* Jeremiah 29:11 - “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
* God spoke an encouragement through Jeremiah because the Israelites were about to go into captivity.
* So like a good father He reminded them that this was going to be good for them and that His ultimate plan was for their blessing, not their cursing.
* The book of Revelation does the same for us.
* A good coach knows you can’t land a big recruit without letting him know your plan for him.
* He will continue to remind him from time to time to encourage him to stick it out (redshirt).
* When we read Revelation it’s God reminding us to stick it out because something ossum is coming.
Revelation 1:1 (12/8/16)
Plan
December 8, 2016 • Benham Brothers
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Lessons From Revelation
Revelation - the players (12/27/18)
December 27, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The players: * The Being on the throne is God. * The Lamb is Jesus. * The dragon is Satan. * The beast is the Antichrist. * The woman is Israel. * The baby is Jesus. * The “rest of her offspring” are God’s people. * The bride is the church - Christians who place their faith in Jesus when they hear the gospel. * The guests of the bride are believers before Christ came and the gospel existed. * Babylon is the world system of the Beast. It’s the political and economic system. * The “Harlot” is the corrupt religious system of the Beast that stands in direct contrast to the Bride. * The Beast can’t be successful in the first two systems without the third to approve of it. * There is a Babylon and a Harlot in every generation - it’s used by Satan to lead people astray. * ** a nation needs several systems to exist, mainly a political, economic, and religious.
Revelation & Red Letters (12/13/18)
December 13, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Jesus is still speaking. * We don’t often attribute His words to the book of Revelation. * What would He say? * He addresses 7 churches (the number in seven is “perfect” or “complete” - so this message would apply to all the church past, present, and future). * 1) The church of Ephesus - they were the LOVELESS church who had lost their first love. * 2) The church of Smyrna - they were the PERSECUTED church who were enduring hardship for Christ. * 3) The church of Pergamos - they were the COMPROMISING church who put up with those in their midst who believed the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (sexual immorality and idolatry). * 4) The church of Thyatira - they were the CORRUPT church who tolerated the woman Jezebel (sexual immorality and domineering ambition). * 5) The church of Sardis - they were the DEAD church who looked alive but in reality they were dead. * 6) The church of Philadelphia - they were the FAITHFUL church who were doing good things in the midst of trial. * 7) The church of Laodicea - they were the LUKEWARM church who were riding the fence to avoid persecution.
Revelation 1:6-11 (12/12/13)
December 12, 2013 • Benham Brothers
vs 6 - God has mad us Kings & Priests - this is our new identity vs 7 - God comes in the clouds, just like He did when Jesus and His disciples were on the mount Oswald Chambers - "when God brings clouds into your life it's not so you can learn something but so that you can un-learn it" When the clouds come God will speak, but we must be resolutely fixed to hear it - He will point something out to you When the clouds are removed you will see differently than you saw before vs 10 - John was "in the Spirit" when He heard God's voice In The Spirit - the place where your soul (mind, will, emotions) stands at attention to hear God Our entire being must be resolutely affixed on Him for us to be "in the spirit" This is why God comes in a cloud - it shields us from the outside world for a moment vs 11 - The divine command came after John was in the spirit The letters to the seven churches - all of them had the same structure: 1) Who's the letter written to 2) Who's the letter from (describing God in different ways each time) 3) What they have done well, if anything 4) What they have done bad, if anything (the result of not loving God with ALL their heart) 5) A promise to those who hear this letter and take it to heart (overcomers)