The first three chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1, 2 and 3) tell how sin entered this world; and the last three chapters of the Bible (Revelation 20, 21, 22) tell how sin will be eradicated from the earth. The chapters between tell how God related to this awful tragedy.
The punishment for sin is death, Romans 6:23. The ugly malignancy of sin could not be tolerated, else, it could endanger the universe. The super-tragedy of sin is, that when Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin passed to all mankind, and thus all people, from that time to the present, face the death penalty.
So, Heaven was suddenly confronted with a horrible dilemma: either sin would have to be excused and tolerated (thus jeopardizing the universe), or all people would have to die. God flatly refused both options. He could not stand the thought of separation from His earthly children, whom He dearly loved; nor could he permit the ugly sin virus to take over.
Instead, in an act of unbelievable risk and love, He decided to send His only Son (who is Himself, God) into the world to die in your place and mine. Our sins and our death penalty were placed upon Him and we were set free.
Revelation14:6 calls this plan the “Everlasting Gospel”. The word “Gospel” means “good news”. And, indeed, God’s blessed loving plan of salvation IS good news – incredibly good news for you and me and for every person on planet earth.
REVELATION’s CROWN OF LIFE
In Revelation 2:10 Jesus offers the crown of life to every one of His faithful followers. Happily, through Jesus our Saviour, we can all receive this wonderful gift of eternal life.
Momentous questions at once spring into mind:
What must I do to benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice?
How can I know He accepts me?
My faith is weak, how can I strengthen it?
What is Revelation’s good news for me?
For the next few minutes, we will examine God’s answers to these all-important questions. Please keep a prayer in your heart as we grapple with these intensely significant themes.
REVELATION REVEALS GOD’s LOVE
1. What is God’s great plan to save His people called in Revelation 14:6?
Ans: The everlasting _____________________________________
2. When did the plan to save man go into effect? Revelation 13:8
Ans: At the _____________________ of the ______________________
NOTE: All who have ever been saved since the fall of man have been saved by the blood of Jesus, Acts 4:12. There was no different plan for Old testament believers. They accepted Jesus’ blood in looking forward by faith to the cross. The truth is that no one was ever saved by simply shedding animal blood, Hebrews 10:4. The sacrifices of the old covenant made at Sinai, foreshadowed, to the Hebrew believer, the coming death of the Redeemer, who would truly make possible the forgiveness of his sins, Hebrews 9:15. Consequently, he was forgiven because of his faith in the coming Lamb of God, John 1:29.
3. What happened when Adam sinned, and why? Romans 5:12
Ans: What happened? “________ passed upon all _______”.
Ans: b. Why? Because “_______________ have ____________”.
4. Why is living a life of sin such a serious matter? Romans 6:23
Ans: Because the __________ or punishment for sin is _________
5. What does sin do to our relationship with God? Isaiah 59:2
Ans: It _____________ us from _____________
6. What did Jesus’ death do for His people? Revelation 1:5
Ans: ________________ them from their _________________
NOTE: Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. See 1 John 2:1-2.
7. Upon whom have my sins and my death penalty been placed? Isaiah 53:6
Ans: _________________________________________
NOTE: Isaiah 53 is a moving Old Testament prophecy of Jesus’ sufferings and death.
8. Why was God willing to give His Son for us, and why was Jesus willing to die? John 3:16, Revelation 1:5.
Ans: _________________________________________
JESUS OUR SAVIOUR
9. What must I do to benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice? Acts 16:31
Ans: “________________________ on the Lord Jesus Christ”.
10. How may I receive forgiveness and cleansing? 1 John 1:9
Ans: _____________________________________________
NOTE: Confession also includes turning away from sin. Proverbs 28:13
11. What does the Bible say must accompany repentance? Acts 3:19
Ans: __________________________________________
NOTE: In the original language here, “repent” means to have “a change of mind”. To “convert” means to “turn around”. “Repentance” means a genuine “change of mind and attitude toward God, toward oneself, and toward others”. Under the Holy Spirit, the repentant person begins to see things as God sees them. Conversion means a U-turn on the Highway of life.
12. What is this conversion experience called in Scripture and why? John 3:3-7
Ans: a. What is it called? New birth or being __________ again.
Ans: b. Why? Because when born again we have no past. At conversion, a person is cleansed from sin and starts all over as a newborn baby, in a changed relationship with God.
13. Who comes into my life at conversion? Revelation 3:20, Ephesians 3:17-19
Ans: _______________________________________________
NOTE: When the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, and implants within us the attitudes of repentance and faith, and we accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord, then:
Jesus will come into our lives. Revelation 3:20, Ephesians 3:17-19
2. God freely forgives our sins. 1 John 1:9
3. God accounts to us the Righteousness of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21
4. God accepts and treats us as His children. 1 John 3:1-3
14. Through what agency does Jesus abide in my life? John 14:17
Ans: ___________________________________________
15. When Jesus abides in my life through His Holy Spirit, what two marvelous things does He do for me? Philippians 2:13, Ezekiel 36:25-27.
Ans: “Both to ___________ and to _________________ of His good pleasure”.
NOTE: Jesus gives me (1) a WILLING HEART and then adds (2) the POWER TO DO HIS WILL.
JESUS OUR LORD
16. Why should I be confident, relieved and excited once I have experienced the new birth? Philippians 1:6, Jude 24:25
Ans: “He which hath ____________ a good work in you, will ___________ it until the day of ____________________”.
NOTE: Jesus works WITHIN me and FOR me to make me righteous. I can be confident because my salvation rests upon His ability to perform, and not mine.
17. What is the big problem that faces many Christians? Matthew 7:21
Ans: Eager to call Him Lord but refuse to ________________ Him.
NOTE: Jesus must be crowned both Saviour and Lord of my life. Most find it easier to crown Him Saviour (everybody would like to be saved) than to crown Him Lord. To crown Him Lord means I will let Him run my life – call all signals for it. I will follow where He leads, rather than demand my own way. Many of us do not want anyone else running our lives, including Jesus. We rebel against it. This is the root of sin, and it is what Jesus died for.
18. How difficult is it sometimes, for me to let the Lord lead me where He knows I should go? Matthew 5:29-30
Ans: It is as hard as plucking out an ___________ or cutting off an ____________
19. Why is it absolutely Imperative for me to crown Jesus Lord, and allow Him to abide within me and call signals for my life? Genesis 1:26-27, 1 Peter 1:22-23, Colossians 3:8-10
Ans: So, He can restore me to His _______________________
NOTE: In the beginning man was created in God’s image, Genesis 1:26-27. Sin has virtually destroyed God’s image in man, but it is the Gospel plan to restore it within us. At conversion the old life dies and a new life, WHICH COMES FROM THE NEW BIRTH, begins. But, AS WITH NATURAL BIRTH, to be born is not enough, we must also grow. Ephesians 4:15. Growth, in the Christian life, is what restores man to the image of God in which He was created in the beginning. If I permit Jesus to abide within me and miraculously run my life, He will restore God’s image within, and will fit me for a place in His kingdom. See Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20
JESUS RECEIVES US
20. How can we know that Jesus has accepted us when we ask? 1 John 1:9, Titus 1:2
Ans: Because He promised it and He cannot _____________
NOTE: We are saved by God’s GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus promised salvation and acceptance. He cannot lie. So, when I ask for salvation and give myself to Him, I receive it that very moment, because He promised it. “Faith” means I accept it and claim it at once because He promised it; and not because I feel or see anything different.
21. How may I strengthen my faith? Romans 10:17, Matthew 4:4, Psalm 119:11
Ans: Study the Word of ________________________________
NOTE: All have some faith. Romans 12:3. We strengthen our faith by studying God’s Word. This is, of course, one great key purpose of this Revelation Seminar.
22. How will true conversion change my life?
Ans: a. John 13:35, 1 John 3:14, Matthew 5:44 – I will begin to ____________ everybody.
Ans: b. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – My lifestyle will be _______________________________
Ans: c. 1 John 3:22 – I will be willing to keep His ________ and I will want to _______ Him.
Ans: d. Romans 12:1-2 – I will begin to know what God’s _____________ is for me.
Ans: e. Acts 4:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 5:19 – I will want to tell others what “ ____________ things the Lord hath _____________ “ for me.
Ans: f. Acts 4:31, Luke 11:13, Ephesians 6:18 – I will want to spend time talking to God in _________ .
NOTE: The big difference is that after conversion I will really want the Lord to have His way with my life. I will want His Spirit to guide med. Romans 8:9,14
23. What is Jesus’ provision to save sinners called? Romans 6:23
Ans: _________________________________________________
24. The Bible is clear that most people will be lost. Since Jesus’ loving provision for sinners is a free gift, why will so many be lost? Isaiah 1:19-20
Ans: “If ye be _________ and ___________ ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye ______ and ___________, ye shall be devoured with the sword”.
NOTE: The gift is free, but I must be willing to receive it or Jesus cannot help me.
REVELATION’s GOOD NEWS!
25. What five grand and glorious truths does Revelation tell us about he incredibly good news of Jesus’ plan to save His people?
Ans: 1. Revelation 1:18
a. Jesus is ______ for evermore
b. He has the ______________ to unlock _____________ and _______________
GOOD NEWS!! Jesus is a living Saviour who has power over death and hell.
Ans: 2. Revelation 5:9 – He was ___________________ to ____________ us to God.
GOOD NEWS!! His sacrifice was for you and me personally.
Ans: 3. Revelation 7:14, 19:8 – He gives us ___________________ raiment.
GOOD NEWS!! Jesus’ righteousness (the white raiment) is a gift. I do not earn it. Jesus, by a great miracle, provides it free.
Ans: 4. Revelation 14:6. – The gospel will go to every _________, _________, _______, and ___________.
GOOD NEWS!! Jesus will not overlook one single person, anywhere. Everyone of us is extremely important to Him.
Ans: 5. Revelation 21:6, 22:17
If I thirst for Him, He will give me of the fountain of the __________ of ___________ freely.
GOOD NEWS!! Jesus’ part in salvation is to furnish the power, miracles, love, forgiveness and grace. My part is to truly desire, or thirst, for Him to save me.
26. It is unthinkable that any of us reading this Revelation Seminar would fail to accept Jesus’ miraculous FREE OFFER to forgive and cleanse us and restore us to His image. Jesus is anxious to work miracles for all of us. Will you just now decide to accept His plan to save you, or reaffirm that great decision?
Ans: __________________________________________________
Christ was treated as we deserve – that we might be treated as He deserves