Paul Was Ready and Willing
Romans 1:13-16
13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I. SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT PAUL’S READINESS.
A. He Was Ready From The Day of Conversion.
Acts 9:5-65 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (Oxgoads). 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
B. He Was Ready For Any Service, To Go Any Place.
Romans 1:14 - I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
C. He Was Ready With Everything That He Had.
Romans 1:15 - So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
D. He Was Ready To The End of His Life.
Philippians 3:13-16 - Brethren, I count (Do not think of) not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (Mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained (Achieved), let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
II. WHY WAS PAUL SO READY AND WILLING?
A. He Was Genuinely a Converted Man.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
B. He Was a Sanctified Man. Sanctified – To make Holy, set apart as sacred, observe as Holy.
2 Timothy 2:21 - If a man therefore purge himself from these (Dishonor), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet (Useful) for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
C. Not Because He Was Better Trained or Educated.
2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
D. Not Because He Was Ignorant of The Cost.
2 Timothy 4:6 - For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
E. He Was a Man of Strong Convictions.
1. He believed all are sinners and in need of salvation.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.2. He believed that the Gospel was the only cure.
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.3. He believed that he was a steward of the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 - Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers (Servants) of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Steward –
1. A person who looks after the passengers on a ship, aircraft, or train and brings them meals.
2. Manages domestic concerns, a man who has charge of the food and table services for a club, ship, railroad, train, air plane, etc.
III. THE RESULT OF PAUL BEING READY
A. He was a man that stayed busy for the Lord.
B. He was an effective, successful servant.
C. He knew his work was in the will of God and ordained.
D. He knew that Heavens resources were behind him.
IV. GOD NEEDS PEOPLE WHO WILL ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF BEING READY AND WILLING
A. A challenge of being a leader.
B. A challenge of being a faithful steward.
*** ARE YOU READY AND WILLING TO ACCEPT HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION TODAY?***
Until Your Father Comes
Introduction:
Do you remember those dreaded words your Mother would say to you when you were a child? “Wait until your Father comes home!” It was a long, anxious, dreary wait, wasn’t it?
See church, Jesus told us that He’s coming back… But, it doesn’t have to be with dreaded anticipation, as if were awaiting judgment or condemnation…Make no mistake about it, Jesus is most certainly coming back … and church He’s coming to take His family back home to be with Him … forever!
We don’t know just WHEN … just … that He WILL… So WHY is He coming back?
Listen church, JESUS is coming back because He gave us His promise that He would… and He always keeps His Word…He told us in John 14:2-3…John 14:2-32 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And we call this particular return of Jesus, the “Rapture”… MEANWHILE… What we do while we wait for His return is very important…And Jesus gave us some good advice about our waiting…
My dad gave me some good advice when I was a teenager… He said: “If you’re working for someone and you can’t BE busy, LOOK busy! Don’t let your boss-man catch you doing nothing… You can always find SOMETHING to do!”
That’s good advice for us as Christians today, but church Jesus’ advice is MORE than just advice… It’s a direction for living … “Until He Comes”. And church we don’t just have to LOOK busy … there’s plenty for us to do…Listen church, our life here is a journey through time… And the time between now and the Rapture is a time where no man has gone before … it’s the unknown … a whole new frontier of opportunities (kind of sounds like Star Trek, doesn’t it!)…
And see church, God expects us to be busy working for Him until Jesus beams us up in the rapture. When the Children of Israel went to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, Joshua told them in Joshua 3:4 – “for you have not passed this way before." See church, God had gone before them to prepare the way… but, they had not passed that way yet…
Listen folks, God goes before us, preparing the way until we arrive at our final destination, and are then ushered into His presence. There’s a story of 4 people on a plane (I picked this up years ago … don’t know from where).
These 4 were on their way to a city … a prisoner, a widow, a world traveler, and a bride…Let’s take a look at their attitudes, and compare them with the return of Christ…Which one are you?
1st. - PRISONER – He had been condemned to death and was going to his execution…What’s his attitude? No doubt it’s an attitude of dread, because judgment awaits…He’s hoping for a slow trip … perhaps a fog delay, or a snowstorm, so the plane can be diverted to another airport… Anything! He has a fearful anticipation of the future, because condemnation awaits him… As time gets closer to his arrival, his heart sinks, and his stomach churns… He’s not looking forward to his final destination… Because he has an attitude of JUDGMENT/FEAR…
2nd. - WIDOW – Her husband died a few days ago, and she’s going to the funeral…She has an attitude of sorrow and remorse… She wishes things were different, and she sits and reflects on the past… “Why wasn’t I a better wife? I could have done more!” She has a feeling of inadequacy as she looks at her failings and failure… She has an attitude of REGRET…
3rd. - WORLD TRAVELER – He’s an adventurer, going to, well, he’s not quite sure, and he really doesn’t care…He’s been around the world, gone everywhere, seen and done everything… He’s spent his life seeking excitement… What lies ahead? Riches, danger, death, the unknown? He doesn’t worry about the future, he just lives for the excitement of today… “Eat, drink, and be merry.” Whatever happens, happens! He has an attitude of APATHY … he’ll find out when he gets there…
4th. - BRIDE – She’s going to meet her groom, with an attitude of joy…She’s anticipating her arrival … she can’t wait! Time passes too slowly (unlike the prisoner, where time seems to be going too fast). “Can’t I speed up this plane?” The closer she gets, the more excited she becomes… She’s looking for a bright future with the groom that awaits her… She has an attitude of JOYOUS ANTICIPATION…
4 people … 4 different attitudes toward their destination… Which one are YOU?
Listen church, Jesus IS coming! And there are those who have only JUDGMENT to look forward to, and they don’t want Jesus to come soon, like the prisoner who has lived a life of sin…There are those like the widow, who have a feeling of failure and inadequacy, with regrets because they have failed the Lord, and haven’t lived for Him, and are not looking forward to His return…
There are those who just DON’T KNOW what the future holds, like the world traveler, the adventurer, who is unsure and uncaring about their destiny, thinking only of today and not really caring about the future…And then there are those like the bride, who have a joyous anticipation of meeting their Beloved face-to-face, and can’t wait!
So what’s your attitude toward the return of Jesus?
*Listen church, what we DO while we wait, determines our ATTITUDE…
When your boss is away, he leaves certain orders to be carried out in his absence…
When parents go away, they want certain things done before they return (wash dishes, mow grass, wash the car)…
So exactly what should we be doing “Until He Comes”?
Jesus didn’t leave us with some great mystery… In fact, He has given us a list…
I. OCCUPY UNTIL HE COMES…
Luke 19:11-1311 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Church we are to “occupy” ourselves until Jesus returns for us, and I don’t mean to just “occupy” a pew!
The word “occupy” means to be busy or ‘to produce gain’…
Jesus gives us a parable here… 3 men were given silver and told to invest it…
The 1st man did so, and it increased 10-fold, and he was told “Well done!”, and was given 10 cities to rule over…
The 2nd man did so, and it increased 5-fold, and was told “Good!”, and was given 5 cities to rule over…
The 3rd man gave back to his master the same amount he had been given, with no increase… He didn’t use what his master had given him…
See church, he didn’t “occupy” himself in his master’s business, and the silver was taken away from him…Why? Because the Lord expects a return on His investment (don’t YOU?) I mean just think about what God has invested in you?
Jesus told Doubting Thomas after His resurrection, in John 20:27 – John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side…
Listen to me brothers and sisters in Christ… Jesus has invested His LIFE in you, and He expects you to invest YOURS!
While we wait for His return, we are to be “occupied” in His service, and present Him with an increase…He expects PROFITABLE servants, and we will be held accountable… we are to “Occupy ourselves” … and produce gain … “Until He Comes”…
II. JUDGE NOT UNTIL HE COMES…1 Cor. 4:55 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Remember Judge Ito at the trial of O.J. Simson? No matter what he did at the trial, it wasn’t liked … by the defense, the Prosecutor, the jury, the media, or the public…He was the Judge, but look at all the people who was judging HIM!
Listen church it’s not easy being a Judge, and it’s IMPOSSIBLE to judge the HEART…Christ is the only One who can rightly judge heart and motives, yet, we sure do give it a try, don’t we? It’s a part of our old nature … it’s the natural man coming out…But why?
Folks have you ever no He will RIGHTLY judge our works according to motive and the intent of the heart…And we will be rewarded (or un-rewarded) accordingly…So in the meantime … “Until He Comes” … let’s not go around judging others…
STORY: A lady went to a diet clinic where every time she had to weigh in, exercise, and listen to lectures on proper nutrition. One day, the instructor was speaking on the problems of eating out … ordering the proper dressings, diet drinks, how to have your meat cooked, etc. The instructor asked, “What is the greatest fear or problem you encounter when going out to eat?” This lady raised her hand and honestly said, “The fear of running into you!”If you know someone is judging you all the time, it can give you a COMPLEX… Judging isn’t fair to the one being judged…We also shouldn’t judge, because we’re not qualified to judge others…
Only Christ has been given that authority, and you don’t want to assume authority you don’t have…Especially GOD’S authority … He doesn’t like that!When I was with the prison, I would occasionally tell people, “Take the rest of the day off … with pay … tell the Sergeant I said it was O.K.!” Now, I had no authority to tell people that (and they knew it, so they never took me up on it!). But if they did, I would have been in real trouble! The Sergeant would have been very unhappy with me, because I assumed authority I didn’t have…God says: “Leave the judging up to Me … you have no authority… How dare you assume My authority … who do you think you are!”Jesus is the Light of the world, and He will bring to light those things we have hidden away in darkness … those things we think no one knows about…Jesus said, “He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?In judging, we need to look in a MIRROR before we look through a MAGNIFYING GLASS…And, of course we have these words from Jesus in Matthew 7:1-2 –Matt 7:1-21 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.This is another whole message, but I think you get the idea. We are to JUDGE NOT …“Until He Comes”.
III. OBEDIENT UNTIL HE COMES…1 Tim 6:13-1413 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: God’s Word says that we are to keep “this commandment”… Now you may be thinking okay which one? Well I’ll tell you… ALL of them… as Christians were to keep all of the precepts found in the Word of God… But how are we to do it?
1st.- “without spot” – In other words we’re not to pollute the Word through hypocritical living…Listen church, we’re not to blemish the Word of God through unfaithfulness and disobedience… Don’t put a spot on the Word of God. Years ago, this scene happened to me. I was talking to a stranger, and in our conversation I said, “Well then, you must know ________.?” He said, “Yea, but how do you know them?” I said, “He goes to my church.” He replied, “He goes to church? I never would have guessed it!!!”. Wow! THAT’S what I mean by putting a spot on the Word of God!
2nd. - “blameless” – i.e., ‘irreproachable, above reproach’. Listen folks, we know WHAT to obey, we just don’t do a very good job of it sometimes. We spend more time trying to get around it, than we do in trying to obey it…We call “sin” by a different name.
TRUE STORY: A couple had just built a home in a small town in Maine and wanted to burn trash. They asked about the local regulations, and they couldn’t get a permit for a bon-fire, but, they could have a camp-fire without a permit. They asked what the difference was. They were told: “If ya got a frying pan, it’s a camp-fire; otherwise it’s a bon-fire.” So, what did they do? They burned their trash, and stood around it with a frying pan in their hands!Isn’t that what we do? We call “sin” by a different name, trying to get around it…Listen church some people spend way too much time trying to see how CLOSE they can come to the bon-fire without out getting burned…And, living this way brings reproach to the Name of Christ…
The Bible says that were to OBEY the Word … “Until He Comes”.
IV. BE PATIENT UNTIL HE COMES…James 5:7-87 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Now let’s be honest this morning… How many of you really consider yourselves to be patient people?I’m more like the man who said, “I want patience … and I want it NOW!”However, believe it or not, I’ve become more patience with age and maturity...Our Lord says we are to have patience … “Until He Comes”.But church “patience” also implies “endurance” … and a really good example of that is given here by the illustration of a farmer….The farmer plants the seed, then waits for the crop to grow and produce… But church, he doesn’t stand around idle… He waters, weeds, fertilizes, prunes, etc.And, he doesn’t dig up the seeds to see if they are growing … he would never do that?Instead he’s patient … expecting God to reward him for his labors… And he doesn’t act out of impulse, in undue haste…Church I believe that sometimes, were too impatient in our prayer-life … our witnessing … our Church-work … with other Christians … with out mate, children.
We get in too much of a hurry, and we try to rush God… Instead of saying: “Lord, lead me in the way I should go and into Your blessing …” we say “Lord, this is the way I’m going … now bless it!” We need more patience … more endurance in these last days… STORY: Two frogs fell into a can of cream, or so I’ve heard it told: The sides of the can were shiny and steep, the cream was deep and cold. “O, what’s the use?” croaked No.1. “’Tis fate; no help’s around. Goodbye, my friends! Goodbye, sad world!”But, No. 2, of sterner stuff, dog-paddled in surprise. All the while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes. “I’ll swim awhile, at least.” He said – Or so I’ve heard he said: “It really wouldn’t help the world if one more frog were dead.” An hour or two he kicked and swam, not once he stopped to mutter. But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked. Then hopped out, via butter! – T.C. Hamlet.Church “Until He Comes” … let’s show endurance with patience…
CONCLUSION:
How do we look for the Lord’s return?
Like the PRISONER … in fear of judgment?
Like the WIDOW … with lots of regret?
Like the WORLD TRAVELER … not knowing what the future holds, just let it come and we’ll face it when it gets here.
Like the BRIDE … with joyous anticipation?
Remember church our attitude will be determined by what we do … “Until He Comes”.
Let’s be growing … working … and serving…
Are you ready to Meet Jesus?
What if He should come today! He IS coming!
Acronym For Love
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Included in God"s Love: Goodness, Mercy, Sympathy, and Understanding.
I. L-ove ... (Love the Lord)
A. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
1. Profession of love for the Lord is empty if your actions and works can't be seen.
***Doers of the Word - Not just Hearers!
2. If the love of possessions, pleasure, and popularity are more important to us than pleasing God, we are still "Conformed to this world."
Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3. God wants our love without restrictions - Unconditionally.
***Remember the one who failed!
Matthew 19:21-22 - Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
II. O-thers ... (Love Others)
Matthew 22:39 -9 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
1. Many people love themselves but fail to love others.
2. We cannot truly love God without loving our fellowman.
1 John 4:20-21 - If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
3. We grow in love by praying with compassion for others.
***Resentment and bitterness go away when we pray.
***Helping others and sharing Christ increases our love towards others.
III. V-ictory ...
1 Corinthians 15:57 -57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
A. In World War II - when the enemy was defeated - the "V" sign became a symbol.
***In high school, I refused to race in my car and the "V" sign was given as the guy drove on past me.
***I lost a foot-race and the "V" sign was given. It always bothered me when someone else gave me the "V" sign. It more than bothers satan that Jesus has given us the Victory by the power of His precious blood that was shed on the Cross.
B. Christians are fighting the biggest battle ever.
*Against sin and satan - This fight can not be won with guns, tanks, or planes which can be countered in "counter warefare".
[BUT] There Is No Defense Against Love... The devil Can't Stop It!
***John 3:16 - 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
C. The "V" in love stands for VICTORY because love never fails...
*Jesus is love and He never Fails!!
IV. E-verlasting Life ...
John 3:16 - 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A. Faith is necessary for Salvation - "...whosoever believeth in Him".
B. Hope is necessary for successful living -
**HOWEVER - In Heaven... Both Faith and Hope will no longer have a place.
C. Most all things in life will perish -
D. Love is Eternal. "God is Love".
-Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Conclusion:
My friends, God is Love. He loves you. He sent His Son Jesus to die on the Cross for you.
Will you accept His free gift of salvation by accepting His Son today?
MY SINCERE PRAYER FOR YOU IS THAT YOU WILL!
The Need to Grow - Spiritually
*Man cannot produce what God considers good. The Holy Spirit must produce those qualities through us.
Philippians 1:9-11 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
I. WE NEED TO GROW IN LOVE
Verse 9 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (Understanding)
1. All Else is Meaningless!
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 -
1. Though I speak with the tongues (Languages) of men and of angels, and have not charity (Love), I am become as sounding brass (Clattering Sounds), or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy (Preaching), and understand all mysteries (Concerning Christ), and all knowledge (Worldly education); and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains (Any mountain of difficultly), and have not charity (Love), I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor (Gave more than required), and though I give my body to be burned (Willing to sacrifice himself for the cause of Christ), and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
2. There is No Profit without Love.
1. Speaking to others,
2. Preaching,
3. Understanding all mysteries concerning Christ,
4. Having all worldly knowledge and education,
5. Faith in Christ to remove difficulties,
6. Giving to the poor,
7. Self-sacrifice
*Jesus said… John 15:9 - As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
II. WE NEED TO GROW IN TRUE KNOWLEDGE
Verse 9 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (Understanding)
1. This is the ability to rightly decide/discern the Word of God.Truth – The state or character of being true.
True – Faithful to fact or reality. Being real, genuine, and accurate.God’s Word = Truth…
John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Truth is: What is True is Still True Whether you believe it or not.
*Whether you believe in gravity or not… if you step off a rooftop you will fall.
*Just because the world believes or accepts something as True does not make it the Truth!
John 7:46-48 - The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
2. The Truth is: God’s Law (Exodus 20:2-17)
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make idols.
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet.
The Truth is: Christ Jesus (The Word) -John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Truth is: The Holy Spirit (The Comforter) -John 14:17 - Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
3. The Truth = Makes Us Free / Sanctifies Us / Purifies Us / Establishes Us
We Need to: Speak / Walk in / Declare / Worship in / Come to believe and know / Handle accurately / Obey / Be established in
The Bible Tells Us of Those That: Change the truth into a lie / Disobey / Walk contrary to / Love not the truth / Will believe not / Never come to / Will resist / Turn away from
III. WE NEED TO GROW IN JUDGMENT (UNDERSTANDING)
Verse 9, 10 - and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
1. God Expects Growth in Everyone. John 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
The Reason Why Some Won’t Believe the Truth.
John 8:43 - Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
*Don’t be in the crowd that says in the Day of Judgment – when every knee will bow and confess that Christ is the Lord, Oh God help me, only to hear Christ tell you that you are of your father the devil and a worker of iniquity!
Solomon asked for an understanding heart to Judge God’s people.1 Kings 3:9 - Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Psalms 119:103-105 - How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts (Word) I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Desire to Grow –
1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Conclusion:
People grow physically in due time, people may grow mentally with life experiences and education, BUT the most important growth is the development of our relationship with God and becoming more like Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Spiritual growth must have the first priority.
Are You Ready For The Rapture?
INTRODUCTION: I begin this morning with a SERIES on “The Rapture”…
*Do you really believe that the Rapture of the Church is soon?
If you really want to be honest with yourself, your answer is probably “No!”
*While you might believe that He COULD come at any time … you really... probably... don’t believe that He WILL…
*There are probably some here today who don’t even believe that Jesus will come in their lifetime…
• MAYBE within the next 20 years…
• CERTAINLY not this YEAR … or this MONTH … or this WEEK…
• DEFINITELY not before midnight tonight…
• NO WAY He will come before NOON today (before the end of my message)…
Church I believe we’re like those folks in:
2 Peter 3:3-4 - 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2 Peter 3:8-9 - 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Listen church, we don’t know WHEN the Lord will come… and Jesus says this clearly in the CONTEXT of His coming at the REVELATION, but it also holds true for the RAPTURE…
Matt 24:36 - 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. HOWEVER, … church there are several things that we DO KNOW:
I.- HE WILL COME…Again, we might not know WHEN … BUT … we do know that He WILL… (Amen)
*LISTEN to the words of an angel, as he saw Jesus ascending from this earth…
Acts 1:1111 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
As soon as Jesus left, He gave us the assurance that He would come back…TURN to
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18…16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Now TURN to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52…51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Listen church, Jesus in the flesh left us and there can be NO DOUBT that He’s coming back!…
John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. I.-
I Believe We Have Established The Fact That He Will Come…
II.- But The Bible Also Say’s That HE WILL COME QUICKLY… LISTEN to what Jesus said in
Rev. 3:3 - 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
In the last chapter of the Bible, LISTEN to what Jesus says:
• Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I come quickly.”
• Revelation 22:20 – (Next-to-last verse in Bible) - “Surely, I come quickly, Amen.”Listen Church, when Jesus comes at the Rapture, there will be no warning…It will be INSTANTANEOUS.
1 Cor. 15:52 says that it will be in the “twinkling of an eye” … which means literally as long as it takes you to blink your eyes…
Listen church, there will be no time to get ready… No time to get your life straightened out… No time to repent… And No time to be saved…That’s why the Bible says in 2 Cor. 6:2 – “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
I.- He Will Come
II.- He Will Come Quickly
III.- WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY… What are we to be doing in the meantime … until Jesus returns?
1st. Live Right So As To Not Be Ashamed When He Comes…
Listen to me CHRISTIANS … Someday, Jesus is coming back for you … AND … you will meet Him face-to-face…You’ll have to look at Him straight in the eyes … eyeball-to-eyeball…Now let me ask you again, when this day comes are you going to be ASHAMED?
The Apostle John has some ADVICE for us …1 John 2:28 - And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Or as the NLT puts it “And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame."
Jesus even talked about this. Mark 8:38 –Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
If you KNEW that Jesus was coming before MIDNIGHT tonight … are there some SINS that you would need to REPENT of?
Some RELATIONSHIPS that you would need to REPAIR?
Some SINS that you would need to CONFESS?
Listen church, there’s no need to DREAD the coming of Jesus…As a matter of fact, Jesus has a special reward for those who are READY for His return…The Apostle Paul was READY … he had nothing to be ashamed about, when he would meet Jesus face-to-face…
LISTEN to what he says in…2 Tim 4:8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2nd. Live Right With Your Fellow Man…
LISTEN to Philippians 4:5…Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.Or in other words “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”Listen church, Jesus will hold us accountable in our relationships with other people… (Amen)When He comes, will He find a GOSSIP … a GROUCH … a PESSIMIST … an UNLOVING, UNCARING, SELFISH person … a PRODIGAL SON? OR … will He find an ENCOURAGER … the heart of a SERVANT … a GOOD SAMARITAN?Make no mistake about it Jesus is coming again! AND … when He comes … He will deal with us according to our RELATIONSHIPS … with our mate … our family … our children … our parents … our friends … and our enemies…
3rd. Live Right In Your Faith…
Jesus has given us ample warning about His coming again… In Revelation 3:11, He says,11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Jesus tells us clearly that we can be in danger of losing our rewards (“crowns”) if we don’t “hold fast”. (Amen)
And listen church, Satan knows that, if he can’t have your SOUL … he can at least cause you to lose your TESTIMONY … your EFFECTIVENESS as a Christian … and your REWARDS…Satan wants you to stand before Christ EMPTY-HANDED … and ASHAMED…He wants you to lose your faith … to make your Christian life frustrating & miserable… He wants to make you stumble … AND … keep you down…He wants you to be discouraged & depressed…He wants you to worry … forsake the Lord … forsake your faith … and forsake your commitment to Christ…Christians while you wait for the return of Jesus, you need to “establish your faith”.
James tells us in James 5:8…8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Folks you can’t do that by neglecting time in PRAYER … time in the WORD … and time in WORSHIP…
Listen to me church… you can’t “establish your faith” by leaving Christ out of your daily life… You just CAN’T!
4th. Live Obedient To God’s Word…
In the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus has some insight as to how to be ready for His return…Rev 22:77 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Paul also has some words of insight into how to prepare for the Lord’s return…
1 Tim 6:1414 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
In reality church, the Christian life is really VERY SIMPLE... OBEY GOD … OBEY HIS WORD… While we are waiting for His return, we are to live our lives in obedience to His Word…Let’s not be hard of hearing, when it comes to God’s Word… (Amen)
Waiting for Jesus … will be a lot more pleasant … IF … we just obey what He says in His Word… WON’T IT?
5th. Live Non-Judgmental Toward Others…
LISTEN to what the Apostle Paul has to say about this…1 Cor 4:55 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
SOMETIMES … we judge others unfairly … before we get all the facts…We will criticize and condemn … SOMETIMES … falsely…ONLY GOD knows what is in a person’s heart… THEREFORE … only HE can judge … AND … His judgment is fair & true…
We often look for the WORST in others … don’t we? And we assume they are guilty … UNTIL … they are proven innocent.
Listen church, when Jesus returns, He will judge us for judging others…Keep this in mind...The measure of how you judge will be used to measure you...So let’s leave the judging up to the Judge… (Amen)
6th. Live Busily In Your Christianity…
Jesus gave a parable about this in…Luke 19:1313 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
To “occupy” means to ‘be busy’…In this Parable, Jesus tells us that He has given each Christian certain talents, abilities and gifts… Not everyone has the same ones… some of you are more gifted than others…And to those whom He gives more … more is expected…Church, the servant who NEGLECTED his abilities, was highly CONDEMNED by our Lord … BECAUSE … he wasn’t BUSY in the Lord’s business…We ALL have our life to live… Were ALL BUSY… (Amen)
We’ve got family, work, leisure time… Our plates are full. BUT … we need to make time for Christ … AND … HIS BUSINESS. OR … we will be severely judged … when He returns…God doesn’t like lazy Christians… Jesus said to “Occupy, till I come.”
We must make time for Jesus because He will hold us each accountable, when we see Him face-to-face at the Rapture…If you’re “too busy” for the things of Christ … you’re TOO BUSY!
7th. Live Blamelessly…
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thess. 5:23 –23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen church “blameless” speaks of our REPUTATION…Everyone here has a REPUTATION… You have spent your whole life developing it…It’s not something that you have given yourself … it has been given to you by others… AND … it will follow you the rest of your life …
UNLESS … you change it…Your REPUTATION will either give glory to God … OR … shame His Name…Jesus tells us … “While you’re waiting for Me to return, live blameless lives … live up to My Name, “Christian” … don’t let me come and find My reputation soiled, because your reputation is soiled.”
I.- He Will Come
II.- He Will Come Quickly
III.- We Have A Responsibility
IV. WE ARE TO BE EAGERLY EXPECTING HIM…
Titus 2:13 - 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Phil 3:2020 - For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Or in other words – “But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”The very last book of the Bible, ends with the EAGER ANTICIPATION of the return of Jesus…
I wonder, is that your testimony this morning? Are you ANXIOUS for Jesus to return?
We CAN BE … IF … we live like Jesus could come again at ANY TIME.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus IS COMING … He will COME QUICKLY … We have a RESPONSIBILITY while we wait.
AND … we are to look for Him with EAGER EXPECTATION.
Are you living your life as if Jesus will come at any time?
Are you ready?
STAND – PRAY... that God helps you to be.
What Are The Signs of The Last Days?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
INTRODUCTION: We CONTINUE our series on “The Rapture” …Last week, we saw that Jesus is coming … He’s coming quickly … AND … it could be SOON…We also discussed how that in the meantime, we have a RESPONSIBILITY, as we await His return with JOYOUS ANTICIPATION…
Folks the Bible gives us some SIGNS of what it will be like BEFORE the Rapture of the Church…But we need to be very careful here church… Because so many times, people confuse the signs of the return of Jesus at the REVELATION, with the signs of the return of Jesus at the RAPTURE…
With that in mind the Bible gives us many signs of what it will be like during the Tribulation Period, just before JESUS returns to set up the Millennial Kingdom…But please, don’t confuse these with the signs of the coming RAPTURE…While it’s true, we can see a foretaste of some of these now … church it refers to the Tribulation Period … where they will all be fulfilled then… (Amen)
• Listen church, the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem … after the Rapture…
• And folks The Gospel will be preached throughout the whole world … after the Rapture…
In-fact church most of the signs of the coming of Jesus at the RAPTURE, don’t picture the world and political condition at all… RATHER … the signs of the return of Jesus at the RAPTURE shows us the condition of the established CHURCH…
TURN to 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
HERE, we find the condition of the established CHURCH, just before Jesus returns… Now let’s see if these are an indication of present-day “Christianity”.
2 Tim 3:13 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
3:1 – “perilous times” – And church this describes the day in which we live, DOESN’T IT?
The Greek. word for “perilous” means ‘hard, difficult times’… Now could it get worse?
Absolutely! BUT … Church just look how fast our society is decaying … AIDS … homosexuality … the acceptance of homosexual marriages … abortion … internet pornography … sexual promiscuity … immorality is common place. (Expound)
So what are the signs that will be present in the established CHURCH … just before Jesus returns?
2 Tim 3:22 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
1st.- 3:2 - “men shall be lovers of their own selves” – “men” refers to ‘mankind’, not just to the male species...The Bible says that in the last days, it will be “every man for themselves” … the survival of the fittest … a “dog-eat-dog” world … you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours… or stab it, depending on what’s best for me!!!! It will be a world where everybody does what is right in their own eyes … not caring about what anybody else thinks…Folks, this will also be seen in the CHURCH – see 4:3-4.
2 Tim 4:3-4 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
During this time Church members will be satisfying themselves with THINGS… No time for prayer, witnessing, studying the Word, sacrifice, commitment, or Church attendance… No time for the Lord … only SELF… Someone once said, “The heart of the problem, is the problem of the heart.”
2nd. - 3:2 – “covetous” – church this means a ‘lover of money’…
1 Tim 6:1010 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Listen, there will be no lack of wealth in the church of the last days … but little power…Now don’t misunderstand me… I’m not saying that every church is a rich church, I know were certainly not…But just take a look at the buildings … the bank accounts … and the budgets…
Now, COMPARE that to how much is spent on the actual MINISTRY of some of these churches! I’ve even heard of people joining cretin Mega churches because it’s good for business … business contacts. … good for the corporate image…
3rd & 4th . - 3:2 – “boasters and proud” – Listen, there will be cliques within the Christian faith … I’m talking about denominationalism to the point of exclusion…
Some Christian denominations will look down on others, thinking that they are better than the rest…And listen folks this BEGAN even in the early Church … “I am of Paul … Apollos … Cephus … Bless God I’m of CHRIST!” (Amen)
5th. - 3:2 – “blasphemers” – in the church? And folks were even seeing them in some of our Seminaries & Bible Colleges … and there quickly filling the pulpits of this Nation…Listen Church this will happen in the last days … and we see it even today…
Another word in the Greek. for “blasphemer” is “slanderer” … one who destroys someone’s good name…Listen it’s used, NOT JUST against God … BUT … also against other people … I’m talking about gossips, tale-bearers … in the CHURCH…
6th. - 3:2 – “disobedient to parents” – certainly not in Christian families!Listen folks the Bible says that in the last days, children will rebel against the authority and teaching of their parents…Although raised in Christian homes, when they get out on their own, they will forsake God’s Word, church attendance, a relationship with the Lord… Make no mistake about it church, this is a sign of the last days…
7th. - 3:2 – “unthankful” – selfishness among professed Christians…I’m talking about ungrateful to others … ungrateful to God, for His many blessings … and taking God for granted…We pray, asking God for something… God grants our request … THEN … we forget to thank Him. WHY?BECAUSE … we got what we wanted… If Christians were truly THANKFUL to God, we would have more Christians in church on Sunday and Wednesday night! (Amen)
8th. - 3:2 – “unholy” – Church Christians ought to be SEPARATED from that which is “unholy”. Let me ask you a question… Where is HOLY LIVING among professed Christians today? Many professed Christians think nothing of living for the Devil Monday-Saturday … AND THEN … coming to church on Sunday and sing the songs and pray the prayers…AND … what’s worse … is they don’t even see it as hypocritical!
1 Thes. 4:7 – “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” Listen church “unholiness” will be a characteristic of professing Christians in the last days…
Now lets look at: 2 Tim 3:33 - Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
9th. - 3:3 – “without natural affection” – we hear a lot about “family values”today don’t we?One of the signs of the last days will be the breakdown of Biblical “family values”. And we see this even in “Christian homes” today…Parents are too busy to have a relationship with their children … jobs, careers, all sorts of things get in the way…
Listen church, this isn’t “natural affection”. (Amen) In the last days, there will be an acceptance of ABORTIONS … in Christian families… There will be homosexual churches, Pastors and teachers…Listen folks, Satan knows that “As goes the family, so goes the nation.” Truly, we are in the last days…
10th. - 3:3 – “trucebreakers” – there are some people that you just can’t trust to keep their word… I mean some people will straight up lie to you … break their promises … cheat you … and deceive you…Do you know any professing Christians like this?
Church, I think this also speaks of the divorce rate … and fidelity in marriage…I mean Did you not make a PROMISE … or a VOW … when you got married? Did you know that the divorce rate among non-Christians is around 50%... Now can you guess the divorce rate for professing Christians is? Around 50%! This is truly sad and disgusting.
11th. - 3:3 – “false accusers” – this is a real easy way to get money in our society… All you have to do, is accuse someone, or some company of something, and you will either collect a settlement … OR … ruin their testimony or business… And the sad thing is that it doesn’t even have to be true!
Spread a lie or false rumor about a Pastor, and his ministry is through … whether it’s true or not… Church, even Christian organizations can’t get along with each other…I heard about one Christian school who disliked Billy Graham so much, that they threatened expulsion if they ever caught a student attending one of his meetings…
You know it’s said (though probably not true) that they wouldn’t even allow Graham Crackers on campus! Listen, they were so narrow-minded that you could put 10 of them in the same bed…
They were so narrow-minded that they would cut their fingers if they scratched their head! It’s sad but true we live in the generation of lawsuits … even in the church.
12th. - 3:3 – “incontinent” – ‘without self control’… Does this characterize our society today?Adultery, unfaithfulness in marriage … even in the church among Pastors and lay-people alike…Prostitution is on the increase … pornography … child pornography … and pre-marital sex is common even at early ages…Church were living in a day and age where men and women are driven by the winds of passion, like a ship without a rudder… (Amen) We have seen it in our public officials … on so called “family” television shows … and it’s all portrayed as a natural, and acceptable lifestyle… Church GOD says it’s sin!!!!!!
13th. - 3:3 – “fierce” – means ‘savage’…A generation ago, people didn’t lock their houses or cars… But today, we read about brutal murders, rapes, mass murders, and total disregard for the property of others…Listen church, we see professing Christians bombing abortion clinics in the name of Christ…I’ve known Pastors who have been threatened, and some who have been destroyed by those within their church… Make no mistake about it church, this is a sign of the last days…
14th. - 3:3 – “despisers of those that do good”…Listen folks our society today, not only accepts what God condemns … BUT … they despise what God says is good…They don’t even want the mere mention of God on our coins, in our pledge of allegiance to the flag, or in public prayers…Listen, they don’t even want the 10 Commandments displayed in public.Church true Christianity just won’t fit into the society of the last days.Now lets look at:2 Tim 3:44 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
15th. - 3:4 – “traitors” – or betrayers … simply put, people you can’t trust…And we find them in politics, religion, and among “friends”…Listen church, sometimes you have to stand alone, when standing for God…Loyalties seem to waver with the whim…As sad as it is even Christians today won’t take a stand for what’s right…Instead there loyal to what’s best for them at the time … not for what is right in the sight of God…
16th. - 3:4 – “heady” = ‘headstrong”…Some people, you just can’t tell them anything! They are going to do what they want, even if it kills them (and sometimes it does!)…Even if they KNOW it’s wrong … they’ll do it anyhow… There stubborn!And church this is a sign of the last days … even among professing Christians…They simply refuse to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit…
17th. - 3:4 – “high-minded” – this is a little different than PROUD…In the GK., it has to do with a PERMANENT state of pride through MUCH practice of it…These are those folks who are too PROUD to be saved… What will their friends think?See church to some, salvation means “weakness” … a step downward in society…Jesus, many times, went to the poor, who were almost always more receptive of Him…In the last days, people will think that they’re “too good” to be saved… OR … at the least, not “bad enough” to go to Hell…They will believe that, since God is a God of love, He won’t send anybody to Hell…I say again church, Truly, we are in the last days…
18th. - 3:4 – “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” – Does this describe the modern church or what? They will sit at a ballgame in 30 degree temperature … BUT … won’t go to church because it’s too cold outside!Or they will set at a race where it’s 100 degree in the shade but want come to church because it’s to hot out side! We could go on and on but I think you get the picture…The problem is folks that too many professing Christians can’t let church attendance interfere with their pleasures.
Now lets look at: 2 Tim 3:55 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
19th. - 3:5 – “having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it” – in other words just going through the motions… Having an outward form of godliness, but lacking any real spiritual power in their lives…
• Putting on a religious mask.
• Hypocrites in the church.
• Professors, not possessors.
• External, but not internal.
• Tares among the wheat.
Christians are to be the salt of the earth … the light of the world…
In the last days, you will see less salt … less light.
CONCLUSION:
Truly, we are in the “Last Days” … before the Rapture … before the return of Jesus… We can see it in our society … we can see it in the church … we can see it in Christianity…Next time, we will take a look at some prophesies that are being fulfilled in this generation, that point us to the soon coming of Jesus…
Immediately After The Rapture – The SAVED
INTRODUCTION:
Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-53
1 Cor 15:50-53 -
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Christians, one day, a great event is going to take place … and that event is the RAPTURE of the Church…
This is when Jesus Christ will take His Church … His Bride … all the saved … back home to be with Him forever and ever… And folks it could happen at any moment…
Everything has been fulfilled … and nothing stands in His way… Make no mistake about it the Rapture is the next great event on God’s prophetic calendar…
One day, the last person to be saved before the Rapture … will be saved… And His Body… His bride will be complete…Did you ever think what it will be like … for us … the Christians … when Jesus finally comes in the Rapture?
• MAYBE … you will be in Church … Sunday School, Sunday morning, Evening, or Wednesday night…
• MAYBE … you will WISH you had been in Church!
• MAYBE … you will be asleep … hopefully not … asleep in church!
• MAYBE … you will be watching TV … or driving down the highway… Where ever you are and what ever your doing INSTANTLY … you will be gone!
Your clothes will be left behind… Your lost friends and lost family members will be left behind…And in the twinkling of an eye, you will be CHANGED…
The Bible tells us what it will be like … for the Christian … immediately after the Rapture… Don’t you want to know?
You’ll find out during the next 30 minutes or so. Turn to Revelation 1:19… The Book of Revelation is divided up into 3 SECTIONS…
Rev 1:19 - 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
1.- That Which He Had Seen (1:9-18)… John heard a voice, turned around, and saw Christ in the middle of 7 golden lamp stands…
2.- That Which Are (Chapters 2-3)… Here, John is given a message from Jesus for the 7 churches in Asia… These churches represent the Church Age… AND … we see the same characteristics in the church even today…
3.- That Which Should Be Hereafter (Chapters 4-end of the book).
Turn to Revelation 4:1… Here, John sees, in his vision, the Rapture of the Church…
Rev 4:14 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
What’s the FIRST THING you will notice when the Rapture takes place? The Bible says that you will hear a voice, like a trumpet, saying “Come up hither”.
NOW, I don’t think ( Just my opinion) Jesus will speak King James English… Because if He did, those in other countries wouldn’t be able to understand what He is saying…
***But church of this I’m sure, every one who is saved, will clearly understand what He’s saying!
Those of us in the South will probably hear “Y’all come on!”
Now church, exactly what a “voice of a trumpet” sound like? I don’t have a clue … BUT … I’m sure it will be a voice like you’ve never heard before… It will be distinctive… And you’ll know it when you hear it…
The Bible mentions this several times…
1 Thess 4:16 - 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Cor 15:5252 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
I believe instead of looking for SIGNS … maybe we should be listening for SOUNDS … AMEN?
In chapter 4 verse 1 we see that the door to Heaven will be opened… Jesus said, in John 10:9, John 10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…
Listen, when you put your faith and trust in Jesus to save you, Jesus put you on the launching pad… And you will go through this open door like a guided missile…
So what did John see next?
ANSWER: The same thing YOU will see when you enter that door of Heaven…
Rev 4:22 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Listen church, John wasn’t concerned about where Cain got his wife … OR … what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was … OR … who wrote the book of Hebrews…
All his attention was drawn toward the Throne in Heaven … AND … the One who sat on the Throne…
See church, THIS will be the center of attraction in Heaven… THIS will be our focal point… THIS will be our desire for eternity … the THRONE in Heaven… WHO was on that Throne?
Rev 4:33 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Now John couldn’t distinguish any form of a PERSON on the Throne … ONLY … a brilliance and brightness of God’s majesty… WHY?
BECAUSE … God is a SPIRIT…HOWEVER … He does see some people around God’s Throne…
Rev 4:44 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
John sees 24 thrones sitting around God’s Throne… And on these 24 thrones, he sees 24 elders…WHO ARE THESE 24 ELDERS?
Listen, they represent the CHURCH … they represent YOU & ME …
CHRISTIANS who have been Raptured...Now remember, John’s vision occurred in 96 AD… Folks we weren’t there yet… SO … he sees these 24 elders representing US…They represent all those who were saved from Pentecost to the Rapture…
The Church is a “priesthood of believers”.
1 Peter 2:9 - “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation …”
Ok so WHY 24?
In Old Testament times, the Levitical Priesthood was divided up into 24 courses with 24 leaders over them (1 Chron. 24:4)…
As a “Royal Priesthood”, we are seen here as 24 Elders sitting on 24 thrones…SO … when the Rapture takes place … we will immediately be sitting around God’s Throne in Heaven … clothed in white… We will have crowns of gold on our heads … our rewards for faithful service.
AND … we will all just be sitting there … staring at each other … bored to death … RIGHT? WRONG!
You know some people are actually concerned that Heaven will be a boring place … nothing to do … nothing but endless sermons and Bible studies! I don’t know exactly what Heaven will be like (there’s no way I could even comprehend it now) … BUT … I do know this: • It will be perfect.
• We will be perfectly satisfied!
LISTEN to how David describes Heaven in Psalm 16:11 – “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Now think of the best vacation you have ever had… Think of the greatest thrill you have ever experienced… Think of the best thing that has ever happened to you...All of that will be NOTHING compared to the joy and pleasure of Heaven.
Now do you still think Heaven will be boring?
Rev 4:55 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Listen church, a dramatic scene will take place in Heaven, just moments after you arrive … never a dull moment… And these aren’t “special effects” from a Stephen Speilburg movie. This is REAL!
Listen church, Judgment is about to break forth on earth, like a storm from Heaven… AND … you will have a front-row seat.
Rev 4:6-8 - And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
John sees … AND … YOU will see … 4 “living creatures” like you’ve never seen before…They were specially created by God for a specific and singular ministry … to praise God continually… John describes them for you.
• 1 is like a LION … a wild best.
• 1 is like an OX … a calf … a domesticated animal.
• 1 is like an EAGLE … a flying animal.
• 1 is like a MAN … the head of creation.
These 4 creatures have eyes in the front, and eyes in the back of their heads. They must be MOTHERS! (4:6b) Each one had 6 wings. These are creatures like you’ve never seen here on earth… John saw them around the Throne … AND … you will see them too!
Rev 4:9-11 -
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
WHAT WILL BE THE CHIEF ACTIVITY OF HEAVEN?
Worship! SINCE … that’s not our chief desire here on earth … it seems a little strange for us now to think that that’s all we’ll want to do in Heaven. BUT … remember folks … we will be CHANGED!
And WORSHIP will be our 1 desire…Have you ever been in a worship service when you’ve been so overwhelmed in the Spirit that you could hardly contain it?
When you got “goose bumps”?
When you’ve gotten so “spiritually high” that you start rising out of your pew, and they’ve had to scrape you off the ceiling?
Listen church, have you ever gotten your feet on higher ground, and didn’t want to come down?
If not, you’ve missed a blessing… and it’s just a TASTE of Heaven…If you’ve never experienced that here I promise you one thing … you’ll experience it in Heaven…Because there will be no carnality to hold you back … no worldliness to hold onto … no guilt or sin to spoil your worship…
What a fantastic time that will be! It will be a time when you can shout “Amen” and “Hallelujah”, without people looking at you like you’re crazy! Amen?
NOW … let’s come back to the scene in Heaven … what we’ll see right after the Rapture…We will be sitting around God’s Throne, praising and worshipping Jesus …
THEN …Rev 5:1-25 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
WHAT’S WRITTEN ON THIS SCROLL? Listen church it’s the TITLE-DEED to this earth… The earth was LEASED to Adam. Genesis 1:28 – all turn.
Gen 1:28 - And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Adam was given dominion over the earth but he lost it to Satan, when he sinned in the Garden of Eden…Through Adams sin he sub-leased the earth to the Devil…Instead of Adam having dominion over the earth, the earth had dominion over him…
Genesis 3:17-19 – And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Satan is called the “Prince of this world”
3 times in the book of John… He’s not the “King” … he’s the “Prince”, because Satan got the lease from Adam…
One day, when Satan’s lease runs out, Christ will take over this earth, and set up the Kingdom that He promised the Jews… Church Heaven is getting ready for this to happen … AND … you will have a front-row seat to it … right after the Rapture.
WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN UP THE SCROLL?
• Not ADAM … he was the 1st man … BUT … also the 1st sinner.
• Not MOSES … he was a lawgiver … BUT … also a law-breaker.
• Not DAVID … he was a man after God’s own heart … BUT … he broke God’s heart. Is the world to be ruled forever by Satan … by sin and the forces of darkness?
Rev 5:3-4 - And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
IS THERE NO HOPE FOR THE EARTH? John wept … because there was none found to deliver this earth from the curse of sin…
Rev 5:55 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
I’ve often wondered who this “elder” will be! Whoever he is, he has it right! ONLY JESUS has the right and title to this earth… He CREATED it…
NOTICE how Jesus is described here … a “Lion” … the Lion is the king of the beasts…Now you’re going to expect to see a massive lion, with strong jaws & fierce teeth, come and take the title-deed to this earth away from Satan…
All eyes will be focused on the entrance of a charging lion… And what will you see?
Rev 5:6 - And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
You’ll see a LAMB! BUT … But Listen church, it’s a Lamb like you’ve never seen before… Remember there’s never a dull moment in Heaven!
• 7 HORNS … representing the OMNIPOTENCE of Jesus.
• 7 EYES … representing the OMNISCIENCE of Jesus.
• 7 SPIRITS … representing the OMNIPRESENCE of Jesus.
Rev 5:7-8 - And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
So when Jesus takes the title-deed to this earth…
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR REACTION WILL BE?
Let me tell you, you’ll fall down and you will truly worship Him! PERHAPS … a new experience for some of us!
If your Christian life has been one of hit-and-miss (mostly “miss”) … one of inconsistent Christian living … one of half-hearted devotion … this may be a new experience for you.
“harp” – We won’t be angels … BUT we will have HARPS. AND … I suppose, we’ll know how to play them! MAYBE how LOUD you play it, will be in proportion to how LOUD you played the music of praise to God on earth…
“vials” = BOWLS. How BIG will your PRAYER-BOWL be?
MAYBE … in proportion to your prayer-life here on earth… For some a thimble?
Rev 5:9-10 - And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
According to this you’ll be able to SING … right after the Rapture!
WHAT WILL YOU SING?
“Worthy Is The Lamb” There’s no words to any song greater than these words…
Rev 5:11-12 - And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
You will be waiting for the Heavenly choir of angels to sing… But you know what church it doesn’t say that they “sing”…This is OUR SONG … the song of the redeemed … the song of redemption…
Angels have never been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. They have no right to SING this song … only to be a witness of it.
Rev 5:13-14 - And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. AMEN!
What a blessed time that’s going to be … 1 twinkle of an eye after the Rapture!
CONCLUSION:
Let me ask you something.
Are you READY?
Are you LOOKING for His coming?
Are you LISTENING for His return?
What are we to be LISTENING for?
A TRUMPET?
But church if you spend all your time listening for a trumpet, you won’t accomplish anything for the Lord…Instead, we need to be LISTENING to His voice right now … while we wait…
We need to be in His Word … LISTENING to Jesus … living in His will … obeying His Word.
Will Heaven be a boring place? Not on your life!
Will you be taken up in the Rapture? OR … will you be left behind?
Do you know where you’ll be 5 seconds after the Rapture?
Jesus is coming. It may be soon. It will be quickly.
Get ready to Be ready!
Immediately After The Rapture – The LOST
INTRODUCTION:
Last Sunday, we saw what is in store to the Christian immediately after the Rapture…We saw that the chief activity in Heaven will be WORSHIP around the Throne of God…
We talked about how Heaven will be PERFECT … AND … we will be PERFECTLY content, happy, and satisfied there…BUT… WHAT ABOUT THOSE LEFT BEHIND?
What will they experience immediately after the Rapture?
Well church the Bible doesn’t keep us in the dark in regards to this either…
The Scriptures are very plain to let us know for certain what will take place… If you’re LOST here this morning … OR … you’re UNCERTAIN about where you’ll be immediately after the Rapture … OR … you have some LOVED ONES who are lost … listen carefully…These verses will make you very UNCOMFORTABLE… BUT … it’s important for you to know what lies ahead…
Maybe through these verses TODAY, you will get prepared for the Lord’s return. OR … God will place a burden on your heart for your loved ones who are LOST…This message can “comfort the afflicted” … AND … “afflict the comfortable”.
Revelation Chapters 4-5 tell us what will happen after the Rapture for the SAVED…Chapters 6 and forward tells us what will happen to the LOST who are left behind...
Church, this is known as the “Tribulation Period”… and it will last for 7 years…As we go to the Word of God the scene in Heaven now shifts from the SAVED in Heaven … to the LOST here on earth …
those left behind…Rev 6:1-26 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
When the 1st seal is opened, we see the beginning of what will happen during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period under the coming world ruler…The “white horse” – tells us that someone will come on the scene as the “Savior of the world”…
He’s going to promise to solve all the world’s problems… and in the process bring peace, prosperity and unity to all of mankind…I’m sure the world will be in chaos for a little while, because of the Rapture…The disappearance of the Christians may be blamed on a terrorist attack, weapons of mass destruction or alien abduction, who knows…
But I do know this… this man will have an answer and people will believe him…Cars will crash … planes will crash into buildings … people will disappear without a trace. (Expound…)
And then someone will come and offer PEACE… BUT … NOTICE … he has a “bow” … BUT no arrows…Do you know what this means Church?
Listen, it means that it’s a FALSE peace…This man will be a master politician… and God’s Word calls Him the ANTI-CHRIST… And no one will realize his true identity… UNTIL he reveals himself 3 ½ years later…
In Daniel Chapters 8 & 11, we are told that he will make a treaty with Israel, giving them permission and provision to rebuild their Temple… (Expound… Current location of the Moslem Dome of the rock…)
Daniel tells us that He will assure peace for Israel … AND … will rise to power with the help of the religious apostate church that is left behind…
Now I want to draw your attention to the 2nd Seal-
Rev 6:3-4 - And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
The “red horse” = war … bloodshed & persecution… There will be a FALSE peace for 3 ½ years… THEN … in the middle of the Tribulation Period, the PEACE will be over…At this time the ANTI-CHRIST will be revealed for who he really is… THEN… comes the GREAT TRIBULATION … like the world has never seen before…
Rev 12:12 - Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Church, it will make WW I & II, Vietnam & Iraq seem like Disney World…
3rd Seal –Rev 6:5-6 - And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Inflation & famine. The “black horse” speaks of mourning & starvation…The “balance” speaks of the scarcity of food… Food will have to be rationed … BUT … you must have the RIGHT NUMBER – Rev. 13:16-18.
Rev 13:16-18 - And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
“A denarius” = a day's wages. $100 for a quart of wheat … or 3 quarts of barley…In other words you won’t be able to support your family on your wages…Listen church, even if you could buy food, the False Prophet is the one who distributes it. AND … in orders to buy you must have the “mark of the Beast” …And if you take his mark, you are GUARANTEED to end up in Hell… BUT … without it, you will starve to death… (Expound…)
Folks I’ll never suffer this … AND YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE … I’ll be up in Heaven, praising God around His Throne!
“see thou hurt not …” – the very rich may escape some of this famine. “oil” & “wine” = beauty aids, luxuries, medicine… Sadly, hard to eat but booze will be abundant!
4th Seal –Rev 6:7-8 - And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.“pale horse”.
In the Greek, it’s a ‘pale greenish yellow’…Church, this represents death, epidemics, famine, pestilence … wild beasts released on earth… ¼ of the population of the earth will die … even the RICH won’t be spared from this…Now let me ask you a question this morning…Do you still think you can survive the Tribulation if you’re left behind?So what will cause all of this? Well let me give you a few ideas to think on…Germ warfare … weapons of mass destruction … nuclear fallout … poisoned water … AIDS?
5th Seal-Rev 6:9-119 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
There are many Christians who believe that that no one will be saved after the Rapture… or that only Jews can be saved after the Rapture… But I disagree with that and this is why.
Rom 10:12-1312 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Now Let’s look at the 6th Seal-Rev 6:12-1712 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Now church, BEFORE THIS … everyone could explain away the disease, famine & inflation… BUT NOW … only GOD can control the forces of nature…There will be meteorites, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions … floods… 6:14 looks like an atomic blast.
Then in 6:16 – “the wrath of the Lamb”. Now a lamb is normally gentile… And Jesus, has come to bring judgment and repentance… BUT… all it will do is harden their hearts.Does the Word say that they fell to their knees and cryed for forgivness?
Listen again to what they said “hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne…”
The 7th Seal
–Rev 8:18 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
The 7th Seal introduces the 7 angels with 7 trumpets… Then the Bible says there was a “silence” … like in a courtroom when a judge enters to sentence the condemned criminal…Here we see that the 7 trumpet judgments are about to be given…
Time is given for those on earth to think about God’s judgment… And Heaven stands speechless & spellbound for ½ hour… Something terrible is about to happen on earth … 8:2, 6
Rev 8:2-62 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
1st Trumpet
Rev 8:7 - The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
This is what those left behind will experience … if not already perished…Can you imagine how hard it will be to even breath… 1/3 of the world’s trees and grass w ill be gone… Oxygen levels will be very low…
2nd Trumpet
–Rev 8:8-98 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
It could be an atomic bomb … or a great burning meteor … whatever God has in mind and wants to use… Can you begin to imagine the size of the tsunami this will create…
3rd Trumpet
–Rev 8:10-11 - And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
The fresh water is polluted … drinking water is contaminated… “wormwood” = a perennial herb … extremely bitter & destructive to the human body.
4th Trumpet
–Rev 8:12 - And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
The sun will lose 1/3 of it’s power … extreme cold…
Rev 8: 13 - And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
The Angel is saying here “Woe, woe, woe” … look out … repent … the next 3 are even worse.
5th Trumpet
–Rev 9:1-129 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
Hell is let loose on earth… For 5 months, people will want to commit suicide to get relief … BUT … they can’t… Aren’t you glad you’re a Christian?
And all God’s people said “Amen”!
Those who are left after the Rapture will literally experience “Hell on earth” … ONLY … actual Hell will be much worse!
6th Trumpet
–Rev 9:13-1513 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
In 6:8, ¼ of the earth’s population were killed… NOW … 1/3 of those remaining are killed. ½ of the earth’s population had been killed…
NOW … the 7th Trumpet brings 7 bowls of wrath for the earth…
1st Bowl
–Rev 16:1-216 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.SORES … running, painful, stinking boils, ulcers…
2nd Bowl
–Rev 16:33 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.NOW … death to everything in the oceans… The word soul in verse 3 is in reference to life in general… Not the soul of man… In other words everything in the sea will die…
3rd. Bowl
–Rev 16:99 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.BEFORE … 1/3 of water was turned bad … NOW, ALL the water is turned to blood… They spurned the WATER OF LIFE … NOW they must taste of the WATER OF DAMNATION.
4th Bowl
–Rev 16:8-98 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.All this, so they might repent & turn to God. INSTEAD … 16:9. Rev 16:99 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
In the 4th Trumpet, the sun lost 1/3 power & there was COLD… NOW … the sun has increased in power and there is extreme HEAT… Boils & sores … NOW … blisters on top of them!
Remember there’s no water to satisfy their thirst or soothe their wounds… A taste of Hell to come…
5th Bowl
–Rev 16:10-11 - And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
Can you imagine absolute darkness … running into things … bumping their sores & blisters … falling into the rivers of blood…When Jesus died to take away our sins, there was 3 hours of darkness over the earth… NOW … they will suffer darkness because of their rejection of Him…
6th Bowl
–Rev 16:12-1612 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.What we see here is the preparation for the Battle of Armageddon…
7th Bowl
–Rev 16:17-21 - And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Satan’s kingdom is crumbling… The earth, Satan’s domain, has been devastated beyond all human recognition. “It is done” … “It is finished” … sound familiar?
God’s plan of salvation was completed at the cross, when Jesus said “It is finished”.
NOW … for those who rejected it … “It is done”…
CONCLUSION:
Do you see why this time BEFORE the Rapture is called the “Age of Grace”?
All that we read here tonight WILL HAPPEN … LITERALLY… BUT … thank God … He is the God of love and grace … and has provided a way of escape through Jesus Christ…He is the God of LOVE … BUT … He is ALSO the God of JUSTICE.
How can you or your loved ones escape this?
You must come to Christ NOW BEFORE it is eternally too late…
You must TELL THEM about Jesus NOW.
More Outlines Coming Soon
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