
Delphi Wesleyan Church
Revelation 21 Continued
## Overview - Sermon focused on Revelation 21–22 and the purpose of prophetic vision. - Central theme: vision produces hope, and hope produces faith and perseverance in the Christian life. - Main pastoral application: prepare spiritually for death, endure trials, and seek assurance of salvation through the Spirit. ## Purpose Of Vision - Vision reminds believers of a promised future: Eden restored, new heavens and new earth. - Core principle: "If there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present." - Hope fuels perseverance during suffering and discouragement. - Vision strengthens faith to endure trials and remain faithful. ## Old Testament Example: Israelites' Wilderness - God gave Israel a promise: a land flowing with milk and honey. - Despite miraculous deliverance (plagues, Red Sea crossing), Israel wandered 40 years. - Short journey could have taken days; unbelief caused prolonged wandering. - Twelve spies report (Numbers 13): land is good but "but" — giants and fortified cities. - Ten spies spread an evil report; people grumbled and rebelled. - Result: that generation did not enter the promised land; children later entered. - Lesson: initial faith must be sustained; crisis at threshold exposes living vs. dead faith. ## Revelation: Warning And Encouragement - Revelation warns of spiritual warfare and tribulation for God's people. - Dragon (Satan) wages war against those who keep God's commands (Rev 12). - Beast/Antichrist given power to wage war on God's people (Rev 13). - Calls for patient endurance and faithfulness (Rev 13–16). - Jesus: "He who stands firm until the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13). - Revelation 21–22 vision given to produce faith and hope for believers facing persecution. ## Faith: Definition And Source - Hebrews 11:1 definitions: - ESV: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - KJV: "Substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not yet seen." - Greek word pistis: faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity. - Faith is a gift from God; it is God-wrought and Spirit-produced. - Romans 10:17: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ" (Spirit-enabled hearing). - Faith is divine persuasion, not merely human effort. ## Living Faith Versus Mere Decision - Difference between a one-time decision and persevering, active faith. - Mere decision for fire-insurance salvation is not biblical salvation. - Living faith trusts God daily, not merely "tries" to believe. - Warning against worry and self-reliant "trying": - Worry is linked to lack of trust; trying relies on self, not on God. - Christians are called to trust, abide, and rest in Christ. - Peter at Caesarea Philippi: - Peter confesses Jesus as Christ; Jesus credits the Father for revealing this. - Faith is revealed by God, not by flesh and blood. - Demon-possessed child (post-Transfiguration): - Father pleads: "If you can… help us." Jesus: "All things are possible to him who believes." - Father: "I believe; help my unbelief." Jesus restores the son. - Disciples later asked why they failed; Jesus said certain deliverance requires faith and prayer. - These stories illustrate faith as God-given and active; restored faith is possible. - Tribulation may include suffering, persecution, social pressure, and hostility toward Christians. - Global examples cited (pastoral context): Nigeria, Middle East, China, incidents in the West. - Cultural pressure may tempt believers to compromise or apostatize. - Perseverance is required; cowardice or apostasy leads to exclusion from inheritance (Rev 21:8). - Assurance comes by the Spirit: the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8). - Assurance brings peace, rest, and confidence about death and eternity. - Pastoral invitation: seek prayer and pastoral help to receive or restore assurance. - "If you don't have assurance, come forward; pray until God gives assurance."

