesus Christ...

Verse 2tells us that John is testifying to the _________ of ______ and writes down everything God reveals to him.

In verse 3 there is a great blessing promised to those who read and hear and take to heart this book...

With this blessing and a curse it lets us know that it is not just future prophecy; but ________________ for our everyday Christian lives...

Verse 4 lets us know that this revelation was given to John to deliver to _________ churches..."John to the seven churches that are in Asia:"

Verse 4 and verse 8 say that He has ______________ existed... from Him who is and who was and who is to come..."I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

John 1:1-3; 1 John 1:1; 1 John 2:13; Revelation 19:13; Colossians 1:15-17

Verse 5affirms Jesus' _________________.

Verse 5 also affirms Jesus' _________________ and the ___________ of the cross.

Verse 6 affirms that all __________ belongs to Him.

Verse 7 affirms His ____________ coming.   

Verse 10 John says he was in the _____________.

It is the standard, for believers, that they are in that sense "in the spirit", that is, ______, _______________ and __________ by the Spirit of God.   Romans 8:14; John 14:16-17

He was in the Spirit in the sense that the Spirit of inspiration and illumination and revelation had come into his life and upon his soul in a special way. He was in the spirit of ____________________; which means that he speaks God's message to the people, under the influence of the Divine Spirit.

Second; while in the Spirit, John says he heard a loud voice behind him...verse 10 and 15.

And the voice told John in verse 11 to "Write in a book what you see, 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."

Third John saw the Glorious ______ of _______...Verses 12-16

John first sees seven golden lampstands...But they do not hold his attention because there is something else supremely attractive. It isn't the church itself in the candlesticks that holds his attention, it is the sight of the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees Him in the midst, and it is the vision of the ______________ Savior that most captivates John...              

The book of Revelation is first and foremost a revelation of the ___________ of the Lamb and in almost every chapter we will see the Majesty of Christ, as the one who is the Lord of history, in whom all of human history is to find its meaning and at last its consummation.

Verse 13 references His __________________; "He was like a son of man"   Daniel 7:13-14

Verse 14 is a reference to His ______________; "His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. Daniel 7:9; Psalm 51:7; Revelation 3:14

Verses 15 and 16is a reference of His _______________ and ________________; His feet were like burnished bronze...His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

And where does John see this Exalted Christ? 

Verse 13..."In the middle of seven golden lampstands"  

Verse 20 lets us know that these "Seven lampstands are the seven churches"

These represent the Christian church and therefore the risen Christ is in the ____________ of His church. Matthew 18:20

We need to understand that Christ is present not because we have certain feelings or that there is some kind of atmosphere in a meeting or by any human engineering or concoction do we know that Christ is in a certain place.

He has promised, always to be in the midst of His churches, so in His Churches you will find the ______________.

When John saw the exalted splendor of Christ Verse 17 says that John was overwhelmed by the Lord and the light of His face.  All the strength drains out of his body and he collapses prostrate before the Lord...John falls _______________.

Whenever we come in contact with God in the Spirit; it will ALWAYS cause us to feel in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ. Exodus 3:4-6; Isaiah 6

Just as these men were in a reverential fear of the Holiness of God...John falls at His feet as _________, impotent, defenseless, possessed by a total dread because he has looked into something that he found to be utterly threatening, different from any other being whom he had approached in his life.

He does not fall on his back and laugh idiotically.

He falls on his face before the Exalted and Holy God.

As John falls with adoration toward Christ; he is comforted by the touch of the Master...

Verses 17-19 "He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things"

Deuteronomy 31:6 says to "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble...for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

These verses also let us know why we need to fear God; it's because; He has the keys of death and of Hades" 

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:28; "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"

http://www.4shared.com/audio/h3Z050vj/Revelation_1.html

Revelation 2-3

(pt. 1)

The first message is to the church of _____________...

John first lets the church know that God knew their deeds...Hebrews 4:13

Ephesus is a church that has ___________________ its first love...And because they had left; God calls them to remember their first love and repent...

Where this church used to love the things of the Lord; now it loves the ____________.  And for that reason they are in danger of judgment.

Because the church of Ephesus had left the love of Christ; they MUST ____________ in order to escape the judgment of God...

The second message is to the church of ______________...

Here was a congregation thinking about everything that might happen, and all the possibilities of what they were going to suffer with imprisonment and persecution; they were in the sin of worrying.  We can dwell on so much of what might happen in the future and become overanxious and depressed.

We need to understand that Christ is the King of the present as well as the future.           Romans 8:28

The third message is to the church of ____________________...

The problem of this church was "_______________" that is they were tolerating "heretical doctrine" to be taught in the congregation of God's House.       Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1-2

Again, because of the sins committed by the church, God calls them to repentance.

The fourth message is to the church of ______________...

The problem this church had was one of __________________.  They were tolerating the teachings of a self-made prophetess.

This is not so much a doctrinal error but immorality tolerated in the church. Here is the pulpit being offered to the adulterer, or today, to the practicing _________________ or ____________ claiming to be "prophetesses" and pastors.

This enemy, Jezebel was not the literal Jezebel of the Old Testament, but a woman that was teaching the sins of Jezebel.  She led the nation of Israel into sexual immorality.  She taught that, as long as you did not actually deny God, it was okay to be involved in all of these other functions...

And that is what's going on in the church of Thyatira; She taught that, as long as you did not actually deny Christ, it was okay to be involved in all of these other functions...

God always has a remnant.  Romans 9:27; Romans 11:5

The fifth message is to the church of ________________...

This was a church that seems to be alive but is really ____________.

Only Christ knows the true heart and motives of the church. He knows if there is life, and purity and strength. He knows when all a church possesses is a reputation.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/Jmqc_-2Q/Revelation_2-3.html

Revelation 2-3 (pt. 2) & 4

John begins by telling us that there was a door standing open in heaven. That is a door of __________________ through which the apostle could see into paradise.

What John sees is a throne set up in heaven with someone sitting on it.

John has a tremendous vision of God Sovereignly Reigning from His Throne.

While this door to heaven is open John says he hears "the first voice which he had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with him, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."

I believe in the rapture, but this is a week argument for two reasons...

First the term _______________ is not found in the Old Testament...Mark, Luke, John...2 Timothy, Titus, Peter's three epistles or 1st and 2nd John...

Second they take this "Come up here" as a literal removal from earth to heaven; But John says in verse 2 "Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.  Revelation 1:10

John describes God sitting on the Throne..."like a jasper stone"  and "a sardius in appearance"...These two descriptions present God as a Prince in His Royal _____ Robe...

And behind the throne was "a rainbow like an emerald in appearance" representing the calm before the storm; _____________ in color and soothing to the heart and the soul...

The thunder and lightning is the reaction of the throne toward sin. It's a picture of the operations of the ____________________ of God... Exodus 19:16;

In verse 6 John sees a calming in the center of the Throne; "before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne"                                                                                                                               

This sea is like glass/crystal. It's calm. It's peaceful.

In front of the Temple there was a golden laver filled with water and this water was used for purification rites. It was commonly known as the "_______."

In the rest on verse 6 John sees "four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind" and he describes them in verse 7 and the first part of verse 8 "The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within;

Here John is echoing the Cherubim given by the prophet Ezekiel.  Ezekiel 1:5-10

And these creatures day and night did not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE Lord GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."    Isaiah 6:2-3

The words "Holy, holy, holy," remind us of the absolutely truth and honor of the ________________________ of God. God will be as righteous, as righteous can be.

Verses 9 and 10; the creatures give _____________ to God..."the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, 

Verse 11 they recognize that God is ______________..."Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."

Again this is temple language...They all serve in the temple; they are all from the people and they come to God on behalf of the people, and they all do what John did on Patmos, they fall down and ____________________ the one who sits on the throne and give him glory, and honor and power...

http://www.4shared.com/audio/8Le6XWqh/Revelation_2-3__pt_2___4.html

Revelation 5

John starts by telling us of his vision of a "_____________ Sealed Scroll"                      Revelation 5:1; "I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals"

In the Bible, the “right hand” always symbolizes ___________ and _________________. Exodus 15:6; Psalm 20:6; Colossians 3:1; Matthew 26:64

This scroll; John tells us; is "written inside and on the back" which represents its completeness.

A seal was usually wax softened and dripped on a document to keep its contents hidden from the eyes of anyone for whom it was not intended.

The number seven in the Scripture symbolizes _____________________ and the contents of the scroll are hidden from the view of anyone who is not worthy and able to open the seals...

In verses 2 and 3 John "saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it"

So John sees a strong angel who challenges all of creation: "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"

Here is your challenge _____________ hosts, are you worthy?      no one in heaven

Here is your challenge _____, are you worthy?                           no one on the earth

Here is your challenge ___________ are you worthy?           no one under the earth

No one in all of creation is worthy or able to open the scroll...John 1:1; Colossians 1:17

And this was disturbing to John; so disturbing that in verse 4 "he began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;

John weeps because no one can be found to take the scroll and open it, and reveal the counsel of God to the Church.

Then John receives the good news...Verse 5 "one of the elders said, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."      Romans 8:34

The One who is worthy is the Un-____________ Son and He is introduced as:“…the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah...”

Who is this LION?  Genesis 49:1-2; 8-10

The One who is worthy to break the seals is the "Lion that is from the tribe of Judah" and "the Root of David"  Isaiah 11:1-2; verse 10; Romans 15:7-13;Zechariah 3:8

The dynasty of David was to have an eternal destiny that could only be realized in One who at the same time can be called David’s ______ and David’s __________.              Matthew 22:41-45

When John looks to see the One who has come to open the scroll and break its seals he sees not a Lion but a _________!

Revelation 5:6-7"I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne"

John sees a Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God.

The Lamb who was slain is ___________________ [seven horns] and ___________________ [seven eyes] and is completely filled with the seven Spirits of God [the Holy Spirit]thus John seesa complete and perfect Spirit of God.

The One worthy to open the seals is "the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David...and here as "a Lamb standing, as if slain"   Hebrews 9:22; Isaiah 53:7

Christ comes as the only One worthy to open the Book in the sense in which He is presented as the Lion, the Root of David, and the Lamb of sacrifice.

The lion of Judah indicates the all-conquering nature of this royal tribe...As the Sovereign God...The mention of David brings into view the royal line which culminated in Christ ‘in whom the race of David lived anew’...God as the Christ man...and the Supreme ___________________; the Lamb of God.

Immediately when Christ took the scroll from the right hand of God; the result was worship...

Verse 8When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

The harp was and is an instrument of ______________; Psalm 33:1-3; Psalm 43:4

The bowls of incense area symbol of prayer for the saints.  Psalm 141:2

How were they offering their worship...Verses 9 and 10..."they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

They sang a “new song” never before heard in creation: it is the song of ___________________:

John says that “they will reign upon the earth." 

While John is listening to the elders and the saints of heaven celebrating the worthiness of the Lamb, his attention is drawn away as he hears others in heaven celebrating...

Verses 11 and 12; I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

John hears the ____________ join in the song.  They can't experience redemption; but they have a great interest in its meaning. They have no sins to be forgiven, but their security ____________ equally with ours on the ________________ of the Lamb – to break open the seals...

And they sing with the elders..."Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

1 Peter 1:10-12; As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

1 Peter 3:22…___________ who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Then in verses 13 and 14 John makes it personal to the saints on earth; then; now and in the future..."every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,
"To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." And the four living creatures kept saying, " Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.

This is not universalism, even those who die in unbelief; ______ ______________ will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father...Philippians 2:5-11

So we are to understand that when all of God’s purpose is consummated, that all creation will acknowledge that God is the Creator and that He is merciful and He is just. 

God is and will be worshipped as ______________. 

The Lion and the Lamb of the OT is on the throne at the right hand of God and only He is worthy to open the seven sealed scroll.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/zbSQ2vyy/Revelation_5.html

Revelation 6

The first four seals contain the __________________ of Christ on the earth.

John uses the term “Come and See”; to identify the ___________ of Christ.

Psalm 66:5; Psalm 46:8

In verse 2; Who is the rider of the white horse?  It is none other thanChrist.

He is the conqueror and He is on His White Horse.   Revelation 19:11

The white horse represents ____________.  Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18

The bow represents the conquering tool.  Genesis 27:3

And the throne represents ________________ and kingship...Revelation 3:21

Verses 3-8 deal with the other three horsemen.

They are sent out with the authority of Christ to do His will in the execution of His judgments of this wicked world.  Revelation 6:8

This figure of speech is taken from the OT prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 14:21; Jeremiah 14:11-12

In verse 4 a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take _______________ from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.  

The mention of the “fourth part of the earth” refers to the scope of the Roman Empire which was oppressing the Church at that time. 

Verses 5 and 6 mention a balance or scales in the hand of the rider of the apocalyptic famine...

We find the connection to the Old Testament in 2 Kings 7:1 which refers to the famine during the siege of Samaria.  This deliverance under Elisha is a type of the apocalyptic deliverance of the people of God. 

The wheat and barley, the oil and the wine, of Revelation 6 symbolize _______________ Values.  The wicked will be restrained and those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.

The name of the fourth horseman in verse 8 is Death, and Hades [_____] followed him.  Revelation 1:17-18; Revelation 20:13-14

Hades [hell] in the New Testament only refers to dead sinners, Not Believers.

Luke 16:23; Revelation 20:13

Hades appears to be the place of torment for the ____________ that are held there until the final judgment.

The fifth seal shows the nature of the Church’s witness down through the ages...

The Church is an army of martyrs.  We are at a time in the progression of the history that Christianity is fair game for ridicule and slander.  Any kind of religious talk and symbolism is permitted except that of _____________________.  It is the souls of martyred saints that are seen under the altar. Martyrdom is being ready to suffer for Christ and knowing that we are but sinners and we are subject to tribulation.  John 16:31-33; Hebrews 11:35-38

In verse 10 we have a Cry for ______________________ from these saints...Again this is symbolic language.  Christians are instructed not to seek vengeance by their own devices.  Romans 12:17-21

As did the blood of righteous Abel cried out for vengeance; the blood of martyred saints cries out for vengeance.  Genesis 4:8-10

In verse 11 we see ____________ Robes for the Righteous Dead.

The message for the believer is that no matter how he/she dies, whether by martyrdom or some other way they will enter into a state of rest and ___________.

The martyred saints are told to rest for a "little while longer"...

There will be no consciousness of the passing of time in eternity.  While all the mystery of God is completed they wait in their white robes as a symbol of innocence before God.

Verse 12 "Is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus"   Mark 13:13

That is really what the Book of Revelation is all about.  ________________ in the face of persecution...

The Sixth Seal is not the end of the world but we are getting close. 

The earthquake, the hiding of the sun, the blood red tint of the moon, the falling of the stars describes events that cannot be about the actual earth.

These are warnings of the _____________________ to come.

Peter gives a true description of the end of the cosmic creation: 2 Peter 3:10-13

We also have Joel's Pentecostal Prophecy: Joel 2:30-32

This is the prophecy quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:16-21

The rolling up of the heaven in verse 14 is a continuation of the symbolism of the preceding verse.

When the culmination of all God's decrees are completed; the world as we know it will be rolled up like a scroll.  But there is one irresistible force which drives through the history of the world and it's the ____________ of God.

The entire picture in verses 15 and 16 shows how the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, are listed in the same condemnation with ordinary citizens, in the universal terror when the Lord arises to shake terribly the earth.

Earthquake, wind and fire are no respecters of persons, and often the greatest are the first to face the judgment.

These are those who are trying to escape the judgment of God and they cry out to the mountains; "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb"

This action was prophesied in the Old Testament:  Isaiah 2:19; Hosea 10:8

And New Testament the words of Christ...Luke 23:27-30

Verse 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

http://www.4shared.com/audio/aGTz_QVQ/Revelation_6.html

Revelation 7:1-8  (pt. 1)

In the first part of Verse 1, "Four ___________" are seen "standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth" 

The “four angels” are the agents of the holy judgments of God about to be released against the wicked people who oppose God and His people.

__________ is the number of universality as used elsewhere in Scripture. Daniel 7:2

This destructive wind is under the control of Almighty God, not “Mother Nature”!

In the rest of Verse 1 the angelic powers are commanded to hold back the four winds, “so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree” until the sealing of the elect is complete.

The ____________ is a symbol of mankind as a whole.  The name ADAM in Hebrew means “Red Earth”.  Jeremiah 22:29

The _______ represents the nations of the world, usually wicked ones.  Isaiah 57:20-21

_______ in the symbolism of prophecy represent kings, rulers, emperors, and tyrants. Psalm 1:1-3

The tree is a symbol of the power of this world: take the case of Nebuchadnezzar’s terrifying dream in the book of Daniel.  Daniel 4:10-11; 18-22; 34-35

Before the four winds of the earth are released by God to bring His judgment; the elect of God must be sealed.  Revelation 7:2-3

To help us understand the symbolic language of John’s vision here in Revelation, let’s turn to the Old Testament to Ezekiel 9:2-6.

Six ‘men’, are agents of God’s judgment against the rebellious city of Jerusalem but before the judgment is released there is a mark on the foreheads.

Just as the man with the writing case symbolized the care of God for His elect, and has made a mark on the foreheads of God’s faithful, so is the seal on the foreheads is symbolic in the sealing of the elect in Revelation 7.

The term “_________” in Revelation 7 is the same as the sealing of the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

This seal is a sign of __________________ for the redeemed of God.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/Cazkl2MD/Revelation_7_1-8--pt1.html

Revelation 7:1-8 (part 2)

“What is the 144,000?”

Perhaps no other part of the Book of Revelation is more basic to a correct understanding of this wonderful book. If we are able to grasp how the apostle, through the Holy Spirit, calls on the OT and uses what would be known about the history of the tribes of Israel and how he alters the order of the names and the terms that he employs to produce this prophecy in symbolic language we will be able to read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy [Chapter 1:3].

What do we mean by symbolic language? We simply mean that most of the things in this Book, such as the names of the “tribes of the children of Israel”, are not meant to be taken as the names of the literal twelve tribes but that they stand for something else.

Likewise, we mean that a number like “144,000” is not to be taken absolutely as 144,000, but it is a symbolic number of 12 times 1000 times 12 which stands for all of the redeemed of all time.

Twelve is the number of the Church in the OT and the NT.

The twelve and the twelve: the twelve tribes in the OT and the twelve apostles in the NT. Thus we have 24 elders – the twelve and the twelve.                                               Revelation 4:2-4 John said he “was in the Spirit; and a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads”                                                                   

Those who interpret the 144,000 literally have this number as an absolute number of those who are saved, either Jews or Jehovah’s Witnesses or some other group claiming exclusive merit by God. Further they interpret the “great multitude which no one could number” [verse 9 ff] to be a different set of people from the 144,000.

A correct understanding of this Book is further complicated by those who interpret it literally by either putting the events of this Book far back in time, having all been completed in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, or by putting the events after chapter three far out in the future in a “millennium.”     

Either way, the result is that they render this Book as having no practical meaning for you as you sit here and ponder what is happening in a world gone mad threatened by terrorists and pandemic disease and category five hurricanes and all manner of uncomfortable things you may be called on to endure.

As a believer in Jesus Christ please do not allow the comfort intended for you in the spiritual meaning of the 144,000 to be taken from you. 

This Book was written for your comfort and assurance that Jesus Christ is victorious over all of the enemies of the Church and that if you are a child of God you are among the 144,000!

The 144,000 is the perfect number known only to God and it is the number of the redeemed of God in all the ages from Adam to the last one of God’s elect is saved by grace immediately before the end of this present age.

That is the theme of chapter seven: The sealing [preservation] of the elect Church of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the ages as God pours out judgments on this evil world.

The key principle of interpretation of the Book of Revelation is given in              Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near”

What meaning could this word of encouragement have for John’s readers if all of what John saw after chapter 3 was some 2000 years and more off in the future, and was not intended for them anyway? 

In the Revelation John calls on the OT.

When you read your Bible please do not neglect the OT. Far too many Christians have been taught that the OT has little or no use for a NT believer. That is bad counsel and very harmful instruction.

About two-thirds of the NT is commentary on the OT. If you read a little in both the OT and the NT on the same day you will be surprised at how often what you read in the NT will be about something that you have just read about in the OT. That will happen without a reading schedule that deliberately associates the OT and the NT.

Here in Verse 4; John “_________” the number of those who were sealed,  But in Verse 9; John SEES…HE “____________” a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes”    

They accept verses 1-3 as being symbolic and then by no rule of interpretation; except by their own preconceived system; they insist that the 144,000 is a literal number?  There is no interpretational reason to make a distinction between the 144,000 of verse 4 and the great multitude of verse 9.

Nowhere in the Old or New Testament will you find a distinction being made between Jewish and Gentile believers [___________] based on their race or status. Romans 10:11-13; Romans 3

The idea so popular today is the Church is not to be found in the Old Testament and that the Church will be “raptured” out before the “great tribulation” is purely arbitrary and goes against rational rules of interpretation.

There is an important principle of interpretation that we need to understand; it is the New Testament ___________         the Old Testament and not the other way around.

There is a marvelous statement made by Peter in Acts 15:11 which makes it clear. Look at the order of Peter’s words. “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we [we _______] shall be saved in the same manner as they [the _______________].”

There is only one Savior and everyone who is saved has been saved the same way, by ___________ through faith.  Ephesians 4:4-6; Psalm 68:18

Abraham’s seed was Christ.  Galatians 3:16

The natural seed of Abraham was never the subject of the promise…Romans 9:6-8;        Galatians 6:15-16

http://www.4shared.com/audio/P3KSKVPZ/Revelation_7_1-8__part_2_.html

                                   Revelation 7:9-17                                                                                       

Most Bible believing saints fall into one of two groups...

One group has been taught that this scene in Revelation 7:9-17 concerns a horrific “great tribulation” that is yet to come and that its duration will last only 42 months. Further, as a Christian you will have been “________________” out of harm’s way and will not suffer in the “great tribulation”.

The other group believes that the Church has been and is continually being persecuted and the “great tribulation” is not limited to a brief span of time in the future but that the Church is “suffering ______” and that individuals will continue to be subject to persecution until the end of this present age or until they are safe with the redeemed of God in heaven.                        Matthew 10:17;Matthew 24:9-14; 2 Timothy 3:12; Revelation 2:10

The first group looks for a “millennial age”, a ____________ 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth and that “millennium” is yet in the future. 

While the second group believes that the “millennium” is _____ a literal 1000 year period but a perfect period of time from the first coming of Jesus Christ until He returns before the creation of the new heavens and the new earth.  

Revelation 6:17; “the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”  Who is going to be able to persevere through the tribulation period of this present earth age?     Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:11-13; Revelation 2:25-28

After John “hears” the 144,000 in verse 4; the scene changes at verse 9; “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands”

These saints are dressed in white and this is a fulfillment of the promise that Jesus made to the church at Sardis: Revelation 3:4-5

As we have already stated white symbolizes _________ and ________________. 

And John says that these saints are holding “____________ branches” in their hands as a sign of victory/triumph. John 12:12-13; Zechariah 9:9

These saints are robed in white and are eternally grateful for their redemption.                   

We know they’re grateful by what they’re singing in verse 10; they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."                                                                                                                         

Here we see a gathering, at the throne of the Lamb, people from “every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues”

Jude calls it our “__________________ salvation”. (Jude 3)

If anyone believes that their salvation is tainted with any of their good works or “_______-_______” decisions that they have made; will not find themselves at the throne of God in heaven.  If you believe that you are saved because of anything that you contributed, especially your “decision” to make Christ the Lord of your life, then you cannot honestly sing with the saints around the throne of the Lamb, that “Salvation belongs to God”                                                             Psalm 3:8; Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6;

Not only does John see the saints, he sees others around the throne…Verses 11-12;

Here in chapter 7 we have the saints around the throne and around them the angels and the elders…and they are all found falling “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."

With the angels worshipping in heaven; does it not remind you of what Jesus said in Luke 15:10; “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

1 Peter 1:10-12; As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

In verses 13 and 14 John tells us that; “one of the elders asked him a question, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”

The elder here, is calling attention to the countless multitude dressed in white, and he wants John to acknowledge that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has fulfilled the Old Testament promises of salvation. The saints in white robes are indeed the ones who were purchased by the ___________ of the Lamb [Rev. 5:9].

John gives the perfect answer to the elder’s question: "My lord, you know." 

Just as Ezekiel answered God "O Lord GOD, _______ __________."

John answers the elder, "My lord, you know."                                        

These are either a set of souls yet to be redeemed in a yet future “great tribulation” [____________________ saints] or they are all Christians from all time who have suffered persecution for their witness for Jesus Christ hear on earth.

I believe it represents the souls of those who have been persecuted hear on the earth and they have ____________________ to the end…Hebrews 11:4-38

For this reason John says in Verse 15; “they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them”           John 1:14; Revelation 21:22

The “___________” is not an Old Testament structure but refers to the “holy of holies” or the place where God is.  Revelation 11:19; Revelation 21:4

The 7^th chapter of Revelation gives us two scenes:

The first is of the Church on earth sealed with the Holy Spirit as judgment falls on the wicked and unrepentant. They are protected and delivered not from it but through it.

The second scene the saints have come through the great tribulation and they are in a state of eternal worship having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  They were sealed on earth; now they wear victorious robes of white and wave palm branches of victory around the throne of God and of the Lamb.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/qdvUk8f9/Revelation_7_9-17.html