This has happened more than once for me; probably for many of you, too: I will be talking with someone at church, I bring up Revelation, and suddenly the light bulb turns off. Like I'm going to start talking about grasshoppers being helicopters, horns, years being weeks of years, et. al.. But let's face it: Revelation is in the Bible, and the Bible is God's Word. There it is. So if we're going to ignore it, then why is it even there? I think the answer is pretty clear: you can't ignore it. Let's start with the first non-controversial part of Revelation:
1) Revelation 22:18 I, John, solemnly warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: if any add anything to them, God will add to their punishment the plagues described in this book. 19 And if any take anything away from the prophetic words of this book, God will take away from them their share of the fruit of the tree of life and of the Holy City, which are described in this book.
There may be a little debate over whether "this book" refers to the book of Revelation, to the entire Bible, or it's a double-meaning and means both. But regardless, it means we cannot ignore Revelation. There is a Word of God to be heard here; and if you're like me, you thirst for it.
I wanted to compile here a little list of messages from God's Word which we need not be afraid to introduce in our face-to-face discussions; including with the people who prefer to shy away from the zillions of kooky(perceived) theories about the End of the World. Maybe in so doing, we can acquire a better understanding of Revelation is, overall. i.e. if we better understand the easy parts, that helps us better understand the hard parts.
My list so far:
2) Revelation 22:7 “Listen!” says Jesus. “I am coming soon! Happy are those who obey the prophetic words in this book!”
Jesus himself said this multiple times in the Gospels, so very few contest that. We should be prepared for Jesus to come back at any moment.
3) Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Everyone who hears this must also say, “Come!” Come, whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as a gift, whoever wants it.
A note of encouragement. Everybody likes those.
4) Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
This is recited in worship services very regularly.
5) Revelation 5:8 As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people.
This one has a way of turning the light bulb off in people, but it shouldn't. It says God views the prayers of God's people as sweet bowls of incense. Do not be afraid to pray: God covets your prayers. Nothing kooky about that.
6) Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Important verse! Continuing on to verse 10...
7) Revelation 7:10 They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!”
This was made into a worship song.
8) Revelation 2:4 But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first.
You lost your first love. An old worship song made about that:
1) Revelation 22:18 I, John, solemnly warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: if any add anything to them, God will add to their punishment the plagues described in this book. 19 And if any take anything away from the prophetic words of this book, God will take away from them their share of the fruit of the tree of life and of the Holy City, which are described in this book.
There may be a little debate over whether "this book" refers to the book of Revelation, to the entire Bible, or it's a double-meaning and means both. But regardless, it means we cannot ignore Revelation. There is a Word of God to be heard here; and if you're like me, you thirst for it.
I wanted to compile here a little list of messages from God's Word which we need not be afraid to introduce in our face-to-face discussions; including with the people who prefer to shy away from the zillions of kooky(perceived) theories about the End of the World. Maybe in so doing, we can acquire a better understanding of Revelation is, overall. i.e. if we better understand the easy parts, that helps us better understand the hard parts.
My list so far:
2) Revelation 22:7 “Listen!” says Jesus. “I am coming soon! Happy are those who obey the prophetic words in this book!”
Jesus himself said this multiple times in the Gospels, so very few contest that. We should be prepared for Jesus to come back at any moment.
3) Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Everyone who hears this must also say, “Come!” Come, whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as a gift, whoever wants it.
A note of encouragement. Everybody likes those.
4) Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
This is recited in worship services very regularly.
5) Revelation 5:8 As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people.
This one has a way of turning the light bulb off in people, but it shouldn't. It says God views the prayers of God's people as sweet bowls of incense. Do not be afraid to pray: God covets your prayers. Nothing kooky about that.
6) Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Important verse! Continuing on to verse 10...
7) Revelation 7:10 They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!”
This was made into a worship song.
8) Revelation 2:4 But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first.
You lost your first love. An old worship song made about that: