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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
April 12, 2026
* Recapitulation of Revelation
The Book of Revelation
Introduction
It took me 1 year, 3 months and a total of 44 sermons to preach through the Apocalypse, the book of Revelation, with the purpose of giving you an understanding of the detailed prophecies given in it. This morning I will be doing the opposite by giving a recapitulation, a summary of the book’s main points so that you can see how it all connects together. *Revelation 1:3 and 22:7 both declare there is a blessing in knowing and heeding the prophecies of this book for the time is near. I want you to know that blessing by understanding its overall message so that you will heed it by living godly lives in the present in view of what will come in the future.
*Throughout this series of sermons I have placed a strong emphasis upon the need to interpret it according to its grammar and historical context even when the descriptions given are outside our frame of reference and so do not make much sense to us. I have warned of the dangers of allegorical or mystical hermeneutics which subject the prophecies to the musings of men which invariably result in interpretations of the text forced to fit preconceived theological systems instead of the theology being determined by the text. At times those interpretations can be quite fanciful such as claiming the creatures that come from the abyss in Revelation 9 are helicopters. At other times they are in direct contradiction to the text such as denying that the earthquake described in Revelation 16:18-20 is so great “such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth,” and that “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.”
*Authorship & Purpose – Revelation 1
This book of prophecies begins with an explanation of its authorship in verses 1-2, 1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.”
*The rest of the chapter gives more detail about how this came about. The apostle John was on the island of Patmos where he had been exiled in A.D. 94-95 due to his testimony of Jesus (1:9), and he received this revelation while he is “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (1:10). He did as he was commanded by the glorified Lord Jesus Christ (1:10-18) to “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.” That gives a three point outline for the entire book:
* I. The Things Which You Have Seen (1:1-20).
The prologue detailing John’s commission to write
II. The Things which Are (2:1-3:22).
The letters to the seven churches in Asia
III. The Things Which Will Take Place After This (4:1-22:21)
A) The scene in heaven (4 & 5)
B) The tribulation period (6-18)
C) The second coming of the Lord Jesus (19)
D) The Millennium (19:1-10)
E) Judgment (19:11-15)
F) The eternal state (21-22).
A copy of the whole book of prophecy was to be sent to each of seven specific churches in the Roman province of Asia in what is now western Turkey. It included a specific letter to each church (1:11).
*The purpose of the book is stated directly in Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Blessing for heeding the words of this prophecy is repeated in 22:7. There are six specific blessings detailed for those that heed it: Those who die in the Lord (14:13), Those remaining awake as they await the Lord to come like a thief (16:15), Those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9), Those who are part of the first resurrection (20:6), and Those who have the right to the tree of life (20:14). The many warnings throughout the Apocalypse given to sinners of coming judgment is like all warnings to sinners in the Bible. They are meant to prod the sinner to heed the warnings, repent, believe and be saved. It is an urgent matter because the time is near (1:3; 22:10), these things must soon take place (1:1; 22:6), and eight times Jesus stated that He will come or is coming with five of those times including that He is coming quickly (2:16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20) and twice that He will come like a thief – unexpectedly (3:3; 16:15). The book is a promise to Christians and a warning to those still unbelieving to repent and get ready for Jesus is coming quickly and the prophecies of the book are near. Are you ready? Will you rejoice when He comes or tremble in fear? (Sermons 01-04)
*Seven Letters to Seven Churches – Revelation 2-3
Revelation 2-3 concern the “things that are“, i.e., the present time when John was writing down the Apocalypse and sending it along with a specific letter to each of seven specific churches located in seven specific cities in the province of Asia. *Contrary to allegorical interpretation, these letters are not about periods of church history, which is actually an absurd idea since it destroys the imminency of the book’s prophecies, and no time scheme of church history can match the messages in the letters. Each particular letter concerns particular things about that particular church concluding with particular encouragement and / or warning to those in that church. Each individual letter is to an individual church existing in a particular geographical location at the end of the first century.
Understanding what was happening in that city at that time explains much of the content of the letter to that church. The order of the listing of each church can be mapped as a city that was a communication hub along the roads that, starting from Ephesus, made a clockwise loop that tied together the most populous, wealthy, and influential part of the Asian province. *This made each church an important point of distribution of the book of Revelation to the churches throughout the world. This is important to note since the conclusion of each letter includes the sentence, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The message to each church was meant to be seen by the other churches, and from them, to all churches. Principles can be derived from each letter that have wider application than to just the one church.
I will very briefly summarize the characteristics of each church and the Lord’s message to it. Since the Apocalypse was written with these churches in mind, it is important to have an understanding of them in order to understand the message of the book.
*Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) at that time was an important sea port and at the junction of four major roads making it a prominent commercial center. It was a pagan city with the Temple of Artemis (Diana) being prominent. The Apostle Paul ministered there for over two years and the church was so effective in evangelism there and in the nearby cities that it threatened the livelihood of the idol makers (Acts 19). It is over three decades since then when John writes them, and while the church is diligent to be theologically correct, test teachers to make sure they were not false, and endured in difficult circumstances, the Lord was against them for having left their first love. Their minds and actions were correct, but their hearts and motivation were absent. The correction was for them to remember from where they had fallen, repent, and redo the deeds they did at first. If they did not, He would remove their lampstand. The overcomer would gain access to the tree of life in the paradise of God. That is a promise of eternal life.
*Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) was a deep harbor city 35 miles north of Ephesus on the Aegean sea. It was a wealthy city that was home to many pagan temples. The Christians there suffered tribulation and poverty because they refused to participate in idolatry including the required cultic worship of the Roman Emperor which was strong there resulting in being persecuted. They also suffered due to the slander by the Jews there that rejected the gospel. There is no correction given to the church at Smyrna, only an encouragement to persevere in the midst of the greater persecution that was coming. The overcomers would receive the crown of life and so not be hurt by the second death. That is another promise of eternal life.
*Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17) was located about 65 miles north of Smyrna and was the capital city of that province of Asia. It was a thoroughly pagan city with a great devotion to the emperor cult which resulted in severe persecution of Christians including the martyrdom of Antipas. Jesus referred to Pergamum as “where Satan’s throne is,” and “where Satan dwells.” The church was commended for continuing to dwell there and hold fast to Jesus’ name, but they had compromised by not removing those who held to false doctrine, specifically that of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Jesus commanded them to repent and warned that He would make war against them if they did not. The reward to the overcomers points to them being at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
*Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) was located 40 miles southeast of Pergamum on the major north-south trade road in an agriculturally rich valley. Each of the trade guilds there were tied to a pagan god or goddess and unless you worshiped its patron idol you were excluded from that guild. The church was commended for its deeds of love, faith, service and perseverance which had all increased over time. The problem was they had become syncretic and tolerant of blatant heresy and sinful practices. The unfaithful were warned of impending judgment, and the faithful encouraged to hold fast. The overcomers would rule with Christ in His future kingdom.
Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) was located 33 miles south of Thyatira at the western end of the Great King’s highway that went east to Susa which had been the capital of the Persian empire. It had been a fortress city that had been very wealthy, and though it was still doing well, it was in decline. The same was true of the church there. The church was well known for its past works, but its spiritual life was lacking. A key evidence is that there is no mention of any persecution though paganism dominated the city. They caused no offense to either unbelievers or heretics. Jesus commanded them to remember their past and repent or He would come unexpectedly in judgment. The few that had not fallen into sin and defiled themselves were encouraged. The overcomers would be clothed in white, have their names in the book of life, and Jesus would confess them before the Father.
Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) was located 25 miles southeast of Sardis on the major trade route from the port of Smyrna to all points east. The primary god of the city was Dionysius, the god of wine, and the pagans and unbelieving Jews in the city would have persecuted the church there which is commended for their perseverance. This faithful church was encouraged by Jesus’ promises that the door to them would remain open, the Jews oppressing them would be humbled before them, and they would be exempt from the hour of testing that was coming upon the whole world. The overcomers will be part of the future new Jerusalem that will come down from heaven.
Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) was 40 miles southwest of Philadelphia near the major trade route from Ephesus which was 100 miles due east. It was also the judicial seat for the district and important center of finances, manufacturing of textiles, and compounding medicines especially an eyesalve. The church was not commended for they had become lukewarm. They thought of themselves as doing great and did not recognize their condition was actually wretched. Jesus warns them He is about to spew them out of His mouth. He encourages them to accept His discipline and repent and let Him in. The overcomer would be granted to sit down with Jesus on His throne.
Please note that the overcomer in each church, a reference to those that believed and followed the Lord in obedience, was promised something that could only be received by those that will have everlasting life to take part in the events in heaven, the millennium and the new Jerusalem of eternity. This ties Revelation 2-3 directly to chapters 19-22. (Sermons 05-11)
*The Scene in Heaven – Revelation 4-5
After John completes writing the letters dictated to him by the Lord to the seven churches, he is taken in spirit to the throne room of God in heaven where he will receive the revelation about what will come in the future (4:1-2). The scene is glorious. The one sitting on the throne in heaven was like a jasper stone and sardius in appearance with an emerald rainbow around the throne. Twenty-four elders clothed in white with golden crowns were sitting on twenty-four thrones around the throne from which there were flashes of lightning and peals of thunder (4:3-5). There was a sea of glass like crystal before the throne and the four living creatures – seraphim – hovered around it crying out, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who si and who is to come” (4:6-11). The twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the throne and join in the praise calling out “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (4:9-11).
*The scene continues in chapter 5 with the introduction of a scroll with seven seals and the search for someone worthy to open it (5:1-4). The search ends with the identification of “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” who is further described as “the Lamb standing, as if slain” (5:5-6). This is the Lord Jesus Christ, and upon taking hold of the scroll, the four living Creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before Him in worship and sing a new song, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (5:7-10). Then myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands of angels joined with them proclaiming, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (5:11). Then all created things join proclaiming, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever” (5:13). (Sermons 12-13).
*The First Six Seal Judgments – Revelation 6
In chapter six attention is drawn to a rapid succession of judgments that come upon those that dwell on the earth as each seal on the scroll is broken in succession by the Lamb. These correspond well with the “beginning of birth pangs” in Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24:5-13. This is the beginning of the description of the seven year tribulation period prophesied in Daniel 9:26-27 and from which Christians are exempt as promised by Jesus (Rev. 3:10) and Paul (1 Thess. 1:10) having been caught up (raptured) to Jesus at His coming for His church in 1 Thess. 4:15-17.
*The first seal is broken and a white horse with a rider with a bow goes out conquering and to conquer. He does this by political intrigue, treaties and threat of war (6:1-2). The second seal releases a red horse with a rider who takes peace from the earth and people slay one another in war and murder (6:3-4). The breaking of the third seal releases a black horse with a rider with a pair of scales in his hand. He brings widespread famine (6:5-6). Breaking the fourth seal releases a pale / ashen horse whose rider is named Death and which is followed by Hades. He kills a fourth of humanity on the earth with the sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts (6:7-8).
*The breaking of the fifth seal takes the scene back to heaven where the martyrs killed during this early part of the tribulation are seen under the altar and calling for God to avenge their blood. Each is given a white robe and told to rest while they wait for those who will be martyred to join them (6:9-11).
*The sixth seal is broken and those who dwell on the earth are terrified by a great earthquake, the sun becoming black, the moon looking like blood, the stars falling, the sky splitting apart and every mountain and island being moved out of place. Even the mightiest of men hide in caves and among rocks on the mountain and call for them to “”Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (6:12-17). These supernatural signs convince the wicked that the wrath of God, which began with the first seal judgment, is upon them. (Sermons 14-17).
*The Slaves of God – Revelation 7
Chapter 7 is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seal. Before the four angels standing ready at each point of the compass are released to harm the earth and the sea, there are on earth 12,000 Jewish slaves of God from each of twelve tribes of Israel, a total of 144,000, that are sealed on their foreheads so they will not be harmed (7:1-8). God protects them from the next phase of His wrath.
John is also given a vision of an innumerable multitude in heaven from every nation, tribe, peoples and tongues that have been martyred during the tribulation that serve the Lord day and night in His temple. They are blessed because they will never hunger or thirst or suffer from the heat of the sun anymore. They will instead dwell in God’s presence shepherded by the Lamb to the springs of the water of life and have their every tear wiped away (7:1-17). (Sermon 16)
*The Seventh Seal & the Trumpet Judgments – Revelation 8-9
Revelation 8 begins with the breaking of the seventh seal which brings forth the seven trumpet judgments. These are worse than the seal judgments. The first trumpet brings hail and fire, mixed with blood that is thrown to earth and burns up a third of the trees and all the green grass. The second trumpet sounds and a great mountain burning with fire is cast into the sea resulting in a third of it being turned to blood which kills a third of the sea creatures, and also a third of the ships are destroyed. *The third trumpet sounds and wormwood, a burning star, falls on a third of the rivers and springs turning the waters bitter and causing many men to die. The fourth angel sounds his trumpet and a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars are smitten so that a third of them are darkened and do not shine for a third of the day and night. (8:1-13). (Sermon 17).
*The sounding of the fifth trumpet results in the opening of the bottomless pit, the abyss, from which smoke goes up and with it strange creatures that are locust like but have gold crowns on their head, a face like a man, hair like a woman, teeth like a lion, and a tail like scorpions. They have breastplates like iron and the sound of their wings was like chariots and horses rushing to battle. They were given power for five months to harm only the men who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads by stinging them with their tails. The torment of the pain was great and men wanted to die, but death fled from them. This was the first of three woes. (9:1-12).
*The sixth trumpet sounds and the four angels bound at the Euphrates river are released to kill one third of mankind. This was done by an army of 200 million horsemen, though their “horses” have heads of lions and tails like serpents with heads. The tails caused harm, but fire, smoke and brimstone came from their mouths to kill. Those not killed continued to refuse to repent of their idolatry, murders, sorceries, immorality and thefts (9:13-21). (Sermon 18).
*Parenthetical Hope & Warning – Revelation 10:1-11:13
Chapters 10 and most of 11 are parenthetical giving additional details about other things that occur that are meant to give hope to believers while warning the wicked of what is to come.
*First, a strong angel announces that there will no longer be any delay and that after the seventh trumpet the mystery of God would be finished. John is told to take the little book from the angel’s hand and eat it. It is sweet to his taste but turns his stomach bitter. The prophecies of God’s coming kingdom and eternity are sweet, but the destruction of the wicked has bitterness in it because it will include loved ones that remain unrepentant. John’s commission to prophesy is then reaffirmed. (Sermon 19)
*Second, John is given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God and those who worship in it, but he is to leave out the outer court. Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations for 42 months, but during that time God gives supernatural ability to two witnesses who cannot be harmed for 1260 days. After they finish their testimony they are killed by the beast, the Antichrist, and the world celebrates for 3 ½ days until they are shocked when the two witnesses come back to life and stand up. At a command from heaven, they then ascend in a cloud while the world watches. That very hour there is an earthquake that causes a tenth of Jerusalem to collapse and kills 7,000. It terrifies the survivors who give glory to God. (Sermon 20).
*The Seventh Trumpet – Revelation 11:14-19
The second woe ends after the sixth trumpet and the third woe begins with the blowing of the seventh trumpet which is then followed by a proclamation from the 24 elders giving thanks to God for taking His great power and beginning to reign with His wrath coming upon the wicked to judge and destroy them while giving His reward to His slaves the prophets and saints. The temple in heaven and the ark of the covenant in it were opened followed by lightning, thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (Sermon 21)
*Parenthetical Background & Announcements – Revelation 12-14
Revelation 12-14 are parenthetical introducing the primary characters and furnishing the plot of the entire background drama that unfolds when the bowl judgments begin in chapter 16. It begins with two signs in 12:1-6. *The first is a woman who represents national Israel through whom the Messiah would come as promised. The second is of a dragon that represents Satan who took one third of the angels with him when he fell into sin. Satan tried to destroy Jesus at His birth and throughout His life, but failed when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven (12:1-5). That is all historical. *Satan will continue to try and destroy Israel but will always fail because God will protect her (12:6, 13-16). Hatred of Jews because they are Jews always has a demonic element. Satan and his angles will wage war in heaven, but they will be defeated and be thrown down from it and lose access to it which will be a joy in heaven but a woe to those on earth (12:7-12), for he will take his wrath out on those who follow God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (12:17). (Sermon 22-24)
*The beast from the sea, the Antichrist of prophecy is introduced in chapter 13. Satan will empower him to conquer the world and do amazing things and cause the unredeemed to worship him and the dragon. He will be arrogant and blasphemous, but his authority will only last 42 months (13:1-10). *The beast from the earth is the false prophet who will do great signs to deceive those who dwell on the earth to worship the first beast, and then he will force it by threat of execution, and then by exclusion from buying and selling unless they have the mark of the beast, either his name or number, on their forehead or right hand (13:11-18). The beast wants to be worshiped as a god, but the number of his name, 666, mocks that because it is the number of a man. (Sermons 25-26).
*The scene changes in Revelation 14 with three new visions. The first is of the 144,000 from chapter 7 who are seen standing with the Lamb on Mt Zion. That places this vision after Jesus’ physical return to earth. They have been chaste, blameless and faithful in their witness for Christ (14:1-5).
*The second vision is of an angel preaching the eternal gospel to those who live on the earth (14:6-7). God has the message of redemption proclaimed to all offering hope to those that will repent and adding to the condemnation of those that remain in rebellion. That angel is followed by a second angel that announces the fall of Babylon (14:8). * A third angel will follow announcing a stern warning that anyone that worships the beast or receives his mark will receive the full wrath of God for eternity (14:9-12). A final announcement concerns the blessing on those who die in the Lord for they will rest from their labors and their deeds will follow with them (14:13). (Sermons 27-28)
*The third vision John receives in Rev. 14 is of the Son of Man and an angel reaping a gain harvest and then of additional angels reaping a grape harvest. Both harvests point to God’s future harvesting of the wicked at the end of the age to be thrown into the great wine press of the wrath of God (14:14-20). A very sobering and final warning in this explanatory section. (Sermon 29)
*The Scene in Heaven – Revelation 15
Revelation 15 picks up the narrative sequence from the end of Revelation 11 as John sees another sign in heaven. The seven angels with the last plagues that will bring God’s wrath to its finish appear and the martyrs in heaven sing the song of Moses in worship of God in praising His character and power. This is followed by the seven angels being prepared being clothed properly and given the seven golden bowls full of God’s wrath (Sermon 30).
*The Seven Bowls of Wrath – Revelation 16
The first six bowls of wrath are poured out in rapid succession. The first causes “loathsome and malignant sores on the people who have the mark of the beast and who worship his image.” The second causes the sea to become blood like a dead man killing every living thing in the sea. The third causes the rivers and springs to become blood. *The fourth causes the sun to scorch men, yet they continued to blaspheme and would not repent. The fifth darkens the kingdom of the beast causing those in it to gnaw their tongues in pain. *The sixth dries up the Euphrates river in preparation for Armageddon. Spirits of demons then go forth to deceive and gather together the nations “for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.” (Sermon 31)
*The seventh bowl has the immediate effect of great cataclysms on the earth. Flashes of lightning and peals of thunder followed by “a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.” Cities fell, “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” This was followed by huge hailstones of about one hundred pounds each, and still men blasphemed instead of repenting. (Sermon 31-32).
*Destruction of Babylon & Events in Heaven – Rev. 17:1-19:6
Revelation 17:1 – 19:11 is another intercalation, an explanatory excursus that gives greater detail and explanation of what occurs in the judgments that have come upon those that dwell on the earth. In this case, what happens to Babylon as the bowls of wrath are poured out. Revelation 17 deals with Babylon as a religious entity. Revelation 18 deals with Babylon as a political & economic entity. Revelation 19:1-10 describes what occurs in heaven during this same time period.
*Revelation 17 has a lot of symbolism for which I am going to give just a simple interpretive summary. False religion will be useful to the Antichrist as he builds his political and military power. But once he has become the world dictator, with the help of his political and military allies, he will turn on the ecumenical false religion that was supporting him to utterly destroy it and replace it with worship of himself alone. *He and his coalition will then wage war with the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, and those with Him, but the Lamb will overcome them as detailed in Revelation 19. (Sermon 32-33)
*Revelation 18 describes the utter destruction of commercial Babylon which had deceived the nations and was responsible for the martyrdom of countless prophets and saints. This is a strong and beautiful physical city that is completely devastated leaving no sound of any human activity causing the kings and merchants of the earth along with those who made their living by the sea to greatly lament. (Sermon 34)
The lament over Babylon by those on earth is contrasted with the scene in heaven where hallelujahs are proclaimed over its destruction for it demonstrates God avenging the blood of His slaves and exerting His omnipotence in righteousness (19:1-6). (Sermon 35)
*The other event that occurs in heaven during the pouring out of the bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth is the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:7-10). This is a scene that fits the stages of a Jewish wedding: The betrothal – Jesus’ promises of salvation to those who believe in Him. The preparation – Jesus’ preparing a place in heaven for His disciples. The procession – Jesus’ return to take the church to be with Him in heaven – the rapture. The feast – which can last a long time, begins in heaven toward the end of the Tribulation period and extends through the Millennium. The consummation will be when the new Jerusalem comes down and the saints dwell with Christ for eternity. (Sermon 35).
*The Second Advent – Revelation 19:11-21
Revelation 19:11-21 describes the physical return of Jesus Christ to earth as the conquering King with the armies of heaven. The beast, the Antichrist, and false prophet are seized and thrown into the eternal lake of fire after they and their armies are defeated at Armageddon. That concludes the seven years of tribulation and the times of the Gentiles. (Sermon 36).
*The Millennium – Revelation 20:1-10
The millennium begins with the capture of Satan and his being bound and confined to the abyss for a thousand years so that he cannot deceive the nations (20:1-3). Those who are part of the first resurrection, the saints of all the ages, are priests of God and Christ and reign with Christ for a thousand years (20:4-6). *Satan is released for a short time at the end of the thousand years and he quickly deceives the unsaved of the nations, organizes a rebellion to make war against the beloved city, Jerusalem, from where Christ rules. But his army is quickly destroyed by fire from heaven, and Satan is seized and cast into the eternal lake of fire. (Sermons 38-40)
*The Great White Throne Judgment – Revelation 20:11-15
The present heavens and earth will then flee away and the dead of all the ages who were not part of the first resurrection will then be resurrected to be judged by Christ who is seated on His great white throne. *All those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life will be condemned by their very deeds and cast into the eternal lake of fire along with death and Hades. That is the second death. (Sermon 40).
*The New Heaven, Earth & Jerusalem – Revelation 21:1-22:5
Eternity begins with the creation of a new heaven and new earth to replace the present ones which will pass away. The new Jerusalem then comes down out of heaven from God. It is beautiful and immense. *It is a place of comfort and holiness for there will no longer be any curse and nothing evil will be there. It will have both the river of life and the tree of life which bears its twelve fruits each in its own season. But the greatest thing about it is that it will be the dwelling place of God and of the Lamb in their full glory and also of the redeemed of all the ages. God will fulfill all of His promises. (Sermons 41-43)
*Final Invitation and Warnings – Revelation 22:6-21
The truthfulness of all that John wrote down are attested to by both the angel who revealed it and by John (22:6-8). It is a message from God given to Jesus Christ and shown through His angel to John who wrote it all down and sent it to the seven churches in Asia and from them to all churches and to anyone that will read it. It is an urgent message because it concerns things that “must shortly take place,” and Jesus states three times in this closing section, “I am coming quickly.”
*Revelation is a book with a message that brings blessings on those that read and heed it. Those saved by God’s grace though faith in the person and redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ are comforted and encouraged in all the circumstances of life because we know how it will all end. Or as a song writer put it, “I read the back of the book and God wins!”
Those who are not yet redeemed are warned to repent or they will face God’s wrath during the tribulation if they are physically alive then, and will be condemned forever by their own evil deeds regardless of when they die. *The invitation is given to all to “come.” To those who are thirsty and wish to take from the water of life without cost, let them come. If your hope for eternity is not already bound in the person and promises of the Lord Jesus Christ, do not put it off. Jesus is coming quickly. It has been and remains imminent. He can come at anytime. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to get right with God. Tomorrow is not promised to you.
Talk with myself or any of our church leaders. We are glad to answer any of your questions and help you understand who Jesus Christ is and how you can be saved from your sins through faith in Him.
(Links to all of the sermons referenced in this sermon can be found here – https://www.gracebibleny.org/category/sermons/revelation)
Sermon Notes – 4/12/2026
Recapitulation of Revelation – The Book of Revelation
Introduction
Revelation promises a ____________to those who read & heed its message
All Scripture, including Revelation, needs to be interpreted according to its grammar & __________context
Authorship & Purpose – Rev. 1
The author is ultimately God with John as the ______to be given to the 7 churches in Asia & then the world
The purpose is to bless those who read & ____its message concerning the things that must shortly take place
Seven Letters to Seven Churches – Rev. 2-3
These are actual individual churches existing at a _________ ________in specific locations in Asia
The message to each church was meant to be seen by the other churches, and from them, to _____churches
Ephesus: The church that lost its first love – remember, repent, redo. Overcomer gains access to _________
Smyrna: The _______________church – continue to persevere in tribulation. Overcomer gains crown of life
Pergamum: The compromised church – __________________. Overcomer at marriage supper of the Lamb
Thyatira: The ______________church – repent or be judged. Overcomer will rule with Christ
Sardis: The spiritually dead church – remember your past & repent. Overcomer will be in the ____________
Philadelphia: The ____________church – continue to hold fast. Overcomer will be in the new Jerusalem
Laodicea: The lukewarm church – accept my discipline & _____________Overcomer will reign with Christ
The Scene in Heaven – Rev. 4-5
John sees the glorious wonders of God on His _________________________and the worship given to Him
Only the ________, Jesus Christ, is worthy to open the scroll with seven seals and He is worshiped for that
The First Six Seal Judgments – Rev. 6
The first 6 seal judgments correspond well with Matthew ___________
The first 4 seals bring in succession 4 horses & riders: Conquering, war, famine, death of _____of humanity
The 5th seal are the _______from the tribulation under the altar of God calling on God to avenge their blood
The 6th seal brings a great earthquake, celestial signs, & ____________of the wrath of God
The Slaves of God – Rev. 7
An interlude which explains the 144,000 ___________witnesses & innumerable martyrs in heaven
The Seventh Seal & the Trumpet Judgments – Rev. 8-9
The 7th seal brings the trumpet judgments: 1st causes ____ of trees & all green grass to burn up. 2nd causes a mountain cast into sea to turn 1/3 of into blood killing ____ of all sea creatures & destroying 1/3 of shipping
3rd causes Wormwood to fall & turn 1/3 of rivers & springs bitter killing many men.
4th smites _______ of sun, moon & stars causing them to be dark 1/3 of time day & night
5th trumpet releases _______locust like creatures from abyss to harm for 5 months those without seal of God
6th releases the four angels bound at Euphrates river to kill ___ of mankind via army of 200 million creatures
Parenthetical Hope & Warning – Rev. 10:1-11:13
A strong angel announces no further delay & the 7th trumpet the mystery of God would be _____________
Two men with supernatural powers witness for 1,260 days, are killed, then ___________& ascend to heaven
The Seventh Trumpet – Rev. 11:14-19
The 3rd woe begins while in heaven the 24 elders give thanks to God for His ______________on the wicked
Parenthetical Background & Announcements – Rev. 12-14
These chapters introduce the primary characters & furnish the _____for what unfolds in the bowl judgments
The dragon, (Satan), seeks to ____________the child of the woman (the Messiah) but fails.
Satan continues effort to _________the woman (Israel), will wage war in heaven, be defeated & cast to earth
The beast from the sea (_________) will be empowered to conquer the world & gain worship of the wicked
The beast from the earth (the false prophet) by deception & then compulsion forces worship of the first ____
The 144,000 Jewish witness will stand with the Lamb on _________________
An angel will preach the eternal gospel to the ______world. Another angel will announce the fall of Babylon
A 3rd angel warns of eternal ______on those that receive the mark of the beast, but martyrs will be ________
A third vision is of a heavenly reaping of a grain harvest & then a grape harvest for the _________of God
The Scene in Heaven – Rev. 15
The 7 angels with the 7 bowls of God’s wrath come forth & the martyrs sing the ____________________
The Seven Bowls of Wrath – Rev. 16
First bowl brings loathsome & malignant ___________on those with the mark of the beast
Second bowl causes the sea to become blood and kills _________living thing in the sea
Third bowl causes rivers and springs to become blood
Fourth bowl causes sun to __________ men, but they continue to blaspheme instead of repent
Fifth bowl causes a ___________that causes pain to envelop the kingdom of the beast
The sixth bowl ____________the way for Armageddon
The 7th bowl brings the greatest earthquake ____: All islands flee, All mountains collapse, 100 lb hail stones
Destruction of Babylon & Events in Heaven – Rev. 17:1-19:6
The beast exploits false religion to gain power, but then destroys it & demands worship of __________alone
The beast and his coalition will wage war with the Lamb, but they will be overcome & _______________
The world will _________the utter destruction of commercial Babylon, but those in heaven will _________
The __________supper of the Lamb will begin in heaven while the bowl judgments are poured out on earth
The Second Advent – Rev. 19:11-21
Jesus physically returns to earth with His armies __________the Antichrist, the false prophet & their armies
The Millennium – Rev. 20:1-10
Jesus’ 1,000 year reign begins with the capture, binding & imprisonment of Satan for ____________years
Satan’s release results in deception & rebellion, then God ___________them & casts Satan into eternal hell
The Great White Throne Judgment – Rev. 20:11-15
The present heavens & earth flee, the wicked are resurrected to be judged & ______________by their deeds
Those whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of life are cast into __________________, the second death
The New Heaven, Earth & Jerusalem – Rev. 21:1-22:5
Eternity begins with the creation of a new heaven & earth – & then a ___Jerusalem descending from heaven
The new Jerusalem is immense & a place of comfort, beauty, holiness – the dwelling place of ____________
Final Invitation and Warnings – Rev. 22:6-21
The message is attested by the angel & John to be _______- & it is _______because Jesus is coming quickly
Reading & heeding the message of Revelation is a __________to the saved & ____________to the unsaved
The invitation is given to all to “_________” – the thirsty who desire can receive the water of life
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