Church at The Mill

Visions of Heaven and Earth: Real Monsters - Rev 13:1-18

Preparation always trumps speculation.

John describes...

1. The Counterfeit Ruler of the World v.1-9

       The biography of the Beast…

• His Wonder v.1-3

• His Worship v.4

• His Words v.5-6

• His War v.7-8

2. The Counterfeit Religion of the World v.11-17

     To understand the second beast, notice…

• His Deceptive Appearance v.11

• His Deceptive Performance v.12-14

• His Deceptive Vengeance v.15

• The Call to the Redeemed in the World v.9-10, 18

3. His Deceptive Compliance v.16-17

     There is always a...

• Call to Endure

• Call to Faith 

• Call to Wisdom

“The number of the beast is 666, that is, failure upon failure upon failure!” 

-Simon Kistemaker

Visions of Heaven and Earth: Fighting from Victory - Rev 12:7-17

It’s important to remember…

1. The Defeat of Our Adversary v.7-9

2. The Declaration of Our Victory v.10-12

     - Notice: 1. The Savior, 2. Satan 3. The Soldiers

3. The Defense of The Godly v.13-16

4. The Difficulty of Our Reality v.17

How do you fight from Victory?

Know your enemy

Know yourself

Know your KING!

Visions of Heaven and Earth: See The Signs - Revelation 12:1-6

See The Signs...

1. See the Woman as the People of God who are Faithfully Waiting v.1-2

    - Who is this woman?

     -Through symbolic, apocalyptic language, she is a sign, representing all the people of God

2. See the Dragon as the Enemy of God who is Always Hating v.3-4

     -The dragon is Satan. Satan hates God and anything that brings Him glory. Satan has always been behind the culture of death.

3. See the Boy as the Prince of God who is Now Reigning v.5

     - Even when the enemy thought he won, death gave way to life!

4. See the Wilderness as the Place of God where He is Working v.6

Do you see the signs?

We are in a battle.

We are not home.

Wake up!

 

More Than Ever: A Powerful Goodbye - Acts 20:24-38

More Than Ever God has blessed us.

More Than Ever our community needs the gospel.

More Than Ever we must do something about it.

4 Words about Biblical Giving:

1. Biblical Giving is Mandated by our Master

- Malachi 3:7–10; Matthew 6:19–21; Matthew 6:24; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2

2. Biblical Giving is Motivated by Mercy

- 2 Corinthians 8:8–9

3. Biblical Giving is Medicine for Materialism

- 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:17–19

4. Biblical Giving is a Mark of Maturity

- 2 Corinthians 8:7

 

 

More Than Ever: Where We Stand - Acts 5:14

Casual Christianity is dead. Christ is still King. He is coming back. Submit to Him. Leverage your life.

More love for the Savior, the saints, and salvations are ALWAYS the goals.

More campuses, better spaces, and the right amount of staff help us reach these goals.

The Sound of Judgment: The Grand Finalé - Revelation 11:15-19

The 7th Trumpet ushers in the Celebration of…

1. His Final Reign v.15-17

 - Trumpets also announce the coronation of kings

- The 7th Trumpet announces the reign of God as King 

2. His Final Reckoning v.18

3. His Final Reward v.18

-At least two groups…

a. Special servants – prophets, apostles

b. The saints – those who fear the Lord

4. His Final Revelation v.19

- The heavenly temple and the presence of the ark represent the nearest point to the presence of God

What is the posture of your life?

 

The Sound of Judgment: The Crown Jewel of All Cliff Notes (Part 1) - Revelation 11:1-14

Revelation 11:1-14

Three Questions…

1. What is NOW? v.1-6

A.  For God’s People: We are protected to prophesy

- Protection is shown in the measuring of the temple

-The temple often depicts the people of God

- The court outside represents those outside the family of God who oppose God’s people

42 months

1260 days

A time, times, and half a time

Three and a half years

-The two witnesses represent the people of God empowered to share the Gospel and warn of coming judgment

-- Hebrews used “week” to represent “sevens,” not just days

• A week of years = 7 years

• 70 weeks = 490 years

• 490 years divided into three time periods:

• Period One: 7 weeks = 49 years (Temple rebuilt) 

• Period Two:  7 weeks + 62 weeks = 483 years (Christ)

• Period Three: 1 week = 7 years (The Tribulation before His return)

B. For the World: They are permitted to persecute

2. What is NEXT? v.7-10

-For God’s People: We will go from Testifying to Dying

- It will appear that the church has been defeated

3. What is NEAR? v.11-14

- For God’s People: We will go from Temporary Death to Eternal Life

- For the World: They will go from Temporary Life to Eternal Death

Every knee will bow

 

The Sound of Judgment: The Grand Pause - Revelation 10:1-11

This Grand Pause has...

1. A Unique Messenger v.1-3

He represents the Lord with some powerful parallels:

• Mighty
• Wrapped in a cloud
• Rainbow over his head
• Face like the sun
• Legs like pillars of fire
• Right foot on sea, Left on land
• Voice like a lion
• Seven thunders

2. An Urgent Message v.4-7

3. An Unchanging Mission v.8-11

   -The scroll represents God’s plan to judge the world under the authority of Christ.

John is commanded to…

1. Consume it!

2. Communicate it!

---But I’m not a prophet?  I’m just a regular person.

Love The Lord

Love Your Family

Love God’s People

Love Your Neighbor

Love The Lost

Leverage Your Life for Good

Share the Gospel and ALL of its truth

Sound of Judgment: The Trumpet of Trampling - Rev. 9:12-21

Two Lessons:

1. A Release You Cannot Imagine v.12-19

       a. Notice what he heard…

-A voice commanding the release of four angels

-Bound across one river — the Euphrates

-Prepared for one specific time

-To kill ⅓ of humanity

-With a cavalry of 200 million

      b.  Notice what he saw…

-Fire – War

-Smoke – Darkness, confusion, suffocation

-Sulfur – Torment of the wicked

2. A Relationship You Cannot Ignore v.20-21

What is the point?

Your sin is not solo.

Satan loves it. Starve him.

Communion-with The Lord

Conviction-from The Spirit

Confession-to a godly friend

Community-with believers

 

 

The Sound of Judgment: The Trumpet of Torment - Revelation 9:1-11

What can we learn from...

1. The Divine Permission? v.1-3

-Lesson: In his complete sovereignty, God can and does ordain and control the use of demons and demonic activity to carry out His divine judgment upon the wicked.

2. The Divine Protection? v.4

-Lesson: God protects those He saves from demonic torment in the midst of judgment.

3. The Demonic Commission? v.5-6

- Lesson: Demonic activity never blesses or encourages, rather it torments to the point
of hopelessness.

4. The Demonic Description? v.7-11

- Lesson: We need not take demons or demonic activity lightly. With symbolic language, John explains just how serious these enemies are.

Demonic Activity:
Do NOT dismiss
Do NOT fear
Do NOT be unprepared
Do NOT forget lost people