The Return of the King

GraceQuestJeremy Gwaltney

This Year• Theme – “Gospel of the Kingdom of God”

• Key Question – “Why is the Kingdom of God ‘good news?’”

• Old Testament – – What is the Kingdom supposed to be like?– How do we know if the Kingdom has come?

• New Testament – – What is the Kingdom like now?– When will the Kingdom come?

Review• Gen. 1-2

• The Original Kingdom, original temple• God declared “war” on chaos, and created by his “Word.”

• Gen. 3• Adam, the “image of God” and ruler of Eden, betrayed God and turned the

kingdom over to the kingdom of darkness.• God promised a descendent of Eve would “crush” the enemies head (Gen.

3:16)

• Gen 6-11• Evil is so powerful, God has to destroy the world• All the nations of the earth are corrupted by sin, disobey God, try to make a

name for themselves

• Gen. 12-50– God calls Abraham– Promises that all the nations of the earth will be “blessed” by Abraham– A King to rule over all peoples is promised to the descendents of Judah

Review• 1-2 Chronicles

• An everlasting Kingship is promised to David• An everlasting “house” is promised to David’s “Son”• Solomon’s Temple destroyed, a second Temple is rebuilt• Chronicles, the last book of the OT, ends with a command to rebuild the

Temple

• Matthew• Begins by showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the blessing of Abraham

and promise to David• Shows Jesus as the King of the Jews – indeed that is the reason He died• Upon His death the Temple curtain is destroyed, and Jesus predicts its

destruction• Jesus says His Kingdom includes “violence” and then hands His Kingdom

over to His followers to advance on earth until He comes again and takes full dominion over the influence of darkness.

The Book of Revelation

What You Need to Know• You can understand this book

• How its written and what its showing you• Not chronological, a period of time out of order.• What is behind the “curtain” of the physical – the Cosmic conflict

between God and Satan, church and the evil, righteousness and the curse.• It shows you how God is in controls amidst the chaos of evil.

• Symbols and symbolism• Numbers – 7, 10, 12 and their multiples• Beasts, Prophet, Women, Sea, City, etc.

• Let’s get started

Revelation 1

• 1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. – Rev. 1:1

Revelation 1

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, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:5-6

Revelation 1

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, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:5-6

Revelation 1

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, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:5-6

Revelation 1

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, 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:5-6

Revelation 1

• 9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. – Rev. 1:9

Revelation 1

• 9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. – Rev. 1:9

Revelation 1

• 9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. – Rev. 1:9

Revelation 1

• 9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. – Rev. 1:9

Revelation 1

• 9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. – Rev. 1:9

Revelation 1

• 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. – Revelation 1:17

What John Sees

• 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. – Rev. 1:19

• “that you have seen” = Rev. 1:1-18

• “those that are” = Rev. 1:20-Ch.3

• “those that are to take place after this.” = Rev. 4-22

What John Sees

• 20As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. – Rev. 1:20

• “angels” = pastors of the churches

• “lampstands” = churches of Asia Minor

• “seven.” = the complete church or church of all time

Revelation 2-3Jesus’ Message to His People

• Revelation 2-3– Seven letters to seven churches– Each letter has the same form – address, “I know,” evaluation of

the church, promise or threat, “to him who overcomes,” and a closing.

• The essential message to these churches answers the following question.– What does it take to be brothers in Christ and partners in the

Kingdom who successfully endure the coming tribulations with patience?

– How do we get the reward for the Kingdom of God?– The answers are for the Church of Jesus everywhere for all time.

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) Lack of Brotherly Love (Rev. 2:4)

Love one another amidst trial (Rev. 2:5-6)

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) Lack of Brotherly Love (Rev. 2:4)

Love one another amidst trial (Rev. 2:5-6)

Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) Persecution by other religions (Rev. 2:9-10)

Faithfulness until death (Rev. 2:10-11)•Limited, but deadly suffering•Reward of heaven

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) Lack of Brotherly Love (Rev. 2:4)

Love one another amidst trial (Rev. 2:5-6)

Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) Persecution by other religions (Rev. 2:9-10)

Faithfulness until death (Rev. 2:10-11)•Limited, but deadly suffering•Reward of heaven

Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17)

Balaam = subversive teaching to lead Christians astray (Rev. 2:14-15)•They suffered martyrdom

Repent – there is still time to turn and walk in the authority of the Kingdom (Rev. 2:16-17)

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) Lack of Brotherly Love (Rev. 2:4)

Love one another amidst trial (Rev. 2:5-6)

Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) Persecution by other religions (Rev. 2:9-10)

Faithfulness until death (Rev. 2:10-11)•Limited, but deadly suffering•Reward of heaven

Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17)

Balaam = subversive teaching to lead Christians astray (Rev. 2:14-15)•They suffered martyrdom

Repent – there is still time to turn and walk in the authority of the Kingdom (Rev. 2:16-17)

Thyratira(Rev. 2:18-28)

Jezebel = someone who mixes Christianity with other religions (often for financial gain) (Rev. 2:20-21)•This will be throughout the book

Cast her out (she is beyond repentance) and walk in the authority of the Kingdom (Rev. 2:25-29)

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) Spiritually Dead because they lack good works (Rev. 3:1)•Have a good reputation•Lack Grace, Faith, Action

“Wake Up” – military term“Remember” – return to Grace“Repent” – come to God

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) Spiritually Dead because they lack good works (Rev. 3:1)•Have a good reputation•Lack Grace, Faith, Action

“Wake Up” – military term“Remember” – return to Grace“Repent” – come to God

Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)

Persecution that leads to the doubting of your salvation (Rev. 3:8-9)

Pursue the open door of the Kingdom (Rev. 3:8)•David & Temple•Protection in trial•Church/Faith will survive

Message to The Church (Rev. 2-3)Church Threat What it Takes

Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) Spiritually Dead because they lack good works (Rev. 3:1)•Have a good reputation•Lack Grace, Faith, Action

“Wake Up” – military term“Remember” – return to Grace“Repent” – come to God

Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)

Persecution that leads to the doubting of your salvation (Rev. 3:8-9)

Pursue the open door of the Kingdom (Rev. 3:8)•David & Temple•Protection in trial•Church/Faith will survive

Leodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)

Wealth & Pride (Rev. 3:17)•“need nothing”•Jesus has nothing good to say about this church.

Go to God for all needs, and be willing to sacrifice all. (Rev. 3:18, 20)

Jesus’ Message to The Church

• Each Letter includes this phrase…

• “He who has ears, let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Jesus’ Message to The Church

• Each Letter includes this phrase…

• “He who has ears, let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

• “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” – Rev. 22:11

Jesus’ Message to The Church

• The War is Raging…

• Do You have ears to hear me?

The Return of the King

GraceQuestJeremy Gwaltney