Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

Revelation 8:1-6 Picking up where we left off in this remarkable scene, we see the effectiveness of the prayers of all the saints in God’s dealings in the world. And second, we see God’s timing, in His mercy, to redeem the world and His people. With each passing second of silence, heaven waits, the angels adjust their trumpets and prepare to give their ear-piercing blast, earth groans under the cruelty and ugliness of rampant rebellion, and we can rest in believing that God’s timing is best. Hang in there, keep waiting just a little while longer!

Revelation 8:1-5 There are two remarkable aspects of this passage in Revelation 8 that have the potential to impact our lives in a marvelous way. First, we see the collected prayers of the saints down through the ages that result in the decisive action of the Lord in the world. And second, we see the timing of God in pouring His concentrated wrath upon the world. Both aspects are incredibly helpful for us to meditate upon.

Revelation 7:9-17 In life, we rarely see the spiritual impact of our daily obedience to God, but in Revelation 7 we are given a glimpse into the results of these 144,000 Jewish evangelists. This reminds us of the invisible impact of our service to God, it shows us that the most important thing is living for Him, and it encourages us that even when we can’t see the effects of our obedience, eternity will tell the full story. And we also have the same comforts offered to these people awaiting us when we get to heaven.

Revelation 7:1-8 We switch our focus from the judgments that come upon the earth to God’s protection of a group of 144,000 Jewish evangelists during the time of the tribulation in chapter seven. Here we see God preserving His people from the destruction that would befall the rest of the world in order for them to fulfill a specific role God has for them. This chapter encourages us to keep serving God in the midst of the darkness, and to keep doing the job God has called us to do.

Revelation 6:12-17 In the latter part of the tribulation, the earth gets absolutely pummeled by God’s judgment in the form of these catastrophes: (1) a great earthquake, (2) the sun darkened, (3) the moon turned blood-red, (4) stars falling to the earth, (5) the heavens released, and (6) mountains and islands displaced. This judgment precisely mirrors the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 24. As we think on these miraculous events, let us remember that though heaven and earth will pass away, God’s Word will never pass away. And God has given us real, tangible confirmation that this is true in the fact that the Jewish people have never been erased. That is our proof that these things will come to pass just as Jesus said they would.

Revelation 6:9-11 Today we come to the fifth seal judgment which reveals the souls of the saved who were martyred in the tribulation. As they plead for God’s justice to cover the earth from under the altar in heaven, God clothes them in white raiments and tells them to rest for a short season. We will see in the coming verses and chapters that God makes good on His promise to these saints.

Revelation 6:1-8 The tribulation starts out with the promise of peace and security, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. This terrifying time involves widespread disease, ravaging war, economic turmoil, and violent death. But Christ offers true peace that never fades away. He is contrasted with the antichrist’s fake peace in Daniel 8:25-26 and John 10:10 (see also Isaiah 9:6-7, Colossians 3:15, Isaiah 26:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:27, and John 16:33). He is the one we should be resting in every single day. As Isaiah 55:6 says, let us seek Him while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.

Revelation 6:1 It is important to rightly divide doctrine so in this episode we get an overview of the definitions, denominations, and defining times in history when various interpretations of end-times events occur. The real comfort for believers is that we are promised to be kept from the hour of temptation—the tribulation—which will come upon the whole earth. This is not “escapism” or “abandonment,” it is a desire for God to take back full ownership rights to the world, promises to be fulfilled to Israel, and for the world to be made right again so we can serve God and be with Him in a way we can’t now.

Revelation 6:1 As Christ opens the scroll, we start into the tribulation. Today, we are reminded of the living and inviting aspects of God’s Word and we start to look topically at the time of the Tribulation. We will pick up with a defense of a literal 7-year tribulation next week. Looking forward to it!

Revelation 5:9-14 In heaven, as in our passage today, it’s all about Jesus. How central of a place does He have in your life today? I hope this episode both encourages you and challenges you to make Him more preeminent this week.

Revelation 5:5-10 John describes Jesus as the Lamb, humble in His rejection and exalted in His worship. And heaven erupts with praise at Who Jesus is and what He has done. Take some time to reflect on what Jesus has done for you today.

Revelation 5:1-8 The Word of God—representing God’s last will and testament, His title deed to the earth, and His plan for humanity—is in the hand of God, but it is sealed, and there is no man in heaven or on earth with the authority to open it. This leads John to despair and weep until he sees the Lamb of God, who alone is worthy to open the book. We can rejoice that Christ has the power to carry out the plan of God, and He already has by purchasing our redemption.

Revelation 4:6-11 We’ve been introduced to two main groups in the heavenly crowd around the throne of God—the elders and the four beasts. These two parties have distinct roles in the praise of God, but both are important and beautiful. We begin this episode by examining the beasts more closely, and then we will turn our attention to the twenty-four elders as we close out Revelation chapter 4 today.

Revelation 4:4-7 As we continue to read about this imagery of God’s throne room, we also start to see who else is there and what they are saying and doing. It is important for us to realize we will see this scene someday. That realization should shape and influence the decisions we make throughout our lives, even on a daily basis. We should live like this is our future, because it is.

Revelation 4:1-5 Today we step back into the scene of the throne room of God with all of its magnificence, trying to imagine what it will be like to experience this and be in God’s presence one day. It is important for us to think about eternity and strive to live each day as if it were our last. We see the sights and sounds around the throne of God, with the people and the overall atmosphere. This should inspire us to live for Christ with everything we have and endure anything He calls us to, for it will surely be worth every last effort!

Revelation 4:1 After the letters to the churches, John was called up to the throne of God where he got to see a preview of the glory and presence of the Lord. This transition makes us think about the limited opportunity to serve God we have right now in this life. Our daily decisions have eternal implications. We need to know that (1) we should be motivated to live for the Lord now, and (2) when we do see Jesus one day, that’s what it is all about. In that moment, life will make sense, and no matter how difficult it was, the decision to live for God will be worth it.

Revelation 3:20-22 Today we get a glimpse of all seven churches with their locations and the problems Jesus points out. One of the most comforting aspects of these churches is that Jesus knows our conditions and can use them to teach us what we need to hear as long as we are listening. May we have soft hearts to hear His rebukes to us and to repent.

Revelation 3:18-22 This church, in its pride and self-sufficiency, was blind to their own condition. Because of their apathy towards God and love of money, they didn’t even realize the dire straits they were in. Jesus counsels us to come and find our fulfillment in Him rather than in the society around us. And the call is individual, which is an incredible privilege. Laodicea: the Lukewarm church I. The Location (literal local church) II. The Likeness of Christ III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) V. The Lesson for us (type of church)

Revelation 3:14-17 This final church is a cautionary tale to modern Christianity, because we struggle with the same apathy and lukewarmness that they are accused of by Christ. Today we start to get a glimpse of this church and the problems Jesus points out. May we have soft hearts to hear His rebukes to us and to repent. Laodicea: the Lukewarm church I. The Location (literal local church) II. The Likeness of Christ III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) We will continue to look at this church next week.

Revelation 3:7-13 This is the loyal church, and how we should wish to be characterized this way. This church was not impressive—they had little strength, were little in number, relatively out on their own, and misunderstood by those around them—but they are directed by God, reliant upon His strength, and assured of the destruction of the wicked. Some of the encouragements we can glean from this section are (1) God opens and closes doors in our lives, (2) we are to be an outpost for the gospel in the world, (3) God will keep us from the tribulation, and (4) we must focus on being faithful. Philadelphia: the Loyal church I. The Location (literal local church) II. The Likeness of Christ III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) V. The Lesson for us (type of church)