Audio Version read by Kathy Bird
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THE BOOK OF REVELATION (The last book of the Holy Bible) This is a book written to the seven churches of Asia, which represents all the churches that exist everywhere in the world. They were real churches and were located on the main roads running North and South and communication between them was easy because of their location. Revelation or the unveiling was written 'in order that the evils in the churches might be corrected and they might be prepared for the events that were about to confront them.' The Christians were already feeling the pressure of paganism and the threat of persecution at their doorstep, because the moral and social conditions of the empire were getting worse. This letter from John 'provided a new perspective on history by showing that the kingdom of Christ was eternal, and that it would ultimately be victorious over the kingdoms of the world.' Revelation contains four great visions and each vision contains a picture of Christ. Each vision, which is a time frame, advances to the next to next vision and all tell a story of how God will allow the world to be seduced by Satan until he sets up his throne in God's Holy Temple to be worshiped. Then God will send Christ to defeat Satan and end the world as we know it and start a New World Kingdom with Christ as King. Satan will be locked up in the abyss ( bottomless pit ) for a thousand years while Christ rules the world with those ( alive and who will be raised from the dead ) who were faithful to him and not seduced by Satan. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released and will go out and deceive the nations scattered over the whole world and bring them together in battle to wipe out God's people, but fire will come down from heaven and destroy the people of the nations who have gathered to destroy God's people. Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast (Satan's slave who is given power by Satan and demands to be worshiped) and the false prophet have already been thrown; they will be tormented day and night forever. The rest of the dead will be raised back to life. Then God will judge all the generations that have lived on the earth according to what they had done. Whoever does not have his name written in the book of the living is thrown into the lake of fire along with death and the world of the dead. Then a new heaven and earth will be seen and the first heaven and earth will disappear and the sea will vanish. John says, 'he saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband. He said he heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: "Now God's home is with mankind! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared. 'The First Vision pictures Christ as the critic of the churches, who commends their virtues and condemns their vices in the light of His virtues.' ( Chapter 1, Verse 9 through Chapter 3, Verse 22 ) 'The Second Vision deals with the progressive series of seals, trumpets, and bowls, which mark the judgment of God upon a world dominated by evil.' ( Chapter 4, Verse 1 through Chapter 16, Verse 21 ) 'The Third Vision depicts the overthrow of evil society, religion, and government in the destruction of Babylon and the defeat of the beast and his armies by this victorious Christ.' ( Chapter 17, Verse 1 through Chapter 21, Verse 8 ) 'The Fourth Vision is the establishment of the city of God, the eternal destiny of His people. The book closes with an exhortation to the readiness for the return of Christ.' ( Chapter 21, Verse 9 through Chapter 22, Verse 5 ) 2006 January Lazarus And The Rich Man ("about death & believing") February The Greatest Commandment ("about love") March The Lost Sheep & The Lost Son ("rejoicing for who has given up their life of sin") April The Meaning Of Easter - Three Examples From Jesus May The Worry Of Daily Life June The Ten Lepers July The Good Samaritan August How To Give and How To Pray September The Un-believing Towns October Signs Revealing Christ's Return To Earth November The Last Supper December Why We Should Celebrate Christmas 2007 January The Things That Make A Person Unclean February Marriage, Adultery, and Divorce March Jesus Chooses The Apostles April The Coming Persecutions For The Believers May Jesus Feeds 5000 Men, ( not counting the women and children ) ( part 1 ) June Jesus Walks On The Water ( part 2 ) July The Bread Of Life ( part 3 ) August The Meaning Of The Cross September Jonah And The Whale October Jesus And The Devil ( Satan ) November Jesus And The Sabbath ( The Day Of Rest ) December The Christmas Story ( The Birth Of Jesus ) |