8 Revelation s Final Events

Transcription

1 Revelation of Hope 8 Revelation s Final Events 1 My topic tonight Revelation s Final Events 2 Space launches have always captured our imagination. But a few years ago, it was the reentry of the Columbia shuttle that caught our attention. 3 The astronauts were coming home. It was a journey like many others. And maybe we took their safe landing for granted. 4 Then the unthinkable happened. We were stunned and shocked. Seven of our brightest and best had their lives snuffed out in a moment. 5 Their families and friends were devastated and grieved over their loss. Tonight, I want to talk about a space journey that will not end in disaster. A journey that will not only begin well but end well. 6 1

2 8 Revelation s Final Events Our Commander is going to get us home. He is coming to take us on the most fantastic space journey imaginable. 7 Past our nearest neighbor, the moon, a quarter million miles away, past the sun 93 million miles from earth. 8 Past the planets, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Higher and still higher past the nebula and up through the open space in Orion. He is taking us home. And there is one thing for certain this space journey is not going to end in disaster The second coming of Christ will accomplish what no scientist yet has dreamed possible. Our Lord will deliver us from the clutches of death. The story of this remarkable last-day space journey is found throughout the Bible. 11 God's end-time plan is revealed in His Word. The Book of Revelation s mountain peak throughout its prophecies is the second coming of Jesus Christ. 12 When you look at the Book of Revelation, there is one central theme and that is Jesus. It is not the dragon. It is not the 7 headed beast. 13 2

3 8 Revelation s Final Events The great prophecies of the Book of Revelation do not focus on the beast, but Jesus Christ. These prophecies describe the return of our Lord and the climax of history. Notice the pattern. Revelation 14:14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. When the book of Revelation pictures the coming of Christ, it pictures Him coming with a crown on His head. He comes as King of Kings; as Lord of Lords. The Bible does not picture Jesus coming silently or secretly He came silently once as a baby born in Bethlehem s manger, very few knew He was coming. When the Bible describes Him coming in the book of Revelation the picture is not the same. 16 He comes with a crown of gold on His head. He comes with a sharp sickle in His hand, to reap the harvest of the earth. The Bible always pictures Christ coming in power and glory. When you look at the book of Revelation it always pictures Him coming in majesty. 17 Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. 18 3

4 8 Revelation s Final Events And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 19 Revelation 19:14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Why does the Bible picture Jesus coming on a white horse? What does that symbol represent? 20 A white horse is a symbol of purity, victory and triumph. When Jesus comes with a crown of gold upon His head riding a white horse. He is pictured as a victorious general. He is pictured as coming to defeat all the forces of evil. 21 Christ s comes to vanquish the enemy. He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Book of Revelation is very, very plain. Jesus comes to reap the harvest of the earth. Jesus comes as leading the armies of heaven. Jesus comes as King of Kings. 22 The Book of Revelation does not know a secret coming of Christ. Jesus returns victoriously, triumphantly and gloriously. The book of Revelation knows nothing of a secret rapture. 23 4

5 Revelation 11:15 8 Revelation s Final Events The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever! When Jesus comes the great controversy will end. Sin and sinners will be no more. Jesus coming is not some mysterious event. He comes to reign over the entire universe. He comes to be worshipped and praised by the redeemed forever and ever and ever. Have you ever wondered, How can I know that I will be ready when Jesus comes the second time? How can I know that I will be caught up to meet Him, and live in His eternal kingdom forever and ever? The Bible is very plain on two things about Jesus return First, the Bible is clear about how He will come and second, the Bible makes it abundantly plain how we can be ready for His coming. God is not some mystic guessing about the future. We do not need to guess regarding the events surrounding Jesus return. No, not at all. 26 Jesus does not guess, He knows. 27 Bible prophecy does not guess, it knows. 28 5

6 The Second Coming: Is not vague, it is specific. 8 Revelation s Final Events 29 The second coming is not an unidentified flying object. Jesus is not coming on some flying saucer from outer space. That is not how Christ will come. 30 The coming Messiah will not rise up as an earthly charismatic leader. It s necessary to find out from God s word just how Jesus will come. 31 God s end-time plan is revealed in His Word. The Bible is very plain. Jesus describes one of the deceptions before His return this way. 32 Luke 17:23 NIV Men will tell you, 'There he is! or Here he is! Do not go running off after them. In other words, if anybody says, Jesus comes secretly to a select few or He is appearing someplace, anywhere on earth, we can know these claims are false. 33 Someone may say, He s in Chicago, or New York or in Orlando or Los Angeles. Some will say, Here He is or There He is. Do not go running off after them. 34 6

7 8 Revelation s Final Events Luke 17:24 NIV For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. Christ won t suddenly appear on a talk-show in New York or as a miracle-worker on the streets of Paris. He won t rise up from somewhere down here. He ll be coming DOWN from up there. He won t walk down some major street in this world. 35 He won t hold up His hands saying, I am the Messiah. His coming is like lightning which flashes and lights up the sky. Christ is coming down from above. He won't rise up from below. Christ s coming is with glory. But someone says, Is it really necessary to understand all this? If I just love Jesus, isn t that enough? 36 A young couple moved into the city of Toronto. They put their barbecue out in the backyard. The next day they went to their backyard only to find their barbecue grill was missing from the patio. 37 Two days later it was returned with a note which read: We just borrowed it; sorry for the inconvenience For your inconvenience we left you two tickets to a very popular play. The owners were delighted. 38 That evening they went to the theater and had a wonderful evening out. 7

8 8 Revelation s Final Events But on their return they discovered that the barbecue bandits had cleaned out the whole house! It made all the difference in the world whether they really understood what was going on. They accepted a deception to their great loss. 39 Multitudes of people really don t understand how Jesus is going to come. Satan attempts to deceive them and many are deceived. He is the great deceiver. He counterfeits the truth to lead millions astray. But Jesus clearly reveals His plan. Let me share with you some very clear facts about the second coming of Jesus Christ. 40 Christ s coming will be a literal event. 41 Acts 1:11 NIV This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, 42 will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. Jesus ascends. The power of gravity can not hold Him down. He ascends higher and higher still and higher. As the disciples gaze up at Jesus in wonder. The Bible says, 43 This same Jesus who is taken from you into heaven will come in like manner. They saw Him go. They will see Him come. 8

9 A real Christ ascended and a real Christ will descend. 8 Revelation s Final Events 44 This Jesus who healed the sick. This Jesus who fed the five thousand. This Jesus who made the blind to see. This Jesus ascended and He will return. 45 Christ s coming will be a visible event. The Bible says the coming of Jesus will be a visible event. His ascension was visible and when He descends it will be visible. The Book of Revelation says, Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. How many people will see Jesus when He comes? Every eye. Who will see Him? Every eye Is Jesus coming secretly to just a chosen few? What does the Bible say? Behold He is coming with clouds and every eye will see Him. Christ s coming is a literal event. Christ s coming is a visible event. The Bible says. Christ's coming will be an audible event. 48 9

10 1 Thessalonians 4:16 8 Revelation s Final Events For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 49 And the dead in Christ will rise first. Here is good news! He comes literally A real Christ comes. He comes visibly and every eye will see Him. Here is good news! He comes audibly, every ear will hear it. 50 Have you lost a loved one by death a little baby that you have laid in the grave? A son or daughter who has been hit by a car and killed. That grave is marked by God. The Bible says, 51 The Lord Himself shall descend with a shout. And that shout will pierce the tomb of every believer. It says with the voice of the archangel with the trumpet of God. The trumpet of victory. The trumpet of triumph. The trumpet of conquest over death. 52 The Bible says, And the dead in Christ will rise first. Good news. One day, Jesus will say, John, come forth. Mary, come forth. Chad come forth. Doreen, come forth with a new resurrected body. That loved one will come out of the tomb and be caught up in glory and immortality to meet Christ in the air

11 The Bible says 8 Revelation s Final Events 1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. With whom? 54 With them With whom? 55 The righteous dead who are resurrected. The righteous dead who have been sleeping in their graves. We will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 56 And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Notice the intimacy of these words. Notice that these words are saturated with love. Does Jesus come to live upon the earth at this time? No. We don t meet Him on earth. 57 We meet Him where? In the air. The Bible says in Matthew 24:26 Therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the desert! do not go out. The Bible says, Satan will masquerade as Christ working mighty miracles. But look, suppose someone says to you, Jesus is in Palm Springs, go there. 58 He is a being of dazzling brightness. Go there. 11

12 8 Revelation s Final Events The Bible says, DO NOT GO there because when the real Christ comes He will come streaming down the corridor of the sky. Christ s coming will be a glorious event. 59 Matthew 24:27 NIV For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 60 God will perform a dazzling light show in the sky. He will stream down from the sky with ten thousand times ten thousand angels. He will call Mary, come forth. Only Christ is the life-giver. Only Christ can resurrect the dead. 61 The real Christ is coming in the sky. 62 The real Christ is coming to resurrect the dead. 63 The real Christ will catch us up in the sky to travel with Him past the moon, past the sun, past the stars, to the throne room of the universe. And we will always be with the Lord

13 Matthew 24:30 NIV 8 Revelation s Final Events The Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. Now, put those two texts together with Revelation 1:7, Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. You see, it is not only believers who will see Him when He comes. When Christ comes the second time every eye sees Him. Every ear hears Him. There are only two classes when He comes. The saved and the unsaved. The redeemed and the lost There is no second chance when Christ comes again. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. They will see. There is no such thing in the Bible as a secret rapture. You do not read that in the Bible. Human beings may write about it, they may misinterpret some texts and believe it, but the Bible is plain. 67 The Bible says, THEY WILL SEE, (that is all the nations of the earth), the Son of Man coming in glory. Jesus comes literally, visibly, audibly, and Jesus comes gloriously! 68 Christ s coming will be a climactic event The coming of Christ is the decisive event in human history

14 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NIV 8 Revelation s Final Events "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, 70 but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 71 For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. This is a climactic event. This is a dramatic event. 72 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality. Can you imagine, when Christ comes streaming down the corridor of the sky. 73 The earth is illuminated with the glory of God. 74 The ground rumbles, the buildings shake, the lightning flashes, the thunder crashes. 75 Ten thousand times ten thousand angels speed with haste to graves as righteous believers come forth. Their bodies do not have the curse of sin

15 8 Revelation s Final Events There are no more deaf ears, no more blind eyes, no more arthritic limbs. no more diseased bodies. no more victims of cancer or heart disease. As believers we are looking up, Christ is coming. This is the most magnificent event in the heavens. Instantly, our mortal bodies which are subject to disease and death, receive immortality. 77 What a day! Christ s comes. What a day! Instantly we are transformed. Instantly we are changed. New life pulsates through our bodies. We radiate with health and joy and gladness and happiness. As Christ descends in glory we sing His praises as our bodies are changed from corruptible to the incorruptible. Revelation 15:3 Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 78 We see the dead resurrected. We see our brother, sister, our son or daughter, our husband or wife come out of the tomb with new glorious immortal bodies. Angels present them to us again. We embrace with tears flowing down our cheeks. We ascend together. 15

16 8 Revelation s Final Events Not long ago a Christian Pastor, on his way to a preaching appointment, was killed in a tragic auto accident. It was a great loss to the church and the work of God. He was a great man of God. His wife said after his death, You know, I can t wait to meet him in the air. When he wakes up he s going to ask me, wasn t I on my way to a preaching appointment? 79 And I m going to say, Yes you were. But you took a little nap, and now, we are on our way to heaven. You may have a loved one who is taking a little nap too but Jesus is going to wake them from their sleep when He comes. Picture this scene loved ones embracing. 80 Husbands and wives weeping with joy. What a day that will be! This is no fairy tale. This is real. 81 This is the greatest drama of the ages. We see loved ones coming out of the grave and we are singing, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways. 82 We see Him coming as King of King and Lord of Lords. We cry out. 16

17 Isaiah 25:9 8 Revelation s Final Events Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. We have waited for Him. We have not accepted the false christ. We have not accepted the counterfeit christ. We have not accepted the false Messiah who pretended he was Christ. This is our Jesus who comes. 83 This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. 84 The Bible says that when Jesus comes there are two classes. The saved and the lost. Those that look up and say, We have waited for Him and He will save us. 85 Then there are those who will look up and see Him and their hearts will be gripped with fear. They see Him coming. They know they have not been living in harmony with His will. They have turned their backs on Him. They have rejected the claims of His love. They have turned from His mercy. His spirit has impressed their hearts but they have said, No, Lord. No, Lord. They have crowded out the things of eternity. They were just too busy, too involved with the things of ones life to have time for God. They have turned their backs on this Jesus who wants to save them. 17

18 8 Revelation s Final Events There are two classes the saved and the lost. One class is destroyed by the brightness of His coming. The other class is redeemed in the glory of His presence. That same glory destroys and consumes the wicked. Revelation is plain when it says. Revelation 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, 86 hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 87 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? How tragic. He comes to save them but they run and hide themselves. Their hearts are gripped with fear. 89 They have not crowned Him as the King of glory in their hearts today so they don t want to crown Him as the king of glory in the universe. They run, they are frightened

19 8 Revelation s Final Events They cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them. The book of Thessalonians says they are consumed with the brightness of Christ s coming. 91 The Christ who comes in glory and power cannot be endured by the unsaved. As they call for the rocks and mountains to fall on them, they are consumed with His glory. 92 When Jesus comes the second time there is no second chance. When Jesus comes the second time there is not another opportunity. He has given us so many opportunities today, that we don t need another one when He comes. The Apostle Paul states it plainly when He says 2 Corinthians 6:2 Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation. 93 Our eternal destiny is being settled by the choices we make today. I believe, we are living on the knife edge of eternity. We are living in the days just before the second coming of Jesus Christ. 94 I believe that soon Jesus is going to stream down through the corridor of the sky. Let s summarize the events that take place at His return. 19

20 8 Revelation s Final Events What Happens When Jesus Comes? Seismic upheavals First there will be stupendous seismic upheavals; mountains and islands will be moved out of their places and a great earthquake will shake this planet Righteous dead raised Paul tells us in Thessalonians, The dead in Christ shall rise first. All who sleep in their graves will hear Christ s trumpetlike voice and rise up to eternal life Righteous living changed 4. Immortality bestowed Wicked living destroyed 99 Revelation 6:14, 15: The wicked call for the rocks and mountains to fall on them. When Jesus comes, there will be no second chance no second opportunity. 100 When Jesus comes the wicked living are destroyed. 20

21 6. Righteous welcome Christ 8 Revelation s Final Events The Bible says, when Christ comes we are caught up to meet Him in the air Righteous go to heaven But some people say, Didn t you miss that text in the Bible that says, He is coming as a thief? And aren t there two comings of Christ? One when He comes as a thief and the other one when He comes in glory? 102 What about the secret rapture? 103 Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 104 Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, 105 he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Is this text speaking about the manner of His coming or the time of His coming?

22 The Lie The 70th week by whom of those that teach about the Secret Rapture or The Rapture of the Church is robbed theology! Taken from Daniel 9:24! No where in the book of Revelation can you find 7 years of Tribulation again robbed theology! they take the 70th week of Daniel 9:24 and some how think they can change prophecy by placing it in the future! The problem is there is no precedent set for doing such a blasphemous thing! Twisting The Very WORD of God in to a knot to fit their popular theology which sells books by the MILLIONS! so they in turn can make them selfs rich! The TRUTH! The 70th week is attach to the previous (69th) week the 70th week proves beyond all doubt that, Jesus is, who He said He was! With minute precision it pinpoints His Baptism, then 3½ years of ministry followed by His crucifixion. Then (Midst of the week! Messiah would be cut off!) 3½ years later Jesus would be Officially rejected by the Jewish Sanhedrin. (The time of Daniels people ended (Jews)) Rejecting the now, New Christian movement de marked by the stoning of Stephen and the introduction of Saul of Tarsus whom later would become Paul the apostle to the gentiles!

23 Monday, May 9, 2011

24 Monday, May 9, 2011

25 Monday, May 9, 2011

26 Monday, May 9, 2011

27 ???? 69 th week 70 th week Monday, May 9, 2011

28 SEE CHARTS: THE TRURE CHART CHRONOLOGY OF DANIELʼs Vision! See Below Next page

29 And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed." (Dan 8:14 NKJV) 2300 Years (Dan 9:25 NKJV) "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. (Dan 9:26, 27 NKJV) "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; V.27 Then he shall confirm 2300 a covenant Yearswith many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering Revelation 14: Years (Luke 23:45 NKJV) Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two Years 7 Wks + 62 Wks 69 Wks x 7 Days 483 Day s or Years 3! 3! 457 BC 27 AD 31 AD 34 AD 1844 AD Ezra 7: Acts 10:38...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost 1 Week = 7 years Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen (Luke 3:1,& 21 NKJV) Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,.. When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 70 Wks x 7 Days 490 Day s or Years 490 Years (Dan 9:24 NKJV) "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Copyright 1998 Ric Swaningson; Adventures In Prophecy. May be copied by permission. Acts 7: Acts 13: 45, 46 Acts 18: 6 Matthew 21:43 Daniel 7: 9,10 King Artaxerxes, Decree issued in Autumn 457BC The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar = 27 AD Key Text s to unlock A Day for a Year Ezekiel 4:6 Numbers 14:34 Monday, May 9, 2011

30 8 Revelation s Final Events When the Bible talks about a thief it is talking about the TIME He comes Not the MANNER He comes. Isn t that plain. Now look, does a thief cup his hands around his mouth and call out a warning like this, Here I come, get ready; I am going to rob your house. 107 No thief I know of would ever do that. He comes when we least expect it quickly rapidly. When Jesus comes as a thief the world will not expect it either. He comes quickly unexpectedly then every eye will see Him. The Bible doesn t teach that He comes secretly as a thief. Not at all. 108 Notice verse 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect Peter 3:10 NIV But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; 110 the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. When? When He comes as a thief. But somebody says, I thought the Bible says, There will be two in the field, one taken and one left

31 8 Revelation s Final Events The Second Coming is a surprise to the unprepared! The prepared know He is going to come. The unprepared are surprised and left. But what happens to the unprepared who are left. 112 What about the expression One taken and the other left? 113 Luke 17:36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left. Does the text say that the one who is left is left alive. That s what man puts in that is not what the text says. Jesus goes on and says this. 114 Luke 17:26 As it was in the days of Noah... What was it like in the days of Noah? Were there two classes in the days of Noah? Yes. 115 Was one class taken in the days of Noah. Was one class left in the days of Noah. Yes! What happened to the class that was left in the days of Noah. They were destroyed by the flood. 116 Jesus continues 23

32 Luke 17:28 8 Revelation s Final Events Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot... What happened in the days of Lot? Was one class taken out of the city? Yes! 117 Was Lot s wife left. Yes! What happened to her? She turned to a what? A pillar of salt. As it was in the days of Noah; Two classes One saved, One lost One alive that is ascending to meet Christ. 120 One dead, destroyed at Christ s second coming. As... the days of Lot. One class out of the city, saved. One class left and destroyed. So when the Bible describes the second coming of Christ, one of the greatest deceptions is that some will be left on earth and have a second chance during the tribulation. The devil has sold that lie to deceive people to put off their salvation. They think I can put off my salvation and during the tribulation I can get serious. Ladies and gentlemen, according to the book of Revelation and according to the teaching of Jesus

33 8 Revelation s Final Events There is NO second opportunity. The time to get serious about your salvation is now. 122 Christ s coming will be a joyous event. Don t put if off to some future date. Don t delay it to some more convenient time. Don t miss the most joyous event of the ages. 123 When Christ comes it will certainly be a joyous event. It will be the happiest event in the history of the ages. Jesus in John 14: 2 says John 14:2, 3 I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, 124 I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus comes. Bursting down the corridor of the sky. 125 Here is a young family. They are praying. They hear some rumbling. They hear the thunder. They see the sky light up with the glory of God. They run outside. They see Jesus coming. And in an instant they are caught up with Him to meet Him in the air

34 8 Revelation s Final Events Here is a family that laid their baby in the grave. 128 But now there is a rumbling. Lightning flashes. 129 They look up and they see Jesus coming. Lightning flashes from the east to the west. An angel comes and the dead are resurrected. 130 And Mama holds that baby in her arms once again. 131 Together they meet in the air. Together they ascend to heaven. You see, the second coming of Christ is real. Do you have a sense that if Jesus comes very, very soon, that you are ready for His coming. 132 Is there anything that would keep you from being ready for the coming of Christ? Just think about it. A husband witnesses to his wife, or someone to a friend, but they say no. This is just a fairy tale. Christ will never come. 133 But one day Christ will come. He will stream down through the corridor of the sky and take us home with Him. 26

35 8 Revelation s Final Events There are only the saved and the lost on that day; the righteous and the unrighteous on that day. There are only those who look up and say, This is our God And those who cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them. There is only one thing that can satisfy today and forever, and that is Jesus Christ. This is not a fairy tale. This is not make believe. This is reality. 134 One day Jesus Christ will come and He wants to save you. Would you like to say tonight, Jesus save me. Jesus I believe you are coming in the clouds of heaven and I want to be ready. 27