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LET’S STUDY REVELATION # 21

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Revelation

 

The Vision on Earth – The Seals and the Sealing

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Chapters 6:1-7:8 give the vision of whatJohnsees on earth. Keep in mind that chapters 2 and 3 are the vision of the people on earth with the Son of Man in the midst of the Jewish assemblies. Chapters 4 and 5 are the vision of things in heaven, the throne, the book, and the Lamb.  Chapter 6-7:8 are on earth, the six seals, and the 144,000.

 “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”  (Revelation 6:1-2).

 When the Lamb opens one of the seals on the book of judgment, a loud thunder roll introduces the coming of the four horsemen. Nothing gets our attention like a sudden clap of thunder on a quiet summer night. The day may have been peaceful, but that earsplitting sound announces that a storm is on the way. The Book of Revelation is about a storm. It is the storm of God’s wrath on Satan, the god of this world, and his followers.

       In the Bible, horses are associated with battle. Job described this fearless champion in Job 39:19-25, “Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.”

       When the Lamb opens the first seal, a white horse comes forth. The rider is not identified, except for the bow and the crown, which are in his hand.

       The first time the bow is mentioned in Scripture, it is called a “weapon” of war. “Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;” (Genesis 27:3). Many commentators make much of the silence concerning this rider’s lack of arrows. They assume that since none are mentioned he did not have them, but he conquers through means of peace and diplomacy. However, we don’t find a mention of arrows in Genesis 48:22 either: “Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”   No arrows are mentioned here. They are assumed. We can also be sure this rider has (modern) weapons in his conquest.

             One must not ignore the use of colors in Scripture. The white horse and its rider with a bow and crown are symbolic of the beginning of a procession, which includes and concludes with a cavalry from hell. As each rider comes forth, the situation on earth intensifies. By comparing Scripture with Scripture far and near, the meaning of each horse and his rider can be understood.

PROCEDURE

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By Ken Blue

1 a : a particular way of accomplishing something or of acting  b : a step in a procedure. 2 a : a series of steps followed in a regular definite order *legal procedure* *a surgical procedure*  b :  : a traditional or established way of doing things  b : PROTOCOL”

 Pastor, do you have a clearly defined procedure on how your church is going to reach young families, and the steps you will take after they profess to trust Christ?  Is this procedure in writing and on your calendar? Are your staff members and church leaders aware of it? If ask, could they clearly state your purpose statement and assimilation procedures? If not, guess who dropped the ball?

 The definition of a procedure is stated above, and is clear. It means you have an established way of accomplishing the assimilation of families into your church and the ministry for Christ. It is a series of steps. Are those steps clearly defined, and is each one well planned and implemented?   

 In the matter of bringing families from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity, there a four steps that must be clearly defined and employed. 1. You should have a class every four months for new members. This class is a requirement for membership, and teaches what your church is all about. Each class should take three to four hours to teach. 2. Four months later, there should be a class on how to study the Bible and grow in your new life. 3. four months later, a class should be taught on how and where one might serve the Lord in the local church. 4. Finally, four months later, a class should be taught on how to commit one’s life to God’s will for their life.

 Any pastor, sincere about the things we have stated above, should contact Pastor Murphy at Open Door. He said, on Easter weekend they had, “20 people to accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, we had over 100 visitors…”

 

 

 

 

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; GET ME TO VISIT YOUR CHURCH

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CHURCH BUILDING GUIDELINES

CHURCH

By Ken Blue

The average church in America and Canada has about 75 in attendance. In some parts of the country, that may be the best anyone could do. However, many are averaging less in greatly populated areas.

I do not believe some pastors are reaching their full potential. They have hit a glass ceiling. Some are stuck in a rut of faulty training about church growth. A few pastors think their church will grow if they preach great sermons. It will not. Others believe if they get many professions of faith the church will grow, again, it will not. Although the above are important, they are only part of the reasons people attend church. You may be able to do better than you are.

One of the problems for pastors is they continue to attend meetings and conferences hosted by those who believe and practice the same things they themselves are doing. You will learn very little about church growth if that is your little world. You should branch out and learn from others who are making things happen. It may surprise you, but lost people do not visit because you are a K.J.V, independent, premillennial, dispensational, Baptist. All those things are good, but they mean nothing to the unsaved.

Here are some reasons the unsaved visit churches:

  1. They are invited by a family member or friend. This is the number one reason.
  2. Your advertisement is interesting and attention getting, and might meet their perceived needs.
  3. They have seen your attractive and interesting web page, face book, or you tube add.
  4. They drive by each day and see your building.
  5. They feel a need in their life.
  6. A recent death in the family.
  7. A recent divorce.
  8. The birth of a child.
  9. They want to know about the future.
  10. They want to know how to be saved.
  11. It is Christmas or Easter time.

Now, the above are some reasons why people visit your church. However, they are not reasons why they will return or stay; that is a different matter altogether. It important for the pastor to know the differences why people visit, why they return, and then set about to improve in each area.

Here are some reasons why people return or stay:

  1. A friend or family member attends the church.
  2. They found it easy to make friends. If a person does not have a friend or a family member in the church, they will not stay.
  3. The members were friendly toward them.
  4. The gospel was presented in such a manner it was easy for them to trust Christ.
  5. It was easy to find a parking place.
  6. Signs clearly directed them where they wanted to go.
  7. Bathrooms and nurseries were easy to find, and were spotless.
  8. They were challenged to attend a membership class.
  9. A follow up letter, visit, or phone call was made.
  10. Programs were available for the whole family, and were top quality.
  11. The personality, character, and aptitude of the pastor was evident.

These are a few reasons people return or stay in your church. Reverse each one, and discover why they never return. If you are going to catch young families for Christ, you must do the right things.

 

 

POWER POINT PARANOIA

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 By Ken Blue

 All appears quite on the home front. The brethren who were vehemently against Power Point have seen the light, or retreated into a cave. There is no need for fear. However, in some churches there is no need for Power Point. So, do thy self no harm.

 If your church is small, and you seldom have visitors, Power Point will be of little value to you. Most churches of a hundred or less operate as a family church. All the members know each other by name, they are one happy family, and hope it stays that way. Everyone has access to the pastor, and he loves it. In addition, all the members bring their Bibles, and can find the books with ease. If you do not have visitors, and your church is not growing, you may not need Power Point.

 On other hand, if you have visitors each Sunday, Power Point can be a great advantage and should be used. Keep in mind that most visitors are self-conscious, and your church is a strange environment for them. They do not want to be pointed out, nor embarrassed as they fumble through the Bible in an attempt to keep up with the pastor. So, if you want your church to grow new converts, make is easy for visitors and new members to follow you. You want your visitors to return next Sunday. Give them a reason to return.

 Wisdom will dictate that you put your sermon outline, sub points, and Bible verses on Power Point. The benefits of doing this far exceed your fears. It is better to make is easy for people to trust Christ than it is to try to teach them to find verses in the Bible before they are saved. Win them first, and then teach them. Preaching is an educational process. You should use every tool available to reinforce your teaching. Power Point will do that.

 Now, for those who fear that people will not learn how to find the books in the Bible, the key is to not put the verses up on Power Point in the evening service. Visitors seldom attend these services. You should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Learn how to balance your ministry so you can best help those who attend. Let wisdom guide you instead of fear.

 Creating an outline and Bible verses for Power Point will require a little more effort on your part. However, the benefits far outweigh the time invested. Don’t allow Power Point paranoia paralyze you.

HOW SICK ARE YOU?

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By Ken Blue

Luke 5:31 “Jesus answering said unto them, they that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.”

Occasionally someone will complain of a migraine or a touch of the flu. Another may suggest they see a doctor. However, the person feeling ill will say, “no, I don’t feel that bad.”

My question is, how sick do you feel? Jesus made it clear, only the sick need a physician. Many who profess to be saved have never had more than a heart burn or a runny nose. They have never come to the realization that their situation is terminal.

It is the sick who need the Physician. Listen to these who have realistically looked at themselves. Job said, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.” Job 40:4. This was how this great saint of the Old Testament saw himself. Have you come to that realization?  Simon Peter saw his own sinfulness. “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8. A dear woman saw her true condition, and took her place under the table with the dogs. “Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Matthew 15:25-27. Finally, we hear Paul’s estimation of himself. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” I Timothy 1:15.

Now, how sick are you of yourself? Do you see your inward man as vile, sinful, like a dog, and the chief of sinners?  If not, no doubt you have not come to the Great Physician yet. Only those who sense that they are terminally ill really appreciate what the Physician has done for them, and that He is the only one who can make them whole.

How sick are you? If you know you, like I know me, you are sick of you. The only reason men and women don’t come to Christ for salvation is they don’t think they are sick.