STUDYING THE BOOK OF REVELATION
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
THE FINAL STUDY (2)
Steps to Holiness
Jesus calls His people to be fully
separated from the world’s value system and to be totally committed to Him.
They are to find the spiritual power source in their lives in Christ, not in
occult practices. The believer is to gauge success by the measuring rod of God,
rather than by the world’s social and financial standard. When the Christian
understands God’s view from the eternal, the present comes into correct
perspective.
Key Lessons
in Faith
Faith is established in the knowledge of
God, trusting Him for understanding and wisdom in the face of persecution.
Faith’s commitment to overcome, based on the shed blood of Jesus, does not fear
even death.
Steps to
Dynamic Devotion
Jesus requires absolute devotion and
rejects lackadaisical, halfhearted followers. Zeal for the Lord is not optional
for His disciples. Devotion willingly submits to Jesus’ discipline because it
recognizes His love in it.
Keys to Wise
Living
The wise believer takes the time to
listen with his spiritual hearing to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
This is as needed today as it was in the first century. One who hears and
follows the voice of the Holy Spirit does not need to fear the deception that
leads to apostasy. Rather, he will walk where Jesus requires, and will grow in
the things of the Spirit of God, which produce healthy, vibrant, Spirit-filled
churches capable of preaching Jesus to the entire world.
Keys to Moral Purity
The church is pictured as the bride of
Christ; thus sexual impurity and apostasy are linked. Christians are required
to be faithful to Christ, being sexually pure, worshiping no carnal idol.
Guidelines to
Gaining Victory
Spiritual victory is something we enter into. Jesus Christ has already
won the victory through His death, burial, and resurrection.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK
The description of the Holy Spirit as "the seven Spirits of God" (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6). Is distinct in
the New Testament. The number seven is a symbolic, qualitative number conveying
the idea of completeness and, when related to God, the idea of perfection. The
Holy Spirit is thus denoted in terms of the perfection of His dynamic, manifold
activity. The "seven lamps of fire" (4:5) suggest His illuminating,
purifying, and energizing ministries. That the seven Spirits are before the
throne (1:4; 4:5) and simultaneously are the seven eyes of the Lamb (5:6)
signifies the essential trinity of God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit.
This is a mutual indwelling of the Persons without dissolving the distinctions of essential being and function.
This is a mutual indwelling of the Persons without dissolving the distinctions of essential being and function.
Each of the messages to the seven churches is from the exalted Lord,
yet the individual members are urged to hear "what the Spirit says"
(chs. 2; 3). The Spirit only says what the Lord Jesus says.
The Spirit is thus the Spirit of prophecy. Every genuine prophecy is
inspired by the Holy Spirit and bears witness to Jesus (19:10). The prophetic
visions are communicated to John only when he is "in the Spirit" (1:10; 4:2; 21:10). The content of
these visions is nothing less than "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"
(1:1).
All genuine prophecy demands a response. "The Spirit and the bride say,
Come" (22:17). Everyone
either hears or refuses to hear this appeal.
The Spirit is working continuously in and through the church to invite
those who remain outside the City of God to enter. Only by the empowering of the Spirit is the
bride enabled to witness and "patiently endure." The Spirit thus penetrates the present
experience of those who hear with foretastes of the kingdom’s future
fulfillment.
Janet
Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
