Revelation 1:7

Revelation Bible Study

One of the messages gleaned from Revelation Bible Study is that the end is not the end and by that we mean the end of time and or life on the planet. The Apocalypse sheds more light on the passages in the prophets and in the gospels which speak of the life and the message of God continuing after Jesus’ return or parousia. The word parousia means presence. It affirms that Christ is here with believers today.

Obviously, this refers to His spiritual presence. Erroneously, many believers expect a physical bodily return of Christ of the same nature  in which He came the first time. They fail to understand that Jesus’ physical body was for the purpose of His temporary sojourn on earth and primarily for his atoning sacrifice and death on the cross. “But we see, Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for every one.” (Heb. 2:10).

This text is quite revealing. It says that Jesus became a man so that He could suffer death. After His resurrection death has no more dominion over Him. Further, there is more involved in Christ’s suffering of death for every man than His physical suffering on the cross. This is the essence of the Revelation Bible study.

He died a vicarious death for the benefit of man so that man would not experience that death. The death Jesus died was “death to sin” (Rom. 6:9-11). It involved His being separated from the Father. It is through that death which believers are privileged to “live” with Him. In other words, believers do not have to suffer the death of separation from God. Christ did that for us.

Evangelism Continues Forever

It is this message that God requires us to take to the world, the message of salvation from death, i.e. from separation. Isaiah prophesied that God’s kingdom would never end but continually increase. “Of the increase of His government and peace  there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isa. 9:7)

Revelation Bible study is a message of the coming of the kingdom of God, (Rev. 11:15). Again note Isaiah says the government of the kingdom would not end. That means the law of the kingdom, also called the law of faith or the gospel has no end. But observe that the kingdom is established in judgment. In other words, the judgment is the time the kingdom is fully established, but judgment does not end the kingdom. Rather, it is when God’s reign truly begins on earth in its fullness.

Revelation Bible Study: My Words Shall Not Pass Away

Jesus affirmed the same saying that heaven and earth would pass away but His words would never pass away, (Matt. 24:35). Now think about to whom he was affirming this. Not to angels but to men dwelling on earth. How could Jesus affirm His words would never pass away if the universe gets jettisoned? This verse affirms the continuation of mankind, the gospel and life on the planet. The heaven and earth which passes is the old covenant world, (Heb. 8:13).

Peter contrasts the fading glory of man’s brief human life on earth comparing it with the grass and flowers that fade away. (1 Pet. 1:24-25) Yet he says the word of the Lord endures forever, which is preached by the gospel.  Therefore, no Revelation Bible Study which speaks of the end of earthly life is true to the message of the Apocalypse.

Revelation Bible Study

In chapters 21 and 22, the message of Revelation is clear that the salvation contained therein is for man while on earth. By implication it transcends the earthly realm but the imagery portrayed refers to life on the planet in the church today.

The nations of those who are being saved walk in the light of the Holy City, i.e the new Jerusalem, or temple, (Rev. 21:24). These are synonyms for the church and kingdom. The nations bring their glory and honor into the kingdom, (21:26). How do these nations journey to heaven if this is a post earthly existence of man? How would they even exist in world which suffered destruction?

The leaves of the tree of life are for the “healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22:2) Healing implies some form of sickness, either spiritual or physical. We must rule out physical sickness, for there would be no physical bodies, sickness or death in heaven, thus no need of healing. But if these nations remain on earth, they certainly would need the continual healing powers of the gospel to assist them to walk in righteousness.

Revelation Bible Study Conclusion

Finally, John sees those who have the right to enter through the “gates” into the city, but he also sees those who are “outside” describing them as dogs, sexually immoral, murderers, etc who practice a lie. (Rev. 22:14) In other words, they are yet practicing sin outside the city. Such description does not fit destruction of life on the planet. Therefore, Revelation bible study is a message of encouragement and victorious living in Christ on earth with an assurance that the afterlife is equally blessed even more so. Click here for additional audios on Revelation Bible Study.

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