The Soon Return of Jesus

The Bible ends with a promise and a prayer.

Jesus promises, "I am coming soon." The only appropriate response to His promise is our prayer, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (See Revelation 22:20)

After 2000 years how do we make sense of that? In what way is His return soon? Perhaps this helps. When Jesus was on Earth, He compared His second coming to the final stages of pregnancy (Mark 13:8). I remember what it was like for my wife to be in the final stages of pregnancy. Three times we have experienced it. With each pregnancy, we eventually got to that “any day now” stage. There were several common characteristics.

• Our bags were packed, at least sort of.


• Every appointment was scheduled tentatively.


• We knew there was going to be some pain, before the joy.


• And we were living each day, moment, with this one event foremost in our minds.

It wasn’t like we could predict the birthday, nevertheless we knew that day was near, at hand, inevitable.

The nearness of Jesus' return should impact everything we do. We should act in such a way that we wouldn't be embarrassed if Jesus were to come back within the hour. We should treat others as if Jesus were joining us shortly. We should cultivate our relationship with Jesus in such way that when we see Him face to face we greet Him as the central figure of our life rather than approach Him as we would a distant relative.

God is looking for people with an “any day now” mentality. "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

I'm Curious

Well we just wrapped up the Revelation for Dummies series. What stood out for you? I'd enjoy hearing what has made a difference in your thinking (or better yet, living)?

Singing the Songs of Revelation

OK, here's a cool thing. Our worship pastor, David Toney, has written 7 new worship songs taken directly from the songs found in the Book of Revelation. He's already introduced a few in church, but on Sunday March 25, we will sing all of them. I will also be speaking on the theme of "worship in revelation" and using it to review this amazing series we've been in.

Also, that morning the whole message series (10 messages) will be available on CD and the set will include a separate CD with David's 7 songs.

Fully Engaged Believers

It was a very strange and exciting period of my life. It was the only time that words like flatware and stemware frequently rolled off my lips. I referred to the woman of my dreams not with an English word like friend, girlfriend, or wife; but rather with the French term, fiancé. Of course, I’m talking about being engaged.

And from the moment on something happened. All of a sudden there was one central focus: our wedding day. Every plan was made, every action pursued, in light of this future event. It was as if there was a countdown clock in our heads. We were living with a date on the calendar.

And while for most people who are or have been married the time of engagement is relatively short, still it becomes the perfect analogy for all of our lives. Here’s what I mean. As I read Revelation, it seems that one of the very first events on the schedule when get to Heaven is a wedding reception. The Bible calls it the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19.7 says, Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

So, if in heaven we celebrate our relationship with Jesus through a wedding, it means that right now, as believers, we are engaged. (It doesn’t matter if you are married or single, from heaven’s perspective you are engaged). And if we, as God’s people, are engaged to His Son, then the purpose of this time on earth is for us is to get ready for our forever relationship with Him. Notice again the words in Rev. 19.7, his bride has made herself ready. WE NEED AN ENGAGED MINDSET.

Let me suggest 4 things you could do to get ready.

· Say “Yes,” to Jesus’ proposal. He’s asked you to make a forever after commitment to Him.
· Be captivated by your relationship with Him. Make every decision with that future date in mind.
· Don’t flirt with the world. How tragic to get to heaven and realize we had misplaced our heart, passions, and affections in this life.
· Watch for His arrival. Someday the Groom will come that we might live forever with Him.

Reading Plan - final week!

For those of you reading along, here's this week's plan.

SUNDAY Feb 25-- Rev 19
MONDAY Feb 26-- Rev 20:1-6
TUESDAY Feb 27-- Rev 20:7-10
WEDNESDAY Feb 28-- Rev 20:11-15
THURSDAY Mar 1-- Rev 21:1-8
FRIDAY Mar 2-- Rev 21:9-27
SATURDAY Mar 3-- Rev 22:1-6
SUNDAY Mar 4-- Rev 22:7-21

If you made it this far, CONGRATULATIONS! Take yourself out to dinner!

You know, the book of Revelation promises a blessing to those who take it to heart (Rev. 1:3). In what ways has God given you a sense of His presence and involvement in your life through your study?

Reading Plan - from on high :)

Our family is away for the weekend so I'm logging in from the mountains. We're enjoying the pine trees, fresh air, and family time.

Doug Sutherland is speaking this weekend from Deuteronomy 8. We'll resume our study through Revelation next Sunday. But for those of you who are trying to read along, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week).

SUNDAY Feb 18 -- Rev 18:11-24
MONDAY Feb 19 -- Rev 19:1-10
TUESDAY Feb 20 -- Rev 19:11-18
WEDNESDAY Feb 21 -- Rev 19:19-21
THURSDAY Feb 22 -- Rev 20:1-6
FRIDAY Feb 23 -- Rev 20:7-10
SATURDAY Feb 24 -- Rev 20:11-15
SUNDAY Feb 25 -- Review Chapter 19

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

What about those who have never heard?

What if you could spend five minutes in Heaven? Wouldn’t you agree that those 300 seconds would change your life? John, the author of Revelation, is given a privilege few people get: to see Heaven, and then stick around on Earth long enough to talk about it (Revelation 15).

And these weren’t just any old five minutes in Heaven. John was given a glimpse into Heaven five minutes before God pours out His complete wrath on the world – we’re talking Judgment Day.

I often have conversations with spiritual seekers about how (or even if) God is going to judge people. They are especially concerned about those who have not had an opportunity to hear about Jesus. And I have to admit that some of the details are unclear. The New Testament teaches that no one will be saved apart from Jesus. But how God will sort this out is a mystery.

But here’s what I love about the vision John is given in Revelation 15. It reveals the future response of those who see God’s justice perfectly. Those who will have a front row seat to God’s dealings will be singing …

Just and true are your ways, King of the ages...
All nations will come and worship you …
Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev.15:3-4)

In other words, God will be completely fair. God always operates within His love, truth, and mercy. What that will look like remains concealed. But I take great comfort in knowing that when we see things from Heaven’s perfect vantage point, we also will be moved to say…

Just and true are your ways, King of the ages...
All nations will come and worship you …
Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev.15:3-4)

The Structure of Revelation - 7 Sevens

OK, I made an offhand comment that I would post this info on my blog, and Christy held me to it (see her comment in the side bar) so here it is:

In many ways, you can think of the Book of Revelation as given to us in a series of 7's, some are explicit while others are simply implied:

7 churches (chaps. 2-3);
7 seals (chaps. 6-7);
7 trumpets (chaps. 8-11);
7 thunders (chap. 10);
7 signs (chaps. 12-15);
7 bowls (chaps. 16-18);
7 last things (chaps. 19-22).

Others like to divide up Revelation around four key visions:
(1) the vision of the Son of man among the seven churches (chaps. 1-3);
(2) the vision of the seven-sealed scroll, the seven trumpets, the seven signs, and the seven bowls (4:1-19:10);
(3) the vision of the return of Christ and the consummation of this age (19:11-20:15); and
(4) the vision of the new heaven and new earth (chaps. 21-22).

Revelation Reading Plan

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week).

SUNDAY Feb 11 -- Rev 15:1-8
MONDAY Feb 12 -- Rev 16:1-9
TUESDAY Feb 13 -- Rev 16:10-21
WEDNESDAY Feb 14 -- 1 John 3:1-24 Focus on the word "love." (Hey, it's Valentine's Day - you could use a brief break from Revelation, right?)
THURSDAY Feb 15 -- Rev 17:1-8
FRIDAY Feb 16-- Rev 17:9-18
SATURDAY Feb 17 -- Rev 18:1-10
SUNDAY Feb 18 -- Rev 18:11-24

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

What's CLEAR and CONSISTENT COUNTS!

I was invited to speak at a Book of Daniel Bible Study at our church tonight. You thought Revelation was intimidating, try being the only guy in the room of all woman :)

I shared with them how to identify what is really important in Apocalyptic Literature (like Revelation and the second half of Daniel). Three points:

1. Focus on what is CLEAR. Don't get lost in the details. What we need to know God is big enought to make clear. Center first of all on what is CLEAR.
2. Then focus on what is CONSISTENT. When God says something repeatedly in the Bible we can know this is important and substantial.
3. Focus on what COUNTS. By that I mean that which matters. Spend your time on those things that will change the way you think, act, and feel. God's Word is not suppose to just inform. It should transform.

Revelation Reading Plan (cont.)

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week). We are going to backtrack a bit so you are reading around what I will be speaking on.


SUNDAY Feb 4 -- Rev 10:1-11
MONDAY Feb 5 -- Rev 11:1-14
TUESDAY Feb 6 -- Rev 12:1-17
WEDNESDAY Feb 7 -- Rev 13:1-10
THURSDAY Feb 8-- Rev 13:11-18
FRIDAY Feb 9-- Rev 14:1-20
SATURDAY Feb 10 -- Rev 15:1-8
SUNDAY Feb 11 -- Rev 16:1-9

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

Tribulations

My oldest son just got his driving permit; and so I’m in the mood to write about tribulations.

A couple days ago my wife was out “practice driving” with him. From the passenger seat, she was giving instructions; “You going to turn right here…”; “You’re going to need to get in left lane soon,” etc.

Then she wanted to have him practice parking. They pulled into a parking lot and spied a relatively safe parking space. As they pulled into the spot, she gasped, “You're going to drive over a planter!” Taking that as instructions, he said, “Sweet!” … and proceeded to plow right over the edge of the planter. This, of course, gives us great confidence.

But the more I thought about my son’s response, the more I liked it. When it comes to life it's a great analogy. God has warned us there are going to be some bumps along the way. But He has also given us many reasons to say, “Sweet!”

When it comes to tribulations (bumps big and small), one of the reasons we can be encouraged is because God has promised to seal us through them. This is modeled for us in the Great Tribulation of the last days. There, Heaven gives these instructions: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Revelation 7:3.

God always does this with His people. He seals us. While it is true we are not immune from tribulation, nevertheless God walks with us through trouble and protects from judgment. We may experience the wrath of humans, but we will be sealed and protected from the wrath of God. This gives us great confidence in the things that matter most.

Sweet!

Revelation is written for TODAY (and always was)

Here's an overarching conviction I have about how to interpret and apply the Book of Revelation. Simply this: Revelation is meant to speak to every generation.

In other words, it had a message for the 1st Century believers. And it carries a message to every century believers. Let me say that another way. While Revelation ultimately describes the culmination of human history as we know it, the cycle of Revelation has played itself out many times in history. Theologians call this the tension between history and eschatology in Revelation. I simply say Revelation is meant to speak to every generation. Here are some examples.

We know that, in the final chapter of human history, someone referred to as the Antichrist will come on the scene. But John, the author of Revelation, also says that, This is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. 1JN 2:18. Apparently, throughout history there have been many antichrists.

Or consider the Abomination of Desolation predicted in Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation. We know it happened in the 2nd Century B.C., when Antiochus Epiphanes placed a pagan altar to Zeus in temple at Jerusalem. We know it happened when Rome destroyed temple in 70 A.D. And I believe it is still said to be coming, as predicted, in Revelation 13.

Or consider this. We know that the Great Tribulation is still coming to culminate history. But it is also fair to say that every believer, of every age (if they live long enough) will experience “great” tribulation. There is something about the Great Tribulation of the final days that is characteristic of all of the tribulations you and I face.

Because Revelation is meant to speak to every generation.

Revelation Reading Plan (cont.)

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week).

SUNDAY Jan 28-- Rev 11:1-14
MONDAY Jan 29-- Rev 11:15-19
TUESDAY Jan 30-- Rev 12:1-6
WEDNESDAY Jan 31-- Rev 12:7-12
THURSDAY Feb 1-- Rev 12:13-17
FRIDAY Feb 2-- Rev 13:1-10
SATURDAY Feb 3 -- Rev 13:11-18
SUNDAY Feb 4 -- Rev 14:1-13

Find previous weeks' reading just scroll down to past posts.

A Glimpse of Heaven

It has been said that there are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who get up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord! Where’s my Bible?" And there are those who get up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, morning! Where's my caffeine?" (I must admit I can easily find myself in that second group).

How might it make a difference if we began each day with a glimpse of Heaven? In the Bible, John was given just such a glimpse.

"After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. ...At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven..." REVELATION 4:1,2

"The Throne" is one of the great images in the book of Revelation (the word occurs 46 times in the book, only 15 times in the rest of the New Testament). Obviously, as God completed the last chapters of His Book, He wanted us to remember the reality that He was on the Throne. The amazing picture we have of God, as the Bible closes, is that He is in charge, in control. There is nothing outside of His oversight, or beyond His power.

Tomorrow, when you wake up, remember God is on the Throne. As you go to work, let your desk, your cubicle, your home, your car, your computer screen, whatever it is… Let that become a throne room. Cast your crowns before His feet, worship Him throughout the day, and live with the confidence of His rule and reign over the details of your life.

Imagine how it might transform your day if you began with a glimpse of Heaven.

Revelation Reading Plan (cont.)

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week). Obviously, these are brief sections of Scripture. Spend some time with these passages in reflection, imagination and meditation.

SUNDAY Jan 21 -- Rev 7:1-8
MONDAY Jan 22-- Rev 7:9-17
TUESDAY Jan 23-- Rev 8:1-5
WEDNESDAY Jan 24-- Rev 8:6-13
THURSDAY Jan 25-- Rev 9:1-12
FRIDAY Jan 26-- Rev 9:13-21
SATURDAY Jan 27-- Rev 10:1-11
SUNDAY Jan 28-- Rev 11:1-14

Find previous week's reading plan here.

7 Keys to Understanding Apocalyptic Literature

Tomorrow (Jan 21) I will share 7 keys to understanding apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic literature was a common style of writing 2000 years ago and it is the style of the Book of Revelation. For those checking in early (or checking back later), here they are:


1. Apocalyptic literature relies heavily on Old Testament symbolism and language.
Therefore a great place for understanding is Old Testament cross references.

2. Apocalyptic literature is very symbolic.
Of course, the Bible full of symbols. For example, when Jesus says I am the Gate it doesn't mean He had literal hinges. Rather He is saying that His words, life, death, resurrection, are our gateway to God. He’s the way in. While you can find symbolism in many places in the Bible, in apocalyptic literature like Revelation, symbolism is the rule not the exception.


3. There is value in stepping back to see the whole picture.
Revelation paints a picture in these fantastic, elaborate, sometimes beautiful and sometimes grotesque images to convey spiritual reality. So it helps to step back to look at the overall impression. Sometimes when I view a famous painting I stand close and I’m impressed with the detail and the technique of the artist. But it’s only when I stand back and view the painting as a whole that I’m impressed with the power of the image.

4. In apocalyptic literature numbers are concepts and not simply units.
Seven, for example, equals completeness (as in 7 days of the week). Twelve, and multiples of 12, is often a reference to God’s people (as in the 12 tribes of Israel).

5. Strange creatures communicate ideas.
Revelation is full of bizarre animals. Today we still use animals to communicate ideas in political cartoons. If after an election you see an elephant crying and a donkey dancing – or vice versa - you would know who won the election.

6. Apocalyptic literature is usually written for tough times.
Revelation was written during persecution. It is full of vivid images to depict the battle between good and evil. And ultimately it concludes with the triumph of good and the triumph of God.

7. Apocalyptic literature is meant to convey a feeling.
Ask yourself: What feeling does it promote? Sometimes we get caught up in what we would see if we were there. But part of focus of apocalyptic literature is, “What would you feel?”

There you are - 7 characteristics. How very apocalyptic of me!

Reading Plan for Revelation (cont.)

If you're reading along with me through Revelation, here's this week's plan. (I'll update this week to week). Obviously, these are brief sections of Scripture. Spend some time with these passages in reflection, imagination and meditation.

SUNDAY Jan 14 -- Rev 3:14-22
MONDAY Jan 15 -- Rev 4:1-8
TUESDAY Jan 16 -- Rev 4:9-11
WEDNESDAY Jan 17 -- Rev 5:1-10
THURSDAY Jan 18 -- Rev 5:11-14
FRIDAY Jan 19 -- Rev 6:1-8
SATURDAY Jan 20 -- Rev 6:9-17
SUNDAY Jan 21 -- Rev 7:1-8

Find previous week's reading plan here.

Rev'ed up!

People are getting into Revelation. I just received this email from a friend:

I just thought that I’d let you know that my wife and I are really enjoying your Revelation reading assignments. What we like to do is read the assigned passage from 2 or 3 different translations (usually the ESV, TNIV and the Message)—this seems to help us not only understand the words of the letters, but also the feel and tone. There’s a pretty good chapter on Revelation in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth—you may want to add this to your recommendation list.

I heartily agree with his recommendation on Chap 13 in Gordon Fee's book, How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth. It is one of my favorites. You may want to check it out.

This is why blogs are cool

A couple posts earlier I listed several books as recommended reading for our new message series at church on Revelation. One of the books I mentioned was "Dragons, Grasshoppers & Frogs!" by Jerry L. Parks. Somehow he, the author of that book, came across my blog and left the following comment:

Doug:

Just saw your very kind comment on my book "Dragons, Grasshoppers & Frogs!". Wanted to say thanks!

Jerry Parks

I think he lives in Kentucky. Pretty cool, huh?