Series intro:

Our Newest Message Series is entitled:

The Last Chapter

We are looking at the book of Revelation and the “last chapter” of God’s story of His redemption of humanity and creation.

A curtain calls takes place at the end of a play where all the key players are revealed and take the stage one last time.

In God’s Great Production we call Creation, The Key Figures will reveal themselves in a NEW way and take the stage one last time.

Clearly drawn Lines

As one reads revelations, they can’t help but notice that john is drawing a very clear line. On side are the forces of light and on the other, the forces of darkness.

Studying the key figures of the end times makes this fact crystal clear.

John’s visions set up definite battle lines. The participants involved on both sides are almost a direct mirror of each other.

For every heavenly participant, there is a demonic participant.

The participants of revelation can be seen in 4 categories:

1] Divine Participants

2] Angelic Participants

3] Earthly Participants

4] The authenticators

5] John's REAL MVP

divine participants [1 of 3]

LIGHT (this one is pretty easy and obvious)

1: God the Father

- seated on His throne [Rev. ch 4]

The one on the Throne, the one who created it all and sustains it all, the all-mighty one true God

2: Jesus Christ

- The Lamb that had been slain [Rev. ch. 5]

The beloved of the Father, the one given all authority over the earth and death, the messiah, the one who's saved us

3: The Holy Spirit

- The seven spirits before the throne [Rev. 1:4, 4:5]

- 7 spirits representing the fullness of the Spirit

God's spiritual agent and authority on the earth, who moves and lives within us and gives power from the the Father

divine participants [2 of 3]

DARK (pay attention to the dichotomy)

1: The Dragon

- Red, 7 heads, huge tail [Rev. 16:13]

The pretender to the throne, the one who wants to usurp the throne, who's created nothing and can sustain nothing.

2: The Beast Out of the Sea

- The Anti-Christ [Rev. 13]

- The 1st Horseman [Rev. 6:2]

The who conquers and take authority for a short time over the earth, the one who wants authority over death, but has none, the one who seeks to destroy us-not save.

Question: Is he human?

Answer: Yes...but there's something supernatural powering him...there's a divine factor to him

While Jesus is the TRUE embodiment of full divinity and full humanity - the anti-christ is a cheap imitation

divine participants [3 of 3]

DARK (pay attention to the dichotomy)

3: The Beast out of the earth

- The False Prophet [Rev. 13:11; 19:20]

Satan's spiritual agent during the tribulation, who wields a false power, the one who seeks to take power from us for Satan.

Question: Is he human?

Answer: More than likely...less is given about the false prophet, but yes...He's more than likely a singular person.

He's empowered through Satanic means and divination...His main purpose is to deceive, while the HS's purpose is to lead us into all truth.

Angelic Participants

(pay attention to the dichotomy)

DARK

1] 4 horsemen [Rev. 6]

- Anti-Christ

- Rider representative of War

- Rider representative of Famine

- Rider representative of death and decay

These forces are loosed on the earth to bring chaos and destruction -- They tear it all down

LIGHT

1] The Son of Man and 3 angels [Rev. 14]

- Jesus

- Angel with sickle - representing peace

- Angel with sickle - representing prosperity

- Angel with fire - representing purity and refinement

These forces are loosed on the earth to bring order and healing - the restore creation to the way God originally intended.

Earthly Participants [1 of 2]

(pay attention to the dichotomy)

LIGHT

1] Great multitude

- Those who have chosen God and have been saved

- Rev. 7 and 14

- sealed by a mark on their forehead

2] The unnamed woman - Also known at the Bride

- [Rev. 12 | Rev. 19 | Rev. 21]

- Begins as a representation of Israel - morphs into all of us (by Rev. 19 and 21)

- woman brings forth a son --- Jesus

- Jesus came from the Jews...not the church

- Jesus comes through the Jews but returns FOR His church (includes the Jews)

- This woman (bride) is tied to Jerusalem

- Names are in the Lamb's Book of life [Rev.21]

- Invited to the marriage supper of the lamb [REv. 19]

- Eternal Home = New Heavens and New Earth [Rev. 21]

Not a REAL woman, but a representation of God's people

Earthly Participants [2 of 2]

(pay attention to the dichotomy)

DARK

1] Great multitude on the earth [Rev. 13]

- All those who aren't the great multitude

- sealed by a mark on their forehead [mark of the beast]

- financial motivation and survival will be used as a smoke screen for this mark

2] The Prostitute/Harlot/whore of Babylon [Rev. 17]

- Tied to Babylon

- Not a real woman but a representation of those who reject God

- Names are NOT in the book [REv. 17]

- Eaten by vultures during the marriage supper of the lamb [Rev. 19:17]

- Eternal Home = Lake of Fire [Rev. 19]

Not a REAL woman, but a representation of those who reject God

The authenticators [1 of 2]

1] 2 witnesses [REv. 11]

- 2 prophets

- sent from Heaven and empowered by the Holy Spirit

- They testify to the truth of the events occurring on the earth, trying to dispel the deception

- People will try to attack them and fire will come out of their mouths

- literal or figurative??? not sure.

- but we do know that they are protected by God and wield a power not their own.

2] Why two witnesses?

- Jewish law requires 2 witnesses to confirm anything to be true

- They are sent by God to confirm that THIS IS ALL REAL....ITS REALLY HAPPENING!!

The authenticators [2 of 2]

3] After 3 1/2 years, the anti-christ gets fed up and kills them

- it says the world will celebrate their death and will look on their bodies for 3 days

- there was a time when we thought...how could information move so fast that the whole world will witness their deaths and watch their bodies for 3 days...well???

- God resurrects them and brings them to Heaven

Question: Who are they?

- not fully sure

- some say they are Elijah and Enoch or Elijah and Moses

- some say they are different people not connected to

Biblical figures

- Who they are is not nearly as important as WHOSE they are.

Rev. 22:17-18

(NKJV - New King James Version)

17And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

18For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

the real Mvp of the Revelation Narrative

John's MVP of Revelation - the one he's MOST concerned about --- Is you!

1] Spirit and the Bride

- Spirit - HS

- Bride = Bridegroom and Bride (all those who've gone before...the great cloud of witnesses in Heb. 12)

- They bid you to come...They plead and invite you to choose wisely

2] You WILL play a part in Revelation...You will be involved

- whether you live to see it happen or you die before

3] All of Revelation challenges us to make a choice

- where will we stand...what side of the line will we choose LIGHT or DARK.

This is the purpose of Revelation...this is the BIG QUESTION....this is the existential dilemma....Where will you stand!!

This is a theme - THE THEME throughout scripture

sheep vs goat

daylight vs night

blessing vs cursing

Heaven vs Hell

Today that decision is made in our hearts (in here) --- But there will be a time when that decision will have to be made in front of your face (out there)

make the right choice and make it Right now