B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 83

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 83

I Cor. 16:9  “For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

October 15, 2006

Thumbnail Sketches – Revelation

Where does one start to do a brief summary and sketch of this deep book? Before even studying it one should study the clear passages of the New Testament on the end things such as I Thess. 4:13-18, Mt. 24-25 and others. Next one should go to the Old Testament books whose imagery is used in Revelation: Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah. The book is meant to give a message of hope and victory. Scattered throughout the book are visions of the church triumphant: ch. 7:4-8 the sealed of the Lord a picture of the church complete, 7:9-12 the great white host showing the church varied and throughout mankind with joy in salvation, 14:1-5 on Mt. Zion with the victorious Lamb the redeemed in holiness, 21:1-14 coming down out of heaven, the new heaven and the new earth as the new Jerusalem forevermore with Him. There are more passages that give this encouragement also. In 19:11-16 we have the white horse with the Faithful and True One upon it victorious throughout time and the world.
As you study the book, one way to try and remember the contents is to go by the number seven, a number of completeness and fulfillment. What follows is my own outline for study.
Chapters 1 – Introduction
2-3 The Seven Churches of Asia Minor – These were real churches and also represent all Christianity.
4 The Throne Vision – With this chapter begin the visions that build upon: what we know from the clear passages in the New Testament, the Old Testament prophecy books, what is learned in Revelation itself as we go through it.
5The Lamb Vision
6:1-8:5 The Seven Seals – There is an interlude from 7:1-17 which is encouragement in the face of the judgments that fall. This is repeated throughout the book.
8:7-11-19 The Seven Trumpets – There is another interlude from 10:1-11:14. The Word is portrayed variously followed by announcement of consummate victory.
12:1-14:20 The Seven Mystic Figures – The last of these is the Lamb on Mt. Zion, 14:1-5. This is followed by an interlude with six angels and the Lord pictured in 14:6-20.
15:1-16:21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath
17:1-18:24 The Judgment on Babylon – The wicked world is judged.
19:1-21 The Judgment on the Working of Worldly Power and Propaganda
20:1-15 The Judgment of the Devil
21:1-22:5 Our Eternal Home
22:6-21 An Epilogue – After the sometimes overwhelming portrayals given through John it is indeed calming to have these concluding words.

A STUDY OF THE THREE CREEDS

We as Lutherans state that the three creeds(statements of belief), that is the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian, are true and an accurate statement of what we believe. As we study them, we notice that as each developed they became successively longer. This was due to the devil spreading false teachings that had to be refuted. With each creed there will be an exercize for you to fulfill. We say that everything that we teach as Lutherans must be supported with Scripture. So it is also with the three creeds, that each statement of phrase is drawn from the Bible. But as you read the creeds you find that no Bible references are given. This will be the exercize in each case to go through the creed and attach given passages to the proper phrase or wording.

Historical Background
The Apostles Creed was not written by the apostles, but expresses what the apostles believed. It also did not just spring forth as it is read today. It grew in its wording as the church wrote and rewrote it until finally we have it as it is today. The term “Apostles Creed” first was used in a document in 390. The beginning of the use of a form of this creed goes back to 150 where a form very similar to what we have today was used. For those who wanted to be baptized into the Christian faith after they studied they would be asked questions to show what they believed. The Apostles Creed became a statement of faith prior to baptism. It was also used in worship services as we do today with the congregation stating clearly what is believed by the church. The three fold division of the creed into articles was based on our God being three in one, the Trinity, Mt. 28:18-19.

Exercize
Written below is the creed with the phrases in parentheses that are to be proved by passages from the list that follows. Read the passages and simply put them after the phrase that states what the passage does on a separate piece of paper. There are of course many passages beyond the one that is listed for each phrase. In the next BASIC you will have listed for you the answers. God bless your study.

(I believe in God)(the Father)(Almighty,)( Maker of heaven and earth.)
(And in Jesus)Christ)(His only Son,)(our Lord;)(who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,)(born)(of the Virgin)(Mary;)(suffered under Pontius Pilate)(was crucified,)(dead,)(and buried;)(He descended into hell;)(the third day He rose again from the dead;)(He ascended into heaven,)(and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;)(from thence He shall come to judge)(the quick and the dead.)
(I believe in the Holy Ghost;)(the holy Christian church,)(the communion of saints;)(the forgiveness of sins;)(the resurrection of the body;)(and the life everlasting.)

I Jn.5:11, II Tim. 4:1, Acts 1:9, II Pet. 1:21, Is. 64:8, Lk. 1:27, Jn. 20:28, II Cor. 5:10, Mt. 27:59-60, Col. 1:14, Mt. 1:23, I Pet. 3:19, Lk. 1:31, Jn. 1:14, Is. 13:6, Rom. 6:5, Lk. 2:7, Jn. 20:1,16, Mt. 27:50, Mt. 27:35, I Cor. 1:2, Gen. 1:1, Mt. 1:20, Mk. 16:19, Mt. 27:27-31, Mt. 16:16, Eph. 5:27, Heb. 11:1,

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I will be in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from Oct. 18 to Nov. 19. During the pastoral conference at Etago I can arrange when I will be with the brethren in their areas.

Pastor David Koenig