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Happy New Year! Here are the next few installments in Terry’s “True Christianity” series. Enjoy!

True Christianity, pt. 4

• Intro:
  • There’s a lot going on in today’s Christianity that is not of the Lord.
  • Jesus tells us exactly what it means to be a Christian.
  • Mountains
    • In the Old Testament, God took Moses up on Mt. Sinai to give him the Covenant of the Law.
    • In the New Testament, Jesus goes up a mountain near the Sea of Galilee to give us the new Covenant of Grace.
  • True Christianity is letting go (of things apart from God) and taking hold (of the things of God).
• Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-14)
  • Jesus says, “You ARE the salt of the earth/a city on a hill.”
    • it’s not something you grow into
    • given at the moment of salvation
  • Ephesians 4
    • the Church is for equipping the saints
  • v. 13 – Salt
    • back in the day, salt was a treasure
      • “He’s worth his salt.”
    • flavors things
    • preserves food
      • delays decay
      • disinfects
      • this is the aspect of salt that God is referring to
    • the Church is His salt
      • to preserve, slow the decay of society
      • Colossians 1:16
        • everything was created BY and FOR God
    • destruction (in the Bible) often means “ruined for the intent and purpose for which it was created”
      • unrestrained evil will destroy everything
      • His salt is a restrainer
      • the Church is not being His salt as it should be
    • if the salt isn’t preserving, society begins to decay
      • the decaying intensifies and quickens with each passing day
    • When the Church corporately is not doing what God intended it to do, we need to be found faithful to the Lord individually.
      • Revelation 3 – Laodicean Church
        • looked great on the outside
        • lukewarm for the things of God
  • v. 14 – Light of the World
    • Come together to be encouraged to help you keep your wick trimmed and your oil filled, so your lamp won’t dim (Matthew 25).
    • we are in a constant battle
      • the enemy is trying to douse our light
      • put on the full armor of God to protect your light (Ephesians 6)
    • one of the first things God did in creation was to create light
      • separated light (things of God) from darkness (things of evil)
    • our light is to draw others unto God
      • up on a hill you can’t be hidden
    • John 1 – Light of the World
      • “I am the light” (John 8:12)
      • hope in the darkness
      • we don’t have light apart from God
        • God IN us is the light to shine on others
  • v. 15 – The Light
    • What do we do with light?
      • don’t hide it
      • set it out for all to see & be illuminated by
  • v. 16 – Individual Light
    • Let YOUR light shine before men
      • to glorify God (not ourselves)
    • Do what is important unto the Lord
      • allow Him to work through you
    • Light = Life
      • nothing grows in the darkness
      • darkness = death (spiritually)
  • Conclusion:
    • Salt causes people to be thirsty.
      • We are supposed to help people find a longing, a thirst for the things of God.
    • 2 Corinthians 12
      • the weaker I am, the more God can work through me
    • focus on eternal matters
      • so you won’t be ashamed when you come before the Lord
      • God is concerned that none should perish, but that all might come to repentance (2 Peter 3).
    • Don’t lose your flavor!
      • don’t be silent
      • don’t become spiritually dull (unyielded to the Spirit)

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True Christianity, pt. 5

• Intro: God works in our hearts to make us like Christ.
• The Life of a Believer (Matthew 5:16)
  • Bring glory to God
  • Accomplish His purposes
    • Be salt & light
    • Lift up Christ
    • He is glorified when we live for Him
    • Don’t shrink back in cowardice
    • Listen to God’s prompting & allow yourself to be used by Him
• The Bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament (Matthew 5:17)
  • The diverse group of people listening to the Sermon on the Mount are under the Law.
    • Even Jesus, as a Jew, was born under the Law (Galatians 4:4)
    • The Law is God’s standard
      • none of us can keep the Law perfectly
      • Acts 15 – the Jerusalem Council
    • Jesus didn’t come to take away the Law, but to completely fulfill it (Romans 10:4)
      • Ezekiel 18:20
      • Religious leaders did a terrible job of leading/teaching the people
        • less about God’s Law
        • more about their own ideas
        • the Law is perfect (Psalm 19:7)
        • the Law cannot save (Romans 3:20)
          • it is to show us our sin & our need for a Savior
        • we must be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), because we can’t keep the Law perfectly
        • Old Testament = external religion
          • Isaiah 29:13
        • New Testament = internal relationship
    • He also took the judicial punishment for our breaking of the Law on Himself – though He never broke the Law
      • God’s Law – He kept perfectly
      • Roman law – even Pilate said Jesus did no wrong (Mark 15:14)
• Absolute Truth (Matthew 5:18)
  • Jesus says, “Truly,” over 30 times in the Book of Matthew.
  • Even the tiniest details (the “jots and tittles”) of the words of the Law were perfectly fulfilled in Him
  • the Commandments of God vs. the traditions of men
• Teachers Called Out (Matthew 5:19)
  • if you break the Law & teach others to do the same, woe unto you
  • if you keep & teach the Law correctly, you are doing God’s will
• Your Righteousness (Matthew 5:20)
  • knocked the legs out from under the religious system
    • the people strove to be as “holy” as the religious leaders
    • Jesus said you have to be even better than the religious leaders
      • He has a different standard of righteousness
      • can only enter the kingdom of heaven by believing Jesus is your Savior by grace through faith
      • John 3:16

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True Christianity, pt. 6

• Intro: God gave Moses the Law in the Old Testament; Jesus gives us “the rest of the story” in the New Testament.
• Jesus Rocks the People (Matthew 5:20)
  • the religious leaders of the time were put up on pedestals
    • appeared to be super righteous and holy
    • Jesus sees their dark hearts
  • the only way to make it into the Kingdom of God is by God imparting His righteousness & holiness unto us at salvation
    • 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
    • can’t “work” your way into heaven
  • John 8:31-32
• Murder Explained (Matthew 5:21-22)
  • the 6th commandment (Deuteronomy 5:17; all 10 Commandments in Deuteronomy 5:1-22)
  • murder is born of anger
    • the intent is just as big a sin as the act
    • righteous anger vs. ungodly anger
    • Ephesians 4:26
  • living with anger disturbs your relationship with the Lord
  • we need to deal with these things in our hearts
    • by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we can release it
    • Hebrews 12:15
• How Do We Restore Relationship? (Matthew 5:23-24)
  • don’t bring that baggage to church
    • 1 Peter 3 – resolve things; don’t hold grudges
    • bad heart/attitude, bitterness, unconfessed sin will affect not only you, but also the whole body of Christ in fellowship
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17
    • need a new heart that is prepared when you enter the fellowship
    • Satan is always busy on Sunday mornings!
    • his goal is to shipwreck our communion with God & with each other
  • the Holy Spirit is forming Christ in us
    • Hebrews 12 – discipline is proof you are His child
    • when we dig in our heels, we grieve the Holy Spirit
      • He needs to finish the work in us that He began
      • We need to yield to Him, because we can’t do it on our own.
• Offenses (Matthew 5:25-26)
  • If I’m offended, I need to go to whoever offended me and work it out.
  • If I’ve offended someone, I need to go to that person and work it out.
  • humble yourself – put others first
    • it’s hard to admit you’re wrong, but that is the first step in reconciliation
  • it’s for our sake & for the sake of our relationship with God
  • holding onto the situation makes things worse
    • walk in the peace of God
  • invite God in to help us work out these situations

In his continuing series on the book of 2 Timothy, Alan led us through the first eight verses of the final chapter. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Enjoy!

2 Timothy 4:1-8

The Big Picture: God gives a charge to all of us. To not act on the charge, or call, could mean an opportunity missed, never to be regained. So, act upon whatever the charge is to you. Don’t wait for a convenient time because there seldom is one. Also, following God’s calling is never promised to be comfortable.

1. Paul’s Charge to Timothy (v. 2, 5)
   • Preach the Word
   • Be ready all the time, not just when it’s convenient
   • Correct those in error
   • Rebuke those who are sinning
   • Encourage those who are doing good
   • Be level headed
   • Expect and endure hardship
   • Give the good news
   • Do your duty
2. The Motivations for the Charge (v. 1, 3)
   • God is a watching presence
   • Christ will judge
   • Christ will come again
   • Christ is King
   • The times are getting worse where the truth will not be tolerated
3. The Cost of Carrying Out the Charge (v. 6-7)
   • For some it meant, and still means, martyrdom
     • but death is not final
   • It means a fight
     • the soldier
   • It means running the race to its finish
     • the athlete
   • It means patiently keeping the faith
     • the farmer
4. The Reward for Paying the Cost (v. 8)
   • A crown of righteousness

Conclusion: Ask God if there is something He is specifically charging you to do. If it is clear to you, then do it. Don’t put it off waiting for a more convenient time.

“I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and Heaven without Hell.” -William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army, 1829-1912)

In Alan’s series on 2 Timothy, Paul’s Final Words, he took us into the second chapter of the book. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.

2 Timothy 2:1-7

1. Stand Strong in Grace (v. 1)
   • Grace = that which is given is neither earned nor merited
     • works are NOT required to be saved or to stay saved
     • Ephesians 2:8-10
       • grace + faith = salvation
       • not of yourself: grace generates faith
     • works follow salvation
     • if we have to work for salvation, it negates all Christ did on the cross
       • Galatians 2:21
     • grace is God working in our lives to bring us closer to Him
   • How do you stand in the sphere of grace?
     1. You reject the idea that you are strong enough to stand on your own.
        • If you don’t stand in grace, you’ll fall in your works.
     2. You resist the temptation to boast about your seeming indispensability.
     3. You receive what God has given and appropriate it.
        • It’s all IN Christ Jesus who was full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
     4. You access grace by faith.
        • Romans 5:1-4
        • You are justified by faith, which gives you access to grace.
2. Teach & Equip (v. 2)
   • Teach what? The gospel.
   • Prerequisites: those who will be taught to share the gospel must be:
     • faithful
     • able to teach others
     • Hebrews 5:11-14
     • One should never coast on their giftedness:
       • gifted is not an excuse for lack of preparation & competence
       • must rely on God & give Him credit
     • Part of ministry is to entrust the gospel to faithful & competent people
3. The Cost of Carrying Out the Charge (v. 3-6)
   • Three Metaphors
     1. A Soldier
        • 1 Timothy 1:18-19 KJV – war a good warfare
          • engage the enemy
          • prayer is warfare
        • dedicated
          • not entangled by distractions
          • focused on the mission
          • carry out orders
            • we are subordinate to Christ who recruited us
        • 600 Legions of Roman soldiers (360,000 men)
          • most feared warriors of their time
          • carried a short sword with two sharp edges
            • for stabbing, not slashing
            • the Word is a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) able to pierce in spiritual warfare
     2. An Athlete
        • Olympics: had to sign up for 10 months of dedicated/disciplined training
          • no breaking protocol
          • no commitment to anything else – period (even family)
          • must follow the rules or become disqualified
            • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
          • Crown of Victory for the winner
     3. A Farmer
        • lonely, hard-working, patient
        • endure hardships season after season
        • leadership involves loneliness & disappointment, but perseverance allows for a share of the crop/harvest
4. The Point of Reflecting (v. 7)
   • Think on these things
   • Colossians 1:9-14

Alan continued his teaching through the book of 2 Timothy by taking us further into chapter one. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.

2 Timothy 1:3-8

1. Paul’s Thanksgiving – v. 3-5
   • Paul is thankful upon remembering. (v. 3)
   • Paul served with a clear conscience.
     • A major theme of Paul is not violating one’s conscience.
     • 1 Timothy 1:5, 1:19, 3:9
     • Romans 2:15, 9:1, 13:5
   • Paul’s reference to his ancestors who served God.
     • Acts 24:12-14
   • Paul’s deep connection with Timothy. (v. 4)
   • Paul’s second remembering. (v. 5)
     • He tells Timothy about his spiritual lineage.
     • The name Eunice means “good victory.”
     • The importance of teaching in the family.
2. Paul’s Gift to Timothy through God (v. 6)
   • Likely the gift was the office of pastor/teacher.
     • Ephesians 4:11
   • The charge is to keep the gift burning.
     • Gift is always associated with grace.
3. God’s Gift to All (v. 7)
   • The negative
     • a spirit of cowardice
   • The three-fold positive
     • power = dynamis
     • love = agape
     • self-control (sound or sober mind) = sophronismos
   • Titus 2
   • God has given us all we need in Christ.
     • We just need to appropriate it. (2 Peter 1:3)
     • Will we allow the Spirit to work in our spirit?
4. Paul’s Plea to Timothy (v. 8)
   • Two things not to be ashamed of:
     • testify to Christ
     • suffer for Christ
5. Closing
   • We have all been gifted by God in various ways.
   • We are to appropriate those gifts in power, love, and self-control.

Alan began a study of the book of 2 Timothy, the last letter Paul wrote before his death that we have in the Bible. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.

Main Ideas in 2 Timothy

• Paul’s final words: Second Timothy was written from prison while Paul was waiting to be executed. These are his final words to his beloved spiritual son, Timothy.
• The necessity to hold fast to one’s faith in the face of cultural persecution
  • 2 Timothy 2:11-13 may have been an early hymn
  • endure (Greek: hypomeno): to stay under a load
• The description of a disciplined Christian life
• The problem of false teachers and dealing with them
  • how not to cave in to culture
  • Paul had no problem calling people out by name if they preached a different gospel
• The vivid description of the last days
• The nature of Scripture as God-breathed
• The importance of bringing up children in the faith
  • Timothy’s mother and grandmother brought him up in the faith
• The surety of Christ’s presence if and when others fail you

Paul’s Greeting (2 Timothy 1:1-2)

1. Two Things Paul Makes Clear of Himself
   • He is an apostle of God by the will of God to do the will of God
   • He preaches and lives the Gospel of Life in Christ
2. Paul’s Relation to Timothy
   • The necessity of producing spiritual children
   • What are we doing to encourage faith in other believers?
3. Three Blessings to Bless Others With
   • grace vs dogmatism
   • mercy vs vengeance
   • peace vs division
   • What are we spreading?

Outline of 2 Timothy

1. Chapter 1
   • Paul’s greeting (v. 1-2)
   • Paul’s Thanksgiving (v. 3-5)
   • Paul’s Gift to Timothy (v. 6)
   • God’s Gift to All (v. 7-10)
   • Paul’s Self-Assessment (v. 11-12)
   • Paul’s Charge to Timothy (v. 13-14)
   • Paul’s Words About Others (v. 15-18)
2. Chapter 2
   • Paul’s Charge to Timothy (v. 1-7)
   • Paul’s Call to Remember (v. 8-9)
   • Paul’s Hymn of Endurance (v. 10-13)
   • Paul’s Words on Avoidance (v. 14-19)
   • Paul’s Words on Purity of Living (v. 20-26)
3. Chapter 3
   • Paul’s Description of the Last Days (v. 1-5)
   • Paul’s Suffering (v. 10-14)
   • Paul’s Words About the Nature of Scripture (v. 15-17)
4. Chapter 4
   • Paul’s Charge to Timothy (v. 1-5)
   • Paul’s Testimony and Surety (v. 6-8)
   • Paul’s Assessment of Others, Requests, and Final Outcome (v. 9-17)
   • Paul’s Final Farewell (v. 19-22)

Hello all! I know it’s been a while, and I apologize, but I will do my best to get caught up on posting messages over the next few days. This message is the last in Terry’s short series on the Millennial Reign of Christ (the second message did not get recorded…sorry!) To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.

Millennial Reign

New Heaven & New Earth will come after the Millennium. The Millennium is to fulfill covenant promises to Israel, including the building of Ezekiel’s temple.

Israel has not had a king since the exile – the throne of David has been empty, waiting for Jesus, where He will reign from during the Millennium.

1/3 of the Jews will survive the Tribulation & will enter the Millennial Kingdom.

The White Throne Judgment happens at the end of the Millennium, followed by the Eternal State in the New Heavens & the New Earth.

Amos 9:13-15 – the bounty of the harvest in the Millennium & the Eternal State.

There will be no evil, no rebellion going into the Millennium. He will order everything according to His righteousness. The saints will help administer His kingdom of everlasting righteousness on earth.

Longevity of life will return (Isaiah 65). The earth will be repopulated. Most important change: God will reign with man, just the way He originally intended it. No faith will be required, because Jesus will be on earth, in charge of everything.

The knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth like the water fill the oceans (Isaiah 11:9).

The presence of God will make fear unnecessary. There will be total peace & joy.

Isaiah 60:1-22 fully describes the relationship between Israel & the nations during the Millennium.

Isaiah 2:1-4

• v. 1: Written to Judah & Jerusalem
• v. 2: Millennial Kingdom
  • last days
  • house of the Lord will be elevated on the highest mountain around
  • all nations will go out to the house of the Lord
• v. 3: God Will Judge
  • those born during the Millennium will want to rebel & God will have to judge them
  • Peace among the nations
    • no more war
    • weapons will be useless for war
  • the threat of war is eliminated
    • all conflicts will be handled by Jesus & His administrators

Isaiah 9:6-7

• v. 6a: Christ’s First Coming
• v. 6b-7: Christ’s Second Coming
  • government on His shoulders alone
    • no corrupt politicians, etc.
  • Wonderful
  • Counselor
  • Mighty God
  • Prince of Peace
  • no end to His rule & His peace
  • rule from David’s throne
  • perfect justice & righteousness
  • FOREVER
  • God will do this

Isaiah 11:1-9

• v. 1: From the Line of David
• v. 2-3: Attributes of Christ
  • Spirit of the Lord is on Him
    • wisdom
    • understanding
    • counsel
    • might
    • knowledge of the Lord
    • fear of the Lord
    • will delight in the fear of the Lord
  • will not judge unjustly
• v. 4: Will Judge with Righteousness
  • protect the weak & poor
  • zero tolerance for any rebellion
    • Psalm 2
• v. 5: Righteousness
  • will surround Him
• v. 6-8: Changes to the Animal Kingdom
  • may be what it was like in the Garden of Eden
  • no more violence even amongst the animals
  • even humans will be at peace with all the other animals
  • this is how God intended things to be
    • this is right relationship with God
• v. 9: The Hope of the Believer – The Heart of God
  • it will be even better in the eternal state than the Millennial Kingdom
  • God has so much in store for His people

Our blessed hope is the coming of the Lord!

Hello again! Last Sunday, Terry started a new series of lessons on the Thousand-Year Reign of Christ, which was spoken of in Revelation 20. He began by taking us through Zechariah 14. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes with links to Bible Gateway for the verses referenced.

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Intro: Revelation 20 began with Satan being bound for 1000 years; the martyrs reigning with Christ for 1000 years; the “1000 years” is referenced six times in the first few verses of the chapter. If something is repeated, it is important!

The Millennial Reign of Christ (the 1000 years) is set to be between the Tribulation and the eternal state. The Israelites believed this reign would be the 1st coming of the Messiah (to put down the enemies of Israel/God), but mankind had a bigger problem that Christ dealt with at His 1st coming (we needed to be saved from our sin/death).

Zechariah 14 – The Millennial Reign of Christ

• v. 1-2: Battle of Armageddon
  • “Day of the LORD” is not just one “day” – is a time when God directly intervenes in the course of life on earth
  • “I will gather” = direct intervention
• v. 3: The LORD will fight for Israel
• v. 4-5a: The Second Coming of Christ
  • He lands on the Mount of Olives
    • Acts 1 – He will return as He went
  • Mount of Olives will be broken in half
    • split from east to west
    • 1/2 will move to the north; 1/2 will move to the south
    • the valley created by the split will allow people to flee to safety
• v. 5b: The LORD & His Saints
  • we (all believers who’ve died) will return with Him in our resurrected, heavenly bodies
• v. 6-7: No Light as We Know It
  • the sun, moon, and stars are no longer giving light
  • the light will come from God alone
• v. 8: Living Water
  • water will flow out from Jerusalem, from the temple (Ezekiel 47), from the throne of God
  • will flow to the Dead Sea (east) & to the Mediterranean Sea (west)
  • Living Water = the Holy Spirit
    • rivers of living water will flow from those who believe (John 7)
• v. 9: God Over All
  • Praise God! Finally!
  • God will reign & be the only God, the only King over all the earth
  • Luke 1 – He will sit upon the Throne of David
• v. 10: Topographical Changes to Israel
  • Jerusalem will be raised up
• v. 11: Safety at Last
  • We are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122)
  • They will finally dwell in peace & safety forever
• v. 12-13: Strike Against the Enemies of God
  • plague of decay & rot
  • will fight against each other
• v. 14: Judah Will Fight
  • will collect all the wealth of the nations (reverse of what has happened in the past)
• v. 15: Plague on the Livestock
• v. 16: During the Millennial Reign
  • Ezekiel’s temple will fill every year as the people come for the Feast of Tabernacles (this is a mandate)
• v. 17-19: Punishment for Failure to Go to Jerusalem
  • if you don’t go for the festival
    • no rain on you
    • plague
  • God has been waiting for pure worship & He will not let anyone get away without worshipping
  • Worship is due to Him alone
• v. 20-21: The Holiness that Will Inhabit the Kingdom of God
  • even the animals (even their tack) will holy/sacred
  • even the cooking pots (common things) will be holy/dedicated to the service of the LORD
  • no more people who worship other gods
  • Now, we should strive to walk in purity of:
    • mind
    • tongue
    • everything we do/think/say dedicated to God
    • boldness of testimony
  • Then, we will be pure

Rest is found in the LORD alone (Hebrews 3-4).

The Battle Belongs to the LORD!

On Palm Sunday, Terry took us back into the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I have included some notes and links to referenced Scriptures.

God Is Coming, pt. 23

Intro: Jesus humbly rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, but He will return in glory on a white horse. During the Passover week, Jesus told His disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for us, so that we can be with Him. That place is revealed in Revelation 21 as the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:5 says He is making all things new; this begins with the hearts of those who choose to believe in Him.

Revelation 21

• v. 1: The new heaven & new earth replace the old, defiled heaven & earth
  • God is in complete control
• v. 2: John is shown the New Jerusalem
• v. 3: God’s dwelling place is now with us.
• v. 4: The consequences of sin have been removed.
• v. 5: He will make ALL things new.
• v. 6: It is finished!
  • God’s redemptive plan (begun in Genesis 3) has culminated.
  • Freely partake of the water of life.
• v. 7: He who overcomes obstacles that keep us from God
  • will inherit all things in the new creation – joint heirs with Jesus Christ
  • we have to remain heavenly minded
• v. 8: Those who won’t be in the Kingdom of God
  • they will all be sent to the Lake of Fire
  • for rejecting Jesus Christ
• v. 9: The Bride and the Holy Jerusalem
• v. 10-21: The Holy City Described
  • brilliantly shining
  • around 1500 miles cubed (think a Rubik’s Cube)
  • walls (of precious stone) 144 cubits thick
  • The number 12 is prevalent in the dimensions
  • 12 foundations with a different precious stone in each foundation
  • Streets & the entire city are made of gold so pure it’s almost clear
  • Gates of pearl
    • things that are so costly on this earth will be used as building materials in God’s new creation
    • the vastness and the beauty and the splendor are nearly unimaginable
• v. 22: There is no temple in the New Jerusalem
  • God Almighty and the Lamb of God are the temple in eternity
• v. 23: No need for sun
  • The glory of Almighty God and the Lamb illuminate everything
• v. 24: Even outside of the New Jerusalem
  • all those who are not in the Holy City
    • people
    • kings
  • will walk in the glory of the city
  • bring glory and honor
• v. 25: No need for fear
  • the gates need never be closed
  • no more crime
  • no night/darkness
• v. 26-27: Nothing impure
  • only those who worship the Lord will be there

Revelation 22

• v. 1-2: Living Water from the Throne of God
  • In the Holy City
  • Down the middle of the street
  • The tree of life on either side of the river
    • yields new fruit every month
    • for the healing of the nations
• v. 3: No more curse
  • reversal of the curse of Genesis 3
  • the end game for the believer is to be in the presence of God in the new creation

Hello again! Terry finished up his flyover of chapter 14 and took us quickly through chapter 15 of the Book of Revelation last Sunday. To listen to this message, click play on the audio player below. There are also some notes and, as always, links to read the Scriptures he references at Bible Gateway.

God Is Coming, pt 16

Intro: This is what is next on God’s timeline – putting down God’s enemies once & for all and ushering in His kingdom. So much of Scripture is about Israel. They haven’t done anything to be worthy, but He chose them & His covenant with them is unconditional.

Revelation 14

Review: The 144,000 were the firstfruits of Israel redeemed back to God, as part of God’s covenantal plan. Three different angels (ministers of the Lord) bring forth the Gospel, announce Babylon’s fall, and tell of the judgment of those who follow the beast. God is a god of love, grace, mercy, compassion, and justice – He will punish sin.

• v. 14: John Beheld
  • white cloud
    • sitting on the cloud is the Son of Man
      • Jesus Christ
      • golden crown on His head (the victor’s crown)
      • sharp sickle in His hand – used to harvest grain
  • is a picture of Christ harvesting the earth
• v. 15: Another Angel
  • came out of the temple (in heaven)
  • spoke to Jesus
    • told Him the time had come to harvest the fruit of the earth
    • the harvest is described as ripe, but the Greek word xeraino actually means to be dried up, withered, more like overripe
• v. 16: Jesus Harvests
  • swings His sickle over the earth
  • the earth is reaped
• v. 17: Another Angel
  • also comes from the heavenly temple
  • also has a sharp sickle
• v. 18: Yet Another Angel
  • comes from the altar
    • Revelation 6
  • has power over fire
  • speaks to the angel with the sickle
    • gather the ripe (not overripe – Greek word here is akmazo which means to be fully ripe, mature) grapes of the earth
• v. 19: Grapes of Wrath
  • angel with the sickle gathers the grapes
  • throws the grapes into the wine press of the wrath of God
  • this is judgment on the ungodly
• v. 20: The Wine Press
  • as you squish/stomp grapes in a wine press, the juice comes out
  • blood, however, comes out of this wine press
    • the Battles of Jezreel, Megiddo, Jehoshaphat, Armageddon all have taken or will take place in the same area “outside the city”
    • the blood is up to the horses’ bridles (about 4 feet deep)
    • covers about 200 miles
  • God did not create hell for man (Matthew 25:41), but if we reject Him, He has no choice.

Revelation 15

• v. 1: Another Sign
  • seven angels
  • hold seven plagues
    • some translations say they hold “vials,” some say “bowls”
    • the Greek word actually means something like a “shallow bowl”
  • will be the completion of God’s wrath
• v. 2: Sea of Glass
  • John sees a sea of glass
    • mixed with fire
    • those who were martyred for not worshiping the beast gained the victory over:
      • the beast
      • the image of the beast
      • the number of the beast’s name
    • hold harps of gold
• v. 3-4: The Martyrs Sing
  • they sing the Song of Moses & the Song of the Lamb
    • is one of the 14 doxologies in Revelation
    • takes us back to Exodus 15
    • v. 4 will be fulfilled after Christ returns
    • also takes us back to Revelation 5
• v. 5-6: John Sees…
  • the heavenly temple opened
  • 7 angels come out
    • clothed in linen, sashed in gold
  • one of the 4 Living Creatures
    • fills the bowls with the wrath of God
  • the temple fills with the smoke of the glory of God
    • no one is able to enter God’s throne room until the last 7 plagues are finished
• Now is the time to turn to Him – judgment is coming!