12 grasping the climax of the bible - rubymountainbible.com · 12.08.2019 · recall the flow of...

Grasping the Climax of the BibleThe Book of Revelation

Recall the Flow of the Biblical Story

1. The Story of God and the Nations (Genesis 1-11)

2. The Story of God and Israel (Genesis 12-Malachi)

3. The Story of God on Earth (Matthew-John)

4. The Story of God and His Church (Acts-Jude)

5. The Story of God’s Ultimate Victory (Revelation)

Torah: Defines & Dictates basics about God, Man, Sin, & Salvation

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The Gospels: Culmination of O.T. Law, History, Poetry, & Prophecy

Acts: Continuation of the Gospel

Epistles: Clarification the Gospel

Revelation: Climax of all Truth

The Torah defines & dictates the basics about God, Man, Sin, & Salvation.


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The History demonstrates & dramatizes the Torah principles of God, Man, Sin, & Salvation in the lives of Israel.


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The wise philosophers of the Poetic books deliberate, digest, and depict the principles of God, Man, Sin, & Salvation.


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The fiery preachers of the prophetic books denounce Sin, while they declare & defend the principles about God, Man, & Salvation.


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The Gospels form the culmination of O.T. Law, History, Poetry, & Prophecy in the Person and Work of Messiah. All that the O.T. said about God, Man, Sin, & Salvation find fruition in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:30).


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The book of Acts records the continuation of the work of Christ. While the Gospels record what Jesus did while on earth, the book of Acts records what Jesus does in and through his followers.


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The Epistles further explain and clarify what the O.T. defined & the N.T. Gospels demonstrated regarding God, Man, Sin, & Salvation. These serve as the guiding lights for the N.T. church.


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The book of Revelation takes all strands from O.T. & N.T. and culminates with the climax of history. All that the Bible has been working towards regarding God, Man, Sin, and Salvation finally comes to fruition in Revelation.

The Story of God’s Ultimate Victory

I. God Rallies His Church (Rev. 1-3)

II. God Reclaims the Earth (Rev. 4-20)

III. God Renews the Earth (Rev. 21-22)

God Rallies His Church (Revelation 1-3)

Revelation 1-3 begin with a dramatic unveiling (i.e. Revelation) of Jesus Christ, as He appears to John the Apostle while John is on the Island of Patmos. Jesus appears and dictates to John a series of 7 letters to 7 specific churches throughout Asia Minor, which are at various stages of spiritual health.

All these churches are faced with spiritual struggles and political pressure. Yet some of the churches have stood strong, while others have not. Revelation was written to assure an aged 1st generation of Christians that Jesus is indeed coming back, as well as ignite future Christians to long for His return, and ask “how ought we then live?” (2 Peter 3)


The visions contained in the book of Revelation were given to these churches to assure them that their victory was not in doubt. Jesus, and not Caesar, is Lord of ALL. Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb, and His return as the Lion serve as the goal of history.

Regardless of how things appear now, God will judge sin, He will vindicate Himself, and will vindicate His people So we must stand in hope!


Proclaiming Christ will absolutely invite persecution, but He is worth dying for! A radical contrast exists between God’s kingdom, and the values of this present world. Don’t be deceived by this present world, because it is temporary (1 John 2:15-17), and will burn in the end. Rather, seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, faithfully endure suffering, because one day we will triumph.

God Reclaims the Earth (Revelation 4-20)

Revelation 4-5 begin with a dramatic throne room scene, where God sovereignly sits and presides over the proceedings, which will reclaim the rebellious universe that He created.

Jesus Christ steps forward as the only One worthy to claim right over creation, and rule it in perfect justice & peace.

God Reclaims the Earth (Revelation 4-20)

Revelation chapters 6-19 record the spectacular events whereby Jesus retakes the earth using a series of dramatic judgments, which unfold in 3 groups of 7 judgements each (Seals, Trumpets, Bowls). They all serve the ultimate purpose of eradicating evil, and restoring righteousness.

The climactic scene in the book is the descent of Jesus Christ upon a white horse in the clouds of heaven to return to earth, triumph over His enemies, and set up His enteral kingdom (Rev. 19-20).

God Renews the Earth (Revelation 21-22)

The conclusion to the Book of Revelation, yea verily the whole Bible, is a flashback to Eden, where God recreates the heavens and the earth (Rev. 21-22). These final two chapters of Revelation bring perfect symmetry to the Bible as a whole. God reunites heaven and earth by causing the heavenly Jerusalem to descend and take up residence upon a renewed earth. God wipes away every tear, eradicates all sin, and brings redeemed humanity back into perfect fellowship with Himself for all eternity… thus we live happily ever after!

Seeing the SymmetrySymmetry is defined as “the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other around an axis.” In other words symmetry is possessing exact correspondence between two halves, or having pleasingly proportional parts. The Bible is symmetrical, and this symmetry is seen in a variety of ways. We can detect it by examining a number of key unifying themes that tie the Bible together, which are conspicuously visible at both the beginning and the end, or in both Genesis & Revelation.

Tears, Crying, & PainAt the climax of the creative week, God evaluated His work with the words, “behold, it is very good.” Yet after sin in Genesis 3:16 the word “sorrow” appears for the first time. In addition to this, Genesis 4:10 gives us the 1st reference to “crying.” Then Genesis 23:2 grants the the first record of someone weeping because of the death of a loved one.

These things begin in Genesis as a result of sin, but they all end in the book of Revelation, which promises the absolute eradication of ALL sorrow & pain (Rev. 21:4).

The Tree of LifeGod created Adam and placed him in the garden of delight in which there was the Tree of Life (Gen. 2). Yet Adam rebelled against God, and was barred access to this tree lest he live forever (Gen. 3). This tree was later used as an metaphor for blessing and fulfillment derived from obeying God in this life (Prov. 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4). Jesus appears in the book of Revelation promising His followers access once again to this sacred tree (Rev. 2:7), which He grants after reclaiming and renewing the earth (Rev. 22:2, 19).

Light & DarknessThe first thing God ever created was light (Gen. 1:1-3). God Himself is described as light (1 John 1:5), or clothed with light (Ps. 104:4). Jesus is described in a similar way (John 1:1-5), and He rules over a kingdom of light (1 Pt. 2:9). Those who trust in Jesus are called children of light (Eph. 5:8,11), because the light of the Gospel has shined into their hearts (2 Cor. 4:4). Our acts of obedience to Him are called works of light (John 3:20; Rom. 13:12). Our ultimate destiny is to live in the light of His immediate and glorious presence (Rev. 21-22).

Light & DarknessContrast this with darkness. Satan is called the prince of darkness (Eph. 6:12), who rules over a kingdom of darkness (Acts 26:18), the subjects of which are known as children of darkness (Eph. 5:8, 11). The children of darkness do deeds of darkness (John 3:20; Rom. 13:12), and they do not understand the Gospel, because their minds are darkened (Eph. 4:18). Their ultimate destiny is outer darkness (Matt. 25:30).

The Dwelling Place of God

In the original state of creation God “walked with man in the cool of the day” (Gen. 3). Yet the sin of mankind forced God’s hand, who then had to exile mankind from His presence (Gen. 3:23-24). The next time we see God locationally referenced He “comes down” to inspect the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:5). In other words, God removed His holy presence from a sinful earth, and made His abode in heaven. From here forward we get glimpses every once in a while of the glorious, heavenly abode of God (Is. 6; Ezek. 1; Rev. 4-5).

The Dwelling Place of GodYet as God progresses through the plan of redemption, He also “moves locations.” Exodus 3 for instance, pictures God appearing to Moses in the burning bush while upon Mt. Sinai. This presence then reappears at the Exodus to guide the children of Israel through the wilderness to the base of Mt. Sinai, where God appears in a more dramatic form (Ex. 19). Then God instructs the building of the wilderness tabernacle, and fills it with His presence (Ex. 40).

The Dwelling Place of GodThis Tabernacle will later take the form of a Temple (1 Kings 4-8). Yet God will ultimately remove Himself from this temple due to the sin of Israel (Ezekiel 8-11). Yet is this the end? No! God returns to earth via the incarnation (John 1:1-14). Jesus Christ is one “greater than the temple.” Yet after the ascension of Jesus, God’s presence takes up residence in His followers in the form of God’s Spirit (Acts 2). We are now the Temple of God (1 Cor. 6). Yet neither is this the end. One day God will again take up residence on planet earth in a final and climactic way (Rev. 21:1-4).

Throne of GodAnother fascinating image is the “Throne of God.” The word “throne” appears often throughout the Bible. The first several appearances refer to the throne of Pharaoh, the most powerful man on planet earth at the time (Gen. 41:40; Ex. 11:5; 12:29). Most other references in the O.T. refer to some sort of human throne, like the throne of Solomon (1 Kings 8-10). However, a couple passages allude to a spiritual throne of sorts that exists behind and empowers earthly thrones (Is. 14; Ezek. 28; Dan. 10 etc.).

Throne of GodA few times the Bible allows us a glimpse at the real throne that exists and empowers all things, namely, the throne of God (Isaiah 6; Ezek. 1; Rev. 4-5). The Psalms often sing of the power of God’s throne as preeminent (Psalm 9:4,7; 11:4; 47:8), yet also acknowledges “the throne of iniquity (Psalm 94:20). Yet it is the N.T. that greatly expands upon this image. Not only does the N.T. mention the throne of God, but also the throne upon which Jesus sits after His resurrection & ascension (Acts 2:30; Heb. 1:8 etc.)

Throne of GodFinally we arrive to the book of Revelation.

The word “throne” appears 46 TIMES in the book of Revelation alone. This is a HUGE theme in the book. The numerous references to throne cluster around either “Satan’s throne” (2:13; 13:2; 16:10), or “God’s throne.” Yet the major idea behind all these references to thrones in the book of Revelation is that God is finally bringing HIS THRONE to earth in order to answer the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!!!”

City of God vs. City of Man

The first reference to a “city” in the Bible is when rebellious Cain builds a city in defiance of God’s curse upon him (Gen. 4:17). The rest of the book of Genesis tends to picture cities as a place of concentrated evil and rebellion (Gen. 10:11-12; 11:1-8; 13:12; 19:1-29; 33:18-34). Yet later on the Psalms develop an idea of “the city of God,” which the book of Isaiah and other prophets build upon (Ps. 31, 46, 48, 87, 101; Is. 1; 24-27).

City of God vs. City of Man

The N.T. continues to build on this theme by calling Christians to be “strangers & pilgrims,” who like Abraham are to search for a city, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:16). Yet it is the book of Revelation that brings these two opposing ideas into a dramatic conflict. Revelation 17-18 describe Babylon as the epitome of the city of mankind, which possesses all our prosperity. Yet God destroys this magnificent city, and brings His city down to earth (Rev. 21-22), wherein His subjects will live forever.

Note how Revelation 21-22 is a replay of Genesis 1-2, yet backwards. Mankind is not created last on day six, but we have already been recreated (Col. 3:10), and are thus the first thing to enter the new creation. This is why believers are called “first-fruits” of God’s creatures (James 1:18).

Creation New Creation

Redemption

FallTorah

HistoryPoetry Prophecy

Gospels

Epistles

Revelation

Acts

“U” Shaped Plot

Learn the Arrangement

Old Testament New Testament

Explanation

EventsLaw

History

Poetry

Prophecy

Events

Explanation

Gospels

Acts

Epistles

Revelation

Maintaining your Bible Knowledge & Making More Connections

Let me end with a final suggestion. Once you have read through the Bible, DON’T STOP READING. Understanding the Bible better and better is a life-long pursuit. Might I suggest you rotate through the eight major subdivisions of the Bible. I typically read an O.T. book, then a N.T. book. Yet I will rotate through the major genres. In other words I go from a book in the Law, then a Gospel, then an O.T. History book, then Acts, then an O.T. Poet, then a N.T. Epistle, then an O.T. Prophet, then Revelation etc.

The Bible Bookshelf

For example, I may begin the year by reading… Genesis, then Matthew, then Joshua, then Acts, then Psalms, then Romans, then Isaiah, then Revelation etc.

12 grasping the climax of the bible - rubymountainbible.com · 12.08.2019 · recall the flow of...

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