Thank you for selecting this message by Dr. James Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman preaches verse by verse through the entire book of the Bible. From all of us at Living Water of Lapine here in Central Oregon, we hope that it will encourage you and feed you spiritually. And if you would like to leave a message after the sermon, our contact information is found on the sermon page where you found this sermon. Now may God richly bless you as you listen. Well, it was my senior year in college and it happened to be the second year that I was living in the dormitory. One morning at breakfast, I saw two Chinese students sitting at a table. I recognized them as being fellow residents of the very same floor in the dormitory where I lived. They had impressed me as friendly, fun-loving, but I have to admit, I really didn't know them all that well. I asked if I could join them at their table, and they motioned their consent. One of them was drinking coffee at breakfast, and I thought that I would impress them by saying the word coffee in their own language. My grandpa, who had worked in the oil fields near Bakersfield, California, had worked with Chinese immigrants, and he had taught me what he said was the Chinese word for coffee. It was a common word, actually, that my grandpa would often say any time he was involved in a conversation about China or Chinese people. He would often utter that word as if he spoke the language, the Chinese language. Hakka-chaka-yong was the word that he would say as if he spoke Chinese. Well, on this particular morning, I pointed to my dorm mate's cup of coffee and proudly said with a smile, hakka-chakka-yong. Both of them at the same time turned their heads swiftly to look at me. One of them asked while he tried to choke back his laughter, what did you say? I said it again, hakka-chakka-yong. They both broke out into a boisterous hilarity that had every head in the dining hall turn toward our table. What? What? Didn't I just say coffee? No answer. Just greater riotous laughter. It was then, for the first time, I began to realize that ho-ka-chicka-yong did not mean coffee. To this day, I have no idea what it means, but I do know how to make a coffee-drinking Chinese person laugh very hard. My college experience with my dormy friends reminds me of the way many Christians treat the Book of Revelation. We try to portray that we know more about it than we actually do. A lot of people have no idea what the book means. They might even speak about it very boldly, but have no idea what they are saying, if it's true or not, or why. It's a foreign language to many people. Someone gave them an understanding, but really, it's there. That's why for the third week in a row now, I am seeking to provide you with a provisionary overview and some rules of interpretation. Last week, we dealt into these that are called hermeneutics, so that we might get a little better understanding of what we're talking about and why. I hope to minimize the frequent occurrence of distorting what it actually means, since a lot more than simply being laughed at is at stake. Last week, I mentioned the overall theme of revelation. It is. The Lord is coming. Now, I want to say a little more about that in light of providing an overview. Now, what I'm going to attempt to do today is to take us way up above the book like an eagle flying maybe 900 feet in the air and looking down at the landscape. And then next week, hopefully, we'll begin a more detailed look with starting the verse-by-verse exposition of Revelation. Today, just like the past two weeks, it's gonna be jumping around just a bit. Now, I'm gonna begin today, though, by having you take a look with me at the very first verse of Revelation. Here it is. the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant, John. Now, notice please, if you will, that revelation is singular, it's not Revelations. The Greek word is apokalupsis, from which we get the word apocalypse. Now that word means, and this is important, I hope you catch this. It means to take away the covering or to unveil. Now I'm far more sure of this than I ever was about the meaning of hakpachakayon, and you can be too. Now here's something very important for us to realize as we get this overview of the book of Revelation. You see, Revelation is more than an unveiling of future events. It is about the unveiling of a person. What did verse one say? The revelation. of Jesus Christ. You see, when Jesus returns, he will be revealed. He is going to be unveiled. Everyone will understand who he really is. When Jesus came to earth the first time, he was veiled. His complete deity was veiled by human flesh. But when he comes again, the veil will be removed and everyone will see him in all of his glory as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You know, from the very first chapter here in Revelation, we begin to see Jesus unveiled. I call your attention to chapter one, verses 13 through 15 here. And in the midst of the lampstands, one like the son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flaming fire. His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace. And his voice was like the roar of many waters. Now, when we get to this verse in our verse-by-verse exposition, probably in two weeks, I will explain what I believe all of this means. But the point that I am making now is that John had a glimpse of Jesus unveiled here. As one of Jesus's closest disciples, John had walked with Jesus back and forth from Judea to Jerusalem, a several day journey. And they did it at least three times, camping out with him under the stars, sharing a lot of meals together, just talking together as they walked. for three years, going to village to village in Judea. Now, someone very familiar with them saw Jesus unveiled. And folks, let me tell you, it must have seemed like a different Jesus. Jesus is the focus of the book of Revelation. As we get into all of the images and the symbols, let us never lose sight of this. From verse 1 and chapter 1, John is making this clear. Through all the evil images and symbols that we will consider, the power and the purpose of Jesus in overcoming all of the evil and Satan as emissaries and reclaiming his rightful ownership on earth is the focus. First, let me say a word about how Revelation shows us his power. Power just is oozing through his pores. He has ultimate and effectual power to accomplish anything he desires. We see that he has power and he will destroy the dominating kingdoms and influences for evil on this earth. But not just that. Jesus can and will build back what hasn't existed since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. The world will be freed from sin and suffering. The message of the book of Revelation has a lot to do with you and I right now. I hope that you will gain confidence in studying it, that there is nothing There is nothing we are facing today that Jesus cannot change in an instant if he wanted to. And you say, well, yes, yes. Then why hasn't he? Why do I still have to contend with this stifling issue in my life? My prayer is that God will raise a conviction in each and every one of us that understands if he hasn't removed a particular challenge in your life, then it means that he has some great eternal purpose for it. Nothing comes into the life of a child of God that has not been sifted through the perfect loving will of God. And whatever is causing you difficulty, Jesus could remove it. But right now, God is using it in some way for your good and his glory. And recognizing the purpose of Jesus in Revelation is going to help us deepen this conviction. Knowing Christ's power and Christ's purpose are very valuable. So let's talk a little bit about that purpose now. Here's a recognition of Jesus's purpose that we're gonna see in Revelation. The immediate purpose is the removal of evil. Jesus is masterfully accomplishing the plan of God that has existed down through the ages of time that will result in the removal of sin from the world and the destruction of Satan. The world that you and I live in right now is not the world as God intended it to be. We often hear people ask, why does God allow horrible, bad things to happen? Now, the simple answer is This is not what God intended. People want to blame God. They might say, even upon hearing that from us, they might still think, well, man, because of Satan's influence, does evil. However, God allows it. God is ultimately to blame. What God allows is man's freedom to choose good or evil. If God didn't allow such choice, he would force us. We would be robots. We would be without the freedom of making our own choice to obey him or not. You know what that means? That means we could not show him any love. It also means we couldn't show anybody else on earth love. If we can choose it, Love involves willful choice. You can't have love without willful choice. We are made in God's image, which includes the ability to love, and this requires the ability to choose freely. Revelation. is about God putting down sin forever without taking away our freedom to choose. It's a perfect plan. And God is working his plan perfectly. When I was in high school, there was a popular comedian known as George Carlin. My friends and I would laugh and laugh at his crude humor, but George Carlin was an outspoken atheist. He passed away in 2008, but before he died, he had this to say about God. I want you to know something, and this is sincere. I want you to know When it comes to believing in God, I really tried. I really, really tried. I tried to believe that there is a God who created each of us in his own image and likeness, that he loves us very much and keeps a close eye on things. I really tried to believe that. But I gotta tell you, the longer you live, the more you look around. The more you realize something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed. Close quote. Atheists who reject God also reject the whole idea of man choosing evil for himself. And they have no idea that God is working his plan for doing away with evil while preserving man's ability of free choice. Jesus, however, has a purpose that goes beyond the removal of evil. God's bigger picture is that we might have fellowship with him and enjoy him forever. Even before the beginning of creation, God's desire was to be the father of mankind, those who would choose him. Near the end of Revelation, When Revelation is concluding, it says this, Revelation 21, verses three and four. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them. and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. for the former things have passed away. Amen. And that is a day that we are all longing for. Until it comes, we have the book of Revelation to comfort us. Many don't find comfort in this book. Comfort is the last thing that people think of when they think of the book of Revelation. As long as the question hangs over anyone's head, will we as believers have to live through all these atrocities that are recorded in this book? They will find no comfort at all in Revelation. Now I spoke a little bit about this last week. I certainly have far more to say in the coming weeks because there are a couple of different places. In Revelation, that we need to discuss this subject, I'm gonna just, again, briefly bring up that I briefly brought up last week, and you see between chapters three and four in the book of Revelation, there is this scene here that many theologians picture as the church being raptured into heaven. And so when we get there, we'll talk a little bit about that as well as some of the other verses around the Bible that indicate that the church is going to be in heaven during the time of the tribulation when it breaks out. Now, I'll say more when we get there, that I believe the church is gonna be raptured, we're gonna be removed from the earth before this severe judgment of God, which there has never been, nor will there ever be any other catastrophic time like it. when it happens. But today, since I told you that revelation ought to comfort us, and thoughts that we might live through the awful process of God cleansing the earth from sin, because that would keep anyone from being comforted, I thought that I should say a little more so that we can be reassured. and comforted. But I'm going to tell you right now, what I'm about to give you here is perhaps the weakest argument for the position that I hold. It's what's called an argument from silence, and that's not a very strong position, but I do want to give it to you because I do think there is some value in it. of hearing how we can be encouraged by the book of Revelation. Now, to explain this, I want to begin by showing you the simple outline that John himself gives for the entire book of Revelation. Even Bible scholars who don't hold the same belief I do, the pre-tribulational belief that we're gonna be raptured pre, before the tribulation, even those who don't believe the same way as I do on that, they seem to agree that Revelation 1 verse 19 is John's outline for the entire book. of Revelation. So here is Revelation 119. Write, therefore, the things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place after this. Now, revelation is divided, therefore, because of this verse, into three sections. Number one, the things that you have seen. Number two, those that are. And three, those that are to take place after this. Now these three sections, please don't misunderstand, they're not gonna be equally divided with the equal number of verses given to each of these sections. They are not equal in length by any means. But once we look at the book and we see what he has written, it is fairly easy to see these three sections by what John has written. So let me just give them to you right here succinctly. Number one, the things that you have seen, we're gonna find in chapter one, the vision of Christ in the midst of the churches. Number two, those that are, those that are happening right now, John, in your world right now, those will be discussed in chapters two and three, which last week I was telling you, I was presenting the case to be seen, and I believe this very strongly, that describes the entire church age on earth. And I'll have more to say about that when we get there to those chapters. Why? It is speaking of the church age that began at Pentecost and will end at the return of Christ. That's the, or the rapture, that's the church age. And then number three, those that are to take place after this, Now that comprises most of the rest of the book. As we see Jesus reclaiming his rightful title as the deed holder, that scroll that he takes and breaks the seals, that's the deed that he alone rightfully can open. The tribulation and then the return of Christ. Now it's phrased, number three, those that are to take place after this. After what? Answer number two, the entirety of the church age on earth. From chapter four until chapter 19, The church is never mentioned. You will see no mention at all of the church. You will find believers who will be martyred. So where did they come from? Oh, we're gonna see these tremendous revivals that break out from the two witnesses and the 144 witnesses. Yes, there will be those who place their faith in Christ, but they're gonna have to suffer for it in the tribulation. The church is never mentioned, is never mentioned. Those people will not take the mark of the beast and so forth. Will they assemble together? I don't know. But the church is never mentioned all throughout. Now see, this is what I'm talking about, an argument from silence. But let me speak a little bit more about this. It is the center of our attention The churches in chapters two and three, and then total silence. In those two chapters, the churches mentioned, well, actually the first three chapters, the churches mentioned 19 times, 19 times, but not once in Revelation four through 18. Why the silence? Don't you think that it's remarkable or at least totally unexpected for John to shift from detailed instructions to the church in chapters two and three to absolute silence if in fact the church is going to be around in the tribulation? If the church is gonna have to endure it, then isn't it rather cruel for God not to have John include something about the church's role? As he gave such detailed study of the tribulation events, why not something about the church's role, if the church will be here? The New Testament is full of instructions for the church from Romans, right after the historical Gospels and the historical narrative of Acts, then we get all of this instruction starting in the book of Romans all the way through the fourth chapter of Revelation. The primary emphasis of the New Testament writers involves how believers ought to conduct themselves. We're told about our morality. We're told about our theology. We're told about our faith, our behavior, our mission. But those instructions abruptly stop when we come to Revelation chapter four. Why? The silence. I think the answer is quite clear. Church will not be around. the church will be raptured. We will be with Jesus in heaven. John MacArthur writes, and I certainly agree, it would be inconsistent for the scriptures to be silent on such a traumatic change for the church. If any time of the rapture, other than the pre-tribulational view were true, One would expect the epistles to teach the fact of the church in the tribulation, the purpose of the church in the tribulation, and the conduct of the church in the tribulation. However, there is no such teaching whatsoever. Let me add, there is no purpose for the church in the tribulation. The tribulation is all about the final application of God's wrath on the earth. God will bring judgment on all the evil that exists. He responds to mankind's wickedness. Revelation refers to God's wrath over and over again. Revelation 6.17, Revelation 6.18, Revelation 14 verses 8 through 10. Revelation 14, 19. Revelation 15, 7. Revelation 16, 1. Revelation 16, 19. Revelation 19, 15. Over and over and over again, God pours out his wrath. The purpose of the tribulation is for God to execute his wrath on those who used their free will to reject him. What would be the point of God leaving those who are no longer condemned by him? In Christ, we're no longer condemned, are we? We've been made righteous in Christ through our faith. So what would be the purpose for him to leave us here as he pours out his wrath? We no longer deserve His wrath because Christ took our place and bore God's wrath for us already. Living through the tribulation would mean that Christ's atoning work was incomplete. I don't believe that, and I hope you don't either. Scripture repeatedly says that salvation of believers includes being spared from God's wrath. Why would his most severe wrath, that has never ever been seen before in such intensity, not be included in any of these promises. Look at them. 1 Thessalonians 1 10, And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. Why would there be an exception from that verse saying, oh, except for the most severe wrath? Hmm? 1 Thessalonians 5, 9. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Wrath in that verse has to include the most severe that he's gonna pour out on us. Romans 5.9, since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Folks, the tribulation is the wrath of God. absolutely love what Tim LaHaye wrote. For me, it puts it all in perspective. Look what he wrote. I simply cannot imagine the heavenly bridegroom whispering to his chosen one, yes, my bride, my precious one, I love you so much that I gave my life for you. I want to nourish and cherish you. I want to take you home with me and celebrate our marriage with joy and singing and feasting. I want to be with you forever. But before I bring you home, I want you to experience seven years of the very fury of hell and seven years of the terrible wrath of my father. But do not worry. I'll come back when it's all over. An argument from silence is not always the strongest to argue a case. But I believe that this argument from silence does communicate a tremendous truth. We can be encouraged by the book of Revelation. The church will be snatched away from the earth, will be absent during the tribulation. We will be with Christ and with him also. In what is described in Revelation 19, when he returns on the white horse and his army mounted on horses behind, that's us. I believe that. When he victoriously returns. You see, that's why I was saying the church is not mentioned from chapters four through 18, but I believe we are in 19, because we're going to come back with Jesus. Revelation ought to comfort every believer who reads this book. So I have to ask, are you a believer who can be comforted by it? Have you used your freedom to choose to accept Jesus's offer to take your much-deserved wrath of God upon himself. You see, by accepting his free offer of tremendous grace, accepting Christ's death on the cross to take your punishment, you will no longer be the target of God's wrath. Why not accept God's free gift of forgiveness and eternal life with him That is what the Bible from Genesis through Revelation is about. God wants you to stop rejecting him and to have fellowship with him and to enjoy him forever and ever. I'd like for anyone who would like to do this, those who do not have the assurance that they do have forgiveness, and a release from the wrath of God. Please pray with me as we close today. Prayer is an attitude of the heart that submits to the will of God. Would you do that with me today? Would you submit to His way, to His plan? The way to begin is by accepting His free forgiveness from his, for him forever and ever. I'd like for anyone who would like to do this, those who do not have the assurance that they do have forgiveness and a release from the wrath of God, please pray with me as we close today and to forgive you. Prayer is an attitude of the heart that submits to the will of God. Would you do that with me today? Would you submit to his way, to his plan? The way to begin is by accepting his free forgiveness. For any who are praying this for the very first time, God, I pray that you would enter into their life, that you would begin to change them from the inside out. Free them from their sins and God would you also free them from external rules that would be placed on them. Let them be governed by the indwelling presence of your Holy Spirit. as your word is revealed to them. Lead us through the presence of your spirit and as your holy word the Bible instructs us. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. Hi, this is Dr. Hoffman. It is our hope at Living Water that this message has encouraged and deepened your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Our sermons are intended to be a free gift to any listener, but at the same time, I thought that I would let our need be known. Living Water, La Pine, is a church that is located in a rural area of central Oregon, ministering to a poverty-stricken community. If God has blessed you through this message and you have already given to your own local church, if you sense that God would have you help our ministry with a financial gift, you can find out how to do that at our website. It is www.livingwateroflupine.com. Thank you for listening.