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Revelation 7:1-17 7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. A Great Multitude from Every Nation 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”   Introduction — Who Can Stand? I. God Seals His People Before Judgment (Vv. 1–3)                1. God's judgment is under His control                2. God's seal identifies those who belong to Him                 3. Persecution is not the same as God's wrath   II. The 144,000 — God's Faithfulness to Israel (vv. 4–8) (**you do not have to put all the verses, just verse 4)             1. God Has Not Finished with Israel              2. The 144,000 and the Great Multitude   III. The Great Multitude — Victory Through Tribulation (vv. 9–14) (** again, verse 9)           1. Salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb (vv. 10-12)             2. The great multitude has come out of the great tribulation (v.13-14)            3. Their robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (v.14)   IV. The Lamb Will Shepherd His People Forever (vv. 15–17)           1. God will dwell with His people (v.15)             2. The suffering of God's people will come to an end (v.16)             3. The Lamb will be our Shepherd (v.17)    V. How Should We Respond?            1. Come to the Lamb.             2. Remain faithful to the Lamb.             3. Look to the Lamb.

Revelation 6:9–17 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”   Introduction — From the Four Horsemen to the Fifth Seal I. The Fifth Seal — Persecution and Martyrdom (vv. 9–11)          1. Persecution is part of the Christian's calling. (John 15:20)           2. The martyrs are under the altar. (v.9)          3. The martyrs cry out for justice. (v.10)           4. God tells them to wait. (v.11)  II. The Sixth Seal — The Coming Day of the Lord (vv. 12–14)           1. These signs point toward the Day of the Lord.           2. Jesus' prophecy and Revelation belong together.  III. The Wrath of the Lamb — Who Can Stand? (vv. 15–17)             1. No earthly power can protect us from God's judgment. (v.15-16)            2. The wrath of the Lamb. (v.16)             3. The Question: Who can stand? (v.17)  IV. Our Response — Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

Revelation 6:1–8 6 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.   Introduction — The Lamb Opens the Seals The White Horse — Conquest (vv.1-2)  The Red Horse — Bloodshed (vv.3-4)  The Black Horse — Famine (vv.5-6)  The Pale Horse — Death (vv.7-9)  The Four Horsemen Belong Together  Why Would God Allow This? Christians Must Face the Future With Courage Our Response

Revelation 5:1–14 5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and mightand honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.   Introduction — From the Throne to the Lamb I. The Scroll in God’s Hand (Revelation 5:1) II. No One Is Worthy to Open the Scroll (Revelation 5:2–4) III. God Has Found Someone He Can Trust (Revelation 5:5) IV. The Lion Is the Lamb (Revelation 5:6–7) V. Heaven Worships the Lamb (Revelation 5:8–10) VI. The Worship Keeps Growing (Revelation 5:11–14) Conclusion

Revelation 4:1–11 4 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings[a] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,    who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”   Introduction – Look Up I. John Sees the Throne of God (vv.1–3)  II. John Sees Worship Surrounding the Throne (vv.4–8)  III. The Elders Cast Their Crowns Before the Throne (vv.9–10)  IV. God Is Worthy Because He Created All Things (v.11) Application: How We Worship

Revelation 3:14-22 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”   Introduction – A Healthy Church or a Sick Church?  I. Christ Is the True and Faithful Witness (v. 14) II. Christ Diagnoses Their Lukewarmness (vv. 15–16)III. Christ Exposes the Root Disease: Self-Sufficiency (v. 17)IV. Christ Exposes Their Self-Deception (v. 17)V. Christ Alone Has the Cure (v. 18)VI. Christ Calls His Church to Repent (v. 19)VII. Christ Stands at the Door (v. 20)VIII. Christ Promises Victory to Those Who Overcome (vv. 21–22) Conclusion: “I Need Nothing” vs. “I Need You”

Revelation 3:7–13 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’   Introduction – A Church with Little Strength I. Christ Holds the Key and Opens the Door (vv.7-8) II. Christ Values Faithfulness More Than Strength (v.8) III. Christ Will Vindicate His Faithful People (vv.9-10) IV. Christ Calls His Church to Hold Fast (vv.11-13) Application: BE FAITHFUL Conclusion

Revelation 3:1–6 3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’   Introduction – A Church with a Great Reputation I. Christ Sees Beyond Our Reputation (v.1)  II. Christ Commands His Church to Wake Up (Vv. 2-3)   III. Christ Knows Those Who Remain Faithful (v.4)  IV. Christ Promises Eternal Victory to Those Who Overcome (Vv. 5-6)  Conclusion

Revelation 2:18–29 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’   Introduction – A Growing Church with a Serious Problem I. Christ Sees His Church Clearly (Vv. 18–19) II. Christ Condemns the Toleration of Sin (Vv. 20) III. Christ Gives Time to Repent (Vv. 21–23) IV. Christ Calls the Faithful to Hold Fast (Vv. 24–29) Application Conclusion

Revelation 2:12–17 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’     Introduction – When Faithfulness Meets Compromise Christ Confronts His Church with His Word (v.12)  Christ Commends Faithfulness in a Hostile World (v.13)  Christ Condemns Compromise Within His Church (Vv. 14-15)  Christ Calls His Church to Repent (Vv. 16-17)  Our Response

Revelation 2:8-11 To the Church in Smyrna 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’   Introduction: To the Church in Smyrna I. Christ Is Greater Than Our Suffering (Revelation 2:8) "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the First and the Last, who died and came to life.'" (Revelation 2:8)   II. Christ Knows Every Trial We Face (Revelation 2:9–10a)   "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer." (Revelation 2:9–10a)   III. Christ Calls Us to Faithful Endurance (Revelation 2:10b–11) "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life... He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death." (Revelation 2:10b–11)   Conclusion

Revelation 2:1-7 To the Church in Ephesus 2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’   Introduction: Christ's Letters to His Church Christ Knows His Church (Revelation 2:1) A Church That Forgot Its First Love (Revelation 2:2–4) Christ's Call to Repent and Return (Revelation 2:5–7) Conclusion

Revelation 1:1-8 Prologue 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Greeting to the Seven Churches 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”   Introduction: Studying the book of Revelation  Revelation Reveals Jesus Christ (vv. 1-3)  Revelation Strengthens Christ's Church (vv. 4-6)  Revelation Gives Hope in the Return of Christ (vv. 7-8)  Conclusion

1 Timothy 2:1–8 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.    Introduction  Give Thanks for God's Providence (1 Timothy 2:1) Pray for America (1 Timothy 2:1–2)  America's Greatest Need Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3–6)  Seek Revival (1 Timothy 2:7–8)  Conclusion

Malachi 4:5–6 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." Introduction: The Fatherless Generation FATHERHOOD IS GOD'S DESIGN             Genesis 1:27–28 FATHERLESSNESS PRODUCES DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES            Malachi 4:6 GOD CALLS MEN TO BE GODLY FATHERS          Ephesians 6:4 CHILDREN ARE CALLED TO HONOR THEIR FATHERS   Exodus 20:12   THE HOPE OF EVERY FATHER IS THE GOSPEL   Conclusion