Notes from sermon on 18 October 2015
Revelation 1 verses 1 – 8
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand.”
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand.”
7
times in the book of Revelation we read the word “blessed” or “blessed is the
man”. We call that term the
beatitudes. Perhaps we are more familiar
with the sermon on the mount in Matthew’s gospel known also as the
beatitudes. Blessed is actually a Greek
word which means simply happy. We are
not talking of financial riches but the riches we find in the Lord. Every person in this society desires
happiness, something deep in our hearts in these days. Laid out before us is the means given by God
that we might find contentment. Remember
the apostle Paul how he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, thirsty? (see
2 Corinthians 11 verses 24 – 33) Yet in
all things he could learn to be content.
He had something worth getting.
He had got to the place where we need to be determined to get to in the
darkest hours. That God will bring us
through all things – “all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8 verse 28) Jesus spoke to a man in Luke’s gospel. This young man had a problem, something going
on in his heart. He had received an
inheritance which in his mind was not divided up correctly. He came and asked Jesus to speak to his
brother about it. He had been short
changed. The Lord could see far more
than this young man could see. I am sure the young man complained to everyone who would listen to him. The Lord said to him “young man listen to me
very carefully, take heed and beware of covetousness. For a man’s life consisteth not in the
abundance of things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12 verse 15) You may want a big house, a flashy car, a
position in society, a good job – contentment is not caught up in all these
things. Jesus says it is possible that
they will not make you happy. Happiness
is not in things. We are going to look
today at the temporal versus the eternal things. Temporal are not the things we take into
eternity with us. Verse 3 “Blessed is he
that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those
things which are written therein for the time is at hand.” Happiness lies in hearing and reading God’s
word.
Notice
the warning about the attention that
needs to be given to the word of God.
There is a blessing in the reading and hearing of the word of God. There are divisions over this phrase “the
words of this prophecy”. Is the author
of the book speaking about the prophecies contained in Revelation or in the
word of God generally? I am sure as you
read the word of God daily you have experienced the blessings from the word of
God. There is a blessing to be received
from this word, to be in God’s house to hear the word of God, the one who knows
what we need. Jesus said to his
disciples “why worry about food, why worry about clothes? The Gentiles worry about these things but
your heavenly Father knows you have need of them.” (Matthew 6 verses 25 – 32) When we come into a relationship with God we
can cast our cares on God. The man who
reads and hears the word of God is blessed.
Paul and his fellow workers went one Sabbath day into the synagogue. After the reading of the law and the prophets
the rulers of the synagogues said to Paul “if ye have any word of exhortation for
the people say on.” Paul is invited to
preach and he got up and opened up the word of God. He deals firstly with the past of Israel, the
rebellion of the Jews, to the birth of Christ, through the preaching of John the
Baptist to Christ’s suffering on the cross.
He takes them to the tomb where Jesus was laid and on the third day to
when he rose again. The response after
Paul preached was divided. The Gentiles
wanted to hear the same message again the following Sabbath but the Jews were
jealous and they stirred up the city.
They raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas so that they had to
leave that place. (Acts 13). Joshua was
left with the responsibility to lead God’s people across the Jordan river, to
divide up that land. What a responsibility
he had that day. Think of the
responsibility we all have today in the church of Christ. Pastors, church elders and deacons,
children’s workers right through to a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather
in the home. Joshua was leading his
people into the promised land and the blessings of God. How was Joshua to do it? “This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1 verse
8) By listening, by reading, by
attending to the word of God. We need to
come prepared for God to lead and to guide us.
The
appreciation of the word of
God. The man is blessed in attending to
the word of God. God was opening up the
mind of John. These things were going to
come to pass very shortly – verse 1.
This old world will go through a time of trial and it would come shortly
to pass. God in his word shows us that
we need to understand that. John has
been sent to the Isle of Patmos for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He stood for the name of the Lord. He preached about the Lord. Here on the Isle of Patmos the word of God
comes to him. He appreciated that. Have you ever been in that situation? In that dark place where the word of God
comes? When it brings a tremendous
comfort in such times? There are dark
times ahead and God throws light on it just for us. This is God’s word, a word of certainty. Is it any wonder the Psalmist could say “thy
word is a lamp unto my feet”? (Psalm
119 verse 105) God knows the plans and
the way ahead. God is bringing the world
to a close not man. He has said he will
one day fold up this world just the way you fold up a garment. (Hebrews 1 verse
12) The Psalmist said the man who is
happy and blessed meditates on God’s word day and night. (Psalm 1 verse 2) Remember Moses standing at the Red Sea, he
could see the enemy coming behind.
Pharaoh was not giving up without a fight. God had brought his people in to the
wilderness. Moses was in a place where I
am sure inside all sorts of voices were going off “what are you doing here
Moses, have you taken the wrong road?”
God had said to him in Exodus 14 verse 2 that this was the right road to
take. God will not forget about us. He knows exactly what way to take. God’s word will come to us. There will need to be an appreciation of it
too though. Remember Saul the King of
Israel. The people of Israel wanted a
king, they wanted to be like the other nations but God didn’t want that. He wanted to reign himself as their
king. God gave in and Saul was
chosen. He was head and shoulders above
anyone else. It wasn’t too long into his
kingship that he started to rebel and turn his heart away from God. He made a sacrifice one day that he shouldn’t
have made, just because Samuel was delayed in coming. He took on the role he should never have
taken on. Then remember when God sent
him out to defeat the Amalekites. God
told him to put everything down, all flocks and herds, everything. Saul went out and did as instructed. When Samuel came into the camp after the
battle he asked “what meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and
the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (1 Samuel 15 verse 14) Saul had no word from the Lord because of his
own rebellion. Instead of going to God
he goes to the witch of Endor. That was
the final nail in his coffin. A woman
who could apparently speak to the dead.
The darker our hearts and souls get the more we move away from God. Saul started to blame the people for what had
happened. He was missing out on
God. When a person misses out on God
they begin to blame everyone around them but themselves. That is where we need to be careful. Here was the appreciation of the word of God.
Remember Zedekiah in the days of Jeremiah?
The enemies were in the streets.
He went out and brought Jeremiah from the prison house and asked him “Is
there any word from the Lord?” (Jeremiah 37 verse 17) We need that today. We need to be sure that God has led us to
this place, not because of selfish ambition.
These will be difficult days but can we appreciate the word of God – he
knows all about us.
The
application of the word of God –
“and keep those things which are written therein.” The word of God needs to be applied to all of
our life. Moses at the Red Sea was told
to reach out his hand across the sea and then go forth. Moses applied that instruction and he went
across the Sea. When we apply this word
to our hearts God says in the darkest of night I am still in control. When we apply that to our hearts then we can
go forth like Moses because one day Jesus is coming back. He will return to the clouds and will take
every man, woman, boy and girl that is his own before the terrible times
recorded in Revelation begin. Will you
apply his word to your heart today?
Sermon Notes from Sunday 25 October 2015
Revelation 14 verses 1 - 13
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them.”
This is the second place where we find our second beatitude. Last week we
looked at the first chapter of Revelation, the first blessing bestowed on
us. The blessing comes to a man with the
great privilege of reading the word of God, hearing the word of God, then in
reading and hearing he has the ability to retain the word of God. The word “blessed” simply means to be happy. “Trust and obey for there’s no other way, to
be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
This chapter speaks of the reign of the anti-Christ. Here we see him seated on the throne of the
earth. There are those now following
him, worshipping and reigning with him.
To do that they must receive his mark.
However, they find no rest when they receive the mark. Then we see the contrast with the people who
follow God. We see the blessing that
comes to these people of God: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith
the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow
them.”
The claim that is made. John
tells us “I heard a voice from heaven.”
Remember where he is and why he is there. Because of his standing for the Lord Jesus
Christ on the Isle of Patmos. He was
sent there because he took his faith seriously and it cost him for doing
that. He was arrested on the streets and
he was banished onto this island. He
probably thought to himself ‘what good am I here?’ John heard a voice from heaven. He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. He was listening for the voice of God. As we live in these dark days there are many
things looking for our attention yet here was John on the Isle of Patmos and
God comes to him and speaks to him.
Perhaps God wants to speak to you today, there is something he wants to
tell you about the work that is in front of you. Are we listening for God’s voice today? Remember Moses in the wilderness looking
after the sheep and God spoke to him out of the burning bush. Remember Jeremiah in chapter 36 when the word
of the Lord came to him a second time in the prison house. Think of Jonah in the belly of the fish and
he cried out to the Lord and the Lord delivered him. God tries to speak to us even in the
stillness of the sanctuary. It was
enough for John to take heed to what was being said, it was backed home by the
Spirit of the living God “Yea, saith the Spirit.” It is confirmed, reiterated by the Spirit of
God from the very place of heaven. This
is an important junction made at the heart of the anti-Christ’s reign. We are being transported through the
centuries. These writings were for the
churches of John’s day. Revelation chapters 1, 2
and 3 tell of what God is doing in the churches. Then in chapter 4 John says “I saw heaven
open”. He describes the church of Christ
being taken from this earth, every child of God is taken into heaven at that
point. Chapters 5 to 19 show us the
reign of the anti-Christ. He comes upon
this earth as a gentle person, a man with all the answers, a great strategist,
militarist. He brings a certain amount
of peace to this world, brings religions together. He receives his power from Satan
himself. The anti-Christ’s false prophet
is one who gives him prominence. He goes on to demand allegiance, that every man will worship him. For 3 years he is a gentle man but for 7
years he will reign and see some terrible things happening. In the world we can see some of the terrible
things happening in our world as a result of men, men clambouring for power yet
there is coming a time when we are told there will never be a time like it before
or again (Matthew 24 verse 21). He will
demand allegiance of every man on this earth.
During the 7 years of tribulation people will have a number of
identification either on their brow or hand, to identify them as part of the allegiance to the anti-Christ. God at
this time comes to his people and says “blessed are the dead”. If you read that as it stands alone it gives a
false impression. It has to be qualified
“which die in the Lord” that means completely different. That is when happiness comes – only for
people trusting in the Lord when they die. They receive this happiness because they are taken from this scene of time and go into the
presence of Christ for all eternity.
That means you have got to come to Calvary, to the one who died for your sins,
taking him as Saviour and Lord then when you accept him and die you will be
transported from this scene of time into the presence of God. Many who read this verse in scripture have a
false impression. Many feel there is
happiness in leaving this scene of time, relief from the suffering in which
they endured on this earth. In June 2015 Rob Marris a politician in England
brought an assisted suicide bill or help to die bill before Parliament. There were certain restrictions on it – if a
person was ill enough, suffering seriously enough, had only 3 or 4 months to
live, at the say so of doctors, drugs could be administered to end life. Many are seeing that as a waste of life and
suffering. That takes on the assumption
that death ends all suffering. What is
death? Death is the doorway into God’s
eternity. When we peer through the
doorway we see a heaven to be gained or a hell to be shunned. We see only 2 places. In Luke 16 we see 2 men who come to the place
of death. 2 men, 2 lives they lived, 2
deaths and 2 eternities as a result. The
rich man went to hell and there he lifted up his eyes being in torment. Death would be an affront if just went to
grieve and be an end to it all. The rich
man had memories, feelings, longings, it didn’t bring him much happiness and
contentment but rather greater suffering.
We often hear the sentiment after a death ‘they are happy today’. The person will only be happy if they have
gone out into the realms of glory with Christ forever.
The condition at death. In
America’s biggest church, the leading evangelist and Pastor was heard to say
“there are 3 things we never mention in this church – sin, judgement and
penalty." On the Lord’s day there are 2,
3 or 4 services a day with tens of thousands sitting under the ministry. He continued by saying “we want to see our
people in the pews smiling and having a good time and leaving on a happy note.” I have an obligation to warn you of the wrath
to come. John the Baptist said the same
thing. You have to be warned today. The condition that brings joy and happiness is
to know Christ as your own and personal Saviour. The bible tells me “the wages of sin is
death.” Sin is the cause and death is
the penalty. “It is appointed unto man
once to die and after that the judgement.”
Death and judgement are linked together and between them is the cross. That was the place where God opened up the
way back to him. If it hadn’t been for
Christ dying for that sin of yours you wouldn’t have that glorious hope to come
of a life with God for ever. The
anti-Christ wants you to take his mark.
If you don’t you will neither buy or sell. If you cannot buy or sell then you will not
live because you do not have his mark.
In the Thessalonian church the people wrote to Paul asking about those
of their own who had passed away and gone to glory already. Paul said “But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope. For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him.” (1 Thessalonians 4 verse 13 and 14) Psalm 116 verse 15 says “Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Imagine that for a moment – as the child of God goes out into eternity
then God is at that very place. That
scene is so precious in his eyes – here is a child of his coming home.
The comfort that follows.
Why are they so happy? Because
they are dying in the Lord and “rest from their labours”. In Luke 16 Lazarus the poor man trusted in
the Saviour. In this life he ate the
crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.
His only comfort was when the dogs came and licked his sores. The rich man sees Lazarus from hell and begs
“Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of
his finger in water and cool my tongue.”
Now Lazarus is comforted and the rich man is in torment. You will rest from the torments and labours
and things we had in this old world.
Revelation 21 is a chapter read in many funeral services. It records that God will wipe away all tears,
that there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more
pain. Why? “Because the former things hath passed
away.” There is however a sad contrast
following all these words of hope – verse 8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving
and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with
fire and brimstone which is the second death.”
There is a blessing that comes from knowing Jesus as Saviour and Lord in
this scene of time then enjoying the comfort in eternity to be with Christ.
The crowning. We will enjoy
our works throughout eternity: “their works do follow them”. “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one
of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily
I say unto you; he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matthew 10 verse
42). The most important thing is to know
the Lord as Saviour.
Sermon notes from Sunday 1 November 2015
Revelation
16 verses 1 - 15
"Behold,
I come as a thief, Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest
he walk naked and they see his shame."
We
are half way through the stage of the great tribulation. That period lasts for 7 years and is divided
in 2 3½ year periods. During that 7 year period the anti-Christ shall reign,
he will sit on the throne of the world and all the world will follow after him. He gets his power from the devil
himself. For the first half of the seven
year period there will be great calm and peace but then things change. The anti-Christ will ask everyone to take the
mark of the beast and if they don't they will damned. This verse comes to those still living, going
through that period of time, who know and love the Lord. This is a word of comfort. In Revelation 6 as
Jesus is the lamb he takes the book and opens the seals. As he opens the
seventh seal it opens up to 7 trumpets and as the seventh trumpet is sounded it
opens to 7 vials or bowls. The wrath of
God is being poured out on the tribulation period. Here in chapter 16 verses 1,
2 and 3 we see the vials of the wrath of God being poured out upon the earth. In
verse 3 we read the "blood of a dead man" meaning that it has been stenched
thick, it comes to be poured into the sea.
As a result every living thing in the sea dies. In verse 4 the third vial is poured out and
every river and water becomes as blood. In verse 8 we read of the scorching by sun and in verse 10 the kingdom
becomes darkness. In verse 12 the sixth
vial shows the river Euphrates drying up and the armies of the east start to
march on the river bed. In verse 17 the
Lord himself says "it is done."
The work is over and in chapter 19 verse 11 we read of Jesus coming
again.
The
promise the Lord is making - "behold I come as a thief". To a generation of people going through a
difficult time the Lord says I am coming as a thief. It is a great promise to lift them up and encourage
them, he is giving them a promise that he is with them and will deliver
them. In Genesis 3 verse 15 we read of
the first promise of the coming of the Saviour.
Generation passed through generation until we read in Isaiah 9 verse 6 "unto
you a child is born, unto you a Saviour is given." That was the promise of the Lord coming the
first time to this world and it did not fail because he was born and laid in a
manger. All the people came to see
him. Jesus Christ is coming again. That is the promise you and I have. He could come again this very day. That should bring a cheer and comfort to every
child of God who may be going through a difficult time at this moment in
time. Thank God he is coming one day to
the air. The Thessalonian church wrote
to Paul one day about a problem they had.
They accepted the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead but there were those in
their family who had died and left them.
Paul explained to them that their loved ones bodies had gone to the grave
but their souls were in heaven.(1 Thessalonians 4 verse 13 and 14) Isn`t
that a great comfort to us as we watch our loved ones taken from us in swift
action or perhaps through a prolonged period of sickness? Their souls are in heaven waiting for the
Lord to come one day to the air and then we which are alive will rise up to meet
them and Christ in the air. Peter was asked
the same question "where is the promise of the Lord`s coming?" Nothing seems to change, everything continues
as it does. (2 Peter 3 verse 4) "The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise."
He will fulfil it Peter says. He
is longsuffering, merciful, patient, a God of grace and love who does not want
anyone to perish but that all should come to repentance and faith.(2 Peter 3 verse 9) If the Lord came to the air today there would
be people lost in sin. God is holding
back because he wants to see you saved.
The Lord will come as a thief. To the kings, priests and ungodly armies,
the anti-Christ and the false prophet the Lord will come to them as a
thief. Will he come as a thief to you or
are you watching for him? The promise is
to you and I, he is coming to these tribulation saints and he is coming for us
when we least expect it.
The
patience that is required. It doesn`t
tell us when he will come just simply he is coming. You and I need to have patience. James 5 verse 7 "be patient therefore
brethren" He was writing to those
who were saved - "until the coming of the Lord". He gives an example
"behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath
long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also
patient for the coming of the Lord draweth near." That is in accordance with Deuteronomy 11
verse 14. We have to wait for the Lord
with patience. James points to Job 5
verse 11 who was cut down without any explanation, lost his family, livelihood,
health yet kept his eyes on the Lord.
The Lord did come to him with healing and blessing. You and I stand in need of patience. We cannot understand what is happening. It is not about the world we live in but in
our own worlds. When we question why God
has allowed this to happen what do we need? Patience. Why? Because the day of the Lord draweth
nigh. Verses 8 and 9 speak of tremendous
climatic change. We read earlier in the book
of Revelation how the sun was darkened but now the heat of the sun
intensifies. We are talking about the
tribulation period. The church of God has
gone now, this is an ungodly world. Imagine
the infections, sickness, pain and sorrow in verse 11. The tongue is dried in the mouth yet they do
not worship the God of heaven. The world
will just be falling apart. Verse 13 the
anti-Christ is sitting around the council table, the devil, the false prophet
and him are planning a great world war.
The "3 unclean spirits like frogs came out of their mouths" is talking
about the propaganda, the lies, deception to bring the armies of the world
together that there will be a great battle.
Who is in charge of it though?
Verse 14 "the battle of that great day of God almighty." He himself will institute the war. See these people throwing weight into battle
to take place. Would you want to be
there in this world on those days? If you
are not Christ`s own you could be going through all these days. The armies of the world from the east, west,
north and south are coming together. The
Lord says I am coming to those who have not bowed the knee to the anti-Christ. These are comforting words to those tribulation saints.
The
precaution to be taken. "Blessed is
he that watcheth and keepth his garment."
This remnant of people are watching, they have peace with God in their
hearts, watching and waiting for the Lord to come. In this 7 year period of satanic powers people
will be delivered. Nothing to what will
happen in this day and age. Devil uses
all his miraculous powers to his advantage.
The Lord however says "watch". Are
we watching for the Lord`s return? Are
we listening to every foolish notion being deceived.
A
penalty to be avoided. The Lord is
coming for this remnant of people. The
Lord is coming for you and I today. Is
he coming for you today? Are you saved
by God`s grace? Do you know the Lord as
Saviour, trusting him at this time? If
the Lord was to come right now would you rise to meet him or remain in your
seat? If you remain you will go through
this tribulation period.
Sermon notes from Sunday 15 November 2015
Revelation 19 verses 1 - 10
God has a special
reason for putting these blessings in the book of Revelation. Chapter 1 verse 3 "Blessed is he that
readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things
which are written therein for the time is at hand." This blessing is given for you and me. Jesus was speaking in the church age. He was giving to his servant a special word
for this day and age. Imagine God
opening up the world and showing us the ages to come. That is why we have pointed that out in these
blessings, a privilege to read and hear this word and keep our minds and
thoughts on them. God is still in
control. It is to this point you and I
are heading. Verse 7 of this chapter
says "let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him; for the marriage
of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready." We see how the Lord takes the church out of
this world. If you are saved today you are
going out of this world and the next step will be the beginning of a terrible
time of terror which will be called the great tribulation. Jesus said there never was a time like it
before or will be like it again. We will
see the introduction of the man called the anti-Christ, his kingdom will be set
up by the devil himself. All the world
will give him honour and glory. At the
end of 7 years the Lord will come again and will be given another 1000 years to
reign. Revelation 14 verse 13
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence forth: Yea saith
the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow
them." That was during the 7 year
period, the great tribulation period.
The anti-Christ is on the throne and everyone has to worship him. This is a special time when those are martyed
for their faith. In that time the Lord
has a special word for them. They have
taken the name of the Lord, standing for him through the worst of times. Revelation 16 verse 15 "Blessed is he that
watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his
shame." Those who are going through
tribulation, suffering for Christ. I am
coming quickly, keep watching Jesus says.
Revelation 19
verse 9 "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb."
Here is the bride announced. Verse 7 tells us who is the bride, speaking
about the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The Lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who came into the world to be
the sacrifice for sin, who took upon himself the form of a servant and gave
himself for you and I on the cross of Calvary.
We were lost in our sin and Christ came into the world and went to
Calvary to die for you and I. He is the
Lamb. Have you ever been to the cross of
Calvary? That is the challenge to you
today. Has God opened up your mind to
that relationship? Have you realised you
have sinned, come short of the glory of God and heaven will never be your
home? That relationship only comes to
you by revleation through the Holy Spirit.
He applies it to your heart, shows you your desperate need today. That you have not been saved, never been to
Calvary, never been to the cross, never known sins forgiven. We see this great picture of you and I
heading to this wonderful moment in our experience. Introduced as the Lamb but
2 scenes set before us - a marriage and a marriage supper. The marriage takes place in heaven when the
bride is announced to the Father. In
Colossians Paul said "and you that were sometimes alienated in your mind
by wicked works now hath he reconciled you." (Colossians 1 verse 21) When born into world we were separated from
God. We needed to be reconciled with
Christ. When Christ died on the cross of
Calvary he reconciled us to God himself.
Verse 22 "In the body of his flesh through death". There was no other way, it took the Lord to
give his life for you and I, no other way that God could save you, reconcile
you, no other way to bring you into his family.
What to do? "to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable
in his sight." This is the day we
are talking of in Revelation 19. Coming a
day when he would introduce us in heaven as his bride. Have you been to the cross, saved by his
grace and mercy? We haven`t been
announced in heaven yet. Verse 23
"if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard." There will be a marriage in heaven, an
announcement will be made. A marriage
was different in the days written of here.
A Jewish wedding had 3 aspects to it.
Firstly there was a betrothal or promise. In Matthew 1 when the angel came to Mary he
told her she would have a child. She was
promised in marriage to Joseph for a certain length of time. A dowry was paid, a commitment made between a
man and a woman, a promise made between 2 families. The situation to make you a child of God was
similar. A price was paid - the blood of
Christ. You are the promised bride of
Christ. I have espoused you to the one
husband Paul said. We await that
day. Ephesians says "husbands love
your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; that
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he
might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."(chapter 5
verses 25 – 27) The second part to the
wedding was when the groom went off to prepare a home for his bride. In John 14 Jesus said "I go to prepare a
place for you. In my Father`s house are
many mansions if it were not so I would have told you so." We have a promise that he will come again and
receive us unto himself. In Matthew 24
we read of the parable of 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins watching for the
groom. While they waited they
slept. Are you watching for the Saviour
today? Is there something else taking up
your mind which is of far more value than the son of man coming to receive you
unto himself? What are your priorities today? That is tremendous challenge. One day the Lord will come to the air with a
shout, the trumpet will sound and everyone will rise up to meet the Lord in the
air. That is what will happen one
day. If you are not saved you are not
prepared for that day. The ceremony, the
groom will come for his bride, the supper would be prepared then the guests
will be gathered to celebrate with the groom and his wife. That is what we are waiting on. The bride announced and marriage feast will
take place.
The bride`s apparel - verse 7 "and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." We could read into that there is something we
need to do but it is God who has given us everything. Nothing we could do for our sins. If we miss the call of God nothing we could
do to bring us into relationship with God.
We see the bride arrayed in all the splendour granted to her. She is presented with the righteous acts, all
the great deeds the church has done. The
church has now been in heaven, every child of God, every blood bought sinner is
in heaven for 7 years. All the terror
and evil has been going on in the earth.
Now see something else, how the bride has been wed to Christ and how she
has been dressed. About to see the Lord
return to earth again. On the Mount of
Olives one day the Lord will come again once for the church and he will set his
feet on the Mount of Olives. He is
coming again, coming to set up 1000 year reign on this old earth and we are
coming back with him. Whenever we were
saved we were betrothed, promised then removed out of this scene of time taken
into heaven. We go to the judgement seat
of Christ. Everyone of us saved by God`s
grace. This is where we will all appear
before that judgement seat. Romans 14
verse 10 "for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ",
not as a vast multitude. You will stand
and I will stand individually and we will have to give an account of everything
we have said and done in this life. We
will have to give an account for it all.
A solemn day. 2 Corinthians 5
verse 10 "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad." There
is no hiding it. It shall be revealed by
fire and revealed of what sort it is. Galatians
6 verse 9 “we shall reap if we faint not.”
1 Corinthians 15 verse 58 “your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” In Matthew 20 the householder is going out
and bringing in workers for his vineyard.
There were those who went out last and got the same money as those who
went out first. We must appear there. That is a definite act. If you are not saved that will come a 1000
years later. This time at the great
white judgement throne the dead stood before God small and great.
The bride`s attendance. The blessing
is for now who are called to this supper to celebrate with us. John the Baptist spoke of those who were
friends of the bridegroom. Who are
they? They are every person who dies
from the beginning to this very day. The
Old Testament saints of God. Will have
to go through the tribulation period? Where
will you be on that day? Where will you be at?
On the right hand side of Christ?
Only if you have trusted him as Saviour and Lord. Will you do that today?
Sermon notes from Sunday 22 November 2015
Revelation 20 verses 1 - 6
We have been
looking at the saints of God going through a terrible time. No matter how terrible times get or are or we
are asked to go through God is still in control. We may look at the television, listen to the
radio or read the newspapers and hear of devastating things going on in the world
but God is still in control. There is a
plan being worked out to God`s divine timetable. This world may be falling apart but God is
still in control. No matter how
difficult or how terrible it may get he is still in control. Think of Daniel who was cast into the lioni’s
den. He was there for praying to
God. The king signed a decree that no
man was allowed to pray to any other god only his and if they did so they would
be cast into the lion’s den. Daniel went
back to his own home, opened up the windows and began to pray. He was arrested, chained and thrown into the
den of lions. We see Daniel sitting, not
terrified or scared - why - because God is in control. Daniel wasn`t in control of that
situation. The evil men plotted to get
him into the situation. They were not in
control either. The king asked Daniel
the next day "was your God able to deliver you?"(Daniel 6 verse 20) Daniel sad "God has sent his angel and
hath shut the lions’ mouths that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him
innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." He knew God was in control of his situation,
working things out for his good. Same as
Esther who was brought to the throne as a young girl to be a bride for the
king. Little did she know God would use her when the Jews would be massacred
and slaughtered. She would be the one to
step up to the mark. God was in
control. No matter how difficult, how hard
things are God is in control. The fourth
beatitude or blessing in our series comes in verse 6 "Blessed and holy is
he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no
power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a
thousand years." A millenium
kingdom set up on this earth by God himself.
The blessing is for those who will be resurrected and reign with God in
this kingdom for 1000 years.
The description here that is produced.
The description of those who are blessed. What brings about this blessing or happiness
to the person - "blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection." We need to think
where we are. Noticed in chapter 1 verse 3 the first blessing is for the church
age. We are there in that verse. One day the church of God, every man and
woman saved by God will leave this world.
One day Jesus is coming to the air and will call us home but only if we
are saved by God. That is the joy we
have. One day there is a man coming to
reign, the anti-Christ. There is coming
a 7 year period never like it before or will be like it again. A time of tremendous suffering. We will have
to receive the mark on the forehead or on the hand or else we cannot buy anything. If you do not receive the mark you will
die. In Revelation 14 the anti-Christ is
the head man, the leading person, dictating what is happening on earth. There is a word of comfort for those going
through death because they did not bear the mark of the anti-Christ. The Lord is in control. The fourth blessing takes place through the
tribulation, when the marriage supper of the lamb takes place. Now entering into the kingdom set up on the
earth. The Judgment Seat is over. I am going to stand at the Judgment Seat of
Christ and give an account of the deeds done in the body. That will take 7 years. God will examine our lives. The Lord will return with his bride and the
marriage supper of the Lamb will take place.
The saints of the Old Testament will be risen again. The people who died, did not take the mark of
the Lamb, will also rise to take part in the reigning with Christ. The souls of the Old Testament are in the
glory. When Christ comes again he will
raise the church but the Old Testament saints will be raised at the end of the
7 year period. The Old Testament saints
were looking forward to Calvary but we who are saved today are looking backwards
to Calvary. One day Jesus will come and
stand on the Mount of Olives. He will
set up his kingdom on earth. Are you
ready for his coming?
The delivery that is promised. In
chapter 19 verse 11 John sees heaven open and the Lord coming forth. In verse 20 the beast and the false prophet
were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Christ is coming again. John sees all this and Christ putting down
all the army forces. The Bible tells me
there is a literal hell, a lake of fire that will burn for ever and ever. In chapter 20 verse 1 John sees an angel
coming down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit and lays hold of
the dragon, the old serpent which is the devil and Satan and is bound for 1000
years. In Isaiah 11 verse 6 we read these
words: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down
with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a
little child shall lead them.” The
natures of all animals will be changed. Those involved in the first
resurrection will enter the kingdom to enjoy him. The first resurrection begins when he takes
the church out and will progress until the Old Testament saints will be taken
and made alive. Those who had received
the great promise, death will never touch them.
In verses 14 and 15 we read “this is the second death.” We need to consider what this second death
is. The Bible does not speak of a
general resurrection, there is no such a thing.
Chapter 20 verse 5 "but the rest of the dead lived not again until
the 1000 years were finished. This is the first resurrection." Verse 4 shows it cannot be the church because
the church is resurrected, nor the Old Testament saints because they have been
resurrected. Not talking about general
resurrection. See another group still in
the ground. Who are they? They are those who have died without Christ,
trusting in him and it says the rest of the dead lived but not for the 1000
years. Chapter 20 verses 11 – 15. Whenever we move into chapter 21 we are
stepping into the eternal blessing of God.
In chapter 21 we read that in the last days there will be false prophets
and teachers. In verse 8 we read of
those who will not be in heaven - those who couldn`t find the courage to get
saved, the fearful. They are those
sitting in the gospel meeting but never had the courage to take Jesus as Saviour
and Lord - they are all in the lake of fire.
The next group are the unbelieving.
They couldn`t get away from the things of the world. Jesus came into the world to die for the sins
of the world. There is a heaven and a
home but somehow they walked away for another time. It was not a matter they couldn`t but
wouldn`t believe. The list goes on. God is in control of all things in this old
world. We might think the world is out
of control but God is holding on to every person. Are you a child of God, saved by his grace,
have you been to Calvary and taken him as Saviour and Lord? You can do that
today - will you come and trust him as Saviour today?
Sermon notes from Sunday 29 November 2015
Revelation
20 verses 7 -- 15
We
are thinking this morning of verse 6, a little verse filled with tremendous
thought. "Blessed and holy is he
that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him
a thousand the first resurrection. One
of the commentators on the radio this week with France in mind and the recent
Russian air plane disaster said "they are doing all in their power to
bring this world to an end." No power will bring this world to an end -
God is in control. We see in these
verses something of the final days on this earth. In verse 9 we see Satan will deceive the
nations, fire will come down from heaven and devour them. When we look at verse 11 we see who shall
stand at the great white throne. Before
we leave this scene of time and enter into eternity in chapter 21 let us take
time to think of what will happen.
A peace that is
achieved. As we look around the world today there is no
such peace. We see some of the great
nations spending lots of money on defence.
There is little peace though. We
are reading here of a peace that is achieved.
In chapter 19 verse 20 we see the Lord comes back with the armies of
heaven. "And the beast was taken and
with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he
deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worhipped
his image. These both were cast alive
into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." The beast is the one that will be set up on
earth to reign for a 7 year period of time that is still on its way. He will reign in control which means people
on earth will neither be able to buy or sell and death will be the ultimate end
for those who do not take his mark. Then
we see the false prophet, who is the religious leader and will reign with the
beast at that time. In chapter 17 we see
he moves against the religious society and puts them down. An idol is placed in the most holy of all
places in the temple. He will remind
everyone to bow down to that idol. These
both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Jesus comes back and casts both into the lake
of fire. The third part of this evil
trinity is seen in chapter 20 verses 1 and 2.
The devil himself, the old dragon, Satan is bound with chains and thrown
into the bottomless pit which is sealed for a thousand years. Who is this blessing for today? Those who have been saved, trusted in Christ
as Saviour and Lord and they are away out of the world at this stage. 1 Thessalonians tells us Jesus will come to
the air and take us unto himself. In
John 14 Jesus himself told us he was going to prepare a place for us. In these verses in Revelation we are thinking
of the Lord coming as a judge for all sin.
Hitler himself tried to introduce a 1000 year period but he did not
succeed. The 1000 years here mentioned
in Revelation will be set up by Jesus and he will reign on earth. Jerusalem will be the capital of the
earth. Isaiah chapter 2 was written 700
years before the birth of Christ. Verses
1 - 5 talks of the 1000 year period also mentioned here in Revelation. This peace is achieved by the binding of
Satan himself. In 1 Thessalonians we are
told of a time whenever the spirit of evil was already at work. There will come a time when the church of
Jesus Christ will be taken out of this world and the spirit of God will be withdrawn. Then evil will have precedence. Now we see Satan is taken out of the way in
Revelation chapter 20. Now righteousness
prevails upon the earth. There is a 1000
years of peace - "he should deceive the nations no more." Satan will not be able to gather with the
kings, queens, governors, presidents any longer. Jesus spoke of Satan as a liar and murderer -
John 8 verse 44. In 1 Timothy 4 verse 13
we are told some will depart from the faith in these days and 2 Timothy 3
"perilous days shall come ... men and woman will have a form of godliness
but denying the power thereof." The
devil is an accuser of the brethren, accusing us before God in heaven.
The positions that
are awarded. That first
resurrection is going to encompass you and I.
If you and I are saved, we will be taken from this scene of time into
heaven`s glory. All those who turned to
Christ during the tribulation period will also be there, as will the Old
Testament saints who are raised at the end of the resurrection period. At the end of the 7 year period when all
these people have been resurrected they will be "priests of God and of Christ
and shall reign with him a thousand years." In this chapter the words "1000
years" appear 5 or 6 times. In
verse 4 we are told there will be thrones and judgment will be carried
out. In Matthew 19 verse 28 we read
"verily I say unto that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration
when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." 1 Corinthians 6 verse 2 talks about a
believer going to court against another believer which Paul said shouldn`t be happening. "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
how much more things that pertain to this life?" The church of God will be sitting on thrones
with the Old Testament saints judging the earth. Paul also said "we wrestle not against
powers". We can feel the presence
of Satan against us today as we pray and read God`s word but one day that will
change because when this 1000 years commences Satan will be bound, chained and
cast into the bottomoless pit.
A promise that is
asserted. At the close of 1000 years then we are told Satan
will be loosed for a "little season".
In verse 7 we told that "when the thousand years are expired Satan shall
be loosed out of his prison." No
sooner has he been released than he will be deceiving the nations again. It will not affect us if we are saved by
God`s grace. If at the beginning of the
1000 years only the righteous are reigning where then will Satan get the people
to listen to him? It says "the
number of whom is as the sand of the sea". God is still in control in this 1000 year
period and only the righteous will enter into it. In Matthew 24 we see Jesus judging the
nations before going into this period.
During the 1000 year period there will still be children born who have a
fallen nature, sin in their hearts and lives.
In total rebellion against God, hearts never changed. Satan will find people who are not right with
God and will deceive them again. In
verse 9 we see that God`s judgement will fall on them.
A place that is
appointed. In verses 11 and 12 we read of a great white
throne. People who have never accepted
Christ as Saviour will appear at the throne.
Where have they been during the 1000 years? In a lost Christless hell. Ephesians 2 verse 12 "that at that time
ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world." Some people say that when
you die your body goes to the grave and that is it. Here we read that everyone that died without Christ
is standing before the throne small and great (kings and queens, presidents,
film stars and paupers). They are not
forgotten about. The white signifies
purity and a throne signifies authority.
A penalty that is
averted. The books were opened and just in case there
are some that question why their names are not in these books another book is
opened. It is called "the book of
life." A man who had his name on
the church role, an elder, a Sunday School Superintendent, a preacher in the pulpit
- their names are not written in the Lamb`s Book of Life. They fooled us down here. They could pray and do great works for God
but still were not saved at the end of 1000 years. Thank God that he has made a way for us
through it. He has made a way for us to
be saved today. The second death will involve
the anti Christ, the beast, Satan and those who have never accepted Christ as
Saviour. The second death has no power
on those who are saved today.
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on
such the second death hath no power but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.
