Gtcotr/ss081124
Revelation 20 NKJV
1 ¶ Then I saw an angel
coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain
in his hand.
2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
The Book of Revelation is a copy of tomorrow’s newspaper, headlining the events which are sure to take place. Many Bible scholars and students of eschatology focus their attention on the very brief 7-year period of time known as the Tribulation. Although this will be one of the most spiritually and physically intense times known to man, it is nonetheless such a brief moment which will signal greater times to come.
This morning I want to give you a glimpse of what awaits us in what I believe is the near future. How near? Realistically I personally believe we are very close to the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period. By this I mean that it could happen in your lifetime. There are several educated, yet opposing opinions concerning the events which are yet to take place.
I
don’t wish to confuse anyone today so I am going to tell you what I believe and
give you my best understanding which I will reinforce with a simple reading of
the scriptures. My beliefs are fairly mainstream, grace-filled, Jesus centered
conclusions to the one-story God is telling. It is a story of redemption. And I
can back up everything I am going to say with the Word of God. My hope is that
you will be able to tell others. First:
·
I believe in the Holy Trinity.
o
The Father
§ Creator of everything,
known and unknown.
§ Eternal – not just old
but eternal.
§ God the Father was the
Person, Presence, & Power of the Godhead on the earth from creation to
Christ.
o
The Son
§ He was present with
the Father from the beginning and by Him and for Him all things were made.
§ He is Jesus the
Messiah and Savior of the world.
§ He was the Person,
Presence, & Power of God on the earth for 33 ½ years as revealed in the
Gospels.
o
The Holy Spirit
§ He is the eternal all
knowing, all powerful, all present light, life and love of God living in the
hearts of men and women who have been born-again by grace through faith in
Jesus Christ.
§ He is the Person,
Presence, & Power of God on the earth since Pentecost. These 3 are 1.
·
I believe in Angels.
o
Holy
messengers and ministers of God living and working for God in a realm all
around us yet unseen by human eyes.
o
There
are fallen angels doing the work of the devil, battling against God behind the
scenes to deceive and destroy.
·
I believe in the Church.
o
The
Church is the called out, called together, and called to gather children of God
both in heaven and on the earth.
o
The
Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and the Family of God.
o
The
Church is the vehicle through which God ensures the Gospel endeavors to reach
the whole world in every generation.
o
Those
who are collectively commissioned and uniquely empowered to stand strong in
this world holding back the hordes of hell while rescuing souls from the
clutches of sin.
·
I believe in the Rapture of the Church.
o
I
am hoping for a Revelation 4 and 1 Thessalonians 4 pre-tribulation resurrection
of the dead in Christ and a catching away of the saints who remain.
o
Followed
by the tribulation which will trigger the largest revival the earth has ever
witnessed.
o
144,000
Jewish evangelists will turn to Jesus Christ during those days. (Revelation 7)
o
The
tribulation will be marked by two 3 ½ year periods, the second part known as
the Great Tribulation.
o
During
this time I believe there will be an ongoing wedding supper in heaven which
will be a great 7-year feast of marriage for Jesus and His Bride. (Matthew 22
& Revelation 19)
o
The
souls which are saved and martyred on the earth during this period will be
gathered under the altar of God and given special honor and attention in
heaven.
·
I believe in a Millennial Reign of Christ upon the earth with His
saints.
o
After
the tribulation, holy angels will be sent to bind the devil in chains and cast
him into imprison him for 1000 years.
o
Jesus
will set up His earthly kingdom with His throne in Jerusalem.
o
The
Born-Again saints of Christ who were married to the Lamb will become Kings and
Priests upon the earth and will reign with Christ for 1000 years.
o
This
one-thousand-year period is a sabbath for all the earth.
·
I believe God created Adam and Eve 6,000 years ago on an earth He
had created long before.
o
The
first 2000 years was about covenant relationship before the law.
o
The
second 2000 years, God’s law ruled relationships.
o
The
third 2000 years, God’s grace through Jesus Christ rules.
o
Creation
is about to enter into the 7th 1000 years, and it will be a
millennial of rest.
o Afterwards the devil will be loosed from his prison for a short time before he is finally and eternally bound and thrown into the unquenchable lake of fire along with death, hell, the fallen angels, and every soul whose name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, written from before the foundation of the world.
2 Peter 3:8 ¶ But, beloved,
do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Psalms 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
Revelation 20 NKJV
1 ¶ Then I saw an angel
coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain
in his hand.
2 He laid hold of the dragon,
that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a
thousand years;
3 and he cast him into the
bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should
deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after
these things he must be released for a little while.
4 And
I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and
for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not
received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived
and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 But
the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
6
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.
Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and
of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
7 Now when the thousand years
have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
8 and
will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth,
Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the
sand of the sea.
9 They
went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and
the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
10 The devil, who deceived
them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the
false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and
ever.
11 ¶ Then I saw a great white
throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled
away. And there was found no place for them.
12 And
I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead
were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the
books.
13 The
sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead
who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
·
I believe in the Great White Throne Judgment which is to come.
·
I believe in a New Heaven and a New Earth where the Tabernacle
of God is with man and will be forever and ever.
o A place where there is
no more sin, sickness, pain, worry, separation, or tears. Paid for by the blood
of Jesus!
o A place where time is no more and forever we live together in the light of the glory of God as Adam and Eve were meant to live in the Garden of Eden for all eternity.
Seeing we have such a future and how it is unfolding exactly like God told us, let us all be thankful and make sure we are doing our part in God’s plan. If you can say you have been saved with confidence, please let God know right now. However, if you cannot, would you pray with me.
Don’t leave here uncertain of your future. God is offering you a chance to be saved today. One simple decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life will be the most powerful and life-changing decision you will ever make. The things that haunt you and hold you back will fall off of you like chains dropping to the ground when unlocked by the love of Christ.
If you will but recognize that you need a Savior and repent of your sins, Jesus will hear your prayer and will forgive your sins and He will send the Holy Spirit into your heart and save your soul right now. Invite Jesus into your heart today. He will not refuse you. He will save your soul if you call on His name.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus … there’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name …
Will you pray with me now?
I
encourage you to download the notes of the message today and re-read them so
you can be prepared when people ask what you believe.
