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Hello! I’ve been trying to figure out how to post Terry’s message from the last Sunday of December, since the batteries in the recorder died partway through. So, I finally decided that I’d post what I have of the audio and the notes I took in church. Sorry for the technical problems!

God Is Coming, pt. 12

Isaiah 46:4 is a great reminder of the ironclad promises of God.

Review: This book describes the preparation for Christ’s return. Romans 11:25-27 tells us that when the fullness of the Gentiles have come to the Lord, God will turn back to His people Israel. This all comes together in Revelation. God will make all things new.

Revelation 11

• v. 5-6 – the witnesses needed to be protected
  • both Jews & Gentiles are against them
  • fire comes out of their mouths
  • ability to stop the rains
  • power over waters
  • power to smite the earth with plagues
    • every kind
    • as often as they wish
• v. 7 – when they finish their ministry
  • just like John the Baptist
    • fulfilled his calling
    • faithfully served
  • the beast from the abyss will kill them
• v. 8-10 – after they are killed
  • the “great city” = Jerusalem (where the Lord was crucified)
    • called “Sodom” and “Egypt” because it is defiled
  • the people of the world react
    • leave the witness’ bodies on display
    • refuse to give them a respectful burial
  • rejoice over them
    • make merry
    • send gifts to each other
    • because the witnesses “tormented” them (by speaking God’s truth)
  • *Note: this is where the audio ends…
• v. 11 – after 3 1/2 days…
  • the witnesses are brought back to life
  • great fear falls on all who see
• v. 12 – at the same time…
  • a voice from heaven calls them
    • “Come up here.”
  • they ascend into heaven
  • their enemies watch
• v. 13 – another earthquake (one of 12 in Revelation)
  • 1/10 of the city of Jerusalem destroyed
  • 7000 people killed
  • then people finally repent & give glory to God
    • we’re not told how many, but it could be tons!
• v. 14 – the 2nd woe is past
  • of the 3 woes in Revelation 8:13
    • 1st woe: opening of the abyss
    • 2nd woe: witnesses
• v. 15 – 7th trumpet (result will be in Revelation 16)
  • John hears in heaven
    • rejoicing in heaven
    • He shall reign for ever and ever
• v. 16-18 – the 24 elders worship God again
  • fall on their faces
  • declare the glory of God
    • praising Him for He has taken His power & has begun to reign
  • tell us of the anger of the unredeemed
    • points to the White Throne Judgment
• v. 19 – a view of the temple in heaven
  • reminds us of the crucifixion – when the veil was torn (Matthew 27:51)
  • ark of the covenant is seen
  • lightning, thunder, another earthquake, a hailstorm (Matthew 27:50-53)
  • many things in Revelation have a first type of fulfillment in the Old & New Testaments

Before Christmas, Terry’s overview of the Book of Revelation took us through chapter 10 and into chapter 11. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to verses referenced, so you can read along with Terry’s lesson.

God Is Coming, pt. 11

Introduction: Brief review of chapters 8-9. The first 4 trumpet judgments affect the physical earth (where the rebellion happened). Judgments are a temper tantrum – they are a preparation/winnowing/call to repentance. The 5th & 6th trumpets pertain to the demon world – the abyss is opened, and the demons loosed to torture those not sealed by God. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 – God doesn’t want us dabbling in/opening the door to the spirit realm. There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) – demons want to inhabit man & the more people get exposed to/immune to the demonic realm, the easier it is for demons to do what they want.

Revelation 10 – Interlude

• v. 1 – John saw:
  • another mighty angel
  • came out of heaven
  • clothed with a cloud
  • rainbow on his head
  • face like the sun
  • feet like pillars of fire
• v. 2 – the angel held a “little book/scroll”
  • right foot on the sea
  • left foot on the land
• v. 3 – the angel cried out
  • loud – like a lion
  • 7 peals of thunder responded
• v. 4 – John was about to write what the thunders said
  • God stopped him from recording it
• v. 5 – the angel raises his right hand to heaven
  • sign of an oath
• v. 6-7 – the angel swears by God
  • there will be no more delay of judgment & prophecy
  • when the 7th angel is about to blow his trumpet the mystery of God will finish
• v. 8 – God speaks to John
  • “Go!” – go to the angel
  • “Do!” – take the book from the angel
• v. 9 – John obeys without argument
  • is told to take the scroll and eat it
    • Jeremiah 15:16 – Jeremiah ate the words of God
    • Ezekiel 2-3 – Ezekiel was given a scroll & told to eat it & prophesy
  • this “little book/scroll” is probably the Word of God
• v. 10 – John ate
  • was sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach
  • Psalm 19 – the words of God are sweeter than honey
  • It’s sweet to know that God will deal with the unbelievers, but bitter to know what will happen to them.
• v. 11 – the angel speaks to John
  • “You must prophesy again concerning…”
    • peoples
    • nations
    • tongues
    • kings

Revelation 11

• v. 1 – John is given a measuring stick
  • told to measure the temple of God & the altar & the people who worship
  • is a physical temple on earth
    • v. 2 notes “the holy city” = Jerusalem
    • will be built in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Tribulation
    • Ezekiel 40-42: Ezekiel is told to measure the temple that will be in the new earth

• v. 2 – told not to measure the outer court
  • it is given over to the nations
  • for the 1st 42 months of the Tribulation (3 1/2 years)
• v. 3 – two witnesses
  • will prophesy in Jerusalem
  • for 1260 days (42 months; 3 1/2 years)
  • dressed in sackcloth (mourning)
• v. 4 – prophecy fulfilled
  • Zechariah 4:3,11,14
• v. 5 – power from God
  • if someone desires to harm them
    • fire proceeds from their mouths
• v. 6 – more power from God
  • to shut up the sky (stop the rains)
  • to turn water to blood
  • to smite the earth with plagues (as often as they desire)
  • will be encouraging people to turn to God’s salvation
• v. 7 – end of the 3 1/2 years
  • witnesses finish their testimony
  • Abaddon/Apollyon/beast from the abyss will kill them
  • all on God’s time

Hello! Terry’s continued series on Revelation took us into chapter 9. To listen to this teaching, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to Bible Gateway for the verses he references.

God Is Coming, pt. 10

Introduction: Review of the first four trumpet judgments:

• 1st trumpet: 1/3 of the land burned, 1/3 of the trees burned, all of the grass burned
• 2nd trumpet: 1/3 of the seas turned to blood
• 3rd trumpet: 1/3 of all other waters turned bitter
• 4th trumpet: 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars smitten
• God’s people will be protected, but some will be martyred for their faith. But to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Revelation 9

• v. 1 – the 5th trumpet
  • star = angel (he) was given the key
    • key is to the abyss/bottomless pit/deep = a place where demons have been incarcerated for a long time
• v. 2 – the abyss is opened by the angel
  • terrible smoke rises and darkens the earth
• v. 3 – locusts/demons come out of the smoke
  • GIVEN power
    • allowed/used by God
  • power LIKE scorpions
• v. 4 – God commands the locusts/demons
  • part of God’s retribution/judgment
  • the only part of God’s creation that has free will is mankind
  • mission of these demonic entities is to hurt the unbelievers
    • unbelievers = those not sealed
    • Won’t affect the 144,000 sealed Jews (Revelation 7:3-4) or Christians sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)
  • not to damage the earth/grass/trees, etc.
• v. 5 – more instructions to the locusts/demons
  • do not kill the people
  • torment them for 5 months
  • torment is like being stung by a scorpion
• v. 6 – the reaction
  • men will seek death, but they won’t be able to die (not even by suicide)
• v. 7-10 – characteristics of the locusts
  • 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Satan & his servants appear as angels of light – but not this time; they will be seen for what they are
  • Like horses prepared
    • crowns like gold
    • faces like men
    • long hair like women
    • teeth like a lion
    • breastplates of iron
    • wings make a horrible noise
    • tails like scorpions to hurt for 5 months
  • This is all to stop our sin/evil behavior & turn to the Lord for salvation.
• v. 11 – King of the Locusts
  • ruling angel of the abyss
  • Hebrew – Abaddon
  • Greek – Apollyon
  • Destroyer – the devil comes to steal, kill, & destroy (John 10:10)
• v. 12 – The first woe has passed (Rev. 8:13).
• v. 13 – 6th trumpet
  • God is in control
  • voice from the horns of the altar before God
• v. 14 – 6th angel
  • commanded by the voice from the altar
  • told to release the 4 angels bound under the Euphrates
• v. 15 – 4 imprisoned angels released
  • to kill 1/3 of mankind
  • nearly 1/2 the rebellions population of the world will have been wiped out at this point in the Tribulation
• v. 16 – Armies numbered
  • 200 million horsemen
  • NOT Armageddon
• v. 17 – Armies described
  • Breastplates
    • fiery red, dark blue, yellow as sulfur
  • Heads of the horses resemble heads of lions
    • fire, smoke, & sulfur from their mouths
• v. 18 – another 1/3 of rebellious mankind killed
  • killed by the fire, smoke, & sulfur from the mouths of the horses
• v. 19 – more description of the horses
  • power from their:
    • mouths (fire, smoke, sulfur)
    • tails – like a serpent with a head that does harm
• v. 20-21 – mindset of those that still reject God
  • did not repent of:
    • worshipping devils & idols
    • murder
    • sorcery/pharmakeia (drug use/witchcraft, etc. – the devil can use people much more effectively if they aren’t in their right mind)
    • immorality
    • theft
  • man is capable of so much depravity apart from God
• God is bringing His kingdom – that is the goal of the Tribulation!

Terry’s continuing series in the book of Revelation took us to Revelation 4, where he taught about Worship in Heaven. To listen to this message, simply click on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures referenced by Terry.

God Is Coming, pt. 5

Review:

• Revelation 1:19 – outline of the book of Revelation
  • ch. 1 – things that you’ve seen
  • ch. 2 & 3 – things that are
  • ch. 4-22 – things that will be
• Reminders/Pitfalls/Concerns – Lessons from the letters to the churches
  • Don’t lose your first love
  • Don’t be afraid to suffer (Matthew 10:28)
  • Be on guard for sexual sin/impurity
  • Be on guard against spiritual deadness
  • Hold fast to the Word
  • Be on guard against lukewarmness/indifference
  • Be on guard against compromise/moving away from the Lord
• Ch. 2-3: John was told, “Write what you hear…”
• Beginning in ch. 4, John is told, “Write what you see…”
  • Test the spirits – 1 John 4:1
  • Test and approve all things – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Worship in Heaven: Revelation 4

• v. 1 – After all these things: the beginning of John’s eyewitness account
• v. 2 – Immediately
  • God took John to the spiritual realm to give us a glimpse of heaven
  • Translated from Patmos to heaven
  • Saw a throne
    • One sitting on the throne – the Father
• v. 3 – John describes the beauty he sees as best he can
• v. 4 – 24 thrones with 24 elders
  • clothed in white
  • golden crowns
  • clues will tell us later that these seem to be humans who have received their reward for faithfulness
• v. 5 – Lightning & thunder around the throne
  • 7 lamps are the 7 spirits of God (Isaiah 11:2)
• v. 6 – Before the throne
  • a sea of glass – the magnificence of being in the presence of God is unimaginable
  • In the midst of the throne –
    • 4 living creatures (Isaiah 6:2; Ezekiel 1:5-11)
    • Full of eyes

• v. 7 – the Four Living Creatures
  • Lion
  • Calf
  • Man
  • Eagle
• v. 8 – What do the 4 Creatures do?
  • full of eyes
  • have 6 wings
  • rest not
  • do not cease to say (a doxology):
    • Holy, holy, holy
    • Lord (Master)
    • God
    • Almighty/All-powerful
    • Was, Is, Is to Come – eternal nature of God
• v. 9 – the creatures give glory/honor/thanks to God
  • this triggers v. 10
• v. 10 – the 24 elders fall before God
  • worship Him
  • cast their crowns before the throne
  • say another doxology
• v. 11 – Doxology of the 24 elders
  • God is worthy of everything
  • Because He created all things
• Our purpose is to glorify the Lord by accomplishing the things He has for us to do, because we give Him pleasure.

In Terry’s continuing series, he took us through Revelation 3 and the last three churches. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures referenced. Be blessed!

God Is Coming, pt. 4

The Lord knows what’s going on in His churches – He walks in the midst of them.

1 Peter 4:17 – God only corrects those who belong to Him, whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6)

The things the Seven Churches of Revelation are working through here have parallels with churches/church ages throughout history, as well as today.

1. The Church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
   • v. 1 – attributes of Christ
     • Holds the “seven spirits/seven-fold spirit” (Isaiah 11:2) – the Holy Spirit
     • Hold the seven stars – angels (Revelation 1:20)
   • What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 1b)
     • Look good on the outside, but spiritually dead
   • Instruction to the Church (v. 2-4)
     • Wake up!
     • Strengthen the good things
     • Trust & obey
     • God gives a way back to Him (that’s His mercy, hope, & grace):
       • Remember
       • Hold fast
       • Repent
     • If you won’t turn back to Him:
       • Christ will come when you’re not ready (as a thief)
     • To those who have not gone astray:
       • They are found worthy to walk with Him
       • White clothes = clothed in the righteousness of God
   • Instruction to the Individual (v. 5)
     • If you overcome:
       • clothed in white
       • name will NOT be erased from the Book of Life
       • He will confess your name before the Father
         • If you are ashamed of Jesus, He’ll be ashamed of you before His Father (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26)
2. The Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)
   • v. 7 – attributes of Christ
     • Holy
     • True
     • holds the key of David (King of Israel)
     • what He opens/shuts:
       • God gives us opportunities & redirects us to His will, but we need to be in tune with the Spirit
   • What They Were Doing Right (v. 8)
     • No misdeeds
     • they are weakening, but God’s grace is sufficient
     • kept the Word
     • held onto His Name
   • Promises (v. 9–11a)
     • God will make sure that everyone knows that He loves His true Church.
     • Those who have kept His Word will be spared from the “hour of testing”
     • He is coming quickly!
   • Instruction to the Church (v. 11b)
     • Hold fast
       • be faithful to the end
   • Instruction to the Individual (v. 12)
     • He who overcomes/is victorious (many start the race, but not all finish)
       • will be a pillar in the temple of the Father in heaven
         • help hold up the Kingdom
       • will write on him the Name of God & the name of the city of God (the New Jerusalem – Rev. 21:2)
3. The Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
   • v. 14 – attributes of Christ
     • the Amen
     • faithful
     • true witness of the Father
     • Creator/Sustainer
   • What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 15-17)
     • No good deeds!
     • they are lukewarm
       • need to make up your mind how you truly feel about God (get right with Him)
       • WARNING: stay lukewarm and He will spit you out!
     • they are spiritually unaware
       • think they are rich, but are poor
         • they are too comfortable/content in worldly things apart from the Lord
       • they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked
   • Instruction to the Church (v. 18-19)
     • buy from God
       • invest in Him
       • look to Him for everything, because He will sustain you
     • clothe yourselves in white
       • be right with God
     • see with spiritual eyes, not worldly eyes
   • Indictment of the Laodicean Church (v. 20)
     • Jesus is on the outside of this church.
       • They think they have it all together, but Jesus isn’t even a part of it. He’s standing at the door, waiting to be invited in.
   • Instruction to the Individual (v. 20b-21)
     • Listen!
       • If you hear His voice, open the door to Him.
     • If you repent and hold fast (He always gives us a road back):
       • you’ll have the right to sit with Jesus on His throne
   • v. 22 – Listen/hear the Spirit
     • His Spirit is preparing the Bride of Christ (the Church) for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
       • Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
       • He wants to bring clarity & purity to the Church

Last Sunday, Terry continued his teaching on the Seven Churches of Revelation. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to Bible Gateway to read verses that Terry references. Enjoy and be blessed!

God Is Coming, pt. 3

God is in the midst of His people, His churches – He knows what is going on in every church.

1 Peter 4:17 – Judgment begins with the household of God (His people – Israel & the Church)

These letters are report cards for the churches – what they’re doing right & where they are going astray and need to change their track.

The Church of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)

• v. 8 – characteristics/attributes/names of Christ
• Reminder: stay within the bounds of Scripture!
  • Revelation 22:18-19
• What They Were Doing Right (v. 9)
  • Smyrna was intensely persecuted, but spiritually rich
    • persecution breeds spiritual fervor/revival
• v. 9b – The Jews who rejected Christ & persecuted Christians
  • This persecution actually helped spread the Gospel
• Instruction to the Church (v. 10)
  • Persecution will get worse, but:
    • Fear no more
    • Be faithful unto death
      • Don’t deny Christ; focus on the life to come
• Instruction to the Individual (v. 11)
  • Listen & understand!
  • v. 11b – the Second Death = the Lake of Fire

The Church at Pergamos (Pergamum) (Revelation 2:9-17)

• v. 12 – the sharp, two-edged sword = the Word of God
• What They Were Doing Right (v. 13)
  • where Satan has his throne – Pergamos was an evil place filled with false deities/religions (and a huge temple to Zeus), but the Church held fast to Christ
• What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 14-15)
  • the doctrine of Balaam: they listened to false teaching
  • the devil turned people away to sexual immorality/compromise
  • living in the midst of pagan religion made it hard to stay true to Christ
• Instruction to the Church (v. 16)
  • Repent!
• Instruction to the Individual (v. 17)
  • even if the Church as a whole doesn’t repent, it is up to each person to return to God
  • there is a special blessing for those who listen to the Word and understand it

The Church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-27)

• v. 18 – Jesus Christ in His glorified state
  • Revelation 1:13-18
  • One big difference: in ch. 1, Jesus was “like a son of man” – here, He is identified as the Son of God
• What They Were Doing Right (v. 19)
  • they showed agape love
  • they were faithful
  • they served others for the Lord
  • they persevered
  • they actually got better over time
• What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 20)
  • they tolerated Jezebel (one who turns people away from God and to false religion)
• Instruction to the Church (v. 21-25)
  • v. 21 – God wants everyone to repent & gives everyone a chance
  • v. 22-23 – God knows all we think & do; no matter how pious we think we look on the outside, He will judge & punish those He knows are faithless
  • v. 24-25 – to those of the Church who remained faithful, God said to hold on & you will be okay
• Instruction to the Individual (v. 26-27)
  • v. 26 – Praise God for His faithfulness to the individual who overcomes – we will help to shepherd/administer the Kingdom
  • v. 27 – quote from Psalm 2:9
    • there will be no nonsense in God’s Kingdom
    • there will be no end to His Kingdom (Isaiah 9:7)