Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

137. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 32: The Unseen Impact

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.

136. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 31: There is a Remnant

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.

135. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 30: Earth’s Supernatural Judgment

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.

134. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 29: The Souls Under the Altar

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.

133. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 28: The Prince of Peace

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.

132. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 27: Saved from the Tribulation

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.

131. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 26: Into the Tribulation

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!

130. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 25: Making Much of Jesus

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.