The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

17-The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:1-14)

Some have suggested that the book of Revelation is not meant to be taken literally. However, if it is not to be taken literally, it has no real meaning. All one has to do is to look at fulfilled biblical prophecy and you will discover that every prophecy has a literal and obvious fulfillment. 500 of the Bible's 1,000 prophecies have already been literally fulfilled.  
Now, as we consider these events, it is worth repeating a well known phrase; "When the normal sense makes sense, don't seek any other sense."      
Therefore:           
The great city is identified as the literal city of Jerusalem           
The time periods are taken as literal time periods.           
The two witnesses are interpreted as two actual individuals           
The 3 1/2 days are a literal 3 1/2 days           
The earthquake is a literal earthquake            
The 7,000 who die are the literal casualties of the catastrophe           
The death, resurrection and ascension of the witnesses is literal

16-The Little Scroll (Revelation 10:1-11)

Why does God allow evil to go unpunished? Why does He allow human suffering and death? Why doesn’t God intervene in human affairs? When will God break is silence and punish the wicked?  
Interestingly, many use the delayed justice of God and His patience as an excuse to refuse the gospel of Jesus Christ. But when they read Revelation, which is God's final corrective to evil in the world, they recoil in horror at the finality of His judgment. We're a very contrary people! 
Chapter 10 is an intermission – a parenthetical interlude -- in the divine judgment of God. Chapter 10 centers on an open scroll which John is commanded to eat resulting in prophecy “about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

15-Locusts and Horsemen (Revelation 9:1-21)

Last week we studied the first four Trumpet judgments.
Today we will study the 5th and 6th Trumpet judgments, called the three woes (Woe means "A state of deep sorrow or grief.")
 A comparison with the 10 Plagues of Egypt.  What was God’s purpose in the 10 Plagues of Egypt?   What is God’s purpose in the Great Tribulation?     
In this vision it is clear, despite God’s increasingly severe judgments upon the world, that the wicked maintain their refusal to repent. There is a purpose of love behind the judgments. They are to make plain the seriousness and final end of sin. They are to lead people to repent, to turn to God and be saved.

14-Trumpets Of Doom (Revelation 8:1-13)

The apocalypse [unveiling] of Jesus Christ!
John is commissioned by Jesus Christ to "write what he has seen, what is now and what will take place later." As we noted, Rev. 1:19 is the key to interpreting the book.
In our study so far we have discovered that:
Jesus Christ has very specific exhortations to the 7 churches of Asia Minor - Rev 2-3
The church has been raptured and will be spared the coming wrath of God - Rev 4
That the Lamb has opened the scroll which is the title deed to the earth - Rev 5
There are various judgments that accompany the opening of the seals - Rev 6
Salvation is possible even during the Tribulation:   144,000 and the innumerable multitude who will die a martyr's death - Rev 7
It is a terribly sobering thing to envision what John describes as the final days of the world as we know it. However, there are benefits to understanding and heeding the prophetic future:
It brings perspective to what is important in life
It serves as a warning to those who continue in sin
It motivates us to share the truth with others
It assures us of God's ultimate victory over sin and evil

13-The 144,000 (Revelation 7:1-17)

Chapter 7 is a parenthesis between chapter 6 and 8 that precedes the 7th seal.  The pause provides an answer to the question we were left with at the end of chapter 6, “Who is able to stand?”
In chapter 7 we see two groups who are able to stand during this terrible time:
      A godly remnant of the 144,000
      The great multitude in heaven.
God is going to set aside 144,000 Jews who will accept Jesus as the Messiah and He will protect them during the Tribulation period until their work of proclaiming the gospel is completed.
A great multitude of Gentiles will also be saved, but many of these will be martyred, and a multitude of the martyred dead will be found in heaven rejoicing in the presence of the Lamb and representing every tongue and nation.
It is an indication that even in the tragic closing hours prior to the Second Coming of Christ to the earth, countless souls will find Christ as Savior and be saved by His grace.
The Good News is that you don’t have to wait until the Tribulation period to receive salvation that Christ offers. Today, if you receive His offer of forgiveness and new life you can be confident that you will be spared the terrible judgment of God that is about to come upon the whole earth. You can also know with certainty that whether you leave this earth through death or rapture, you will enjoy the pleasures of heaven for all eternity!

12-The Opening Of The Seals (Revelation 6:1-17)

In Revelation chapter 5, we found that the Lamb of God was the only One worthy to take the scroll, or title deed to the earth, from the hand of the Father and to open it. Now in chapter 6, we find Him systematically removing the seals from the scroll.
The opening of the seals initiates the most catastrophic times in human history. All the earth's tragedies combined will pale in comparison to the Tribulation period -- also referred to as:
The Wrath of the Lamb
The Day of the Lord
The Seventieth week of Daniel found in Daniel chapter 9
 Who will be affected? Everyone who missed the rapture of Rev 4:1
As we make our way through the book of Revelation, we'll discover that God’s judgments are progressive in their intensity. There are seven seals, each with a judgement. The seventh seal ushers in the seven trumpet judgements. The seventh trumpet judgement ushers in the seven final judgements -- bowls of wrath poured out on the earth. When the last bowl is poured out, God is finished judging. Jesus will then return, ushering in the millennial Kingdom, 1,000 years of peace.

11-The Deed To The Earth (Revelation 5:1-14)

As we noted in the last message, Revelation 4 and 5 comprise an introduction – a prelude of sorts—to the final events of human history.
Chapter 4 ended with the worship of Jesus Christ, the Creator.
Chapter 5 will end with the worship of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer.
God spared nothing to rescue you from the penalty of sin -- eternal death -- and to redeem you back to God.  Are you withholding anything from Him?  Let Him break the seals to your heart and give Him the deed to your life!
Surrender your life afresh to Him right now and join all of creation in the worship of our great Kinsman Redeemer -- Jesus Christ!

10-Heaven Revealed (Revelation 4:1-11)

As we begin chapter 4 of Revelation, we are entering the third division of the book.  In chapter 1:19 we discovered that Revelation is divided into three chronological sections:
What you have seen - Rev 1:1-20
What is now - Rev 2:1-3:22
         The moral and spiritual condition of the 7 churches - then and now.
    3.What will take place later - Rev 6:1-22:21
Chapters 4 and 5 are an introduction to the final events of human history.

9-Lukewarm Christianity (Revelation 3:14-22)

All of the messages to the churches of Asia are extremely practical, but none of the seven better addresses the conditions in the United States than the message to Laodicea, the church that had become lukewarm in its deceptive self-sufficiency.
Application: Are you spiritually lukewarm -- not too hot for Jesus, but not too cold? The church of Laodicea was and they didn't even recognize the signs of it. If you are lukewarm, there is a very simple remedy; Repent of your self-sufficiency. Answer the door of your heart that Jesus is knocking on! And let Him once again take His rightful place as master and ruler of your life!

8-A Door Of Opportunity (Revelation 3:7-13)

This message focuses on the church of Philadelphia.
Application: Right now there is marvelous door of opportunity that God has opened:
The door of Salvation
The door of missionary outreach
The door of service
These doors are open right now -- and opened widely!  But a day will come when, as scripture teaches in Matt 25:10-12, these doors will be shut.