Welcome! We are glad you are here!

Don’t worry if you don’t know how to do this, we will teach you as we go!

Three Easy Questions

Three Questions when you read the chapter you wish to study:

1. What does the chapter say?

2. What does that mean – specifically – to me?

3. What am I going to do about it?

Some add an optional memory verse as a part of the process to help them retain what God has said to them.

KV 6: Be a Partaker in the First Resurrection

1 - 6: The Thousand-year reign of Christ

7 - 10: Final victory over the adversary

11 - 15: The Great White Throne Judgement

Remember – at least four six(!) levels to understand!

1. To the believers at that time in that place (Historical context)

2. To all the churches (Ecclesiastic context):

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

3. To all believers (Homiletic context):

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

4. To world historical events (Prophetic context)

5. The Symbolism and interpretation thereof (Symbolic context)

6. Geopolitical context (won’t say much here)

Some principles of Bible study:

Take the text in context

Be sure of literal or symbolic interpretations

Don’t be afraid to ask the Author ;)

Cooper’s first rule of Interpretation:

If the plain sense of Scripture makes good sense, then seek no other sense!

The Thousand-year Reign of Christ:

Remember last week I used a phrase “game not over”? This is why. The Enemy is only bound for 1000 years the first time. At the end of that time, he will be loosed again for a short time.

Now it turns to those that will rule with Christ 1000 years. They are priests of Christ and God during that time.

This is called the “First Resurrection.” This is where all believers will face the Bema seat judgement of rewards in front of Jesus, I believe.

The second resurrection happens in this chapter too, and we’ll say more about that in a bit.

This is a resurrection of privilege and reward after we have all faced judgement by Jesus our Lord and King.

Final Victory over the Adversary:

“When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10)

Here it is! Game finally OVER! And here is where eternity begins in earnest!

The Great White Throne Judgement:

This is where the fate of the rest of humanity will be decided.

Books are opened. People are judged according to the contents,

AND

Whether their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.

This is not a popular message. People will end up in Hell. However, they only go there by choice – to not respond to the limited-time offer of Jesus to redeem them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWPAhGu467o

Judgement is coming to everyone that lives on Earth.

It is not based on our good works, that is simply part of that false belief system.

It IS based on how you respond to God’s limited time offer of redemption in Jesus Christ. (We talked about that last week and we’ll review it again now.)

We know that we have violated God’s holy standards, each of which carries the sentence of death. We are condemned to eternal separation from God.

Jesus Christ, God the Son, became human with one specific purpose – to pay that penalty on our behalf and redeem humankind to God!

Ever hear THIS Bible verse? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)

He came to redeem, or RECONCILE (an accounting term) our lives with God. He did that by dying on the cross in our place.

We can learn four very straightforward truths from John 3:16:

1. God loves us and has a plan for your life! Otherwise why bother to send Jesus?

2. There is an issue – our SIN separates us from God, and we just looked at that.

3. Jesus paid the price for OUR sin – and in believing that, we receive God’s pardon personally.

4. It is a gift that is yours for the taking.

But how do we take that gift?

Two things are required:

1. Repent

2. Believe

“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

And you don’t need to go anywhere to get it! Jesus comes to you, and brings everything needed for your own situation.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 NASB)

Through Christ’s work on the cross, we are offered companionship instead of condemnation. We would be fools not to take that offer.

This is where it all begins – and the even better news is that from this point, God will always be with you. This DOES NOT mean you will not have troubles and trials – you may have more! But God will use them to make you the person that He made you to be.

So:

1. Do not flee God’s discipline in your life.

2. Turn to Him and give Him glory during discipline.

3. Choose now for Jesus – it is a limited-time offer.