The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

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. 

7-The Church Of The Living Dead (Revelation 3:1-6)

Pastor Bob delivers a message on the church of Sardis.
Pastor Bob: "I've often wondered what it would be like to have our lives turned inside out. To have our true inner condition exposed to the scrutiny of others around us. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, we are able, like the church of Sardis, to present an appearance of life even when all that remains are distant memories of spiritual vitality. And the greatest danger lies in thinking we are alive, when in reality, spiritual death is knocking at our door. This was the condition of the church of Sardis."
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

6-The Trouble With Tolerance - The Threat Of Tolerance (Revelation 2:18--29)

In this passage, Jesus directs his message to the church at Thyatira.
It's sobering to realize that we as a church can be doing many of the right things and still be tolerating what God finds intolerable. It's especially important in our politically correct times, to hold on to Jesus Christ and to avoid compromise that can lead to spiritual death -- just as surely as Jezebel's corrupt self-made religion resulted in her judgment.

5-The Compromised Church (Revelation 2:12-17)

Note: #4 of series is unavailable in audio form.  Sermon notes will be online in near future.
Today's message is directed to the church at Pergamum.
Satan has two primary techniques that he uses to ruin a believer -- if he cannot make you knuckle under with hostility and persecution, he will begin to entice you and lure you into compromise. It is either intimidation or enticement. It is either the violence threat of death or it is the subtly of an angel of light. Pergamum is the church that is being undermined by corrupt practices, corrupt teaching and compromise.

3-How's Your Spiritual Love Life? (Revelation 2:1-7)

Over the next few messages, we will be looking at the letters to the 7 churches.  All these churches were located in the western half of Asia Minor – modern day Turkey and were specifically selected as representative of:
7 historic churches that existed in Asia Minor
7 types of churches throughout church history     
7 churches typical of today
Today's message focuses on Ephesus = 1st century church (Pentecost – death of John)
In each letter to the churches there is a consistent pattern:
A greeting
A title for Christ (taken from chapter 1)
A commendation for what they were doing well
A criticism for what they were failing in
A warning ("He who has ears, let him hear")
An exhortation to repent
A promised reward for overcoming