How to Live Life Before Jesus Returns Object Lesson: Romans to Revelation
Objectives:
- to describe how all the families in the world have been blessed
- to describe the purpose of the expository letters
- to list some of the events that will take place when Jesus returns
Geography: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Rome
Background:
The Holy Spirit came as a mighty rushing wind and The Old Testament, the Old Covenant, is over. Jesus began a New Covenant. The church age had begun and people were becoming believers by the hundreds and thousands.
Main Events of the Story:
As Peter, the apostles, and Paul (who used to be named Saul) preached, more and more people became a part of The Way. Some leaders stayed in Jerusalem, while others traveled to Judea, Samaria and out to other nations. Those, like Paul, who traveled to other cities and nations usually went to the Jewish synagogues to preach to the Jews first. Some believed, but most did not. Israel had hardened it’s heart toward the Lord. Therefore, these first missionaries began to preach to the Gentiles. God had now begun blessing every family in the world as the gospel of salvation spread.
The Leaders and Teachers could not be at every church they started. Paul would stay a little while and then move on to the next place because of the prompting of the Lord. Because he wanted to be sure that the churches were growing in Christ, and to encourage the church leaders, Paul wrote many letters. Peter and John, the apostles, also wrote letters. God spoke through these men to the people. By reading the letters, the new Christians would gain understanding about God, be encouraged, and would receive instructions for how to live a righteous life pleasing unto the Lord. God wants us to allow Him to change our hearts to be more like Jesus and glorify Himself.
One apostle, John, had something very special happen to him. John had been banished to the Island of Patmos. While there, the Lord appeared to John and gave him a vision for the future. John wrote down the vision in the Book of Revelation. In this book there are seven letters to seven churches. These letters help us know what pleases God and what does not. We learn more about Jesus’ glory and how He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We learn about the return of Jesus and about the saints.
Life Application:
Just like the early church members, we should be reading these letters and learning how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. How are we going to know what God expects from us if we don’t read what He has told us? One of the things John saw was a book called the Book of Life. Only Jesus is able to open that book. In that book is the name of every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Savior. Is your name written in the book?
