Bible Class Questions
Automated Transcript:
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Alrighty. We are in the book of Hebrews. We started with Hebrews chapters one and two on Wednesday night, and we’re going to continue with chapters three and four this morning, and then five and six on Wednesday night.<inaudible> I’ll double check. See if I can get a list printed off for the order of the classes for the rest of the quarter.
So that those who want to be reading ahead can do that. We have AF after taking an impromptu vote on Wednesday, we’re going to continue with covering the questions from the class before at the beginning of each class. So that we kind of use that as a review, keep what we talked about in the previous class and in the forefront of our minds as we get started.
But let’s begin with a word of prayer, dear heavenly father. We thank you for this day. We thank you for its blessings. We thank you for all that you do for us on a daily basis, we ask that you be with us as we go through this time of study, we are mindful of those who we are separated from because of COVID.
We are mindful of those that are throughout the world who are serving and ministering and evangelizing in places of, of great difficulty. And we pray that in all of those situations, they will be able to be blessed and prosper in serving you that they will be healthy and able to continue their work in their labors. We ask that you watch over us as we go throughout this day and the remainder of it way,
the worship that we offer to you this day be that which is in accordance with your will and in spirit. And in truth, we ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory, all this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. By way of just kind of a quick thought review. What is the primary audience of the book?
All right. Jewish Christians. What were, what, what was the reason that the book of Hebrews was written to these Jewish Christians? Okay. Right. There were, some of them were considering turning back to the law of Moses and drifting away or turning away from Christ. The Hebrew writer who is not identified like very few other books of the Bible.
This is one of those books that just simply the author is not provided. The pen bin is not provided. Some have suggested it’s Paul, some have suggested as Timothy, others have suggested it’s neither. And it’s somebody else. Ultimately it’s the Holy spirit, No matter who, Who writes it, but it is interesting in its writing style, in that all throughout the book,
as the writer addresses those who are struggling quite frequently, if not exclusively, as he says, you basically, here’s what you’re struggling with. And here’s the solution. He includes himself in the solution. He says, let throughout the book, he says, let us, let us, let us, let us. And so he is, he is writing style is,
is such that he’s constantly bringing, not just the, the realization of what they need to do before them, but he’s including himself. He’s he does it in a, in a very inclusive way to say, this is what we as Christians must do. And so it’s, it’s very interesting in somewhat a contrast to some of the other books of the new Testament.
Alright, let’s go over the questions from Wednesday. Question Number one from Hebrews chapters, one and two. How did God speak long ago to the fathers, By The prophets? How has God spoken to the readers of Hebrew through Christ or by his son? Question two after completion of what task did Jesus sit down at the right hand of the majesty on hot Purged,
our sins, okay. Number three, who is better Jesus or the angels, Jesus. And that brings us there in that, that question to really the theme of the book of Hebrews all the way through is that Christ and his law and his house and everything that he created and everything that he did as part of the new covenant is better than the old covenant.
Why was Jesus made a little lower than the angels for a little while?<inaudible> All right. For the suffering of death, taste death for every man discuss the eternal nature of the earth and heavens, All right, It’s not eternal. It will perish, okay. Discuss the eternal nature of God. He will remain. He is unchanging. Those are kind of two of the things that are brought out there in those verses,
who has the power, excuse me, who had the power of death, the devil, how did Jesus render him powerless? All right. By defeating death, or another way you could say that is through death. He used the devil’s own tool against him. All right. Why do believers need to pay closer attention to what they have heard so that they do not slip away or less?
They drift away? What does Jesus do in his service as our high priest?<inaudible> He intercedes and makes propitiation for our sins or pays the price for our sins. Okay. So that’s kind of in very short form chapters one and two, the focus in chapters one and two is Jesus is better than the angels. Secondly, Jesus is our high priest.
Thirdly, Jesus overcame death. And if you return back to the law, given by angels, as the Hebrew writer describes the law of Moses, the law, given my angles, you’re returning to an inferior law. And if you’re returning to the old law, you’re referring to ref you’re returning to an inferior priesthood. And if you’re returning to the old law,
you’re returning to a law under which there was judgment and death and no solution. Okay. So chapter three, you have, and it is, it’s kind of amusing. You know how I feel about chapter breaks to begin with let alone chapter breaks that begin with the word, therefore like, okay, here’s the law, here’s the argument. And now stop right there.
All right. Now here’s the conclusion. It’s like, w w why did you stop before the conclusion stop somewhere else? But the problem with the book of Hebrews is it is long one continuous argument there, which is why I think about half or more of the chapters begin with the word, therefore, okay. Because Hebrew writer never stops making his argument.
He just keeps rolling. So we begin with chapter three, verse one, therefore, Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession. Jesus Christ. Now, what does the word apostle mean in its literal sense? Not now talking about what was the office, but what’s the word mean? 1 cent. Okay.
So he is 1 cent and he is the high priest. Okay. He is sent by God, nicotine. This John chapter three said to Jesus, we know that you’re a messenger sent from God. You’re a man sent from God for no one could do the things that you do, except God be with him. Okay? So this, this idea here is he is the one who God sent,
but then also you have here his high priesthood, but it’s the high priest of our confession. Here. You have Jesus acting in his intercessor capacity. Jesus Christ is not just the high priest who goes in before God to make the offering for sin. But he is that continual intercessor on behalf of us. Okay? Now this word confession here. We generally think when we hear the word confession,
confession of sins, that’s not really the idea here. This is profession. Profession of faith is really the better idea in this context. So he is the high priest of our profession of God. It is closer to the idea of one who confesses the name of Christ, as opposed to one who confesses sin that they’ve done wrong. So those are two different ideas that are in the new Testament in English.
It’s kind of the same, same word, but it’s important to really kind of keep the two ideas, separate one, being a profession of faith, a declaration of faith, and one, a confession of wrongdoing and admittance of wrongdoing. So who was faithful to him who appointed him as Moses also was faithful in all his house as we go through the,
the book and we’re going to continually get a comparison and a contrast. Now we’ve talked about angels. Now we’re going to move into the discussion of Moses. The Hebrew writer is as he describes, and as he compares Jesus to the old Testament, you’ll notice throughout the book. It’s not in any way, a denigration of the old Testament. It’s not in any way him denigrating Moses or the angels,
or later on in Hebrews, chapter 11, all those who by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith did this and that. No, no, he’s not saying Jesus is better. And therefore you should, you should just, those people ignore those. We don’t need those. Those are unimportant. No, no, no. That’s not his attitude.
His attitude all the way through it is to glorify those who did these great things here. He describes Moses as one who was faithful in all his house was Moses. Perfect. No, but was Moses faithful? Yes. And so the Hebrew writer in no way is taking away from Moses. He and said, is saying, Jesus Christ is faithful like Moses,
but ultimately we’re going to see, he’s not only faithful like Moses. He’s also better than Moses. Okay. So notice what we read for who was faithful to him, who appointed him. That’s a pointed, I carries back to that idea of the apostleship as Moses also was faithful in all his house for this one, being Christ has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who built the house has more honor than the house.
The Hebrew writer is going to use it analogy here. It’s, it’s going to kind of cross between through, throughout this text, the analogy of a household and the physical structure. Okay? The, in the old, in the old and new Testament, you’ve got the house of God. And sometimes we’re talking about a physical structure, and sometimes we’re talking about the people of God and the Hebrew writers going to kind of use both.
He’s going to use the analogy of both. He’s going to describe Moses, being faithful in the house of God. And he’s going to describe Christ as being faithful in the house of God. But as the builder of the house of God, when you look at a structure, when you look at a house that house has in and of itself, it,
it has recognized it has Laura. You can look at a house and say, wow, somebody really put some time and effort into this. But even that phrase right there, somebody really put some time and effort to that. You, you realize that back behind every house is Tom buddy, who actually made it into what it is and what the analogy is going to be here in Hebrews.
Chapter three is Moses was faithful in the house. Jesus is the builder of the, and in view of that, the greater glory is the one who built the belongs to the one who built the house, not the one who served in the house. Okay. So there’s the analogy. As we go through this for every house is built by someone, but he who built all things is God.
Now that he writers already described the creative function of Christ in the old Testament, or excuse me, in, in the beginning of time in creation. So when he says he who built all things as God, he’s not looking straight at the father, he’s looking straight back to Christ. Okay. So verse five, he says, and Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things,
which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house we are, if we hold fast, the conf the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope from, to the end. So here’s where kind of the analogy jumps from the structure idea of building to the people he says, Moses was faithful as a servant. Moses served in the house.
Moses was one who was faithful as a servant for a testimony of things that were to come. He said, what, what Moses did as Moses laid a groundwork, Moses set a foundation for things that looked forward all throughout the book of Hebrews. We’re going to find the, a significant emphasis on types and anti types. In other words, the old Testament tabernacle as a picture of eternity of heaven of the church,
the, the functions of the high priest as a picture of the real high priest, the functions of the sacrifice as a, under the old law, as a picture of the true sacrifice, Jesus Christ. So there’s going to be this constant analogy. And what he’s going to emphasize here and introduce is everything Moses did as a servant in the house of God,
looked forward to one who was to come. If you’re doing something and you’re serving to accomplish something that is, is being done to look forward to something else, what’s the greater thing, the thing you’re doing, or the thing you’re looking forward to you’re laying the foundation. John, the Baptist was to prepare the way of the Lord. He came beforehand to set things ready for one who would come,
would come after. And John, the Baptist said concerning his own place in view of Christ. I’m not worthy to stoop down and unloose sandals. The one who prepares the way for someone else is of less glory than the one he’s preparing the way for. Okay. So there’s what the Hebrew writer is saying here, but Christ as a son over his own house,
whose house we, We are First Timothy chapter three, verse 15. I believe it is. Paul writes to Timothy and says that he needs to be faithful in or describes him how to be faithful and how to behave in the house of God. Is he talking about how he’s supposed to behave in the church building? No, Hi, I am regularly.
And you all know it telling my children how to behave at a church building, but that’s not the instructions that Timothy is getting from Paul. Timothy is getting from Paul, how he ought to behave in the house, which is the church of God. So as we read here, verse six, that same idea is brought forward Christ as a son over his own house,
whose house we are, the Hebrew writer is not declaring all of humanity to be the house of Christ. The house of God. He is declaring the church to be the house of God whose house we are. If we hold fast, the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope from to the end. There’s something that is required. If we’re going to be in the house of God,
we have to hold fast. The word of God, if we let go of the word of God, where do we stop belonging To the church? We stopped. We stopped belonging to the house of God. We’ve told God like the prodigal son told his father, I don’t need you anymore. Give me what belongs to me and let me go. And it was in this,
this, this relationship is considered as if that child was dead. He was no longer part of the house. He was no longer part of the household. Okay. And yet he comes back. So verse seven, the Hebrew writer wants to address their faithfulness. Now he’s just said, Moses was faithful. Christ was faithful. Christ is greater than Moses,
but you’re going to become unfaithful if you returned to Moses instead of Christ, okay? Notice what he says. He says, therefore, as the Holy spirit says today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. As in the rebellion, in the day of trial, in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me, tried me and saw my works 40 years.
Therefore I was angry with that generation and said, they always go astray in their heart. And they have not known my ways swore. So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. This refers back to Psalm 95, Psalm 95 looks back at the actions of the previous generations. Going back to those who came out of Egypt and tries to exhort the Israelites of his day,
not to be like the Israelites that came out of Egypt, the Israelites that rebelled, the Israelites that God said, you’re not going into the land. I’ve promised to you. I promised you a land, but I promised you a land. If you would be faithful and you won’t be faithful. So you’re going to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and you’re going to die out here.
You’re not going to enter my rest. But the view here is Jesus Christ, who is better than Moses is going to provide a rest that was better than Moses is rest. Moses brought them to the promised land. He didn’t get to go in himself, but he brought them to the promised land. He brought them to the rest. God had offered them under the old Testament,
but Christ brings us to a better rest, verse 12, but where brethren less there being any of you and evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, when he, when the Hebrew writer looks at these Christians who are considering going back to the law of Moses, he doesn’t describe them as those who are going back to an inferior law by the law of God.
He describes them as those who would be departing from God, because God has said, I’m done with that. I’m done with that covenant, that covenant is over that covenant was there for a time to lead you to a better covenant. If you go back, you don’t just leave the covenant. You leave me. Okay? So he says, beware brother,
unless there being any of you in evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, but exhort one, another verse 13 daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin for, we have become partakers of Christ. If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said today,
if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the day of the rebellion. So he harkens back to Psalm 95 again, and he says, listen, just the same way the Psalm is writer said, don’t go back to the rebellion. Then I’m exhorting. You don’t go back to the rebellion again. I don’t want you to turn your back on God.
I don’t want you to be fall or to become falling or fall prey to the deceitful ness of sin. But here’s how you do it. And this is kind of one of those things. I think we’re not really Good at as a church. Yeah. Not speaking of us, either the congregation, But the church today. He said, It says here in verse 13,
but exhort one another Daily you’ll look at acts chapter two. And it asks you After two, when the church is first created, when they have Pentecost closes out. One of the things that you read in acts chapter two verse 42 is that they continue Daily. In one accord, they can Continued in the Apostle’s doctrine. They continued in breaking of bread.
They continued in fellowship and in prayer. Well, We’ve gotten a little close to the mode of, well, I’m going to be with my brother and on Sunday and Wednesday or for some people see them Sunday morning, and then I’m not gonna, I don’t need to think about them again until next Sunday or next Wednesday. And yet the Hebrew writer says,
listen, you’ve got to guard your brethren. You’ve got to exhort your brethren. You’ve got to encourage your brother and you need to do Do it daily. That’s not just a problem for members. That’s a problem for preachers too. We, we all have to think about the things that our brethren are going through and the difficulties they may be having and the help they may be needing because It’s a lack quite often,
a lack of communication with brethren Causes a person who was faithful to drift away and not be brought back. How many times in the life of a congregation does somebody who’s showing up. Who’s faithful. Who’s assembling, who’s working slowly but surely stopped doing what they were doing. Stop doing a little bit more. Stop doing a little bit more. Stop attending on one,
one service, stop attending for another service. And pretty soon they’re Just gone. And sometimes It happens in congregations. And no one says Because they did it Just get up and leave. When they were active duty. See if they had been, if they had just walked out, when they were doing all of those things, somebody would have said, Whoa,
Wrong, but what happened? They drifted Away. Go back to chapter two, verse one. Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard. Lest we drift away. Why does a ship that wants to stay in one place, put down an anchor because a ship can’t stay in one place without an anchor. The only way you can do that is either you keep putting yourself back in the same place.
I run that motor and keep driving yourself into the same location. Or you got to put an anchor down, but you put a ship on water and it doesn’t matter how it really, I mean, outside of a perfectly calm day in a perfectly calm with no current Lake or pond. If you put a boat in water, it’s going to move unless you anchor it.
And by the way, the Hebrew writer will describe Jesus Christ as the anchor of our soul. Okay.<inaudible> yeah, absolutely. That, that, that’s a good point. You know, and, and this, again, not just exclusive to our congregation, but a struggle that exists in a lot of places in the world right now, because of COVID.
And because we have vulnerable populations of people that, that, you know, are, are susceptible to this disease. It’s easy to say, well, what let’s keep our distance, but we also have a lot of means and opportunities and technologies available to us. And let’s face it. The ability to go stand in their yard, seven feet away from,
and still go see them still interact with them and not let go of this responsibility to encourage and exhort and help those individuals in their faithfulness. So something we need to be mindful of. He says here today will, is the day that we need to be focused on. We can make plans for the future. We can make plans for what’s to come,
but the focus of our faithfulness, the focus of our interactions with our brother and needs to be on the here and now, not just the future. So then he says, verse 16, for who? Having heard rebelled we’re we’re getting back To that old Testament group. Those people that came out of Israel or came out of Egypt, those Israelites, they Heard it now,
when they heard it, Wasn’t Moses got up and told them the law. No, that’s not what he’s talking about. He’s talking about those Israelites who stood at the base of Mount Sinai and heard God Speak. And they still rebelled. They Had an interaction with God where they were so terrified. And he’s going to get into that later on in the book,
they were so terrified by the presence of God that they said, Moses, you go up on the Mount and you hear his words. And instead of him speaking directly to us And those same people didn’t believe that God could overcome the giants in the land. And the Hebrew writer says who having heard rebelled, Indeed. Was it not all who came out of Egypt led by Moses.
Now with whom was he angry 40 years? Was it not those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness and to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who did not obey watch this, he says they heard, but they rebelled. They were those who came out of Egypt, but he left them in the wilderness.
He caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years till they died. They were those who were living and were promised his rest. And yet they died not having received the rest. And why? Because they heard And did not obey. They turn back. Why do you think It is of such significance that Jesus described Dives? The wise man and the fool there in the end of the sermon,
On the Mount, in Matthew chapter seven, who’s the Wise man builds Upon the rock. And Jesus describes the one who builds his households on the rock as one who hears and Does what gods He says, but who’s the foolish man. The one who builds It’s hell, It’s on the sand. And he’s the one who here And does not do what God said.
Same point being made here. All right. And to whom did he swear verse 18, that they would not enter his rest, but to those who did not obey. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since A promise remains of entering his rest, God hasn’t removed that promise. God told those in that day,
here’s my rest. You can enter into it. Here’s what you need to do. Here’s what’s required of you. Now go do it. And they didn’t. Now God has promised us in the eternal rest. He said, here’s what you need to do. Here’s what what’s required of you. Now go do it. He said, since that promise of resto remains,
let us, here’s this, this declaration, here’s this beckoning that he does throughout the book. Let us fear lest any of you seem to have, seem to have come Short of it For indeed. The gospel was preached to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith. Those who heard it.
Now, I struggle with people who will Try and hold onto a doctrine of faith only and go through the book of Hebrews because did they believe what God told them? Yeah. Otherwise they wouldn’t have left Egypt. They wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t have come to Mount Sinai. They wouldn’t have stood there. They believed it. But did they? No. And so here he says the gospel was preached to them.
The good news was preached to them. The good news to Israel was the promised land. The good news to us is the rest offered by Christ eternity with God. But he said, they Fell short. You, We need to be faithful. We need to be diligent. Let us hold fast so that we don’t I’ll fall short as well For we who have believed do for we who have believed,
do enter that rest as he has said. So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world for, he has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way and gone rested on the seventh day from all his works. And again, in this place, they shall not enter my rest since therefore it remains that we must enter it.
And those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of just obedience. Again, he designates a certain day saying in David today, after such a long time, as it has been said today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts for if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day,
therefore, or excuse me, there remains therefore a rest for the people of God, for he who has entered his rest has himself also seized from his works as God did from His, he says, God ceased. And his laborers when he created this world, not saying God’s not active anymore. He’s saying God did what he was going to do in creating this earth and creating this,
this dwelling blaze and creating this universe. And then He ceased, he stopped. He was finished. And yet he says to his people, I’ll give you something more, But this is what you have to do to get it. This is what you have to do to receive It. What did any of us have to do to receive the universe God created in the first six days?
All right, Let me ask you this way. What part did I have in me being here? None. All right. I didn’t have a choice. I’ve had a lot of choices since then, but getting here, I didn’t have a choice. Now, my mother said that I was kind of stubborn and didn’t want to come for about two months or two weeks.
And so, you know, there was this, is he coming? Is he coming? Is it? But the reality was me being here. Wasn’t a choice of mine. I’m here. But whether or not I enter God’s rest is a choice of mine. It requires hearing and believing and acting out of faith in obedience in order to enter that rest.
So he says, therefore there remains a rest for the people of God, but you don’t get it. If you go back to Moses, you don’t get it. If you turn away from Christ. So he says again, let us, he petitions them again. Verse 11, let us therefore be diligent to enter his rest. If you’re going to get there,
you’re going to have to work for it. You’re going to have to be diligent. You’re going to have to put effort into getting into the promise. Rest of Christ. You’re not going to accidentally slip into heaven. It’s not going to happen. You’re not going to accidentally wake up one day and hook life’s over. And I got to heaven. No it’s not going to happen.
You’re going to get there by giving diligence. He says, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest list. Anyone fall, according to the same example of disobedience, whose example the Israelites, the Israelites that came out of Egypt, they have provided us an example of how not to enter God’s rest and we can fall the same way they did, but he says,
let us give diligence, let us be diligent to not do that for the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing. Even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him,
to whom we must give account. Seeing then that we have a great high priest. Now here’s an interesting thing. He says, let us give diligence that we don’t follow their example of disobedience and then says, because the word of God is like, what? A two edge sword, a sharp two-edged sword. What is that? Eh, for, for any group of people that lived under Roman rule,
what is that harken to mine? The sword of a Roman soldier. They didn’t use the, the, the swords like were used in the, in the days of the pirates on the sea. And in, in early American times, sharp on one side, they used a sword that was sharp on both sides. It cuts you coming and going and God’s word here.
Oh, that’s interesting. We, we often describe this as the scriptures. God’s word, the scriptures contextually and grammatically that may not be accurate because the very next verse points out and there is no creature hidden from his sight. Grammatically. It is completely acceptable in this passage for the word to be Christ in the context, the word as a sharp two-edged sword,
being a description of Christ and his actions as, as the one who is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, okay. Either way. It’s very hard to separate as John describes him, John chapter one, the word from the, the word he gave, okay. Christ from his word, but he says seeing them that we have a great high priest context,
he’s talking about Christ. Seeing, then we have a great high priest who is passed through the heavens Jesus, the son of God. Again, third time in this chapter, let us hold fast. Our confession he’s brought us all the way back to where he started in chapter three, verse one, he’s the high priest of our confession. Okay. Let us hold fast to our confession for,
we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us fourth time. Therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Now on Wednesday, we’re going to pick up with these verses because we don’t have time to really get into them the way I want to right now,
but he’s described Christ as better than Moses. He’s described the rest of Christ as better than the rest of the promised land. And now he’s going to, again, describe Christ as a better high priest. And we’re going to discuss that as we get into chapter five comments or questions. All right. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible> the boys did.
Okay.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. It’s certainly good to see everyone here this morning. We’d like to, Oh, I was trying to see what time it was. I thought he was raising his hand. I thought he was more than a bit of hope. Hold up a minute. We do want to welcome those in our viewing audience.
We hope that this will be very uplifting for you too, as we worship together. And we certainly miss those that are normally here, but are staying in due to the virus. It was good to see everyone here today, especially those of you that are visiting with us. It’s our pleasure to have you here. We would like to have you fill out an attendance card.
So we might have a record of you being here. If you don’t mind doing that. And we, we do appreciate you coming and worshiping with us today. We do have a few announcements. We want to share with you. If you haven’t already picked up the Lord’s supper, we want to remind you of that right. Quickly in the back of the auditorium.
This would be a good time to do that. If you fail to do that, like I did, I just walked right in without it. So I’d have to go back and get it, but be sure and do that. We want to remember our sick Joan spring, or I didn’t get a chance to speak to Marie when he came in. But I think she’s,
she has good days and bad days. So hopefully she’s having better days. We, we pray that that’s the case. Dorothy, Wilson, I understand has been in the ER, some and actually she’s gotten home. She has been having chills. So she’s not sure whether or not she’s come down and with anything or not. So keep her in your prayers.
Also, Rudy has a twin brother ODALE and his wife Demple have COVID and he is not doing very well. And they really don’t expect him to live. So keep North and Rudel in your prayers that they’ll be able to come through this. Okay. And I know that it’s a very trying on them with his twin brother, looking like that. He might die here over this thing,
Tori, hi Ansley had her MRI and they’re waiting to hear the results of that. So keep her in your prayers. Also, Robin woods has pneumonia and we want to continue to remember her. Also, remember Jessica, she’s still having some health problems pray that there’ll be able to do those things that will be helpful for her to get back to normal way of life man’s meeting will be the 12th.
It’d be next month, a week from this Monday on the 14th. So keep that in mind. And we have a agenda item sheet on the bullets and the board there by the office. If you have anything you would like to be, to be discussed in that meeting, please go by there and, and write that on that sheet so that we can take care of those particular things.
Gary Carter would be speaking on tithing tomorrow night on the 9:00 PM nationwide gospel meeting that you can call in, or there’s a sheet on the table there in the four years. The best way to do that, just pick that up and it’ll tell you what you need to do in order to hear that or see it on the live stream. We want to mention that Noah Olson,
one of the young man from the school of preaching is here for a three month trial period. And hopefully it will be ongoing for the remainder of the time that he’s in school. So if you have not met Noah, please take the time to meet him and welcome him to the church here at Collierville. We’re glad to have him. He led our song service a Wednesday evening,
did a very good job and we want to continue to encourage him as well as Michael, as they go to the school of preaching and the work they’re doing, I have a card I’d like to read to you. Dear family, you all will never know how very lucky you made my Friday, the 13th, the beautiful flower spray had all of the files,
colors in them. And I enjoyed them for for many days, thanks to Sylvia and Diana and especially, yeah, to you, Eddie, what a brightful and delightful idea you had and carried it out through the throat. I can’t even read her own writing, carried it out so very well. I appreciate your thoughts, awfulness and the love. So very much I missed each of you so much this year.
May the new year find us happier, healthier, and in a, so much better place. My love in Christ, Suzanne, I’ll post this on the bulletin board there by the office or our service this morning, Michael Dale will be directing our song service. Eric Halverson has our opening prayer more Phillips has the Lord’s supper. Aaron Cozort would be bringing the message today.
And Tommy O’Neil Will lead us in our closing prayer. My first song this morning will be number 144 O worship the King one 44. Oh<inaudible> and green for Lee. Here’s one<inaudible> Oh shit. Dan. And the ancient<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> it streams from<inaudible> to play and sweetly<inaudible> for children de us and<inaudible> and<inaudible> and<inaudible> make defend.<inaudible> Ms.
Long before our opening prayer will be number 837. I need the every hour, eight 37. I need the every, ah,<inaudible> no<inaudible> I need the<inaudible> every hour. I need the<inaudible> to the, I need the every, ah, stay. Ah, ah.<inaudible> ah, ah, ah, I need the, a tiny, the<inaudible> the<inaudible><inaudible> the,
I need the, every<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible> the<inaudible> to the, I need the<inaudible>. Oh man.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> the,<inaudible> the<inaudible><inaudible> God, our father in heaven. We come to you at this time, thanking you for another opportunity to assemble here this morning in this building to sing songs, appraised your great name and to worship your great Lord.
We know there are many amongst us that are struggling with various ailments and we ask if it be your will, that you return them to a measure health that they so desire. But at this moment, Lord, I would like to especially ask that you reach out and comfort the Wilson family, especially Odell at this time. And if it be your will see him through this,
and if it is not your will, we understand that. Please comfort that family at this time of need. As we know only you can, God, we know that many amongst us fall short of your glory. And when we do, and we come to you with our shortcomings, we ask that you forgive us of those shortcomings and help us to stay on the straight and narrow and be your grateful servants here on earth.
And now, as we prepare to study a portion of your word, we ask that you help each and every one of us listen carefully to the message that brother Aaron is about to bring to us and take it and apply it to our lives. So we can be become better servants of yours here on earth. But most importantly, help us to have the courage to go out and reach out to those who have either fallen away from your word or have not had the chance to hear your word yet and bring your word to them so that they may also have the opportunity to make that choice and serve you.
We pray all this in your son. jesus’ name, amen Song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number 386. He loves me. Number three, eight, six. Why did the save y’all have on the van come to me? Oh man, his grace Adri sea, the sea loves me. So he loves me. He loves me.
He loves me this. I know he gave him. So to, for me, the CACI loves me. So<inaudible> no way. And<inaudible> pray being CACI loves. So he loves me. He loves me. He loves me this. I know he gave himself to die for me. The car see loves me. So I feel the gardens ride for draws.
Why through his trials? Oh,<inaudible> cross B. CACI loves me. So he loves me. He loves me. He loves me this. I know he gave himself to die for me be<inaudible> At this time, we need to remember Jesus and his sacrifice that he made on the cross. Well, the scenes mankind, let us pray. Having a followed.
We’re thankful for this bread that represents jesus’ body. That was nailed to that cross for our sins. Pray heavenly father would partake of it in a worthy manner. Amen. And men or heavenly father that is particular. This fruit of the vine, the represents jesus’ blood that was shed on the cross for the sins of mankind and prohibited. Followed would partake of it and where the men are also amen.
Separate from the Lord’s table. We have an opportunity to give us with prosper. Well, let’s pray. Heavenly father. We’re thankful for the monetary gains we received in the youth through there out the years and pray heavenly father, you receive receive a portion back to you to help the car. You were church here. Continue its work. Amen. The song before the lesson will be number 443.
The precious book divine. If you could please stand for this song. Number four, four, three. Oh<inaudible> bye. Bye<inaudible>.<inaudible> hi to God. My Saul to<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to my feet and to my way to guide me<inaudible> Oh, it’s sweetly. Cheers. My drooping. Oh<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> my feet. And like,
to my way to guide me<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to my way to guide me safely. Oh, maybe seated and we’ll be on the slides, but if you would like to Mark number nine, one, one, that’ll be the song of invitation number 911. Good morning. Couple of announcements. As we begin our lesson this morning that we failed to get in the announcements.
There’s a family down in Texas, the Rodriguez family. We’d like you to remember in your prayers, old bed Rodriguez Rodriguez. The father was an instructor of the Brown trail school of preaching in Texas, him and his wife both ended up getting COVID and both passed away within about a week and a half of each other, leaving behind a 21 year old daughter.
So keep the Rodriguez family in your prayers in this time. Also wanted to make, mention this concerning Noah. He comes to us from Missouri and he actually, his family attends the congregation where my middle brother attends up in Missouri and preaches there part-time. So it is good to have him. We look forward to working with him and he was came, came highly recommended.
So we look forward to the time we’ll get to spend with Noah and looking forward to that, turning into a permanent thing. As we think about that, of course, keep in mind that the Dale family is, is coming up on their last two quarters and they’ll be looking for preaching positions. And of course that’s going to be a whole different ball game in the world of COVID because,
you know, normally you would just go travel around and visit a few of these places. And that’s going to be harder even just as a result of that. So keep them in your prayers. As they looked toward the future and graduation, there’s a lot of, lot of changes ahead In this world. We face some significant struggles and anyone who’s honest with themselves and the world we live in would admit that we don’t live in a perfect place.
We don’t live In a perfect country. We don’t live in a perfect state. We don’t live in a perfect city. We don’t live in a perfect World. And yet we also realize that many of the struggles of this year have been for much of the world, a word that we’ve heard over and over and over on the news, unprecedented, whether they are,
whether they aren’t in view of history. This is a reality. The world faces Wars, famine, homelessness, anger, racism, riots, hopelessness, struggles, And pandemics. But as you and I look at our lives and as we look at our lives in view of one overarching detail, and that is eternity, we view our lives in view of what Jesus said in Mark chapter 16,
Jesus, as he was preparing to leave this earth said in Mark chapter 16, beginning in verse 15, he said to them, the them in this context is the apostles go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he who does not believe will be condemned. Jesus did not send his disciples,
his apostles or his church into the world to become ambassadors, governors, presidents, leaders in the business world, or even entrepreneurs. He sent his disciples into the world to preach the gospel. And as we face the problems that our world faces, as we face the problems and confront the problems that our world deals with every single day, we need to come to the realization that the gospel is the solution.
And again, we always live our lives and we should live our lives. In view of the temporary nature of our lives is the gospel, the solution to the pandemic. Will it cure COVID-19? No it won’t, but what does a person need to be ready for before their life is over? Whether they die of COVID-19 or cancer or a car accident,
or they die. When they’re 21 years old, from a bad Choice in every category, What they better have right before they leave this earth, no matter how it happens is their salvation. The gospel is the solution to the problems facing this world. If the gospel was being obeyed by the population of the world, would we have Wars? No, we wouldn’t.
If the gospel where Jesus Christ said to those who are on this earth to do to others, as we would have done to ourselves, would we have fighting’s among ourselves? If the gospel was obeyed and we were to serve one another first, instead of serving our own selfish desires in this world, would we have nation against nation? No. If the gospel was being obeyed,
would there ever be a reason for riots and protests in the streets? No. If the gospel was observed and obeyed by all the world, would there be Any hopelessness left? No. The gospel also doesn’t picture the world In that way. The gospel is honest with reality. Let’s begin in Luke chapter two. I want to begin in Luke chapter two,
because the beginning of Christ’s time on this earth was introduced in a certain way. It was introduced as a moment of change. Unlike anything else that had ever happened in Luke chapter two, beginning in verse eight. Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night and behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them.
Now I don’t know about you, but I think probably throughout the span of time, that shepherds have been out in the fields at night with their sheep. The, the quantity of times that an angel showed up during that night is pretty low. This is a pretty abnormal activity and notice what, what happens and behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.
And they were greatly afraid their responses adequate to the circumstance here. They they’re minding their own business. They’re tending their own sheep here. They are with their sheep and the glory of God shown from heaven and an angel stands before them. And they’re afraid. And yet the message The angel says to them do not be afraid, Afraid for behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy.
The angel says to these shepherds do not be afraid. I’m not here to punish you. Judge. You inflict harm on you. Do anything negative to you. I am here for the exact opposite reason. I am here to bring you good tidings, glad things. I am here to bring you the good news, but known as this other phrase, which will Searchie to all people,
Jesus Christ. As he entered into this earth, as he took on flesh, as he left heaven to become man, as he made himself lower than the angels to take on flesh, he came and in his coming, he brought good tidings of glad things to all people, not just to Israel, not just to the Jews, not just to one nation,
but to the entire World. Verse 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David, A savior who is Christ. The word there in the Greek would have told these Hebrew shepherds in the Hebrew, the Messiah who is the Messiah, the Christ Lord, and this will be the sign to you. We’ll find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger, Or rather on usual place for a child to be lying who had just been born. So all of this will occur. But what I want us to focus on is the entrance of Christ came and was proclaimed as a solution For the world, the gospel and the good news That was first hearkened by these angels and was brought forward by Christ was not National.
It was not territorial, but it was universal. It Was, as the angel said to All people turn to John chapter three, John Chapter three, beginning in 15, Jesus makes it clear as he is speaking with Nicodemus, that the gospel is the solution to the problem that all The world has Beginning in John chapter three, beginning in verse 15, we read that whoever believes in him should not perish,
but have eternal life for God. So loved the world that he gave. His only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says to Nicodemus this Jewish teacher, this Jewish instructor, that the problem the world has is the world is headed towards destruction. The world, its population, not the universe, not the planet.
Jesus isn’t here concerned about global warming. He’s concerned about souls and he says, these souls need salvation, or they will perish. But when that salvation, they have the opportunity at eternal life. But then verse 17 for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. But the world through him might be saved. Now some might come to this passage and say,
ah, look, Jesus Christ came in the world. Now we all will have heaven Without exception. Of course, that would be wrong because, Because they might’ve stopped just a little too soon. Verse 18 says he who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.
And this is the con the condemnation that the light has come into the world and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds Were evil. Jesus, as he speaks to Nicodemus confronts the reality of the situation, God sent his son into the world because the world was going to perish. And those who are part of the world needed salvation. And God loved the world and loved those souls that were in the world enough to give his only begotten son.
And he didn’t send them to this earth to condemn it. He didn’t send them to this earth to destroy it. He sent him to say It’s and yet Jesus will be the first to admit that not all the world will be saved because as he said, those who do evil love darkness rather than light. So what is it that will condemn world their refusal to obey the gospel,
their refusal, to believe that which God has said, but as we notice the gospel as the solution to the world’s problems and, and it is if we will simply obey it, the solution is universal. The gospel is universal. This problems that can be solved are universal, but they must be sought Solved individually. But then notice as well. The gospel is the solution because the gospel is the divine power for a helpless world.
Romans chapter one, Romans chapter one. And in verse 16, Paul writes here to the church at Rome, a church that had not yet been visited by an apostle, a church that did not yet have the gifts of the miraculous, the miraculous, the gifts of the Holy spirit, a church that did not have in its presence. Those who could perform miracles,
who could speak by revelation the way and profits who could speak as those did in Corinth and here, Paul writes to them any, He says to them, I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes he identifies that God sent the gospel to the Jews first, but also to all of the non Jews to the Greeks.
He says, God has brought forward a gospel that needs to be preached. He said in the prior verse verse, verse 15. So as much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome. Also, Paul said, the gospel is what needs to be praised because the gospel is the power of God to salvation.
But turn to James chapter one in James chapter one, as James writes to the first century church, he writes to these brethren who were struggling with a number of things, but he says to them in John and James chapter, one beginning of verse 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness,
the implanted word. Now, wait a minute. Paul wrote that the gospel is the power of God to salvation. Why do we need the gospel? We need it Because we cannot save ourselves without the gospel. We are helpless without the gospel. We are hopeless without the gospel. We stand before a God who says, you must be judged and you must stand righteous.
And we will all stand Romans chapter three, verse 23, as those who have fallen short of the glory of God, whose wages Of our sins will be death. Romans chapter six, verse 23. And yet God says, it’s okay. I’ve presented to you the gospel. And it is my power to save you. James writes that we need to lay aside the filthiness,
the overflow of wickedness. We need to receive with meekness, the implanted word, which is able to save our souls. When we look for the solution to the world’s problems, it’s been here, it’s been sitting here for 2000 years. It’s waiting for us to actually do it. And then we can begin to have some solutions to the world’s problems. The gospel is the solution because it is the divine power for a helpless world.
God acts through the gospel, but also the gospel is the solution to the world’s problems because the gospel is the light of God to a world in darkness. Turn to second Corinthians chapter four, second Corinthians chapter four, beginning in verse one, Paul writes, therefore, since we have this ministry, the idea of ministry there is service. Since we have this service,
as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. One of the struggles that Christians have at times is we look at all of those who won’t obey and go, how will we ever make a difference? And yet when Jesus Christ left this earth, when Jesus departed, ascended into heaven and left behind those who would change the world and they did,
he didn’t leave behind an army of a million people. He didn’t leave behind the government. He didn’t leave behind the King. He didn’t leave behind a constitution and he didn’t leave behind a group or a nation willing to change everything at a moment’s notice, he left behind 12 apostles and 120 disciples who were assembling with them. And those 12 apostles and those hundred and 20 disciples didn’t stay still.
They didn’t stay stagnant. They changed the world to the point where a few decades later, it was stated that these were the people who had turned the world upside down, Jesus Christ. And so Paul says, since we have this service, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God.
Deceitfully. But by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. He says, even if there are people who cannot see what we’re trying to teach them, even if there are those who cannot see beyond their own clouded vision, their own sin,
their own bias towards iniquity, to be able to see the hope that stands before them, we will still not lose heart. Why whose minds the God of this age has blinded speaking concerning the devil who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God should shine. What’s he saying, he’s saying The line of God is here.
The light of the gospel is present. The light of the glory of God is available to them, but they’ve shrouded themselves in darkness. They shrouded themselves in sin and they won’t let go of sin nearly long enough To walk into the light and Understand the truth. He says, verse five for, we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord and ourselves,
your servants for jesus’ sake for it is the God for it is the God who commended light or commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Here’s the thing we need to understand the same. God who spoke and light came for is Same God who said,
I’ll give my light to Mike People and my light will go for it. So we don’t lose heart. We instead preach the gospel because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the light of the world. But then also the gospel is the solution Because the gospel presents freedom to an enslaved World. We hear so much discussion in our society today about slavery, about Those things that have happened in our past,
in this country, those things that were unjust and those who were treated unjustly, and even those who are in other nations and in other places who are still in slavery to this day, here’s what we need to understand. You do not obtain true freedom by living in a country. That’s free. You do not obtain true freedom by having a government that dwells over you not tell you,
you are enslaved. You do not obtain true freedom in this life because you are born into a country that has no class system, or there is not someone who tells you what to do. You obtain true freedom in the way Jesus described in John chapter eight in John chapter eight, verse 31, Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, if you will buy it in my word,
you are my disciples, indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. And unless we’d begin to believe that the people who heard him, the people who were standing before him, the people who believed him in the prior verse immediately accepted that reality. And immediately believed that what he said was true. If we were to read the verses the follow-up we’d find out,
they immediately argued with him. They said, we’ve never been enslaved. Jesus said, Oh, you’ve been enslaved because you do the deeds of your father, the devil. He was a liar from the beginning and you do his works true. Freedom is not the absence of someone over us in this life. True freedom is salvation and freedom from our sins.
No matter our station in this life. So if we want to promote freedom in this world, by all means, we need to start promoting the gospel that provides that freedom. God did not solve the problem of slavery in this world by sending democracy or socialism or humanism or nationalism, he sent the gospel, but then consider As well. The gospel is the solution to the problems the world faces because the gospel that was given is a straight gospel in a crooked world.
Philippians chapter two, Paul writes to the church at Philippi and he writes to them as he confronts a number of issues, but also writes to these, this congregation that was very close to him. They had supported him while he was preaching while he was ministering, while he was going on these missionary journeys, they had supported him when no other congregations did.
He had a closeness to them that he didn’t have with many others. And he says to them in verse 12 of chapter, two of Philippians, he says, therefore, my beloved brethren brethren, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure.
What’s what’s Paul saying, Paul is saying, you know what? Just figure out your own way to be saved, right? No, that’s not what work out your own salvation means. He says, you have the commandments of God, you they’ve been delivered to you. Now do It. Do What must be done to obtain your salvation. Not as though I am standing here right over you looking over your shoulder and saying,
no, no, no, don’t do that. Do this. No. So much more. So in my absence, as you did in my presence, but in stand, he says, God works in you. How does God work in us? When we do what he commanded us to do in the gospel? So then he says, verse 14,
do all things without complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine As lights in the world, Hold fast, the word of life. So that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I may have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes.
And if I am being poured out as a drink, offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me. Paul says I spent my hours, my time, my labor, my effort to come to preach to you, the gospel. And I don’t want my labor to be in vain.
And so he rejoices in the fact that they were faithful. He rejoices in the fact they were obedient. He rejoices in the fact that they were working and accomplishing what God Would have them to do, but he identifies the reality. They were alight in world. That was perverse. They were alight in a world that was Crooked. And is the world any less perverse or crooked today?
No, That means we must still be That light. Romans chapter five, Romans chapter five, beginning in verse six, Paul makes it clear. Gospel is the solution to the world’s problems because it presents the wonderful love that God had for a hating World. And we struggle with hate in this world. We struggle with hate within homes and families. We struggle with hate within those who are in a community.
We struggle with hate in our name. It doesn’t matter who won the election Cause there’s lost souls on both The sides and This president and the next one and the one after and the one all the way back at the beginning, won’t save yourself And they won’t save our country. They must Only do what they have been given the power by God to do.
And God will set up whomsoever. He will and give power to whomsoever. He will, but this, I know it is the gospel that will change the hearts and souls of men. Romans chapter six, verse five, sorry, five verse six for when we were still without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly for scarcely, for a righteous man,
will one die yet, perhaps for a good man. Someone would even dare to die, but God demonstrates his own love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died For us, but God demonstrates his own love tore us that while we were still sinners, Christ died For us. The gospel Is this a solution to the world’s problems because it does not require us to first be worthy of the solution Before it will grant us the solution 10 or sorry,
verse nine, much more than having now been justified by his blood. We shall be saved from wrath through him for if we were, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, much more having been reconciled. We shall be saved by his Life. The gospel is the solution to a hating world because it was the light Love of God,
granted to a world that never deserved Until it came in contact with the blood of Christ, but also, and finally the gospel’s the solution to the world’s problems Because the gospel presents the unsearchable Riches of Christ to a world in poverty so much can be said about the state of the economy in this country, countries all over the world. And so much is said on a regular basis.
But the value of the dollar will never determine Your riches, The value of the dollar and the quantity, which you possess of the dollar will never determine Your riches or your poverty. Second Corinthians chapter eight. Okay. Paul writes to these Corinthian brethren who are being reminded of their responsibility to give, as they have promised to do on behalf of the Jewish Brasier brethren that were in poverty,
that were in the midst of a struggle in second Corinthians, chapter eight and verse nine, we read for, you know, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes. He became poor. Now wait a minute. What does he mean? Jesus Christ, inhabited heaven. He had the glory of the father.
He had the glory of God. He was deity. He left all of that to be born as a human, to have nothing to grow up, not enriches, not in the house of a King, not in the house of a, of a master, not, but in the family of a carpenter, He left those riches CA became poor that you through his poverty might become rich.
Jesus lowered himself to take on flesh to become lower than the angels that he through suffering might taste death for every man. But Ephesians chapter three, Fijian chapter three, We read this beginning in verse eight. To me, Paul writes to me who am less than the least of all the saints. First and foremost, Paul recognizes his own reality. Paul,
doesn’t say I, the greatest of all the apostles, he doesn’t right. I, the one who is your teacher, he doesn’t say I, the one who gave you everything you have, he said, I, the one who am The Le them less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given that I should preach among the Gentiles,
the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom, the many sided wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, God,
in his unsearchable riches that he brought forward in Christ as established a church, an assembly of people, the called out from the world. And they are of such significance that Paul identifies that the church is what showed the wisdom of God to principalities and powers in heaven. When God said, I want to show you my wisdom. He didn’t say, look at this great nation I’ve made.
No, no, no, no, no, no. He didn’t say, look at this great King of the earth that I have. No, no, no, no. He didn’t do that. When he said to all those who are in heaven, see the majesty of my wisdom. He said, look At my church. Beginning of the ages that had been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ,
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. According to the eternal purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus, our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you,
which is your glory. Paul would write these words from a Roman prison. Paul would be sitting in prison on trial in fear of his life. Having appealed to Caesar, Been brought to Rome and almost killed in the process. Yes. And he tells these Ephesians brethren don’t lose heart. Don’t lose heart because of my predicament. Because you look at Christ church,
you look at his gospel. You look at my ministry. That was granted to me, not because of my greatness, but because of God’s grace Greatness and his mercy, that I have been able to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul writes to these brethren and says, you remember, you’re part of the light. It doesn’t just shine to the world around you,
but declares the glory of God in heaven itself, Gospel is the solution to the world’s problems, but it can only solve the world’s problems by the actions of the church, acting on behalf of God, which confronts us with a reality that we are to be the solution to the world’s problems, but it will not happen if we are not first obedient to God’s gospel that he’s given to us in our own lives.
We cannot be the solution to the world’s problems. If we won’t first SAR solve our own. So have you done that? Have you taken the gospel that Jesus said, except you believe that I am, he, you shall die in your sins. Have you taken the gospel where he said he, the believer and is baptized shall be saved. And he,
the believers have not, shall be damned. Have you taken the gospel where Jesus said, if you are not obedient to this and repent, you are without hope And have you first corrected your own life by entering into the blood of Christ, Entering into a relationship with him, entering into the church, the assembly of God, by being baptized into Christ And having your sins washed away,
because you cannot solve the world’s problems by holding a political office or rioting in the street or anything in between, but you can solve the world’s problems. One soul at a time with the gospel of Jesus Christ. You’re outside the gospel of Jesus Christ and outside of the church of Christ. You are without hope, but you don’t have to stay there. You have need of the gospel.
The gospel is waiting for you. If you have questions and need help understanding it, the church is waiting for you. All you need to do is ask if you have any meat, why not come forward now as we stand and as we say, He will create a new<inaudible><inaudible> he<inaudible> a<inaudible> bring him your<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> troubles you. Oh,
bring it. Oh,<inaudible> nah,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> on to the, with<inaudible> but<inaudible>. And<inaudible> The song before our closing prayer will be number 622 ring out the message. I need my men to sing out on the base part for this for me please. Number 622. There’s a nurse. It’s true in glad for their sinful in the SAC ring it.
Ah, ah, it will give them courage. It will help them to be true. Ring it. Ah, ring it up.<inaudible> speed it away. Nurses G fine. Send it today. It’s sheer.<inaudible> Marilee ring. Wonderful news. Making men free, happy and free green, green, green, green.<inaudible> tell the world of saving grace naked,
known in every place.<inaudible> help. The needy wants to know him from whom all blessings flow<inaudible><inaudible> away or nurses and see, send it today. Let it cheer. Nah,<inaudible> darkness in doubt. Merely reading wonderful news. Nikki men free, happy and free green, green, green, green.<inaudible> down to sweep away.<inaudible> for Jehovah’s my Tucson ring it,
ah, ring it. Ah, ah, merrily ring the speed it away. Or messages diva and see send it today. Let’s cheer. NA<inaudible> the news wonderful news that makes making men free. Man. Free, happy and free ring, ring, ring, ring, ring.<inaudible> Yeah. You bow with me, our heavenly father. We thank you for this beautiful Dave.
You’ve given us to enjoy. We thank you for each and every opportunity that we have to gather as your children to worship you and to study that word, her God, no one. Then our adherence to your will and word is the salvation for all of Mann County. For those that seek it, our heavenly father, we know that as mortals, we do send against you.
We pray that you forgive us of these Sans. As we repent of them, strengthen us that each day of our lives, we might be an example to those lost souls around us. Our heavenly father would pray for all of those mentioned here today, that her sick and that our morning because of the loss of loved ones, Compartamos dear God and heal those that are suffering with this virus.
If that be though will our heavenly father, we ask that you go with each of us, protect us, keep us safe and help us to be a light unto the world around us. The things we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Automated Transcript:
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> good evening. We are going to go through the questions for revelation 22, and then we will officially be finished with the book of revelation. Now, as you would have it, the other classes are about four or three lessons into the book of Hebrews. And instead of starting in the middle of the book, we’re going to start at the beginning,
prying catch up before, you know, a year from now. So I think we’ll be able to do it. Revelation chapter 20 twos questions, question one. What proceeded from the throne. God. All right. Water of life for whom did the tree of life provide healing for the nations? Who is the light of the church today? The Lord,
God. All right. When would these things happen that were written in the, or to the first century church? All right. Shortly things are shortly to come to pass. Who and who alone are we to worship God. Number six, Daniel was told to seal up the words of his prophecy. What was John told not to do with his prophecy and why not to seal them up?
And why? Because the time was at hand who invites people to partake of the tree of life and the water of life. All right. Spirit and the bride, There’s a typo on number eight who has access to the tree of life and the water of life. Okay. Those that do his commandments, that of course being Christ’s commandments, what will happen to the person who alters the book of revelation,
All right. Taken out of the book of life and what will be added to him, the plagues that are written in the book of revelation. Okay. So don’t do that. All right. Just, just on the, on the list of things not to do, put that one on the list, don’t do that. Do not alter the book of revelation.
Of course, that is equally true for any other book, but of the Bible, but certainly the book of revelation. All right. Book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter one. Now the lessons that in, in the material have for at least the majority of the book, have us going two chapters at a time. So we’re already going to be moving right along just to stay,
stay on track, but we’ll, we’ll take it as it comes. Let’s begin with a word of prayer. I think I skipped to that at the beginning, but start there gracious father in heaven, we bow before your throne grateful for this day that you’ve given to us the life that we have and the opportunities that we have to serve you. We’re grateful for all of the things that we have been blessed with in this world.
And all of the many freedoms we have in this country, we pray for those that are struggling with COVID. We pray for those that are struggling with financial difficulties. We pray for those that are struggling with the difficulties of life in general, mindful of those who have lost loved ones in recent days, pray for them as well. We ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory and are willing to repent of those things.
We pray and are thankful for Jesus Christ who came and died on the cross for our sins. All this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. The book of Hebrews is written to the first century church, but it is dressing very specifically the Jews among the first century church, specifically Jews who were going through difficulties, going through persecutions, going through hard times,
going through the difficulties of being cast out of their synagogues, being cast out of the society that they lived in as part of the Jewish culture, because they were Christians. And because of that, there were some of them that were considering going back to the law of Moses. They were considering going back to Judaism and the Hebrew writer addresses his book to confront the problem,
but also to provide them the reason why that’s such a bad idea. I mean, if you think about it from one form of reasoning, you say, well, wait a minute, this was a law given by God. This was a law that, that was with the Jewish or with the Israelite nation for almost 1600 years. It provided for them during that course of time,
why would it be such a bad thing to go back? Which back to the, which came from God to begin with, but the Hebrew writer sets out exactly why that would be such a bad idea and why it was in complete opposition with God’s desire for them. Okay. So he begins. The Hebrew writer does with God, God who at sundry times and in diverse ways,
spake in times past to the fathers by the prophets has in these last days spoken unto us by His son. The very first thing that the Hebrew writer begins with, the very first thing that he addresses is God has not stopped speaking. Now that’s of significant, especially to the Israelite nation, because the very last prophet to prophesize was Malakai. How many years had it been from the birth of Christ going backwards to the time where Malakai was alive prophesied Over 400 years,
400 plus years where God said Through the profits, nothing and yet too, The first century church, the Hebrew writer begins with God Has spoken. So when you begin to go, you know what, I’m going to go back to the old thing. The old thing, the old covenant, where God finally stopped speaking, and you’re going to ignore the,
the revelation from God. That is current. We have a problem. He says he splits In various times. And in various ways he spoke in times past by the, or to the fathers by the prophets has in these last days, spoken to us by his Son whom he has a Appointed heir of all things through whom also he made the Worlds. So He begins first with Revelation.
He says, you should obey Christ because God spoke through Christ. Second. Certainly you should obey Christ because he is the creator, Oh, everything, everything. And then he goes on to say who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person. And I’m holding all things by the word of his power. When he had by himself,
purged, our sins sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Thirdly, you should obey Christ because everything that exists now exists because of his Power. He knows Not only created it, but he upholds it. It continues to because he allows it to, but fourthly, you should listen and obey Christ because he is on the throne. Now we just spent an entire series of study on revelation,
which the single major point of the entire book of revelation is Jesus Christ is on the throne. It doesn’t matter who sits on the throne in Rome, Jesus Christ is on the throne. So here we are in the book of Hebrews and the points to the Jews, to the Israelites, those among the church that are of Judea Judaistic background is Jesus Christ is on the throne.
When was the last time that there was a God appointed King on the throne in Israel? Say what? Well, I mean, in the sense of the lineage of David, the tape going down the lineage of David, when was the last time there was a child of David sitting on a throne in Israel, Keep going. When Nebuchadnezzar came and removed the last son of Solomon from the throne in Israel,
Zedekiah was the last King in Israel. When they went into Babylonian captivity, God said, no more. God told the King, your lineage will not continue. And he didn’t. Now Jesus Christ would come from the lineage of David, but not from the line of Solomon. Okay? That lineage ended. God said there will be no more Kings to sit on this throne.
So 400 years before God stopped speaking under the old covenant 600 plus years before God removed their King under the old covenant. And now Jesus Christ comes and he is both King and prophet. And now you’re going to go back to the old one. You’re going to go back to the old law. You’re going to go back to the old covenant. You’re going to go back to the old profits.
After hundreds of years of God’s saying I’m, I’m done. Okay. All of this is just the introduction. This is just the Hebrew writer getting started. He hasn’t even made an argument yet. He had just set forth the premises of if all of these things are true, we’re we’re done before the discussion begins. But notice what he says, having become so much better.
Then the angels he, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name, then they beginning here. The, the argument line, the, the line of argumentation of the book of Hebrews is going to be Jesus Christ is better. And he’s going to, you go item after item as to why Jesus Christ is better than everything that came before. And he’s going to begin with angels.
Okay? So you, Jesus Christ is better than the angels. Now the angels are going to be significant. We’re going to see this as we get into the text, because it was through the angels. Again, this is something that we’re being told here, kind of retroactively that God, the old wall. Okay. So notice what we read. He says first and foremost,
he has a better inheritance than they do notice as well. He says for two, which of the angels did he ever say to which angel, what specific angel did God the father ever say, you are my son today. I have forgotten you. Well, the is none of them to knowing angel ever did say, you are my son. Now you say,
well, wait, wait, wait a minute. W we read about in the book of job where the, the sons of God came before him, and we know that’s talking about the angels. Yes, collectively God speaks of them as his children. And we know that Jesus Christ came to make us the children of God. And so even we are spoken of as sons of God,
and you go all the way back to Genesis chapter, I think five, it is or forward. And you read about the men that were living in that day being described as the sons of, Oh God. Yes. But to what individual, not a group, not those who are the offspring of God, but to what individual did God ever say today?
You are my son today. I have forgotten you. And the answer is only Christ. Okay? So he says, and again, with the Hebrew writer, he’s going to go arguments, argument, argument, argument, argument, argument. So much so that he’s just going to overwhelm the, the op the opposing argument. He says, and again,
I will be to him, a father, and he shall be to me, a son. Now, a portion of this, interestingly, because we just talked about the kingship of Christ. A portion of this comes from second Samuel chapter seven, where God tells David, I’m going to give you a son. And your son is going to rain on your throne.
That is of significance in the life of David, because had there ever been a son of a King in Israel who rained on The throne after the father? Not in David’s day, there hadn’t been. Cause there’d only ever been how Many Kings, One who proceeded him. And that was solid. And what happened to Saul’s throne, God removed it. Okay.
So God tells David, I’m going to give you a son and he’s going to reign on the throne. But the Hebrew Writer looks backward through the power of the Holy spirit and says the ultimate fulfillment in a Type and anti type situation of Solomon’s reign the descendant of David sitting on the throne that God is going to be talking about. Isn’t all ultimately Solomon,
because Solomon is going to die. But the throne that’s described in second, Samuel chapter seven is going to abide forever and ever he says, and so the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy in again, in a type in antique type situation of Solomon and Christ Is Christ, not Solomon. So he, He says, you are my son today. I’ve forgotten you.
And I will be to him, a father. And he shall be to me, a son. But when he again brings the first born in the world, he says, let all the angels of God worship him and of the angels. He says, who makes his angels spirits and his ministers of flaming fire. As we go through this, he’s laying forth all of these situations where God has done something in the past,
and now what he has done with Christ shows Christ to be superior. Now, there is one, one aspect here, a verse verse seven and others angels. He says, who makes his angels spirits? One commentator made the point. And it it’s, it’s at least valid to note that the word spirits in the Greek is Maybe let me say it this way.
The Greek word for spirit is the same Greek word for the word Wind. Okay. And so the context is what determines, What, which, what meaning does this word have? Does it have the word wind or does it have the meaning wind or spirit? There’s an interesting point in that is so often God uses the wind and the fire in the old Testament as his messengers,
in the sense of when God wants to move the children, Israel, how were they led by Cloudy day? And what by night pillar of fire, when God wants to part the sea, what does he use? The wind. Okay. Oh, fairly regularly. Through the old Testament, you have God acting Through Natural means such as wind and fire.
Okay. Could that have been added Surely preformed or done by one of the angels? God says to an angel go part, the sea could an angel have done that? Yes. Well, Some might say, well, Aaron, how do you know that? First of all, if an angel singular in the old Testament texts can come in and overnight kill 185,000 In an army,
Good chance. He could also part the seas. If An angel can come over in the night and kill all the firstborn in Egypt, good chance. He can also part the seas. Okay? The point being whether it’s spirit or whether It’s wind, God’s Spoken of in the old Testament as using his angels to do these things. Okay. But to the sun,
here’s a contrast. God sends his messengers to do a job, but to his son, he says your throne, Oh God, God is for forever. And ever After of righteousness is the Sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. So God here,
Jehovah addresses God and says, I’ve prepared your throne. God never addressed an angel. That way God never spoke to an angel that way God never prepared a throne for an angel. He did that for his son. Now he rider again is showing Jesus is better than the angels. Then notice what he says. And verse 10, you Lord in the beginning,
laid the foundation of the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain. And they will all grow old, like a garment, like a cloak. You will fold them up and they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will not fail. So not only does God say to Christ here,
speaking one to another in old Testament revelation, I’ve prepared you a throne, but he also identifies him as the one who laid the foundation of the earth. He also identifies him as he terminal in nature. He also identifies him as an changing God never spoke in such ways about angels. He only spoke that way about if you think of it, this sense himself.
And so he speaks that way concerning Christ, but to which of the angels, another argument, all right, he’s, he’s made the argument that God never called. One of the angels, his son, he second makes the argument that the angels worship him. He thirdly makes the argument that he’s on the throne. He forcibly makes the argument that he created the earth.
He fifthly makes the argument that he’s eternal. He’s six. Lee makes the argument that he is unchanging and seventh. He makes the argument. You sit at my right hand to winter. The angels has he ever said, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies, your footstool. What is the, the right hand? What’s, what’s the significance of that?<inaudible> Preeminent most powerful,
most important in the, in the old days, when the King sat down, you would see the order of power. Beginning with whoever sits at his right hand. Whoever sits at the King’s right hand is the most powerful individual next to the King himself. Okay? So God says to Christ, prophetically speaking in the old Testament, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies,
your footstool, God father says to his son, I’m going to put you in a position of power. And then I’m going to deliver every one who will opposes you as those who will bow before you and to which of the angels did God ever say? He would do such a thing to none of them. Okay. One time after another, all throughout the book,
you’re going to see this God put forth or God putting forward. Here’s what happened in the old Testament. Here’s what I did in the old Testament. And here’s my son and my son is better than everything else. And here’s the points. We go all the way through this. Keep this in mind. This is not God going, eh, ignore all that stuff I did before.
That’s not what this is. This is God saying everything I did before was leading to this, go over to Hebrews chapter 12. Actually, let’s go back into chapter 11 for just a minute.<inaudible> In Hebrews chapter 11. He presents person after person, after person, after person, after person in the old Testament, who by faith, obeyed God by faith accomplished great things.
And then he says, verse 36, after he’s even talked about more and then just thrown in a whole group from the old Testament that, that he wants to point out, but doesn’t have time to go into in depth. He then says, verse 36, still others had trials of mockings and scourgings yes. And of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned.
They were sawn in two were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wondered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. Talking about all these people who were faithful under the old Testament. They wandered in deserts and mountains in dens and caves of the earth and all these having obtained a good testimony through faith did not receive the promise.
God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great, a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin, which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance. The races set before us looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. The point of the Hebrew writer is not, none of this stuff matters. None of this stuff has any significance to us. Just ignore the old Testament. We’re not under the old Testament, so we don’t even need to read the no.
His point is, all this stuff looks forward to something. All these people who lived by faith and obeyed out of faith and dined by faith did so looking word to something and that something came through Jesus Christ. And so these all died in anticipation of it. And yet you Christians who are receiving it, receiving the thing, they died in faith, looking forward to you’ve received it.
And you’re considering going back what foolishness to go back against Christ. Okay. So verse 14 of chapter one, are they not all ministering spirits sent forth the minister for those who will inherit salvation? The Hebrew writers’ point is the angels. They’re the servants of God they’re ministering or serving spirits acting on behalf of those who belong to God. Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard.
He begins with God spoke by Jesus Christ returns after talking about Christ, being better than the angels to the poem Christ has spoken. So he says, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard. Lest we drift away for, if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward. How shall we escape if we neglect?
So great, a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders with various miracles and gives to the Holy spirit. According to his own will here. He addresses these Christians. And he says, if under the old Testament, the angel spoke and they gave the message of God.
And it was heard by the people and those who ignored. It were punished and Christ is better than the angels. Then how much worse will it be? If we who have heard Christ, ignore him To those who are Given a greater opportunity, God will hold them to greater accounts. So the Hebrew writer says what’s going to happen to us if we neglect.
So great salvation, he spoke to us, It was spoken by the Lord. It was confirmed by the apostles and those who heard him and has been delivered to them, To us, nobody gets to have the excuse. What, You know, if I had just been living in the days of Christ, if I had just seen his miracles firsthand, if I were just there in Galilee,
when he did those great things, maybe I would believe now the Hebrew writer says, that’s not going to work. You’re not going to get off that way. It’s been confirmed and testified to you can hold it up in a court of law and you’re accountable to it. Therefore you Need to be obedient to it. It was confirmed. It was born witness of,
with the signs and with wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy spirit. He said, you are beyond excuse Four versus five. And if it feels like I’m moving quicker than there, and there’s so much more here, there is so much more here, but we’re going to get through two chapters. We’re going to have to move. All right.
Four. He has not put the world to come of which we speak in subjection to angels. Okay. Next line of argumentation. We’re still talking about angels here. He’s just kind of dropped back into the whole revelation thing, but now he comes back. He says, and here’s another thing, God, didn’t put the world to come in subjection To the angels.
God, Didn’t say, when all this is over. When this age is completed, when the, the age of Christianity is done and the judgment day comes and we go into eternity, you’re going to be in subjection angels. No, he didn’t say that he instead put Christ in that position. But one testified in a certain place saying what is man?
That you are mindful of him or the son of man that you take care of him. You have made him a little lower than the angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. Go wait a minute. I’ve read that passage in the old Testament.
And David is talking about humanity. Yeah, but it’s Ultimate fulfillment. Isn’t in humanity. It’s ultimate. Fulfillment is in Christ. That being, he put all things in subjection under his feet, verse eight, for in that he put all in subjection under him. He left nothing. That is not yet put under him, but now we do not yet.
See all things put under him. Somebody’s going to come along and say, but I see a lot of things that, that aren’t obeying the control of Christ. I see a lot of people who are resisting. I see a lot of people who aren’t doing what he says. Therefore it must not be that he’s raining yet. And he writer says, wait,
wait, don’t go there yet. Just because it looks like it doesn’t mean you understand the full situation and he’s going to take it to the furthest extreme of the greatest enemy. The greatest enemy that there could possibly be that needs to be overcome. And he’s going to say, if he’s defeated that one he’s defeated everything else. Okay. So notice what he says.
He says verse nine, but we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor that he, by the grace, God might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things. And by whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Okay. This is hearkening back to Isaiah chapter 50 53, where God is saying, I’m going to send my servant. My servant is going to be killed. He doesn’t deserve it, but it’s your iniquities. I’m laying on him. It’s your sins that I’m laying on him. It’s by his stripes that you’re healed. Okay. He doesn’t deserve it,
but he’s doing it as a propitiation for you. Okay? So notice what he says. He says it was fitting. It was necessary. You couldn’t die for yourself and save yourself. You couldn’t stand by your own merits and works and save yourself. Someone had to die for you. And so he says it was fitting that this should be done. But then he says,
for both he who sanctifies, and those who are being sanctified are all one. For which reason, he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying, I will declare your name to my brethren in the midst of the assembly. I will sing praise to you. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, here am I and the children whom God has given me three different passages,
again, from the old Testament where he says, this is gone, looking forward to Christ saying that Christ as one who comes in the flesh, who dies in the flesh, who suffers in the flesh DIDs. So to be like those whom he would say we could spend untold numbers of classes, just talking about what it means to you and me as Christians to realize how much God cares for us.
Just how much God loved humanity that he took on flesh. How many passages In the old and new Testament speak about the love of God in view of the fact that he left heaven, he became lower than the angels to suffer and die for us. Did Christ need to do that? Was Christ Somehow unfulfilled in his role As the second person in the Godhead Was Christ.
Somehow just in need of something. When he created the world and created everything that exists, he somehow had something missing in his life. No, It was because he loved us that he did it for us, but he said he did it to call us brethren. Then he says, verse 14 and is much then as the children have partaken in flesh and blood,
He himself likewise Shared in the same that through Death, he might destroy him Who had the power of death. That is the devil. Okay. Now remember the line of argumentation is this. God said to God, God, the father said to Christ, you sit here at my right hand Until I make your enemies. He’s your footstool. And then the Enemy of all enemies,
Satan Is defeated. And his greatest weapon is defeated. When Jesus Christ didn’t stay dead. Notice what he says. He says 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their subject to bondage for indeed. He does not give aid to angels, but to, but he does give aid to the seed of Abraham. You Christians, you Israelites,
who are considering going back to the law. Do you remember what it was like when you looked at death with nothing but the law, when you had no help into eternity, other than the law and all the law told you was Your sin. God acted on your behalf. So many times, and God spoke of his loving kindness, and God spoke of his justification.
But God so often said You sinned. And if you confront death with the hope that you have being Sin, you face death in fear, but under Christ, you don’t confront death with sin. You confront death with the blood Jesus Christ. He says he overcame it, Overcame death because he gave you the answer to what’s. On the other side, He is he’s Waiting there for indeed.
He does not give aid to the angels Christ didn’t die for the angels Christ didn’t take on flesh for the angels. Christ didn’t become an angel to bear their sins. No, he did that for humanity for Christ did not give aid to the angels, but he does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things he has to be made like his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted. He is able to aid those who are tempted. He’s going to begin to introduce. He started off with revelation, came by Jesus Christ, then King ship with Jesus Christ. Now we’re into priesthood in Jesus Christ,
but in all of this, his emphasis has been chapter. The end of chapter one, all of chapter two is Christ is superior to the angels. And if he’s superior to the angels who God utilized in the old Testament to do all of these things, then he’s superior to the old Competent. Okay. That’s the focus of Chapters one and chapter two.
All right. I want this Show of hands who prefers to do the questions at the end of class or prefers to use them as a review at the beginning of the next class. So raise your hand. If you prefer the end of class, raise your hand. If you prefer the beginning of the next class, all right. Everybody agrees with me.
No. Well, almost everybody agrees. All right, we’re going to continue to do that because it does. It does lead us back into kind of gets those thoughts fresh in our minds. So we will continue to do the questions. I mean, you’ve got them, you can sit there and do them yourself in between classes, but we will use them as the review to pick up the next study.
So you’ve got chapters one and chapter two and Sunday, we will do chapter three and chapter four and going this quickly through the book of Hebrews is going to drive me crazy. But I’m not that far from crazy anyway. So not far to drive, you’re dismissed.<inaudible> Good to see everyone this evening. We’re glad to have you here. We don’t really have many announcements.
If any. I think we made most of them about Dorothy and Rodale Wilson or continue remember them. We miss Sylvia. I don’t, I’m not sure. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you. See, we’ve missed you Sunday though. We’re glad you’re back tonight. And there were several others that weren’t with a Sunday and they’re still not here.
I don’t leave the seating. So we do want to continue to remember Jessica and probably that she continues to make some improvements and Joan Springer. We want to remember her and our prayers that she continues to make some progress. We have a couple of issues with us, Jonathan and Sonia. It’s good to have them with us tonight. And then also no Olsen.
He’s going to school to preach. And some of you met him about a couple of weeks ago when it Noah, and it was good to see him tonight, as far as those that will be leading us in our devotional. Noah’s going to be leading us in our song service. Michael’s going to be ha having the devotional. And then Murray Springer will lead us in a closing prayer to appropriate time.
It’s good to have everyone here. We enjoyed the class off though. Although it was kind of a speedy li covered class. And sometimes at least some of us in the dust, you know, that’s about done, but Aaron he’s, he does a great job and we just need to be better prepared. I guess that when we come to their class and have read the chapter thoroughly and given it a lot of thought and consideration,
and that way we won’t be in the dust. So I just wanted to say that because we do need to do that. So we need to know what we got to be covered. I missed out on it Sunday. Cause one day you might’ve said, well, we’re going to, Oh, now, now we’re off the hook. All right, well,
I’m gonna let Noah come on up and, and direct our songs servers. All right. Number 454, five zero. Give me the Bible. Over 450. We’ll send the first and third, four 50. Give me the Bible star of gladness, gleaming to cheer the wander.<inaudible> no storm. Ken high that radiance BA spool BME, since Jesus came to seek and say,
the lost gave me the Bible. Holy name message. I need, I lied shower guide me and a narrow way. Crease. Then promise. Love. Come by. Name to night, shall vanish. Annie turn all day. Give me the Bible lamp of life. M or so. Oh, hold up that splendor by the open gray name, show me the light from heaven shining for its or show me the little ring gilding Jordan’s way.
Give me the Bible. The message I need. The light shall guide me in a narrow way, precept and promise law. And I’ve come by needing to night, shall vanish at any turn all day, right? If you want to go ahead and Mark number 915 Nine one five, we will sing the first and last dance for the song. Everybody.
Just one quick announcement. Before I do my short devotional, my mother-in-law is back in the hospital. She has pneumonia again. So I’m guessing they’re going to have to drain it with the needle. And so we just need to keep her in our prayers as she goes through this. Cause she’s not recovering as, as well as the doctors. And we would like,
so if he could just keep her in your prayers tonight, I want to talk to you about the word of power. Let’s read Psalm 33, six through nine, and I’ll wait for everybody to get their Psalm chapter 33 verses six through nine. Okay. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the hosts of them by the breadth of his mouth.
He gathered the waters of the sea together. As in heap, he layeth up the death in store houses, let all the earth fear. The Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in. Awe of him for he spake. And it was done. He commanded and it stood fast as Christians. We must all understand the power of God’s words.
The mighty works of God are wrought by the all powerful word that he gives. God creates God destroys. And God brings into being simply by speaking over and over again, we’ve read in Genesis chapter one and God said, let there be. And there was every single time. Let us consider again what David observes. We’ll read 33, six through nine and just read it,
really read it with me by the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth, he gathered the waters of the sea together as an heap, he layeth up the depth in store houses. Let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in. Awe of him for he spake.
And it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. Now I want us to consider what the apostle Peter says on the day of Pentecost in acts chapter two, acts chapter two 24 through 27.<inaudible> Whom God has raised up having loose the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holding of it for David speaking concerning him.
I first saw the Lord always before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice. And my tongue was glad. Moreover, also my flesh shall rest in hope because that will not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine. Holy one. To see corruption here. Peter is saying that death could not hold Jesus because God said he would be raised.
God said it. And it happened every time. Now let us consider what God illustrates for us in Isaiah chapter 55, Isaiah 55 verses 10 and 11 For as the rain cometh down, something simple, right? The rain coming down and the snow from heaven and return is not feather, but water. Watereth the earth and make it that bring forth. And bud,
that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. And God says, so shall my word be that go with forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that, which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where to I sent it anytime he speaks, it’s going to happen.
God, the son restores the life of the paralyzed man’s legs and Matthew nine one through eight, the man with the palsy, remember they had to dig through the roof to get him down there just by speaking. He restores his legs. God, the son forgives sins of that same man with the palsy Mark, two one in one through 12 God, the son restores sight to blind.
Bartimaeus on the road to Jerusalem and Mark 10 46 through 52. And God, the son raises the dead Lazarus in John 1138 through 44. He does all of these miraculous things, just at the command of his word. Can you imagine just sitting there or being there on that day when Jesus said Lazarus come forward and he walks out of the grave, his sister said he stinketh for,
he’s been dead for four days. He had been dead for four days and he called him just with his word and Lazarus came forth. I like what brother Marshall Keeble said on, on this topic. He said, if Jesus had not called Lazarus, by name, everybody in the cemetery would have come forth of just gives me chills. Thinking about it.
The gospel faithfully preached is the same powerful word. It brings spiritual life to the spiritually dead. Let us consider what Jesus says in John chapter five in verse 25, John five 25, Jesus said verily, verily. I say unto you, the hour is coming. And now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God. And they that hear shall live just by hearing his voice.
We shall live. Our task is to faithfully preach his powerful word. He gave that task to us in Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 and 20. We’re supposed to go out and teach it to all nations. All of us are every Christian this week. I charge all of you to open your Bibles and read chapter one of Genesis. And as you read through chapter one of Genesis,
underline the phrase and God said, every single time you see it. And God said, and God said, and God said, and once you’ve finished doing that take time and a specific prayer to God thanking him for the power of his word. These are the words of life, my brethren. And if you teach the word to people, they can believe it.
And if they believe it, they can have eternal life right alongside you and see Jesus in the sky. If you have yet to obey these powerful words, the waters of baptism are ready for you. And if you have need of prayers from the saints, we’re here for you, whatever your need, please come forward. As we stand and sing Is more,
what a glory sheds on our way. Wow, we do his good will he abides with us and with all well trust and<inaudible> trust and Oh, bang four. There’s no other way to be happy and jeez, but to trust. And<inaudible> then in fallow ships, we, we lived in that has been, or we’ll walk by his side in a way what he says we will do wary sins.
We will go never fear on the trust and<inaudible> trust and Oh, bang four. There’s no a, the way to be happy and jeez, but to trust and, Oh,<inaudible> I think this opportunity we have to hear, you were read out loud. Here’s the thing we need to know. I don’t want it to be riding your side to always carry that with it at all time,
stay clean. And your thoughts tonight. Keep us safe from pandemic going on. We’ll just remove it from a given right name. We do pray.
Automated Transcript:
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Well, my watch says it’s time to start. So we’re going to go ahead and get started. Okay. We’re in revelation 21 and 22.<inaudible> Good to see you, sir. Let’s begin with a word of prayer gracious and bountiful father in heaven. We come before you at this time, grateful for the day that you’ve given to us,
the life that we have and the opportunities that we have to serve you. We pray that as we go throughout this period of study this morning, we might glean the things from these passages that you would have us to learn. We might grow closer to you and understand, and be comforted by your word, and also admonished to live in a way that will prepare us for eternity.
We pray and are mindful of those who are struggling in this time because of illness, difficulty, injury, or struggles in their lives, or those who have lost loved ones. In recent days, we are mindful of each and every one of them. We’re mindful of our nation. And we’re mindful of the world. All of its many struggles and all of its many difficulties,
pray for those who are in difficult places, difficult times, especially those who are striving to preach the gospel in those locations and teach others the word that they might have the hope of eternity, pray that you be with us. As we go throughout this period of study and worship this morning may all that we do be in accordance with your will. All this.
We pray in Jesus name. Amen. So between Sunday and Wednesday, Last week, we noticed a number of passages in Isaiah, especially there are more in the sheets that you were given. There’s some in Zechariah, there’s some in Jeremiah, there’s some in Hosea that I don’t think actually made it on the list, but there’s passages all throughout the old Testament that give us the language of revelation 21 and 22.
They speak consistently concerning God’s people. And they speak of God’s people in one United context. And that context is victory over the enemies of God and God having judged his enemies. When God judges his enemies, God’s people get pictured in these sorts of ways because when God judges his enemies go all the way back to the end of revelation, chapter six, when God judges his enemies and the picture of revelation six is the rich and the mighty and the rulers.
And all the Kings are, are crying on the mountains, fall on us to protect us from the wrath of the lamb and the one who sits on the throne. And the question is asked in the day of the wrath of the lamb and in the day of the wrath of the one who sits on the throne, who can stand and the answer of the old Testament and the answer of revelation is God people can stand.
So when God’s people can stay in, in the day of God’s wrath in the day of his judgment on any of his enemies, the outcome is before God’s people were being persecuted. God’s people were going through the ringer. God’s people were suffering. Now they’re glorified. Now they’re exalted. Now they’re protected. And they’re raised up in a picture of the glorified people of God.
And that is revelation 21 and 22 can these passages and these things be applied to the church in eternity. In other words, could we use these pictures and say, wow, that must be what the church will look like in its glorified state in eternity with God. Absolutely. The church perfected with sin no more with suffering, no more with, with death,
no more any eternity with God, absolutely. That you could use this as a picture of that. The question is the question is always been, is that the context that John is writing about and the answer? No. The context that John is writing about is the church that comes through the persecution, the church that comes under attack by the beast under attack,
by Rome, under attack, by Satan and comes through the other side and revelation 21 and 22 are old Testament. Language of God’s people glorified when God judges, their enemies turned into language, talking about God’s church glorified. When God finishes what he had begun to prophesize and begun to tell them that they would induce her and go through all the way back in Daniel’s day.
God told Daniel when he gave a dream to Nebuchadnezzar that there were going to be four nations beginning with Babylon, continuing in the Mito Persian empire, continuing in Greece, continuing in Rome. And in the days of these Kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which will never be destroyed. And it will break us under. And why bullae all these other kingdoms and revelation is the new Testament counterpart where God says,
and I did.<inaudible> Makes it clear. Rome will be no more. And those who persecute my people every single time they come up will be no more because I will always defend my people. So revelation 21 and 22, we’re going to go through it fairly rapidly, but I want us to get the picture. I don’t want to spend a lot of time on the details.
I want you to see the picture. And as you think about the picture, think about this. The new Testament makes it clear. Jesus Christ came to this earth to set up a kingdom, not a kingdom of this earth because Jesus told pilot. If my kingdom was of this world, then my servants would fight. And yet his kingdom exists on this earth,
but not only on this earth, as you went through revelation, as we went through this, we always pointed out those who dwell on the earth was always a picture of who the wicked, those who dwell in heaven was always a picture of who the redeemed righteous people. Now in chapter 21, John’s going to see the city to send out of heaven.
So wait a minute. This must mean that this is when Christ comes and returns and rains on the earth, and God makes a new heaven and a new earth. And all the righteous people are going to live on this earth. Again. No, this is a picture of all the righteous people who John said in the day of Rome, never dwelled on the earth because the earth belonged to the wicked.
But now God has wiped out the world of the wicked. God is white roam out, and now he’s going to bring forth his people out of heaven, back to their rightful place. He’s going to give them a new heavens and a new earth. God didn’t wipe the face of the planet, clean in the days of Rome and remake it and turn it back into the garden of Eden and then build a great Jerusalem on top of a mountain.
And that city go 200 or 1500 miles high. He didn’t do that. It’s a picture of God’s people and the churches untouchable nature, because Jesus said this, remember this, actually let’s read it. Instead of just remembering Matthew chapter 16, verse 15, he said to them, who do you say that I am Simon, Peter or Simon, Peter answered and said,
you are the Christ, the son of the living, God, Jesus answered and said to him, bless it. Are you Simon? Barjona for flesh. And blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church. And the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The entire book of revelation is Jesus Christ showing in the days of Rome, that what he said was true about his church and about his kingdom was true. That the Gates of Hades would not prevail against it.
The power of Satan would never win, not against his church. So revelation 21 verse one. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth. We saw that back in Isaiah. We’ve seen it elsewhere for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no more seat. Then I, John saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem.
We saw that in Isaiah coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God turn over the book of Hebrews. And the Hebrew writer takes that language from Jeremiah chapter 31.
And he applies it to the church, not to heaven. He applies it to the church. He says, it’s here. And now he’s making the contrast of the days of the tabernacle, where God said, I’ll dwell with you and your midst. But those people couldn’t enter the tabernacle. They, the high priest could go into the tabernacle, but they couldn’t.
Moses could stand before God, but they couldn’t. Aaron could stand before God, but they couldn’t. And now the Hebrew writer says, now we have boldness to enter to the very presence of God. We’re not waiting for that in eternity. We have that now and will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death nor sorrow,
nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne, said, behold, I will make all things new. And he said to me, write for these words are true and faithful. And he said to me, it is done. I am the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirst. Now, this is heaven. If this is eternity, if this is after the judgment and after death is finished and after hell has all those who are waking up and cast into hell, who is Jesus offering the water of life to When The judgment is over, who then after that point has the opportunity to partake of the water of life who has not had it before.
No one Who Did Jesus offer the water of life to in John chapter four, the woman in some area and the people of some area, why did he offer it to them? Because they’d not previously Had, But he didn’t offer them water. That some day they might be able to get in heaven. He offered them the water of life, right then right there.
Okay. Notice what we read. He who overcomes shall inherit all these things. And I will be his God. And he will be my son, but the cowardly unbelieving, abominable murderer, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the Lake, which burned with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. What’s he saying about this?
Is this a, is this a forecast of their ultimate judgment? No, this looks back at the previous chapter. God’s picturing his church And he says, this is what will not be in my church. All those who are fearful that the new King James says, cowardly are the ones who didn’t resist the beast, who, when they were told you can either die or bowed or Rome,
they bowed to Rome. You can either die. Or you can say, Rome is God. And they said, Rome has God go all the way back to the very beginning in chapters two and chapter three of revelation. And you find Jesus telling the church So many instances, he says, some of you are going to, To die, but others.
So you have given up, you have become those who have been seduced by the harlot. You have been those who have been seduced by Jezza bell. You are those who have given up On faithfulness to me and revelation 21 verse eight says, and those people, they’re not part of this picture. They’re not part of my kingdom. They’re getting destroyed With Rome.
Okay? Now notice this. He says, Vincent, One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the last seven play or seven last plagues came to me and talked with me saying, come, I will show you Who’s he going to show him the bride? The church<inaudible><inaudible> chapter five is clear. The bride of Christ is the church.
And revelation uses that picture consistent Recently for the church. So he, He says, come let me show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Now, when he shows him the bride, the Lamb’s wife, he shows him a group of people standing around an auditorium, right? No, he doesn’t. Okay. Well, he shows them a picture of people all over the world,
worshiping God, right? No. He shows them or he shows him the new Jerusalem. We aren’t waiting for a Jerusalem city over in Israel to go worship a Messiah. One day We are the new Jerusalem. It’s okay. Been in existence since Jesus established it on the day of Pentecost in 33, Haiti, Let me show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
So beginning in verse nine, all the way through, into chapter 22, we have the picture of the church. Here’s how Christ and God through the Holy spirit, through the writer, John Picture the church. Okay. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain. Remember Daniel chapter two, God was going to have a mountain that was created without hands.
And it was going to destroy all those kingdoms and that mountain would grow and fill the earth. Was that a picture of heaven? No, that was a picture of his kingdom. Okay. He takes me to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city. Now, before the great city that we had pictured all throughout revelation Was what it was Rome,
But no more. The great city Rome has been cast into the sea and the sea is no more. Now the great city is the new Jerusalem. Okay. Showed me a great city. The new, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. This is all old Testament language. This is all stuff we saw in Isaiah. Having the glory of God.
Her light was like a most precious stone, like a Jasper stone clear as crystal. Also, she had a great and high wall with 12 Gates and 12 angels at the Gates. The names written on them were the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. Turn to Matthew chapter five real quick. After the beatitudes, as Jesus is speaking to these Jews,
he’s speaking to Jews, he’s looking forward to the kingdom, but he’s speaking to Jews and he speaking to them about their law. And he’s speaking to them about their covenant with God. And he’s speaking to them about their righteousness. And too many times, we come to Matthew five, six, and seven and say, this is about the church. This is a declaration of the church Nella wasn’t.
This is a declaration of what Israel was supposed to be. This is what Israel was supposed to do. This was Israel’s law, but it certainly looks towards the church. Notice what he says. He says, verse 13, you are the salt of the earth who was supposed to be the salt of the earth. The church that didn’t exist yet, no Israel was,
God had told the descendants of Abraham that they were supposed to be the salt of the earth, but were they most of the time? No notice. He says you are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then for good, for nothing. But he thrown out and trampled into the foot of man.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a Hill cannot be hid. Was Israel, a city set on a Hill before Jerusalem, the physical city was ever taken by David in his day in time. Yes, they were because they were a spiritual city set on a Hill. They weren’t waiting for Jerusalem to be established, to become the nation.
God wanted them to be because that happened hundreds of years before the city of Jerusalem was established as an Israelite city, they were to be the city of God, the city that belonged to him, the light of the world, the moment they walked out of Egypt. And God continues that picture because his people are always supposed to be a city set on a Hill,
but cannot be. So now he could take him to a high. He shows them a great city and this great city has great walls. It has great Gates. It has the names of the 12 tribes of Israel written on it. It’s it’s it’s history. It’s pictured as Israel, the Israel that was supposed to exist. The Israel that was spiritual Israel,
three Gates on the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates on the West verse, verse 14. Now the wall of the city had 12 foundations and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the lamb. And he who talked with me, had a gold read, the measure, the city, its Gates and its walls.
The city is laid out as a square. Its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the Reed 12,000 for our lungs. It’s length, breadth, and height are equal. Wednesday night. As we close, we talked about 12,000 furlongs it’s approximately 1500 miles. Okay? So the city is pictured as 1500 miles, long,
1500 miles wide and 1500 miles tall. And it’s on top of a mountain. Then he measured its wall 144 cubits, about 212 feet thick, depending on which measurement of the cubit you use. According to the measure of a man that is of an angel, the construction of its wall was of Jasper and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
The foundation of the wall of the city was adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was Jasper the second, the second Sapphire, the third council Doni, the fourth Emerald, the fifth. Sardonyx the sixth. Sardius the seventh. Chrysolite the eighth Beryl, the ninth Topaz, the 10th Chrissa phase, the 11th Jason and the 12th amethyst.
I did pretty good there. Didn’t I all right. The 12 Gates were 12 pearls. Each individual gate was a one Pearl and the city or the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. Now I’ve got a question for you. If it’s a real city, these are real precious stones and all of this that make up its foundation.
And I have a question because we just read that the 12 foundations were who, all right, now the 12 foundations were the 12 apostles. Now did John get made over into some stone lay a city on top of No, But does the doctrine and the teaching that was taught and brought forth the kingdom, the church throughout the world, does that become the foundation of the church?
Absolutely. It just read acts chapter two acts After too many are converted and verse 42 says, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles Doctrine foundation of the church is not some human and it is not a precious stone is the doctrine of Christ as taught by the apostles in the first century. So then we read verse 21, 12 Gates were 12 pearls. Each individual gate was a one Pearl.
The city of the, or the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple In it. He says, Let me show you this city, but let me show you something. That’s very different from what You’ve seen before. Let me show you something that doesn’t look like Israel anymore. You see them Great Jerusalem of old in David’s day in the midst of Jerusalem,
really in Solomon’s day because David didn’t get to build it. But in Solomon’s day in the great city of Jerusalem at the height of its power in the midst of the city, What a temple, but not in this Jerusalem, not in this city. Why notice? But I saw no temple in it for the Lord, God almighty. And the lamb Are its temple.
The city Had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it. The lamb is It’s light. Wait a minute. I thought Matthew chapter five said you are the light of the world away. It did. So God’s people are the light of the world. Where do they get their light From the sun from God?
So he says that There’s no, there’s no sun. There’s no moon. The glory of God illuminates it. The lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in his light and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor him Into it. Now I got a question for you. This is the new Jerusalem and the new Jerusalem is after the judgment day and it’s in heaven.
Then what Kings of the earth are going to bring their glory into the new? There are no Kings in the earth. There’s no word. If this is after the judgment day, these statements beginning here, make no sense. There are no Kings of the earth. There are no nations in the earth If this is in heaven. So who are These people?
But what if this is the church? What if in Paul’s day, the gospel went even into the very house of Caesar and nations and peoples and Kings were converted. And all the glory they had as Kings suddenly became part of the church. Its Gates shall not be shut at all by day where there shall be no night there and they shall bring the glory.
And the honor of the nations into it. If this is heaven, who, what nations, there are no nations. They’ve all been cast in the Lake of fire, but there shall by no means enter anything that the files or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. In contrast to old Israel,
where every time Israel started going really good and started being faithful to the Lord. Somebody came in and turned it the wrong direction. Another King or Rose who wouldn’t follow the Lord or some adviser would come along or some general would come along and he lead the people off into apostasy or false prophets would come in and they teach the people to sin. God says not in my kingdom,
not in my church, no one enters my church that defiles it. No one comes in except those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life, then notice what we read. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the lamb in the middle of its streets. And on either side of the river was the tree of life,
which bore 12 fruits. Each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. I’m just going to ask it one more time. What nations, if it’s heaven, what nations are outside of heaven needing to come in and eat of the tree of life? None. So where did Jesus provide access to eternal life?
Because that’s what the tree of life was all about. By the way, go back to Genesis chapter three, God kicks them out of the garden and says they can’t come back in here for if they eat of the tree, they won’t die. So the tree in the garden was eternal life, and God said, you’ve sinned. You can’t have that.
Jesus said, I came that I might give you eternal life. And John chapter 17 said, and this is eternal life That you might know the father. Jesus, didn’t say, I’ll give you eternal life in promise. So that one day when you die, you’ll Have it. No, Because he didn’t grant eternal life to flesh and blood. God granted it to a soul.
When you go down to the watery grave of baptism and you die to sin, you rise up in newness of life. And if you are faithful until death, you will never Die. There is no second death. Even if this flesh and blood dies and it will, You don’t die. There is No second death for The Christian. They don’t die again.
They died right there. Okay. So then notice what he says In the middle of its street. And on either side was the river on either side or was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits. Each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. Everything that this world needs. It says in it’s already in the church.
Everything, every nation needs that’s destroyed. That’s decimated. That’s going to war. That’s defeating its own people. That’s killing its own people. Everything they need is already in the church because in the churches, the gospel, And if They would be obedient to the gospel of Christ, every one of those problems would be Go away. Every one of them And there shall be no more curse,
but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it. And his servants shall serve him. Do we have access to the throne of God today? Yes, we do. Fijian chapter or sorry, Hebrews chapter four, verses 14 through 16. We have boldness to enter the throne and to ask for help in time of need. Okay. They shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads.
Jesus said to those who were faithful, the churches, he said, I’ll write my name on you. Did he say, I’ll write my name on you when you die and get into heaven? Nope. He said, if you’ll be faithful now Shall be no light. There. They need no lamp nor light from the sun for the Lord. God gives them light and they shall reign forever.
And ever then he said to me, these words are faithful and true. And the Lord, God of the Holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must This one’s really hard to get over shortly, take place, Following everything. He just said, he said, this must shortly take place. What you just saw, John must shortly take place.
But he goes on. He says, behold, I am coming quickly. Bless it. As he who keeps the words and the prophecies of this book. Now it’s going to be interesting because he’s going to lay forth a blessing for those who keep the words of the book and a curse against those who don’t. And if the curse is, as we’re going to see in a minute,
don’t apply until he turned 80. Then the curse doesn’t make any sense. If the blessing doesn’t apply till eternity, the blessing doesn’t make any sense. Watch this. Okay. Now I, John saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things, then he said to me,
see that you do not do that for, I am your fellow servant and of your brother in the profits and of those who keep the words of this book, worship God. So John sees himself fall down and worship the angel again. And the angel says, no only worship the Lord. I’m just like you I’m just like the prophets on just like the servants.
I’m just like everybody else who obeys God worship God. Okay. So then we read and he said to me, do not seal up. The words of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand, this hearkens right back to Daniel. Remember Daniel was given the prophecy. Daniel was given the visions and Daniel was told, seal it up because the time is not yet.
John is given the prophecy. And by the way, 600 years later, the time was at hand. Now John’s given the prophecy and John’s told don’t seal it up the time. Is it a, and so are we supposed to believe that Daniel who’s time wasn’t at hand and had to wait 600 years is now that is, is now being applied to John.
And John’s being told the time is at hand, but we need to wait a little more than 2000 years to get there. No, in Daniel’s day, the time wasn’t at hand in John’s day, it was okay. So then he says then verse 11, he who is just let him be unjust. Still. Who has filled the lead. He filthy still.
He who is righteous. Let him be righteous. Still. He who is Holy, let him be Holy. Still is God here saying to John, you know what? Don’t worry about breaching that don’t don’t, don’t worry about converting people that don’t, don’t worry about it monitoring. No, no. The, the declaration here is I’m coming in judgment and whatever their state is,
when I get there, that’s what they’re going to be when I judge them. Okay. If they’re in iniquity, they’re going to still be there. If they’re in righteousness, they’re still going to be there and I’m going to judge them based upon their works. Okay? So verse 12, verse 12 through the end and behold, I am coming quickly.
And my reward is with me to give to everyone. According to his work, I am the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last bless it is he are blessed, are those who do his commandments, that they may have rind to the tree of life and may enter the Gates in, excuse me, enter through the Gates into the city,
but outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you. These things in the churches, I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and the morning star and the spirit and the bride say What com And led him and let him who hears say,
come and lead him who thirst come and whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely is Jesus saying when all this is over, when the world’s come to an end and judgment days come, then finally the bride and the spirit and the lamb are going to invite people to partake in the water of life. Nope, Jesus is telling the church and everyone who will hear you can have the water of life freely Right now.
So come, He concludes for, I testified everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in his book. What plagues plagues back in chapters, 15 and 16, the plagues that he poured out on the earth. Now somebody manipulated the prophecy of this book in the fourth,
where they going to get the plagues? Are they just going to have to wait? No, they were going to get them, but did the people in the days of Rome get the plagues in a literal form or a spiritual form, a spiritual form did the person in the fourth century who tried to manipulate the book of revelation and change its meaning, get it in spiritual form or physical form,
spiritual form. He said it. I for, I testify that he who hears the words of the prophecy of the book. If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the prophecy of this or the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life and from the Holy city and from the things which are written in this book,
he who testifies to these things says, surely I am coming quickly. The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. And that’s the book of revelation. We’ll go over some questions at another point for chapter 21 and 22. We’ll do that Wednesday before we get back into our normal studies. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible><inaudible> yeah.
Hi.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Welcome to the Collierville Sunday morning services. It’s great to see each and every one of you out here this morning. So glad you’ve had the opportunity to come here to sing songs of praise and worship God with us this morning, for those of you that are online or on the phone, listening know that you are still in our thoughts and prayers.
We pray for each and every one of you every day and pray for an end to this COVID-19 pandemic so that we can all assemble here again one day, hopefully soon and worship God announcements for this morning. If you did not get the Lord’s supper, please take this opportunity while I’m going through the announcements to pick it up. It’s on the tables in the back.
I do not see any visitors, but if there is a visitor here that I’m not seeing, well, you are welcome here. We’re glad that you chose to worship with us this morning and please fill out a visitor’s card for us. Before I get into the sick, I want to go and I’m sure everybody sees him here, but Terry Whitley is back Terry and his wife,
Patricia are both past the COVID-19. So that’s a good thing. We need to praise the Lord and thank God for that, that they have both made it through there. Terry says, you know, Patricia didn’t really have anything at all, but he had some pretty severe symptoms. So thank God for Terry’s recovery. And it’s good to see you back,
sir, remembering our sick John Springer, Dorothy Wilson, Janet Jones, Robin woods, Jessica Dale, and then Tory Hensley. The Springer’s granddaughter is still waiting for her results from her MRI that she had done on her brain. And then Gary Wheeler. I do not have an update on Gary cause Barbara is not here this morning, but please continue to pray for each and every one of those also have a card here.
I want to read this morning. It says to my church family many thanks for the pretty fall bulky that I receive by the ladies of Diana and Sylvia. It was thoughtful and appreciated and brighten my week for sure. It was so good to see those two ladies, even though it was from a far distance, thanks to the church. Also for the many cards I’ve received over the past months,
each and everyone is so very much appreciated. I miss being there and miss all of you, please continue to pray for Tori and myself in Christian Love Joan sprayer. I’ll put this up on the board out there. The only other announcement I have is Paula is working on the 2021 church calendar. So if you know of anything that needs to be added to that,
we need to get that into her soon so she can get that calendar printed for us because 2021 is right around the corner for our services. This morning, our song leader will be Michael Dale Opening. Prayer will be Joel caisson. The Lord’s supper will be Jay Shafir and sermon will be from Aaron cold start and closing. Prayer will be Tommy Lasseter. Thank you.
Our opening song this morning will be number 860. There is a habitation number 860. I’ll let Tommy figure out the projector real quick on there. There it is.<inaudible><inaudible> who see that grand<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> for<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> in long<inaudible>. Oh,<inaudible><inaudible> no<inaudible> no, no<inaudible> no,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> in long<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and let me see<inaudible> no praise is<inaudible>.
Oh,<inaudible> long Gates to see<inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible> The song before our opening prayer will be number 764. Teach me Lord to wait. This one is not on the screen. So please use your book. Number 764. Teach me Lord to wait.<inaudible> right.<inaudible> you answer? Please teach me<inaudible> but to<inaudible> from you, teach me<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> what you want me to be<inaudible> upon the Lord<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> teach me.
Lord. Teach me to<inaudible> Oh dear God. Our father in heaven, we, they come before your throne thinking that you are God, our God, that created all of mankind. The one that loves us so much, his precious son died upon the cross of Calvary to redeem us from our sins father in heaven. We often take so much for granted in our lives that we often forget who we really ought to be.
Yeah. We often forget to be the right example before others. We often fail to reach out to those that are not your children, your God. We often take life itself for granted. We don’t take any precautions to make sure that we stay healthy. We pray father that you bless each and every one of us that’s here today and be filled with Thanksgiving that we were able to come here and worship you the one and true living God.
They were able to remember our savior and the sacrifice he made there on the cross that he bore our sins there and shed his precious blood. Often father, we failed to be thankful for our families or our mates for our parents, for our children, Brand Children. And great-grandchildren we so often forget to remember one another as this body of Christ in our prayers,
daily father. We’re so thankful that Terry and Patricia are over the virus. We pray that you continue to bless them and pray that they continue to be well. We pray for those that others that were mentioned that are facing different trials in their lives with their health. We pray that you be with those that are administering to them, that they might be able to regain that health.
And once again, be with us Father, we’re mindful of those that have drifted away, need some encouragement. And we pray that we might be attentive to those needs and be better to be able to say, or do something that might stir their hearts and their minds to realize where they are and that they truly do want to come back and serve and glorify you are there help us each day that we remember your words,
that we look to it, the scriptures often to tip, strengthen our lives and to help us to be able to reach others with the gospel. We pray father that we always are mindful of those that are outside the body, that we do have a love for their souls, that we do want to be there for them and help to stir their thinking that they come to know your will and want to be obedient to it.
Father, we’re so grateful for Aaron and his family. We’re so thankful for the abilities that they have to encourage this congregation. And for the blessing, it is to have a minister of the gospel that said is the word deeply and is able to teach our classes and to preach out the word here to this congregation in such a way that it’s so easy to understand your will.
And it truly stars our minds and our hearts to try to be better, to want to serve you more are for Michael Jones and his family and him going to the school of preaching. We pray that you strengthen him and bless Sam as he continues his studies there. And we’re so grateful for him and wanting to be a better master of the gospel, bless them and strengthen them.
Bless each family here, father. And we pray that we all try to work together for the good of the church, for the good of our own souls. And hopefully to reach out in this area, we pray that we be compassionate and patient and kind and loving as we go through life that others truly see Jesus living in us, bless us and our worship to stay and help us out.
Always draw closer to you and closer to one another. And we pray for that home in heaven with a and Jesus, we pray amen Song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number three, 353, one day number 353 One day. When<inaudible> one day when<inaudible> was as black as could be. He, Jesus came for to be born of a judge,
dwell among man, my example and see<inaudible> me jogging. He saved me buried. He<inaudible> my sins.<inaudible> Hey<inaudible> Hey<inaudible><inaudible> Oh, one day he’s<inaudible> Oh, glory us. Yay. One day they let him<inaudible> Oh, one day<inaudible> to die on the tree. So off a<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me dying. He said, Hey,
saved me buried. He<inaudible> my son<inaudible><inaudible> ah.<inaudible> one day he is<inaudible>. Oh, glory. Yay. One day<inaudible> on and God, or one day he from<inaudible> free. Angela’s came down. No<inaudible><inaudible> my savior. See<inaudible> me dying. He say, Hey me.<inaudible> my son.<inaudible><inaudible> one day. He is<inaudible>.
Oh, glory. Yay. One day gray can sell him no long. One day<inaudible> rolled way from<inaudible> and then he<inaudible> now is<inaudible> my Lord.<inaudible> me.<inaudible> me.<inaudible> Hey,<inaudible><inaudible> one day he’s<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me.<inaudible> me.<inaudible> my son<inaudible> Hey<inaudible><inaudible> Oh, one day he’s<inaudible>.
Oh, glory. Dang. As we prepare to participate in this Lord, suffer less free or minds of all our worldly thoughts and focus upon the sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us go to our father in prayer and only father. We were so very grateful for this privilege. We have to assemble about this table. And as we partake of this and emblem of the bread,
which represents your son’s body, that was sacrificed on the cross, help us to realize how significant that really is to each and every one of us that we have that hope of eternal life with you. One day in Jesus name, we pray, amen.<inaudible> Again, father, as we continue this Memorial and partake of this fruit of the vine, which represents the blood that was sacrificed for permission of our Sams,
help us to protect this and aware of their manner that it was acceptable in their sight. It’s in your son’s name that we pray, amen.<inaudible> This concludes the Lord’s supper. And we find this a convenient time to offer prayer for our offering. We’re commanded on first day of each week to lay by and store as we’ve been prospered. So let’s once again,
go to the father in prayer<inaudible> And my father is we again, come before that throne. We’re so very grateful for the many material blessings that you have. So richly Mr. Bowden on our lives help us always to remember that these blessings come from you and that we are merely stewards of the while we’re here on this earth, help us to give freely.
And may these funds be used to further your word here and also to promote your word worldwide. It’s in his name that we pray. Amen Song before the lesson will be number 346. He lives. And if you’re able, let’s stand for this song please. Number 346 is the invitation song on the slides. Okay? Invitation song will be on the slide.
He lives. I serve a risen savior. He’s in the world today. I know that he is living whatever man may say, Hey, I see his hand up. I hear his moist Searchie and a slow time. I need him. He is always<inaudible> Christ Jesus<inaudible>. He walks with me and talks with me.<inaudible> salvation to him.<inaudible> you asked me<inaudible><inaudible> my<inaudible> and all the world around me.
I see his loving, eh, no, my heart grows<inaudible> I never, well, I know that he is leading through all the stormy, blah, blah. Here’s up here? Me. Well,<inaudible> he<inaudible> Christ Jesus<inaudible>. He walks with me and walks with me along life’s narrow way. Hey, he<inaudible> you asked me<inaudible> he<inaudible> my<inaudible> rejoice.
We joined. So Chris, John, lift up your voice and sing<inaudible> to Jesus Christ King. The hope of all Hersey cam<inaudible> no, no. So loving, so good. And ah, he<inaudible> Christ Jesus<inaudible>. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. Hey<inaudible> you asked me<inaudible><inaudible> my<inaudible> may be seated.
Good morning. Most, if not, all of you know, because you’ve been in the class at some point, we’ve been going through the book of revelation in our classes, on the adult classes on Sunday and on Wednesday. And we’d gone through a number of passages that in the book of revelation, reference things that sound like the judgment day. And we’ve looked at those in their context.
And we’ve said a number of times my sound like the judgment day, but it’s not. And to avoid the possibility that somebody might come along at some point and say, well, I’m not sure Aaron believes in the judgment day. I thought what we would do this morning is spend a little time talking about the last day because the new Testament is very clear about that day.
The new Testament teaches us very clearly about when this life will come to an end when this life and when this world and all that is in, it will be no more. So this morning, I want to begin noticing in noticing second, Peter chapter three, Peter writes to the church, second, Peter chapter three beginning in one. And we’re just going To primarily notice Three passages.
There are many more, Or that could be discussed. There are many more that could be talked about, and there are many more that include more detail. But for the sake of our time, We’re going to notice three Second, Peter chapter three. And in verse one, beloved, I now write to you this second epistle in both of which I stir up your pure minds,
by way of reminder, Peter makes it clear as Peter teaches those Christians in the first century that he is writing to them to remind them of what they all ready Know. He’s Not writing to them, new things. They’ve never heard before. He’s not writing to them a different thing than what they preached when they were in their presence. He’s writing to them things to remind them,
to stir Them up and To get their hearts and minds Ready for what is to come. Then You may be mindful verse two of the words, which were spoken before by the Holy prophets and of the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and savior notice. First and foremost, he says to those Christians, he says, you were told this by the prophets of old.
This is not something that just started with Jesus and started with the apostles. This is the fulfillment of what you have been told for generations going back into the old Testament. So the old Testament prophets spoke of it and the apostles spoke Of it. Then he says this, knowing this first, That scoffers will come in the last days, walking, according to their own lunch and saying,
where is the promise of his coming for? Since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning. Creation. Peter makes it clear. As he writes to these Christians, as he Brings forward the profits and brings forward the teaching of the other apostles together to these brethren, he makes it clear to them that there would be people who would rise up from among themselves,
from among the Christians And say, he ain’t coming back here. Clearly isn’t coming back because he hasn’t come Back yet. And they’ll use as their justification for their position, that everything is continued to exist. The way that it was from the day of creation until now Nothing Ever changes. Generations come and generations go. Therefore, because generations come and generations go,
generations will come and go. Never. And Peter says they have a problem with their reasoning. They have a problem with their line of argumentation because it hasn’t always been That way. And notice what he says. He says for this, they willfully forget that by the word of God, the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
by which the world that then existed perished being flooded With water Peterson. It says these people who claim that the world is just continued on without fail generation after generation, that nothing ever changes, Army Missing one glaringly obvious example of things, changing a great deal Because God, in the days of Noah Brought judgment on a wicked world and by grace saved eight souls out of an entire plant.
Peter says, if he did that, what makes You think he won’t do what He’s promised already notice what he said. He says, he says by which the world that then existed perish verse six, being flooded with water, but the heavens and the earth, which are now preserved by the same word, the same word. What the same word that brought the flood.
The same word that brought 40 days and 40 nights of rain. The same word that broke up the ground and brought water from beneath the earth. The same word that brought the flood above the tops of the very mouth. The same word that brought, that has caused the world to come, Continue to exist. What the hell, Humans in the earth,
which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But beloved do not forget this. One thing that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years in is a thousand years as one day, the Lord is not Slack concerning his promises. Some men count slackness, but as long suffering toward us,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The same word that brought the flood. The same word that preserved the earth from that point until now is the same word that reserved this world for fire Around four o’clock in the afternoon, look over at your spouse and say, what do you want for dinner? Your spouse says,
I don’t care. What do you want? I tell you what, let’s make a reservation at this fine restaurant. It’s not COVID world. It’s some imaginary world where you can actually go to a restaurant and you call up the phone. You say, I need a reservation for two. I want to sit over in the corner. I want this to eat.
This is what I want. This is my reservation. God said this world that I created this, This world and everything in this physical universe that I created, I have reserved Its end. I have gone ahead and told you exactly how it’s going, Going to go. And because I created it, I have the power to do it. And these Christians who were coming forth,
these scoffers as Peter calls them, We’re saying, it’s not going to happen. He hasn’t come back yet. And since he hasn’t come back yet, therefore he must not ever plan on coming Back. Peter says, you misunderstand our God. Yes, You misunderstand who he is and you misunderstand his power and his knowledge. If you say tomorrow, I’m going to get up in the morning and go to work.
You have a good plan that you’re going to do that. But with the Lord, he can say a thousand years from now, I’m going To do this. And he can do it with the same ease at which you can say tomorrow, I’m going to do this. He is not Slack concerning his promises. Unlike humanity, you get up first thing in the morning and you say four o’clock,
I’m going to exercise Around three 55. You look instead at the refrigerator refrigerator and say, I think I’ll exchange Exercise for a snack. The Lord is not Slack concerning his promises. As some men count slackness but is Long suffering. So We question, wait a minute. If God is going to return, surely things have gotten as bad as they’re ever going to get Shirley.
It is time what’s he waiting on. And Peter says every single day, the Lord waits. We are to understand that to be his long suffering. We are to understand that that is because he desires that everyone Should come to repentance Verse 10, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. That phrase was used by Jesus repeatedly.
To describe a time when people were not ready, the thief doesn’t call in advance and say, I’m going to be there at 7:00 PM. Make sure you have the dogs out and make sure you got the gun loaded and make sure the doors are locked. He comes when you’re not ready. God will come Not on a day prophesied by some religious fanatic who thinks he knows how to interpret signs and symbols,
but on a day of his choosing, where there will be no signs of his coming according to Jesus, but as a day or as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. And the elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up Jesus Or excuse me,
Peter, as he is writing to these Christians says there was a day when God wiped the planet, clean with water. But When this judgment comes, when the day comes, where he returns, when he is revealed on that final day, it’s not going to be wiping the planet clean. It’s going to be burning it up. It is reserved For fire.
And he says the works And the substance of this earth will be no more. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons are you to be in Holy conduct and godliness looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire. And the elements will melt with fervent heat.
Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a newer in which righteousness dwells. Peter brings forward old Testament language of a new heavens and a new earth, a new dwelling place for the people of God, God, We’ve made it clear in our studies in the adult class. That every time we see new heavens and new earth,
it’s not supposed to be an interpretation of exactly what’s going to happen. It’s supposed to be a picture, an old Testament picture of God, preparing a place for his people. Jesus made this statement. Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, then I will come and bring you to where I am. Jesus.
This did not promise the apostles a home on this earth. Jesus did not promise his apostles, a dwelling place on this earth where he would return to them. And well with them, Jesus promised his apostles at dwelling place in heaven, where he would return and bring them to Him self. But yet notice this phrase in verse 12, Peter says, We don’t know when the day will be.
We don’t know when Jesus will return, but he does say what we are to be doing. In the meantime We are to be looking for And hastening The coming of the day of God. What does he mean? What does Peter mean? Buying the idea that we’re to be looking for and hastening the, The day of God? Well, first of all,
Well, we read in the previous verse that because all these things will be dissolved because there’s coming a day when this earth will be no more. When this universe will be no more. When the works of this earth will be no more. We ought to live in Holy conduct and godliness. If we live our lives here in view of our lives, there,
we will live our lives, Then holiness in this life. But he also makes it clear that we don’t just live our lives in holiness saying like, well, someday I’m going to die. We live our lives every day as if today Might be our last. We look for that day. Not just the day when our lives are over because we die of old age or we die of some disease.
We don’t look for that day. We look for the return Of Christ and we do so with anticipation. Sometimes we struggle with that idea. Sometimes we go, but I want to see my kids grow up, but I want to see my grandkids, But I want to see fill In the blank and that’s not wrong nor unnatural, but in our better moments,
when We put our mind in view of the word of God, we go. But Oh, what a day? That will be When my children, who I want to see, grow up, never Have to experience pain again. When those who have gone before, who I’ve attended Their funerals and I’ve laid them in the ground, I get to see again,
you win. We struggle with the here and now and the, what we can see and the, what we can hope for, but God Dozens. And yet he calls upon us while we are still here to not focus on tomorrow. But the soul Is lost today. Therefore we are supposed to be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.
When you hasten the coming of the day of God, you preach the gospel. When you hasten the coming of the day of God, you prepare the world for what God wants. And that is that no one Should fail to come to repentance. We are to be those who are looking for the coming of the day of God. We are also be those who are preparing this world for that day,
but one other passage, or the second passage that I want us to notice is just a few pages over in your new testaments. In first John chapter four first John chapter four, John has spent the bulk of this chapter discussing the attribute of love That belongs to God. Okay? Not just that God does that, which is love, but God is love.
And in verse 17, we read the love has been perfected among us in this that we may have boldness In the day of judgment because as He is, so are We in this world? One Of the greatest things that God Has given us is love when we didn’t deserve it is love when we couldn’t ask for it. His Love when we had no rights To it,
because the attribute of love is the center. Most attribute of God. And he loved us when we were unworthy. And so we, as Christians, as we develop ourselves and understand who he is, as we grow in our knowledge of him, as we come closer to every day, we are to become Love. We are to have love perfected in us.
But notice this. He says, when love is perfected in you, you can stand in the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world therefore, or excuse me, there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made. Perfect in love. We love him because he first loved.
God said, you’re lost. You’re in your sins and you’re going to die. And if you die in that state, my justice has no choice. My justice must punish you if you die in that state, But I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you don’t Die in that state. So John Jay Chapter three verse 16 said for God,
so loved the world that he gave. His only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting. He loved us first and yet the last day is coming. One more passage, Romans chapter two, Peter tells us that there are those who will doubt. Peter tells us there were those. There are those who will deny. Peter tells us that it’s coming.
And it’s a shirt and is promised by God. Peter tells us that when it comes, everything that is in this physical world will be destroyed, But for God’s people, a new home awaits. But as Paul Writes to the church at Rome and deals with the problem of the Jews and the Gentiles and their, their divisiveness towards one another and God’s plan for both of them,
Paul writes to these Christians and he writes to them about that Day, Beginning in verse one, he read, we read, therefore you are inexcusable. He is addressing the Jews at the moment. He says, therefore, you are inexcusable old, man, whoever you are on who judge for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself for you, who judge practice the same things.
He addresses the Jews who look at the world around them and all the Gentiles. And they accuse them and they judge them and they judge them unworthy of God. And yet he addresses these Jews and says, you who judge someone else and then commit the same thing that you judge them for. Judge yourself, You condemn Yourself. But he says, but we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
Paul is not leaving the implication that God’s not going to judge the wicked. Paul is saying, if you’re judging someone who’s wicked and then committing the same wickedness, you’re judging, God’s going to judge you too. His righteousness or excuse me, His judgment is according to truth. But then he says, verse three. And do you think this old man,
you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same, that you will escape. Yeah. Judgment of God. Paul makes it clear hypocrisy. And those who practice, it will be judged by God. But he goes on verse four. Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance and long suffering, non knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.
This is D do you look at everything God’s given you everything God’s blessed you with as a nation Israel. And you see God’s goodness in his forbearance and his love and his long suffering. And you look at it and you don’t learn from It. You Don’t use that. Goodness, that long suffering that forbearance as an impetus for repentance To admonish you to do What is right.
But he says, verse five in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself, wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Paul, as he writes to these Jews, as he writes to these Jews, he writes to them and says, if you’re going to judge someone for their sin,
fine, but not. If you’re going to commit the same sin, then you’ve judged yourself. And if you think you can live as a hypocrite, judging someone else in committing the same thing you need to know, all you’re doing is storing up banking away, investing for the future, but you’re not investing good things. You’re not investing righteousness. You’re not investing in blessings reward.
Your investing RAF. You are storing up wrath for the day of wrath. Now wait a minute. I thought the judgment day was going to be a great day. I thought the last day was going to be a day of blessing and rejoicing. I thought the day of judgment was going to be a day when those who are righteous, come in and are welcomed by God.
It is. And yet Jesus said there was coming a day. When those who would stand before God would be separated. He said there would be a day when there would be those who had done works in his name and prophesied in his name and then done many wonderful works in his name, who he would say depart from me. You workers of iniquity.
I never knew Paul is telling these Christians, if you agree, Nor the blessings of God and the forbearance of God and the long suffering of God, and you don’t learn that you can’t live the way your ancestors did, but instead that you must repent, you will receive the same judgment, the same condemnation and the same RAF. They receive verse six.
He describes the judgment of God. He will render to each one, according to his deeds, eternal life, to those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory honor. And immortality Paul says for those who don’t live like this, who don’t live in hypocrisy, Who don’t judge others and then do what they have judged. But instead those who live every day,
looking for glory, looking for honor looking for immortality, not someone wandering around in this world looking to glorify themselves, not someone wandering around in this world looking to honor themselves, not someone looking for immortality for themselves, But who are looking for the attributes of God to instill in themselves. He says, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribulation, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil of the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor, and peace to everyone who works. What is to the Jew first and also to the Greek. You remember back over in Romans chapter one, Paul makes it clear that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Paul says the Jew is going to receive the gospel. First is going to have the opportunity of salvation first but less. You think God is partial. They’re also going to be judged first. They’re also going to have wrath first or blessing first, depending upon whether or not they obey the gospel that was preached to them. And then the Greek verse 11 for there is no partiality with God,
for as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. And as many of sin in the law will be judged by the law for not the hearers of the law are, are just in the sight of God. But the doers of the law will be justified for when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature, do the things in the law.
These, although ha not having the law are a law to themselves who show the work of the law, written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and between themselves, their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. According to my gospel, Paul makes it clear. The Jews had the law of Moses,
the Gentiles didn’t. But when God finds a Gentile who obeyed the truth in the law though, he was never one who received the law. He will judge him according to his works and the Jew who received the law of Moses. And didn’t keep it. He will judge him according to his Works, but Jew and Gentile alike have now received the gospel To the Jew and the Gentile in that day.
And today Paul says he will judge them according to the guy. So where does that leave us? It leaves us in John chapter 12, Actually in John chapter 12, Jesus would say to these Jews, He who believes in me verse 44, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him, who sent me.
I have come as a light into the world. And whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and not believe I do not judge him Four, I did not come to judge the world, but Save the world. He who rejects me And does not receive my words has that Judges, him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
It leaves us here with a promise that is assured with a day that we are to be looking and hastening, but a day in which we know we will Judged not by an arbitrary ruler, not by wills or fickle decisions, But by the word that Jesus spoke, because he says, my word will judge you in the last day. Well, how will we be judged?
We will be judged according to Two hour works. How then are we to live in all in all Holy conduct and conversation looking for and hastening the day of the Lord. If you’re outside the body of Christ, you are outside of the gospel. That brings salvation. Yes. If you are outside of the gospel, that brings salvation. You are outside Of the hope of eternity.
If you are outside of the hope of eternity, you reside in the wrath God, and there’s coming a day where you will stand before him in judgment. And all you will have as you stand before him in judgment is your evil Needs to testify concerning your works. You say, well, wait a minute, but I’ve done good things too. Yes,
but unfortunately good deeds do not merit salvation. Only a perfect sacrifice can obtain salvation. And one who is sinned cannot be a perfect sacrifice, but that’s okay because that’s why God first loved us and sent his son to die on the cross for your sins and for mine. So if you’re outside the body of Christ outside the gospel and outside of hope, you can change that by coming into contact with the blood of the sacrifice of Christ.
But how do you do? You don’t do it by just faith. You don’t do it by prayer. You do it by hearing the word of God and obeying it. You do it by hearing the gospel and then doing what it says. What does it say to do? Jesus said that except you believe that I am, he you’ll die in your sins.
And that’s true. But Jesus also said, except you repent. You will die in your sins. And that’s also true. But he also said, you have to believe in me. And that involves a confession and a recognition of who he is, that he is the Christ, the son of living. God, not just that. He was some somewhere.
Not that he was just some prophet, not that he was Elijah or one or Isaiah or one of the profits, but he was Jesus Christ. The son of God. Well then having done that, you have to come into contact with his blood. You have to die to sin and you do that in a watery grave of baptism because Jesus said he,
that believes and is baptized shall be saved. You have need of that this morning. You can do that. You’re outside the body of Christ. You have hope you’re a member of the body of Christ. That’s not been living like tomorrow may be your last day. You also have hope, but it involves change. You have need of the invitation. Why not come now?
As we stand in, as we sing<inaudible> but blah<inaudible> and<inaudible> me.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to the<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> just<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> like, like<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> like, like Song before the closing prayer will be number 852. When the roll is called up yonder heed five,
two. When the Trump and other launch on sound and time shall be no more and no morning breaks. You turn up bright and fast. When they’re saved, gather over on the, the shore. And our role is called up yonder. I’ll be there. Hey, when he was called up and when he was called up,<inaudible> when the role is called up beyond<inaudible> on that ride in cleanliness morning when the dead in Christ shall rise and the glory of his resurrection<inaudible> when his chosen one shall gather to their home.
The guys and their role is called the beyond. Be<inaudible> is called up.<inaudible> when a roll is called up beyond a I’ll be the Hey neighbor for the master, from the Dawn to setting side, there’s talk of here’s one dress and Kay, Hey<inaudible> is over. And a work on earth is done and the roll is called up yonder<inaudible> is called up<inaudible> and it’s called up.
And when a roll is called up beyond a hobby, What’d you buy with me the God and father in heaven. We’re indeed thankful for another beautiful day of life. That you’ve blessed us with father. We’re thankful for this hour that we were able to worship the same prices under the and father. We pray that our worship today has been acceptable and pleasing in that site,
by the word mindful at this time, if those who have been mentioned sick, we pray father, if it bait, I will, that you are turning them back to a good state of health and their most wanted health. They can be back with us, by the way. We’re also mindful that we have members here. They may be traveling and we pray father that you will be with them and comfort them as they travel.
And that they may have a safe destination. Father were thankful for your son, Jesus, and that great sacrifice on that cross. And we just pray father that as we leave this building and go back to our workplace and being out in the public and those around us, we can be that shining light and that good example of bring lost souls today, father,
we pray that you’ll be with this country, with the issues that are going on and father, we know that it’s possibly a shame, no doubt. It’s a shame at times, father, and we pray that you will be with the leaders of this country, father, that we can turn this country back around and bring praise and glory today. But I would pray that you’ll be with us and keep us safe.
Forgive us of our sins in Jesus name. Amen.
Automated Transcript:
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Well, my watch says it’s time to start. So we’re going to go ahead and get started. Okay. We’re in revelation 21 and 22.<inaudible> Good to see you, sir. Let’s begin with a word of prayer gracious and bountiful father in heaven. We come before you at this time, grateful for the day that you’ve given to us,
the life that we have and the opportunities that we have to serve you. We pray that as we go throughout this period of study this morning, we might glean the things from these passages that you would have us to learn. We might grow closer to you and understand, and be comforted by your word, and also admonished to live in a way that will prepare us for eternity.
We pray and are mindful of those who are struggling in this time because of illness, difficulty, injury, or struggles in their lives, or those who have lost loved ones. In recent days, we are mindful of each and every one of them. We’re mindful of our nation. And we’re mindful of the world. All of its many struggles and all of its many difficulties,
pray for those who are in difficult places, difficult times, especially those who are striving to preach the gospel in those locations and teach others the word that they might have the hope of eternity, pray that you be with us. As we go throughout this period of study and worship this morning may all that we do be in accordance with your will. All this.
We pray in Jesus name. Amen. So between Sunday and Wednesday, Last week, we noticed a number of passages in Isaiah, especially there are more in the sheets that you were given. There’s some in Zechariah, there’s some in Jeremiah, there’s some in Hosea that I don’t think actually made it on the list, but there’s passages all throughout the old Testament that give us the language of revelation 21 and 22.
They speak consistently concerning God’s people. And they speak of God’s people in one United context. And that context is victory over the enemies of God and God having judged his enemies. When God judges his enemies, God’s people get pictured in these sorts of ways because when God judges his enemies go all the way back to the end of revelation, chapter six, when God judges his enemies and the picture of revelation six is the rich and the mighty and the rulers.
And all the Kings are, are crying on the mountains, fall on us to protect us from the wrath of the lamb and the one who sits on the throne. And the question is asked in the day of the wrath of the lamb and in the day of the wrath of the one who sits on the throne, who can stand and the answer of the old Testament and the answer of revelation is God people can stand.
So when God’s people can stay in, in the day of God’s wrath in the day of his judgment on any of his enemies, the outcome is before God’s people were being persecuted. God’s people were going through the ringer. God’s people were suffering. Now they’re glorified. Now they’re exalted. Now they’re protected. And they’re raised up in a picture of the glorified people of God.
And that is revelation 21 and 22 can these passages and these things be applied to the church in eternity. In other words, could we use these pictures and say, wow, that must be what the church will look like in its glorified state in eternity with God. Absolutely. The church perfected with sin no more with suffering, no more with, with death,
no more any eternity with God, absolutely. That you could use this as a picture of that. The question is the question is always been, is that the context that John is writing about and the answer? No. The context that John is writing about is the church that comes through the persecution, the church that comes under attack by the beast under attack,
by Rome, under attack, by Satan and comes through the other side and revelation 21 and 22 are old Testament. Language of God’s people glorified when God judges, their enemies turned into language, talking about God’s church glorified. When God finishes what he had begun to prophesize and begun to tell them that they would induce her and go through all the way back in Daniel’s day.
God told Daniel when he gave a dream to Nebuchadnezzar that there were going to be four nations beginning with Babylon, continuing in the Mito Persian empire, continuing in Greece, continuing in Rome. And in the days of these Kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which will never be destroyed. And it will break us under. And why bullae all these other kingdoms and revelation is the new Testament counterpart where God says,
and I did.<inaudible> Makes it clear. Rome will be no more. And those who persecute my people every single time they come up will be no more because I will always defend my people. So revelation 21 and 22, we’re going to go through it fairly rapidly, but I want us to get the picture. I don’t want to spend a lot of time on the details.
I want you to see the picture. And as you think about the picture, think about this. The new Testament makes it clear. Jesus Christ came to this earth to set up a kingdom, not a kingdom of this earth because Jesus told pilot. If my kingdom was of this world, then my servants would fight. And yet his kingdom exists on this earth,
but not only on this earth, as you went through revelation, as we went through this, we always pointed out those who dwell on the earth was always a picture of who the wicked, those who dwell in heaven was always a picture of who the redeemed righteous people. Now in chapter 21, John’s going to see the city to send out of heaven.
So wait a minute. This must mean that this is when Christ comes and returns and rains on the earth, and God makes a new heaven and a new earth. And all the righteous people are going to live on this earth. Again. No, this is a picture of all the righteous people who John said in the day of Rome, never dwelled on the earth because the earth belonged to the wicked.
But now God has wiped out the world of the wicked. God is white roam out, and now he’s going to bring forth his people out of heaven, back to their rightful place. He’s going to give them a new heavens and a new earth. God didn’t wipe the face of the planet, clean in the days of Rome and remake it and turn it back into the garden of Eden and then build a great Jerusalem on top of a mountain.
And that city go 200 or 1500 miles high. He didn’t do that. It’s a picture of God’s people and the churches untouchable nature, because Jesus said this, remember this, actually let’s read it. Instead of just remembering Matthew chapter 16, verse 15, he said to them, who do you say that I am Simon, Peter or Simon, Peter answered and said,
you are the Christ, the son of the living, God, Jesus answered and said to him, bless it. Are you Simon? Barjona for flesh. And blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church. And the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The entire book of revelation is Jesus Christ showing in the days of Rome, that what he said was true about his church and about his kingdom was true. That the Gates of Hades would not prevail against it.
The power of Satan would never win, not against his church. So revelation 21 verse one. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth. We saw that back in Isaiah. We’ve seen it elsewhere for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no more seat. Then I, John saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem.
We saw that in Isaiah coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God turn over the book of Hebrews. And the Hebrew writer takes that language from Jeremiah chapter 31.
And he applies it to the church, not to heaven. He applies it to the church. He says, it’s here. And now he’s making the contrast of the days of the tabernacle, where God said, I’ll dwell with you and your midst. But those people couldn’t enter the tabernacle. They, the high priest could go into the tabernacle, but they couldn’t.
Moses could stand before God, but they couldn’t. Aaron could stand before God, but they couldn’t. And now the Hebrew writer says, now we have boldness to enter to the very presence of God. We’re not waiting for that in eternity. We have that now and will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death nor sorrow,
nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne, said, behold, I will make all things new. And he said to me, write for these words are true and faithful. And he said to me, it is done. I am the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirst. Now, this is heaven. If this is eternity, if this is after the judgment and after death is finished and after hell has all those who are waking up and cast into hell, who is Jesus offering the water of life to When The judgment is over, who then after that point has the opportunity to partake of the water of life who has not had it before.
No one Who Did Jesus offer the water of life to in John chapter four, the woman in some area and the people of some area, why did he offer it to them? Because they’d not previously Had, But he didn’t offer them water. That some day they might be able to get in heaven. He offered them the water of life, right then right there.
Okay. Notice what we read. He who overcomes shall inherit all these things. And I will be his God. And he will be my son, but the cowardly unbelieving, abominable murderer, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the Lake, which burned with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. What’s he saying about this?
Is this a, is this a forecast of their ultimate judgment? No, this looks back at the previous chapter. God’s picturing his church And he says, this is what will not be in my church. All those who are fearful that the new King James says, cowardly are the ones who didn’t resist the beast, who, when they were told you can either die or bowed or Rome,
they bowed to Rome. You can either die. Or you can say, Rome is God. And they said, Rome has God go all the way back to the very beginning in chapters two and chapter three of revelation. And you find Jesus telling the church So many instances, he says, some of you are going to, To die, but others.
So you have given up, you have become those who have been seduced by the harlot. You have been those who have been seduced by Jezza bell. You are those who have given up On faithfulness to me and revelation 21 verse eight says, and those people, they’re not part of this picture. They’re not part of my kingdom. They’re getting destroyed With Rome.
Okay? Now notice this. He says, Vincent, One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the last seven play or seven last plagues came to me and talked with me saying, come, I will show you Who’s he going to show him the bride? The church<inaudible><inaudible> chapter five is clear. The bride of Christ is the church.
And revelation uses that picture consistent Recently for the church. So he, He says, come let me show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Now, when he shows him the bride, the Lamb’s wife, he shows him a group of people standing around an auditorium, right? No, he doesn’t. Okay. Well, he shows them a picture of people all over the world,
worshiping God, right? No. He shows them or he shows him the new Jerusalem. We aren’t waiting for a Jerusalem city over in Israel to go worship a Messiah. One day We are the new Jerusalem. It’s okay. Been in existence since Jesus established it on the day of Pentecost in 33, Haiti, Let me show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
So beginning in verse nine, all the way through, into chapter 22, we have the picture of the church. Here’s how Christ and God through the Holy spirit, through the writer, John Picture the church. Okay. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain. Remember Daniel chapter two, God was going to have a mountain that was created without hands.
And it was going to destroy all those kingdoms and that mountain would grow and fill the earth. Was that a picture of heaven? No, that was a picture of his kingdom. Okay. He takes me to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city. Now, before the great city that we had pictured all throughout revelation Was what it was Rome,
But no more. The great city Rome has been cast into the sea and the sea is no more. Now the great city is the new Jerusalem. Okay. Showed me a great city. The new, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. This is all old Testament language. This is all stuff we saw in Isaiah. Having the glory of God.
Her light was like a most precious stone, like a Jasper stone clear as crystal. Also, she had a great and high wall with 12 Gates and 12 angels at the Gates. The names written on them were the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. Turn to Matthew chapter five real quick. After the beatitudes, as Jesus is speaking to these Jews,
he’s speaking to Jews, he’s looking forward to the kingdom, but he’s speaking to Jews and he speaking to them about their law. And he’s speaking to them about their covenant with God. And he’s speaking to them about their righteousness. And too many times, we come to Matthew five, six, and seven and say, this is about the church. This is a declaration of the church Nella wasn’t.
This is a declaration of what Israel was supposed to be. This is what Israel was supposed to do. This was Israel’s law, but it certainly looks towards the church. Notice what he says. He says, verse 13, you are the salt of the earth who was supposed to be the salt of the earth. The church that didn’t exist yet, no Israel was,
God had told the descendants of Abraham that they were supposed to be the salt of the earth, but were they most of the time? No notice. He says you are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then for good, for nothing. But he thrown out and trampled into the foot of man.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a Hill cannot be hid. Was Israel, a city set on a Hill before Jerusalem, the physical city was ever taken by David in his day in time. Yes, they were because they were a spiritual city set on a Hill. They weren’t waiting for Jerusalem to be established, to become the nation.
God wanted them to be because that happened hundreds of years before the city of Jerusalem was established as an Israelite city, they were to be the city of God, the city that belonged to him, the light of the world, the moment they walked out of Egypt. And God continues that picture because his people are always supposed to be a city set on a Hill,
but cannot be. So now he could take him to a high. He shows them a great city and this great city has great walls. It has great Gates. It has the names of the 12 tribes of Israel written on it. It’s it’s it’s history. It’s pictured as Israel, the Israel that was supposed to exist. The Israel that was spiritual Israel,
three Gates on the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates on the West verse, verse 14. Now the wall of the city had 12 foundations and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the lamb. And he who talked with me, had a gold read, the measure, the city, its Gates and its walls.
The city is laid out as a square. Its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the Reed 12,000 for our lungs. It’s length, breadth, and height are equal. Wednesday night. As we close, we talked about 12,000 furlongs it’s approximately 1500 miles. Okay? So the city is pictured as 1500 miles, long,
1500 miles wide and 1500 miles tall. And it’s on top of a mountain. Then he measured its wall 144 cubits, about 212 feet thick, depending on which measurement of the cubit you use. According to the measure of a man that is of an angel, the construction of its wall was of Jasper and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
The foundation of the wall of the city was adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was Jasper the second, the second Sapphire, the third council Doni, the fourth Emerald, the fifth. Sardonyx the sixth. Sardius the seventh. Chrysolite the eighth Beryl, the ninth Topaz, the 10th Chrissa phase, the 11th Jason and the 12th amethyst.
I did pretty good there. Didn’t I all right. The 12 Gates were 12 pearls. Each individual gate was a one Pearl and the city or the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. Now I’ve got a question for you. If it’s a real city, these are real precious stones and all of this that make up its foundation.
And I have a question because we just read that the 12 foundations were who, all right, now the 12 foundations were the 12 apostles. Now did John get made over into some stone lay a city on top of No, But does the doctrine and the teaching that was taught and brought forth the kingdom, the church throughout the world, does that become the foundation of the church?
Absolutely. It just read acts chapter two acts After too many are converted and verse 42 says, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles Doctrine foundation of the church is not some human and it is not a precious stone is the doctrine of Christ as taught by the apostles in the first century. So then we read verse 21, 12 Gates were 12 pearls. Each individual gate was a one Pearl.
The city of the, or the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple In it. He says, Let me show you this city, but let me show you something. That’s very different from what You’ve seen before. Let me show you something that doesn’t look like Israel anymore. You see them Great Jerusalem of old in David’s day in the midst of Jerusalem,
really in Solomon’s day because David didn’t get to build it. But in Solomon’s day in the great city of Jerusalem at the height of its power in the midst of the city, What a temple, but not in this Jerusalem, not in this city. Why notice? But I saw no temple in it for the Lord, God almighty. And the lamb Are its temple.
The city Had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it. The lamb is It’s light. Wait a minute. I thought Matthew chapter five said you are the light of the world away. It did. So God’s people are the light of the world. Where do they get their light From the sun from God?
So he says that There’s no, there’s no sun. There’s no moon. The glory of God illuminates it. The lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in his light and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor him Into it. Now I got a question for you. This is the new Jerusalem and the new Jerusalem is after the judgment day and it’s in heaven.
Then what Kings of the earth are going to bring their glory into the new? There are no Kings in the earth. There’s no word. If this is after the judgment day, these statements beginning here, make no sense. There are no Kings of the earth. There are no nations in the earth If this is in heaven. So who are These people?
But what if this is the church? What if in Paul’s day, the gospel went even into the very house of Caesar and nations and peoples and Kings were converted. And all the glory they had as Kings suddenly became part of the church. Its Gates shall not be shut at all by day where there shall be no night there and they shall bring the glory.
And the honor of the nations into it. If this is heaven, who, what nations, there are no nations. They’ve all been cast in the Lake of fire, but there shall by no means enter anything that the files or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. In contrast to old Israel,
where every time Israel started going really good and started being faithful to the Lord. Somebody came in and turned it the wrong direction. Another King or Rose who wouldn’t follow the Lord or some adviser would come along or some general would come along and he lead the people off into apostasy or false prophets would come in and they teach the people to sin. God says not in my kingdom,
not in my church, no one enters my church that defiles it. No one comes in except those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life, then notice what we read. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the lamb in the middle of its streets. And on either side of the river was the tree of life,
which bore 12 fruits. Each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. I’m just going to ask it one more time. What nations, if it’s heaven, what nations are outside of heaven needing to come in and eat of the tree of life? None. So where did Jesus provide access to eternal life?
Because that’s what the tree of life was all about. By the way, go back to Genesis chapter three, God kicks them out of the garden and says they can’t come back in here for if they eat of the tree, they won’t die. So the tree in the garden was eternal life, and God said, you’ve sinned. You can’t have that.
Jesus said, I came that I might give you eternal life. And John chapter 17 said, and this is eternal life That you might know the father. Jesus, didn’t say, I’ll give you eternal life in promise. So that one day when you die, you’ll Have it. No, Because he didn’t grant eternal life to flesh and blood. God granted it to a soul.
When you go down to the watery grave of baptism and you die to sin, you rise up in newness of life. And if you are faithful until death, you will never Die. There is no second death. Even if this flesh and blood dies and it will, You don’t die. There is No second death for The Christian. They don’t die again.
They died right there. Okay. So then notice what he says In the middle of its street. And on either side was the river on either side or was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits. Each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. Everything that this world needs. It says in it’s already in the church.
Everything, every nation needs that’s destroyed. That’s decimated. That’s going to war. That’s defeating its own people. That’s killing its own people. Everything they need is already in the church because in the churches, the gospel, And if They would be obedient to the gospel of Christ, every one of those problems would be Go away. Every one of them And there shall be no more curse,
but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it. And his servants shall serve him. Do we have access to the throne of God today? Yes, we do. Fijian chapter or sorry, Hebrews chapter four, verses 14 through 16. We have boldness to enter the throne and to ask for help in time of need. Okay. They shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads.
Jesus said to those who were faithful, the churches, he said, I’ll write my name on you. Did he say, I’ll write my name on you when you die and get into heaven? Nope. He said, if you’ll be faithful now Shall be no light. There. They need no lamp nor light from the sun for the Lord. God gives them light and they shall reign forever.
And ever then he said to me, these words are faithful and true. And the Lord, God of the Holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must This one’s really hard to get over shortly, take place, Following everything. He just said, he said, this must shortly take place. What you just saw, John must shortly take place.
But he goes on. He says, behold, I am coming quickly. Bless it. As he who keeps the words and the prophecies of this book. Now it’s going to be interesting because he’s going to lay forth a blessing for those who keep the words of the book and a curse against those who don’t. And if the curse is, as we’re going to see in a minute,
don’t apply until he turned 80. Then the curse doesn’t make any sense. If the blessing doesn’t apply till eternity, the blessing doesn’t make any sense. Watch this. Okay. Now I, John saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things, then he said to me,
see that you do not do that for, I am your fellow servant and of your brother in the profits and of those who keep the words of this book, worship God. So John sees himself fall down and worship the angel again. And the angel says, no only worship the Lord. I’m just like you I’m just like the prophets on just like the servants.
I’m just like everybody else who obeys God worship God. Okay. So then we read and he said to me, do not seal up. The words of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand, this hearkens right back to Daniel. Remember Daniel was given the prophecy. Daniel was given the visions and Daniel was told, seal it up because the time is not yet.
John is given the prophecy. And by the way, 600 years later, the time was at hand. Now John’s given the prophecy and John’s told don’t seal it up the time. Is it a, and so are we supposed to believe that Daniel who’s time wasn’t at hand and had to wait 600 years is now that is, is now being applied to John.
And John’s being told the time is at hand, but we need to wait a little more than 2000 years to get there. No, in Daniel’s day, the time wasn’t at hand in John’s day, it was okay. So then he says then verse 11, he who is just let him be unjust. Still. Who has filled the lead. He filthy still.
He who is righteous. Let him be righteous. Still. He who is Holy, let him be Holy. Still is God here saying to John, you know what? Don’t worry about breaching that don’t don’t, don’t worry about converting people that don’t, don’t worry about it monitoring. No, no. The, the declaration here is I’m coming in judgment and whatever their state is,
when I get there, that’s what they’re going to be when I judge them. Okay. If they’re in iniquity, they’re going to still be there. If they’re in righteousness, they’re still going to be there and I’m going to judge them based upon their works. Okay? So verse 12, verse 12 through the end and behold, I am coming quickly.
And my reward is with me to give to everyone. According to his work, I am the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last bless it is he are blessed, are those who do his commandments, that they may have rind to the tree of life and may enter the Gates in, excuse me, enter through the Gates into the city,
but outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you. These things in the churches, I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and the morning star and the spirit and the bride say What com And led him and let him who hears say,
come and lead him who thirst come and whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely is Jesus saying when all this is over, when the world’s come to an end and judgment days come, then finally the bride and the spirit and the lamb are going to invite people to partake in the water of life. Nope, Jesus is telling the church and everyone who will hear you can have the water of life freely Right now.
So come, He concludes for, I testified everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in his book. What plagues plagues back in chapters, 15 and 16, the plagues that he poured out on the earth. Now somebody manipulated the prophecy of this book in the fourth,
where they going to get the plagues? Are they just going to have to wait? No, they were going to get them, but did the people in the days of Rome get the plagues in a literal form or a spiritual form, a spiritual form did the person in the fourth century who tried to manipulate the book of revelation and change its meaning, get it in spiritual form or physical form,
spiritual form. He said it. I for, I testify that he who hears the words of the prophecy of the book. If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the prophecy of this or the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life and from the Holy city and from the things which are written in this book,
he who testifies to these things says, surely I am coming quickly. The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. And that’s the book of revelation. We’ll go over some questions at another point for chapter 21 and 22. We’ll do that Wednesday before we get back into our normal studies. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible><inaudible> yeah.
Hi.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Welcome to the Collierville Sunday morning services. It’s great to see each and every one of you out here this morning. So glad you’ve had the opportunity to come here to sing songs of praise and worship God with us this morning, for those of you that are online or on the phone, listening know that you are still in our thoughts and prayers.
We pray for each and every one of you every day and pray for an end to this COVID-19 pandemic so that we can all assemble here again one day, hopefully soon and worship God announcements for this morning. If you did not get the Lord’s supper, please take this opportunity while I’m going through the announcements to pick it up. It’s on the tables in the back.
I do not see any visitors, but if there is a visitor here that I’m not seeing, well, you are welcome here. We’re glad that you chose to worship with us this morning and please fill out a visitor’s card for us. Before I get into the sick, I want to go and I’m sure everybody sees him here, but Terry Whitley is back Terry and his wife,
Patricia are both past the COVID-19. So that’s a good thing. We need to praise the Lord and thank God for that, that they have both made it through there. Terry says, you know, Patricia didn’t really have anything at all, but he had some pretty severe symptoms. So thank God for Terry’s recovery. And it’s good to see you back,
sir, remembering our sick John Springer, Dorothy Wilson, Janet Jones, Robin woods, Jessica Dale, and then Tory Hensley. The Springer’s granddaughter is still waiting for her results from her MRI that she had done on her brain. And then Gary Wheeler. I do not have an update on Gary cause Barbara is not here this morning, but please continue to pray for each and every one of those also have a card here.
I want to read this morning. It says to my church family many thanks for the pretty fall bulky that I receive by the ladies of Diana and Sylvia. It was thoughtful and appreciated and brighten my week for sure. It was so good to see those two ladies, even though it was from a far distance, thanks to the church. Also for the many cards I’ve received over the past months,
each and everyone is so very much appreciated. I miss being there and miss all of you, please continue to pray for Tori and myself in Christian Love Joan sprayer. I’ll put this up on the board out there. The only other announcement I have is Paula is working on the 2021 church calendar. So if you know of anything that needs to be added to that,
we need to get that into her soon so she can get that calendar printed for us because 2021 is right around the corner for our services. This morning, our song leader will be Michael Dale Opening. Prayer will be Joel caisson. The Lord’s supper will be Jay Shafir and sermon will be from Aaron cold start and closing. Prayer will be Tommy Lasseter. Thank you.
Our opening song this morning will be number 860. There is a habitation number 860. I’ll let Tommy figure out the projector real quick on there. There it is.<inaudible><inaudible> who see that grand<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> for<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> in long<inaudible>. Oh,<inaudible><inaudible> no<inaudible> no, no<inaudible> no,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> in long<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and let me see<inaudible> no praise is<inaudible>.
Oh,<inaudible> long Gates to see<inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible> The song before our opening prayer will be number 764. Teach me Lord to wait. This one is not on the screen. So please use your book. Number 764. Teach me Lord to wait.<inaudible> right.<inaudible> you answer? Please teach me<inaudible> but to<inaudible> from you, teach me<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> what you want me to be<inaudible> upon the Lord<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> teach me.
Lord. Teach me to<inaudible> Oh dear God. Our father in heaven, we, they come before your throne thinking that you are God, our God, that created all of mankind. The one that loves us so much, his precious son died upon the cross of Calvary to redeem us from our sins father in heaven. We often take so much for granted in our lives that we often forget who we really ought to be.
Yeah. We often forget to be the right example before others. We often fail to reach out to those that are not your children, your God. We often take life itself for granted. We don’t take any precautions to make sure that we stay healthy. We pray father that you bless each and every one of us that’s here today and be filled with Thanksgiving that we were able to come here and worship you the one and true living God.
They were able to remember our savior and the sacrifice he made there on the cross that he bore our sins there and shed his precious blood. Often father, we failed to be thankful for our families or our mates for our parents, for our children, Brand Children. And great-grandchildren we so often forget to remember one another as this body of Christ in our prayers,
daily father. We’re so thankful that Terry and Patricia are over the virus. We pray that you continue to bless them and pray that they continue to be well. We pray for those that others that were mentioned that are facing different trials in their lives with their health. We pray that you be with those that are administering to them, that they might be able to regain that health.
And once again, be with us Father, we’re mindful of those that have drifted away, need some encouragement. And we pray that we might be attentive to those needs and be better to be able to say, or do something that might stir their hearts and their minds to realize where they are and that they truly do want to come back and serve and glorify you are there help us each day that we remember your words,
that we look to it, the scriptures often to tip, strengthen our lives and to help us to be able to reach others with the gospel. We pray father that we always are mindful of those that are outside the body, that we do have a love for their souls, that we do want to be there for them and help to stir their thinking that they come to know your will and want to be obedient to it.
Father, we’re so grateful for Aaron and his family. We’re so thankful for the abilities that they have to encourage this congregation. And for the blessing, it is to have a minister of the gospel that said is the word deeply and is able to teach our classes and to preach out the word here to this congregation in such a way that it’s so easy to understand your will.
And it truly stars our minds and our hearts to try to be better, to want to serve you more are for Michael Jones and his family and him going to the school of preaching. We pray that you strengthen him and bless Sam as he continues his studies there. And we’re so grateful for him and wanting to be a better master of the gospel, bless them and strengthen them.
Bless each family here, father. And we pray that we all try to work together for the good of the church, for the good of our own souls. And hopefully to reach out in this area, we pray that we be compassionate and patient and kind and loving as we go through life that others truly see Jesus living in us, bless us and our worship to stay and help us out.
Always draw closer to you and closer to one another. And we pray for that home in heaven with a and Jesus, we pray amen Song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number three, 353, one day number 353 One day. When<inaudible> one day when<inaudible> was as black as could be. He, Jesus came for to be born of a judge,
dwell among man, my example and see<inaudible> me jogging. He saved me buried. He<inaudible> my sins.<inaudible> Hey<inaudible> Hey<inaudible><inaudible> Oh, one day he’s<inaudible> Oh, glory us. Yay. One day they let him<inaudible> Oh, one day<inaudible> to die on the tree. So off a<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me dying. He said, Hey,
saved me buried. He<inaudible> my son<inaudible><inaudible> ah.<inaudible> one day he is<inaudible>. Oh, glory. Yay. One day<inaudible> on and God, or one day he from<inaudible> free. Angela’s came down. No<inaudible><inaudible> my savior. See<inaudible> me dying. He say, Hey me.<inaudible> my son.<inaudible><inaudible> one day. He is<inaudible>.
Oh, glory. Yay. One day gray can sell him no long. One day<inaudible> rolled way from<inaudible> and then he<inaudible> now is<inaudible> my Lord.<inaudible> me.<inaudible> me.<inaudible> Hey,<inaudible><inaudible> one day he’s<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me.<inaudible> me.<inaudible> my son<inaudible> Hey<inaudible><inaudible> Oh, one day he’s<inaudible>.
Oh, glory. Dang. As we prepare to participate in this Lord, suffer less free or minds of all our worldly thoughts and focus upon the sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us go to our father in prayer and only father. We were so very grateful for this privilege. We have to assemble about this table. And as we partake of this and emblem of the bread,
which represents your son’s body, that was sacrificed on the cross, help us to realize how significant that really is to each and every one of us that we have that hope of eternal life with you. One day in Jesus name, we pray, amen.<inaudible> Again, father, as we continue this Memorial and partake of this fruit of the vine, which represents the blood that was sacrificed for permission of our Sams,
help us to protect this and aware of their manner that it was acceptable in their sight. It’s in your son’s name that we pray, amen.<inaudible> This concludes the Lord’s supper. And we find this a convenient time to offer prayer for our offering. We’re commanded on first day of each week to lay by and store as we’ve been prospered. So let’s once again,
go to the father in prayer<inaudible> And my father is we again, come before that throne. We’re so very grateful for the many material blessings that you have. So richly Mr. Bowden on our lives help us always to remember that these blessings come from you and that we are merely stewards of the while we’re here on this earth, help us to give freely.
And may these funds be used to further your word here and also to promote your word worldwide. It’s in his name that we pray. Amen Song before the lesson will be number 346. He lives. And if you’re able, let’s stand for this song please. Number 346 is the invitation song on the slides. Okay? Invitation song will be on the slide.
He lives. I serve a risen savior. He’s in the world today. I know that he is living whatever man may say, Hey, I see his hand up. I hear his moist Searchie and a slow time. I need him. He is always<inaudible> Christ Jesus<inaudible>. He walks with me and talks with me.<inaudible> salvation to him.<inaudible> you asked me<inaudible><inaudible> my<inaudible> and all the world around me.
I see his loving, eh, no, my heart grows<inaudible> I never, well, I know that he is leading through all the stormy, blah, blah. Here’s up here? Me. Well,<inaudible> he<inaudible> Christ Jesus<inaudible>. He walks with me and walks with me along life’s narrow way. Hey, he<inaudible> you asked me<inaudible> he<inaudible> my<inaudible> rejoice.
We joined. So Chris, John, lift up your voice and sing<inaudible> to Jesus Christ King. The hope of all Hersey cam<inaudible> no, no. So loving, so good. And ah, he<inaudible> Christ Jesus<inaudible>. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. Hey<inaudible> you asked me<inaudible><inaudible> my<inaudible> may be seated.
Good morning. Most, if not, all of you know, because you’ve been in the class at some point, we’ve been going through the book of revelation in our classes, on the adult classes on Sunday and on Wednesday. And we’d gone through a number of passages that in the book of revelation, reference things that sound like the judgment day. And we’ve looked at those in their context.
And we’ve said a number of times my sound like the judgment day, but it’s not. And to avoid the possibility that somebody might come along at some point and say, well, I’m not sure Aaron believes in the judgment day. I thought what we would do this morning is spend a little time talking about the last day because the new Testament is very clear about that day.
The new Testament teaches us very clearly about when this life will come to an end when this life and when this world and all that is in, it will be no more. So this morning, I want to begin noticing in noticing second, Peter chapter three, Peter writes to the church, second, Peter chapter three beginning in one. And we’re just going To primarily notice Three passages.
There are many more, Or that could be discussed. There are many more that could be talked about, and there are many more that include more detail. But for the sake of our time, We’re going to notice three Second, Peter chapter three. And in verse one, beloved, I now write to you this second epistle in both of which I stir up your pure minds,
by way of reminder, Peter makes it clear as Peter teaches those Christians in the first century that he is writing to them to remind them of what they all ready Know. He’s Not writing to them, new things. They’ve never heard before. He’s not writing to them a different thing than what they preached when they were in their presence. He’s writing to them things to remind them,
to stir Them up and To get their hearts and minds Ready for what is to come. Then You may be mindful verse two of the words, which were spoken before by the Holy prophets and of the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and savior notice. First and foremost, he says to those Christians, he says, you were told this by the prophets of old.
This is not something that just started with Jesus and started with the apostles. This is the fulfillment of what you have been told for generations going back into the old Testament. So the old Testament prophets spoke of it and the apostles spoke Of it. Then he says this, knowing this first, That scoffers will come in the last days, walking, according to their own lunch and saying,
where is the promise of his coming for? Since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning. Creation. Peter makes it clear. As he writes to these Christians, as he Brings forward the profits and brings forward the teaching of the other apostles together to these brethren, he makes it clear to them that there would be people who would rise up from among themselves,
from among the Christians And say, he ain’t coming back here. Clearly isn’t coming back because he hasn’t come Back yet. And they’ll use as their justification for their position, that everything is continued to exist. The way that it was from the day of creation until now Nothing Ever changes. Generations come and generations go. Therefore, because generations come and generations go,
generations will come and go. Never. And Peter says they have a problem with their reasoning. They have a problem with their line of argumentation because it hasn’t always been That way. And notice what he says. He says for this, they willfully forget that by the word of God, the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
by which the world that then existed perished being flooded With water Peterson. It says these people who claim that the world is just continued on without fail generation after generation, that nothing ever changes, Army Missing one glaringly obvious example of things, changing a great deal Because God, in the days of Noah Brought judgment on a wicked world and by grace saved eight souls out of an entire plant.
Peter says, if he did that, what makes You think he won’t do what He’s promised already notice what he said. He says, he says by which the world that then existed perish verse six, being flooded with water, but the heavens and the earth, which are now preserved by the same word, the same word. What the same word that brought the flood.
The same word that brought 40 days and 40 nights of rain. The same word that broke up the ground and brought water from beneath the earth. The same word that brought the flood above the tops of the very mouth. The same word that brought, that has caused the world to come, Continue to exist. What the hell, Humans in the earth,
which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But beloved do not forget this. One thing that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years in is a thousand years as one day, the Lord is not Slack concerning his promises. Some men count slackness, but as long suffering toward us,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The same word that brought the flood. The same word that preserved the earth from that point until now is the same word that reserved this world for fire Around four o’clock in the afternoon, look over at your spouse and say, what do you want for dinner? Your spouse says,
I don’t care. What do you want? I tell you what, let’s make a reservation at this fine restaurant. It’s not COVID world. It’s some imaginary world where you can actually go to a restaurant and you call up the phone. You say, I need a reservation for two. I want to sit over in the corner. I want this to eat.
This is what I want. This is my reservation. God said this world that I created this, This world and everything in this physical universe that I created, I have reserved Its end. I have gone ahead and told you exactly how it’s going, Going to go. And because I created it, I have the power to do it. And these Christians who were coming forth,
these scoffers as Peter calls them, We’re saying, it’s not going to happen. He hasn’t come back yet. And since he hasn’t come back yet, therefore he must not ever plan on coming Back. Peter says, you misunderstand our God. Yes, You misunderstand who he is and you misunderstand his power and his knowledge. If you say tomorrow, I’m going to get up in the morning and go to work.
You have a good plan that you’re going to do that. But with the Lord, he can say a thousand years from now, I’m going To do this. And he can do it with the same ease at which you can say tomorrow, I’m going to do this. He is not Slack concerning his promises. Unlike humanity, you get up first thing in the morning and you say four o’clock,
I’m going to exercise Around three 55. You look instead at the refrigerator refrigerator and say, I think I’ll exchange Exercise for a snack. The Lord is not Slack concerning his promises. As some men count slackness but is Long suffering. So We question, wait a minute. If God is going to return, surely things have gotten as bad as they’re ever going to get Shirley.
It is time what’s he waiting on. And Peter says every single day, the Lord waits. We are to understand that to be his long suffering. We are to understand that that is because he desires that everyone Should come to repentance Verse 10, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. That phrase was used by Jesus repeatedly.
To describe a time when people were not ready, the thief doesn’t call in advance and say, I’m going to be there at 7:00 PM. Make sure you have the dogs out and make sure you got the gun loaded and make sure the doors are locked. He comes when you’re not ready. God will come Not on a day prophesied by some religious fanatic who thinks he knows how to interpret signs and symbols,
but on a day of his choosing, where there will be no signs of his coming according to Jesus, but as a day or as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. And the elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up Jesus Or excuse me,
Peter, as he is writing to these Christians says there was a day when God wiped the planet, clean with water. But When this judgment comes, when the day comes, where he returns, when he is revealed on that final day, it’s not going to be wiping the planet clean. It’s going to be burning it up. It is reserved For fire.
And he says the works And the substance of this earth will be no more. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons are you to be in Holy conduct and godliness looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire. And the elements will melt with fervent heat.
Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a newer in which righteousness dwells. Peter brings forward old Testament language of a new heavens and a new earth, a new dwelling place for the people of God, God, We’ve made it clear in our studies in the adult class. That every time we see new heavens and new earth,
it’s not supposed to be an interpretation of exactly what’s going to happen. It’s supposed to be a picture, an old Testament picture of God, preparing a place for his people. Jesus made this statement. Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, then I will come and bring you to where I am. Jesus.
This did not promise the apostles a home on this earth. Jesus did not promise his apostles, a dwelling place on this earth where he would return to them. And well with them, Jesus promised his apostles at dwelling place in heaven, where he would return and bring them to Him self. But yet notice this phrase in verse 12, Peter says, We don’t know when the day will be.
We don’t know when Jesus will return, but he does say what we are to be doing. In the meantime We are to be looking for And hastening The coming of the day of God. What does he mean? What does Peter mean? Buying the idea that we’re to be looking for and hastening the, The day of God? Well, first of all,
Well, we read in the previous verse that because all these things will be dissolved because there’s coming a day when this earth will be no more. When this universe will be no more. When the works of this earth will be no more. We ought to live in Holy conduct and godliness. If we live our lives here in view of our lives, there,
we will live our lives, Then holiness in this life. But he also makes it clear that we don’t just live our lives in holiness saying like, well, someday I’m going to die. We live our lives every day as if today Might be our last. We look for that day. Not just the day when our lives are over because we die of old age or we die of some disease.
We don’t look for that day. We look for the return Of Christ and we do so with anticipation. Sometimes we struggle with that idea. Sometimes we go, but I want to see my kids grow up, but I want to see my grandkids, But I want to see fill In the blank and that’s not wrong nor unnatural, but in our better moments,
when We put our mind in view of the word of God, we go. But Oh, what a day? That will be When my children, who I want to see, grow up, never Have to experience pain again. When those who have gone before, who I’ve attended Their funerals and I’ve laid them in the ground, I get to see again,
you win. We struggle with the here and now and the, what we can see and the, what we can hope for, but God Dozens. And yet he calls upon us while we are still here to not focus on tomorrow. But the soul Is lost today. Therefore we are supposed to be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.
When you hasten the coming of the day of God, you preach the gospel. When you hasten the coming of the day of God, you prepare the world for what God wants. And that is that no one Should fail to come to repentance. We are to be those who are looking for the coming of the day of God. We are also be those who are preparing this world for that day,
but one other passage, or the second passage that I want us to notice is just a few pages over in your new testaments. In first John chapter four first John chapter four, John has spent the bulk of this chapter discussing the attribute of love That belongs to God. Okay? Not just that God does that, which is love, but God is love.
And in verse 17, we read the love has been perfected among us in this that we may have boldness In the day of judgment because as He is, so are We in this world? One Of the greatest things that God Has given us is love when we didn’t deserve it is love when we couldn’t ask for it. His Love when we had no rights To it,
because the attribute of love is the center. Most attribute of God. And he loved us when we were unworthy. And so we, as Christians, as we develop ourselves and understand who he is, as we grow in our knowledge of him, as we come closer to every day, we are to become Love. We are to have love perfected in us.
But notice this. He says, when love is perfected in you, you can stand in the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world therefore, or excuse me, there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made. Perfect in love. We love him because he first loved.
God said, you’re lost. You’re in your sins and you’re going to die. And if you die in that state, my justice has no choice. My justice must punish you if you die in that state, But I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you don’t Die in that state. So John Jay Chapter three verse 16 said for God,
so loved the world that he gave. His only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting. He loved us first and yet the last day is coming. One more passage, Romans chapter two, Peter tells us that there are those who will doubt. Peter tells us there were those. There are those who will deny. Peter tells us that it’s coming.
And it’s a shirt and is promised by God. Peter tells us that when it comes, everything that is in this physical world will be destroyed, But for God’s people, a new home awaits. But as Paul Writes to the church at Rome and deals with the problem of the Jews and the Gentiles and their, their divisiveness towards one another and God’s plan for both of them,
Paul writes to these Christians and he writes to them about that Day, Beginning in verse one, he read, we read, therefore you are inexcusable. He is addressing the Jews at the moment. He says, therefore, you are inexcusable old, man, whoever you are on who judge for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself for you, who judge practice the same things.
He addresses the Jews who look at the world around them and all the Gentiles. And they accuse them and they judge them and they judge them unworthy of God. And yet he addresses these Jews and says, you who judge someone else and then commit the same thing that you judge them for. Judge yourself, You condemn Yourself. But he says, but we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
Paul is not leaving the implication that God’s not going to judge the wicked. Paul is saying, if you’re judging someone who’s wicked and then committing the same wickedness, you’re judging, God’s going to judge you too. His righteousness or excuse me, His judgment is according to truth. But then he says, verse three. And do you think this old man,
you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same, that you will escape. Yeah. Judgment of God. Paul makes it clear hypocrisy. And those who practice, it will be judged by God. But he goes on verse four. Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance and long suffering, non knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.
This is D do you look at everything God’s given you everything God’s blessed you with as a nation Israel. And you see God’s goodness in his forbearance and his love and his long suffering. And you look at it and you don’t learn from It. You Don’t use that. Goodness, that long suffering that forbearance as an impetus for repentance To admonish you to do What is right.
But he says, verse five in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself, wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Paul, as he writes to these Jews, as he writes to these Jews, he writes to them and says, if you’re going to judge someone for their sin,
fine, but not. If you’re going to commit the same sin, then you’ve judged yourself. And if you think you can live as a hypocrite, judging someone else in committing the same thing you need to know, all you’re doing is storing up banking away, investing for the future, but you’re not investing good things. You’re not investing righteousness. You’re not investing in blessings reward.
Your investing RAF. You are storing up wrath for the day of wrath. Now wait a minute. I thought the judgment day was going to be a great day. I thought the last day was going to be a day of blessing and rejoicing. I thought the day of judgment was going to be a day when those who are righteous, come in and are welcomed by God.
It is. And yet Jesus said there was coming a day. When those who would stand before God would be separated. He said there would be a day when there would be those who had done works in his name and prophesied in his name and then done many wonderful works in his name, who he would say depart from me. You workers of iniquity.
I never knew Paul is telling these Christians, if you agree, Nor the blessings of God and the forbearance of God and the long suffering of God, and you don’t learn that you can’t live the way your ancestors did, but instead that you must repent, you will receive the same judgment, the same condemnation and the same RAF. They receive verse six.
He describes the judgment of God. He will render to each one, according to his deeds, eternal life, to those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory honor. And immortality Paul says for those who don’t live like this, who don’t live in hypocrisy, Who don’t judge others and then do what they have judged. But instead those who live every day,
looking for glory, looking for honor looking for immortality, not someone wandering around in this world looking to glorify themselves, not someone wandering around in this world looking to honor themselves, not someone looking for immortality for themselves, But who are looking for the attributes of God to instill in themselves. He says, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribulation, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil of the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor, and peace to everyone who works. What is to the Jew first and also to the Greek. You remember back over in Romans chapter one, Paul makes it clear that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Paul says the Jew is going to receive the gospel. First is going to have the opportunity of salvation first but less. You think God is partial. They’re also going to be judged first. They’re also going to have wrath first or blessing first, depending upon whether or not they obey the gospel that was preached to them. And then the Greek verse 11 for there is no partiality with God,
for as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. And as many of sin in the law will be judged by the law for not the hearers of the law are, are just in the sight of God. But the doers of the law will be justified for when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature, do the things in the law.
These, although ha not having the law are a law to themselves who show the work of the law, written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and between themselves, their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. According to my gospel, Paul makes it clear. The Jews had the law of Moses,
the Gentiles didn’t. But when God finds a Gentile who obeyed the truth in the law though, he was never one who received the law. He will judge him according to his works and the Jew who received the law of Moses. And didn’t keep it. He will judge him according to his Works, but Jew and Gentile alike have now received the gospel To the Jew and the Gentile in that day.
And today Paul says he will judge them according to the guy. So where does that leave us? It leaves us in John chapter 12, Actually in John chapter 12, Jesus would say to these Jews, He who believes in me verse 44, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him, who sent me.
I have come as a light into the world. And whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and not believe I do not judge him Four, I did not come to judge the world, but Save the world. He who rejects me And does not receive my words has that Judges, him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
It leaves us here with a promise that is assured with a day that we are to be looking and hastening, but a day in which we know we will Judged not by an arbitrary ruler, not by wills or fickle decisions, But by the word that Jesus spoke, because he says, my word will judge you in the last day. Well, how will we be judged?
We will be judged according to Two hour works. How then are we to live in all in all Holy conduct and conversation looking for and hastening the day of the Lord. If you’re outside the body of Christ, you are outside of the gospel. That brings salvation. Yes. If you are outside of the gospel, that brings salvation. You are outside Of the hope of eternity.
If you are outside of the hope of eternity, you reside in the wrath God, and there’s coming a day where you will stand before him in judgment. And all you will have as you stand before him in judgment is your evil Needs to testify concerning your works. You say, well, wait a minute, but I’ve done good things too. Yes,
but unfortunately good deeds do not merit salvation. Only a perfect sacrifice can obtain salvation. And one who is sinned cannot be a perfect sacrifice, but that’s okay because that’s why God first loved us and sent his son to die on the cross for your sins and for mine. So if you’re outside the body of Christ outside the gospel and outside of hope, you can change that by coming into contact with the blood of the sacrifice of Christ.
But how do you do? You don’t do it by just faith. You don’t do it by prayer. You do it by hearing the word of God and obeying it. You do it by hearing the gospel and then doing what it says. What does it say to do? Jesus said that except you believe that I am, he you’ll die in your sins.
And that’s true. But Jesus also said, except you repent. You will die in your sins. And that’s also true. But he also said, you have to believe in me. And that involves a confession and a recognition of who he is, that he is the Christ, the son of living. God, not just that. He was some somewhere.
Not that he was just some prophet, not that he was Elijah or one or Isaiah or one of the profits, but he was Jesus Christ. The son of God. Well then having done that, you have to come into contact with his blood. You have to die to sin and you do that in a watery grave of baptism because Jesus said he,
that believes and is baptized shall be saved. You have need of that this morning. You can do that. You’re outside the body of Christ. You have hope you’re a member of the body of Christ. That’s not been living like tomorrow may be your last day. You also have hope, but it involves change. You have need of the invitation. Why not come now?
As we stand in, as we sing<inaudible> but blah<inaudible> and<inaudible> me.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> to the<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> just<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> like, like<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> like, like Song before the closing prayer will be number 852. When the roll is called up yonder heed five,
two. When the Trump and other launch on sound and time shall be no more and no morning breaks. You turn up bright and fast. When they’re saved, gather over on the, the shore. And our role is called up yonder. I’ll be there. Hey, when he was called up and when he was called up,<inaudible> when the role is called up beyond<inaudible> on that ride in cleanliness morning when the dead in Christ shall rise and the glory of his resurrection<inaudible> when his chosen one shall gather to their home.
The guys and their role is called the beyond. Be<inaudible> is called up.<inaudible> when a roll is called up beyond a I’ll be the Hey neighbor for the master, from the Dawn to setting side, there’s talk of here’s one dress and Kay, Hey<inaudible> is over. And a work on earth is done and the roll is called up yonder<inaudible> is called up<inaudible> and it’s called up.
And when a roll is called up beyond a hobby, What’d you buy with me the God and father in heaven. We’re indeed thankful for another beautiful day of life. That you’ve blessed us with father. We’re thankful for this hour that we were able to worship the same prices under the and father. We pray that our worship today has been acceptable and pleasing in that site,
by the word mindful at this time, if those who have been mentioned sick, we pray father, if it bait, I will, that you are turning them back to a good state of health and their most wanted health. They can be back with us, by the way. We’re also mindful that we have members here. They may be traveling and we pray father that you will be with them and comfort them as they travel.
And that they may have a safe destination. Father were thankful for your son, Jesus, and that great sacrifice on that cross. And we just pray father that as we leave this building and go back to our workplace and being out in the public and those around us, we can be that shining light and that good example of bring lost souls today, father,
we pray that you’ll be with this country, with the issues that are going on and father, we know that it’s possibly a shame, no doubt. It’s a shame at times, father, and we pray that you will be with the leaders of this country, father, that we can turn this country back around and bring praise and glory today. But I would pray that you’ll be with us and keep us safe.
Forgive us of our sins in Jesus name. Amen.
Automated Transcript:
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning.<inaudible> We’re continuing our study of revelation. We’re going to go over the questions from revelation chapter 21st, and then for those who glanced over the, the handout, you know, you might be expecting something a little different this morning. We are going to do something a little different this morning, because I want to, I want to take a few moments and we’ll talk about this more in just a minute,
but I want to take a few moments this morning, and we’ve talked a lot about old Testament passages and their influence on revelation. And before we get out of revelation, I actually want to spend one class going back and really just dipping our minds into those old Testament passages and getting some of the ideas out of them before we get into revelation chapter 21 and 22,
because, well, let me hold off on the, because I’ll get to that in a minute, but let’s start with a word of prayer and then we’ll go through the questions on 20. And I’ll circle back to that thought in a minute gracious father in heaven, we bow before you at this time grateful for the day that you’ve given to us for the life that we have and the health that we have,
the abilities we have to come together to study your word and to serve you. We are grateful for this day that you’ve granted to us, and we’re grateful for the rain that gives life to all the things on this earth. We’re grateful for every day that we see whether sunshine or rain, because we know that it is just one more reassurance that you are there.
We pray that you will be with those who are struggling because of illnesses, difficulties, injuries, ailments, or loss of loved ones, all these things that we deal with on a daily basis while in this life. And we pray that you will give us comfort and strength and that we will search for that comfort and strength in your word, that we will have faith and understanding concerning the things in this life and what is to come.
We pray this nation and the choices direction that it’s going, the choices that will be made and the direction that it goes will be those things that will open more doors of opportunity to teach the loss, to declare your name and to glorify you. We pray for the world and every nation, that those things will also be true as well. We pray for those in this community and our leaders here locally,
may they make wise decisions and strive to make decisions that are in accordance with your word. May we always seek to help those who are in need be kind to those who are unkind to us and live the example of your son in our lives. All this we pray in Jesus name, Amen Revelation, chapter 20, question one of these aspects of the vision,
which is literal a, the key beef bottomless pit. See the chain D the dragon E Satan or F the thousand years E Satan. Okay. In the midst of that chapter 20 verses one and two, the literal thing is the thing that is the explanation and not part of the vision. Verse two, what we have said, or, sorry, let me read that the way it’s written.
What have we said? The number 1000 or something multiplied by a thousand represents in revelation, completeness or perfection. Okay. What happens to the dragon after the thousand years Released for a little season or while question four, who’s sat and rained with Christ for a thousand years martyrs. Okay. That that’s important. It’s the martyrs that reign with him. Does the passage anywhere say that Christ reigned for only a thousand years?
No. It doesn’t. How many resurrections did John see? Two, Which one was literal or historical? I E bodily resurrection of people who had died Answers. Neither. Neither. Yeah. The first resurrection is the, the second resurrection is everybody else, but it’s all visionary. It’s all part of the vision. If there neither one of them is a literal bodily resurrection in the sense that we’re looking forward to when Christ returns.
Okay. Let’s see. Where was I? Question seven. What does Satan do when he is released? All right. He deceives the nations and gathers them to battle against who’s Satan, always fighting against Christ and the Christians. Okay. And he goes back to doing exactly what he was doing before he was thrown in the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
Okay. So he makes war or prepare for battle by what were the dead judged in the second resurrection By their works. Okay. What was cast into the Lake of fire? Death and hell or Hades, depending on which translation you’re using. Where did we see these two previously in the book. Okay. As the RA, the rider on the pale horse,
his, his death and Hades is following after him. That’s in revelation. What chapter? Chapter six. And it’s the fourth seal. Okay. So you could put for the answer there, you could put the, the pale horse revelation six, the sick, there were the fourth seal. Any of those are good answers to that question. Who else was cast into the Lake of fire?
Anyone not found in the book of life. Okay. So set aside revelation, chapter 20 for a minute in chapter 19 and 20 and 21 and 22, you’re seeing the progression of visions that tell trues. And like we talked about on Wednesday, we would be inconsistent to say to a pre millennialist, you need to be consistent on your interpretation. If you’re going to say it’s literal,
like the thousand years is literal, then everything around it has to be literal and you need to be consistent with that. So too, we have to be consistent. We talked about, like I said, we talked about this a little bit on Wednesday. If we’re going to say that the thousand years, this isn’t literal and the bottomless pit isn’t literal and the dragon isn’t literal in the sense of,
they declare trues about what God is doing and has done, but they’re not intended to be understood as historical events in history story. Then we also need to be consistent, okay. To then come to the last two chapters of revelation and flip-flop are hermaneutic art interpretation of the book. And immediately go now at chapter 21, everything you read here is literal,
and it’s going to happen when Christ returns number for two, for two reasons, that was a problem. Number one, you have things you can’t explain in chapter 21 and 22. If that’s your interpretation of chapters, 21, 22, we’ll get to that, that on Wednesday, there are things in this passage that if you interpret this as the day of judgment and heaven and eternity,
they make no sense. If you remain consistent, though, with the interpretation that we’ve had all the way through the book, which is, here’s what he said, I saw. Here’s what it means. You not only get the picture from the old Testament brought forward as John has done over and over and over and over and over in the book. But you also get trues that are timeless and pictures that are timeless,
that you can look at heaven and see those as a pluggable, trues for eternity. Okay. So what we’re going to do in this lesson today, and why probably won’t get through all these questions. We’re going to go through the questions that we handed out today. These are all old Testament passages. But what I want us to do is I want us to go through these old Testament passages,
because I don’t want you or anyone to it ever go through. And listen to me, teach revelation 21 and 22 and say, well, Aaron said it. That must be what it means. Cause that’s the terrible hermeneutics. Please don’t ever use that method of interpretation. Aaron said it, therefore it’s true. But also because I don’t want you to assume that because I’m saying all this stuff is in the old Testament that it’s actually there.
I want you to have it in your hands. I want you to look through the passages as we go through this morning. And if we don’t get all the way through the questions, I’m going to let you spend the rest of the time on your own study, filling these in because it’s all straight from the text. It’s all from the old Testament.
Well, we won’t spend two classes on it, but I want this information in your records, in your file. So that when you go back to your notes on 21 and 22, you go, where did he get all this stuff from? Well, here’s where it is. And by the way, even since I finished the questions, there’s more passages.
I wish I had included, but we’ll talk about them as we get through chapters 21, 22. So today is all old Testament. It’s all old Testament. And it’s all where all these pictures that we’re going to read about in 20 and 21 and 22, it’s where they all come from is the old Testament. And they’re as true today as they were when God gave them under a different law,
under a different covenant, to a different people. Okay? God spoke these things to Israel before Christ had ever come. And we need to learn and appreciate what God was saying and the truth of what he said and the pictures he used to declare that truth. So we’re going to begin in Isaiah chapter 11. All, most all of this will come from Isaiah,
but there’s, there’s more that could be gleaned from, from other books. We’ve got a few at the end, but we’re going to try and go through this as logically and, and contextually as possible. Isaiah chapter 11, we’re going to read a section. We’re going to answer some questions. So we’re going to begin with Isaiah 11 verses one through nine,
there shall come forth. A rod from the STEM of Jesse. I’ll make a few comments as we go through, but I’m not gonna spend a lot of time making comments where we won’t get anywhere close to finished. But the rod here is Christ. This is a, this is a prophecy concerning the Messiah. The STEM of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and mind, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord. And he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes nor decide by the hearing of his ears. But with righteousness, he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.
He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breadth of his lips, he shall slay the wicked. What does God do to the wicked? And what member of the Godhead does it? All right, verse four, he shall strike the earth with his rod of the mouth. He shall slay the wicked. Okay? So he,
he destroys the, but which member of the Godhead is being prophesied about Jesus Christ. When you get over revelation chapter 19, how is Jesus Christ pictured On a white horse? The sword of his mouth is coming out and he’s defeating the wicked. The picture’s consistent. Okay. Verse five righteousness shall be the belt of his loins and faithfulness the belt of his waist.
Over in revelation 19, we read about him being girded about and a name that was written on his thigh and all of these things, these pictures of Christ over and over again. What is the branch wearing as a designation, righteousness and faithfulness. Okay. You go over to the, over to revelation and he’s called faithful and true. And you see his righteousness.
We’re just, we’re bringing forward. These pictures verses six through nine. The Wolf also shall dwell with the lamb. The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fat laying together. And a child shall lead them. The cow and the bear show graze. Their young ones shall lie down together. The lion chilly straw,
like the ox, the nursing child shall play by a Cobra’s hole. And the wean child shall put his hand in the Vipers den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the water covers the sea as a result of the branches judgment. Okay? So he goes out,
he defeats the enemies of his, of God’s people as a result of the branches judgment and the knowledge of the Lord. What happens to the animal life? They live peacefully together. Now I got a question for you when the Messiah came and Jesus Christ walked on the earth and taught and died and was resurrected at what point in all that time, as Jesus was on the earth,
did the lion lay down with the lamb? Did the Wolf not attack anymore? Did the baby go near the Vipers den and stick his hand in the Vipers, Dan and not get bit, none of it, but what’s the picture when God destroys his enemies and he destroys them. So utterly there’s nothing left. Like the anguish pain, sorrow danger hurt,
nothing like that left God. So thoroughly destroys his enemies. Okay? That’s The picture is all the animal life stops being like animals. The truth is God’s. People are so secure. Nobody touches them. They can’t be hurt. Okay. There’s the picture. There’s the truth. Now let’s go to chapter 34. By the way, the pre-millennial lists are waiting for a day where lions and lambs lay down together,
physical lions and lambs Displaying that it’s not happening. Okay? God never intended for it to happen on this physical earth in that sense. Okay? Their pictures, their figures were being consistent all the way through chapter 34 verses one, let’s do one through four and then we’ll pick up verse six, chapter 34, verse one, come near you nations to hear and heed you.
People let the earth here and all that is in it, the world, and all things that come forth from it for the indignation of the Lord is against all nations. His fury against all their enemies are all their armies. He shall utterly destroy them. And he there, sorry. He shall enter to utterly destroy them. He has given them over to the slaughter.
Also their slain shall be thrown out. Their stint shall rise from their corpses and the mountains shall be melded with their blood. All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved and the heavens shall roll up. Like us shall be rolled up like a scroll. All their hosts shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine as the fruit falling from a big tree.
Okay. Question four. How complete is God’s judgment against the nations? Utterly 100% complete my wait a minute. Was there a time in old Testament history where God so judged all the people around Israel that there wasn’t a nation left on the face of the planet except Israel? No. Then the next question, when God judges, the nations what’s done away with,
so was there a time in Israelite history where God’s so judged the nations around Israel that heaven and earth just were gone and somehow Israel was still here. No. Now wait. Yeah. A minute over in revelation, chapter 21 and 22 in the end of chapter 20, what, what is, what goes away? What flees from the presence of God,
Heaven and earth and Wait a minute. There’s an, you know, I, I feel very unfortunate for some of my brethren who are now holding to a doctrine that there is going to be a new literal, physical heaven and new literal physical earth. When Christ returns, it comes from not being consistent with your interpretation of scripture. There’s no new heavens and new earth that we’re waiting for when Christ returns not a physical one no more than there was in Isaiah’s day.
But when Isaiah uses the picture and it speaks of a truth, John’s going to come along and use the same picture to speak of the same truth. Okay. Verse six down through, let’s do six through eight so we can get the latter portion. At the end. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood. It is made overflowing with fatness,
with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of Rams for the Lord has a sacrifice in Bosnia and a great slaughter in the land of Edam. The wild oxen shall come down with them. And the young bulls with the mighty bowls, their land shall be soaked with blood and their dust saturated with fatness for it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance.
The year of recompense for the cause of Zion. Why did the judgment come against the nations? The end of verse eight? Okay. God is bringing judgment against the enemies of his people. The vengeance is because of what they did to Zion his people. Okay? The nations are being judged here. Specifically. Bosnia Edam are being talked about, and the condemnation is how you treated.
My people go revelation. 19 revelation. Chapter 20 was God, say over and over again, you’re getting this, this judgment is coming on Rome. I’m bringing this destruction because of what you did to my people. Okay? Verse, verse nine, go down. I’m going to read down through the end of the chapter. It streams it’s streamed shall be turned into pitch that not Zion streams,
Edens streams. This is this whole chapter is a condemnation on Edam. Okay? It stream shall be turned into pitch. It’s dust into brimstone. Its land shall become a burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night or day. It smoke. Shelah sin forever from generation to generation. It shall lie. No one shall pass through it forever and ever.
All right, God says Edam. I’m turning you into a Lake of fire. I’m turning your land into that, which is covered by pitch and brimstone and fire. Now, was there a time when God turned Edam into a land of Fire? No. Okay. But verse 11 and here’s where you get the little glue. There’s not a literal Lake of fire.
It’s not a literal stream of fires. Now, literal land of pitch because what lives in it, all the animals he says, but the Pelican and the porcupine shall possess it. Also the owl and the Raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch out over it. The line of confusion, the stones of emptiness, they shall call its Nobles to the kingdom,
but none shall be there. And all its princes shall be nothing. And thorn shall come up in its palaces, nettles and brambles in its fortresses. It shall be a habitation of jackals, a courtyard for ostriches. The wild bees of the desert shall meet with the jackals. The wild goat shall bleat with it, to its companions. Also the night creatures shall rest there and find for herself a place of rest.
Now you find do animals find themselves a place of rest and a Lake of fire or streams of brooms. No, no, that’s They are the arrow. Snake shall lay shall make her nest and lay eggs and hatch and gather them under her shadow. They are, shall be the Hawks or shall the Hawks be gathered every one with her mate search from the book of the Lord and read not one of these shall fail.
Not one shall lack her mate for my mouth has commanded it. And his spirit has gathered them. He has cast the lot for them and his hand has divided it among them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever from generation to generation. They shall dwell in it. God says, I’ve measured you and I’ve measured your land and I’m giving it to the animals because I’m destroying you eat them.
And he would, okay. So What is the condition of the earth in this prophecy Thing about it in the figures, all right. Returned to nature, but God says I’m wiping it out. I’m I’m going to completely overtake it and destroy it and return it to nature. Okay. Chapter 35, Isaiah’s not finished. John’s not finished using his figures,
the wilderness and the wasteland. She’ll be glad for them. Let’s go down through verse seven wilderness in the wasteland. She’ll be, she’ll be glad for them. And the D the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the Rose. It shall blossom, abundant, abundantly, and rejoice. Even with joy in singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it.
The excellence of caramel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellence of our God, strengthen the weak hands and make from the feeble knees, say to those who are fearful hearted, be strong and do not fear. Behold, your God will come with vengeance and will recompense with the recompense of gone. He will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened. The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer in the tongue of the dumb she’ll sing for water, shall birth, forth, forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool and thirsty land Springs of water in the habitation of jackals,
where each lay there shall be grasped with reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there and a road. It shall be called the highway of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road shall the road. Although a fool shall not go astray, no lion shall be there nor shall any ravenous beast go up upon it.
It shall not be found there, but the redeem shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion was singing with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Okay. Chapter 35 verses one through four. What are the righteous told to do when the world is faced with this coming judgment?<inaudible> All right.
Be strong and fear. Not he’s coming to save you. Okay. Verses five year seven. What evidence is given of God, still being on their side.<inaudible> All right. The healing of the blind healing of the deaf, the healing of the lame and the healing of those who can’t speak, God, God hasn’t turned away. Now. Was there somebody who said,
you’ve seen this fulfilled in your hearing? Did somebody say to John’s disciples? Here’s the response you’d give to John. You’ve seen the deaf, hear the blind, see the lame walk and the silence speak. And who was that person? Christ. So, wait a minute. God says, I’m going to bring about judgment. I’m going to bring about destruction,
but I, my people to know I’m going to save them. And then he gives a whole bunch of figures in jail. Jesus says me these point to me, all right, watch this verses eight through nine. What is the mood or condition of those who walk on the highway of holiness? Okay, what are they doing though? They’re singing. And they’re at the end of verse 10,
what’s gone sorrow that somebody is going to say that anybody necessarily here, but somebody is going to say, when I get over revelation, chapter 21, that I’m going to read, there’ll be no more tears. And we sing that song, no tears in heaven. And we’re going to say, well, that can’t be on this earth because Christians still have things to be sorrowful about.
You’ve got to look at the figure and you gotta look at the truth. Here’s the picture of Israel, of the Messiah of the salvation, of the saved. And here’s the truth. God says, there’s no more cry. There’s no more tears. There’s no more sorrow. Why? Because you’ve come through all of the struggles, all of the trials,
all of the tribulation, all of the pain, all the things the beast brought upon you in revelation, under Rome. And now you’ve come through the other side and you’re not destroyed. You’re not in ashes. You’re not lame. You’re not any of those things. Why? Because he saved view. And let’s remember this. Even Paul said over in first Corinthians,
chapter 15, when he’s talking about death and the resurrection that we don’t sorrow, the way the world does, as those who have no hope. You and I, we face tears, sorrow loss, but so did the disciples of Christ. And yet he told them I’m departing from you for a little while. We experienced separation, but here’s the real truth.
Here’s the, here’s the underlying thing. God wants us to always remember. We sorrow in this life knowing there’s a life beyond it with him. So the picture of Israel in Isaiah 30 is never any sorrow again. Did that mean is real ever experienced a time where there was never any sorrow in their history? Again? No. It means as long as you’re righteous and you belong to God,
you have a time where you know, God’s with you. No matter what you go through, it’s a picture tells you a truth. Okay? I know we’re not going to get nearly, as far as I’m hope, chapter 42, Chapter 42, we’re just going to grab verses nine and 10, because you could just go all the way through the rest of the book of Isaiah.
But we don’t have time for that. Verses nine and 10 behold, the former things have come the past and new things I declare before they spring forth. I tell you of them. Okay? So verse nine, God says he does. He creates what he creates new things. The former things are gone and he creates new things. Okay? So verse who declares the quote new things before they exist,
who does that? God does. God tells you I’m going to do this. And he may not do it for a thousand years, but you can know assuredly that if he said he was going to do it, he’s going to do it. Okay. But then verse 10, saying to the Lord, a new song and his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea and all that is in it. You coast lands and all inhabitants of them. Isaiah calls upon God’s people to do what? Sing a new song. Now over in revelation, who is it that gets to sing a new song. There’s a specific number of them, 144,000, the 144,000 that are redeemed from the earth.
They get to sing a new song, but Isaiah’s people got to sing a new song. Israel got to sing a new song because every time God redeems his people, they get to sing a new song. There’s not a new song waiting for you in heaven. That has never been sung before. Other than the song of your redemption. That’s the song that gets sung.
Isaiah 43, verse one, actually, we’ll just do verse one. This is a fill in the blank. There’s a lot of the fill in the blanks at the end, because I knew we weren’t going to get all the way there. But again, I just want you to see those passages as they have 43 verse one. But now thus says the Lord who created you?
Oh, Jacob. And he who formed you O Israel. Fear. Not for, I have redeemed. You. I have called you by your name. You are mine. Every, sorry. God declares to Israel. I have blank. You Redeemed. I have called you by blank name.<inaudible> Your name? All right. Watch this because Isaiah’s going to do this very carefully.
He’s going to say through, God’s going to say through Isaiah, I called you by your name, but he follows it up with a statement and you are mine in a minute. He’s going to say, I gave you a new name. It was your name. I called you by it. Today is Isaiah’s birthday. And I told us as we were getting out of the van.
So, you know, it was today that I called you by your name, but it was eight years ago. You know, the day he was born, we gave him a new name, but it was his name. Okay. As Christians, we’re given a new name. God calls us by that name, but all throughout history, God’s given people new names.
Abraham didn’t stay Abraham. Did he? Jacob didn’t stay. Jacob. Did he? Okay. God gives Israel a new name. Notice here. Verse seven, chapter 43. Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory. I have formed him. Yes. I have made him. Everyone who has called blank, whom I have created for my glory.
I have formed him. Yes. I have made him. Whose name are they called by? By my name. Okay. So God says, I’m going to call you by your name. And seven verses later, he says, and your name is my name. You Are part of me. Okay? Verse 15, chapter 43. I am the Lord.
Your Holy one, the creator of Israel. Your King question. Fear question 15. I am the Lord. Your Holy one, the blank of Israel, your King creator. Okay. Back in chapter 42, God says I make new things. And I tell about the new things. Before I make them over in chapter 43, he says, I’m going to call you by your name.
And your name is my name. And I am the creator of Israel. When you create something, nobody else has created it before. When you create something, what do you have the rights to do? Call it whatever you want. God says, I’m the one who did this and I get to call it what I want. Okay. You’re seeing here over and over and over and over and over again.
I’m in charge. And when I judge out of that judgment, I make new things. Little later on in these chapters, you’re going to see God saying, I’m going to create you a new, I’m going to do a new heavens and a new earth, new Jerusalem, but you’re going to have to go through the birthing process where you go through the pain and out of which comes something new.
Okay? Here’s this picture being used over and over again. Chapter 43 verses 18 through 21. Do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old behold. I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall you know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The bees of the field will honor me the jackals and the ostriches because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to my people.
My chosen one. Now, when did God do that? When did God make a stream out of the desert? In history? Yeah. In the wilderness with Israel, he did it for real in history. And now he’s using it as a figure. Okay. Imagine if you were one of those animals, it spends his entire life in the wilderness,
looking for water, just to be able to make it through another day. And suddenly a spring shows up out of the middle of nowhere because God decided to give drink to his people and you get the by-product. You get a stream that shows up out of nowhere. Okay? There’s the picture. This people I have formed verse 21 for myself. They shall declare my praise.
What does he create in this passage? All right. The stream in the wilderness. Hold on to the picture. The waters of life. Now over in revelation, 21 and 22 in the midst of the garden flow the waters of life. And where do they start? Where do they originate from the throne of God? Okay. We’re not done yet.
Let’s let’s grab a couple more chapter 62 verses one through four for Zion’s sake. I will not hold my peace. And for Jerusalem sake, I will not rest until her righteousness goes forth. As a, as brightness in her salvation. As a lamp that burns the Gentiles shall see your righteousness and all Kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the Lord will name. When everyone sees the glory of God’s people, they will be called by a new what a new name, verse three. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royal diadem in the hand of your God, you shall no longer be termed forsaken, nor shall your land anymore.
Be termed desolate, but you shall be called<inaudible>. I don’t know what that means, but I can’t hardly pronounce it. And your land Beulah, we’ve got a song in our songbook Beulah land. Okay. That’s where it comes from. Okay? God says your land used to be called what and what?<inaudible>. And desolate is not gonna be called that anymore.
Okay. Back over to chapter 62 verses 11 and 12. Now wait a minute. Hold on. When you look in revelation, 19 and 20 was God due to the earth, destroys it with the plagues, with the bowls, with all those things, it destroys the entire planet in apocalyptic form. Just like over here in Isaiah chapter 62, God says you and your land,
you were desolate. You were forsaken. You were destroyed verses 11 and 12. Indeed. The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world, say to the daughter of Zion, Shirley, your salvation is coming behold. His reward is with him and he has work before him. They shall, and they shall call them the Holy people, the redeemed of the Lord.
And you shall be called, sought out a city, not forsaken four terms here. God says Israel, you were forsaken and desolate. I had white. Do you out Now? Here’s your new description. Here’s what you’re going to be called. Four things. Number one, the Holy people. Number two, the redeemed of the Lord. Number three,
saw it out. Saw it after you don’t S you don’t search for something that’s forsaken. You don’t search for something that’s desolate. You, you don’t go looking for a group of people that are, that are destroyed. So if they’re sought out, they’re not that anymore. Are they they’ve become something new and a city for sacred or city, not for sake.
Excuse me. All right. We’re going to pick up on Wednesday. We were going to cover just a few, probably about five of these others, but I encourage you go through the rest of this list this week for Wednesday, fill in these blanks, fill in these holes and get a picture of this. God saying over and over and over in the old Testament,
prophets, I’m going to do this. I’m going to judge your enemies. I’m going to destroy them. So thoroughly it’s as if I wipe the entire face of the planet clean, and then I’m going to make something new. And a number of times you’re going to read new heavens and new earth or new Jerusalem and the picture over and over and over again in the profits is Jerusalem restored the way God wanted it to be.
And that’s the picture we’re going to get in revelation 21 and 22. We’ll talk about that more on Wednesday. Thank you.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Good to see everybody here this morning. On the rainy day, we need a little rain from time to time, but anyway, it’s good to see everybody. If you a Vistor we’d appreciate it.
If you’d fill out a visitor’s card, so we’d have a record of your attendance and just lay it back there on the table. When you get through or lay it there on the seat, if you hadn’t picked up your Lord’s supper, it’s back there on the table, and that’d be a good time while we’re making announcements for you to do that. We need to remember our sick,
when our sick list at Jones or Dorothy Wilson, Janet Joan, Robbie woods, Laurie white, Jessica Dale, Sandy Trammell, and Terry and Patricia Wheatley and Gary Whaler. We announced last week that he was going to have to have surgery again. And they went in and he had had bypass surgery, but they found some stints that were a block and they had to put five stents in him.
So he is, he is back at home. Now I got a card from a lucky and bed, Lou, and thank from the bottom of your heart with a, with a floral arrangement, looking, I appreciate the thoughtfulness and more than you’ll ever know, maybe it won’t be too much longer though. They can be back with us. They’re staying at home because of the COVID threat.
And I will put the card back here on the bulletin board. That’s all of our announcements. Aaron is going to leave singing this morning. Eric Howelsen Has opening prayer. Jay Schaeffer has the Lord supper. Michael Darrell has the sermon and her Springer has the closing prayer. Thank you. Good morning. Take your som books and open them to number two.
We’ll make mention of this right now, in case I forget. Unlike some services where we have some songs in the songbook that aren’t on the slides this morning, we have a few songs on the slides that aren’t in the songbooks, but all the songs will be on the slides this morning. I hope. There we go. All right. I’m feeling better now.
Number two, we praise thee. Oh God, We Praysee. Oh God. For the song.<inaudible><inaudible> the glory. Hallelujah. Oh man.<inaudible> we praise<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Oh, glory and praise to the lamb. That was saying<inaudible> every saying hallelujah, glory. Hallelujah. Oh man.<inaudible> no glory.<inaudible> Oh, glory and praise to the God of all grace<inaudible> hallelujah.
Glory.<inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible> Song. Before opening. Prayer will be number 827, 827. Sweet hour of prayer sing all three verses sweet<inaudible>. That calls me from<inaudible> besides me. My<inaudible> all my wants and wishes. No. In seasons of distress angry. My soul has often Foundry the and off this gave the<inaudible> sweet<inaudible> Hey son to a blaze<inaudible> is<inaudible>.<inaudible> wait for the sweet,
sweet<inaudible> to him whose truth and facts.<inaudible>. So to<inaudible> me see his face<inaudible> and trust his gray<inaudible> on him. My<inaudible> way for the sweet<inaudible> God, our father in heaven. We come to you at this time, thanking you for another opportunity to assemble here this morning, to sing songs, praise your great name, but most importantly,
study another portion of your word, Lord. I know we don’t mention it often enough, but there are those amongst our congregation here and in the world that have been improving from their elements. And we know it’s because of you in your love and care for each and every one of us. So we want to thank you at this time, for those that have shown some improvement.
And Lord also, we ask that you continue to reach out to those who are ailing, whether it’s from sickness or from recent losses in the family and give them the love and support that only you can so that they continue to have faith in you and know that you are truly in control of everything. And we thank you for that. As we prepare to hear another portion of your word,
we ask that you help brother Michael, have a ready recollection of what he is going to bring to us from your word. We ask that you help each and every one of us focus on the message that is brought to us here today, so that we can take it and analyze it, apply it to our lives, to make us better servants of yours here on earth,
that we may be your shining light to those that have either fallen away from your word or worse yet, have not had the opportunity to hear your word or have not listened to your word so that they may also have the same opportunity. We do that as opportunity to live with you forever in Eternity. When this earth is over, we bring these prayers to you at this time through your son,
Jesus name. Amen. This next song is one of those songs. It’s not in the book off. We come together. We’ll sing the song in preparation, prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper Off week.<inaudible> on this whole lead, eh,<inaudible><inaudible> to see may we all live in truth and<inaudible> the may week<inaudible><inaudible> to see may weigh all in truth and speak.<inaudible> the may we all<inaudible> take this.<inaudible> to see may we all live in truth and speak the,
As we come to this very special time in our let’s displace all the worldly thoughts from our minds and focus upon jesus’ death and what it means to us. I just pray heavenly father. We’re so grateful for the privilege we have to assemble about this table. Being part of your children. We’re grateful for the love that you’ve manifested toward us. And the fact that you have provided through your son a means for the perpetuation of our sins.
As we partake of this bread, help us to remember that it was his body that was sacrificed on that cruel cross. We ask all of these things in, through his name. We continue our Thanksgiving, heavenly father for this fruit of the vine, which represents his blood, that horses away our sins. As we partake of it, let us examine ourselves and find ourselves truly worthy of that sacrifice.
It’s in Jesus name. We pray. We find this a convenient time to offer prayer for our offerings. And let’s go once again to God and prayer, heavenly father were indeed grateful. The multitude of material blessings you is so richly bestowed upon our lives. We are indeed a blessed nation. We’re a blessed community, and we’re a blessed church. Help us to always remember that we are merely stewards of these blessings that we do not really deserve.
So any of the things that are given to us through, through you, We ask that you accept our prayers on our Thanksgiving for this in Jesus name that we pray. Amen. Imitation song is not in your song book, but it will be on the overhead. And it is come to the feast. If you would turn to number 467, if you are following the book,
467, let’s sing this song for a brother. Michael comes and preaches to us 467, better turn to the right page, or I’m going to leave the wrong song. Sing all three verses Will your rank hold in the storms of life. When the clouds on full wings of straw life, when those strong times lift and cables strain<inaudible> we have an Inca that keeps us so steadfast.<inaudible> fastened to the rock,
which<inaudible> rounded from Andy in the same<inaudible><inaudible> and cables fast from his heart to mind.<inaudible> so<inaudible> and<inaudible> when the breakers I’ve told<inaudible> though, the 10 best rage and the wild winds blow angry wave<inaudible> fastened to the wrong<inaudible> Andy<inaudible><inaudible> when the water’s cold, too low, late is on the rising tide.<inaudible> pass into the rock,
which can move around it from Andy<inaudible> when our eyes be Oh, through the guy,<inaudible> where those storms all pass for<inaudible> or<inaudible> keeps. So<inaudible> pass into the rock.<inaudible> Good morning. My brothers and sisters in Christ. I haven’t, I haven’t said this for a little while, but I want to let you know how important your congregation is to our family,
your love and your support and everything that you do really encourages us and helps us to make it through these exasperating tests and things that we have in school. But it’s a blessing to be able to get up here and preach to you. God’s word, and, and know that that you’re listening this morning. I want to speak about trusting in God’s promises.
Let’s read from Hebrews six, 13 through 20. Our main texts will be taken from Hebrews chapter six, and we’ll read verses 13 through 20 for when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater. He swear by himself saying surely blessing. I will bless thee and multiplying. I will multiply thee. And so after he had patiently endured,
he obtained the promise for men barely swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them. An end of all, strife wherein God willing, more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise. The immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things in which it is, it was impossible for God to lie. We might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay,
hold upon the hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure. And steadfast. And which entrust into that within the veil, whether the 4runner is for us entered, even Jesus made in high priest forever. After the order of milk has a deck as Christians, we have a steadfast hope. If we trust in the promises of God and life,
there may have been many promises that we have received, but relatively few of them can be relied upon to be kept. We are sometimes given the promise of an acquaintance to be paid back alone, that we have given them. And if that promise does not come to fruition, then we must learn to deal with the consequences and either no longer have that acquaintance or forgive them of the debt that they owe us.
Some of us may have been given the promise of a loved one to come back from war only to have tragedy strike. And we must learn how to handle the pain of that broken promise. Sometimes we must even learn to deal with a broken promise from a parent because they’re just not capable of keeping said promise due to some unforeseen situation. And we have to work through that broken promise and push forward because we can,
with God, we can always trust that his promises will be kept every single time. And as Christians, this gives us a hope that is sure and steadfast through the inspired word we can trust in God’s promises because God keeps the promises that he makes God cannot lie. And God gives us hope. Let us consider a few examples in scripture that proved to us that God keeps the promises he made.
He makes, but first we must understand what a promise is. The word promise in the Greek is upon glow, which according to Strong’s dictionary is to pledge to do something or to assert something respecting oneself. The word promise, according to the world and dictionary.com means to assure someone that one will definitely do give or arrange something or undertake or declare that something will happen.
So a promise from God is something, excuse me, that we can be assured will definitely happen because there being no greater, he swore it by himself. Let’s read again, verse 13 of Hebrews, chapter six for when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater. He swore by himself and then go down to verse 16 for men verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them.
An end of all, strife wherein God willing, more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise. The immutability of his counsel confirmed it by his oath. We can read that God has the ability to fulfill his promises everywhere in the scripture, but God’s word accomplishes what he pleases. We can see an Isaiah chapter 55 in verse 11, turn with me to Isaiah chapter 55 and verse 11.
So shall my word be that go with forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that, which I please, and it shall prosper. And the thing where on two, I sent it whenever God uses his voice to make a promise, it’s going to happen. It’s going to prosper wherever he sends his word.
Abraham had faith that God could deliver on his promises. Turn with me to Romans chapter four, Romans chapter four, and we’ll read verses six verses 16 through 21, Romans four 16 through 21. Therefore it is a faith that it might be by grace to the end. The promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only, which is of the law,
but to that also, which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations before him, whom he believed even God who quickened at the dead and call it those things, which be not as though they were who against hope, believed in hope that he might become the father of many nations,
according to that, which was spoken. So shall thy seed be and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead when he was about and hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. He did not waver on this promise, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded,
that what he had promised, he was able to perform amazing faith, that we all should have to know that whatever the Lord has promised us, it’s going to come to fruition. It’s going to come to fruition. Now let us consider some of the examples of God’s. Another example of God, keeping his promise. Joshua explained that all God’s promises were fulfilled.
Turn with me to Joshua chapter 21, the book of Joshua chapter 21. And we’ll read verse 45 and very last verse Air failed, not out of any good thing, which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass all of it again, Joshua pronounced that not one thing God promised had failed, not a single thing. Joshua chapter 23,
just a couple of chapters over in verses 14 and 15, Joshua 23, 14 and 15 And B, hold this Stay. I am going the way of all the earth and you know, in your hearts and in your souls, that not one thing I failed of all the good things, which the Lord, your God speak concerning. You all are come to pass on to you.
And not one thing has failed thereof. Therefore it shall come to pass that as all good things are, come upon you, which the Lord, your God promised you. So shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things until he have destroyed you from off this good land, which the Lord your God has given you the Lord’s promises, swings both ways.
Doesn’t it. He promises to do good and you’ll get good. But if he promises to do bad, you better be careful not one promise God gave through Moses failed. Either. An example of this is found in first Kings chapter eight and verse 56, first Kings chapter eight and verse 56, blessed be the Lord that have given rest unto his people.
Israel, according to all that, he promised there have not failed. One word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses, his servant, no promises the Lord ever gives do not come true. They always come true. And having an understanding that God has the ability to fulfill his promise and reading of some of the accounts where his promises were fulfilled.
We must also understand that God cannot lie. It is impossible. We can read that God is not a liar on several accounts because lying is impossible for God. Hebrews chapter six, let’s go back to our main text, Hebrews chapter six, and we’ll read verse 18. He retracted her six verse 18 that by two immutable things, that’s his promise in his oath in which it was impossible for God to lie.
We might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay, hold upon the hope set before us. God is not a man like us. And though, therefore he cannot lie. Let me see this in numbers. Chapter 23 and verse 19 numbers, 2319, God is not a man that he should lie. Neither. The son of man that he should repent hath.
He said, and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken? And shall he not make it good when God speaks, it’s going to happen? He’s not like us. We can say something. And through certain circumstances, it doesn’t come to fruition. But God, when he says something it’s going to happen every single time, Paul proclaimed that God could not lie through the inspiration of the Holy spirit in Titus chapter one verses one and two Titus chapter one verses one and two.
Okay. Paul, a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness and hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began. We have that hope of eternal life because God can not lie. And he promised it to us to comp to comprehend how it is that God cannot lie.
All one needs to look at is God’s inner character, his character, who he is first God is light first, John one five first John chapter one, verse five. Then this is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. Another character of God, every good and perfect gift is from him.
For James chapter one in verse 17, James chapter one, verse 17, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning. He does not vary in what he says. Everything he gives is perfect. Everything including his promise God’s way is perfect. Another great character of God,
Psalm 18 and verse 30, the 18th Psalm in verse 30 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust him. God is also just Psalm 50 and verse six, three to this, the 50th Psalm and verse six, and the heaven shall declare his righteousness for God is judge himself.
So the law, he is a just God, God is also merciful. That’s how we know he cannot lie. Romans chapter six and verse 23. Turn with me to Romans chapter six in verse 23, a well-known verse to many but not so well known to all for the wages of sin is death. Wouldn’t it be sad if it just stopped right there for the wages of sin is death,
but it doesn’t because in God’s mercy, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Our Lord one in the amazing mercy we have through Christ through God in our sin, we could be lost in our sin. He doesn’t owe us anything, but through his great character, he gives us mercy. God is also love. First John chapter four verses seven through nine first John chapter four verses seven through nine beloved.
Let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and know with God he that loveth not no with not God for God is love. And this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him. God is also all powerful turn with me to job.
Chapter 12, verses seven through 10 job, chapter 12, verses seven through 10. Okay? But as now the bees and they shall teach thee and the fowls of the air and they shall tell thee or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee. And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee who know with not, and all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this.
And whose hand is the soul of every living thing and the breadth of all man kind. God is amazingly powerful. And this shows his character. God is righteous, Isaiah 41 and verse 10, Isaiah chapter 41 and verse 10 fear. Doubt not for, I am with him. Be not dismayed for, I am thy God, I will strengthen the yea.
I will help the yea. I will uphold the, with the right hand of my righteousness. God cannot lie because he is righteous. And most importantly, God cannot lie because he is infinitely. Holy first, Peter chapter one verses 15 and 16, read with me first, Peter chapter one verses 15 and 16. But as he, which has called you is Holy.
So be ye Holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written. Be ye Holy for, I am Holy. Our father is Holy and in him, there is no darkness. That is something we can look to to know that he can not lie less. His promises will always be fulfilled. And now that we know that God keeps his promises and that he cannot lie to us because it is not in him to lie.
It is impossible for him to lie. We can know that the oath of his promise as an anchor to the soul, thus God gives us hope. God’s faithfulness is our Sharon’s. God is faithful. If we follow his commandments, if there is, there is something there. If we follow his commandments, Deuteronomy chapter seven in verse nine, Deuteronomy chapter seven and verse nine,
know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth, covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. God is faithful to us in our temptation. We can rely on him for that first Corinthians chapter 10 verses 12 and 13 first Corinthians chapter 10, verses 12 and 13 wherefore.
Let him that think as he standed take heed, lest he fall there. APH, no temptation you, but such as is common to man. But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that. Ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that she may be able to bear it. And because of this,
God is faithful to guard us against the evil one. Turn with me to second Thessalonians, chapter three in verse three second, Thessalonians chapter three and verse three again, but the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil. We can rely on God because of his faithfulness. God is faithful and he is just first John chapter one, verse nine first John chapter one and verse nine.
If we confess our sins, he, God is faithful. And just to forgive us, our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, God is faithful to everyone, to you, to me, to everyone in the world, Psalm one 19 and verse 90 turn with me to the 119th Psalm and verse 90. I faithfulness is unto all generations, thou hast established the earth and it abideth.
He’s faithful to everyone. And he is faithful forever. Just a couple of chapters back in Psalm, Psalm chapter 117, verse two for his merciful. Kindness is great toward us and the truth of the Lord. And<inaudible> forever. Praysee the Lord. We know that God is faithful because Jesus is the proof of his faithfulness. Romans chapter five in verse eight,
Romans chapter five and verse eight. Yeah, God, commendeth his love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, he still keeps his promise. He looks down on all of us as his children. And even though we were sinners, he kept his promise and sent the savior for us because of God’s faithfulness.
We have a hope that is both sure. And steadfast. Our hope is an anchor of the soul. Turn with me back to our original text in Hebrews chapter six. And we’ll look at verse 19, Hebrews six 19, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, both sure. And steadfast as our hope. Our hope is a hope that goes into heaven itself beyond the veil,
because Jesus has Pierce that veil for us continue reading in verse 19. Let’s just read the whole verse again, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure. And steadfast, and which entering into that within the veil, Jesus says Pierce that veil. We don’t have to have a high priest for us to go before God anymore. Now we have an open door to God through Jesus.
Our hope is a hope built upon a foundation of Jesus’s priesthood. Read with me right down verse 20 and Hebrews chapter six, whether the former owner four runner is for us entered. Even Jesus made in high priest forever. After the order of milk has a deck, we can read of this coming and know that it came to fruition in Psalm chapter 110,
the entirety of Psalm chapter 110 Psalm chapter 110. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit down at my right hand until I make mine enemies. A footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule vow in the midst of dine enemies. My people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning,
thou has the do of the youth. And here’s, here’s the main verse here. The Lord has sworn and will not repent thou art, a priest forever. After the order of milk has a deck. Our hope is in the appearing of Christ. This is where our hope comes from Titus chapter two, verses 11 through 14, Titus chapter two verses 11 through 14 for the grace of God,
that brings salvation. Hath appeared to all men, teaching us denying ungodliness and worldly lust. We should live. So Burley, righteously, and godly in this present world. Lucky for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify on to himself.
A peculiar people, zealous of goods. Good works. The fruition of God’s promise. Jesus came for us as Christians. We have a steadfast hope. If we trust in the promises of God, I mean, what is a relationship without trust? It’s not really a relationship at all. God. He has shown us in his word that he is faithful and steadfast in his promises time and time again,
it just read the entirety of the book. Every single page you can see God is fulfilling his promises in life. We are sometimes confronted with tragedies, troubles and disappointments. And through these experiences, we are to continue to hold tight to the Lord. It is through these experiences that we are able to show God just how much we truly trust him. We can do this because we know God is the God.
And he keeps his promises. You know that God will keep his promises because it, because it is not in his nature to lie, it is impossible because God keeps his promises. He gives us a hope of our salvation. I want to leave you with a verse from one of my favorite hymns, standing on the promises, standing on the promises that cannot fail when the howling storms of doubt and fear of sale by the living word of God,
I shall prevail standing on the promises of God, standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my savior standing, standing. I am standing on the promises of God. There’s one promise that we can be sure of. And that is if we do, as God commands, we have the hope of eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Amen. In order to enjoy the blessed promise of eternal life, we must first heed the commandment to hear his word and not just here, but here with an understanding to bring us to faith, Romans 10, 17, to be honest of his blessed promise and not die in our sins. We must also, I believe that Jesus is the Christ. The son of the living God,
John eight 24, the promise of eternal life is within our reach. If we obey the command of the father to repent and return to him as his child acts 1730, yet another simple command we are to obey is to ensure we receive the promise of eternal life is the confession of Jesus says the Christ, the son of the living God before all men,
Matthew 10 32, another easy command to enjoy eternal life is to be immersed for the forgiveness of our sins. Acts 2216. And the final command though. It is hard. Sometimes it may seem hard, but it is not grievous. And that is to stay faithful to the Lord until your earthly life has ended. And then we can receive our crown of righteousness in heaven.
First, John one, six and seven in revelation, two 10. If you have yet to hear God’s blessed to commands, the water of baptism are ready for you. Come share in the true promise with us and God’s promise in Christ. Or if you have faltered in your belief of God’s promise and need the prayers of the saints. We are here for you.
Remember the fervent prayer of a righteous man avail as much, James, five 16, whatever you need, please come forward. As we stand in scene,<inaudible> all things are ready. Come to the<inaudible><inaudible> Oh, things are ready.<inaudible> wow. He ways to welcome the<inaudible> all things are ready. Come to the<inaudible><inaudible> God,<inaudible> he?
The<inaudible> Michael. We appreciate that lesson and appreciate it every time that you’re able to come before us and preach. I don’t think I’m the only one who, who recognizes this, but Michael’s come a long way from the very first lessons that he gave you. You, we see this over and over again, and it’s easier for us to see it,
that it is for the person who’s going through it to see it. But every time we have a student, we see them come in and say same with Eric. When he was here, the, the presentation abilities that he had when he got here and the presentation abilities that he had when he left were very much not like each other, but it’s good to see that growth,
not only in content, but also in delivery over time, that happens with the students. Take your songbooks. If you will, and turn the number 452 will be on the slides as well. We’re going to sing the first and last verses of standing on the promises. And then we’ll be led in our closing prayer. Appreciate all of our visitors for being here,
encourage you to be back on Wednesday night and mindful, especially of those who are online or, or on the phone And her listening from afar. We want you to know, we love you. And we miss you 452 standing on the promises first and last verses. And then brother Murray will lead us in our closing prayer, standing on the problem. This is<inaudible> glory.
And a high is I will shout Dan saying, standing on the promise is I’ve gone.<inaudible> standing on the promises of God.<inaudible>, I’m standing on the promises of God. Standing on the problem is I can, ah, all listening.<inaudible> all standing on. The promise is<inaudible> standing on the promises of God.<inaudible>, I’m standing on the promises of God With me fleet our God and our father in heaven.
We’re thankful for this opportunity that has been ours to assemble ourselves together as the church and to worship the father in spirit and in truth. We’re thankful for the message that we heard today, help us to keep it in our hearts father, that we might not sin against thee. We ask that you would continue to give us our sins. As we repent of them,
we ask that you would be with us and help us to get through this pandemic, asked you to be with the whole world father. And if it’d be that, we’ll take this thing away, give us healing and recovery from it. We asked did you would be with those who are sick father, not able to be with us. We asked that you would touch him with your heating hand and restore them back to their house.
These many blessings. And we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good evening.<inaudible> Do you think I look bad? You should see the other guy. Yeah. Right.<inaudible> We are in revelation, chapter 20, for those who are listening by phone. My, my left hand is all wrapped up because the doctor decided to pull the pins out of my wrist today. So that was a fun,
you can do almost anything. If you put enough light to Canaan in your body. So let’s begin with a word of prayer and then we’ll get started gracious father in heaven. We bow before you grateful for the day that you’ve given to us grateful for the life that you’ve blessed us with grateful for the energy and the opportunity that we have to assemble together and mindful of those who are unable to be present with us.
We pray that you will be with those who are dealing with COVID right now, and those who are still recovering and especially those who have had it months ago and are still struggling with the symptoms of this disease. That is, is so very hard to deal with for some pray that you be with the Whitley family and that pray that they fully recover. And we pray that you be with all those missionaries throughout the world who are striving to get back to the mission field.
And we pray that their labors will be able to continue and be able to prosper again, as they go into mission fields throughout the world, we pray that you be with us as we go through this period of study, may the things that we do and the things that we say, the things that we study, be those things, which draw us closer to you.
And may we strive fervently to always proclaim the truth as your word has declared it to us, ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory, all this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Okay. So on Sunday we began in chapter 19, verse 17. We noticed the end of that chapter at the end of that chapter,
what is going on?<inaudible> All right. The beast is defeated who goes with him? False prophet. Okay. Which as we mentioned before is in the previous chapter where the beasts are introduced that’s the other beast. Okay. There were two beasts. One was the, the beast that really does the persecuting and the other is the false prophet that convinces the,
the world to, to worship the first beast. Okay. So the false prophet and the beast are defeated. What happens to the armies that are with them? All right. They’re killed with the sword of the mouth of the one who’s riding on the white horse and they’re devoured by the birds of heaven. So then we get into chapter 20 and we see at the beginning of chapter 20 and,
and there’s really no, no value in a chapter break here, but Haftar seeing the defeat of the army and then the defeat of the beast and the, the false prophet. Then we see he an angel descend from heaven, and he’s got a great chain and he’s got the key to the bottomless pit. And he takes the dragon who is who the devil Satan.
Alright, binds him and puts him in the bottomless pit for how long thousand years. Okay. Now, as we kind of go through just a few of the questions here at the beginning of, of our sheet, since we covered these on Sundays of these aspects of the vision, which is literal a, the key B the bottomless pit, see the chain D the dragon II Satan,
or F the thousand years, Satan. All right, because that’s the explanation, the explanatory part of the entire verse. That’s the part where John’s in trouble printing the picture. Okay. He says the dragon dragons, not a literal dragon, but then he interprets the picture of the dragon for you, which is the devil Satan. Satan’s a literal big,
but the Dragon’s not a literal dragon. Okay. So the owner part of, of all of that, it carries with it real truth. It carries with it what God is saying about his victory over Rome as the instrument of Satan. Okay. But it’s not a literal dragon bound by a literal chain cast into a literal bottomless pit. That’s unlocked with the literal key where he’s there for a literal thousand years.
Now, we only go through all of that to say the literal thousand years for a pre millennialist is incredibly important. They can get along with all the rest of that being figurative, except the thousand years, as soon as the thousand years, isn’t literal their whole doctrine falls apart. Okay. But that, this isn’t the only place that, that true.
We’re going to see that later on in chapter 20 as well. Okay. So we cast him into the bottomless pit. Let me, let me make one other statement go all the way back into chapter 19 is the great day of, of battle between the forces of Jesus Christ and his Christians on white horses and the beast and the false prophet and the dragon and their servants is that day of battle battle a literal day of battle either.
No. Okay. W we’re not just getting to this passage and then saying, Hey, it’s not literal. We’ve been saying all along, look at the picture, interpret the, meaning, the truth, truth in the picture and understand what John is conveying, or the spirit is conveying through John. Okay. You’re trying to be consistent in our interpretation all the way through that is to say,
it’s apocalyptic literature. You’re supposed to see the picture and not assume that the picture is what happened. You’re supposed to see the picture and say, what is it mean? Okay. And we’re going to do that all the way through, but there are times in the midst of it where God, the Holy spirit John say, and here’s the literal meaning in that case,
the dragon literal meaning is Satan for clarity. God makes it clear. That’s who he’s talking about. Okay. So cast him into the bottomless pit verse three, shut him up and set a seal on him so that he should do deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things, he must be released for a little while.
So we’ll come to this passage and say, the thousand years is the Christian dispensation, the Christian era. Well, there’s a problem with that. If you interpret the thousand years to not be literal, but to be the Christian dispensation, the time of the church, then you have, according to the anniversary a little time after the Christian era is over,
read it again. But after these things, well, what things the thousand years he’s just stated. So if you interpret the thousand years to be the Christian era, then after the Christian era, there’s going to be a little time that doesn’t, that doesn’t work. There’s no other passage in the new Testament that tells us anything about that. That Jesus is going to come back.
Dave, judgment’s going to come. And, and time shall be no more. There’s not a little time after the Christian era for Satan to come back out of the bottomless pit. So it’s not that either the thousand years, isn’t the Christian era and it’s not a thousand years, we’re going to be down to just a couple of things that can be actually really going to be down to just one thing.
It can’t be when we’re all said and done, but the bee or sorry, the dragon goes into the bottomless pit. But after these things, he must be released for a while. It’s going to be significant to note, we’re going to read about this again, but you’re going to see the dragon go in, but the picture coming out, isn’t the dragon anymore.
It’s Satan. Okay. Dragon. The dragon that we were introduced earlier had what? At physical attributes, he was red. How many heads? Seven heads, 10 horns crowns on his head. The dragon goes in the bottom of the pit and never comes back out because the dragon is a picture of Rome. Rome never comes back. When God defeats the nation of Rome and God takes the,
the kingdom that Daniel prophesized that’s going to be made without hands as a mountain created without hands and decimates. The four kingdoms that came before it Rome being the fourth and final, Rome’s never coming back. The, the prophecy in Daniel describes the mountain, grinding those nations in the powder. They’re never coming back. The dragon picture never comes back because the dragons have picture of Satan using Rome.
Okay. We are going to get a different picture later on in this chapter, but it comes from a completely different thing. We’re going to get a picture of Satan using Gog. And may God we’ll get into that in a little bit. Okay. So dragon never comes back. This is the last, this is the last year here of dragon. Satan comes back.
Okay. And I saw Thrones and they sat on them and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus. And for the word of God who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his Mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Okay. So John sees the angel come take the dragon, chain him up, put him in the bottomless pit. And he’s there for a thousand years. The next picture. Okay. Just again, think of this, like a picture book. You just turn the page, the next picture. The next truth conveyed by the Holy spirit is John now sees Thrones,
vast number of Thrones, and who’s on the Thrones. All right. Martyrs In this next picture, there’s going to be the first resurrection. Okay. We call it the first resurrection because John does, because there’s going to be a second resurrection later on in this first resurrection, you only have the resurrection of those who were killed for the testimony of Christ by the beast.
Okay? Those are the only people who take part in this first resurrection, this isn’t every righteous soul who’s ever lived. This is the ones who sit on the throne for a thousand years with Christ. And they reign for a thousand years with Christ. They rein as victors over the beast. They reign as victors over the dragon. They reign is Victor’s over the forces and the armies of the beast and the dragon.
They are reigning with Christ for a thousand years. They’re raining for the same period of time that the Dragon’s defeated for, or that Satan’s defeated for. Okay. Go back to chapter 18, chapter 18, verse 20 rejoice over her. Oh, heavens and you, Holy apostles and prophets for God has avenged you on her. The, the judgment on the great city on Rome,
the judgment on this nation is calm. And God says, this is a judgment of vengeance on you. You win is the declaration, but then go to verse 24. And in her was found the blood of profits and saints, and of all who were slain off earth. Here’s the accusation against Rome. She’s guilty of murdering God’s people, but God’s people don’t stay dead.
God’s people aren’t sitting in the grave. God’s people aren’t resting. They’re reigning on Thrones, according to what John sees. Okay. So those who died at Rome’s hand are raining as victors over Rome with the Christ. Notice what we read further on in verse four, they lived and reign with Christ for a thousand years, but the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
This isn’t a, this isn’t a worldwide resurrection. This is a resurrection of a specific group of people. Those who were killed by Rome. Okay? And then we read, this is the first resurrection. Now there’s a couple of key things we need to key in on here. Number one, these martyrs are reigning. Who are they reigning with? Christ?
Is there any place in this passage that States that Christ only rains for a thousand years? Okay. It’s important to notice what stated the picture is the martyrs reign with Christ. The time descriptor is a time descriptor of their reign, not his. You never have anywhere in the book of revelation, a description of Christ reigning for a thousand years. An example of this is a,
I think it’s a house we reread in the old Testament that a has Cole rained with Joe thumb for, I think it’s 17 years, 18 years. They were reigning at the same time. But the text says that EY has rained with Joe thumb for 17 years. But it doesn’t say that Joseph only rained for 17 years. He reigned with a has simultaneously for 17 years,
but that’s not a description of Joe thumb’s rain at all. Jonathan rained much further beyond that point. This is important because again, the pre-millennial has come to this passage and say, Jesus Christ reigns in Jerusalem for a thousand years now. No, that’s not in the text. There’s no description of Christ only reigning for a thousand years. Even if you take the years to be literal,
there’s no description of Christ reign as temporary. This is a picture of the Christians being victorious over the dragon and for Anne and Satan and for as long as Satan is, is in judgment. They’re in victory. Okay? So we’re not dealing with the literal thousand years, but we’re also, again, we’re trying to pick out few things that some false doctrines exist around to say,
Oh look, Christ reigns with no, no, no, no. There’s no, there’s nothing in this text about the reign of Christ being a thousand years, not anywhere in here, bless it in Holy verse six is he who has part in the first resurrection over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him for a thousand years.
Okay. So here, you’ve got a picture of completeness. The, the, the term 1000 we’ve, we’ve seen it multiple times. Matter of fact, in question number two, you’re going to see all the different passages where either the term a thousand or a multiple of a thousand is used to describe one idea all the way through the book. And it’s always completeness.
It is always completeness to perfection. Satan is defeated in his use of Rome as a tool against God’s people. And he has come. He is defeated entirely, completely, nothing left God deals with him, completely the Christians rain, because you go back to the beginning, chapters two and three, and Christ tells the churches. If you will, if you will be faithful,
you will receive what a crown of righteousness. You will reign with me. Okay? So the promise Jesus makes it the beginning of the book is the picture at the end of the book, you were faithful, even though you died, but you didn’t stay dead. You were resurrected. And you reigned with me. You were victorious, even though it looked like you were defeated.
Okay. That’s the picture in this, the second picture. So the first picture is Satan completely defeated. Thousand-year defeat the Christian’s completely victorious. Thousand-year victory. Okay. Now verse seven. Here’s the third picture in chapter 20. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released his prison. Wait a minute. Who went in the dragon who comes out?
Satan? Not it’s not the dragon anymore. Okay. Rome’s done. Rome’s never coming back back, but we’ve got a new picture because just because God defeats Satan’s use of Rome doesn’t mean that Satan’s never going to attack the church. Again. It doesn’t mean that Satan’s going to in, in some way disappear and never, never tempt, never persecute the church.
But notice the clarity on the picture, the defeat of Satan in his instrument of Rome is so complete that God pictures it as though Satan has to wait a thousand years before he can attack the church again. Now we’re not, we’re not saying, and nor should we from this text that there’s a thousand year gap before state never tries to do anything to the church again.
Oh, that’s not. What’s here. You’re dealing with a picture, a picture of completeness. God says, here’s the defeat of Satan’s use of Rome. And Rome never gets to cut short that defeat Satan, doesn’t get to overcome that defeat. Satan. Doesn’t get to cut short that defeat and come back after 500 years. No, the picture is completeness.
So that picture of a thousand years ends, but Satan’s not done, but the message is this. Okay? So here’s what we see. We see Satan come back, but what’s the message. The message is God’s saying, and the next time he comes back, I’m going to defeat him again. Okay. Watch this. Now when the thousand years of expired,
Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations. Now, what was he with the beast this evening, the nations. He goes right back to his old, his old actions. Okay. It goes right back to his old process. He goes out to deceive the nations, which are in the four corners of the earth.
Now here’s a change. Now. It’s not. He goes for the beast, the one nation Rome. Now he’s just got to, he just goes for everybody. But notice the picture. Now this is going to come from a Z keel, 37 and 38, no, 38 and 39 37 is, is another, another vision. Okay? So this comes directly from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel tells us about God and may God. It’s a picture. Even in as equals day, it’s a picture of the, the epitome of an army. The, the, the calculations, if you go through and do them of, of what is equal describes is, is 600 plus million soldiers. Okay? The apitomy of the whole world turning against God’s people.
Okay? That’s the picture of Gaga. May God. So Satan goes out. He deceives the nations and he comes with the old Testament picture of all the armies of the world, banding together to defeat someone. So Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations, which are in the four corners of the earth Gog. And Magog to gather them together to battle whose number is as the sand of the sea.
So in numerable they can’t be numbered. Okay? So this, this army comes against God’s people before it was the beast of a false prophet and his army and Rome, and the nations that followed Rome, and that God defeated them. Now, Satan goes out again and he gets all the nations of the world to fight against the church. And what happens.
They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. That’s by the way, the new Jerusalem we’ll read about that in a minute. The beloved city and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. So Rome’s defeated the dragons defeated. The beast is defeated. The false prophets defeated Satan gets released after God’s complete defeat of him.
And what does he go about to do again, the same thing. And God’s telling the church, don’t worry, anytime in the future, when he does it again, I’m going to do the same thing. Like I defeated him before. I’ll defeat him every time. This is the truth. Given here in chapter 20 verses seven through 10 is the devil never wins.
The devil never stops trying, but the devil never wins. Verse 10, the devil who deceived them was cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night, forever. And ever now just like Isaiah chapter 34, this judgment, isn’t the final judgment. We said back in chapter 19,
that the defeat of the beast and the false prophet, isn’t the final judgment. It’s not the judgment day. This isn’t the final time Satan’s defeated. This is God saying when he comes back and tries it again, I’m going to do to him again, what I did to him last time. And I’m going to keep doing it to him until he learns,
which is never unfortunately, with Satan, when, until he learns that he’s never going to win, but he’s always going to try. Okay. So Satan goes in to the Lake of fire, the picture from the old Testament of that’s. Cause I wasn’t talking to you. So be quiet. All right. So the devil’s defeated again. That’s the picture of verses seven through 10 verse 11.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. This isn’t new imagery. This is old Testament imagery. God comes forth as glory at nothing stands before it. But remember this, what did gone? You go back to the plagues, go back to the trumpets and the bowls.
Okay. Based upon the imagery of the trumpet and the bowls, what did God do to the entire world and the trumpets? He destroyed how much a third of it over and over and over again. He destroyed the waters. A third of them. He destroyed the, the fresh water, a third of it. He destroyed the plant life. A third of it.
He destroyed the grass. A third of it. He did all of these things. God’s decimated in the picture, the world of the ungodly. Then the bowls come along and everything he did partially in the trumpets. He does completely. So the picture of the world is a picture of destruction, nothing left. Imagine if 40 days after the flood, all the waters just disappeared and the boat landed and Noah walked off.
What would he have walked off to? Nothing, nothing. I mean, go, go, go visit anywhere. That’s just had a massive flood go through and go visit the part that got flooded. Nothing, picture that being the earth. And God’s saying, here’s what I’ve done to the world of the ungodly. And now here comes the glory of the Lord and that world gets wiped out of the picture.
Okay. This isn’t the literal heavens and earth fleeing away. The end of the literal world. This is God saying done with that picture done with that old world done with all that I destroyed. Here’s the new one. Okay. The new heavens and the new earth in revelation are not heaven and eternity. And they’re not a remade world in a literal sense because the world didn’t get destroyed in a literal sense.
God doesn’t have to remake what he never destroyed. He destroyed it in the vision and restored it in the vision as a whole new world. Okay? So let’s, let’s stay with this. Saw a great white throne from him who sat on it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great standing before God and books were opened.
And another book was open, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things that were written in the books. Now, what did God tell the churches would happen to them? When all this was over, they would be judged how, according to Gordon of the words, they spoke, according to their works,
okay, this is God saying your actions have consequences. I’m going to judge you. But notice the first resurrection that we saw earlier in the chapter was only who the martyrs, this resurrection isn’t separated by time. This says this resurrection, isn’t one that comes on the judgment day. This resurrection is everybody else who was involved in the vision. Okay? But they are,
they were re arise and they’re judged based upon whose name is written in the book of life. But again, by the way, the idea of the book of life, the books being opened and judging happening, isn’t a new Testament picture. It’s an old Testament picture. So God says, here you go. I’m judging the nations and I’m going to judge them based upon what they do.
Okay. The sea gave up the dead. Where did the beast come out of? You remember the sea? All right. So the place that originated Rome, I’m going to judge him. The sea gave up the dead who were in it and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged each one, according to his works.
Now somebody says, well, wait a minute. If death and Hades are judged, that’s gotta be the final judgment. Doesn’t it go back to chapter six, Chapter six, verse seven. When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, come and see. So I looked and behold a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was Death and who followed hell Hades and Hades followed with him and power was given them over a fourth of the earth to kill with a sword,
with hunger, with death and by the beasts of the earth. And what pear got judged over here in chapter 20, verse 13, this same pair you saw over in the fourth seal, death and Hades. So wait a minute. Death and Hades the four seal that’s that’s death raining from, from that time all the way until the judgment day. No,
we’ve got a picture of death and Hades. They’re given power, they’re raining, they’re killing. And God says, and everything that they have power to do, I’m going to judge, okay. This, by the way, think this is actually worth noting. When did Christ defeat death On judgment day, Day was resurrected. He defeated death. This defeated already.
So how is it? The death is raining and bringing about death. It among humanity over here in revelation. It’s because it’s a picture. I’m not saying we don’t die anymore. I’m saying the power of death is gone because the power of death, according to first Corinthians chapter 15 is sin. And when sins wiped away, what has no more power death?
So here in the picture, we have the defeat first and foremost of Satan and his use of Rome. He is defeated completely. Then in the picture, we have the victory of the saints and their victory and reigning with Christ is as complete as Satan’s destruction is his loss. Then Satan comes back up and he does it again. And God says to the Christians,
don’t worry. The next time he comes up and does it again, I’m going to defeat him as a surely, as I did this time. And then we get a picture of God judging everything else and everyone else that was involved in the revelation, okay? All the dead, all those who had died, all those who didn’t, weren’t resurrected in the first resurrection,
but the only people resurrected in the first resurrection were who the martyrs. So everyone else gets resurrected in the second resurrection, but what do they have happened to them? They’re cast in the Lake of fire, same place. The beast was same place. False prophet was they’re judged, just like the beast and the false and Satan. Okay. Then verse 14,
then death and Hades were cast in the Lake of fire. This is the second death. Here’s the picture. God’s people. They die physically. They’re killed by the they’re killed by Satan. They’re killed by God. They’re killed by mega doesn’t matter who they’re killed by there they’re killed because of persecution. And when they Results correct, they’re never dying again.
But the servants of the beast and the beast and the false prophet, and those who worship the beast and Satan, they die. And they get resurrected just to die again, because they’re not written in the book of life. So they just get judged. They don’t have hope waiting when their life is over. They have judgment waiting when their life is over.
Okay. Verse 15 and anyone not found written in the book of life. Five was cast into the Lake of fire. Okay? So how’s chapter 20. It’s four pictures. First one is the Dragon’s gone and he’s never coming back. Satan will be back. Second one is the martyrs who died, promised in revelation chapter two, verse 10, that if you will be faithful until death,
you’ll receive a crown of life. And that’s exactly what happens. Yeah. And the third picture is Satan comes back. He tries it all over and he loses again. And the fourth picture is God judges. And when he judges, Satan cannot defeat him and God, and the people can avoid judgment because their name isn’t written where the book of life,
okay. Those are the pictures of chapter 20. That’s what we see. That’s what we’re supposed to get out of it. Okay. Now, for a lot of people, they’ve heard their entire lives. Here’s the picture of the journey judgment day. It’s not, you want the picture of the judgment day, go over to Matthew and read about Christ,
separating out the Rams from the sheep. And that’s the picture of judging, right? How do I know? Because that’s what Jesus said. It was, it doesn’t ever say it is here. And now thing in the vision tells you, it is what it tells you is all these pictures we’ve gotten all the way through. Here’s God dealing with every single one of them and God dealing with them as a judge who is just now chapter 21.
That’s where people start going, Aaron, you’ve lost your mind, but here’s what we gotta be careful of. Just the same way we encourage people and inform people. You can’t go through a vision in revelation and pick and choose what you want to be literal. Here’s the reason why chapter 20 verses 11 through 15, isn’t literal. One more reason. Let’s do this.
If we’re going to interpret chapter 20, verses one through three as not being literal because it’s not. And then we’re going to interpret verses four through seven as not being literal because it’s not. And then we’re going to interpret verses eight through 10 as not being literal because it’s not, how are we being consistent? If we immediately get to verse 11 through 15 and say,
ah, that’s literal because we’re going to come to chapter 21. And we’re going to say, but this is figured out again. What in the text tells us that 11 through 15 is lifted. When everything else around it is figurative in the answer is nothing. There’s no indicator anywhere in the text that tells us we should interpret it any different than all the verses surrounding it.
Okay. So you just like, we had courage. Those who hold Supreme millennialism no, no, no, no. You’ve got to be fair to the text. You’ve got to interpret it consistently. Whether we like their interpretation or not, we could at least insist that they do it consistently. We too have to be consistent with the text. And if we’re going to insist that everything around,
it’s not literal, then we’ve got to insist that it’s not either. And that is not a picture of the day of judgment, where we see all these pictures and say literal, okay, we’ve got to be consistent. So we’ll pick up with chapter 21, any questions? Cause I know sometimes it makes sense in my head. That doesn’t mean it made sense coming out of my mouth.
All right. We’ll pick up with chapter 21 and, and we’ll get through. We, we may get through and just, just two lessons, the rest of it. And then we we’ll pick up with wherever the students, the kids classes are back with our regular studies. So I’ll be talking with the other teachers and finding out which, which lesson they’re on back in the other material.
And we’ll just join up with them wherever they’re at. So by Sunday, I’ll get that to you for folks who want to be reading ahead into, into the next topic study. Thank you very much.<inaudible><inaudible> I don’t know what happened to that, but we’re going to clip this up here and hope it works. Sounds like it’s working now. Okay.
578, 578 sing all four verses we will glow riff on five King of Kings. We will glow red five. We will go red five<inaudible><inaudible> and majesty. We will bow B four is the Roan. We will worship him.<inaudible> we will worship him. Oh, he is<inaudible>. He is Lord of all.<inaudible> all praise to him.
We<inaudible> King of Kings. Hah<inaudible> ah, Layla. Yeah. Lord of Lords is a gray. The imitation song will be number 948. Good evening, everybody. This evening. I want to talk to you about loving the law of God. Now this may surprise you, but not many people do love the law of God. They think law is to authority,
authority oriented, and that it’s too burdensome. Let’s read first John five and verse three first John chapter five in verse three for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments commandments are not grievous or burdensome. They are not burning. So if you love the law, you will be called a legalist. Nowadays, those who don’t like God’s law.
Think they are too spiritual to be bound by any law, they are progressive or so they like to call themselves. Excuse me. David was one who loved God’s law. Let’s turn to the hundred and 19th Psalm. This is where the majority of our texts we’ll be taking from this evening, Psalm 119. And we’ll begin in verse 97. Oh, how I love thy law.
It is my meditation all the day. Why did David loved the law? David loved God’s communion, commandments ’cause they made him wiser. Then his enemies verse 98, thou thou through thy commandments has made me wiser than my enemies for they are ever with me and Psalm 111 verse 10. Excuse me. David seems the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding have all they that do his commandments, his praise in Jorah forever. And in Ecclesiastes, chapter 12 in verse 13, his son writes, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. David loved God’s testimonies because they gave him more understanding than his teachers.
Let’s turn back to Psalm 119. And look at verse 99. I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation. Those who know God’s word, know how to weigh the value of what they are taught. They can decipher what to accept and what to reject. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs nine in verse 10.
David Love God’s precepts because they gave him more understanding than the ancients verse 100. I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts. We like to think that wisdom comes with age, but we all know that that is not always the case job. Chapter 32 in verse nine, Eli who says great men are not always great. Men are not always wise.
Great. Here is older men, neither do they neither do the aged understand judgment. Now while it is foolish to lightly dismiss an elder person’s wisdom, it is even more foolish to follow their counsel. When it is contrary to God’s law, the young prophet believed the lie of the old prophet. And God said to him for as much as Dow has disobeyed the mouth of the Lord and has not kept the commandments,
which the Lord thy God commanded the carpets shall not come onto the sepal curve by fathers. First Kings 13, 21 and 22, David knew God’s laws would keep him from evil ways. Verse 101, I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy word. He resolved that he would not depart from them. Verse 102. I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy word.
Hmm. I have not departed from my judgments for thou hast hot, no this thing in my throat that won’t go away to him. They were God’s words were sweeter than honey verse 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste? Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. He knew that the mercies in salvation of God will come according to them.
Word of God, verse Psalm one 19 verse 41. Let thy mercies come. Also unto me O Lord, even nice salvation. According to thy word, the entirety of the 119 song should be read as the Psalm of a man on his knees, seeking God through his word. It is because David loved God’s law that he said, therefore, I hate every fall,
all suede Psalm one 19 one Oh four, show me a man that does not hate every false way. And I will show you a man that does not love God’s law. It does not surprise me that David would seem, Oh, how love I by law and verse 97, four, he had already said blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.
His delight is in the law. The Lord Psalm one, one and two. The Psalm of David are the songs. All of them are powerful. They are bold and challenging and beautiful because David loved God’s law. I hate to think what insipid lyrics would be written here. If the inspired writer had been a liberal. Now, if you love God and have yet to obey his commandments,
you love his law and you haven’t decided to follow them yet. Then the waters of baptism are ready for you. Or if you have seen yourself step off the path and, and look away from his law and, and see that you’re having problems with it, then we have the prayers of the saints to help encourage you, whatever you need. Come forward.
As we stand in scene<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible>. I am resolved to go to the same<inaudible> he is the true one. He is the jars one<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> yes<inaudible>. I am<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Heavenly father will. And we’re grateful For this privilege. We’ve had to assemble and study a portion of your word during this mid week section, help us to always apply these truths that we learned from my law have follow as closely as humanly possible to the precepts they’re laid out before us,
as we prepared to depart were mindful to those that are not able to assemble with us. We pray your healing hand will be placed upon them. And they, once again, may be restored to their much wanted help last each of us, according to her several needs, as we depart, especially father, we ask that you forgive us of our shortcomings as we repent and turn from them and bring us all back at the next appointed hour.
So in Jesus name, we pray<inaudible>.
