Bible Guys Classics: Revelation - When??

So, Jeff, I'm just wondering, did you know that I was going to do that out? No, Well, in the world, it's hard to predict what's coming it is. Well, we're about to jump into the Book of Revelations. Diving into the deep end today. So he's Chris and I'm Jeff and we're the Bible guys. Hey, so, uh, first of all, you didn't know it was gonna. Least I did not. Did that hurt a little? I just left you pretty I know, Actually, actually, I you know, I reacted pretty strongly. But it's because I'm such an amazing actor. Yes, real good jobs and a whip. Yeah. Okay, So so listen our segment today is you having to guess whether or not what I'm about to read is a Bible verse or a quote. Oh these are hard. The last one only got three out of five. Yeah, well, I mean and then here's the thing. It's not even like a like you know, everybody you know remember like sometimes we would say it's all from Justin Bieber. These are just just famous quote. So here, so it's either a quote or a Bible verse. Yep, here we go. You ready, Yes, I have been sorry, I have been reduced to skin and bones, and I have escaped death by the skin of my teeth. I'm going to say a Bible verse. Yes, because that because who would. Quote that's right? That's right? And where do you think it's found? It could be, but it wasn't. It was job the skin. Okay. So how about this one? God helps those who help themselves. That's a quote, that's of course. Uh. And by the way, I didn't know who said this. I've heard that quote. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin said that? Okay? So how about this one? Spread love wherever you go. That's a quote. Who do you think said the Beatles? That's awesome, that's awesome, and you know what, it totally is believable. But it was mother Teresa. Oh in this case, yeah, mother, she said the Beatles. Well not only that, but like I bet you a thousand people have quoted that just in our lifetime. Yeah. Sure, how about this one? Don't judge each day by the harvest that you reap, but by the season that you plant. Oh it sounds like a Bible verse. Well, I'm gonna say it's a quote. You are four for four? Oh wow. So that was by Robert Lewis Stevenson. Oh so, and then here's the last one. Of my favorite writers, is it? Yea, yeah, here's the last one. Let me gulp down some of that red stuff. Oh no, I'm going to say. It's a quote. Apparently it's from Genesis, chapter twenty five of verse thirty. In what translation. I know, I'm looking at it because this is crazy. What go down some of them? The red stuff? That's sounds that's about it. It sounds like a rapper talking about kool aid. I mean I have never all right, hang on, hang on, keep the crowd entertained. I'm almost there. Yeah, yeah, twenty in the front thirty, thanks buddy. Okay, so it says Esau. Oh, it's Esau Sells's birthrate. Oh, he's talking about the stew. Okay, okay, all right. And so then verse number thirty in this translation reads, uh, Esau said, I'm starved, give me some of that red stew. Okay. And this is how Esau got his other name, Eatam, which means red. Okay, So let me gulp down some of that red set the. Message message or something that's Oh man, that is so funny. So she snuck one in, but it was through a paraphrase. So is a paraphrase an actual Bible verse or is it a quote. That's a really good huh, you may get a point. I'm gonna get at least half a point. Paraphrases are not a scripture. You're assuming that it's a paraphrase. The message is a paraphrase. That's what she got it from. Yes, right, we don't know. Right, Well, we need to find out because that's I want my point. Okay, that's so funny. So dude, we are jumping off into the deep end on this one. And so we're getting into really the end times, not just the Book of Revelation. We're not going to go for our longtime listeners. We usually go chapter by chapter, verse by verse, but in the Book of Revelation, we're not going to do that. Instead, we're going to go a big idea by big idea, event by event, person by person as much as possible through the end time stuff. So a couple of things. One, the Bible guys do not claim to be theologians and professors, right, we try to be theologically accurate as much as possible. But if you're looking for a seminary level class or Bible study on the Book of Revelation. Well, this isn't it right, And our lifetime listeners already know that. But if you're a new person listening, this. Is I mean hopefully it's and you know, this would be something that I would choose to listen to our version of this topic or this book, because we're going to approach it more sort of topically, and we're not going to get caught up in the details of saying, now this, we believe that this happens after this, and this represents this and let's you know, we're not going to be because here's quite frankly, there's so many opinions about revelation. In fact, I would go, let me go on a limb and say this lightheartedly. Nobody comments more than revelation people. And then not only will they comment, but they'll only comment. Forever, and they'll be angry that most most of. The time, they'll be angry. Uh and and this is and now. But by the way, we're not trying to by me making those kind of comments. I'm not trying to like stereotype everybody in the world, but I am saying that's my life experience, so I can't you can't deny that right. So in my life experience, that's the case and all of that, But there's so many opinions about it, so we could we can get really lost and you know, what do you think this means or this means or when is this or what's the difference between this view and this view? And so I think instead of doing that, and by the way, that there's probably two thousand of those. Oh yeah, well, how many Christians are there? There's about that many. There's about that many opinions about these things. And here's why prophecy in the Bible. Yeah, looking forward, We just talked about this with our staff. Looking forward at prophecy, it's like looking at a foggy mirror. You can kind of see the outlines and get the gist, but it's not clear. And then on the other side, after a thing happens and you look back, you go, oh, that's what it meant. And the proof of that is how many times in the Book of Matthew does Matthew say and the disciples didn't understand that the Bible had prophesied this. Right, So the disciples understood it afterwards, but not before, And it happens over and over and over again through the gospels, where the disciples and the people who were following Jesus did not understand clearly all of the prophecies until they had been fulfilled. And so some of the things that we're going to talk about are pretty clear and pretty evident. He's really really clear on this, he spells it out X Y Z right. But there's other things that dude, he talks about a dragon with you know, seven heads and ten crowns coming out of the words. Is that a real dragon with seven right? Or is that a metaphor for something or is that an allegory for something? Right? So, and this is the problem with the book Revelation. There's very clear factual things that are said. There are also allegorical things, and there are metaphorical things all put together and sometimes and and and the Bible doesn't transition between them, doesn't say okay, and now we're talking metaphorically metaphorical right, right, right? And so so this is this is some of the difficulty of it. So, hey, we're going to navigate through it in a way that it makes sense to us. And if you agree, that's fine. If you disagree, that's fine too. But we've got a couple of warning labels. One, don't lose the delight in the details. Right. Sometimes man, people go in and dive down super deep and stay down way too long and come up mostly dead. Uh. If you if you lose the light in the details, you're missing the point. Right. So Yeah, because overall, revelation is given to us to communicate some very big and important and essential ideas. Yeah, exciting things. Yeah. Yeah, Jesus is in control of history. This is who he is. He wins, God wins. Yeah, we read the back of the book. We can tell you that at the. Beginning, and and you know he's coming. Uh, there's hope for those who believe these are the things that revelation points to. Yeah, and so that's what you're really saying. You're saying, don't dive down too deep to lose the overall message of revelation. Right. And if you find somebody who is who steps up and goes, I know for sure that this is what this means or that means or there is no within Christianity, there is no single cohesive understanding of these prophetic things. Right. So there's a certain amount of vaguary. So watch out for polarization. Quite honestly, in teaching about the end times, people who want to fight about it, I would just say stay away from them. You know, I've had friends I've had in the faith group that I kind of grew up in man alive. If you believed in a pre post or mid trip belief system, you may or may not be allowed to be my friend or preach at my church. You know. That's how many of our preachers, our pastors acted just based on nuances. And so I would say watch out for polarization. God is vague on purpose because he's he's got a better plan and it'll be clear to us. And in the meantime, if we pretend like we're experts or professionals on this, I think that we're really running some real risks. So that's our warning label for today. We've got a lot to read about. Yeah, sure, so we're going to read from three big passages. Say, we're gonna cover a lot of Bible verses. And sometimes when it comes to these things, it's better just to read what the Bible says than for you and me to try to commentate on it. All right, So let's just read the words of God and let the words of God speak to you. So the first big question we have, and this is the number one question I get asked about it, is so when's it all going to happen? Right? So that's not an original question. Christians have been asking it from the very first week of Christianity, right right. So here's what happens in just as Jesus is getting ready to ascend back to heaven, says so when the apostles. This is in Acts, chapter one, verse six. So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore your kingdom? And he replied, the Father alone has the authority to set those dates in times, and they're not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you'll be my witnesses telling people about me everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, to the ends of the earth. And after this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they can no longer see him. And as they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white robed men suddenly stood among them, men of Galilee. They said, why are you standing here staring into heaven. Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go. Yeah. So what's interesting is is that other verses also say that that the the day and the hour, so not just the day but the hour. Okay, we'll not be able to be known. And then it even goes as far as to say only the Father knows, not even Jesus knows, right, right. So so the answer to the question when is it all going down? Okay, so this is this is I just got done talking with somebody about this before this podcast. When you drive from Detroit into Ohio, he made a comment. I've not seen this, but he made a comment and said, there's usually like a billboard, a certain billboard that's like that says something, and I'm sort of poking your breath. You're getting ready to go into Ohio. It's going to be gross, right, No, no, no, no, no, Actually it's when the roads get better as soon as you cross over the line. But when you when you go into Ohio, there's a billboard that's that's basically that I'm poking fun but it says like God's coming next Tuesday, right, So it has the prediction of when and so, and then when that day passes and God doesn't come, it recalculates change. They change the sign, and then it has like a new date, right, a new prediction. And so it's like, you know, they're trying to do the blind score on the nothing. So what's but what's really interesting is like every time I will pass something like that in my you know, my wife's in the car, whatever, my kids are in the car, and I'll see that and it'll literally have a prediction. We'll say like God is coming, and we'll give the date and I'll say, hey, kids, the only thing we know for certain is that God's not going to come on that date, right right, right right. It's actually the only thing we know is that no man will know the day or the hour. So if you think that you know that, the only thing I know is it's not going to spend that day. So Jesus literally says the Father alone has authority. But basically what Jesus says is it's not for you to know. He literally is saying, this is the Plight way, this is the Bible way. Of saying, Jesus going, it's none your business, right right, Only the Father knows, and so it's none of your business. Instead, you're going to be filled the Holy Spirit and go tell everybody about me. That. So he pivoted them off of the curiosity of winning is all this end and moved them back to their mission. And so we have to be careful. I think this is the first time that you find after the Resurrection Jesus talking about this issue and he pulls away from it. He says, none your business. The Father knows and he's in control. You go about your business, and your businesses tell everybody everywhere, and he says, hey, the power of the hoyspirits there. So they're standing there with their mouths wide open, looking up into heaven, and two angels have to go, man in the galilee, njerim, what are you standing here for? Get about your business? Right? And so it wasn't like someday, go tell somebody it's going right now, and so let's not get distracted by these things from the mission God has and that is to tell everybody. But for me, I have to tell you knowing that there is an end game and that God is working towards It kind of lights a fire under me to want to tell everybody. I want to go tell everybody that Jesus is coming soon. You need to respond now right. I don't want to wait till tomorrow because I don't know if he's gonna come. So, yeah, there's that. So I would say this, and we don't have to overtalk it too much. But I love Revelation chapter seven. If you're saying, so, when is it going to happen, I can tell you this. It's not going to happen until every people group, every tribe, every language has somebody around the throne of Heaven. I'll just read the passage. We don't have to talk about it too much. But Revelation seven says, after this, I saw a vast crowd, so there will be people from every tribe and language around the throne. After this, I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people in language, standing in front of the throne and before the lamb. And they were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands, and they were shouting with a great roar. Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne and from the Lamb, and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings, and they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground, who worshiped God, and they saying Amen, Blessing in glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength, belong to our God forever and ever. Amen. And then one of the twenty four elders asked me, who are these who are clothed in white? Where'd they come from? And I said, sir, you're the one who knows. And then he said to me, these are the ones who died in the Great Tribulation. They've washed their robes and the blood of the Lamb and made them white. And that is why they stand in front of God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. And He who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. So there's a lot in there. But one of the things he says is that there's going to be people from every nation, every tribe, every language standing in front of the throne. This is why when the disciples go to Jesus and say, hey, when's it all going to end? He goes, none of your business, father knows. Go tell everybody. And until we've told everybody, until every nation, every tribe, every language, every people group has somebody standing around the throne, Jesus isn't coming back, right, So we've got to be about our father's business. And there are scriptures to talk about. That's the main reason why he tarries. It's the main reason why he doesn't come back now. So if you're wondering why doesn't Jesus come, he's waiting for us to fulfill the great commission. Yeah. I think next week we talk about that. Two Peter says, God's not willing that any would perish, but that all would come depends. So he's not being lazy in this, he's being patient in that, right. Yeah, that's great, and I love of course, you know, like there are certain parts of revelation that you hear at, for instance, like funerals, and the last part of that in verse number seventeen, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. It's just wonderful. And then the imagery of it's all about the Lamb, right, yea, So it's capital l lamb. Jesus is referred to as the lamb. You know, when he came on the scene. It was the first thing that John the Baptist said, behold the Lamb. The Old Testament pointed toward it, and all the way in the future in the Book of Revelation, it's just you know, it just calls Jesus the Lamb, and it's all about him. So this is the one that's sitting on the throne, right, But let's jump to Revelation chapter one, the very beginning. This is the very beginning, and then I guess we got to wrap up. We're going to run out of time, dude. We're never getting this done in two weeks, you know that, right, there's so much, so much affrasition. We know what we're going to go until we cover it covered. We were hoping to do it in two weeks, but I just can't imagine it. So here's the beginning, the very beginning, because I know some of our listeners like what, I need more information right now, so let's just start the beginning of revelation. Verse eight, Jesus says, I am the Alpha and the Omega, which literally means the beginning. In the end, says the Lord God. I'm the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One. And then John said, when I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lamp stands, and standing in the middle of the lamp stands was someone like the son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp, two edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was like the sun and all its brilliance. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said don't be afraid. I'm the first and the last. I'm the living one. I died, but look, I'm alive, forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and the grave. That is one of the best. I cannot read it without getting teared up about it. Yeah, so man alive. What a vision of Jesus John has in this moment. And Jesus has to say, hey, listen, I'm going to tell you some crazy things, but don't be afraid, right, because I hold all the keys. Yeah, And that's that's the message. So I think a lot of people enter into or curious about the book Revelation or curious about the end times, and it's because they're afraid of it. And so even though we're going to study some really crazy things, Jesus goes, don't be afraid. I've already won. Yeah. And I love how John describes his vision of Jesus as quite honestly the most intimidating moment, right, And he says, I fell down as if I were dead. And so you know when when the Book of Philippians talks about one day, every knee will bow every time, will confess. Yeah, yeah, that God, you know that the Jesus Christ is Lord. It's because how can you not after reading this? Yeah? Right, and then he leans over. He laid his right hand on me. So if you fall on the ground as if you're dead, it means you're on the ground, right, yeah, yeah, yeah, So he leans over and he puts his hand on him and says, don't be afraid. Oh, it's amazing. So there's a lot of things. Next week we'll talk about the description around the Throne of God, which is like this intense times ten. It's really amazing. But there are a couple things. He's standing among the lamp stands. We know in the next couple chapters, it highlights the fact that these lamp stands our pictures are representative of churches, right, seven of the major churches at that time, and we know the stars represent the angels that are supporting and encouraging those churches. Right. So, as you read through the Bible will begin to unpack what those are, and you as we won't spend a lot of time on that. But what I love about it is he's standing among his church. He's standing among the believers, and so he's not a God that's separate from us. This powerful one to sharp two edge toward. We know the word of God is sharp right, and Jesus is the word of God. And so that's what it's talking about, is the word of God is coming out of his mouth. He's declaring his power. Everything is amazing. But he's doing it in the context of the relationship he has with his church and right from the very very beginning. So you don't have to be afraid God. Jesus didn't tell you these things to be afraid to make you afraid. Jesus told you these things to give you courage and confidence that he's in control. Yeah. And if you're listening to the podcast and you don't know God, and maybe you just tuned in somewhere and you're just a person who's curious, just know that God is both forgiving and relational. But he is also everything that John describes here as well. Yep, so he is he is the fullness of who he is is someone who's a warrior. He's the creator, the first, and the last. He is quite honestly, I don't know. I want to say the word intimidating, but it's okay. If he's on your side. Well, so what you're doing is you're seeing Jesus and all his glory. The last time we saw Jesus, you know, in the Bible, he was ascending to heaven. The time before that he was a lamb being beaten and sacrificed, right, and now here he is in all of his power and glory. Technically, we saw him one other time in Acts nine when he appeared to Paul. Right right, that's right, yeah, But as far as the descriptors of him, what you have is this lamb at the whipping whipping post and being crucified. That's what you saw. Then we see him as a man resurrected. Right then the god man resurrected, ascending to heaven. But now we see him in all of his glory. Is the king of the universe. That's pretty cool. Well, I think that is a great introductory podcast, and we want you guys to buckle up because we're going to be diving in to get crazy. Yep, we'll see you tomorrow on the Bible guys. Hmmmm