Making Sense of Revelation
Preaching/Speaking: Rev. Adam Hamilton
Date Presented: Nov 19, 2006
Scripture Reference(s): Revelation 1:1-4, 3:14
Sermon Series:
The Return of The King
OVERVIEW
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia:…To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation: “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.
Introduction to Revelation, and background information important for understanding Revelation:
I. Four Ways of Reading Revelation
II. What Precipitated the Writing of Revelation – What Was Its Purpose?
A. The Traditional View: Encouragement in the Face of Persecution
B. An Emerging Consensus: Warning Against Cultural Conformity/Accomodation
C. The Contrast Between Babylon and the Heavenly Jerusalem
III. A Letter to Laodicea, or Suburban America?
A. What was Wrong at Laodicea?
B. How Do We Struggle with the Laodicean Struggles?
C. “I Stand at the Door and Knock…”