MPC Podcast Network

Word 306: Living Life from the Inside Out

2012-02-05T09:15:00.002-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Romans 2:17-29
Sermon Series: What Every Follower of Jesus Christ Needs to Know

Word 305: The Riches of His Kindness

2012-01-29T09:15:00.006-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley
Passage: Romans 2:1-16
Sermon Series: What Every Follower of Jesus Christ Needs to Know

Book of Romans: Lesson Two

2012-01-25T19:00:00.003-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Word 304: Exchanged Truth - Exchanged Glory

2012-01-22T09:15:00.002-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Passage: Romans 1:18-32

Sermon Series: What Every Follower of Jesus Needs to Know

Book of Romans: Lesson One

2012-01-18T19:00:00.005-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Word 303: The Gospel for Dummies

2012-01-15T09:15:00.003-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Romans 1:1-17
Sermon Series: What Every Follower of Jesus Christ Needs to Know

Word 302: What Every Follower of Jesus Christ Needs to Know: The Gospel of Jesus Christ According to the Book of Romans

2012-01-08T09:15:00.004-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Romans 1:1-17; Romans 15:14-33

Word 301: Lifting Up Your Eyes

2012-01-01T09:15:00.001-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley
Passage: Psalm 123

Word 300: Knowing God Through Jesus

2011-12-25T11:00:00.001-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley
Passage: John 1:15-18

Word 299: Knowing the God Who Came for You

2011-12-18T09:15:00.005-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: John 1:10-13

Word 298: Knowing the God Who Gives Life to You

2011-12-11T11:00:00.002-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley

Passage: John 1:4-9

For the Glory of the King

2011-12-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

Presented by: MPC Children's Choir

Word 297: Knowing the God Who Made You

2011-12-04T09:15:00.001-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: John 1:3

Word 296: Knowing the God of Christmas!

2011-11-27T09:15:00.003-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: John 1:1-2

Word 295: Financial Freedom

2011-11-20T09:15:00.004-05:00

Pastor: Mr. Joesph Sangl
Passage: Matthew 25:14-30
Sermon Series: Living Within the Margins

Word 294: Choosing What is Better

2011-11-13T09:15:00.002-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Luke 10:38-42
Sermon Series: Living Within the Margins

Word 293: Time

2011-11-06T09:15:00.002-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Paul Becker
Passage: Job 14:5 / Psalm 90:12 / Ephesians 5:15-17
Sermon Series: Living Within the Margins

Word 292: Transformation: The Priority, Purpose and Promise of Justice

2011-10-30T09:15:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Rodger Woodworth
Passage: Isaiah 58:1-12

Word 291: Growing in Grace

2011-10-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: II Peter 1:3-11 & 3:18
Sermon Series: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Word 290: Christ Centered

2011-10-16T09:15:00.002-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Philippians 3:7-4:1
Sermon Series: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Word 289: Close to Christ

2011-10-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon Series: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Word 288: Growing in Christ

2011-10-02T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: II Timothy 3:10-17
Sermon Series: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Word 287: Exploring Christ

2011-09-25T09:15:00.002-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley
Passage: John 17:1-5
Sermon Series: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Word 286: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

2011-09-18T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: II Corinthians 3:7-18
Sermon Series: Being Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Word 285: A Day to Remember

2011-09-11T09:15:00.002-04:00

Pastor: Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Colossians 4:18

Word 284: Full of Grace; Seasoned with Salt

2011-09-04T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pastor: Elder Bob Forney
Passage: Colossians 4:2-18
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 283: Relationships: Where's the "Easy" Button?

2011-08-28T09:15:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Dr. Steven Little
Passage: Colossians 3:17-4:1
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 282: Living Out the Life Within

2011-08-21T09:15:00.005-04:00

Pastor: Elder Jay Roy

Passage: Colossians 3:1-17 (The Message)

Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 281: The Fullness of God in Christ

2011-08-14T09:15:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley
Passage: Colossians 2:6-23
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 280: Our Greatest Value and Our Greatest Task

2011-08-07T09:15:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Arturo Velasco
Passage: Colossians 2:8-10 / Ephesians 3:17-19 /Philippians 1:21 & 3:8-11
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 279: Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

2011-07-31T09:15:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Colossians 1:24-2:7
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 278: All Things Means ALL Things

2011-07-24T09:15:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Paul A. Becker
Passage: Colossians 1:15-23
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 277: Dear MPC...

2011-07-17T09:15:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Betsy Rumer
Passage: The book of Colossians
Sermon Series: Living Eternally Now

Word 276: Got ID?

2011-07-10T08:00:00.005-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Betsy Rumer
Passage: Ephesians 1:11-12

Word 275: A Country on Fire for God

2011-07-03T08:00:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Kevin A. Gourley
Passage: Psalm 85

Word 274: More Than the Casual Christian Life

2011-06-26T12:39:00.005-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: John 20:19-23
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 273: The Spirit of God Upon a Man

2011-06-19T09:15:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: 1 Samuel 10:1-8
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 272: The Power of Pentecost

2011-06-12T09:15:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Acts 2:14-41
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 271: The Spirit of God Upon the Nations

2011-06-05T09:15:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Passage: Joel 2:28-32

Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 270: The Spirit of God Upon a Nation

2011-05-29T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 269: The Power of the Holy Spirit

2011-05-22T09:15:00.002-04:00

Pastor: Bishop Samedi

Passage: Acts 2:1-13

Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 268: The Spirit Empowered Service

2011-05-15T09:15:00.005-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Betsy Rumer
Passage: Acts:1:1-8
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 267: The Spirit Empowered Woman

2011-05-08T09:15:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Luke 1:26-38
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Word 266: The Spirit Upon Us

2011-05-01T09:15:00.007-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Luke 4:14-30
Sermon Series: The Spirit Empowered Life

Presbytery of the East Celebration

2011-04-29T19:00:00.004-04:00

Pastor: Dr. Bruce Bickel

Passage: Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon Study Talkabout

2011-04-29T15:00:00.005-04:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver, Rev. Kevin Gourley, Rev. Paul Becker, Rev. Betsy Rumer

Word 265: The Risen and Coming One!

2011-04-24T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 22:1-21
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Requiem: Maundy Thursday Communion Service

2011-04-21T19:00:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Music by: Mr. James Lueers

Word 264: The Holy City

2011-04-17T09:15:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 21:1-27
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Word 263: Our Readiness for His Return

2011-04-10T09:15:00.009-04:00

Pastor: Dr. Henry Blackaby

Word 262: Our Readiness for His Return

2011-04-10T08:00:00.003-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Betsy Rumer
Passage: Revelation 20:1-15
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Word 261: The Return of the King

2011-04-03T09:15:00.011-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 19:11-21
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

To listen to the Grove City College Touring Choir, click the links below:

Praise to the Lord 2:48
Give Thanks Unto the Lord 2:17
Crown Him with Many Crowns 3:23
They Shall Soar on Wings Like Eagles 5:21
Lux Aurumque 3:09
The Exultation of Christ 4:09
From All That Dwell Below the Skies 1:26
Benediction 1:56

Word 260: Ginormous Worship

2011-03-27T09:15:00.015-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 19:1-10
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Word 259: Come Out of the Great City

2011-03-20T09:15:00.009-04:00

Presented by: Mr. Patrick Myers

Passage: Revelation 18:1-24

Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

To listen to the Ligonier Staff sing worship songs from the service, click the links below:

The Book of Revelation: Lesson Eight

2011-03-16T19:00:00.003-04:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Word 258: The Battle of Armageddon

2011-03-13T09:15:00.007-04:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 16:1-21
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Book of Revelation: Lesson Seven

2011-03-09T19:00:00.002-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Word 257: The Valley of Decision

2011-03-06T09:15:00.005-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Betsy Rumer
Passage: Revelation 14:1-20
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Book of Revelation: Lesson Six

2011-03-02T19:00:00.005-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Eric Amundson

Summary:

I. Book Structure

Chapters 1-3 -7 Churches / Original Audience

Chapters 4-16 -3 Visions of 7 – progressive judgment on the earth

Chapters 17-22 -Comparison between Kingdom of this World –represented by it’s “capital” Babylon

& the Kingdom of our God –represented by it’s “capital” –New Jerusalem

*While book is always dealing with all three levels of audience (original, all time & end time) it is weighted more toward original audience in the early chapters, more for “all times” in the middle chapters and more toward the End time in the later chapters….yet all three levels are always operating…

II. Big Idea

Revelation 11:15 -the Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ

Matthew 6:10 –“thy Kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”

III. The Final –Final Judgment (at least 2/3^rdsof it)

*this is happening….begin realized as the purging of the earth is nearing its completion….the earth has been purged (3 visions of 7), the representative city (systems of gain) have been judged and now purged (Babylon) and finally… now its three leaders….the Beast, the False Prophet and Satan himself have to come under the final judgment (chapters 19-20)

Chapter 19 – The Wedding of the Lamb

I. Worship – The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

a. The Congregation -

Halllelujah – “praise to you YHWH”

“roar of a great multitude” (cf. 5:9; 7:9; 14:6 -ie. From every tribe, nation and people etc…

= presence of God

God is the focus….His acts of justice and judgment are exalted

b. The Congregational Refrain

The eternal (“smoke goes up for ever and ever) judgment of the Kingdom of the World (personified in the great prostitute ie. Babylon) judgment is singled out as worthy of a second “hallelujah” refrain

c. The Worship Leaders

A brief “response” by those who until this time have led the worship in heaven…now the congregation of the saints appears to be leading the worship…. A response of “agreement” …another “Hallelujah”

Revelation 19 / Pg. 2

d. The Word from the Throne

Ø The voice from the throne is also in “agreement” (side note: worship brings us into alignment with God’s will and purposes, conforming us to His image….as God Himself is the center

Ø The reminder here is so that everyone is assured of their place in the worship and praise of God (both small and great)….

e. The Congregational Response

Ø This is the Crescendo of the Worship…..praise of God as He reigns…..this is the center of the “Wedding of the Lamb” worship…..the culmination of the long desired and sought after “Messianic Banquet” anticipated in the Passover….demonstrated in the Lord’s Supper…now finally realized in completion in this moment!

Ø “The Bride has made herself ready…” -emphasis on our responsibility…..

f. John’s Response

Ø -John is tempted to worship the angel…easily confused with the radiance of what he sees….

Ø -Application: it is easy for us to worship the messenger…pastor….etc….that which we can see with our eyes…and unintentionally loose our focus….

Ø -“Worship God”

Ø -Prophecy has not ceased (as some of John’s Jewish/Christian contemporaries espoused….

Ø How easy it is worship what we should not…..! (contrast with 1:17)

II. Judgment –The Rider on the White Horse (vss 11-21)

a. The Identity of the Rider

Ø Faithful and True

Ø With justice he judges and makes war

Ø His name is the Word of God

Ø Rules them with an “Iron Scepter” (cf. 12:5)

Ø King of Kings and Lord of Lords

= JESUS himself ?…the messiah now comes to Judge….

b. The Symbolism of the Event

Ø White Horse = victory and judgment

Ø Eyes like Blazing Fire (cf. 1:14) = Judgment

Ø Armies of Heaven (angels) also on White Horses…white linen

Revelation 19 / Pg. 3

c. The “Great Supper of God…” (vs 17)

-The Great Supper….which is the long awaited Messianic Banquet for the believer (vs 9) is ironically unto judgment for those who belong to the Beast…”eating the flesh…”

-Great final battle…the King of the Kingdom of our God and all His armies….against the Beast and the kings of the earth (representing the kingdom of this world)….

d. The Final Judgment on the Beast and the False Prophet

-of the three great evil “leaders” to be judged….2 of the 3 are eternally judged here…the Beast and the False Prophet….satan himself is yet to be finally and eternally judged

-lake of burning sulfer (vs 20 –here and 20:10 for satan)

-the followers were “killed” by “the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse” (ie. The word of God unto judgment…the fatality of the “two edged sword –cf. 1:16)

Word 256: A People Without Fear

2011-02-27T09:15:00.001-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 12:1-13:1
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Book of Revelation: Lesson Five

2011-02-23T19:00:00.005-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

I. Restatement of the Big Idea –for the whole book, the whole NT…THE Kingdom Concept!

a. Matthew 6:10 – “….Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”

b. Revelation 11:15 – “The Kingdom of the World, has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ”

c. How is this to be finally realized?

Isaiah 66:1-2 –the earth is being made ready to receive her King (chapters 21-22)

Mt 24:36 –first time the earth was cleansed with water (baptism) and the second and final time it will be cleansed with fire (sanctification) –be made holy….impurities burned off…pure…holy….ready to receive her bridegroom….etc.

II. The Purpose of Judgment

a. The Nature of the Covenant

Obey = blessing & disobey = cursing (judgment)

b. The Justice of God

Psalm 9:7-8; 16 Psalm 11:7 Psalm 97:1-3f Isaiah 9:7 (130 x in Bible)

c. The Wrath of God

· Retributory punishment for an offense or a crime

· A holy God’s response to sin and unholiness

· Righteous Anger

d. The Love of God

· The Justice of God and the wrath of God are not separate from the Love of God

· Hebrews 12:10-11 –purpose of “discipline” (correction)

· Though judgment and discipline are distinct…they are rooted in the same character of God …which is love…a desire for restoration….

e. The Restoration of Creation

· Romans 8:18-23

· Creation….Fall….Redemption….Restoration

· From Perfect Eden…to fallen world/earth….to Perfect New Heavens & Earth

· Cleanse the earth…to make ready for His return…made holy /pure –“Eden again”

Pg. 2 / Revelation 17-18

III. The Final Judgment of the Kingdom of the World

a. The Woman and the Beast (Chapter 17)

i. The Mystery of The Great Prostitute and her adulteries (vss 1-8)

· -prevailing image of God and His people is bridge groom and bride

· -unfaithfulness is often depicted as spiritual “adultery” or Israel playing the “harlot”

o Book of Hosea in OT

o -Irony of prostitutes in Jesus family lineage (Rahab) and disciples (Mary M) points to redemption of the unfaithful

· -complimentary image is that of “drunkenness” (vs 2)…they often go together

· -ie. Loosing your senses and going off after false gods…and things of this world

· -Mystery of 7 heads and 10 horns (revealed in following verses)

*an aside: remember to not “push” symbolic consistency….ie. 7 here is not perfection…

ii. The Mystery revealed (vss 9-18)

· “This calls for a mind with wisdom” (ie. This is not easy to figure out)

· 7 heads = 7 hills

o 7 Hills = Rome

o 7 Kings = Two Possibilities:

§ (1) Seven Roman Kings

· 5=Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius & Nero

· 6^th = Vespasian

· 7^th is short reign of Titus (79-81 AD)

· Ie. Those who have led up to Domitian

§ (2) Seven Empires (cf. Daniel 2:31-45)

· Eqypt

· Assyrian

· Babylonian

· Medo-Persian

· Greek

· Roman

· The Kingdom of the World (opposed to the KOG)

iii. Application for all three levels of eschatological literature:

· This refers to Rome….as representative of all “capitals” for the Kingdom of this world (Revelation 11:15)

· There is a deliberate contrast here between the capital of the kingdom of the world (Babylon) and the following chapters in the Kingdom of our God (New Jerusalem)

· Rome stand for every “civilization” or city of people that is of “the world”

· This was true then, is true now, and is always true…all three levels

Pg. 3 / Revelation 17-18

b. The Fall of Babylon the Great (Chapter 18)

i. The Two Voices of Great Authority (vss 1-8)

1. The Great Missional Tension

a. -being “in the world” but not “of the world” -John 17:15-19

b. Compare vss 1-3 with vss 4-8

c. Vss 1-3 –Pronouncement of the Judgment of the World

d. Vss 4-8 –A Call to “come out of her” …be holy and undefiled

i. ie. Live in the world but do not be of the world

ii. I Peter 1:13-16 / Lev 11:44

2. Retributive Justice

a. Vs 6 –double portion

b. Vss 7-8…. luxury >to plague / not a widow >to mourning

ii. The Three Double “Woes” (vss 9-20)

1. Literary Structure of the “Woes”

(1) First line is double “woe” to the great city -emphatic and ironic judgment

(2) Second line(s) is a description of her greatness

(3) Third line is “In one hour” (in a very brief time)….ruin/destruction/judgment

2. The Focus of the Judgment (adulteries)

-economic excesses (lavish luxuries)

Power….wealth….commerce….

-contrast this to God’s repeated call for justice for the poor and oppressed

3. The Final Pronouncement (vs 20)

-as the world laments her woe…the follower of God “rejoices” (2x) for

“God had judged the way she treated you….”

iii. The Final Judgment of the Kingdom of this World (vss 21-24)

1. Finality of the Judgment

-violent and final (milestone)

-6 fold “never” verses 21-23

-never: music, trade, & the church and her savior (lamp and bridge groom etc)

2. Images of emptiness, darkness and silence (use of irony)

-no music; no commerce; no production; no light(s); no celebration

-barren, empty and the ironic opposite of all they strived to be while on earth

3. Final Reflections of literary style

-chapts 17-18 have been referred to as a “Funeral Dirge”… a unique type of literary genre

4. THE Stage is now set…….The kingdom of the earth now fully purged, cleansed and judged; the stage is set for the eternal contrast…the heavenly city….rep the Kingdom of God….

Word 255: The BIG Idea of Revelation

2011-02-20T09:15:00.005-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Gourley
Passage: Revelation 11:15-19
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Word 254: The Sent and Sending Ones

2011-02-13T09:15:00.001-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Betsy Rumer

Passage: Revelation 10:1-11

Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Book of Revelation: Lesson Four

2011-02-09T19:00:00.003-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Eric Amundson

I. The Conflict Between Satan and God’s People -Below the Tapestry -Chapters 12 & 13

a. The Woman and the Dragon –(12:1-13:1)

i. Woman = Israel

ii. Woman = Mary

iii. Woman = The Church

iv. This is the cosmic conflict between the “seed of the woman” and the “seed of the serpent” – one of the great scarlet threads of redemptive history that weaves through God’s word from Eden to New Jerusalem

1. Items of Note:

a. 10 horns = very, very powerful (do not push symbolism here…ie. Not as powerful as God…power is only given by God) ie. 7 =perfect = God

b. 7 Heads (possibly the 7 Caesars?) or at least 7 great rulers of evil –again do not push symbolism to be literal and try to figure who they are and have been in world history

c. Vs 4 – 1/3 of the stars….possibly fallen angels now demons

d. “Where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days”

i. = 3 ½ years –possibly how long Mary and Joseph were in Eqypt (ie. “the desert”) with Jesus

ii. Jesus = Child

b. The Beast out of the Sea –(13:1-10)

i. This beast looks a lot like the Dragon

1. Compare 12:3 to 13:1

ii. The Beast is possibly the “anti-christ” as it derives its power from the Dragon (satan)

iii. The Beast is likely a “world ruler”….likey Emperor Domitian for the original audience

iv. Application is found in verse 10 at the end “this calls for patient endurance…”

c. The Beast out of the Earth –(13:11-18)

i. Pretty much a repeat of above

ii. Rule and Reign of the “prince of this world” is now complete…ie. Water and Land

iii. Vs 18 reminds us of vs 10…. “This calls for….”

1. 666 = total/complete imperfection (7 = perfection -777 would = total perfection)

II. The Lamb and the 144,000 –Above the Tapestry -Chapter 14

a. The Scene from Mount Zion –(14:1-5)

i. “Then I looked…” -classic apocalyptic oracle statement (associated with visions)

ii. 144,000 = All of God’s chosen, covenant people

iii. Sounds = God presence and power

iv. Blameless = sanctified (not because they themselves were without fault, but because the Lamb had made them pure)…”redeemed from the earth”

b. The Three Angels –(14:6-13)

i. “The Eternal Gospel” –vs 6

1. “every tribe, language….”

a. Cf. 5:9 & 7:9 and Genesis 12

b. “People Groups” GR. “ta ethnas” of Matthew 24:14*

ii. Three Angels –Complete Covenant Proclamation

1. Eternal Gospel –Good news

2. Fallen is Babylon (kingdom of this world….refer back to 11:15)

3. Warning to those remaining not to worship the beast (emperor or false Christ)

a. Application is found in verse 12 (repeat of 13:10)

*Covenant Blessings: vs.13…..beautiful rest/ heavenly rest

c. The Harvest of the Earth –(14:14-20)

i. Refers to the THE Harvest

1. Side note: again warn the class not to read apocalyptic literature always in a linear fashion….this is likely a flash forward to the final harvest, not some preliminary harvest….ie. all these visions are different views of the same end time event….

ii. Fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 9:38

iii. Symbolism

1. Winepress = place of wrath

2. Wine = blood (think communion here)

3. Ie. There is a play on irony here…..time is “ripe”….harvest….yet judgment/wrath

a. The harvest is a time of reaping fruit (righteous) and judgment (unrighteous) as in the winepress….

b. The blood of Jesus is unto Blessing (salvation) and Cursing (judgment)

i. Nature of the covenant’s sacrifice

4. Verse20 – “1,600 Stadia” = approximate length of Holy Land from north to south or about 180 miles

I. The Seven Angels -Above the Tapestry – Chapter 15

a. The “Marvelous” Vision

i. Marvelous because it was complete in scope and it was the final judgment

ii. This concludes the 3 Visions of 7 Judgments

iii. Sea of Glass = calm, tranquil…storm is over (sea often described as a place of evil for Hebrews)

iv. Strong Deliverance theme here…which is why they sing the song of Moses….deliverance

b. The Song of Moses (vss3-4)

i. Song of Servant Moses (first great deliverer) and the Lamb (ultimate and final deliverer)

1. Fulfillment of type-antitype (Moses was a type anticipating Jesus)

ii. Attributes of God

1. Just, True, Holy, glory, righteous

iii. The Nations theme (Genesis 12 etc)

c. “After this I looked…”

i. Temple and Tabernacle as “types” have found their fulfillment

ii. Introduction of the final judgment….7 plagues

iii. Filled with smoke (reference Exodus 40:34 –Glory that fills the temple) –ie. God’s presence

iv. The bowls are filled with the “Wrath of God”….it is God’s judgment and righteous wrath

II. The Seven Bowls of Wrath (Plagues) –Below the Tapestry –Chapter 16

a. First Bowl

i. Ugly and painful sores upon those who worship satan and his anti-christ(s)….judgment

ii. Seen in context of Roman Emperor Worship/ suffering and persecution

iii. Seen in context of end times

b. Second Bowl

i. Blood in sea (reminds us of plague in Eqypt) –kills 100% of everything in the sea

ii. All living things in sea now dead & symbolic of the defeat of evil (through blood)*

Chapter 16 Continued

c. Third Bowl

i. Similar judgment to the second bowl but now extends to water on the earth which has implications for the water supply…and all earth dwelling life…

ii. Justice rendered

iii. Ironic Justice (false worshippers are judged in blood because they took the blood of the prophets and martyrs)

v The Response from the Altar of God -True and Just are God’s judgments

d. Fourth Bowl

i. Purging the earth with fire –judgment of people who followed the beast

ii. People still refused to repent…rather continued to curse Him

e. Fifth Bowl

i. Judgment now on the beast himself and his throne

ii. The “prince of this world” dethroned

iii. “Fulfillment of 11:15”

iv. Still refuse to repent

f. Sixth Bowl

i. This is a reflection back on both the invasion of the Persians on the Babylonians (dried up river Euphrates) as well as the plagues in Egypt (frogs)….both judgments on great nations that came from God….this could be applied by the original audience to Rome….as well as to final times

ii. Come like a Thief - I Thess 5:2 & Matthew 24:42-44

iii. The stage is now set….for THE FINAL cosmic battle…..Armageddon…

1. Hebrew = “Har Megeddon” or the mountain of Megiddo (cf. Judges 5:19)

g. Seventh Bowl

i. “It is Done!” -cf Jesus on the cross (John 19:30…note this is not found in other 3 gospels)

1. Completed….”telios” the fulfillment….final triumph of God over evil….

2. The cosmic and epic battle begun in the garden…has reached its conclusion

ii. The totality of the Judgment

1. Power and presence of God (vs 18)

2. The Fall of the “Kingdom of this world”

iii. Judgment for what purpose and to what effect (with the end in view)

1. Judgment towards restoration

a. From Eden…fallen into sin….Redeemed…now Restored

b. The Great “Thread & Theme” of Biblical History

i. Creation….Fall….Redemption….Restoration !!!

2. With the earth now (almost) purged of sin and evil….the earth, which God loves and longs for to be redeemed (cf. Romans 8:18-26) & (John 3:16…ie. Greek “cosmos”) is now purified (sanctified) and ready to receive her King and his Kingdom (New Jerusalem come down from heaven in Revelation 21)

Word 253: The Lamb is The Shepherd

2011-02-06T09:15:00.003-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

Passage: Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Book of Revelation: Lesson Three

2011-02-02T19:00:00.004-05:00

Presented by: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver

I. The Seven Seals– Chapter 6

a. The First Seal (vss. 1-2)

-significance of the Lamb opening the Seals

“Come” cf. Chapt 22 -a Strong (irresistible) Invitation

*used for each of the “Seals”

-Symbolism of White Horse and Rider

-Notice the open ended description of his task

Contrast to Rev 19:11-21

OT reference: Zech 6:3

b. The Second Seal (vss 3-4)

-Symbolism of red

-significance of “peace being taken”

*They enact the initial judgment on themselves

**Leaving them unrestrained in their own sin unto destruction

c. The Third Seal (vss 5-6)

-Symbolism of Black (death and / through disease…emphasis on disease)

-The Symbolism of the Scales = Justice

*economic injustice caused by inflation due to famine

**This is bad, but not wholly devastating…..yet

-The significance of retaining the oil and the wine

*judgment is “partial” not “total”

d. The Fourth Seal (vss 7-8)

-The Symbolism of a “pale” horse (not white)

-The Judgment of Death (and hell) on ¼ of the planet through various means

e. The Fifth Seal (vss 9-11)

-Focus here not on those being judged….but on the Marytrs…..

-“How Long oh Lord?” -pastoral word to those being persecuted even unto death and/or to those (especially) who have lost loved ones for the faith…

-Significance of “White Robe” = sanctification/holy

-The timing of the eternal God in light of human suffering……”completed” =”telios” in Grk

f. The Sixth Seal (vss 12-14)

-no more pronouncements by 4 creatures or Martyrs…..but now by the Creation itself

*Romans 8

-Judgment by “natural disaster”

*so far the judgment as revealed in the Seven Seals is comprehensive (in relation to “means” that is to say….disease, war, famine, natural disaster etc) but not complete….it is still at this point a “partial” judgment…..but will grow with the intensity of the next vision of 7’s (the Trumpets in Chapters 8-9)

g. The Response to the Wrath of the Lamb (vss 15-17)

-the response is not repentance…but “kill us quickly”

-the irony of “the wrath of the lamb”

-the powerful ending making use of the rhetorical question “Who shall stand?”

II. The 144,000 and Those in White Robes - Chapter 7

a. The 144,000 (vss 1-8)

i. Symbolism of 12

-12 Tribes of Israel in OT / 12 Apostles in NT

-the use of 4 “3’s” in the Phalenx formation in the wilderness

-centrality of the tabernacle /significance of YHWH in their midst

-“4 Angels and 4 Corners” vs 1

ii. The Significance of the Tribes

-note the order is not their birth order

-note not all original 12 are listed (absence of Dan due to Idolatry)

-note the addition of “Manassah” –son of Joseph and grandson of Israel (Jacob)

Cf Genesis 49 – the irony of Manasseh’s inclusion here and not Ephriams

-note the addition of the son’s of two hand maids (zilpah and bilhah) Gen 46

iii. Old Testament Significance

-inclusion of all faithful people from Old Covenant

*exclusion of Dan

*inclusion of those born to hand maids and foreigners (Josephs wives were Eqyptian)

*foreshadowing of inclusion of Gentiles

-symbolism of 1,000

-large but finite number

iv. The Meaning of the 144,000

= ALL of those Faithful from the first covenant –yet finite number…..by comparision…

b. Those in White Robes (vss 9-17)

i. Relationship of 7:9 and Chapter 5

1. 5:9

2. 5:13

3. The Relationship to Genesis 12

*promise of Blessing to the nations….inclusion of Gentiles

*Joel 2 and Acts 2

ii. The Symbolism of White

-sanctification

iii. The Typology of Palm Branches

-looking back (first Messianic entrance into Jerusalem to be crowned as king)

-looking forward (second Messianic entrance into New Jerusalem)

-From “save us” (Hosanna) to “Salvation” (established)

iv. The “Great Tribulation”

-cf Revelation 1: 9

-Tribulation = persecution +affliction (ie. Suffering –God’s refining fire for sanctification)

v. The Meaning of “Those in White Robes”

-refer back to 7:9

-not limited to Martyrs (6:9-11)

-7:13 & 14

*sanctified by the blood of the lamb

= ALL BELIEVERS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND COMING

· Can’t refer to “tribulation” as the dispensationalists think (would have to be later)

· But is “Great”

· Hebrew Worldview and non-linear thinking….

*Finally: Heavenly Images/Ideas in Verses 15-17

Priestly (vss 15) and Tabernacle

Shepherd blessings……/…..Lamb is now the Shepherd…..(John’s Gospel –Jesus)

Word 252: The Lion is The Lamb

2011-01-30T09:15:00.006-05:00

Pastor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
Passage: Revelation 5:1-14
Sermon Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ