The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Part 5

Revelation 10:1-11:14

The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Part 5

Being the Church in a Broken World

THE SATURDAY NIGHT CHALLENGE:
Guess the sermon content – fill in the blanks of the outline and email it to Pastor Jeff (jeff@gbchope.com) by Sunday morning at 8:00 AM.
Two (2) categories: (1) actual, and (2) creative. A prize will be rewarded for each category. And yes, you can win both categories.
* This page will be updated Sunday afternoon with the answers.

I. The BIG PICTURE thus far. (Rev. 1-11)
A. Jesus PRESENT in the CURRENT moment. (Rev. 1-3)
B. The SLAIN LAMB on the THRONE. (Rev. 4-5)
C. The unfolding CLASH of KINGDOMS. (Rev. 6-8)
D. Living THROUGH the trumpet JUDGMENTS. (Rev. 9-11)
E. The PAUSES are MESSAGES to the church.
(Rev. 7, 10:1-11:14; 16:15-16)

“Why have you preached 4 sermons on Revelation and now you boil it down to 4 minutes?” Good question. There’s a lot to see here, but we can hang it on some mental hooks that help us get a flow of the whole book and help us to understand the text we are looking at today.

1. What are you thoughts on the book of Revelation so far? Have they changed through this series?

II. Scene #1 – Eat (INTERNALIZE) truth and the PROCLAIM it. (10:1-11)
A. An ANGEL, two MESSAGES, and a SCROLL. (10:1-7)
B. EXPERIENCING a bitter-sweet TRUTH. (10:8-11)

Chapters 10-11 have more allusions to the Old Testament than any other section of Revelation. If you are a Jewish believer who is listening to this, or anyone who is familiar with the text of the Old Testament there are mental connections popping up everywhere.

2. Kid’s Question: How do you think you’d react if you saw the angel mentioned in 10:1? Why?
3. What are some ways that you have found you can “internalize” the truth? Is that easy for you or difficult?

III. Scene #2 – There is NOTHING to FEAR.
(11:1-14; Zech. 2:1-5)
A. “MEASURING” the “TEMPLE”. (11:1-2; I Pet. 2:4-5)
1. “42” – (Num. 33; James 5:17; Rev. 11:3, 12:14; Matt. 1:17)
B. POWERFUL and SACRIFICIAL witnesses. (11:3-10)
1. “2” – (Dt. 19:15; Mt. 18:16; Jn. 8:17; I Tim. 5:19; Zech 4; Mark 6:7)
C. What FINALLY makes a DIFFERENCE. (11:11-14; Rev. 9:20-21)

Remember that this pause is a message to a church who is suffering. It’s great to say we are called to be a witness, but what about when they are killing witnesses? Then what?

4. What makes you feel safe? When have you felt unsafe? How does this text define safety?
5. How does Jesus’ use of power differ from what we are used to? What does that mean for us as we seek to follow His example?

IV. Revelation for the HERE and NOW. (Rev. 1:3)
A. Seek to INTERNALIZE the TRUTH. (Is.31:4; Ps.1:2)
B. Be a TEMPLE with an OPEN DOOR. (Eph. 2:19-22)
C. Be a witness as a NOUN, not a VERB. (Acts 1:8)
D. RETHINK your DEFINITION of power. (Phil. 2:5-8)

So if this pause is written to the church for their current moment, what does this section of the text say to ours? Actually, quite a lot. There are so many parallels in the state of our world and theirs that this pause between trumpets is extremely relevant to us today.

6. What you “externalize” is the truth you have already “internalized” whether you like it or not. What’s your reaction to that statement?
7. When you picture the temple that is your life, is the door open or closed? Why?
8. If you had to describe the difference between living as a witness as a noun or witness as a verb what would you say? Is one way better than the other? Why or why not?