Series Overview: Revelation

Aug 22

They will make war on the Lamb but the Lamb will conquer them.
Revelation 17:14

This Fall we are preaching through the book of Revelation. “Revelation” is the title of the last book in our English bibles which comes from a translation of the Greek word apokalupsis (to make known, disclose, or reveal) in Revelation 1:1. John’s Apocalypse is the revealing of reality and the end of reality.

What is really going on in the world? Where is the world really headed? What are the real threats we face as God’s people? The Book of Revelation is God saying, “There is more going on than meets the eye. I AM the authoritative interpreter and evaluator of history. This is what is really happening and what will really happen.”

That reality comes to us from two perspectives: from heaven and the future. The Spirit gives John “Heaven’s perspective on earth and the future’s perspective on the present.”

Below you’ll find the books’ major themes, key questions for interpretation/application, songs to sing, prayers to pray, and recommended resources for additional study as we seek to submit to God through his Word and by his Spirit in the book of Revelation.

Sermon Series Calendar

9/10 Revelation 1 - The Alpha and the Omega

9/17 Revelation 2 & 3 - What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches

9/24 Revelation 4 & 5 - Fall Down And Worship

10/1 Revelation 6 - 8:1 - The Seven Seals

10/8. Revelation 8:2 - 11 - The Seven Trumpets

10/15 Revelation 12 - The Cosmic Battle

10/22 Revelation 13 - The Earthly Battle

10/29 Revelation 14 - The Army of the Lamb

11/5 Revelation 15 & 16 - The Seven Bowls

11/12. Revelation 17-19:10 - The Conquest

11/19 Revelation 19:22 through 20 - The Last Battle

11/26 Revelation 21 & 22 - All Things New

[12/3 - Advent Begins]

Revelation’s Major Themes

1. Do not get into bed with Babylon.

There is a celebratory climax in the book “Babylon The Great is Fallen” (Revelation 18:2). Babylon is described as a high-end prostitute, a courtesan; all nations and kings have committed sexual immorality with her (18:3). She is a metaphor for the pull that the world has on our hearts and loyalties; Babylon will seduce you and offer you false companionship. She’ll act like she cares about you, but she just working towards wealth-building. Christians must admit they are seduceable and work to overcome the path of least resistance: being assimilated into the dominant, anti-Jesus culture.

2. Be emboldened by the certainty that the Lamb will conquer his enemies.

We are living in a story in which we already know the ending. Like a excellent movie you’ve already seen, the sad parts are still sad and the scary parts are still scary, but knowledge of how the plot will certainly resolve protects us from despair and nihilism. “They will make war on the Lamb but the Lamb will conquer them (Revelation 17:14).” As Tom Shrader said, “no matter how bad it gets, in can only last a lifetime.”

3. Bear Witness to the Risen Lamb While You Still Can

Richard Baucham argues that Revelation 11:1-10 is the centerpiece of the book, which makes the witness of the church in the midst of opposition the core message of Revelation. The book is meant to encourage us to be faithful to our mission to bear witness to Jesus in word and deed. The whole book is Christ is telling us, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore!” (Rev 1:17-18).

Key Questions for Interpretation

The book of Revelation is rarely immediately clear to us as readers; interpreting and submitting ourselves to the book requires patience and prayerfulness. Here are some key questions to regularly ask as we read:

1. Where else in the Scriptures have we seen this image?

For example, the number 7 appears all over the place in the book of Revelation. In fact, the entire structure of the book could be seen as seven sevens! Why all the sevens? While each time the usage is slightly different, we shouldn’t interpret that number without looking for the places in Scripture where the number 7 is highlighted or used. The first two key uses are Creation - God makes the world in seven days and it is very good. Seven is the number of perfection, of creation. Likewise, God has his people march around Jericho 7 times before he pours out his wrath on the anti-God establishment. Seven is the number of wrath. So, we see the number seven and think about Creation and Judgement at the same time; God is establishing his new creation which includes the destruction of those opposed to him. The seven churches are real churches but represent all churches; God’s new creation people and those with whom judgment begins (1 Peter 4:17).

Tracking down these images can be a lot of work; cross reference bibles or study bibles will be a helpful tool in going back and reading where Revelation is building on images from the Old Testament. When you go back to the Old Testament, don’t just read the single verse references, but read the whole section or chapter so you can begin to grasp the context and effect the original picture might have had.

2. How is this section of Revelation reinforcing one of the major themes of the book?

If the major themes are: don’t be seduced by the world, be encouraged in knowing that God is ruling over history, and bear witness to the risen Christ while time still allows, then how is this image or story doing one of those three things? Remember, the book is not written merely to inform us so that we can have accurate information in our head, but to form us as faithful followers of Jesus.

3. How was the Spirit confronting or encouraging our community as we read?

We read God’s word personally, not merely academically. It is not only that the Spirit has spoken to the churches, but that he is presently speaking to the churches. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:22). This begins by exploring how the original hearers of the text would have experienced it, but for us it culminates in a desire to personally and communally submit to the work of God in our midst in the here and now.

Key Questions for Application

1. Which of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 is my community most like?

For example, when I (Seth) consider my community, I see strong temptation to be like Thyatira (sexually immoral) and Laodecia (lukewarm, lulled to sleep by comfort and wealth). How do we identify with our brothers and sisters in the first century? How does the Spirit correct them? Be mindful of the specific ways you identify with the seven churches at the opening of the book as you read the rest of the book as themes of encouragement and conviction will present themselves.

2. How are we functionally living secular lives?

The book of Revelation is presenting a world that is charged with God’s personal, active, and controlling presence. Secular humanism argues that we are the controllers and creators of our lives, both present and future. Revelation confronts our functional atheism and the false allegiances we offer to worldly institutions and governments, giving them far too much trust and treating them as saviors. We often become accidentally intoxicated by the status quo and lose sight of the reality of God; Revelation serves as a sobering force in lives.

3. How will I worship the LORD God Almighty today?

Affection for our Triune God is the source of displacement, the antidote for over-affection for Babylon. As long as our hearts cry out “amazing are your deeds!” (Rev 15:3) to worldly institutions instead of to God Almighty we’ll continue to be seduced by the idolatry that is all around us.

Our battle to be faithful witness is not merely fought at cognitive level, but a volitional, heart level; it is a spiritual battle, a battle for the loyalty of our hearts. Our primary work as disciples and witnesses is to worship the living God.

Songs to Sing Throughout the Series

Revelation Spotify Playlist

Prayers to Pray Throughout the Series

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.

Revelation 4:8, 11

By your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!

Revelation 5:9–10, 12

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth

Revelation 11:17–18

Amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed

Revelation 15:3–4

Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!
Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!

Revelation 16:5–7

Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.

Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.
Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.

Revelation 19:1–5.

Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.

Revelation 19:6.

Recommended Books

Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of Revelation by Nancy Gutherie
The Theology of the Book of Revelation by Richard Baucham
The Joy of Hearing by Thomas Shreiner

Recommended Podcasts

Alpha & Omega with Dr. John DelHousaye and Seth Troutt on King & Culture
Blessed: Conversations on the Book of Revelation with Nancy Gutherie
The Bible Project: Revelation