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>>>Notes for Revelation can be found HERE <<<

The three-fold outline of the book Revelation one is found in verse 1:19. Notice that Jesus says, talking to John, “Write the things that you have seen, the things which are, and the things that shall take place after these things.” If you look through the Book of Revelation, you’ll find that the phrase “after these things” is repeated over and over. And why is that? I think John is emphasizing to us that there is an orderly development of how things are going to happen. Some of it’s difficult to understand. Some of it we probably can’t fully grasp. But John wants us to understand that what is coming during the seven years of tribulation is going to be a very orderly, systematic judgment of God on the Earth. So he says, “Write the things that you have seen,” in the past tense. Right? So, what has John seen in the past in Revelation chapter one? The vision of Christ. He’s recorded that for us. “And the things which are” represent chapters two and three which deals with the seven churches of Asia. “The things that will take place after this,” represent Chapters four through 22. So, John really gives us his own outline. And if we just follow that outline, it’ll save us from a lot of confusion.

In the first few chapters, we have the seven churches as John ministered to them. In Chapters four and five, we see the church in heaven. There are certain things that are said that tell us that that can only be the church in heaven, which fits with our understanding of the rapture of the church. What do we read in Revelation 4:1? “I heard a voice saying, ‘Come up here.’”. Then in Chapters six through 19, we have the tribulation period itself. It’s very interesting to notice, the word church occurs 19 times in the first three chapters. It does not occur from Chapters six to 19 — the section that deals with the tribulation period. Instead, who do we read about? The nation of Israel. Remember that Paul tells us in Romans 11:25. “Blindness, in part, has happened to Israel.” God is faithful to His promises; what about the nation of Israel? Is God finished with the nation of Israel? Their time is yet coming, and that’s going to be the tribulation period. So, in chapter six through 19, we read about Israel. We read about the tribes. We read about Jerusalem. The whole focus goes back to the promised land.

So let’s go back to Revelation 1:1. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show His servants things that must shortly take place and He Jesus sent and signify it by His Angel to his servant, John.” So, this book has been passed down from the Father to the Son to an angel to John. “Who bore witness of the Word of God in the testimony of Jesus Christ to all things that He saw. Blessed are those that read and hear the words of this prophecy and keep the things that are written in it for the time is near.” Because the Book of Revelation deals with everything from the time of John till the end of the Kingdom. No matter where you live in that time, the time is near because whatever is next to come is going to come and it’s going to come quickly. We notice several purposes behind the book: 1) to reveal Jesus Christ, 2) to reveal the course history, 3) to finish John’s testimony, and 4) to bless those who study the book and not only study but obey the book.

John identifies himself now in Revelation 1:4, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia.” This a typical opening of a letter in the ancient world; you identified yourself first and then identified who you’re writing to. “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 the throne.” So, what is “who is and who was and who is to come?” They mean that He’s infinite, and eternal. “The seven spirits before his throne” harkens to Isaiah 11:2, which lists the spirits of God having seven characteristics. So essentially, he’s talking about the Holy Spirit. The interesting thing to me at this point, in the first four versus we have the Father, we have the Son, we have the Holy Spirit, and they’re all sending greetings to us. They’re all working for our spiritual well-being.

Revelation 1:5 says, “From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born from the day of the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” This is talking about the finished work of Christ on the cross, the one who provided for us our so great salvation. Revelation 1:6 should really excite us, “and has made us kings and priests.” In all the Old Testament, you never read of a prophet, priest, and king together. Jesus is prophet, priest, and king. Here, we’re told, “He has made us kings and priest.” You can go to 1st Peter 2:9, where Peter reminds us that we are a royal priesthood. There was no royal priesthood in the Old Testament, with one exception: Melchizedek the King priest.

Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, He is coming with clouds.” I don’t know about you, but I long for it more and pray for it more every day. “He is coming with clouds and every I will see him. Even they who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him.” Which coming is John talking about — the Rapture or Jesus’ second coming? Ask yourself the question, at the rapture will every eye see Him? No, not unbelievers. It’s going to be a secret departure. They will not see him. We will simply be gone. So, we know we’re talking here about the second coming. “All the tribes in the earth will mourn because of him.” Revelation 1:8 says, “I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end says Lord.” Which “beginning” is this? Go back as far as you want. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” That’s the beginning of creation. And then we have in John 1:1, “ In the beginning was the word.” What beginning is he talking about? As far back as you want to go into eternity past, and whatever beginning you can imagine and He was there. That’s the one “who was.” In first John 1:1 says, “That which you heard from the beginning.” You might remember too in Mark 1:1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” a different beginning. Here in Revelation 1:8, the Lord says, “I am the beginning, and the end says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come. The Almighty.” What amazing statement of His dignity and glory and majesty.

In Revelation 1:9, John begins to describe for his congregations the conditions of his vision. “I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.” We’re all in this together as children of God. He continues, “I was on the island that is called Patmos” off the coast of Turkey, “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” In other words, under persecution under Emperor Domitian, John was having too much effect, just like Paul was earlier. But unlike Paul, who was executed for his testimony, Domitian just shut him away on the Isle of Pattern of Patmos so John could write Revelation.

Gene Cunningham - January 28, 2003

Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12

Heb 2:9-18 Seven great undertakings of Jesus as a man 2nd great undertaking -- His valiant leadership Heb 2:10 He is the God-Man. Captain of their salvation. Prince-leader. Fitting: to take appropriate action, includes his whole life. Heb 10:5 It’s the altar that sanctifies the gold, not the other way around. There was no sacrifice other than Himself that could satisfy God’s justice and wrath. Heb 10:4 Everything was made through Him and for Him. He came to lead us into His glory. He created us to share His glory with us. isa 43:7 psa 8:1-9 gen 1:26-27 He came to lead us into a far greater glory. His glory is an everlasting, divine glory. Bringing, leading many sons to glory. Only in sonship does He lead, we can only be led if we are a son/daughter. We are glorified by trusting Jesus Christ. Rom 8:29 rom 8:1 eph 1:6 To us, He is our Captain. Archegos: Prince-leader, a hero who had proven himself, founder of a school, chieftain of a tribe or clan, commander who blazed a trail to follow, he took a position he didn’t have to take, but he humbled himself for his people. By His suffering He identified with us, by our suffering by faith we are identified with Him. 2ti 2:11-13 He as the Captain is made perfect through sufferings. How could the God-Man be made perfect if He was perfect at birth. Heb 4:15 Tempted, yet without sin. How can we say He needed to be made perfect? It was the right thing for Him to do for our sake, it was fitting for Him. He took the appropriate action for our need teleies: perfection in practical terms, maturity, adequately equipped, prepared to fulfill their purpose Battle in Gethsemane was last test to prepare Jesus for the cross. isa 18:12-14 “I will’s” all the way through the passage, it’s the beginning of the rebellion, the conflict we are in now. Jesus was temped but overcame, “not My will by Your will be done” He arrived at the goal and purpose of His life, and was sufficient, and was made that way through His suffering. Made perfect: includes His whole life, isa 53:3 He was so compassionate and tolerant because He understood the ravages of sin, He knew the destruction it had on their soul. It was voluntary Phi 2:6-7 it was by divine design Heb 5:8 so He could be compassionate to us Heb 2:11 His cleansing work. We are not ashamed to call us brothers. God loves us, and He likes us, we are accepted in the Beloved. We should seek to live that righteousness out. We should not be ashamed by our brothers either. Jesus continues to sanctify us. He’s the one who does it. We don’t do it. He does it on the basis of His work on the cross. We receive it. By grace through faith. That continues for our whole spiritual life. col 2:6 Luk 7:36-50 If you don’t think you have that many sins to deal with, you won’t love Jesus very much. We need to realize our own spiritual poverty, and we have to cry out every day for His mercy. Sanctification: Heb 10:9-10 Once for all, cleansed, then separated, set apart unto God. Heb 10:14 On the foundation of the once for all cleansing, we are being sanctified joh 14:10 col 1:13 Things are dealt with as a family member for the purpose of restoring fellowship, not for condemnation. How long are you going to be growing? As long as you life. Everyday there will be more. We all have the responsibility to allow Him to do the work. We can refuse. 1Th 5:23 He and He alone can accomplish this. In every part, completely. Spirit, soul, body. God works from the inside out. Rom 12:2 renewing of your mind, it’s an ongoing process. The body part is at resurrection. He’s not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters, why are we so ashamed of our brothers and sisters and Him? Heb 2:9-18 Sacrificial death Heb 2:9, prince leadership Heb 2:10, cleansing work Heb 2:11, great love for His family Heb 2:11-13 psa 22:22 He introduced that we can speak of God as Father. To the Jews at the time they didn’t think they could speak God’s name. isa 8:17 He lived by faith as we must. The quotes look at before, during, and after. One day, He will lead us to the Father. 5th great undertaking: His defeat of the devil Heb 2:15 Partake, we share everything in common. He shared in a limited way, without the sin nature. Power: ruling authority. When Adam died, he forfeited our authority to Satan 2Co 4:4 How did He destroy the devil’s power? He rose again, He proved He had power over the grave, He was resurrection. Death couldn’t hold Him, death can’t hold us. Absent from the body, present with the Lord. 2Co 5:8 They are waiting for us to come to them. Rom 6:6 6th great undertaking: liberates the captives Heb 2:15-16 To set us free from a contract col 2:14 He doesn’t give aid to angels, but to the seed of Abraham. We will be superior to angels and judge them at the judgment. Satan hates that. His rebellion was to the revealed will of God for us. The five things Satan says he will do, are things we are given in Christ. Five is the number of grace. To aid, to take hold of for the purpose of helping. 7th great undertaking: His merciful priesthood Heb 2:17 Jesus is a merciful and faithful High Priest. The grace of God begets mercy. Truth begets faithfulness. Propitiation is the satisfying of God’s righteous demands. He is merciful. Paul started using mercy and merciful more and more as he grew. Qualifications of a high priest, was to be a sinner. Heb 5:1-5 Too many people in the church now have the attitude of the Pharisee instead of the tax collector. If you are here, weary and beaten, look to Jesus. If you are unsaved and you fear His judgment, look to Jesus in faith. You can have Him right now. Jesus will never turn you away. If you have doubts and fears and burdens, lay them at His feet, knowing that He cares for you. He always greets us with open arms.

Scripture References: Ephesians 1:6, Psalms 22:22, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 10:5, Colossians 1:13, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 2:11-13, Hebrews 5:8, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 2:10, John 14:10, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11, Philippians 2:6-7, Hebrews 2:15-16, Hebrews 2:9-18, Hebrews 10:14, Genesis 1:26-27, Hebrews 2:10, Isaiah 53:3, Romans 6:6, Hebrews 10:9-10, Psalms 8:1-9, Hebrews 2:9, Isaiah 18:12-14, Hebrews 2:15, Luke 7:36-50, Isaiah 43:7, Hebrews 2:9-18, Hebrews 4:15, Isaiah 8:17, Colossians 2:6, Hebrews 5:1-5, Hebrews 10:4, Romans 12:2

From Series: Hebrews (1998) | More Messages from Gene Cunningham | Download Audio

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