Revelation pulls back the curtain on reality: the dragon rages, the Lamb reigns, and all who conquer by the blood of the Lamb will inherit the New Jerusalem.
Speakers
Matt Felton — teaching
What is true
Revelation is God's final word in the Bible, a peek behind the curtain at what is really going on in heaven and earth, past, present, and future.
Revelation in one sentence: "The dragon rages, the Lamb reigns, and all who conquer Babylon by the blood of the Lamb will inherit the New Jerusalem."
Behind the curtain is dark deception: the dragon (the devil), the beast (political power), the false prophet (the religious voice), and the prostitute Babylon, covered in makeup and perfume.
Revelation shows counterfeits of everything holy — a false trinity, a false messiah with a healed mortal wound, a false kingdom, a false mark, a false bride.
Satan's strategy is not just to persecute you; it is to persuade you through deception and imitation.
A man discipling Matt in college said that if you had spiritual goggles on, you would not believe what is going on around you right now.
A war you are already in
Filling his tank after soccer practice cost $80; his daughter asked why, and learned we are at war — most people do not know they are at war either.
In Revelation 12 the dragon waits to devour the woman's child, the child escapes to the throne, and the dragon is cast down to hunt the woman and her offspring — the church.
You are being hunted. The dragon wants your soul, and there are no vacation days during war.
If you do not know you are at war, you make easy prey; if you do not know your enemy is already defeated, you lose hope.
The pivotal scene is Revelation 5: no one is worthy to open the scroll until the Lion who is the Lamb takes it. What is Jesus doing right now? He is reigning over all history for you.
What is coming
Every vision of the end is triggered by the same event — the second coming of Jesus. The book opens and closes with it.
At his return humanity is divided forever, pictured in two feasts (the great supper of God and the marriage supper of the Lamb) and two destinations (the lake of fire or the New Jerusalem).
Lies that keep people from salvation: trusting guilt, trusting works, trusting family, trusting knowledge, trusting time, trusting God's tolerance.
Grace is only for the guilty, and no amount of guilt is more powerful than grace.
There are no spiritual grandchildren — familiarity is not the same as faith. Each one is repaid for what he has done.
Salvation comes by pledging total allegiance to Jesus, believing his blood is pure enough to wash even you clean.
What is required
Patient endurance. "Faith" appears four times in Revelation; three of those times it stands next to endurance, because life is war and faith is always on the line.
No one in the room has finished the race — even old John needed these visions telling him to hang on a little longer.
Loyal worship. Outside the Psalms, no book of the Bible contains more singing. Everybody worships; nobody is neutral.
Confident hope. God gave these visions not to scare his people but to comfort them: you are sealed, marked, and God will wipe every tear from your eyes.
One church member's takeaway, quoted: "I know the ending, and so I really have nothing to be afraid of."
You conquer by enduring with Jesus, worshipping him every day until you die, and hoping in him until your last breath.
Key Takeaways
The Lamb who was slain now holds the scroll and reigns over all of history for you.
The devil's chief weapon is imitation — learn to spot the counterfeit.
No one inherits faith; each person must believe and answer for his own soul.
Behold the man behind the curtain — our Savior, the Lamb of God.