Bulletin for September 27, 2020
Welcome to church! Deacon Jim Garrett is preaching this morning. He will be preaching on the book of Revelations.
Service is at 10:30.
Sunday School is meeting at 9:15 AM!
Sunday School is meeting at 9:15 AM!
Childcare is available again during Sunday School and church time.
Thanks to all of you for joining us online. We are constantly working to improve our online program, and apologize for any issues you might be experiencing. You can watch our services online at YouTube or our Facebook page. You can also check out a DVD (if available) of our services from our office.
Songs This Week:
My hope is in you
My heart is yours
Just like heaven
No longer slaves
Fundraising Garage Sale at FSBC
Upcoming Events:
Regular quarterly business meeting will be September 27, 2020.
Shine is an event for teen girls. This will be happening November 6-7 at the Webster Conference Center in Salina. Cost is $45. Registration is due by October 1. Contact Sara Bouchard for more information.
Attendance last week: 108
Online views last week: 63
Offering last week: $4379.30 of which $1086.30 was garage sale fundraising.
Online offering last month: $
Contact FSBC Dodge City
Office hours Monday-Friday 9 AM-1 PM
Phone Number 620-227-6722
Email:
Pastor
Children's Minister Debbie Morgan
Secretary Mandy Weis
Notes for this week:
GUIDELINES FOR INTERPERTING THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Interpreting Revelation is complicated by the fact that it is considered a letter, a prophecy and a
prophetic-apocalyptic letter. There are 5 primary approaches to interpreting the Revelation:
1. Preterist-This approach says that it is historical and the prophecies were fulfilled in
John’s day.
2. Historicist-This approach says what has happened or will happen throughout the church
history from the 1 st century until the return of Christ.
3. Futurist-This approach says these are all future events preceding the end of history.
4. Idealist-This approach doesn’t understand Revelation in terms of any particular reference
to time, but rather relates it to the ongoing struggle of good and evil.
5. Eclectic-This approach combines the strengths of several primary approaches.
We must take the historical context seriously. What did this letter mean to the original audience?
If our interpretation doesn’t make sense to the original audience, then we have probably missed
the meaning of the passage. We can look to the Old Testament and historical context when
interpreting images and symbols.
Revelation uses picture language to emphasize historical reality rather that to deny or diminish it.
Avoid taking the picture language literally. Interpret symbolically unless the context calls for a
literal reading. Don’t try to discover a strict chronological map of future events, rather grasp the
main message of each vision about living in the here and now. Take Revelation seriously, but
don’t always take it literally.
We should remember that Revelation is not just about the future; it is also about the here and
now. Revelation is the last chapter in the story of salvation, it gives people hope and a foretaste
of God’s ultimate victory and offers them the perspective and the encouragement they need to
overcome. Revelation is filled with comfort for those being persecuted and warnings for those
trying to avoid it. This is a word from God in their present situation, but written against the
backdrop of the future with its judgment and salvation. John writes for the encouragement (and
watchfulness) of churches that stand on the brink of a holocaust about to be let loose on them by
the Roman Empire. The main message of Revelation is that “God wins”!!!
There is difficulty with the interpretation of what John presents to us between the temporal
events he foresees and the eschatological context in which he places the whole picture. Today,
we are “between the time” of the two events. Some of the temporal events have already occurred,
while we still await the final eschatological fulfillment. We must be open then, to a further
second meaning or fulfillment. Many prophecies have a double fulfillment-one immediate and
one future. This is complicated by prophets and the lack of chronological timing in their
writings. I think this can best be pictured as looking at a pair of mountain ranges. You can see
the first mountain range right in front of you, and although you can see the second mountain
range in the distance, you really can’t tell how far away it actually is and all that is in the valley
between the two. The distant prophecy is viewed through the transparency of the immediate
prophecy.
As you read, look for statements or words that are repeated. We should pay close attention to
repeated statements from God’s word, obviously He is stressing a point for us to consider and
respond to. 8 times the phrase “Whoever has ears let him hear what the spirit is saying ti the
churches” is used in Revelation. Worship is mention 11 times. It is significant that these two are
mentioned as often as they are. 70% of the verses in Revelation allude to Old Testament
passages. It is also worth noting, that there are 7 beatitudes in the book of Revelation. 1:3; 14:13;
16:15; 19:5; 20:6; 22:7,14. The Revelation contains many exhortations to faith, patience ,
obedience, prayer, and watchfulness.
There are 4 visions in the book of Revelation. We need to study and understand them as a whole,
focusing on the main message and not allegorically to press all the details to have special
meaning.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
There are 10 main periods in history that point to Roman persecution of the church starting in
AD 67 under Nero and extending through AD 303 under Diocletian. In AD 312 Constantine was
converted to Christianity. Rome fell in AD 410. There is 249 years between Nero and Diocletian,
with about 120 years scattered between each ruler where there was less persecution.
During the time that John wrote the Revelation, Domitian was in power. There is evidence that
there was persecution in Ephesus at the time. We know that John was exiled to Patmos for
something that he had done concerning his faith, and that Antipas of Pergamum was martyred.
Domitian had requested that he be addressed as Dominus et Deus (Lord and God). This title is
similar to titles that Christians gave to Jesus, “Jesus is Lord.” When Christians refused to say that
Caesar is lord, they were considered disloyal and subject to persecution. Some held firm, other
compromised and others gave in completely. Emperor worship was particularly popular in Asia,
Especially at Ephesus. In the face of this threatening situation John reminds the churches of a
fact which must ever be a touchstone for their conduct, that behind all human political authority
stands the sovereignty of him who is in fact, although unseen, ruler over the kings of the earth.
The historical context is one which false religion has formed a partnership with pagan political
power.
TENTATIVE TIMELINE
Week 1-Introduction – Revelation 1
Week 2-The First Vision – Revelation 1:9 through 3:22
Week 3-The Second Vision Part 1 – Revelation 4:1 through 8:1
Week 4-The Second Vision Part 2 – Revelation 8:2 through 11:19
Week 5-The Second Vision Part 3 – Revelation 12:1 through 16:21
Week 6-The Third Vision Part 1 – Revelation 17:1 through 19:5
Week 7-The Third Vision Part 2 – Revelation 19:6 through 21:8
Week 8 The Fourth Vision – Revelation 21:9 through 22:21
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