How Does the Bible End? With an Invitation | Revelation 22:10-21

How Does the Bible End? With an Invitation | Revelation 22:10-21

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “How does the Bible end? With an invitation.”

Scripture: Revelation 22:10-21; Genesis 3:1-19; John 7:37; 20:31; Isaiah 55:1; 2 Peter 3:1-13

(Commentary helps listed at the end)

Need:

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him: To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

INTRODUCTION

Opening story:

God is always working for his people. (Rom 8:28) He’s not waiting on us to ask. Ask, yes! But God’s working whether we ask or not. God initiates mercy and grace. See Gen 3:1-19.

Seminary student Christmas shopping spree. They gave us play money and then let us go in and “buy” gifts for our children. (Isaiah 55:1)

Read Genesis 3:1-19; Revelation 22:1-9

CONTEXT

We have seen:

• Jesus and his churches (1-3)

• The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

• The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

It’s also noteworthy that these last 2 chapters of Revelation and of the Bible occur when sin has been abolished from the universe. No more sin, shame, guilt, death—it’s all history.

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him. (Several, actually) To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

OUTLINE

LAST WEEK invitation 1-2:

Two invitations from God to us as we anticipate the New Eden and the reverse of the curse: (6-9)

A. Obey God. (6-7)

B. Worship God! (8-9)

Five more invitations for a total of 7

1. Obey the word. (22:6-7)

2. Worship God! (8-9)

3. Proclaim the truth of God. (10-11)

   1. Unlike Daniel, reveal, don’t seal his word from the world. Why?

      1. Because “the time is near”

         1. For each of us it’s only a heartbeat away.

         2. For all of us, it’s never been closer. We’re another day closer today.

      2. A day is coming when change will no longer be possible. (11) What some say…others say we can still change…

      3. “Imagine being at the Grand Canyon and having a tour guide take you to some massive precipice. You look over the edge and realize that the drop is so deep it makes you dizzy. Then the tour guide says, ‘Let the self-assertive fool who wants to destroy himself disregard caution, ignore my instructions, and go over the edge.’ Is that what the tour guide wants you to do? P. 414

      4. 3 things we know in our gut:

         1. We all know that we do what we want to do.

         2. We all know that we are responsible for what we do.

         3. We all know that God will hold us accountable for what we do.

   2. “How we respond tot he truth of God’s word in this life will confirm our character and determine our destiny forever.” -D Akin

4. Pursue the will of God. (12-15)

   1. He’s coming soon. He will…judge or reward after he…

      1. Examines our mind

      2. Tests our heart

      3. Gives us according to our ways

   2. As judge, Jesus is fully qualified as he is the omniscient One

      1. Alpha and omega

      2. First and last

      3. Beginning and end

   3. Be washed in the blood of the lamb

      1. For justification

      2. For sanctification

      3. Washing = “persevering in faithfulness to Christ and refusing to compromise with the world” -D Akin

      4. Gives us access to

         1. Tree of life

         2. River of life

         3. City of life…forever!

      5. In contrast to those who did/do not.

         1. They are left outside the city in the lake of fire (“dogs”)

         2. Dogs in that day

            1. Stink and are dirty

            2. Roll in their own stink

            3. Cannot wash themselves

5. Respond to the invitation of God. (16-17)

   1. Jesus authenticates the message of Revelation in v. 16.

      1. Root = source (before David, as God)

      2. Offspring = descendant (coming from David, as man)

   2. He’s the God-man who’s the bright morning star (Num 24:17)

      1. This passage is Christological.

      2. Colossians will expand on this (we’ll start that series next week)

   3. The “Great Invitation” is a 4-fold invitation (17):

      1. The Holy Spirit says come!

      2. The bride, the Church of Jesus, says come!

      3. The one who hears is invitated.

      4. The one who thirsts for abundant, eternal life is invited. (Cf. Isaiah 55:1; John 7:37)

   4. Spurgeon says with respect to content and location of these verses:

      1. It’s placed at the end of the Bible because it’s the aim of the Bible.

      2. It’s like the point of the arrow with the rest of the Bible being the shaft and the feathers.

      3. John wrote in his gospel these tings are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, and that by believing you might have life in his name. (John 20:31)

      4. As far as you’re concerned, this book has missed it’s target unless you’ve accepted his invitation.

      5. All the books in the Bible cry to sinners, come to Jesus! Take the water that quenches your thirst!

6. Heed the warning of God. (18-19)

   1. Severe warning (adding/subtracting)

   2. Everyone

   3. Comprehensive

   4. Literally Revelation (but by implication, all of scripture)

   5. Believers love, obey and receive the word.

   6. Unbelievers hate, disobey and reject the word.

7. Pray for the coming of God (Return of the King). (20-21)

   1. “Yes” - answer the question

   2. “I am” - remember who he is

   3. “Coming” - second coming/return of the king

   4. “Soon” - one heart beat away; 1 day is like 1,000 years to the Lord (2 Peter 3)

• There is a God.

• You’re not him.

• Are you ready to meet him?

In sum, Revelation ends with a 3-fold posture to assume: watch, wait, and witness.

1. Watch - Keep your eyes on the clouds…He’s coming again! He’s coming soon! Are you ready?

2. Wait - Persevere. No doubt, suffering will accompany us as we wait. Do not grow weary in doing good in the meantime. Lean into your witness.

3. Witness - This is the great work he’s left us to join him in. Exalt the King. Expand the kingdom. As we keep our eyes on the clouds, we also keep our eyes on the crowds (Greg Stier). This is how we’re to continue to do good. Our witness will result in invitations being accepted. It may also result in the ultimate witness of martyrdom. If so, so be it. To live is Christ, to die is gain and more of Christ.

Ever since Genesis 3, the Garden and the Fall, God has been pursuing us with an invitation to repent and return to him. To repent and believe the truth that sets us free. So it’s entirely appropriate that God would end Revelation and the Bible with these grand invitations.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him. (Several, actually) To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

Closing story:

Jim Hamilton’s notes

“The resurrection guarantees the return.” -JH

Mines of Moria scene in the Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf the Grey gives his life to save the Fellowship.

Gandalf the Grey is resurrected and then returns as Gandalf the White. He comes back to them to help them finish what they started—to save the world from darkness. P. 411

Jesus is coming back and he’s inviting you to join him. Of all the ways he could end the Revelation, he chooses to end the letter with an invitation to come to him now.

The question is, will you accept his invitation?

Pray

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

OTHER NOTES:

“The whole point of the book of Revelation is to engender an encounter with Him. An encourager that then empowers us to follow him and his paradoxal way.” - Darryl Johnson

Revelation = Apocalypse = unveiling = breaking through

2-fold purpose:

1. Seeks to set the present moment (in all it’s brokenness) in light of the unseen realities of the future.

   1. Jesus is coming, and bringing with him a whole new creation!

2. Seeks to set the present moment in light of the unseen realities of the present.

   1. A fundamental conviction of apocalyptic literature is that “things are not as they seem.”

   2. One of the unseen realities of the present is that the time is near. Nothing around us in history or nature tells us the time in near without help from scripture)

   3. The great purpose-the pastoral purpose-of Revelation is to open up that more and see Jesus in the midst of it all.

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near.” Jesus had to tell us this.

Matt 24-25: Thrust is the time is near. Believe me. “Be alert” And yet, there’s a process that takes time at hand. See kingdom parables too.

Jesus talks about the future as imminent AND lots has to happen over time. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, false messiahs, gospel to the whole world…

This tension is real.

Doesn’t every generation feel Ike they’re the last one? Makes sense in light of Matt 24-25.

Beginning = arche = source and pattern of the series; not just the beginning of the series

End = telos = destiny/purpose of the series

Ex. Acorn’s telos is an oak tree and grove

The telos of humanity is to become like Christ.

After darkness is complete…

Before the faintest sign of dawn…

Tiny star seems barely able…but is a reminder that the night will end…will be defeated.

The star pulls the morning sun behind it…

…just as Jesus pulls the kingdom behind him.

Maybe your life feels like the darkest part of the night right now. Look to the Bright morning star and remember what he is pulling behind him.

Need: To believe Jesus’ words, ways and works with respect to the time is near and his handling of our rescue and evil’s demise. (My take)

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:

No, God wants you to repent. To change your course heart, mind, soul and strength and follow his ways, words and works.

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Outline Bible, Wilmington

• Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

What's the New Heaven and New Earth? | Revelation 21:1-8

What's the New Heaven and New Earth? | Revelation 21:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “What’s the New Heaven and New Earth?”

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-8 (Commentary helps listed at the end)

Need: To believe that the best is yet to come.

The saying goes, “I may not know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.”

1. In one sense, this is true. I do not know what tomorrow holds. But,

2. In another sense—a sense that matters much more—this statement falls short. Because in light of God’s revelation, we DO know the future. And the future is bright and clear that the best is yet to come.

Questions: Do you believe that the best is yet to come? Are you living like you believe that? Or are you living in fear? Or shame? Or guilt?

Bottom line: We look forward to a new heaven, earth and city because there we will:

1. Live in God’s presence

2. experiencing his mercy

3. Satisfied by his pleasures, and

4. Aware of his justice forever.

• Do you believe that the best is yet to come?

• Can you picture it?

• Or are you picturing something that you think is even better?

• Is that even possible?

INTRODUCTION

Opening story:

Our wedding day and weekend January 1988 was an exciting day full of stresses and reunions. But because of a massive ice storm that was paralyzing even the northerners along the Atlantic coast, it was even more stressful.

• Massive ice storm - From NYTimes.com

  • In South Carolina a tractor-trailer carrying 260 land mines collided with a small car last night in Myrtle Beach after skidding on ice. Traffic was blocked for 30 minutes as military bomb experts worked to secure the area, There were no injuries and the authorities said residents were not in danger. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/08/us/storm-drops-a-foot-of-snow-on-much-of-the-south.html

  • The storm sent many Southerners to grocery stores to stock up on supplies, and, in Little Rock, Ark., residents scooped up videos.

  • ''We had to beat them off with a stick,'' said Wallace Wyeth, manager of Goodtime Video. ''We're averaging about three tapes per customer.''

  • At the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, S.C., the polar bears were kept in their heated dens for their safety, ''just in case the pool freezes over or something,'' said Linda Roberts, a mammal keeper. ''They could jump in and it wouldn't be good for them.''

• It took our friend Randy 24 hours to drive the normally 8-hour drive from Pennsylvania. Another friend ran into a bridge abutment on his way from Louisville. My brother did a 360 spin in his RX-7.

• Lots of people late or missed it

• Terrible night before for me (lots of pent up frustration from my groomsmen or maybe just not happy to rent a tux)

• I couldn’t wait to be married

• Honeymoon destination canceled

• Great honeymoon and start to the rest of our life together

Despite all of the stresses, we were still excited about our wedding day and it was a good one. But let me tell you what we were not thinking. We weren’t thinking that this would be the best day of our marriage. We weren’t thinking that there would never be another day in our marriage as good as that one. We truly believed that in our marriage, the best was yet to come. And that’s the point of today’s message.

Just like…

• When we hunger, that’s our body’s way of telling us that there’s something out there that satisfies this hunger.

• When we thirst, that’s our body’s way of telling us that there’s something out there that satisfies this thirst.

We yearn for a better life, a more fulfilling life, a more abundant life, even a longer life, that’s our soul telling us that there’s something out there that satisfies all of that. Forever.

So when I think about eternity, I now think about the new heaven, earth and city because I know I’ll spend it living in the presence of my creator, experiencing his mercy, satisfied by his pleasures and aware of his justice forever.

What about you?

Opening question: Do you live in anticipation that the best is yet to come? Does that impact how you live each day?

OUR NEED

Our need is to believe that the best is yet to come.

Last week’s bottom line: The text teaches us that one day each and every one of us will stand before God and his throne and will be asked to give an account for our lives. (It’s true it’s already written down) There’s a God, you’re not him. Are you ready to meet him?

Bottom line: We look forward to the new heaven, earth and city as we:

1. Live in God’s presence,

2. Experiencing his mercy,

3. Satisfied by his pleasures, and

4. Aware of his justice forever.

Read Rev 21:1-8

CONTEXT

We have seen:

• Jesus and his churches (1-3)

• The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

• The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

Transition: This passage is about:

1. The fulfillment of God’s Old Testament promises, and

2. The completion of the story of our world as we know it.

It’s also noteworthy that these last 2 chapters of Revelation and of the Bible occur when sin has been abolished from the universe. No more sin, shame, guilt, death—it’s all history.

OUTLINE (Jim Hamilton’s)

I. The former things have passed away. (21:1-4) “The old has gone…” (2 Cor 5:17)

MAIN THEME: The old is gone.

HOLD UP AN OLD IPHONE and contrast it with my new one. The old has passed away…

We could summarize these four verses as:

“The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor 5:17 NIV

A. Describes the new heaven, earth and city. (1-2)

1. Still heaven, earth and city (symbolic and literal)

2. No sea which is where they would remember evil comes from

   1. Rev 13:1 “The beast came up out of the sea”

   2. Job 41 “Leviathan”

3. Holy city—the cube is the holy of Holmes

B. Describes life in the new city

1. God with us (Immanuel)

2. No more tears…

3. No more death…

“In a new cosmos, in a holy city, with no sea from which an evil snake might arise, God will dwell with his people in intimate, covenant relationship.” -J Hamilton

To believers: “God is going to dwell with you and comfort you. Find in that hope the

• resolution to all tension

• The comfort for all sorrow

• The healing from every disaster

• And the consolation that swallows up every disappointment” -J Hamilton

God is > all your pain

To not yet believers: “If you’re not a believer in Jesus, let me invite you to try and to imagine something better than this passage offers you…is what draws you away from God really better than this?” -J Hamilton

II. “I am making all things new” (21:5-8): “The new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17)

God makes 3 statements about his new state of affairs in the new:

HOLD UP THE NEWER IPHONE…

A. Statement of what God is doing. (5)

B. Command to write. (5)

C. Statement of who God is and what he promises to both the righteous and the unrighteous. (6-8)

1. A promise to the righteous.

2. A warning to the unrighteous.

A. What God is doing (5): Making all things NEW (not renovating).

B. “Write this down.” (5): God is faithful.

1. God asserting his faithfulness to do what he’s already said/written he will do.

2. What is written will come to pass. It’s as good as done. When we believe the Bible we’re believing what it tells us about itself.

3. The Holy Spirit bears witness as well.

C. Statement of who God is and what he promises to both the righteous and the unrighteous. (6-8)

1. “It is done!” - He tells us this before it even happens. He’s trustworthy. His words are true.

2. “I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end” - God asserts his eternal nature. “If God is already at the end, then he knows what will happen.” -Hamilton

   1. Alpha is first letter of Greek alphabet.

   2. Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.

3. A promise to the righteous. “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” The river of life—abundant and eternal life. What we crave at our core.

   1. Do you thirst for God? Or do you thirst for his things?

   2. Do you love his justice and mercy?

      1. To not love his justice is to celebrate corruption.

      2. To not love his mercy is to fail to love the most beautiful reality God has created. (Indian chief story)

   3. “Those who are victorious will inherit all this…” As “sons” of God, we have the same inheritance that Jesus himself has coming. Wow!

      1. “The sons of the King are exempt from taxation, as Jesus explains to Peter (Matt 17:24-27).

      2. This is why 21:6 says that God will give the right to drink ‘from the spring of the water of life without payment,’ and then verse 7 speaks of what those who overcome will inherit. Those who are united to Christ by faith are heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:26-29).” -Hamilton

4. A warning to the unrighteous.

   1. “But if God is not what you worship, if you thirst for things other than him, your life will show it…andy you will go where you belong, where you will get what you deserve—the lake of fire, the second death.” -Hamilton

   2. BQ: “What does a thirsty man do to get rid of his thirst? He drinks.” -D Akin

CONCLUSION

Better questions:

“Are you bothered by the so-called problem of evil? Have you ever asked yourself what would justify human history? What would make this world and everything that has been done in it worth creating?”

“If God is omniscient, then he knew everything that would happen in the world that he created when he started the project. What could possibly warrant all the pain, death, disease, rebellion, wickedness, and sorrow that has happened in this world? Babies die. People get AIDS and cancer. Murderers do awful things. People are enslaved to sins that ruin their lives. Dictators murder their citizens, and genocides take place. What would justify human history? Why would God create a world where all this would take place?”

“Why would God create a world where people rebel against him? A world where children reject the teaching of their parents and refuse to believe the gospel their parents believe. What would cause God to allow all this?”

“We may never fully understand what God has done in this world, but 21:1-8 shows us that God will make a new heaven and new earth that is pure, that, unlike the first one, will never be defiled. He will comfort those who trust him, wiping away every tear, protecting them from all sin, dwelling in their midst, satisfying their thirst, relating to them as a bridegroom in covenant, as a father to a beloved son, as a faithful God in covenant with his people. And God’s people will know him. They will know the glory of his justice and the glory of his mercy, and they will perceive these things in the salvation that comes through judgment. In studying Revelation, we pass through the final judgment in 20:11-15 on our way to the new heaven and new earth, in which righteousness dwells. God created the world so that he could make known his justice and his mercy. The justice God will demonstrate against the wicked is on display in the new heaven and new earth in his wrath on those who burn in the second death of the lake of fire in 21:8. For all eternity God’s justice will be on display so that the redeemed who enjoy God’s mercy will continue to feel the mercy they have received.” -Jim Hamilton, p. 388-389

Bottom line: We look forward to the new heaven, earth and city as we:

1. Live in God’s presence,

2. Experiencing his mercy,

3. Satisfied by his pleasures, and

4. Aware of his justice forever.

Pray

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

OTHER NOTES:

mak-i´-ah; from 5332; medication (“pharmacy”), i.e. (by extens.) magic (lit. or fig.):—sorcery, witchcraft.

5332. φαρμακεύς pharmakĕus, far-mak-yoos´; from φάρμακον pharmakŏn (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, i.e. (by extens.) a magician:—sorcerer.

5333. φαρμακός pharmakŏs, far-mak-os´; the same as 5332:—sorcerer

OUTLINE (Don Wilmington’s Outline Bible)

I.

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:

A little girl once defined repentance as “Being sorry enough to stop doing it.”

Tear-filled vs fear-filled converts.

When we’re truly convicted of our sins, we tend to tear up with regret and at the thought of disappointing our loving Heavenly Father because of our thoughts, words, and/or actions. God doesn’t want fear-filled converts but tear-filled converts. (Ray Comfort)

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Outline Bible, Wilmington

• Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Why You Need to Know the Truth | Revelation 13:1-10

Why You Need to Know the Truth | Revelation 13:1-10

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”

Scripture: Revelation 13:1-10; Joh 8:31-32; Mark 13; Matt 11:28-30

(Main commentary helps listed at the end)

Last week: “What to do when you feel defeated”

This week: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”

Two weeks ago: “What to do when you feel defeated”

This week: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”

Opening story:

Scotland Yard detective, an expert on identifying counterfeit bills, was asked how he was so good. He answered that he studied the authentic bills so thoroughly that he couldn’t help but recognize the fakes.

Q: Do you know the real Messiah/Christ well enough to recognize a fake one? Because Jesus seemed to think it would be very hard for even his followers to do this.

Eugene Peterson writes in his Message paraphrase of Matthew 11, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly’ (Matt 11:28–30).

This is the remedy to overcoming the gaps between what we say we believe and how we behave/live (which is evidence of what we truly believe). The unforced rhythms of grace are the means of getting God’s grace to flow in and through us daily.

Do you know Jesus or a satanic imitation?

My Bottom line: Knowing the Truth—really knowing—sets us free and leads to peace in a world of uncertainty, deception and falsehood.

outline:

• Satan’s fake christ (13:1-4)

• Murderous blasphemer (13:5-8)

• The call to persevere (13:9-10)

The beast = Antichrist

Nero parallels

Outlines:

Applications:

• Key: Verify do we see Jesus as he really is enough to recognize a fake? If it were easy, Jesus wouldn’t need to warn us.

  • Knowing the word of truth is how we recognize fakes.

  • Ill. Scotland Yard detective, an expert on identifying counterfeit bills, was asked how he was so good. He answered that he studied the authentic bills so thoroughly that he couldn’t help but recognize the fakes.

• Satan is intent on appearing as a savior to receive praise.

  • What about us? Why do we pursue praise from people?

  • Is it really any different? Are we worthy?

  • For Satan to claim to be the messiah is to say that Jesus isn’t.

• Let’s forsake any false hope in any mere human government or leader bringing in the Kingdom of God or any kind of salvation. Don’t be fooled by the fakes. Stop looking to the next shiny, new political leader to turn things around in the areas that matter most.

• Impersonating God and Christ, Satan will blaspheme God and kill Christ-followers.

• How are you preparing for this?

  • Word—saturating your mind

  • Way/Walk—by grace through faith daily

  • Works—carrying out the vision of the KOG where you live, work and play

• God is our sovereign Creator still. Walk/rest in that.

  • Rom 8:28

  • Satan can’t create anything.

• False prophets utter false teachings like

  • Universalism—everyone is ultimately saved.

  • Inclusivism—some go to hell but not anyone faithful to whatever religion they like; this all-roads-lead-to-heaven mindset is deeply embedded in our culture already.

  • Jesus said plainly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

  • Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Note the order:

    • Hear teaching. Obey it.

    • After obeying, true knowledge (comprehension) sets in.

    • Results in freedom.

  • Do you believe Jesus’s teachings on hell?

• Confident you can’t be led astray?

  • If you’ve been chosen by God, then you cannot. You’re name is in the book of life.

  • Is that you?

  • Doctrine of election is a comfort to those who are elect.

  • I believe in the doctrine of election to the extent that the Bible teaches is. But I also see human responsibility and freedom in play. We’re not robots.

  • God chooses. He chose:

    • Adam and Eve

    • Noah and his family

    • Isaac over Ishmael

    • Jacob over Esau

    • Judah over Reuben

    • David over his older brothers

    • Israel over the other nations

    • You, if you’re in Christ Jesus

    • You, if you will trust Christ today

  • Sturgeon acknowledged the brain strain this tension between God’s sovereignty and human free will. He told people that he often prayed, “God save the elect and elect some more.”

  • How do you know if you’ve been chosen? J. Hamilton wrote:

    • IF you feel awful when you sin—not because you got caught but because you have offended God your holy and good Creator—that’s good evidence that God is at work in your soul. Repent and turn back to God today and walk in the confidence of your name being in the book.

• Call to persevere (9-10) - There’s no avoiding God’s providential will. If he’s decided something, he’s fully prepared and warranted to carry it out. If you or I was to die for him, we die. This is why he follows it with the call for believers to endure nad keep believing. Because we’re going to be tempted to give up and give in.

Do you know Jesus or a satanic imitation?

My Bottom line: Knowing Truth—really knowing—leads to peace in a world of uncertainty, deception and falsehood.

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Book of Revelation, NICNT, Robert Mounce

• The Outline Bible, Wilmington

Have You Got Your Heart in Order? | Revelation 9:1-21

Have You Got Your Heart in Order? | Revelation 9:1-21

Darien Gabriel

Text Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Have you got your heart in order?”

Scripture: Revelation 9:1-21

Last week: “Why We Pray”

This week: “Have you got your heart in order?”

My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.

Intro

Moving: Right after you move in, your house is NOT in order. House vs Spiritual house (aka heart) Seals It would be really helpful to me as a pastor to be able to see whether or not you had the seal of God on your forehead. Like Shadrach, Mishshach and Abednego, you will find yourself in the fiery furnace, but you will come out unsinged.

Evil: As we see the evil in the world around us, it’s understandable that you will want to put things in better order than they are. Some do this through politics, others through non-profits, others through writing or the arts, and even through ministry. Making a difference? If this is you, my question for you is, is your “house” in order? In other words, Are you trying to clean up the mess in the world before you’ve cleaned up your own “room”. I mean that literally—not just metaphorically. A better question than, “Is your house in order?” might be, “Is your heart in order?” (Title of today’s message)

Better questions: Before you ask yourself, is my house in order ask yourself is my heart in order? (Optional)

A picture of evil (LOTR) Read some of Lord of the Rings (LOTR) story that describes the Nazgul. “The Nazgul came again, and as their Dark Lord now grew and put forth his strength, so their voices, which uttered only his will and his malice, were filled with evil and horror. Ever they circled the City, like vultures that expect their fill of doomed men’s flesh. Out of sight and shot they flew, and yet were ever present, and their deadly voices rent the air. More unbearable they became, not less, at each new cry. At length even the stout- hearted would fling themselves to the ground as the hidden menace passed over them, or they would stand, letting their weapons fall from nerveless hands while into their minds a blackness came, and they thought no more of war, but only of hiding and of crawling, and of death.” Return of the King, p. 97

My outline:

Intro

I. 5th Trumpet: Spiritual warfare is as real as physical warfare. (9:1-12)

II. 6th Trumpet: When God removes his sovereign restraint on evil, all hell breaks lose. (9:13-19)

III. Unrepentant sinners show how depraved an unsealed heart really is. (9:20-21)

IV. Applications—God is sovereign over evil. That’s how he can use evil to judge evil. “The devil is still God’s devil.” -Martin Luther

A. See and feel the evil around us better by gazing at God

B. If sealed by God, rest in that no matter what.

C. If not sealed by God yet, repent and believe; trust and follow Jesus Christ.

1. Humble yourself before holy, almighty God

2. Repent of your sins against him and believe that he’s made a way out for you.

3. Evidence your faith by leading others to follow you as you follow Him.

Closing

My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.

Applications

I. God is sovereign over evil. That’s how he can use evil to judge evil. “The devil is still God’s devil.” -Martin Luther

II. See and feel the evil around us—recognize the good God graciously pours out.

III. If sealed by God, rest in that no matter what.

IV. If not sealed by God yet, repent and believe; trust and follow Jesus Christ.

A. Humble yourself before holy, almighty God

B. Repent of your sins against him and believe that he’s made a way out for you.

C. Evidence your faith by leading others to follow you as you follow Him.

Closing My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.

Read closing story of heroism in LOTR final books Return of the King. Narrated by Jim Hamilton: “King Theoden has been crushed beneath his fallen horse, and the Nazgul descends to defile the dead. Only one warrior has remained to defend the fallen king. This warrior was named Dernhelm, but it was really the maiden Eowyn in disguise. The presence of the Nazgul startled the horse that Eowyn and the hobbit Merry rode, and they were thrown from their crazed mount. ‘Merry crawled on all fours like a dazed beast, and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick. ‘“King’s man! King’s man” his heart cried within him, “You must stay by him...” But his will made no answer, and his body shook. He dared not open his eyes or look up.’ “Eowyn disguised as Dernhelm then commanded the Nazgul, ‘Leave the dead in peace!’ “A cold voice answered: ‘Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shriveled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.” ‘A sword rang as it was drawn. “Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.” “Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!” “Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. “But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” The black rider rises to kill Eowyn: “But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain, and his stroke went wide, driving into the ground. Merry’s sword had stabbed him from behind... “Eowyn! Eowyn!” Cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between the crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang...and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world.” Return of the King, p. 97

Stand, brothers and sisters, against the onslaught of evil. Stand and fight against temptation...stand and fight for your life.” -Hamilton

Yes, stand and fight temptation, injustice, sin and evil. But start first in your own heart. Get your heart and home in order first. Then wade into the battle for the hearts and souls of mankind. Let’s pray

Other notes: This is the story of history & lore Lucifer chose to become the one worshiped and feared over worshiping his very own creator. His hubris led him to pursue conquering others to this end. Ever since he attempted Adam and Eve to follow him in this he’s been tempting others down the same path.

- The emperor and Vader in Star Wars

- Scar in the lion king

- Sauron in lord of the rings

- Thanos in Avengers

When we reject Jesus Christ as Lord, we walk down this who, naïve and dangerous path of anti-Christ as one of his followers. This is wicked. And there will be hell to pay. Literally. This is what the Lord is judging in the future as displayed in the Revelation.

Hamilton’s need: “We have a great need to see evil for what it is.”

Hamilton’s main point: “God’s judgment is painful and terrifying, and only those who God seals will be protected from his judgment.”

Akin’s main point: “In carrying out judgment on unrepentant humanity, the sovereign Lord will use Satan and his forces, but he will always remain in control over them.”

Outlines:

Hamilton Akin

I. 5th Trump (9:1-12) I. Spiritual warfare is real and intense (9:1-12)

II. 6th Trump (9:13-19) II. When God’s restraining grace is removed, Hell comes to earth (9:13-19)

III. Unrepentant sinners (9:20-21) III. God’s judgments reveal utter depravity of human heart (9:20-21)

Main commentary help:

- Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

- Revelation by Jim Hamilton

- Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

- Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

- ESV Global Study Bible

- Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

- Bible Knowledge Commentary

How to prepare for the end | Revelation 6:1-8

How to Prepare for the End | Revelation 6:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: How to prepare for the end

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-8

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

Last week: “How to Live in this world of suffering”
This week: “How to prepare for the end”

I. Intro

My dad died in 2014. He was in his 80s and died because of dementia. He forgot how to swallow. Watching him die like that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But because he knew the disease would eventually take him, he prepared himself financially, mentally, physically, relationally and spiritually. And when his brain forgot how to swallow, he started to die. But he knew that the best was yet to come. I realize that talking about God like this can get me canceled. When people don’t like what you’re saying, they want to just cancel instead of discuss and debate the issues. As a result, it’s getting riskier and riskier to speak truth—especially from the Bible. Yet Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney does so in the middle of the pandemic on a world-wide simulcast where he said the following:

“The best is not behind us. The best is yet to come, especially for those who know Jesus. I would not be able to do a positive summit and try to speak some hope and positivity if I did not say that because that is what I know. I know true peace and happiness comes from knowing Jesus. Jesus is the hope of the world. Always has been, always will be. The hope of the world is not a vaccine. It is not a politician. It is not some stimulus package. It is not any of those things. The hope of the world comes from knowing Jesus. That is what I believe and that is why I know that the best is yet to come.” -Dabo Swinney

https://www.powerofpositivesummit.com/

Where does the courage to say that and risk all he’s accomplished come from? Sheep among wolves, Luke 10:3Power of the resurrection, Phil 3:10How to prepare for what end? The end of my life or the end of the world? Yes, both. Because the answer is the same for both.

But he was ready. We talked about it often. He wasn’t wanting to leave this place but he was at peace about it whenever it happened. He’d trusted Christ at an early age.He’d led his family to follow Christ.He’d walked with Christ the best way he knew how.He’d had the important conversations while he was still thinking well. Hospice was called in when it was time.He was prepared for the end. Are you prepared for the end yet?

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.

Let’s dive into the 5th and 6th seals. The 7th seal is the 7 Trumpets (judgments) we’ll learn about in the weeks to come.

II. The 5th Seal—Martyrs (6:9-11)

A. What’s a martyr? Martyr = witness. So a Christian martyr is someone willing to be a witness even if it kills them in the process.

B. Why were these people martyred? Because they were faithful to the word of God (Proclaim Jesus), and Because they were faithful to the testimony (Embody Jesus).Does your life do these 2 things?

C. They want vengeance, justice and vindication. After all, they died for loving God and loving people like Jesus did/does.

D. Vengeance is God’s job—not ours.

E. God’s character—holy and true.F. God’s method—sovereign and always on time.lG. Future martyrs? Church of Smyrna and us.

III. 6th Seal—The End. (6:12-17)

A. Common throughout scripture to be cosmic, cataclysmic destruction. Could be literal.Could be symbolic. No less real either way. Goal is to lead people to repent and believe. People would rather die than...

B. ...Face God and the wrath of the Lamb.

C. The great leveling begins. God’s justice and mercy are for all no matter your station or status in life.

D. What about you? What are you putting your hope in for your deliverance in the end? Politicians? World leaders? Scientists? Wealthy people? The Military?

Application
How do we prepare for the end?

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.

Share story of Nigerian funeral

Decide if my faith is worth living for. If it’s worth living for, then it’s worth dying for. Saturate your mind and heart with scripture daily. Memorize it as if you might have to live without a printed copy one day. Pray like you might be martyred one day. Proclaim Jesus daily. Embody Jesus daily.

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it.We do this daily as we Proclaim & Embody Jesus.

Let’s pray.

Other notes:

How to Love

Four bullets hit Pope John Paul II – two of them lodging in his lower intestine, the others hitting his left hand and right arm. This assassination attempt on the Pope in May 1981 left him severely wounded and with considerable blood loss – his health was never the same again. In July 1981, the perpetrator, Ali Ağca, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Pope John Paul II asked people to pray ‘for my brother Ağca, whom I have sincerely forgiven’.

Two years later, he was to take the hand of Ali Ağca, then in prison, and quietly tell him that he had forgiven him for what he had done (even though his would-be killer had not asked for forgiveness). He developed a friendship over the years, meeting Ağca’s mother in 1987 and his brother a decade later. In June 2000 Ağca was pardoned by the Italian President at the Pope’s request. In February 2005 Ağca sent a letter to the Pope wishing him well. When the Pope died on 2 April 2005, Ağca’s brother, Adrian, gave an interview saying that Ağca and his entire family were grieving and that the Pope had been a great friend to them.

Pope John Paul II’s response of love and mercy is exemplary. God’s love and mercy is even more extraordinary because ‘At the cross of Jesus, pardon is complete. Love and justice mingle, truth and mercymeet.’

How to Make the Most of Your Life

‘People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like,’ writes Shane Claiborne in his book The Irresistible Revolution. ‘Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery, like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget – her feet. Her feet were deformed.

Each morning I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. One day a Sister explained, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.” Years of loving her neighbour as herself deformed her feet.’

When people are asked about the person whose life they most admire, so often the answer is ‘Mother Teresa’. She made the most of her life. It is a paradox, because her life was a life of self-denial, taking up her cross and following Jesus.

Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 56 • Devotional

Being a Great Commission Church | Revelation 3:7-13

Being a Great Commission Church | Revelation 3:7-13

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title:  “Being a Great Commission Church”

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

This week’s title: “Being a Great Commission Church”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Tension: We must evaluate our church and ourselves to see if we’re being faithful to the Savior, the gospel, and the great commission for God rewards those who are.

Though we may be modestly influential culturally, the church that is faithful to the Savior, the gospel, and the great commission will be rewarded by God.

1. A great commission church sees Jesus as awesome. (3:7)

   1. He is the holy one.

   2. He is the true one.

   3. He is the sovereign one. (Unstoppable)

2. A Great Commission church is faithful to the gospel. (3:8-9)

3. A great commission church lives by the promises of God. (3:10-13)

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Christopher M. Karpus

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin (Apathy towards Sin)

By Chris Karpus

Revelation 2:18-39

To the Church in Thyatira (the idolatrous church)

a. Each church was literal in existence (Asia Minor in modern day Turkey)

Ephesus had abandoned their first love

Smyrna was not admonished, but they were facing tribulation

Pergamum had people holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans

Thyatira, today’s letter, is tolerating Jezebel

- Many commercial guilds in Thyatira…like trade unions…more than any other Roman province – Industrialized city known for their commercial trade…purple dye…Lydia, from the book of Acts

Acts 16 – refers to Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, from Thyatira.

b. Each church represents spiritual issues relevant to Christians today

1. Verses 18-19

-Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God”

-whose eyes are fire - Jesus’ searching gaze from which nothing escapes

Whose feet are like burnished bronze – seems to point to Jesus’ absolute purity

- They had the deeds that Ephesus had, but had the love that Ephesus lacked

- Jesus recognized their love and faith, service and perseverance…

- He even noted that they were doing even more than when they started

2. Verses 20-21

-Jesus faults the church of Thyatira for tolerating this “Jezebel” whom He gave time to repent

(Jezebel – daughter of Ethbael, king of the Sidonians

She worshiped the baals and ashiras, and led King Ahab (the King of Israel) to do the same

2 Kings 9:34 “that cursed woman”

As a punishment for her wickedness, she was eventually pushed out a window, trampled by horses and eaten by dogs)

We are told 2 things about this Jezebel in Thyatira: (other than not repenting)

1. She calls herself a profit

2. She is teaching Jesus’ servants to practice sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols

Eating food sacrificed to idols…dinner with the guild…sacrificed to Zeus

Jesus told Thyatira that they were allowing someone like that to influence their people – why do you tolerate her?

-Could be a reference to the process of church discipline back in Matthew 18:15-18

- She did not repent even though she was given time to do so

- Jesus is now faulting the church for continuing to tolerate her….so if they had gone through the process, it seems that He is saying that she should have been excluded by now

- Jesus said that they had love, BUT it seems their love was undiscerning and blindly affirming

- They tolerated false teaching and immoral behavior – two things God is fiercely intolerant of

- Jesus didn’t pat them on the back for being open minded, welcoming and affirming, he chastised them basically for being blind and undiscerning

- Tolerance – a buzz word in our culture

- There is a good kind of tolerance, but Christians cannot be tolerant of ALL things because God is not tolerant of all things.

- -Our culture says that love = unconditional affirmation. That is not the way God loves.

- We cannot give unqualified, unconditional affirmation to every belief and behavior.

- Parents should understand this. – you see your kid playing in the middle of a busy street, you don’t respond with “who am I to judge”?

- -We are called to love what God loves and hate what God hates

- -(Love what God loves) That’s where Ephesus failed

- (Hate what God hates – where Pergamum and Thyatira failed

3. “Jezebel”, in this case is most likely a specific person, but metaphorically, what “Jezebel’s” does the modern western church tolerate?

a. Racism

Jemar Tisby, in his book “How to Fight Racism” makes a tough statement for the white evangelicals in our country: “…everyone is either fighting racism or supporting it”.

In other words…we are either fighting racism or tolerating it

b. Abortion – I may favor pro life political candidates, but if I haven’t promoted a culture of life and compassion, I’m really not doing much by just pulling a red lever.

c. Pornography and sex trafficking

d. Worship songs with bad theology?... Bad doctrine leads to bad lives

e. People who call themselves prophets, and aren’t…

- Some just make political predictions, and never talk about the actual Word of God

3. from Verse 20

…(this Jezebel) who calls herself a prophet

- Jesus addresses the problem of imposters at several points in these letters:

- In Ephesus, he speaks to those who call themselves apostles who are not

- In Smyrna, he speaks to those who say they are Jews who are not

- In Thyatire, He is speaking of a woman who calls herself a prophet…and she is not

+ Fakes cannot fool the One whose eyes are like blazing fire

+ Always hold what so-called prophets say up against the Word of God

Matthew 24:11

11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

+ they will deceive non-believers and Christians…don’t fall for them, even if they say what our itchy ears want to hear.

4. Verse 20:

- She has infiltrated the people of God (probably part of why Jesus calls her a “Jezebel”) and teaches them idolatry and immorality (the rest of the reason she is called Jezebel)

- She is called to repentance and refused.

- Those who belong to Jesus repent of sin. What’s missing is repentance…repent and believe…believe and repent for the remission of sin

- At this point, the church had a responsibility to tell her the truth

- to protect the flock

- Instead, they were tolerating her, and as a result of the church’s failure to act, she was leading the servants of Jesus into sin.

-Tolerance in this case, is not love, it is unfaithfulness to God

- In not directly doing something about the false teaching, the church bears some of the responsibility for the sins provoked by the Jezebels…by tolerating it. Is that the same as approval?

-Is it possible that… Not DOING SOMETHING about RACISM, is implicit approval of racism

…Not DOING SOMETHING about abortion, is implicit approval of abortion

…and so on…

Obviously, we don’t want to hear our Lord and Savior say: “To the church in the United States, I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first…but I hold this against you: you tolerate things I hate.”

5. Verses 21-23:

- Jesus is effectively calling His servants, who are sinning with Jezebel, to repentance

- He is announcing judgement…Jezebel and everyone who sins with her will be judged

- Those who belong to Jesus will repent. Those who do not belong to Jesus will not.

- Those who refuse to repent, identify themselves as Jezebel’s children, and Jesus’ promises them that they will be judged and die

The result of this is…in verse 23

6. Verse 23:

- Basically, it looks like Jesus is addressing everyone who did not follow Jezebel. He is not imposing another burden on them, other than tolerating Jezebel.

- he says to HOLD FAST TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I COME. What they have is the Gospel, and “holding fast” means living it out

- He has also called evil what it is…by saying “satan’s so called deep secrets”

8. Verses 26-29

Jesus is referencing Psalm 2:8-9

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron[a]; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

If we want to rule with Jesus in the future, we need to be faithful to Him in the present. Remember, in the case of Thyatira, -Tolerance is not love, it is unfaithfulness

Though we are cultural outcasts now, or ridiculed now…we will rule. If we’re not outcasts now because of our faith, or ridiculed now because of our faith, then maybe we look too much like the culture.

David Wells…professor of Theology said – “worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange”

Does this mean we are to be intolerant? Of course not. It means we need to treat people the way Jesus treated people. He humbled, showed law to the proud, and He showed grace to the humble

Look at the story of the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:3-11

9. Verse 28

We will receive the Morning Star (Numbers 24…a star will come out of Jacob) – If you overcome, the ultimate gift is Christ Himself.

If you hold fast, you may not get:

The job, or the raise, or the girl or boy, or even your parents and family. You may not get the big house, fair treatment or the promotion. You may not get the political candidate you want in office, great health or appreciation from your family and friends or even the freedom you think you deserve…but if you hold fast…you WILL get the morning Star…you will get Jesus Himself. If He is all we have, understand that He is truly all we need.

Thanks!

Repent from Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17; Hebrews 13:5-6

Repent from Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17; Hebrews 13:5-6

Darien Gabriel

Rev 2:12-17, TBYTC, part 5

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Repent from Compromise”

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17; Heb 13:5-6

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

Last week’s title:

This week’s title: “Repent from Compromise”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Tension:

Illustrations:

Seaplane commodore and pride

Illustration:

There were times in the life of our family when our girls were tempted by friends and family to try something new and truly enjoy life. Usually, alcohol or sex encouraged. Our young people especially deal with this kind of temptation on a daily basis. The temptation to compromise what we know is the wise, pure path the Lord Jesus would encourage us to follow.

Pride is the attitude that makes us vulnerable to compromising with sin.

In the meantime, the enemy tempts us to pursue sinful pleasures that promise much but never deliver what they promise. Sin never pays.

False teachings like the ones that the church in Pergamum were embracing lead us towards idolatry and immorality; towards compromise with promises that never deliver. This is the danger the church today faces.

Need:

“We need to be convinced that we must never flirt with evil. We need to have the false exterior of sin pulled back so that we see it as it is.” -Hamilton

Flirting is behaving as if you are attracted to or are trying to attract someone to you. Driven by desire; can be less than serious but can also turn serious. When we flirt with sin, we’re responding to it’s enticements and it’s like playing with fire without respecting that fire.

This week’s main idea: “The main point of the letter to the church in Pergamum is that they must repent of the Nicolaitans teaching.” -Hamilton, p. 86

“Though believers and churches are constantly tempted to compromise both theologically and ethically, true followers of Christ will remain faithful and receive from the Lord the reward of eternal life.” -Akin

My Bottom line: Repent of Compromise

Good compromise and bad compromise. We’re talking about compromising with sin—the temptations and pressures that the world and the enemy throw at us. 2 kinds:

• Power - like a direct, frontal assault

• Social pressure - more subtle

Context: (by chapter)

“We can summarize the whole book of Revelation by thinking of it in three parts: Jesus and the letters, the throne and the judgments, and Babylon, Jesus, and the bride.” -Hamilton’s

I. Jesus and the letters ( to the churches)

II. The throne and the judgments (from the throne)

III. Babylon, Jesus, and the Bride

More detail:

1: Vision of Risen Christ

2-3: Letters to 7 churches from risen Christ

4-5: Vision of throne room of the risen Christ

6-16: Judgment of Risen Christ

17-22: Fall of Babylon and arrival of New Jerusalem

Outline:

V. 12 Intro

• Church vs churches

• Sword from ch. 1 (more later)

V. 13 Pergamum-

• Describe city (Provincial Roman capital, center of lots of pagan worship, 2nd largest library (huge educational city))

• Where Satan lives; imagine being a church in the city where Satan’s headquarters is

• We all live in places where we’ll be tempted to compromise

• Antipas - “my faithful witness”

V. 14 “Nevertheless”

• Balaam and Balak

• Nicolaitans

V. 15 “Repent, therefore”

V. 16 A warning that Jesus take sin seriously

• Illustration: Sin and Sword: Sarawak python and 3 ton truck

  • Sin is deadly

  • Jesus deals with sin in a deadly way

V. 17 2 gifts

• Hidden manna

• White stone

Conclusion

Repent from compromise. Recognize that like the early church, we’re constantly under pressure to compromise.

Faithful Even to Death | Rev 2:8-11

Faithful Even to Death | Rev 2:8-11

Ken Dorrity

We are in Revelation 2:8-11 and the focus is on the letter to the second church in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

Revelation is the revealing of Jesus and God’s plan for everything!

Remember, Revelation was written by John while in exile on the island of Patmos and Rev. 2 and 3 includes the letters to seven Churches in Asia.

These 7 were on a major road that was on a circular route. A letter carrier would leave Patmos and could go in the exact order as letter dictated, landing in

Ephesus > Smyrna > Pergamum > Thyatira > Sardis > Philadelphia > Laodicea

Izmir – 3rd largest city in modern-day Turkey is built on the site of ancient Smyrna.

Smyrna – comes from myrrh. A spice we all remember from Matthew as a gift from the Wise Men to Jesus. Myrrh smells wonderful but only after it is crushed.

The church in Smyrna was persecuted, poor, and afflicted, but like myrrh, when the church is crushed something wonderful was revealed, JESUS.

Smyrna – beautiful seaport (Aegean Sea) city 35 miles N of Ephesus.

Nicknames: Port of Asia. Ornament of Asia. Flower of Asia. Crown of Asia.

Aristides “The wind blows through every part of the city, and makes it as fresh as a grove of trees.

In AD 23 as a reward for loyalty, Smyrna beat out 11 other cities for the right to build the 1st temple to honor Tiberias Caesar (AD 14-37). This along with the influential Jewish population was the ingredient for a hostile environment for the believers there in Smyrna.

Smyrna was also famous for the place of execution of Polycarp (Feb 23 AD 155) who was bishop of the church of Smyrna and knew John (Irenaeus AD 130-200 confirmed Polycarp knew John).

8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death. Revelation 2:8-11 CSB

The One who conquered death knows their suffering.

Jesus shares 3 things He knows what the believers are in the midst of life in Smyrna:

1) Affliction, 2) Poverty, 3) Slander

Don't fear what is to come. Be faithful.

The second death will not harm the followers of Christ.

The life worth dying for and the life worth living for!

Be Faithful to the Point of Death.

Application: Pray for the persecuted church. Check out Fox's Book of Martyrs.

Visit persecution.com and pray for those who are suffering.

First Love | Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7

First Love | Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “First Love”

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• Be The Church by Seth McBee

• Break the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: “Motivated by the Risen Jesus...”

This week’s title: “First Love”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Now some of you may be thinking right now...things can’t get much worse. Better is good, best, well, I’m listening.

Tension:

What is it that happens to people between...

• Their wedding day and the day they sign divorce papers?

• The day their child is born and the day they see their child as a disappointment and brat?

• The day a loved one is diagnosed with awful condition and the day that loved one, whom we cherish, becomes a burden?

What happens is a loss of first love.

Need:

Maybe this is how some of us feel right now about our faith in the risen Christ. We’re just going through the motions and doing our duty. This is not victorious living!

This week’s main idea: “Rev 2:1-7 teaches us that the great commandment matters to God. Jesus identified our greatest obligation was wholehearted love for God, which declares to us that God is not pleased by dutiful obedience that does not flow from genuine love. Here, Jesus mercifully reveals his glory to the church in Ephesus to summon forth from them the first love that he requires.” (Hamilton, p. 63)

My Bottom line: Remember how far you have fallen! Repent and return doing the things you did at first. (Remember, Repent, and Return)

Story: “First love”

First time I saw my wife. (Share story)

Overview/Preview:

• Revelation probably written to be read aloud in one sitting in the context of a church gathering. We will do this by the end of the series somewhere, somehow. (See promise of 1:3)

• From the risen Jesus Christ to the 7 churches in Asia Minor.

The church at Ephesus:

• Paul wrote letter to them 43 years earlier (AD 53)

• While there (several years) oversaw discipleship of entire region (Acts 19)

• Was most prominent church in the region at the time

• Temple to Artemis (Diana) goddess of love and other stuff; 7th wonder of the ancient world

• Silversmiths rioted when Paul came

• Nothing there since 14th century

Context: (by chapter)

1: Vision of Risen Christ

2-3: Letters to 7 churches from risen Christ

4-5: Vision of throne room of the risen Christ

6-16: Judgment of Risen Christ

17-22: Fall of Babylon and arrival of New Jerusalem

Structure: It’s a chiasm (# corresponds to 7 churches in order)

1 Ephesus - forsaken first love, Jesus

2 Smyrna - no rebukes

3 Pergamum - Several rebukes

4 Thyatira - Several severe rebukes

5 Sardis - Several more severe rebukes

6 Philadelphia - no rebukes

7 Laodicea - Lukewarm love, Jesus

• Bad news is that only 2 of 7 churches are not rebuked even though they are still in the apostolic age.

• Yet, there’s good news in that there is hope for every church because the risen Jesus tells them how to recover. Remember, repent and return.

  • Jesus is still among his church!

  • Jesus loves to reprove and discipline his church.

Outline:

2:1 The Authority of the Risen Christ

2:2-6 The Address to the church at Ephesus

2:7 The Call to hear and heed the promises

2:1

• John writes to the angel of that specific church

• Angel = messenger

• Writing down the words of the risen Christ

• We should read these letters to the churches in light of the glory of the risen Christ

• How would the demeanor of your worship service change if the governor came in and joined you for worship?

• Jesus describes himself using words from 1:12-16. He does this for each church he addresses.

  • Him who holds the 7 stars (angels) - Jesus is in control of his messengers

  • Him who walks among the 7 lamp stands (churches) - Jesus is present and at work

• The early church met in houses; so even though Jesus writes to “the Church” he’s writing to the network of churches that make up the church of Ephesus. (Kind of like if Jesus wrote a letter to the group at Grace, he’d be writing to all the different groups of people who gather under the banner of Grace Christian Fellowship)

2:2-6

• Risen Jesus had a lot to commend them for:

  • pure doctrine

  • Hard working

  • Persevering

  • Condemnation of wicked people

  • Not grown weary of doing good and working hard

  • Opposed practices of the Nicolaitans (probably encouraged idolatry and sexual immorality)

  • We can summarize these into 2 categories: Deeds (hands) and Theology (head):

    • Hands - hard working, persevering, not growing weary of doing good

    • Head - pure doctrine, opposing false teaching, church discipline of wicked people

    • What they are missing is Heart - Love for the risen Christ

• Risen Jesus had one rebuke:

  • You have forsaken/abandoned (not just lost) the love you had at first.

  • At first = when your eyes and ears were opened to the truth that sets you free.

• Remember (consider) how far you have fallen from that love you had at first

  • Not necessarily at the beginning of your walk with Christ; maybe at a significant spiritual marker

  • I remember having lots of tears at the altar during a service at summer camp—when I was the youth pastor! Then later wondering where that passion to surrender all went

  • Our faith ebbs and flows—where are you today?

  • Perhaps you’ve never experienced a moving, life-changing encounter with the living God. Try this:

    • Think about your sin before a holy, holy, holy God.

    • How do you propose to cleanse yourself from your sins? Good works are like mensural rags in God’s eyes when performed to be cleansed.

    • How to propose to satisfy God’s righteous wrath for your sins?

    • There is only one mediator—Jesus

    • He died to pay the penalty for sin.

    • If you trust him, God will forgive your sin and adopt you.

  • This line of thought—

    • from God’s holiness

    • To our sin

    • To God’s justice against sin

    • To the provision of God made for our salvation in Christ and the mercy he shows to those who trust him

    • —this thinking on the gospel is what will fire anew our first love.

  • Just as thinking on your need for Jesus will fan the flames of your love for him, so also thinking on God’s mercy in giving you a spouse you don’t deserve will refresh your zeal for your spouse...

• Repent turning from duty to delight; from self to others first; to living to please Jesus over pleasing yourself

  • The great commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

  • And others as yourself

• Return and do the things you did at first

  • When your mind is consumed with devotion for the one you love, you do what pleases them

  • Evidently, this devotion waned in the church of Ephesus

• Warning and Reward

  • If you don’t repent, I’ll unchurch you

  • If you do, see v. 7

2:7

• Whoever has ears quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit listen up and follow

• Reward for those who overcome -

  • Right to eat from the tree of life

  • Be with risen Christ in paradise

Applications:

Remember how far you have fallen! Repent and return doing the things you did at first. How?

1. Remember (consider) how far you’ve fallen, (Admit that you’ve dropped the ball here)

2. Repent of sin, and (Confess and turn from your sin...)

3. Return to Christ by doing the things you did at first. (Turn...to (or back to) the risen Jesus Christ and savior and Lord). How?

   1. Be zealous for the gospel—fall in love with Jesus and his good news again!

   2. Be diligent about sound doctrine—be in the word!

   3. Be faithful in living out the gospel—be like the risen Christ!

Conclusion:

When we remember how far we’ve fallen, and humble ourselves, we repent of our sin and return to the risen Christ and the things we did at first. This is the way;-)...and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through the Son...the risen Christ Jesus.

“Believer or unbeliever, one sure way to grow in your love for God is to think on the gospel—

1. God’s holiness and justice against sin,

2. the peril of your condition,

3. the provision made in Christ, and

4. your need to trust in Jesus.” (Hamilton, p. 70)

Will you remember, repent and return to him today?

Let’s pray.

Other:

Hamilton’s notes on all 7 churches:

Verse: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of...

“Power, love and self-control/sound mind” 2 Tim 1:7

Analogy: Head, heart, hands

Consider combining the two...

Head - Sound mind/self-control

Hands - Power

Heart - Love

If Jesus wrote a letter to GCF, what would it say?

Probably a summary of what he charged all 7 churches to do:

For the sake of Christ,

1. Be zealous for the gospel,

2. Reject false teachings, and

3. Live in a manner consistent with the gospel.

Greatest need of the early church (and today’s church) according to Hamilton:

“to be faithful to Jesus, to hold fast to the gospel, and to live lives that are pleasing to him.”

Good News: “God has given us everything that we need to know to be right with God through Jesus and live in a way that pleases him.” -Hamilton

Main Point (Hamilton): “For the glory of God, Jesus charges the churches to be zealous for the gospel, reject false teaching, and live in a manner that corresponds to the gospel.” (LGLP, xDM)

Generally, for all the churches...for the glory of God, Jesus charges the churches to...

1. Be zealous for the gospel, (pursue steadfast faithfulness to gospel—which 2 & 6 were commended for)

2. Reject false teaching, and (be diligent about sound doctrine)

3. Live in a manner that corresponds to the gospel. (Live in pure devotion to Jesus, avoiding idolatry and immorality that grows from false teaching (and unbelief))

4. Practice church discipline, when necessary.

5. Be faithful unto death (cf. 2:10)

Story: Pastor Greg Wills (Hamilton, p. 61)

Notes from Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) on Rev 2:1-7:

Verse 1: DESTINATION

• Paul had visited Ephesus about 43 years earlier in AD 53.

• Paul was there for several years and preached/disciples so effectively “that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in th province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).

• Silversmiths started a riot because their business of making shrines of Artemis was threatened.

• Ephesus—long history; most prominent church in region.

• Uninhabited since 14th century. (Immediate area)

• Mostly 2nd+ generation Christians

• Note how Paul draws from the description of the risen Christ in ch. 1 to re-describe himself to the 7 churches:

  • ““To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

  • ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Verse 2-3: COMMENDATION

• Commended for their faithful service for 40 years! Specifically,

  • hard work

  • perseverance

  • condemnation of wicked people

  • identification of false apostles (false teachers in each of first 4 churches)

  • enduring hardships

  • not growing weary in serving God

Verse 4: REBUKE

• Despite many commendations, soundly rebuked for forsaking the love they had at first.

• Word order is emphatic: Literally, “Your first love (agape) you have left.”

• Agape - deep love God has for people (cf. Eph 1:15-16 (35 years earlier))

Therefore,

• Pure doctrine (HEAD)

• High level of service (HANDS)

• Devotion to Christ (HEART) ——LACKING!! HENCE REBUKE

• Risen Christ wants all three!!

Verse 5-6: EXHORTATIONS

1. “Remember the height from which you have fallen!”

2. “Repent”—Our love for risen Jesus should be greater than...

   • Spouse

   • Kids

   • Parents

   • Best friends

   • Boy/girl friend

   • Self

   • Idol

   • Hero

   • Cause, manifesto, dream

   • god

3. (Return) and “Do the things you did at first.”

Verse 7: WARNING & PROMISE

WARNING: “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Lampstand = light or presence of Christ in the church = church will die)

PROMISE: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is the paradise of God.”

• When you eat this fruit, you live abundant life forever.

• Tree that was in the garden of Eden is now in the New Jerusalem.

Illustration: (Cf. With Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-8) Isaiah went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am” in a very short time. How long would it take for you to surrender all to Jesus and let him send you wherever to do whatever? How long would it take for you to give Jesus a blank check? Not long if you see him as he is today.

Motivated by the Risen Jesus | Revelation 1:9-20

Motivated by the Risen Jesus | Revelation 1:9-20

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: Motivated by the Risen Jesus...

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

Last week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

This week’s title: Motivated by the Risen Jesus...

Last week’s Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word will be blessed by the Lord.”

Summarizing some of my thoughts lately...

1. We see the risen Jesus in all his glory and are motivated to trust and obey. (Rev 1:9-20)

2. When we trust and obey, we’re blessed beyond imagination. (Rev 1:1-8)

3. And finally, we’re blessed to be a blessing to others around the corner and around the world. (The Bible)

We’ll focus on 1 today.

This week’s main idea: “The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches. The incomparable glory of the risen Christ motivates John’s audience to heed what John has been commissioned to write. The matchless splendor of Heaven’s King attracts the attention and compels the obedience of the churches John addresses.” -Hamilton

My Bottom line: When we (the Church) see the risen Jesus today, we’ll be super motivated to trust and obey.

Illustration: (Cf. With Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-8) Isaiah went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am” in a very short time. How long would it take for you to surrender all to Jesus and let him send you wherever to do whatever? How long would it take for you to give Jesus a blank check? Not long if you see him as he is today.

I hope your motivation for trusting and following Jesus will recalibrated today. Checked against the standard. The standard is truth and God’s word.

Why are you following Jesus?

Why are you following Jesus the way you are following Jesus? (Half-heartedly vs wholeheartedly)

I. Introduction: Story + Summary (Doignetus)

II. John’s situation and Commission to write (1:9-11)

III. John’s description of the risen Jesus (1:12-16)

IV. Jesus asserts his authority and commissions John to write (1:17-20)

V. Conclusion: Summary + Story + Application + Vision

Opening story/illustration

Diognetus about Christians to Mathetes (Hamilton, pp. 32-33, 37)

1:9-20 “John’s vision of the risen Christ”

I. “John’s situation and commission to write”

“Unlike the Roman Empire, which is promised peace but delivered brutality and fear, the Kingdom of God promises tribulation and delivers peace and confidence and eternal salvation to those who patiently endure.” Hamilton, Pp. 43-44

“Make no mistakes about it: Your best life is not now. Your best life will begin when the skies are split by the shout of the archangel.” Hamilton, p. 44

Churches listed in order an itinerant preacher would visit them beginning at Island of Patmos (where John was exiled) and moving around Asia Minor.

These cities seemed to be natural centers of communication for itinerant ministry and 7 focal cities with respect to the church’s organization and distribution.

• all but Thyatira had temples dedicated to emperors

• all but Philadelphia and Laodicea lead imperial priests and altars

Note, though an apostle, John shared in the suffering of the church.

John shares why he writes Revelation: Because Jesus told him to!

Read 3rd paragraph in Hamilton, p. 45–it’s powerful!

This is meant to motivate the Church to gladly submit to the word of the risen Christ! This will become clear in chapters 2-3.

1:12-26 “John’s description of the risen Jesus”

• Jesus described in priestly terms

  • References to Zechariah 4

  • 7 lamp stands point to the presence of God in the tabernacle and temple; hence priestly terms

  • Like a priest, Jesus calls the churches to repentance (Chs 2-3)

  • Jesus’ clothing points to a heavenly high priest

• Jesus described in kingly terms

  • References to Daniel 7

  • “Like a son of man” is kingly/messianic term

  • Jesus receives an eternal kingdom (Dan 7 & 10); cf. Rev 1:6 & 9

2 major influences on John’s first vision:

1. The letters to the churches—When you compare Revelation 1 with Revelation 2-3 you see Jesus described the same way

2. The vision of Daniel in ch. 10.

   1. Revelation is fulfilling Daniel’s vision in Daniel 10

   2. When you compare Revelation 1 with Daniel 10 you see Jesus described the same way

   3. Jesus is unveiled as deity in Rev 1:14 in describing like Ancient of Days (reference to God the Father)

“Eyes like a flame of fire” 1:14

3 implications of his blazing eyes:

1. No sin that we commit will escape his notice,

2. He will see every faithful thing his people do, and

3. He will note every injustice done to his people by their enemies.

“Feet like burnished bronze, refined” points to the absolute purity of Jesus.

“Powerful voice” = communicating authority this is to be obeyed. His voice is to drown out other voices that would call you away from true faith and holiness that marks those who truly know God.

Sometimes he does speak in a still, small voice. But there are times when he wants to drown out everything else.

Are you listening? To whom?

3 more...

7 Stars - messengers of 7 churches (Angels, not pastors). Jesus holds in right hand = he is in control

sword in mouth - symbolically Jesus will speak decisive words of judgment.

“Face like the sun” - painful brightness of the sun shining full strength, on which we can’t look

“The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches.”

1:17-20 “Jesus asserts his authority and commissions John to write”

John literally blown away by God’s glory in Jesus. No power on earth does this.

Jesus doesn’t leave John. He tells him not to be afraid. Why?

Because he lives forever and holds the keys of death and hell. That is, he defeated death and the cross as seen in the resurrection.

Jesus is terrifying in his holiness. We should tremble, humble ourselves and repent of our sin before him. But no need to fear for our own lives if we repent and we trust him for he empowers us to live with him forever.

Jesus among 7 lamp stands = Jesus is present in and with his church.

Conclusion:

John’s situation and commission is to write down this vision (Revelation), which includes this powerful description of Christ himself in all his glory so that we will rightly be motivated to 1) Worship Jesus, and 2) Obey him.

“Jesus reveals himself to John the way he does to compel John’s audience to

1. Heed the 7 letters he is about to dictate to John about the present, and to

2. Convince them of the truth of...the end of history in Chs 4-22.” -Hamilton

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Trust God to Put Things Right

Pippa and I enjoy doing crosswords together. When we are stuck on one clue we don’t give up, we move on to the next clue. Every time we find an answer it helps us in resolving some of the other clues. In the end, we are sometimes able to solve most of the puzzle.

In a way, reading some of the difficult parts of the Bible is like trying to solve a crossword puzzle. Rather than getting bogged down in a tricky section, you can use the passages you do understand to help you resolve some of the more difficult ones.

Often I find it hard not only to understand some of the difficult passages in the Bible, but also to understand why certain things are happening in our world. There seems to be so much injustice. There are no easy answers.

I love the second great rhetorical question from yesterday’s passage, ‘Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ (Genesis 18:25). One thing that you can be sure about is that on the last day, when all is revealed, you will see God’s perfect judgment – and everyone will say, ‘That is absolutely right.’ Each of today’s passages tells us something about the fact that, in the end, God will put things right.

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: The Best is Yet to Come

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: As We Wait in Uncertain Times, Put Your Hope in Him for All Time (Psalm 146)

This week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word concerning who Jesus is and what he does will be blessed by the Lord.”

Bottom line: No matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. And his name is Jesus.

Opening story/illustration

The Matrix

In the sci-fi movie The Matrix, Neo is told that the truth of their world is that they are shielded from reality by an illusion created by machines that control everything. Then Neo is given a choice. He can take the blue pill and forget what he just heard and live on in ignorance asleep to the truth. Or, he can take the red pill and become empowered to live in that true world that true reality.

We have a choice too. Revelation and God’s word tell us that we’re asleep and unable to see the reality of our spiritual condition unless someone opens our eyes with truth. God opens our eyes to see the truth through his word. But we have a choice to believe or not believe. We can remain skeptical and ignore the truth putting our heads back into the sand or we can “swallow the pill” of truth and live in reality fully aware of the dangers that surround us.

Other illustrations:

Persecuted Pastors

Dr. Danny Akin (professor at SEBTS.edu) asked a pastor in a persecuted country what his favorite books of the Bible were. He said Daniel and Revelation. (See story at bottom)

9/11 vs 9/10

What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing? We would start telling people, of course.

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

Prologue with doxology to introduce this circular letter to the churches.

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.1.niv

• Revelation = unveiling, revealing

• Apocalypse = unveiling how it all ends

• From God—>to Jesus—>to the angel—>to John—>to the 7 churches—>to the rest of the churches in that day—>to the universal church—>to us and our churches—>His servants = us

• “Soon take place” means this could happen at any time.

  • We’re lulled to sleep because it hasn’t come in 2,000+ years so we think what’s one more day.

  • But whenever it does happen, we’ll feel that way. Is that the mindset you want? Really?

“who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.2.niv

• Word of God= truth; do you believe?

• Testifies to what he saw (and heard) in his visions on the island of Patmos around AD 90 (60 years after the resurrection)

• It’s all about Jesus Christ

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.3.niv

To obey this because you want to. Glad obedience from the inside.

Not like when you’re asked to take out the trash. You do it, but your heart isn’t into it. That’s not what “take it to heart” means.

What will Revelation call us to do?

• Act justly

• Love mercy

• Walk humbly with our God

• Glorify and worship God for his justice and his mercy

• Walk in hope believing that the best is yet to come no matter what we’re going through now

When?

The “time is near” reminds us of the urgency and posture in which we are to live. Like in the time of the Passover, we live with our shoes on, our bags packed, ready to roll. It’s living in this world holding everything loosely except his word.

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.4.niv

• Grace and peace - the order matters; Know Grace, know peace. No grace, no peace.

• Peace = complete wholeness and holiness

• Number 7 is used a lot by John; complete or all; comprehensive

• Describes Jesus here as timeless One and king/Lord

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.5.niv

Who is God...who is Jesus and what has he done/is he doing?

• Jesus called “the faithful witness”

• “The firstborn from the dead” - who is second, third...us!

• “Ruler of the kings of the earth” - sovereign

• Love - “loves us”

• “Freed us from our sins by his blood” - the lamb of God who was our substitutionary atonement on the cross

• Many reasons to worship/revere/fear him already

“and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.6.niv

Who are we and what do we get to do?

• He anoints us as kingdom priests. What do priests do?

  • Represent God before people

  • Represent people before God

• The makes him worthy of all praise forever!

““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.7.niv

• Greg Stier likes to say, “Keep your eyes on the clouds ️ and on the crowds.”

  • Clouds - watching and ready for Jesus’ imminent return

  • Crowds - to be a witness in the meantime; a sacrificial lamb among wolves

• Everyone will see him - even those who know and reject

• Everyone will mourn him

  • For their sin

  • For their loss

• “So shall it be! Amen.” It is certain.

““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.8.niv

• Beginning and the end (outside of time)

• Timeless One

• End of prologue

Conclusion

Think about some of our several sermon series titles from last year. And I am not this good:

• Joy No Matter (what)

• As We Wait (for his return)

• The Best is Yet to Come (His name is Jesus)

• Undeserved Grace

• Better Together

• Jesus Manifesto

As we wait for his return, we walk better together in joy and undeserved grace no matter what our circumstances because the best is yet to come and his name is Jesus.

Am I ready?

Do I believe this yet?

Am I prepared to take to heart what is written here today?

Will I worship God for his justice and mercy in our world?

Will I love God and love people by mercifully and gently giving people the reason for the hope that I have? (1 Peter 3:15)?

9/11 vs 9/10: What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing?

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Basic outline of the book

The Christ of...

1. Communication - he is the God who reveals his will to his people.

2. The Churches (vision)

3. The Cosmos (vision)

4. Conquest (vision)

5. Consummation (vision)

6. Challenge

Theme:

“The majesty and glory of the warrior lamb, King Jesus, who is coming again to rule and reign forever!”

Notes:

Intro/Prologue (1:1-3)

Doxology (1:4-6)

”The revelation” or unveiling of the mystery of who God is and what he’s up to. (Hint: Kingdom of God in our world)

We’re called “servants” which is someone who gladly serves his master no matter what the task or cost.

Seems like v. 1 is the purpose: (1-2)

• To reveal, unveil the word/testimony of God

• From God the Father

• To and through Jesus Christ

• Through an angel

• To John

• To the Churches in that day

• To us, the universal Church

• What must soon take place/happen in our world

• To servants of Jesus Christ i.e. the Church

v. 3 The beatitudes

• the person...

• who reads/listens to this prophecy aloud (to hear, believe and take to heart)

• w/ urgency (time is near)

”Unveiled/revealed will of God to bless

“revelation: God’s will is to bless his people”

Revelation: Encouraged by victory

“He is the God who communicates his will to his people.”

Title as truth: God reveals his will to his people.

vv. 4-6 Writing to (audience) the 7 churches (representing all the churches forever) of Asia Minor.

Grace + Peace

Who is God?

1. God, the Father, Timeless One

2. Jesus Christ, Messiah/King, Faithful son, firstborn from the dead, resurrected one

3. Holy Spirit, 7 spirits

Jesus also...

• freed us from our sins, by his blood

• loves us

• made us a kingdom of priests to serve

• worthy of all our praise

• eternal one

Who is coming again

from the heavens...in the clouds...every eye...

conviction and repentance

beginning and end

Almighty God

Who he is and what he does...who we are and what we get to do (make list)

Truth: God Revealed It. We Teach It. | Titus 2

Truth: God Revealed It. We Teach It. | Titus 2

Darien Gabriel

Title: Truth: God Revealed It. We Teach It.

Series: Underserved Grace

Scripture: Titus 2:1-8 [main]; Psalm 19:1-4, 7-11; John 1:1-5; 14; John 14:6; James 1:22; 2 Tim 2:2s; 1 John 1:9 ; Romans 1:16-32; 2 Tim 3:1-5

Time out

Greg McKeown says on his podcast that the COVID-19 pandemic is like God putting us in time out so that we will think about our unhealthy lifestyles and that we will discipline ourselves to live better more essential lives.

We live in a fallen world. A Romans 1-world. A 2 Timothy 3-world. (Romans 1:16-32; 2 Tim 3:1-5)

Kristie Anyabwile Spoke about being a Titus 2 woman in a Romans 1 world. 

The Main Thing

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Keith Eitel

Bottom line: 

•When we see God as he truly is, it reveals to us how we are to live. [Principle]

•When we see God as Truth, we teach it with character and competency so that God’s people live good, godly lives.

Most people are blind to the truth. That’s why they don’t teach it.

Disciple Triangle: Word, way, works (information, imitation, innovation)

“Root to Fruit” is another way of saying let’s start with God and end with us.

1.Who is God in this passage? What has he done?

1.God is truth. (John 14:6)

2.God has revealed himself to us through

1.General revelation (Psalm 19:1-4, 7-11

2.Special revelation:

1.Written word (Psalm 19:7-11; John 1:1-5)

2.Living word (John 1:14)

2.Who am I in light of this? What do I get to do as a result? As

1.A teacher (Leader). As a teacher of God’s word:

1.Teach what is appropriate for sound doctrine.

2.Teach to others so they’ll teach others. 

3.Teach as an example:

1.Always learning (disciple = learner) [slide]

2.Teach say/don’t say. TELL

3.Teach by what you do/don’t do. SHOW

4.Teach to do, not just know.

1.“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves—do what it says!” James 1:22 NIV

2.Parable of 2 houses. Matt 7:24-27

2.A student (Learner, Disciple). Someone learning with others how to follow Christ as he seeks and saves the lost.

3.A lost person (Ignorant person). I need God’s word revealed to me by someone else.

1.I am lost without the revealed word of God seeking and saving me as one who is lost.

2.The Church is God’s holy search and rescue team for the blind. The Church is on the front lines of the expanding kingdom of God.

3.What does this look like practically?

1.Leaders/teachers teaching/training other leaders and learners the word.

2.Older generations teaching/leading younger generations the word.

3.The Word = “What is appropriate for sound doctrine” or “healthy teaching” [at ease vs dis-ease]

4.What does this look like effectively?

1.Revival. Revival is when repentance and faith of the God’s people catches on so profoundly that it sweeps through a community of faith and overflows into the surrounding community of the lost.

So, we’re going to finish up this message differently than normal.

God is holy. That means his children are holy.

•Positionally, declared righteous.

•Practically, being sanctified towards holiness.

This process called sanctification is the process of us repenting and believing over every unholy thought, word and action that God brings to mind. We repent of the lies we’re believing and embracing once again the truth of God’s revealed word.

So what I will do is read through the description of what God’s people are supposed to look like character-wise 

So that we can repent where appropriate.

I will read this passage as a prayer of confession, repentance and faith. I ask you to pray along with me repenting as you need to. After this, you’ll be invited to come forward and continue to repent and believe up front, should you wish to mark this day more strongly. This will happen during the lord’s supper.

Today is a call to repentance.

Really, every Sunday is a call to repentance. Every time the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we should repent.

May God have mercy on us. 1 John 1:9