10th Asia Pacific Assembly Conference
Rising Up!
Overcoming 21st century challenges
Revelation 2-3
17-20 Aug, 2016 @ KL, Malaysia
Welcome Address
Khor Keat San, elder Jalan Imbi Chapel
Praise God for what He can do moving in the hearts of His people
400+ delegates
See where God is leading where we as God’s people build up & spur one another
Opening Prayer by Mr Ung
Introduction to speaker Roy Hill
Previous Editor of Precious Seed
Earlier in Singapore before heading to Penang & then KL and Klang
Godly humble servant of God
Session 1 – Introduction
Thank you for inviting & for introduction
#Revelation 1
Writer is clearly John the apostle
Last remaining apostle from the 12 original apostles
As old man, opportunity to share God’s Word to His people
Written in mid 80s-90s AD in Patmos or Ephesus
WHERE not important. WHY is important.
4 purposes
- Prophetical: describing events in the future
- Pastoral: contains messages of challenges & comfort for churches & individuals
- Theological: completes & clarifies many OT prophecies
- Practical: describes existing conditions for churches; Personal for individuals
Main theme: one must be born again (from above)
How do you know & are sure you are born again?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16
How should I come & overcome?
Revelation divided into 3 sections
- Things seen (Ch 1)
- Things that are (Ch 2-3)
- Things that will be (Ch 4-22)
Revelation = Unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ; Taking away the veil that men may see Him in all His glory
V1 “which God gave unto Him”
God gave to Son, gave to angels & then gave to John
Not John’s words but God’s!
V4 John officially greets the 7 churches
Why these 7 churches?
Under divine inspiration, these 7 churches bring a particular message to us representative of all 14 churches
Brings a history of the church through the past centuries from the end of the apostolic age until today
7 stars, 7 lamp stands = mystery previously unexplained now explained representing something bigger
Greetings not only from himself but from God the father & Jesus
John’s feet on earth but heart, soul & mind in heaven
V10 Lord’s Day, Not day of the Lord; Not 1st day of the week; Emperor’s day, the darkest day of the year for believers, Revelation given through John giving hope
V12 7 golden lamp sticks = lamp stands
Beaten out of a single piece of gold; unity
Not one single lamp stand but 7 distinct lamp stands (autonomous)
To God, you are His golden creation to throw light & shine the light of Jesus Christ for the world to see
V16 7 stars = 7 angels of the 7 churches
Who are the angels?
Actually 7 angels? 7 messengers? Leadership of each of the 7 churches?
V1 Not John’s words but God’s!
If God were to write a letter to your assembly, what would it say?
God has given us His 66 books especially 22 in NT
V2 “who bear record of the Word of God”
Everything that John saw
Often instructed to do so
Complete & whole – we need to take heed of all the words
V3 “blessed is he who readeth”
Beatitude
Challenge to KEEP the word
V4 John introduces himself simply as John
Sending grace & peace to believers in this most difficult time under Roman rule in the midst of a tumultuous world
Only with that blessing can solve one’s problems
Which was, is & is to come
During changing times spoken as person who IS (ever living, ever present & I AM)
He is alive today!
Only one Holy Spirit with 7-fold ministry; perfect & complete like the other members of the Godhead
V5 Jesus Christ, perfect Messiah, perfect faithful witness – none like Him
Faithful in past, present & future
Faithful unto death
Ruler of kingdoms of the earth
In a fearful period of powerful of Roman emperor who claimed to be God
Doxology song of praise
His work loses us from sins
V6 Made us = creative act
“For ever & ever” occurs 12x in Revelation
“Amen” = let it be occurs 10x in Revelation
V7 people who needed Him to come quickly
“Clouds” = literal occurs 7x in Revelation
Coming down & every eye will see Him
How? Technology
“Pierced Him” in reference to the nation of Israel (not Romans)
V8 Alpha & Omega; beginning, end & everything in between
The almighty
V9 Island called Patmos not because of unfaithfulness but the Word of God & testimony of Jesus Christ
“Being in the spirit” 4x in Revelation
A great throne, a great mystery, a great city
I heard, I turned, I saw, I fell
Shows that John was in all his faculties
Including hearing what God is saying
V11 not just to write but to thrust it to the eyes of the 7 churches
7 things pointed out on Jesus
“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” -Revelation 1:13-15 KJV
The 7 churches can be linked up with other parts of the Bible, church history & even the shipwreck in Acts
Analysis & comparisons good BUT not to miss the message
Not only for John’s day & generation but our day & generation