Passion 2016 Session 2 Notes

This post is part of the series Passion 2016. These are my personal notes.

Teacher: John Piper
Text: Revelation 13:1-10, Revelation 5:9-10, John 10:17-18, John 19:28-30.
Topic: The Lamb that was slain.

Points of Interest…
Trip One: Of the Lamb…

• You don’t need to know who the beast is or when the beast is. But you do need to know how you will respond to all beast-contenders. You need to know by what power you will be delivered from these beastly deceptions.
• The players. The dragon (v. 2) is the devil. So, this is a Satan powered happening in Revelation 13. The saints (v. 7) are Christians.
• The slaying of the Lamb of the God was the plan before the universe existed. We know this because the title of the book written before all time revealed this intention (i.e., ” (v.8). 
• Jesus is worthy because he is the lamb that was slain. This is our song forever.
• So, the central song sung in eternity past and future and the central action in history is the slaying of the Lamb of God.

Trip Two: Of the Saints…

• The Beast “was allowed” to conquer the Saints. This is under God’s control. But note that “conquer” means kill here (Rev. 13). When will this happen? It is always happening, but one day it will crescendo. But you should be ready always. Be ready now.
• Jesus predicts the suffering of the saints in Luke 21:16.
• The question is will you worship the mighty contenders in your life, those with supernatural powers of deception.
• The power to see through and resist the deception belongs to those whose names are written in the Book of the Lamb (v. 8). The blood of the Lamb secures the life of those whose names are written in the book…forever. Therefore, we who are in Christ, have the very power of God.
• But if your name is not written in the Book of Life, you will marvel at the Beast (cf. Revelation 17:8).
• So, can you know if your name is in the book?  Yes. Those who trust Jesus are in the Book.
• How is this so? Because Christ gave himself up for the church (see Ephesians 5). We were bought with a price.
• Therefore, we sing that Jesus is worthy because he ransomed his people (Rev. 17).

Application

1. See Jesus as precious. Your name is in the Book of Life so that you will see the Glory of the Lamb. Seeing the Lamb as beautiful is the great vocation of the Christian. Satan tries to blind. Christians are meant to see clearly the treasure that Jesus is. This is the effect of being in the book. So, do you see?
2. Show him as precious. Since your name is in the Book, you will live and die to show that Jesus is more precious than life. Death is a small thing compared to hell. Your goal is not to “take them out.” The point is not to keep yourself alive but to keep yourself in love with Jesus. We don’t kill for the world; we die for the world. By our humble and happy deaths, we make Jesus look more precious than anything. Jesus promises to those who endure and remain faithful the very crown of life (see Revelation 2:10), so we do not need to save our lives.
3. Share in his glory. We will, one day, get to sit with Jesus on his throne (Revelation 3:21). And the righteous will shine like the sun. We will one day be as happy as we can be…forever.

So, if you are not sure whether your name is written in the Book of Life, hear this word: “The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17). The free gift of salvation is available now. Come to Jesus today.