Message Notes

Series Intro: Far from being only about the future, end of time, or judgment day, the New Testament letter known as Revelation is all about helping us know Jesus better. In this series, we’re exploring what Revelation has to say for us today—not about impending doom, but about what following Jesus means for us when it comes to scripture, the Church, worship, evil, prayer, witness, politics, judgement, salvation, and more.

• Have you ever found yourself in a situation like Ramius and Ryan? Maybe not facing death, but overwhelmed and stressed by everything going on? Dealing with a decision? Facing impossible odds? Needing a moment where things were clear and calm and coherent instead of chaotic?
• Followers of Jesus have a great tool at our disposal in moments of chaos: prayer.

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, with a golden incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel’s hand. The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8.1-5 CSB)

• What we need to focus on isn’t the action of these chapters—it’s why the action happens—it’s the calm rather than the chaos.
• This scene reminds us that God wants to hear what you have to say. (vv.2-4)
• But it also reminds us that prayer isn’t just something that goes up to God from us, it also comes back down upon the earth. (v.5)

The Last Word on Prayer: Prayer has the power to shape the world.

Remember:

• God is listening.
• Your prayers bring calm to chaos.
• Your prayers have the power to shape the world.

Recommended Resources

• Read or listen via the Bible App
• Read or listen via Bible Gateway
• Reversed Thunder, Eugene Peterson (book)
• Revelation for the Rest of Us, Scot McKnight (book)
• Reading Revelation Responsibly, Michael Gorman (book)
• The Revelation of Jesus Poster, The Bible Project (pdf)
• Five Strategies for Reading Revelation, The Bible Project (podcast)
• Revelation: Four Views, Steve Gregg (book)
• Revelation Summary (Part 1), The Bible Project (video)
• Revelation Summary (Part 2), The Bible Project (video)
• Revelation for Normal People, Whitaker (book)
• Revelation Guide, The Bible Project (study guide)
• Revelation, Jen Wilkin (book/Bible study)
• Four Views on the Book of Revelation, ed. Gundry (book)
• Exiles, Preston Sprinkle (book)

For Reflection

• How does today’s message resonate with you?
• What questions does this message raise for you?
• What actions does this message encourage you to take?
• How can you dig deeper into today’s message?

Take Your Next Steps

Remember: Jesus loves you right where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there.

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