TEXT: Revelation 1:3
PROPOSITION: We can not avoid any portion of God's Word.
QUESTION: Why?
KEY WORD: Reasons
SCRIPTURE READING: Same
INTRODUCTION:
Many avoid the book of Revelation.
Too hard to understand – too many symbols – too many theories
How can I study and learn from this book?
Why should we teach and study Revelation?
It is part of God's Word – the Bible
There is no book in the Bible to be ignored
We must learn from each book
Interest is high in the teachings of this book
666 – Mark of beast – rapture – end of time
Preacher holding sign – End is Near – Turn Now; car passes by and goes into the river; Preacher says, “Maybe the sign should say “Bridge Out.”
We must learn how to interpret Scripture
Not just Revelation – all of the Bible must be interpreted
Figures of speech – parables, poetry, history, law
Church must learn how to live in a hostile world
Revelation was written to help churches during a period of persecution
We must learn that we live in a hostile world
This book helps us deal with suffering / persecution
Individual suffering is no different than church suffering
How to keep the faith in times of stress / persecution / suffering
There is a blessing to those who read and hear this book
Read = public oral reading of the text
Hear = listens to the reading of the text
Guidelines
It is NOT hard to understand
We need to not allow the many misconceptions to influence us
Do not “read into” the text what is not there
It is a “moving picture” book – movie more than a document
Do not get bogged down in the details
Go to a movie – notice that a house is yellow brick – start thinking about the meaning of yellow – Why was the house yellow? Symbol of being a coward? - You will miss the whole movie wondering about the yellow brick house.
Revelation paints a scene – then zooms in on the action
Value is found in the plain – not the obscure
We can discuss and study the obscure – find it interesting
BUT the real message from God is in PLAIN language