Gateway Church of Visalia
Dear Church
Pastor Lance Ainsworth August 1st and 4th, 2024 A Prophecy, A Letter, and An Apocalypse
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction:
The book of Revelation is three things:
1. A Prophecy
Revelation 1:1-20 NASB
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Blessed are those who live with urgent expectancy.
Revelation 1:1-20 NASB
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Blessed are those who live with urgent expectancy.
2. A Letter/Epistle
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: (map) Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: (map) Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
Revelation was written for us but not to us.
Revelation cannot mean something to us that it did not mean to the intended audience.
Revelation cannot mean something to us that it did not mean to the intended audience.
3. An Apocalypse
Apocalyptic Literature uses imagery to impact the reader in a way facts can’t.
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands, I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
Apocalyptic Literature uses imagery to impact the reader in a way facts can’t.
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands, I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 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.
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega.
Jesus is the firstborn of all creation.
Jesus is the victor over death and hell.
Jesus has chosen to shine through the church. (lampstands)
Dear Church
Revelation 1, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
August 1st and 4th, 2024
A Prophecy, A Letter, and An Apocalypse
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: How often do you think of eternity?
Read Aloud: Revelation 1:12-18
1.v.3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Read Revelation 22:10. At the beginning and end of Revelation, we see the phrase “the time is near.” What does that mean? How should we live like Christ’s return is near?
2. v.12-16 “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands, I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 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.” What stands out to you in the description of Jesus? When you pray and interact with Jesus, have you thought about this description before? From the description above, are there any other scriptures that come to mind?
3. v.17-18 “17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Why does Jesus tell John not to be afraid? Think about v.6 “and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” How does being a priest change how we approach God? Why did Jesus “make” us to be priests?
Revelation 1, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
August 1st and 4th, 2024
A Prophecy, A Letter, and An Apocalypse
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: How often do you think of eternity?
Read Aloud: Revelation 1:12-18
1.v.3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Read Revelation 22:10. At the beginning and end of Revelation, we see the phrase “the time is near.” What does that mean? How should we live like Christ’s return is near?
2. v.12-16 “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands, I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 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.” What stands out to you in the description of Jesus? When you pray and interact with Jesus, have you thought about this description before? From the description above, are there any other scriptures that come to mind?
3. v.17-18 “17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Why does Jesus tell John not to be afraid? Think about v.6 “and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” How does being a priest change how we approach God? Why did Jesus “make” us to be priests?