Message Notes

Series Intro: Far from being only about the future, end of time, or judgment day, the New Testament letter known as Revelation is all about helping us know Jesus better. In this series, we’re exploring what Revelation has to say for us today—not about impending doom, but about what following Jesus means for us when it comes to scripture, the Church, worship, evil, prayer, witness, politics, judgement, salvation, and more.

• History is littered with examples of people who have taken unpopular stands for truth and suffered the consequences.

The Interlude

• Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” (Revelation 10.8-11 CSB)
• He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. “Son of man,” he said to me, “feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. (Ezekiel 3.1-3 CSB)
• Like Ezekiel, John brings news. Unlike Ezekiel, it’s to the world (not just Israel) and it’s bitter, not just sweet.
• Application: eat this book.

The Witnesses

• When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the main street of the great city, which figuratively is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. And some of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (Revelation 11.7-10 CSB)
• These witnesses could be any Christian who has been faithful to the call that God has given to His people.
• And what does Revelation tell us can happen to any follower of Jesus who stands for the truth?
• Bearing witness to the truth means that we may be attacked, suffer, and murdered by those opposed to God
• Application: be ready to accept the unpleasant consequences for bearing witness to Jesus.

The Last Word on Witness: Christians should be willing to bear whatever unpleasant consequences come from following Jesus as King.

The End

• But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. (Revelation 11.11-12 CSB)
• The truth cannot be killed, nor will those who bear the truth remain dead.
• Application: remember Jesus is King.

Recommended Resources

• Read or listen via the Bible App
• Read or listen via Bible Gateway
• Reversed Thunder, Eugene Peterson (book)
• Revelation for the Rest of Us, Scot McKnight (book)
• Reading Revelation Responsibly, Michael Gorman (book)
• The Revelation of Jesus Poster, The Bible Project (pdf)
• Five Strategies for Reading Revelation, The Bible Project (podcast)
• Revelation: Four Views, Steve Gregg (book)
• Revelation Summary (Part 1), The Bible Project (video)
• Revelation Summary (Part 2), The Bible Project (video)
• Revelation for Normal People, Whitaker (book)
• Revelation Guide, The Bible Project (study guide)
• Revelation, Jen Wilkin (book/Bible study)
• Four Views on the Book of Revelation, ed. Gundry (book)
• Exiles, Preston Sprinkle (book)

For Reflection

• How does today’s message resonate with you?
• What questions does this message raise for you?
• What actions does this message encourage you to take?
• How can you dig deeper into today’s message?

Take Your Next Steps

Remember: Jesus loves you right where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there.

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