- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
What Is the Book of Revelation About?
The book of Revelation is about Jesus. Its title comes from the Greek word apokalypsis, which means “unveiling.” While Revelation describes the end times with vivid symbols, its main purpose is to reveal Jesus as the reigning King, call God’s people to stay faithful, and give hope that Jesus will triumph over all evil. It was written to strengthen believers, not to satisfy our curiosity.
Revelation Is Meant for Faithfulness, Not Speculation
Throughout history, people have tried to match Revelation with current events. Every generation seems to have someone claiming to know exactly when the end will come. But Revelation itself tells us why it was written.
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Notice the blessing isn’t for those who crack the code. It’s for those who hear it and take it to heart. The book ends with the same emphasis (Revelation 22:7). The main role of prophecy is to call God’s people to stay true to him. Christians have read Revelation in different ways over the centuries, and you can learn more about those approaches in Reading Revelation Through Four Lenses.
Revelation Shows Jesus Like You’ve Never Seen Him
The Gospels show Jesus walking the earth as a humble teacher and Savior. Revelation shows him enthroned in heaven in all his glory. When John saw the risen Jesus, he was so overwhelmed that he fell at his feet as though dead.
Revelation 1:12-16 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
This is the same Jesus who healed the sick and welcomed children. But now we see him as the all-powerful Lord of the church and of history. Every image in this vision points to his authority, purity, and power.
Revelation Offers Hope That Jesus Will Win
John wrote Revelation to churches facing persecution under the Roman Empire. They needed to know that the powers oppressing them would not have the final word. Revelation assured them that Jesus would prevail.
Revelation 17:14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
That hope extends to believers today. We still face evil in many forms, and behind it all is a spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Revelation pulls back the curtain to show that this battle has already been decided. Jesus is the victor, and those who belong to him share in his victory.
The Takeaway
The book of Revelation is primarily an unveiling of Jesus. It calls believers to faithfulness rather than speculation, reveals Jesus as the glorious King, and offers hope that he will triumph over every form of evil. As you read it, focus on who Jesus is and how he calls you to live.
- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
Why Is Jesus Called the Lion and the Lamb?
Jesus is called the Lion and the Lamb because he is both powerful and sacrificial. In Revelation 5, John is told that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed, but when he looks, he sees a Lamb that had been slain. The Lion represents Jesus’ royal authority and victory; the Lamb represents his sacrificial death for sin. Together, these images capture who Jesus is and how he saves.
God Is on the Throne
Revelation 4 sets the scene for everything that follows. John is invited into the throne room of heaven, where God the Father reigns in glory. Around the throne, heavenly beings worship him without ceasing.
Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Before Revelation describes the chaos and judgment to come, it shows us who is in control. No matter what happens on earth, God is on the throne, and his plan for history is unfolding exactly as he intends.
Only Jesus Can Open the Scroll
In Revelation 5, God holds a scroll sealed with seven seals. It contains his plan for the future of the world. But no one in heaven or on earth is worthy to open it, and John begins to weep.
Revelation 5:4-5 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
The title “Lion of the tribe of Judah” comes from Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49:9-10, which promised a ruler from Judah’s line. Jesus is that promised King, and he alone holds the key to God’s plan.
The Lion Is the Lamb
John turns to see the Lion, but what he sees is surprising.
Revelation 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
The conquering Lion won his victory by becoming the sacrificial Lamb. John the Baptist had introduced Jesus the same way.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus didn’t conquer by force. He conquered by laying down his life. The Lamb is standing, though, which means he is alive. His death and resurrection are the source of his power.
Jesus Has Created a People for God
When the Lamb takes the scroll, all of heaven erupts in a new song.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Through his death, Jesus has formed a global family. The worship in Revelation 5 grows until every creature in heaven and on earth joins in (Revelation 5:13). Paul describes the same day, when every person will acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Takeaway
Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb. He is the powerful King who holds God’s plan for history, and he won that authority by sacrificing himself for us. His death created a people for God from every nation, and one day all creation will worship him.
- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
What Are the Seven Seals in Revelation?
The seven seals in Revelation are a series of judgments released as Jesus, the Lamb, opens God’s scroll. The first four seals unleash the four horsemen, symbols of conquest, war, famine, and death. The fifth reveals faithful martyrs crying out for justice, and the sixth signals the Day of the Lord. The seals show that God is in control of history and that those who trust Jesus will be kept safe from his wrath.
The Four Horsemen
When the Lamb opens the first four seals, four riders appear on horses of different colors.
Revelation 6:1-2 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
The riders that follow bring war, famine, and death (Revelation 6:3-8). These symbolize God’s judgment on a rebellious world and the beginning of the end. Jesus told his disciples to expect these things, but not to panic.
Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.
Even as the world seems to spin out of control, the Lamb is the one opening the seals. Nothing happens outside his authority.
The Martyrs Cry Out for Justice
The fifth seal reveals a different scene: believers who died for their faith.
Revelation 6:9-10 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Their cry is an honest prayer for God to set things right. God tells them to wait a little longer (Revelation 6:11). His justice is certain, even when it seems delayed. For persecuted believers, then and now, this is a powerful reassurance that their suffering is seen.
The Day of the Lord Arrives
The sixth seal brings cosmic upheaval: an earthquake, a darkened sun, and falling stars. It signals the Day of the Lord, the end of history as we know it.
Revelation 6:15-17 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
Every class of people, from kings to slaves, realizes there is no escaping God’s wrath. The prophets warned of this day, when human pride would be brought low (Isaiah 2:11).
Who Can Stand?
The sixth seal ends with a haunting question: who can withstand God’s wrath? Revelation 7 gives the answer.
Revelation 7:9-10 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Those who stand are the ones who trust in the Lamb. Believers may face hardship and persecution in this world, but because of Jesus’ blood, they will not face God’s wrath. That’s why Jesus urged his followers to stay alert and pray (Luke 21:36). You can read more in What Happens When Jesus Comes Back?
The Takeaway
The seven seals reveal God’s judgment on a rebellious world and the coming Day of the Lord. They remind us that Jesus is in control of history, that God sees the suffering of his people, and that everyone who trusts in the Lamb will be able to stand.
- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
Who Are the Dragon and the Beasts in Revelation?
In Revelation 12-13, the dragon is Satan, the first beast is the Antichrist, and the second beast is a false prophet. Together they form a counterfeit of the true God, trying to deceive the world and draw people’s allegiance away from Jesus. The “mark of the beast” represents that false allegiance. But Revelation makes clear that Satan is already defeated and that Jesus protects his people.
The Dragon Is Satan
Revelation 12 describes a cosmic battle. A woman, representing God’s people, gives birth to a child who will rule the nations: Jesus. A great red dragon tries to destroy the child but fails. Then war breaks out in heaven.
Revelation 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Satan has been defeated in the heavenly realm, but for now he is able to wage war against God’s people on earth. Revelation 13 describes how he does it. You can read more in Is Satan the Same as Lucifer?
The Beasts Are Counterfeits
The first beast rises from the sea with power and authority given by the dragon (Revelation 13:1-4). It demands worship and blasphemes God. This beast is the Antichrist, a false Christ who will appear in the last days. John explains that the spirit of antichrist is already at work.
1 John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
The second beast rises from the earth and acts like a false prophet (Revelation 13:11-15). It performs signs to deceive people and forces them to worship the first beast. Together, the dragon and the two beasts form a counterfeit trinity, an imitation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You can read more in The Tribulation and the Antichrist.
The Mark of the Beast Is a Counterfeit Shema
The second beast forces everyone to receive a mark.
Revelation 13:16-17 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
This image echoes the Shema, Israel’s pledge of allegiance to God. Moses told God’s people to keep his words before them in a striking way.
Deuteronomy 6:8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
The forehead represents our thoughts, and the hand represents our actions. The mark of the beast is a counterfeit oath of allegiance, a pledge to follow Satan’s system instead of God. The real question isn’t about a tattoo or a microchip. It’s about who has your loyalty.
The Battle Is Already Won
Revelation 12 shows that the cosmic battle has already been decided, even though the earthly battle continues in Revelation 13. God’s people overcome Satan in a surprising way.
Revelation 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Right after the beasts appear, John sees the Lamb standing with his people, sealed with his name and the Father’s name (Revelation 14:1). Jesus preserves those who belong to him.
The Takeaway
The dragon and the beasts represent Satan’s attempt to counterfeit God and win people’s allegiance through deception. But Satan is already defeated. Believers overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by staying faithful to Jesus, whose name marks his people.
- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
What Does Babylon Represent in Revelation?
In Revelation, Babylon represents the proud, godless world system that opposes God and seduces people with wealth, power, and pleasure. For John’s first readers, it pointed to Rome. But every generation has its own Babylon. Revelation 18 announces Babylon’s fall, calls God’s people to come out of her, and reminds us that God’s judgment is always right.
God Will Judge the World’s Greatest Powers
In the Old Testament, Babylon was the empire that destroyed Jerusalem and carried God’s people into exile. By John’s day, the name had become a symbol for any empire that sets itself against God. Revelation 18 opens with a dramatic announcement.
Revelation 18:2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.”
Babylon’s sins include pride, luxury, sexual immorality, and the exploitation of others (Revelation 18:3, 7). She boasts that she will never fall, but her destruction comes in a single day. Every earthly power is temporary. It’s wise to align ourselves with Jesus instead of the empires of this world.
God Calls His People to Leave Babylon
In the middle of Babylon’s judgment, a voice from heaven speaks to God’s people.
Revelation 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.”
This isn’t a call to move to a different place. It’s a call to separate ourselves from everything that is anti-God: greed, pride, sexual immorality, and the love of comfort. We live in the world, but we don’t belong to its system. Peter describes who we are in Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Holiness means being set apart for God. When we live differently, we show the world the goodness of the God who rescued us.
God’s Judgment Is Right and Good
The fall of Babylon brings mourning from kings and merchants who profited from her. But heaven rejoices, because God has judged her for the blood of his people (Revelation 18:20, 24). God’s judgment isn’t cruel or arbitrary. It’s the right response to evil.
That’s sobering news, because all of us have been shaped by Babylon’s values. We all deserve judgment. But God has provided a way of escape.
Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
Jesus absorbed the wrath we deserve so that we can be saved. That gift of grace should move us to leave Babylon behind and live for him.
The Takeaway
Babylon represents the proud, godless systems of this world. God will judge every Babylon, and he calls his people to come out of her by pursuing holiness. Because Jesus took our judgment, we can live set apart for him with gratitude.
- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
What Is the Second Coming of Christ?
The second coming of Christ is the future return of Jesus to earth in power and glory. When he came the first time, Jesus arrived as a humble Savior and went to the cross. When he returns, he will come as a conquering King to defeat evil, judge the world, and establish his eternal kingdom. For those who trust him, his return is something to look forward to with hope.
Jesus Will Return as a Mighty King
Jesus’ first coming was marked by humility. He was born in a manger, lived a sinless life, and willingly died for our sins. His second coming will look completely different. The first time he faced a cross; the next time he will wear a crown.
Revelation 19:11-13 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
The rider on the white horse is Jesus. His names show his character: he is faithful, true, and the very Word of God. The robe dipped in blood reminds us that his victory was won at the cross.
Jesus Will Defeat Evil Forever
We live in a world filled with pain and injustice, and it’s easy to wonder when God will put an end to it. Revelation 19-20 shows that day is coming. The beast and the false prophet are captured (Revelation 19:20), and Satan meets his final end.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Jesus won’t struggle to win this battle. Evil will be completely and permanently removed. The temptation, heartbreak, and sorrow caused by sin will be gone forever.
Jesus Will Judge the World
Along with defeating evil, Jesus will bring final judgment.
Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
That can feel frightening, because God’s holiness requires that sin be punished. But Jesus offers good news. Those who trust him have already been rescued from judgment.
John 5:24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
When you place your faith in Jesus, he takes the punishment for your sins. Your name is written in the book of life. For believers, the second coming isn’t a day of fear, but a day of celebration.
How Should We Prepare?
God doesn’t reveal the future so we can guess dates or draw complicated charts. He reveals it so we will live with purpose now. As we wait, we share the good news, love others, and grow in holiness. Our trials are temporary, but our future with Jesus is eternal. You can read more in What Happens When Jesus Comes Back?
The Takeaway
The second coming of Christ is the promised return of Jesus as King. He will defeat evil forever, judge the world with justice, and gather his people into eternal life. Because Jesus paid for our sins, we can look forward to his return with confidence instead of fear.
- Preview this sermon with the video, podcast, and article below.
- Access this sermon’s slide template on Canva and customize as needed.
- Preach this sermon and direct families, small groups, and mentors to pursuegod.org/unveiled.
- Click on the dark gray tabs above for additional sermons in this series.
What Does It Mean That Jesus Will Make All Things New?
When Jesus makes all things new, he will remove every effect of sin and restore creation to what God always intended. Revelation 21-22 describes a new heaven and a new earth, where God lives with his people and there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. The Bible ends the way it began, with people living in perfect relationship with God, and everyone is invited to be part of it.
The Church Is Jesus’ Bride
Revelation describes the end of history as a wedding celebration.
Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
The bride is the church, the people of God. Paul uses the same image when he says Jesus loved the church and gave himself for her (Ephesians 5:25). Then John sees the new Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:1-2 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
The wedding imagery shows that heaven is more than a place. It’s an intimate, joyful relationship with Jesus that will never end.
Jesus Will Remove Our Broken Past
In the new creation, God will live among his people (Revelation 21:3). Everything that has come between us and him will be gone.
Revelation 21:4-5 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Every tear, every loss, every painful memory will be healed. Nothing will ever come between us and Jesus again.
Jesus Will Set Everything Right
The picture of heaven isn’t just about individuals being made perfect. It’s about the whole world being restored.
Revelation 22:1-3 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
The tree of life, last seen in the Garden of Eden, appears again. The curse that came through sin is lifted. Revelation shows that God’s plan has always been to restore what was lost. You can read more in The Bright Side of God’s Kingdom.
Everyone Is Invited
The Bible ends with an invitation.
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
The water of life is a free gift. No one earns a place in God’s new creation. We receive it by trusting Jesus, who made a way for us to be right with God (Romans 3:22).
The Takeaway
Jesus will make all things new by removing every trace of sin and restoring creation. As his bride, the church will live with him forever in a world without death or pain. This future is a free gift, and everyone is invited to come and receive it.
- Why Pursue God?
- Why Does God Allow Suffering? (2 Thessalonians 1:1-12)
- Who Is The Antichrist?
- Where Did Jesus Go Between His Death and Resurrection?
- When Will The Rapture Happen?
- What You Need to Know About Hell
- What Will Heaven Be Like?
- What Mormons Believe About Eternity
- What Is Universalism?
- What Is the Wrath of God?
- What Is the Second Coming of Christ?
- What is Eschatology?
- What Happens to Us Between Our Death and Resurrection?
- What Happens Immediately After We Die?
- What Happens After We Die?
- What Does the Old Testament Say about Eternity?
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven and Earth?
- What Does Real Faith Look Like? (Hebrews 11:1-40)
- What Does It Mean That Jesus Will Make All Things New?
- What Did Jesus Teach About the Resurrection? (Mark 12:18-27)
- What Did Jesus Teach About Hell?
- What Are You Living for?
- What Are the Three Views on the Rapture?
- What Are the Three Views on the Millennium?
- What Are the Seven Seals in Revelation?
- Understanding Death
- The 2 Concepts of Time in the Bible
- Sys Theo: What Happens When Jesus Comes Back?
- Sys Theo: What Happens After We Die?
- Is It Wrong to Take a Loved One Off Life Support?
- Is Hell Forever?
- Is Hell a Real Place?
- How the World Will End (and Why It Matters)
- How Can I Prepare for Eternity?
- Hell: Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?
- God’s Promises to Us Today
- Eternity
- Driven by Eternity
- Do Babies That Die Go to Heaven?
- Death and the Christian
- Can We Predict the End of the World?
- Be Sure You’ll Get to Heaven
- Are You Ready for the End? | Matthew 24
- Are There Rewards in Heaven?
- Are There Levels of Hell?
- Are People in Heaven Aware of What Happens Today on Earth?
- Are Ghosts Real?
- After Death Is There a Final Chance to Be Saved?
- 5 Doctrines Every Christian Believes