and Lucifer’s way brings death, then and only then would God destroy all evil.
Love doesn’t force. Love lets people see for themselves, decide for themselves. God wants us to
love Him back for who He is. No one back then, except God, knew what a disaster Lucifer’s alternative
would be. No one knew how much suffering and misery it would create. We had to see that for
ourselves. That’s the only way God could ensure that evil would never plague the universe again.
Planet Earth Joins the Conflict: In the Garden of Eden, when Eve told the serpent God
had said she would die if she ate of a certain tree, Satan contradicted God and said: “You will not
surely die. . . . For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5, NIV. Satan was saying, “You’ll have greater
happiness if you follow me. God is restricting your freedom.” Tragically, Eve and her husband
Adam accepted that lie. Today we live on a planet in rebellion, a planet full of decay and death.
The Origin of Suffering: In Matthew 13:24-43 Jesus talked about a man who planted good
seed in his field, but useless weeds popped up everywhere, leading a servant to ask, “Sir, didn’t you
sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” That’s the question we all face
at some time in life: If God made this world to blossom for His children, why do we see so many
tragic weeds? In Jesus’ parable the master answered that question very simply. He said, “An enemy
did this.” It was an enemy of God and man who sowed his seeds of suffering and sin.
God Had a Plan: God didn’t abandon the human race because it rebelled against Him. From the
very beginning, He had a plan. If you wonder, “Why doesn’t God do something about the sickness and
sin and heartache in our world?”—the answer is: He has done something. He’s given everything in the
gift of His Son. He came into the world and suffered with us—and we can some day triumph with Him!
. . .
#4 – Revelation’s Star Wars: The Battle Behind the Throne
“IT IS WRITTEN . . .”
NOTE: There is now going on in the universe a cosmic conflict between Good and Evil.
Fortunately, your Bible reveals both the origin and the conclusion of that conflict.
3. When Lucifer exercised his God-given freedom and rebelled, the Bible says, “There was _________
in _________________________,” and today we’re still in the midst of a cosmic conflict bigger
than this small world.
To check your answer, see Revelation 12:7.
4. The egotistical Devil fell because of pride. The Bible says: “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer. . . . For you have said in your heart, ____ will ascend into heaven, ____ will exalt
______ throne above the stars of God: ____ will also sit on the mount of the congregation. . . .
____ will ascend above the heights of the clouds; ____ will be like the _________________.”
To checkyour answer, see Isaiah 14:12-14.
5. When we wonder why all the sorrow, suffering, and death is in the world, we should recall
Jesus’ story of the wheat and the weeds, when He explained: “An __________ has done this.”
To check your answer, see Matthew 13:24-43—especially verse 28.
6. To disprove Satan’s malicious lies about God, “Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
_____________________ in their synagogues, and _____________________ the gospel of the
kingdom, and ______________________ every sickness and every disease among the people.
. . . He was moved with _______________ on them.”
To check your answer, see Matthew 9:35-36.
Your Name: __________________________________________
The very first words of this book we’re studying are “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” That’s how
John’s prophecy got its name. It’s a revelation from Jesus and about Jesus. A few verses later, lest there
be any doubt about who is at the center of this book, John presents Jesus Christ as “The faithful Witness,
and firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed
us from our sins in His own blood . . . be glory and dominion forever and ever
Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#5 – Revelation’s Peace Maker
1. Some hang onto denial, putting on a bold front, saying, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing,” not knowing they are “ _______________ , and _____________________ ,
and _____________ , and _________________ , and __________________ .”
To check your answer, see Revelation 3:17.
2. .T God vividly impressed on people in Old Testament times the cause-and-effect relationship
.F between SIN and DEATH, when any sinner—from king to commoner— would have to con-fess
his sin on the head of a sacrificial animal, then take the knife and slay the animal himself.
To check your answer, see Leviticus 4:22-30, etc.
3. Perfect balance is seen in the Scripture that says, “The wages of _________ is __________________;
but the ____________ of God is eternal ______________ through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
To check your answer, see Romans 6:23.
4. Those who fear coming to Christ will “cramp their lifestyle” overlook Christ’s promise: “I am come
that they might have __________ , and that they might have it more __________________________ .”
To check your answer, see John 10:10.
5. Men sometimes make salvation unnecessarily complicated, but the Bible makes it simplicity itself,
reducing it to its lowest common denominator as an either-or proposition in saying: “He who has
the ____________ has life; he who does not have the Son of God does _____________ have life.”
To check your answer, see 1 John 5:12.
Your Name: __________________________________________
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Revelation of Hope Companion Resources
6
IT IS WRITTEN’S
Today there’s a new revolution in psychoactive drugs. Soon there’ll be a pill for every prob-lem.
Will we find all our answers in pharmaceuticals? Certainly psychoactive drugs are on a roll.
One big reason is the Prozac phenomenon. After this anti-depressant went on the market, people
began telling remarkable stories of how their lives had changed dramatically after taking the drug.
And that made a lot of people wonder—if a pill can do all this, do we still need God? Do pills
do what God cannot? Are psychoactive drugs going to make God obsolete in the 21 st century?
Let’s take a closer look at exactly what God does in an individual’s life. Let’s see how the
Holy Spirit works in our minds and compare that with what psychoactive drugs do. I think you’ll
be amazed. There is a divine power which provides radical, life-transforming changes!
Let’s turn to the Book of Revelation. Did you know that believers have one dominant image
in the Book of Revelation? They’re characterized in one way more than any other: God calls
them OVERCOMERS. Although Revelation pictures hard times and cataclysms in the end time, with
evil powers like the dragon and beast warring against God’s people, believers OVERCOME. Believ-ers
are delivered. Believers WIN! God’s instructive, illuminating refrain starts near the beginning
of Revelation:
Revelation 2:7 – “To him who OVERCOMES, I will give to eat from the tree of life.”
Revelation 2:ll – “He who OVERCOMES shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Revelation 2:17- “To him who OVERCOMES I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.”
Revelation 2:26- “He who OVERCOMES . . . to him I will give power over the nations.”
Revelation 3:5 – “He who OVERCOMES shall be clothed in white garments. . . .”
Revelation 3:12 – “He who OVERCOMES, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. . . .”
Revelation 3:21- “To him who OVERCOMES I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.”
The Book of Revelation pictures believers as victors who overcome adversity and evil. We
see the same theme later in the book. Speaking of Satan, the accuser, the enemy, Revelation
12:11 says, “They OVERCAME him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
At the end of the book, this same picture emerges. God promises in Revelation 21:6-7: “He
who OVERCOMES shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
In various places, Revelation pictures believers joyously celebrating before God’s throne.
They’re pictured as having gone through great tribulation and coming out triumphant. Believers
overcome even in the worst of times. That’s part of Revelation’s message, friends. It’s telling us
that we weak, sinful human beings can be overcomers. We needn’t be intimidated by the forces
of evil in this world.
. . .
Yes, we may be weak, handicapped by our heredity, by our family of origin, by our environ-ment.
But Scripture still offers us hope that we can be overcomers and rise above these things. I’ve
seen God radically transform people around the world—their lives changed forever:
Drunkards become sober..
Thieves become honest..
Money–businessmen become unselfish, compassionate husbands and fathers.
Angry, bitter people become renewed in spirit..
Prostitutes and lust–men become transformed.
Hearts filled with hatred become filled with love..
It’s a miracle—a miracle of God’s grace! What God does in human hearts and lives is remark-able.
The apostle Paul shouts it in these words: “If any man [or woman] is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
How does it happen? How does God transform our lives? The Bible calls this experience “the
new birth” or being “born again.” To be born again means to be radically transformed from deep
within by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means to have a new way of looking at things, a new
power operating in your life, new desires, new impulses, new joy and peace in your life.
The human mind cannot understand it, but we become overcomers through the Spirit. We’re
born again, powerfully changed, with a new power working in our lives. The Spirit has uprooted
anger, bitterness, lust, and addictions and replaced them with love, joy, peace, and longsuffering.
The Spirit’s power liberates us from the bondage of habits that destroy our souls. 2 Corin-thians
3:17 puts it this way: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” The Spirit’s power
frees us from the chains of sin which bind us while drug medication deals only with symptoms. If
a person is depressed, certain pills may ease that depression. But no psychoactive drug can show
you WHY you’re depressed, what lies behind your anger, or what contributes to your anxiety. In
our rush to just medicate the mind, we forget that pills don’t give us the wisdom or insight we need
to deal with our problems and grow through them. But the Holy Spirit works in us to do precisely
that. He’s the Spirit of revelation, and His revelations can produce dramatic results.
One more thing God’s Spirit does is fill up our lives with good things. Look at Galatians 5:22-23:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self control.” Those good qualities the Holy Spirit reproduces inside us. That’s how we keep growing.
The Spirit moves us down a path that leads to abundant life—everlasting life. Pills can’t do that. Pills
may be a temporary help. But the Holy Spirit sticks with us for the long haul. He’s not an artificial
additive. He fills us with good character qualities. And being filled with the Spirit produces no side
effects. There’s no down side.
Ephesians 3:16 talks about being “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.”
You can be strengthened with the mighty power of God inside you! You can be different than you are!
You don’t need to struggle with the same habits over and over again. When life presses you down,
when you struggle with impulses which seem uncontrollable, when you feel too weak to try – remem-ber
the apostle Paul’s words, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us.” Romans 8:37. God has called you to be a winner, not a loser. Our willpower is weak, but
when we surrender our will to Him, He gives us power directly from His throne.
My own Dad Jim Finley was born to a problem family in the New York City slum called “Hell’s
Kitchen.” He picked up bad habits, left home, joined the Navy and was going down the wrong road
in life when he dropped to his knees and gave His heart to Christ. Dad didn’t just get out of Hell’s
Kitchen. Hell’s Kitchen got out of him. My father truly escaped from his old life because he truly
made a commitment, heart and soul. That’s how we become OVERCOMERS.
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#6 – Revelation’s Power Line
“IT IS WRITTEN . . .”
Genesis 1:2 The Holy Spirit of God was present at Creation.
Acts 5:3-4 Peter in the Bible equates the Holy Spirit with “God.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 Paul in the Bible equates the Holy Spirit with “the Lord.”
Romans 8:27 The Holy Spirit has a mind.
1 Corinthians 2:11 The Holy Spirit knows and understands the things of God.
Ephesians 4:30 The Holy Spirit is not a mere power or force but a Person who can be grieved.
John 16:13-14 Jesus referred to the Spirit with personal pronouns like He and His—not “it.”
John 14:26 God sends the Holy Spirit to be our divine Teacher.
Acts 5:32 God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.
John 16:8 God’s Holy Spirit convicts us—in our hearts—of sin.
John 3:3-8 The Holy Spirit brings about the new birth, when one is “born again.”
Ezekiel 36:26-37 The Holy Spirit transforms our character, giving us a new heart.
1 Corinthians 12:11 The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts, equipping us for God’s work.
Genesis 6:3 The Holy Spirit “strives” with us, leading us to do right.
John 16:13 The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.
Ephesians 3:16 Through His Spirit, God will strengthen us with might in our inner being.
Romans 8:37 In all problems, we can be more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
Revelation 3:12 God gives many breathtaking promises “to him [or her] who OVERCOMES.”
(See also Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:21, 21:7, etc.)
2 Corinthians 5:17 A person who comes to Christ is a new creation—all things have become new!
Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit can fill our lives, our characters, with all good things.
2 Timothy 1:7 God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
Romans 8:14 As we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we become sons and daughters of God.
Galatians 6:8 “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Romans 8:11 We need not fear death, for Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit,
will resurrect His faithful people.
Revelation 19:1 Through all eternity we’ll praise God for His miraculous power of deliverance.
. . .
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Quick Quiz
Our heavenly Father has so much He longs to teach us! Think of each seminar session as one in a series
of steps leading upward—a series of “lessons from heaven.” May we learn our lessons well, so we in turn
can teach others. God’s Word, the Bible—our Textbook for this seminar—offers Learning Unlimited!
#6 – Revelation’s Power Line
1. The Holy Spirit is more than an essence or influence or power or force—He’s a Person!
For the Bible speaks of “the _______________ of the Spirit” and warns us, “__________ not
the Holy Spirit of God”—attributes that could never be applied to an unconscious force.
To check your answer, see Romans 8:27 and Ephesians 4:30.
2. If we want a Spirit-filled Christian life, we must understand that the Bible says God
gives the Holy Spirit “to them that ________________ Him” and keep His
Commandments through love.
To check your answer, see Acts 5:32. Compare John 14:15-17.
3. One ministry of the Holy Spirit Jesus pointed out is that “He will reprove [modern
versions say convict or convince] the world of ____________ ,” giving us a sense of
right and wrong.
To check your answer, see John 16:8.
4. The Holy Spirit was powerfully poured out on the the Day of Pentecost, but He was