WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.870 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.868 Day 75. 00:00:04.466 --> 00:00:06.026 immersed in Revelation. 00:00:08.516 --> 00:00:11.576 The book of Revelation has been interpreted in many ways through the 00:00:11.576 --> 00:00:15.836 centuries, but the starting point for reading Revelation or any book of the 00:00:15.836 --> 00:00:20.816 Bible, well is to appreciate the meaning and impact it had on its first readers. 00:00:21.476 --> 00:00:26.036 The Book of Revelation is addressed to the seven churches in the province of Asia. 00:00:26.621 --> 00:00:30.491 John wrote down the vision he received in order to describe for his readers 00:00:30.761 --> 00:00:32.861 events that must soon take place. 00:00:33.851 --> 00:00:37.451 The seven brief letters at the beginning of the book shed Much light on the 00:00:37.451 --> 00:00:39.341 situation facing these believers. 00:00:39.341 --> 00:00:43.661 Toward the end of the first century, John himself has already been 00:00:43.661 --> 00:00:47.711 exiled to the island of Patmos for his testimony about Jesus. 00:00:48.461 --> 00:00:53.081 The followers of Jesus are experiencing pressure to participate in immoral feasts, 00:00:53.501 --> 00:00:55.751 honoring the Roman gods and pagan temples. 00:00:56.591 --> 00:01:00.731 And local Jewish leaders seem to be denouncing believers as participating in 00:01:00.731 --> 00:01:03.521 a subversive sect serving a false messiah. 00:01:04.211 --> 00:01:08.231 The seven letters to the seven churches, largely worn of suffering 00:01:08.231 --> 00:01:13.241 and imprisonment, urging believers to remain faithful even when facing death. 00:01:14.231 --> 00:01:17.981 Adding to this pressure on believers, the Roman Empire was promoting a 00:01:17.981 --> 00:01:21.941 cult of emperor worship that had its origins a century earlier. 00:01:22.751 --> 00:01:29.411 A Roman inscription from four BC describes Caesar Augustus as the God made manifest 00:01:29.711 --> 00:01:31.931 the universal savior of human life. 00:01:32.351 --> 00:01:34.241 Land and sea have peace. 00:01:34.571 --> 00:01:37.571 The city's flourish in harmony and with an abundance of food. 00:01:37.991 --> 00:01:40.241 There is an abundance of all good things. 00:01:40.601 --> 00:01:45.041 People are filled with happy hopes for the future, and with delight in the present. 00:01:46.076 --> 00:01:48.686 This cult was especially strong in Asia Minor. 00:01:48.896 --> 00:01:52.796 That is modern day Turkey where the churches of Revelation were located. 00:01:53.606 --> 00:01:57.896 And now Emperor to Mission was demanding to be addressed as Lord and God. 00:01:58.646 --> 00:02:02.456 Anyone who refused to participate in the cult faced the wrath of the vast 00:02:02.461 --> 00:02:06.176 majority of citizens who were eager to curry favor with the emperor. 00:02:06.986 --> 00:02:10.556 Revelation was written to give strength and courage to Jesus 00:02:10.556 --> 00:02:12.476 followers in this difficult situation. 00:02:12.926 --> 00:02:17.216 It urges them to persevere in their worship of the one true God and 00:02:17.216 --> 00:02:19.826 the one Lord over all other lords. 00:02:20.936 --> 00:02:25.166 John wrote down the vision that Jesus presented to him, intending for it to be 00:02:25.166 --> 00:02:29.786 read by the seven churches in Asia Minor, that it addresses, the vision is shared 00:02:29.786 --> 00:02:34.976 in the form of an apocalypse, meaning unveiling a kind of writing that uses 00:02:34.976 --> 00:02:37.106 striking imagery in a highly symbolic way. 00:02:37.991 --> 00:02:42.731 For example, the driving force behind the persecution of believers in these visions 00:02:42.731 --> 00:02:47.921 is a dragon, which is later identified as that old serpent who is the devil? 00:02:48.041 --> 00:02:48.581 Satan. 00:02:49.301 --> 00:02:54.821 The Dragon summons a beast whose seven heads represent seven hills, a reference 00:02:54.821 --> 00:02:59.351 to the city of Rome and who is allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. 00:02:59.921 --> 00:03:03.911 For the original readers, this beast would've been identified as Emperor 00:03:04.211 --> 00:03:06.821 Deion, who claimed to be Lord and God. 00:03:07.646 --> 00:03:11.966 The meaning of many of Revelation symbols can be discerned in this way with an 00:03:11.966 --> 00:03:15.776 awareness, both of the book's, late first century setting, and of similar 00:03:15.776 --> 00:03:18.446 symbols used by First Testament prophets. 00:03:19.286 --> 00:03:23.426 After greeting to the churches, John organizes the vision into four key 00:03:23.426 --> 00:03:29.366 parts, each introduced by the phrase In the spirit, John was in the spirit 00:03:30.086 --> 00:03:34.706 on Patman, the vision of the son of man and letters to the churches. 00:03:35.471 --> 00:03:39.701 In heaven, visions of God's reign in heaven and conflict on earth 00:03:40.661 --> 00:03:46.481 in the wilderness, the judgment of Babylon, the Roman Empire on a high 00:03:46.481 --> 00:03:49.151 mountain, the glorious new Jerusalem. 00:03:50.861 --> 00:03:54.911 The Book of Revelation brings a clear call to first century believers to 00:03:54.911 --> 00:03:58.841 remain steadfast and to patiently endure the suffering that comes from 00:03:58.841 --> 00:04:00.911 being a part of God's kingdom on earth. 00:04:01.841 --> 00:04:06.851 But it also brings a fitting close to the story of the entire Bible, presenting all 00:04:06.851 --> 00:04:09.311 God's people with reasons for affirm hope. 00:04:10.211 --> 00:04:13.991 God's first intentions for his people and his creation will be realized. 00:04:14.501 --> 00:04:18.881 God will defeat evil and reveal a new heaven and a new earth. 00:04:19.661 --> 00:04:22.991 The place where he will come and make his home with us. 00:04:28.211 --> 00:04:29.801 The book of Revelation. 00:04:32.336 --> 00:04:37.766 This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants 00:04:37.766 --> 00:04:39.866 the events that must soon take place. 00:04:40.586 --> 00:04:44.516 He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who 00:04:44.516 --> 00:04:46.676 faithfully reported everything he saw. 00:04:47.486 --> 00:04:51.716 This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:04:52.886 --> 00:04:57.176 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he 00:04:57.176 --> 00:05:02.876 blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says for the time is near. 00:05:04.826 --> 00:05:09.206 This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. 00:05:10.436 --> 00:05:14.186 Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always 00:05:14.186 --> 00:05:16.646 was and who is still to come. 00:05:17.561 --> 00:05:23.681 From the sevenfold spirit before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, he is 00:05:23.681 --> 00:05:25.601 the faithful witness to these things. 00:05:25.871 --> 00:05:30.101 The first to rise from the dead and the ruler of all the kings of the world, 00:05:31.601 --> 00:05:36.281 all glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his 00:05:36.281 --> 00:05:42.671 blood for us, he has made us a kingdom of priests for God, his father, all 00:05:42.671 --> 00:05:45.611 glory and power to him forever and never. 00:05:46.361 --> 00:05:47.051 Amen. 00:05:48.221 --> 00:05:53.531 Look, he comes with the clouds of heaven and everyone will see him. 00:05:53.801 --> 00:05:59.231 Even those who pierced him and all the nations of the world will mourn for him. 00:05:59.591 --> 00:06:01.301 Yes, amen. 00:06:02.471 --> 00:06:04.901 I am the alpha and the omega. 00:06:05.411 --> 00:06:08.201 The beginning and the end says the Lord God. 00:06:08.591 --> 00:06:13.421 I am the one who is, who always was and who is still to come. 00:06:14.486 --> 00:06:15.746 The Almighty one, 00:06:18.536 --> 00:06:23.066 I, John am your brother and your partner in suffering and in 00:06:23.066 --> 00:06:27.386 God's kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. 00:06:28.286 --> 00:06:32.276 I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God 00:06:32.276 --> 00:06:34.226 and for my testimony about Jesus. 00:06:35.156 --> 00:06:38.576 It was the Lord's day, and I was worshiping in the spirit. 00:06:39.506 --> 00:06:43.796 Suddenly I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet blast. 00:06:44.366 --> 00:06:50.156 It said, write in a book, everything you see, and send it to the 00:06:50.156 --> 00:06:55.646 seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, th Tyra, 00:06:55.706 --> 00:06:58.736 Sardis, Philadelphia, and La Deia. 00:07:00.356 --> 00:07:05.276 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lamp stands. 00:07:05.936 --> 00:07:09.926 And standing in the middle of the lamp stands was someone like the son of man. 00:07:11.066 --> 00:07:14.426 He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 00:07:15.446 --> 00:07:20.726 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and 00:07:20.726 --> 00:07:23.036 his eyes were like flames of fire. 00:07:23.996 --> 00:07:28.586 His feet were like polished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice 00:07:28.586 --> 00:07:30.836 thundered like mighty ocean waves. 00:07:32.006 --> 00:07:36.296 He held seven stars in his right hand and a sharp two-edged sword 00:07:36.296 --> 00:07:40.916 came from his mouth and his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. 00:07:42.176 --> 00:07:48.086 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead, but he laid his right 00:07:48.086 --> 00:07:51.296 hand on me and said, don't be afraid. 00:07:51.836 --> 00:07:53.966 I am the first and the last. 00:07:54.326 --> 00:07:55.916 I am the living one. 00:07:56.471 --> 00:07:57.221 I died. 00:07:57.251 --> 00:08:03.101 But look, I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and the grave. 00:08:04.511 --> 00:08:08.681 Write down what you have seen, both the things that are now happening 00:08:08.951 --> 00:08:10.541 and the things that will happen. 00:08:11.321 --> 00:08:15.671 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand. 00:08:15.821 --> 00:08:17.621 And the seven gold lamp stands. 00:08:18.311 --> 00:08:21.431 The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. 00:08:21.971 --> 00:08:24.641 And the seven lamp stands are the seven churches. 00:08:26.171 --> 00:08:29.351 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. 00:08:29.741 --> 00:08:32.951 This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his 00:08:32.951 --> 00:08:36.701 right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands. 00:08:38.681 --> 00:08:40.781 I know all the things you do. 00:08:41.741 --> 00:08:45.041 I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. 00:08:45.431 --> 00:08:47.891 I know you don't tolerate evil people. 00:08:48.941 --> 00:08:53.021 You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. 00:08:53.441 --> 00:08:55.421 You have discovered they are liars. 00:08:56.021 --> 00:09:00.371 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting, but I have 00:09:00.371 --> 00:09:01.661 this complaint against you. 00:09:02.531 --> 00:09:05.591 You don't love me or each other as you did at first. 00:09:05.861 --> 00:09:07.631 Look how far you have fallen. 00:09:08.141 --> 00:09:10.511 Turn back to me and do the works you did. 00:09:10.511 --> 00:09:11.261 At first. 00:09:11.921 --> 00:09:15.041 If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lamp. 00:09:15.041 --> 00:09:16.991 Stand from its place among the churches. 00:09:17.861 --> 00:09:19.361 But this is in your favor. 00:09:20.051 --> 00:09:22.661 You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans. 00:09:22.781 --> 00:09:23.651 Just as I do. 00:09:24.881 --> 00:09:29.081 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand what he is 00:09:29.081 --> 00:09:34.061 saying to the churches, to everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from 00:09:34.061 --> 00:09:36.671 the tree of life in the paradise of God. 00:09:38.411 --> 00:09:41.591 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. 00:09:42.056 --> 00:09:45.326 This is the message from the one who is the first and the last 00:09:45.476 --> 00:09:47.816 who was dead, but is now alive. 00:09:49.076 --> 00:09:53.486 I know about your suffering and your poverty, but you are rich. 00:09:54.206 --> 00:09:56.576 I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. 00:09:56.876 --> 00:10:01.766 They say they are Jews, but they are not because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 00:10:02.846 --> 00:10:04.996 Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. 00:10:05.981 --> 00:10:08.921 The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. 00:10:09.341 --> 00:10:14.351 You will suffer for 10 days, but if you remain faithful even when facing death, 00:10:14.711 --> 00:10:16.721 I will give you the crown of life. 00:10:17.711 --> 00:10:21.851 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand 00:10:21.851 --> 00:10:23.531 what he is saying to the churches. 00:10:24.311 --> 00:10:27.761 Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death. 00:10:29.411 --> 00:10:32.471 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. 00:10:32.891 --> 00:10:36.251 This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword. 00:10:37.511 --> 00:10:41.801 I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet 00:10:41.806 --> 00:10:43.541 you have remained loyal to me. 00:10:44.261 --> 00:10:49.631 You refused to deny me even when Anus, my faithful witness was martyred 00:10:49.631 --> 00:10:51.551 among you there in Satan's city. 00:10:52.781 --> 00:10:54.641 But I have a few complaints against you. 00:10:56.126 --> 00:11:01.436 You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed beak 00:11:01.826 --> 00:11:03.806 how to trip up the people of Israel. 00:11:04.406 --> 00:11:07.946 He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols, and by 00:11:07.946 --> 00:11:13.616 committing sexual sin in a similar way, you have some nicolaitans among 00:11:13.616 --> 00:11:15.296 you who follow the same teaching. 00:11:16.226 --> 00:11:20.726 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against 00:11:20.726 --> 00:11:22.226 them with the sword of my mouth. 00:11:23.471 --> 00:11:28.541 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand what he 00:11:28.541 --> 00:11:33.911 is saying to the churches, to everyone who is victorious, I will give some of 00:11:33.911 --> 00:11:39.251 the manna that has been hidden away in heaven and I will give to each one A white 00:11:39.256 --> 00:11:44.171 stone and on the stone will be engraved A new name that no one understands 00:11:44.171 --> 00:11:45.911 except the one who receives it. 00:11:47.621 --> 00:11:51.041 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thia, Tyra. 00:11:52.301 --> 00:11:57.311 This is the message from the son of God whose eyes are like flames of fire, 00:11:57.521 --> 00:11:59.741 whose feet are like polished bronze. 00:12:01.151 --> 00:12:03.431 I know all the things you do. 00:12:04.451 --> 00:12:09.491 I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient, and 00:12:09.491 --> 00:12:15.311 endurance, and I can see your constant improvement in all these things, but 00:12:15.311 --> 00:12:17.171 I have this complaint against you. 00:12:18.416 --> 00:12:22.316 You are permitting that woman, that Jezebel, who calls herself a 00:12:22.316 --> 00:12:24.776 prophet to lead my servants astray. 00:12:25.466 --> 00:12:30.116 She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. 00:12:30.746 --> 00:12:35.246 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. 00:12:36.356 --> 00:12:39.536 Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering. 00:12:39.866 --> 00:12:44.336 And those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent 00:12:44.396 --> 00:12:46.346 and turn away from her evil deeds. 00:12:47.321 --> 00:12:51.701 I will strike her children dead, then all the churches will know that I am 00:12:51.701 --> 00:12:55.511 the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. 00:12:55.781 --> 00:12:58.661 And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. 00:12:59.891 --> 00:13:03.641 But I also have a message for the rest of you and Thia Tyra, who have not 00:13:03.646 --> 00:13:09.191 followed this false teaching, deeper truths as they call them, depths of 00:13:09.196 --> 00:13:15.821 Satan Actually, I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to 00:13:15.821 --> 00:13:22.511 what you have until I come to all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end. 00:13:23.171 --> 00:13:26.321 To them, I will give authority over all the nations. 00:13:26.681 --> 00:13:31.391 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 00:13:32.801 --> 00:13:37.421 They will have the same authority I received from my father and I will 00:13:37.421 --> 00:13:39.101 also give them the morning star. 00:13:40.811 --> 00:13:45.611 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand 00:13:45.611 --> 00:13:47.561 what he is saying to the churches. 00:13:49.151 --> 00:13:52.571 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. 00:13:53.231 --> 00:13:56.351 This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold spirit 00:13:56.351 --> 00:13:58.331 of God and the seven stars. 00:13:59.741 --> 00:14:04.271 I know all the things you do and that you have a reputation for 00:14:04.271 --> 00:14:06.941 being alive, but you are dead. 00:14:07.631 --> 00:14:08.351 Wake up. 00:14:08.876 --> 00:14:13.466 Strengthen what little remains for even what is left is almost dead. 00:14:14.276 --> 00:14:17.636 I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 00:14:18.476 --> 00:14:21.176 Go back to what you heard and believed at first. 00:14:21.416 --> 00:14:22.856 Hold to it firmly. 00:14:23.636 --> 00:14:25.706 Repent and turn to me again. 00:14:26.636 --> 00:14:31.646 If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly as unexpected as a thief. 00:14:33.041 --> 00:14:35.981 Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not 00:14:35.981 --> 00:14:37.751 soiled their clothes with evil. 00:14:38.351 --> 00:14:41.591 They will walk with me in white for they are worthy. 00:14:42.611 --> 00:14:45.341 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. 00:14:46.151 --> 00:14:49.451 I will never erase their names from the Book of life, but I will 00:14:49.456 --> 00:14:53.231 announce before my father and his angels that they are mine. 00:14:54.401 --> 00:14:58.721 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand 00:14:58.721 --> 00:15:00.491 what he is saying to the churches. 00:15:02.246 --> 00:15:05.606 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. 00:15:07.316 --> 00:15:10.766 This is the message from the one who is holy and true. 00:15:11.096 --> 00:15:14.696 The one who has the key of David, what he opens. 00:15:14.786 --> 00:15:19.406 No one can close and what he closes, no one can open. 00:15:21.186 --> 00:15:25.586 I know all the things you do and I have opened a door for 00:15:25.586 --> 00:15:27.536 you that no one can close. 00:15:28.406 --> 00:15:29.846 You have little strength. 00:15:30.371 --> 00:15:33.071 Yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 00:15:33.491 --> 00:15:38.411 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue, those liars 00:15:38.411 --> 00:15:42.491 who say they are Jews but are not to come and bow down at your feet. 00:15:43.391 --> 00:15:46.031 They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. 00:15:47.561 --> 00:15:50.531 Because you have obeyed my command to persevere. 00:15:50.771 --> 00:15:53.651 I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come 00:15:53.651 --> 00:15:57.491 upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 00:15:58.481 --> 00:15:59.801 I am coming soon. 00:16:00.641 --> 00:16:04.211 Hold on to what you have so that no one will take away your crown. 00:16:05.711 --> 00:16:09.911 All who are victorious will become pillars in the temple of my God, and 00:16:09.911 --> 00:16:11.351 they will never have to leave it. 00:16:12.161 --> 00:16:17.021 And I will write on them the name of my God and they will be citizens in the 00:16:17.021 --> 00:16:23.591 city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven, from my God, and 00:16:23.591 --> 00:16:25.991 I will also write on them my new name. 00:16:27.656 --> 00:16:32.366 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand 00:16:32.366 --> 00:16:34.286 what he is saying to the churches. 00:16:35.816 --> 00:16:39.206 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Leo Deia. 00:16:40.526 --> 00:16:46.076 This is the message from the one who is the amen, the faithful and true witness. 00:16:46.436 --> 00:16:48.596 The beginning of God's new creation. 00:16:49.886 --> 00:16:55.166 I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. 00:16:55.916 --> 00:16:59.966 I wish that you were one or the other, but since you are like 00:16:59.966 --> 00:17:05.156 lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 00:17:05.936 --> 00:17:09.056 You say, I am rich, I have everything I want. 00:17:09.296 --> 00:17:13.226 I don't need a thing, and you don't realize that you are wretched and 00:17:13.226 --> 00:17:16.316 miserable and poor, and blind and naked. 00:17:17.306 --> 00:17:19.706 So I advise you to buy gold from me. 00:17:20.126 --> 00:17:23.936 Gold that has been purified by fire, then you will be rich. 00:17:24.761 --> 00:17:28.781 Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your 00:17:28.781 --> 00:17:31.271 nakedness and ointment for your eyes. 00:17:31.271 --> 00:17:36.521 So you will be able to see I correct and discipline everyone I love. 00:17:37.151 --> 00:17:40.001 So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 00:17:41.141 --> 00:17:44.141 Look, I stand at the door and knock. 00:17:44.561 --> 00:17:48.491 If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will 00:17:48.491 --> 00:17:50.051 share a meal together as friends. 00:17:51.011 --> 00:17:56.261 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne just as I was victorious 00:17:56.261 --> 00:17:58.301 and sat with my father on his throne. 00:17:59.591 --> 00:18:04.211 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand 00:18:04.211 --> 00:18:06.101 what he is saying to the churches. 00:18:08.291 --> 00:18:11.141 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:18:11.261 --> 00:18:12.191 Thank you for joining us.