Revelation: God's Book of Life
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 17:8 Revelation 17:8 refers to people "whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world." Philippians 4:3 refers to people "whose names are in the book of life." Though there are people whose names have never been written in God's book of life, the Bible is clear that this reality does not excuse someone from personal accountability. Unbelievers have "no excuse" for their unbelief and their suppression of the truth (cf. Rom 1:18-20). The enemies of God, as they are described in Revelation, are unmistakably...
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The Glory of God and the Work of His People
Bethel Baptist Church
Bethel Baptist Church was honored to host Reverend Joel David, North America Baptist Vice President of International Missions, during this years NAB Detroit Area Missions Conference.
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Angels in Awe: The Glory of God in the Church
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:22-47, 1 Peter 1:12 As the church puts the glory of our risen Savior on display before a dying world and before the curiously marveling angelic realms, our crucified, risen Savior and gloriously coming King will be with us every step of the way. “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:12 ESV
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Revelation: Fallen, Fallen is Babylon
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 18, 19 The city of Babylon is considered by some historians and archaeologists to have been the greatest city in the ancient Near East. With its thick double walls and scores of fortified towers, people living 600 years before Christ must have thought it to be unconquerable. Today the glory that was once great Babylon has utterly vanished, except in history books. Revelation 17, 18 contain an extended description of the antichrist's kingdom on the earth in a coming day. Beginning with the tower of Babel in Genesis, 'Babylon' is the biblical...
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Revelation: The Lamb Will Conquer
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 17 Revelation 17,18 describe, at length, the global kingdom of the antichrist during the coming time of tribulation. We have already seen, in chapter 13, that there will be both a political leader and religious leader in this vast kingdom … the beast, and the false prophet. The political/religious structural system of the kingdom of the antichrist is called 'Babylon' in the book of Revelation. Revelation 17 describes the religious aspect of this global kingdom and chapter 18 describes the political aspect of it. The religious element of the antichrist...
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Revelation: They Cursed God
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 16:1-11 The Nature of the Human Heart Revelation 16 contains the third, and last, series of divine judgments on the population of the earth during the coming day of tribulation. It is a description of the seven bowl judgments. God is declared to be just because He has poured out His wrath on the wicked. "Just are you, O Holy One . . . for you have brought these judgments . . . Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments" (Rev 16:5,6). The overwhelming response of the people of the earth to these frightful, awesome acts of God will be...
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Revelation: The Song of the Lamb
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 15:1-8 Before each of the series of divine judgments on the earth, during the tribulation time, John describes a heavenly scene. The vision of heaven in chapters 4,5 precedes the judgments of the seven seals. The heavenly scene in Revelation 8:2-5 precedes the judgments of the seven trumpets. The bowl judgments will be described in chapter 16, but now, before those final judgments, there is another description of heaven. Beside a heavenly glass-like sea, "those who had conquered the beast" are gathered and they are singing a song (Rev...
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Revelation: The Perseverance of the Saints
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 14:9-20 In the middle of a biblical text about the dreadful wrath of God is a passage designed to be a great encouragement to Christians. Following a passage declaring the God's wrath "poured full strength into the cup of his anger" (Rev 14:10), we read about the "perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus" (Rev 14:12, LSB). The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is the idea that, having been changed at the deepest level of one's being by the Spirit of God, Christians "can neither totally nor finally fall...
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Revelation: The Eternal Gospel
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 13:11-18 A second beast appears in Revelation 13, "exercising all the authority of the first beast . . . and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast" (Rev 13:12). This beast is called the 'false prophet' in Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10. This title suggests that he will bring a religious element to the kingdom of the antichrist. He will have the power to do supernatural acts (Rev 13:13-15). The combination of a political, militaristic leader and an ecumenical religious leader will be a potent force in galvanizing the...
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Revelation: A Call For Endurance
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 13:1-10 Much of the focus of Revelation is on what God will doing on the earth during the time of tribulation. The holy Judge will pour out His righteous justice on the inhabitants of the earth, in a series of horrendous, global judgments. In Revelation 12-14, however, the focus is on what Satan will be doing on the earth during the tribulation. Chapter 13 introduces us to two new figures … the antichrist (Rev 13:1-10) and the false prophet (Rev 13:11-18). Along with the devil, these three form a kind of unholy 'trinity'. The antichrist...
info_outlineScripture Reading; Revelation 12:1-12
To this point in the book of Revelation, much of the focus has been on what God will be doing on the earth during the time of tribulation. God will pour out His holy justice on the inhabitants of the earth, in a series of horrendous, global judgments. In Revelation 12-14, the focus is on what Satan will be doing on the earth during the tribulation.
In richly symbolic language, the events and activities of this chapter center around Satan and the people of Israel. Having been cast out of heaven, Satan has opposed the Israelites of old ... through leaders like Pharaoh, Haman, and Herod ... and as well as Christians since the coming of Christ.
In the tribulation many Jews will turn to Christ and Satan will seek to destroy them. In Revelation 12, Israel is seen in the symbolic image of a woman. ". . . the dragon . . . pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child [Jesus]" (Rev 12:13). God, in a display of His power and authority, protects the Jews who flee from Jerusalem (cf. Rev 12:14,16).
We do not know all the reasons why God permits Satan to blind and destroy so many people, but the Bible reveals to us, in general terms, the ultimate reason. "Satan's fall and ongoing existence are for the glory of Christ. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, will be more highly honored and more deeply appreciated and loved in the end because he defeats Satan not the moment after Satan fell, but through millennia of long-suffering, patience, humility, servanthood, suffering, and decisively through his own death" (John Piper, Spectacular Sins, 49).