Tuesday

 Tuesday Fellowship: 

14 Oct 2025 at 11am, in Plaza Hall.
Speaker: Dr Lim K Tham
Former Dean, Discipleship Training Centre.
He was General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Singapore,
Bible Society of Singapore; Member of Presidential Council on Religious
Harmony, CEO of Care Corner, Singapore.
His PhD is in Systematic Theology from University of Edinburgh, UK.

To register, text your name to 9178 9338/9484 6652.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

John (the “disciple whom Jesus loved”) was given a series of visions (initially from God to Jesus) by an angel and instructed to write about these Past, Present and Future events, (Rev 1:19) which emphasise the Identity of Christ and His Ultimate Triumph against the forces of evil.
The revelation (“apocalypse”/ “unveiling”) was to:

1. Provide hope and encouragement to believers who were going through persecution, because they refused “emperor worship”.
2. Advocate that they stand firm against internal compromise.

It was written while he was exiled on the island of Patmos, in 95 AD.

There are 4 main interpretations of the Book of Revelation:

1. Idealist: It is not history or prophecy. It is about the triumph of good over evil/God over Satan.
2. Preterist: Rev 2-19 is past church history, fulfilled during the 1st century.
3. Historicist: It is prophecy about church history from the 1st Coming to the 2nd Coming/end of the world.
4. Futurist: Rev 4-22 is about future events, which take place during the last years, at the end of the world. (Most accepted.)

1. Revelation promises a special blessing on those who read it and those who hear and keep (obey) what is written, because “the time is near”. (ie. it is the next event scheduled. This present Church Age, when the church is on earth and Grace is offered, will be followed by the Kingdom Age/Millennium, after the Rapture and the Lord’s 2nd Coming). (1:3).
2. Revelation is the only “prophetic” book in the New Testament.
   Prophecy is both:
   
   Forthtelling: A word of God about the present. (eg. preaching)
   Foretelling: A word of God about the future. (ie. prediction)
3. Revelation was written to the 7 churches, which are made up of ordinary people. So read it with an open mind and simple faith.

Overview of Revelation: John was told to write: (1:19)

1. The things which you have seen. (Past)
   The Risen Christ among the 7 Churches ( Rev 1 )

2. The things which are (Present)
   Christ’s Letters to the 7 Churches. (Rev 2,3 )

3. The things which will take place (Future)
   *The Tribulation (Rev 4 -19)
   
   4. The Throne in Heaven
   5. The Scroll and the Worthy Lamb
   6. The 7 Seals* (incl: 4 Horsemen)
   7. 144,000 Sealed (Redeemed Israelites)
                     Great Multitude in White Robes (All nations)
   8. The 7th Seal and the Golden Censer
      The 7 Trumpets* (Satan’s power released)
   9. 5th Trumpet...
   10. The Angel and the Little Scroll
   11. The Two Witnesses
       7th Trumpet
   12. The Woman and the Dragon (Satan)
   13. The Beast out of the Sea (Anti-Christ)
       The Beast out of the Earth (False Prophet)
   14. The Lamb and the 144,000
       The Three Angels
       Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress
   15. 7 Angels with 7 Plagues
   16. The 7 Bowls of God’s Wrath*(against Satan)
   17. Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast (Godless Religion)
   18. The Fall of Babylon (Commercial Ruin)
   19. Praises to God over Babylon’s Fall (Armageddon)
       Christ on White Horse defeats All His Enemies
       (Christ casts Anti-Christ, False Prophet into Lake of Fire,)
       (2nd Coming of Christ)
   
   *The Millennium (Rev 20)
   
   20. The Thousand Years (Millennial Kingdom on Earth)
       The Judgment of Satan
       Great White Throne (Judgment of the Dead)
   
   *All Things New (Rev 21-22)
   
   21. A New Heaven and a New Earth
       New Jerusalem, Lamb’s Book of Life
       22 Throne of God & Lamb, River of Life, Tree of Life
       John and the Angel.
       Let the thirsty come!
       Do not take away from this
       “I am coming soon.”
       

NB: The “Unholy Trinity” comprise

1. Dragon (Satan) 
2. Beast from the Sea (Anti-Christ)
3. Beast from the Earth (False Prophet)

(The False Prophet directs people to worship the Anti-Christ.)
(cf : The Holy Spirit directs people to worship Christ.)

Revelation 1: Explanation

1. Identity of Christ (Rev 1:4)
   
   Faithful Witness (Prophet)+ Firstborn from the dead (Priest)+
   Ruler of the kings of the earth (King) : Jesus’ 3-fold Offices.
   “I am the First and the Last”, the “Living One” who was dead and
   “now alive for ever and ever”
   “I hold the keys of death and Hades.”(abode for spirits of the dead).
2. Trinity mentioned: (1:4)
   
   Eternal Father (him who is, who was and who is to come)
   Holy Spirit (seven spirits before his throne)
   Jesus Christ
3. Dedication to Christ: (who loves us, freed us from our sins by his blood, made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father)
4. Public 2nd Coming: Visible and Victorious! (1:7)
   
   (Look, He is coming with the clouds, every eye will see Him, even
   Those who pierced him; all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him”.
5. John was exiled because he refused to stop preaching/sharing the Good News.
   
   (“because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”) (1:9)
6. John was instructed to write on a scroll and send it to the 7 churches (in Asia Minor): Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.....
7. John saw “someone like a son of man”- Jesus’ favourite name for himself on earth. The Risen Christ, in a robe, with golden sash, snow-white hair, blazing eyes, a voice like rushing waters, face like the brilliance of the sun...was holding 7 stars in his right hand (ie. angels of the 7 churches) and was standing among 7 golden lampstands (ie. 7 churches.) The sharp double-edged sword from his mouth symbolises the power and force of his message/judgment, cutting through defences and pretenses with his truth. Jesus’ 1st coming is as Saviour/Servant. His 2nd Coming will be as King/Judge.

The darker the world, the brighter the light from the lampstands must shine!)

Memory Verse:

“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.”

Revelation 1:3

Saturday

WSCS Bible Study (Sat) Group

Lessons from the Book of Revelation

John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” was the sole survivor of the Twelve, when he was given a series of visions, while a prisoner on the island of Patmos.

He was instructed to write the Revelation of Jesus Christ, about past, present and future events, emphasising the identity and ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ against the forces of evil. It is both a warning and source of encouragement/hope to churches facing internal compromises and external persecution. Whoever reads Revelation will be blessed! (Rev 1:3)

Next Meeting: 13 Sep 2025 at 2pm (online)
The WSCS Bible Study (Sat) Group “meets” on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

We study Holy Scripture to know God better, and gain a better understanding of His work in the world and His ways. In the process, we encourage one another along our personal pilgrimage.

We welcome ladies of all ages! (online)