WEBVTT 00:00:09.769 --> 00:00:14.730 We concluded our series in Revelation chapter 00:00:14.730 --> 00:00:19.850 12. And the last message really focused on the 00:00:19.850 --> 00:00:25.089 church waiting between the Advents. The first 00:00:25.089 --> 00:00:29.929 Advent or coming of Christ and the second Advent 00:00:29.929 --> 00:00:34.149 or coming of Christ. But we also find ourselves 00:00:34.149 --> 00:00:38.740 at a particular juncture in time. with the entire 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:43.960 new year ahead of us. So I had a really hard 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:47.399 time moving on from this series without preaching 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:52.240 one more concluding sermon on the second coming 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:56.420 of the Lord Jesus. But I think it's also appropriate 00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:00.679 that we focus on that as we have a new year ahead 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:05.900 of us. There are many things which we don't know. 00:01:06.569 --> 00:01:08.890 about the future. Right, brothers and sisters? 00:01:09.689 --> 00:01:13.150 There are many uncertainties. And there are many 00:01:13.150 --> 00:01:15.930 things that we can be distracted in about what 00:01:15.930 --> 00:01:20.170 is coming or what is not coming. But we do know 00:01:20.170 --> 00:01:24.329 one thing for sure. And that is that the Lord 00:01:24.329 --> 00:01:29.409 Jesus Christ will return one day. So I think 00:01:29.409 --> 00:01:32.730 it's appropriate that we spend time in this text 00:01:32.730 --> 00:01:38.379 and we conclude. In the book of Revelation. That's 00:01:38.379 --> 00:01:41.299 what this chapter in chapter 22 is preeminently 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:46.640 about. The return of the Lord Jesus. The second 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:52.760 advent of Christ. The parousia of the Lord. The 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:56.099 return of the Lord. In the Old Testament it was 00:01:56.099 --> 00:02:00.519 referred to as the day of the Lord. The time 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:04.980 when Christ will come. Now, when we speak of 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:07.620 the second coming, it's important that we define 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:12.340 our terms. That we define what it is we're talking 00:02:12.340 --> 00:02:17.340 about exactly. So when we say the second coming, 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:21.139 or the return of the Lord Jesus, what exactly 00:02:21.139 --> 00:02:24.699 are we referring to? What is the book of Revelation? 00:02:24.979 --> 00:02:28.879 What is the Bible talking about it? Because it 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:33.669 is an essential doctrine. To be a Christian. 00:02:34.030 --> 00:02:37.430 This is actually one of the dividing points between 00:02:37.430 --> 00:02:43.449 heresy and orthodoxy. If a person denies the 00:02:43.449 --> 00:02:46.430 physical, bodily, personal return of Christ, 00:02:46.569 --> 00:02:51.509 they fall into heterodoxy and heresy. They cannot 00:02:51.509 --> 00:02:55.289 be called a Christian at that point in time. 00:02:55.370 --> 00:02:59.530 Why is this doctrine so vitally essential and 00:02:59.530 --> 00:03:04.210 what is it? so that we know what to look for 00:03:04.210 --> 00:03:08.289 and what not to look for. Well, when we talk 00:03:08.289 --> 00:03:10.750 about the second coming of Christ, we're talking 00:03:10.750 --> 00:03:15.889 about the personal, visible, bodily, glorious, 00:03:15.990 --> 00:03:23.150 sudden return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The 00:03:23.150 --> 00:03:27.129 one who was caught up to God, who exalted and 00:03:27.129 --> 00:03:29.330 ascended and was enthroned at the right hand, 00:03:29.349 --> 00:03:33.009 who was ruling and reigning, He will come personally 00:03:33.009 --> 00:03:37.610 himself. He will not send a representative. He 00:03:37.610 --> 00:03:40.169 will not send somebody instead. The Lord Jesus 00:03:40.169 --> 00:03:45.349 Christ himself will personally return into history, 00:03:45.449 --> 00:03:48.250 into the world. And he will come in a visible 00:03:48.250 --> 00:03:53.349 or physical nature or fashion. It will not be 00:03:53.349 --> 00:03:59.050 a phantom. It will not be a personal experience. 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:04.419 Christ will physically and visibly enter into 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:09.580 the world once again. And he will come bodily. 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:15.860 If we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ bodily 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:19.779 ascended in the book of Acts, that he bodily 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:22.199 ascended to the right hand of the Father, we 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.319 must also believe that he will bodily return 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:31.259 to this world with his glorified body. in glorified 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:36.259 form. And he will come, as we've mentioned so 00:04:36.259 --> 00:04:40.139 many times throughout this series, not as the 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:44.540 babe born in Bethlehem, but he will come in glory 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:49.579 and power. The book of 2 Thessalonians talks 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:54.160 about he will come with his angels of fire. The 00:04:54.160 --> 00:05:00.600 entire world will stop and know. That history 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:08.319 has ended. And that Christ has come. It will 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.319 be known by every single human being. It will 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:15.579 be universal in the world in that great day. 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:20.139 And it will be sudden. It will not be something 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:24.439 that's gradual. And we can look up at a telescope. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:28.509 No, it will take place suddenly. Only the Father 00:05:28.509 --> 00:05:32.930 knows the hour, the day, and the time. He will 00:05:32.930 --> 00:05:37.629 come like a thief in the night. This is what 00:05:37.629 --> 00:05:41.009 we're talking about when we speak of the second 00:05:41.009 --> 00:05:44.910 coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The personal, 00:05:45.110 --> 00:05:49.050 visible, bodily, glorious, and sudden return 00:05:49.050 --> 00:05:57.540 of the Lord Jesus into this world. Chapter 22 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:05.120 is expanding this doctrine. And it's talking 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:08.540 about and explaining this doctrine of the second 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:13.759 coming. Now, chapter 22 of Revelation does this 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:15.959 in several ways. And we're going to consider 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:20.139 it in the following four ways. We're going to 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:22.439 consider that this glorious reality, the second 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:27.180 coming, is announced. Or proclaimed, we could 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:30.199 say. We're going to consider that the second 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:36.300 coming is announced as a certain reality. Something 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:43.100 that is sure. It is fixed. It is certain to take 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:46.639 place. And this is how Revelation 22 describes 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:49.740 it and puts it forth. But we'll also consider 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:53.959 that the second coming is announced with warnings. 00:06:55.470 --> 00:06:58.610 And not just with warnings, we'll also see that 00:06:58.610 --> 00:07:03.470 it's announced with invitations for a response 00:07:03.470 --> 00:07:08.569 to this reality and to this truth. So first, 00:07:08.629 --> 00:07:11.730 let's consider the fact that this glorious reality 00:07:11.730 --> 00:07:18.089 is announced in Revelation chapter 22. Notice 00:07:18.089 --> 00:07:24.560 in verse 7, 12, and 20 in particular. we read 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:30.540 these words. And behold, I am coming quickly. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:36.939 Then we read again in verse 12. Behold, I am 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:42.360 coming quickly. And we read yet again in verse 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:51.019 20. Yes, I am coming quickly. In each of these, 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:57.050 we find, The announcement. The proclamation. 00:07:57.410 --> 00:08:06.149 The assertion. That Jesus Christ is coming back. 00:08:06.670 --> 00:08:12.970 That Jesus Christ will return. He will enter 00:08:12.970 --> 00:08:18.230 into human history. That will be the next great 00:08:18.230 --> 00:08:22.870 redemptive event and act which takes place. In 00:08:22.870 --> 00:08:28.750 the world. It's also significant. That it is 00:08:28.750 --> 00:08:32.529 the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Who is making 00:08:32.529 --> 00:08:37.210 this announcement. Notice in verse 7. I am coming 00:08:37.210 --> 00:08:40.070 quickly. Who is announcing this brothers and 00:08:40.070 --> 00:08:45.769 sisters? The risen Lord Jesus himself. The risen 00:08:45.769 --> 00:08:50.409 Lord Jesus is saying personally. I am coming 00:08:50.409 --> 00:08:56.419 quickly. And who is the Lord Jesus presented 00:08:56.419 --> 00:09:01.820 as in and throughout this text? What do we read 00:09:01.820 --> 00:09:05.879 throughout this? He says in verse 13, I am the 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:10.440 Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:13.399 the beginning and the end. We read in verse 16, 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:17.299 I am the root and the descendant of David, the 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:21.450 bright morning star. He is the divine Messiah 00:09:21.450 --> 00:09:27.210 who is both God and man. So what we have here 00:09:27.210 --> 00:09:30.889 is a divine testimony to the reality and the 00:09:30.889 --> 00:09:39.529 fact that he is coming back. Now, this announcement 00:09:39.529 --> 00:09:45.450 is also said to be something that is taking place. 00:09:46.090 --> 00:09:50.480 Notice that the Lord Jesus Christ, says, I am 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:56.419 coming quickly. He doesn't simply say, I will 00:09:56.419 --> 00:10:01.759 come. I'm going to come. No, it's in the present 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:07.580 progressive form. I am. It's something that's 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:12.379 taking place and progressively taking place and 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:16.220 will culminate. And it will take place in the 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:23.289 future as well. So we can understand this a little 00:10:23.289 --> 00:10:27.190 bit better when we also see that it is described, 00:10:27.350 --> 00:10:30.210 this announcement of his return, as imminent. 00:10:30.590 --> 00:10:36.049 He says, quickly. Or we could say that the time 00:10:36.049 --> 00:10:41.850 is at hand. It is near. It is close. Or immediate 00:10:41.850 --> 00:10:47.009 would be another way of saying it. Now, we think 00:10:47.009 --> 00:10:50.889 about that, and there may be some conflict in 00:10:50.889 --> 00:10:53.690 our hearts, in our minds, when we hear those 00:10:53.690 --> 00:10:56.769 words, because some of us are thinking, well, 00:10:56.850 --> 00:11:03.370 don't certain things have to take place before 00:11:03.370 --> 00:11:09.230 Christ returns? Don't certain things have to 00:11:09.230 --> 00:11:16.529 occur before He comes? Yes, they do. The fact 00:11:16.529 --> 00:11:19.970 that he says he is coming and he is going to 00:11:19.970 --> 00:11:23.850 come, don't contradict one another, brothers 00:11:23.850 --> 00:11:27.730 and sisters. When Christ says, I am coming, that 00:11:27.730 --> 00:11:30.889 does not preclude or do away with the fact that 00:11:30.889 --> 00:11:35.789 his coming is prepared and brought about by certain 00:11:35.789 --> 00:11:42.649 realities. It doesn't mean that nothing has to 00:11:42.649 --> 00:11:47.840 take place prior to... his return. So what are 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:51.039 some of the things that must take place to bring 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:56.500 about the coming of Christ? Or we could say the 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:01.100 preparatory events leading up to the return of 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:06.000 the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, first we know that 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:10.279 the gospel must be preached to all the nations, 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:15.950 to all the people groups. Throughout the world. 00:12:16.070 --> 00:12:21.629 We read in Matthew chapter 24 verse 14. This 00:12:21.629 --> 00:12:25.070 gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the 00:12:25.070 --> 00:12:29.110 whole world. As a testimony to all the nations. 00:12:29.149 --> 00:12:37.070 And then the end will come. Once the gospel has 00:12:37.070 --> 00:12:41.389 been proclaimed to all the nations. Then the 00:12:41.389 --> 00:12:45.340 end will come. We know from the book of Revelation 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:50.080 that the church must pass through the tribulation 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:55.419 or this age, this period, these thousand years, 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.559 these days of trial in this desert wilderness 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:05.259 as Revelation 12 presents it. And we know from 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:11.029 2 Thessalonians that the... Mystery of iniquity 00:13:11.029 --> 00:13:16.289 or the mystery of lawlessness must be completed. 00:13:16.289 --> 00:13:21.009 And the man of lawlessness must be exalted and 00:13:21.009 --> 00:13:26.570 manifested and revealed in time and in history. 00:13:26.909 --> 00:13:37.629 We read in 2 Thessalonians 2, starting in verse 00:13:37.629 --> 00:13:45.360 3, Let no one in any way deceive you. For it 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:50.759 will not come unless the apostasy comes first. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:55.779 And the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son 00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:59.820 of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:04.759 above every so -called god or object of worship. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:09.460 So that he takes his seat. And the temple of 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:14.799 God displaying himself as being God. Do not remember. 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:18.679 Do you not remember that while I was still with 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:21.919 you, I was telling you these things. And you 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:26.820 know what restrains him now. So that in his time, 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:31.000 he will be revealed. Meaning he will be made 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:34.200 known. So there's this idea of mystery, but then 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.379 this idea of revelation that he's talking about. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:41.620 something that's generally been hidden, something 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:44.639 that has generally not been known to the world, 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:48.159 that will be made manifest and revealed to everybody. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:53.000 It will no longer be a mystery. Then we read 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:59.159 in verse 7, For the mystery of lawlessness is 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:03.639 already at work. Only he who now restrains will 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:06.850 do so until he is taken out of the way. Then 00:15:06.850 --> 00:15:11.210 that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord 00:15:11.210 --> 00:15:14.870 will slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring 00:15:14.870 --> 00:15:19.509 to an end by the appearance of his coming. That 00:15:19.509 --> 00:15:22.669 is, the one whose coming is in accord with the 00:15:22.669 --> 00:15:25.610 activity of Satan, which all power and signs 00:15:25.610 --> 00:15:28.090 and false wonders, and with all the deception 00:15:28.090 --> 00:15:31.570 of wickedness for those who perish, because they 00:15:31.570 --> 00:15:35.919 did not receive the love of the truth. so as 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.620 to be saved. For this reason, God will send upon 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:43.460 them a deluding influence so that they will believe 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:46.879 what is false, in order that they may be judged 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:50.279 who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:55.960 in wickedness. The mystery of iniquity, the mystery 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.039 of lawlessness, must have its course in this 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.379 world, and the man of lawlessness must be manifested 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:06.899 and made known to the world. Prior to the return 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:10.539 of Jesus Christ. Now there's one more thing in 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:15.200 the midst of all of that. That must occur. That 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:18.700 must take place prior to the Lord Jesus. That 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:24.299 prepares for his coming. And that is that all 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:29.559 the elect must be gathered in. All the church 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:34.149 must be saved by Christ. the gospel, brothers 00:16:34.149 --> 00:16:40.269 and sisters. So Christ's imminent return does 00:16:40.269 --> 00:16:46.950 not go contrary to events which prepare and actually 00:16:46.950 --> 00:16:54.149 bring about his return. So we see that this glorious 00:16:54.149 --> 00:16:58.570 reality is announced by the Lord Jesus himself. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:01.759 But we also have to consider that the second 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:08.039 coming is announced as a certain reality. Now, 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:12.900 when we think about the credibility of a person 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:17.960 and the fact that they say something, we think 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:20.119 of individuals, oh, they're credible, I'd take 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:21.599 them at their word. They're credible, I'd take 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:25.039 them at their word. But who is the most credible 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:31.119 individual? Who is the most credible? man, the 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.940 Lord Jesus Christ. So when the Lord Jesus says, 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:44.519 I am coming quickly, he is being absolutely truthful. 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:53.460 If a person denies or rejects or argues about 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:57.059 the second coming of Christ, Do you know who 00:17:57.059 --> 00:18:02.599 they're wrangling about words with? Do you know 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:06.500 who they're arguing with? Do you know who they're 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:12.299 fighting against? The risen and reigning Lord 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:18.420 Jesus Christ Himself. Christ Himself bears witness 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:23.000 to the reality and fact that He will return to 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:29.140 this world. And even more than this, we see that 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:33.039 it is a certain reality, not just because the 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.599 living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, declares 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.259 it and bears witness to it, but it is a certain 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:41.319 reality because the Word of God bears witness 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:46.859 to this grand and glorious reality. Look at verse 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:53.740 6 of Revelation 22. Verse 6 says this, And he 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:58.240 said to me, these words are faithful and true. 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:03.440 What words, brothers and sisters? The words of 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.759 this prophecy. The book of Revelation, chapter 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:11.680 22. The entirety of the word of God. And all 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:15.119 of its truths and all of its doctrines that it 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:21.400 puts forth. So here we have, remarkably, the 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:26.059 Lord Jesus Christ. Bearing witness to the Word 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:33.440 of God. He is confirming, validating, authenticating 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:36.880 the veracity and the truthfulness and the accuracy 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:41.099 and the steadfastness and the fixedness, the 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:46.119 sure nature of the Word of God by bearing witness 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:50.839 to it as the risen Lord Jesus. So in a nutshell, 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:57.660 Why must we believe in the second coming of Christ? 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.279 Why must we embrace this doctrine? Why must all 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:06.559 men believe in this grand and glorious reality, 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:10.480 even though we may not understand all the ins 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:14.519 and outs of it? Even though we may not comprehend... 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.240 physically and naturally, how all these things 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:19.559 will occur, even though we may not understand 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:22.240 all the day, the time, the hour, the method it 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:26.480 comes about. Why must we accept it? Because it's 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:32.539 in the Word of God. Because the Word of God proclaims 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:36.000 it and puts it forward, brothers and sisters. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:40.920 The Lord Jesus Christ Himself recognizes this 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:49.500 in the text. We live in a day and age where many 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:55.740 modern believers are eager to do away with the 00:20:55.740 --> 00:21:02.079 written word. And just give us Jesus and his 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.599 resurrection. We've heard this from men such 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:10.579 as Andy Stanley and many other progressive and 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:14.779 liberal believers, professing believers. Just 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:18.460 give me Jesus and His work, but we don't need 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:20.940 the written Word. But what is the Lord Jesus 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:25.140 Christ doing right here? What is the risen Word 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:27.980 doing right here? He is bearing witness to His 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:32.180 written Word, brothers and sisters. But we also 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:37.319 must understand, brothers and sisters, we ought 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:47.019 never to pin our faith on methods or men, or 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:52.240 apologetics, or anything else vaguely similar. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:58.579 They're all insufficient. The Word of God must 00:21:58.579 --> 00:22:03.680 be believed. When Christ proclaims the second 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:08.400 coming, His return in the Word, He's not putting 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:13.509 it out there for discussion. He's not laying 00:22:13.509 --> 00:22:16.730 it out for the people to intellectually spar 00:22:16.730 --> 00:22:19.490 and argue about whether it's true or whether 00:22:19.490 --> 00:22:22.430 it's wrong. No, he's declaring it, brothers and 00:22:22.430 --> 00:22:27.829 sisters. He's proclaiming this reality. There's 00:22:27.829 --> 00:22:32.009 a great danger. And apologetics have a place, 00:22:32.130 --> 00:22:36.509 brothers and sisters. They do. Demonstrating 00:22:36.509 --> 00:22:38.970 the reasonableness and the commendableness of 00:22:38.970 --> 00:22:42.769 apologetics. to the unbeliever, it has a place. 00:22:42.869 --> 00:22:47.430 But we have to understand something. Man's problem 00:22:47.430 --> 00:22:50.130 is not that he does not have enough information. 00:22:51.849 --> 00:22:54.710 Man's problem is not that he does not understand 00:22:54.710 --> 00:22:58.410 all the intricacies and the consistencies and 00:22:58.410 --> 00:23:01.569 the logicalness of the Word of God. Man's problem, 00:23:01.670 --> 00:23:06.289 at the heart of it, is his nature. It's his sin. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:10.660 It's not as though a man can put all these puzzle 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:13.259 pieces together and all of a sudden now he can 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:15.819 believe because he knows the information and 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:18.640 the consistency of the Christian faith. No. At 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:23.500 some point in time, a person must say, this is 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:25.960 what the Word of God says. This is what the Gospel 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:30.640 says. You either believe it or you don't. Accept 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:35.259 it or reject it. What is their need? Their need 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:38.920 is for the power of God. to intervene in their 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:41.539 life and to give them a new nature, to cause 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:44.900 them to be born again, to divinely work to give 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:48.119 them faith and repentance, to work in their heart 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:50.539 and their mind, to change them from the inside 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:53.980 out. At some point in time, brothers and sisters, 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:58.380 there is the danger of throwing pearls before 00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:06.099 swine. Proclaim the Word and call for men to 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:10.220 believe it. To turn from their sin. And if you're 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:15.700 here today, and you think that you can come to 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:18.359 Christ through your own intellect, your own intellectual 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:22.180 powers, by reasoning your way to Christianity, 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:29.279 you are wrong. You are dead wrong. Because your 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.299 issue is your sin nature and your pride and your 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:35.220 arrogance and your love for your sin. You ultimately 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:41.349 don't want God. You want your sin. So you don't 00:24:41.349 --> 00:24:44.750 have to understand everything, brothers and sisters. 00:24:44.849 --> 00:24:50.089 You just have to submit to it. You just have 00:24:50.089 --> 00:24:53.829 to give yourself to that reality and ask the 00:24:53.829 --> 00:25:00.869 Lord for help in those things. This reality of 00:25:00.869 --> 00:25:05.630 the second coming is certain. And fixed because 00:25:05.630 --> 00:25:08.890 Christ bears witness to it. The word of God bears 00:25:08.890 --> 00:25:13.210 witness to it. But it's also certain in this 00:25:13.210 --> 00:25:21.670 way. In that it's final. We see in verses 11 00:25:21.670 --> 00:25:29.390 through 15 the finality of the second coming. 00:25:30.150 --> 00:25:34.190 Listen to what we read. Let the one who does 00:25:34.190 --> 00:25:38.630 wrong still do wrong. And the one who is filthy 00:25:38.630 --> 00:25:42.329 still be filthy. And let the one who is righteous 00:25:42.329 --> 00:25:45.650 still practice righteousness. And the one who 00:25:45.650 --> 00:25:51.150 is holy still keep himself holy. What do we find 00:25:51.150 --> 00:25:54.349 in verse 11, ultimately, brothers and sisters? 00:25:55.329 --> 00:25:58.710 We find the future fate and condition of those 00:25:58.710 --> 00:26:05.599 at the return. of the Lord Jesus. Men will remain 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:10.039 and continue in the condition and state at which 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:13.599 they are found at the return of Jesus Christ. 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:20.160 You will either be in Christ or you will be outside 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:24.559 of Christ. When he returns, that is not the day 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:28.839 that you will be able to repent. At that point 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:34.079 in time, it will be Too late. If you are outside 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:38.000 of Christ and living in sin, unrepentant, living 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.119 for self, rejecting the gospel, when the Lord 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:44.140 Jesus Christ returns, there's no going back, 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:47.640 brothers and sisters. There's no do -overs at 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:52.380 that point in time. Your fate is fixed from there 00:26:52.380 --> 00:27:01.400 on out. But we also see in this, That all humanity 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:06.900 will be separated and divided into two groups 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:15.960 of people. The Bible is very discriminatory in 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:22.259 a sense. It's very distinguishing. It's very 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:27.299 divisive in some ways, isn't it? And what will 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:31.759 the Lord Jesus Christ say? ultimately do and 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:37.140 bring about a division in all humanity. What 00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:43.059 do we read in verses 14 and 15? Blessed are those 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:47.039 who wash their robes, so that they may have the 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:50.200 right to the tree of life and may enter by the 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:56.859 gates into the city. Outside are the dogs. and 00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:59.920 the sorcerers, and the immoral persons, and the 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:02.900 murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:08.299 loves and practices lying. Those who know Christ, 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:11.000 who are in Christ, who have been born again, 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:14.240 who are growing in holiness and godliness, will 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:17.299 dwell with Christ, brothers and sisters, at His 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:20.960 return. They will enjoy the new heavens and the 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:23.799 new earth because they've been given the robes 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:28.319 of righteousness. That are Christ himself. But. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:32.460 There is another group. That will be separated. 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:37.099 From the saints of God. That will be separated. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:42.099 From Christ. Those who are outside of Christ. 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:44.660 And living and dwelling in their sin. Those who 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:48.059 have never turned from their sin. And trusted 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:50.519 in the Lord Jesus Christ. And those who have 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:55.500 never loved. and eagerly expected and waited 00:28:55.500 --> 00:29:02.200 and looked for his blessed appearing. One group 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:06.559 will be abundantly blessed. They will be with 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:13.420 God in Christ for eternity. One group will go 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:20.420 on to experience eternal judgment and curse for 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:27.890 all. All humanity will be divided. And every 00:29:27.890 --> 00:29:31.369 human being, every man, every woman, and every 00:29:31.369 --> 00:29:37.430 child will fall into one of two groups. Every 00:29:37.430 --> 00:29:39.869 person in this room will either be found with 00:29:39.869 --> 00:29:43.069 Christ or they will be outside with the dogs. 00:29:44.049 --> 00:29:47.319 They will be unclean and in their sin. They will 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:49.440 have no holiness and they will be given over 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:52.160 completely to the wicked desires of their own 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:54.880 heart for all eternity under the wrath of God. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:59.380 Because they've rejected Jesus Christ and the 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:02.500 gospel and because they have broken the law of 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:05.539 God and they have condemned themselves time and 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:13.599 time again. All men will fall into one of two 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:20.279 groups. And this is final. And certain. Christ 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:23.900 is not returning. For second chances. Brothers 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:29.160 and sisters. Christ is not coming back. For the 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:32.200 forgiveness of sins. What does he say in verse 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:37.799 12. Behold I am coming quickly. And my reward. 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:43.279 Is with me. To render to every man. According 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:48.720 to what he has done. He's not coming for the 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:52.259 forgiveness of sins this time. He's not coming 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:55.900 for the atonement of sin. Brothers and sisters, 00:30:56.000 --> 00:31:00.339 He's coming to reward men according to their 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:03.740 works, whether they're in Christ, whether they're 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:06.799 depending on their own righteousness before a 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:11.779 holy and a righteous God. That is the fate of 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:15.680 every single human being on the planet today. 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:20.559 throughout history and throughout the world to 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:23.500 come, throughout the history of the world to 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:31.220 come. Should this not create a little bit of 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:35.559 urgency in our hearts and our minds as believers? 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:40.500 Should this not create a little bit of urgency 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:44.920 in your lives now, even today, even this week? 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:49.140 To think about that which is to come? To think 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:52.440 about that which is truly meaningful in life? 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:58.500 There are so many uncertainties in this world. 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:03.359 There are so many things that are changing. There 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:05.779 are so many things that are fluctuating. There 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:08.839 are so many things that may not come about tomorrow. 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:11.059 And there are other things that will come about 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:14.200 tomorrow because they are uncertain, brothers 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:22.799 and sisters. Don't give up your soul for uncertainties. 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:29.519 Don't forsake eternal life because you've been 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:34.019 distracted by the things of this world. Because 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:37.480 you love fleeting pleasure in life. Because you 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:40.420 love pride and exalting yourself and being a 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:43.220 judge over God and determining whether He is 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:48.980 real or He is not. Brothers and sisters, be urgent 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:53.019 in your living as Christians and be urgent unbeliever 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:56.200 in pursuing and praying for grace and seeking 00:32:56.200 --> 00:33:01.660 Christ. Put yourself under the Word. Put yourself 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:06.480 in the earshot of godly believers. Pray and ask 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:09.160 God for grace. Turn from your sin. Determine 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:11.440 to give up your sin. Determine to pursue Christ. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:14.960 Live for Him even if you fail time and time again. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:20.380 Put yourself in a place where God saves you, 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:23.980 brothers and sisters. Expose yourself to the 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:29.240 means of grace as often as you can. And do everything 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:33.940 you can to seek out Christ, even as an unbelieving 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:40.599 man or woman, young or old. There ought to be 00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:45.480 urgency in our living. If we give our lives for 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:49.859 things that pass away, if we give our lives for 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:52.759 fleeting pleasures when we know that eternal 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:56.240 life is coming and the age to come will not end, 00:33:56.420 --> 00:34:00.160 brothers and sisters, should we not prepare our 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:05.940 souls for eternity? Should we not prepare our 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:10.039 very beings for that which will be eternal and 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:14.420 that which will last forever? Should we not read 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:17.559 the scriptures as if Christ were coming back 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:24.239 an hour from now? Should we not love our brethren 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:28.340 as if Christ would return tonight? Should we 00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:31.079 not give ourselves to the local church as if 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:36.380 Christ were coming at any single moment? Brothers 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:40.980 and sisters, live now as if Christ were coming 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:46.929 now. In this moment, live fully as a believer 00:34:46.929 --> 00:34:51.010 for the Lord Jesus Christ. And consider the state 00:34:51.010 --> 00:34:56.550 of your soul, unbeliever, now and today. Don't 00:34:56.550 --> 00:34:59.949 put it off. The second coming, because it is 00:34:59.949 --> 00:35:05.429 certain and fixed, ought to have an effect on 00:35:05.429 --> 00:35:10.789 your life now. Here, in this place, in this day. 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:18.440 at this time. Now, inevitably, a reality such 00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:24.960 as this, that is so life -changing, comes with 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:31.079 warnings. It brings about caution with it when 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:35.079 something like this is proclaimed. Now, the text 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:41.710 shows us and gives us several warnings. That 00:35:41.710 --> 00:35:45.769 come. As this glorious reality is announced. 00:35:46.829 --> 00:35:51.269 We see this in several ways. First we see in 00:35:51.269 --> 00:35:56.070 verse 10. That John is warned. And he said to 00:35:56.070 --> 00:35:59.610 me. Do not seal up. The words of the prophecy. 00:35:59.769 --> 00:36:05.150 Of this book. For the time is near. If you recall. 00:36:05.409 --> 00:36:10.719 In Daniel chapter 8. And Daniel chapter 12. Daniel 00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:15.500 is specifically told to seal up, to close the 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:19.780 book of prophecy because the time is not near. 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:27.000 While John here is instructed to do the opposite. 00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:33.420 Don't conceal it. Write it down. Publish it. 00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:37.670 Proclaim it. Propagate this truth. Why? Because 00:36:37.670 --> 00:36:44.550 we are in the last days. Christ's coming is at 00:36:44.550 --> 00:36:49.210 hand. We are nearer to it. We are in the era 00:36:49.210 --> 00:36:53.869 of his return, brothers and sisters. Daniel was 00:36:53.869 --> 00:36:59.889 not. We are on this side of the cross. He was 00:36:59.889 --> 00:37:04.949 on that side of the cross. So there's warning 00:37:04.949 --> 00:37:10.449 against... concealing the truth of Scripture, 00:37:10.789 --> 00:37:14.389 but also the book of Revelation in particular. 00:37:15.789 --> 00:37:18.590 Now that should give us a little bit of pause 00:37:18.590 --> 00:37:27.210 as believers who, at times, probably avoid the 00:37:27.210 --> 00:37:30.969 book of Revelation because of its difficulties 00:37:30.969 --> 00:37:35.960 and because it's so removed. From our culture 00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:41.380 and our world. This book is given to us, brothers 00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:45.159 and sisters, that we might understand it. That 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:49.519 we might know it and be blessed by it. We ought 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:52.679 not to conceal it or shut it off or seal it up 00:37:52.679 --> 00:37:56.739 or avoid it. We ought to publish the message 00:37:56.739 --> 00:38:00.960 of Revelation. To proclaim the reality that Jesus 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:07.880 Christ is coming. Now, it also warns us against 00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:17.099 perverting the word of God. We read this in verses 00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:22.019 18 through 19. I testify to everyone who hears 00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:26.500 the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:30.820 adds to them, God will add to him the plagues 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:34.960 which are written in this book. And if anyone 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:37.420 takes away from the words of the book of this 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:41.159 prophecy, God will take away his part from the 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:44.559 tree of life and from the holy city, which are 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:49.519 written in this book. Peter talks about this 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:53.860 in 2 Peter, about how ungodly and wicked men 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:59.260 distort and manipulate and twist Paul's words. 00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:06.099 Scripture. Why? To their own ends. For their 00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:11.219 own purposes. For their own gain. For their own 00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:18.900 feelings. For their own profit. The church receives 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:25.380 revelation. The Christian has received revelation. 00:39:26.219 --> 00:39:30.000 The deposit of revelation in the scriptures. 00:39:30.780 --> 00:39:36.409 We receive it. We obey it. We propagate it. We 00:39:36.409 --> 00:39:41.590 don't change it. This is the word of God we're 00:39:41.590 --> 00:39:46.010 dealing with. This is holy, infallible, inerrant 00:39:46.010 --> 00:39:51.630 scripture that has been given to us. It is ours 00:39:51.630 --> 00:39:56.389 to preach and teach and instruct and it is ours 00:39:56.389 --> 00:40:00.309 to protect and preserve to a degree. But it is 00:40:00.309 --> 00:40:06.380 never ours. To change. There is great warning. 00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:11.519 And it is very dangerous. For a person. To manipulate. 00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:18.199 The words of God. It is a scary thing. To manipulate. 00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:22.300 And twist the words of God. There is warning. 00:40:22.780 --> 00:40:26.679 And there is a final warning. With regards to 00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:31.400 disobedience. To the word of God. We see this 00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:40.139 in verses 7 through 8. And behold, I am coming 00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:44.860 quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of 00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:49.480 the prophecy of this book. I, John, am the one 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:54.360 who heard and saw these things. And when I heard 00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:57.699 and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of 00:40:57.699 --> 00:41:00.289 the angel. who showed me these things. And listen 00:41:00.289 --> 00:41:04.429 to what the angel tells John in verse 9. But 00:41:04.429 --> 00:41:08.150 he said to me, Do not do that. I am a fellow 00:41:08.150 --> 00:41:11.550 servant of yours, and of your brethren, the prophets, 00:41:11.750 --> 00:41:17.449 and of those who heed the words of this book. 00:41:18.329 --> 00:41:22.869 Now, Joel Beeky makes a great point with regards 00:41:22.869 --> 00:41:27.050 to these verses in particular. He says that the 00:41:27.050 --> 00:41:30.219 visions, That John is getting, they're so great 00:41:30.219 --> 00:41:35.099 and they're so glorious. And it seems as though 00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:38.579 they're impairing his ability to discern what 00:41:38.579 --> 00:41:42.820 is the vision and what is reality. And if you 00:41:42.820 --> 00:41:46.820 do read these verses closely, Beakey says you'll 00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:50.280 notice that there's two voices talking. There's 00:41:50.280 --> 00:41:52.400 two individuals talking. There's the angel and 00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:55.920 there's Christ at times. And then there's John. 00:41:56.360 --> 00:42:00.610 So there's... Multiple things taking place, but 00:42:00.610 --> 00:42:06.650 the message is clear. And that's the point, says 00:42:06.650 --> 00:42:12.030 Beeky. The message is clear. What is the purpose 00:42:12.030 --> 00:42:15.269 of the book of Revelation and all of Scripture? 00:42:15.510 --> 00:42:20.130 What is the purpose of Revelation 22? That the 00:42:20.130 --> 00:42:24.110 people of God would obey the words of God and 00:42:24.110 --> 00:42:28.679 they would be led to worship God. in greater 00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:36.139 measure. It is not for the purpose of intellectual 00:42:36.139 --> 00:42:42.219 speculation and stimulation. I have sat in many 00:42:42.219 --> 00:42:46.400 a table and in many a group of individuals who 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:54.519 love to talk about theology, eschatology, and 00:42:54.519 --> 00:42:59.329 doctrine. And there's great debates taking place. 00:43:00.710 --> 00:43:04.449 There are great arguments on this side and that 00:43:04.449 --> 00:43:07.429 side. And surely there's great intellectual stimulation 00:43:07.429 --> 00:43:10.489 and satisfaction that is occurring in certain 00:43:10.489 --> 00:43:13.150 individuals. And brothers and sisters, we don't 00:43:13.150 --> 00:43:16.650 read the book of Revelation to get lost in things 00:43:16.650 --> 00:43:19.630 we cannot fully understand. We read the Word 00:43:19.630 --> 00:43:22.030 of God. We read the book of Revelation. Why? 00:43:22.269 --> 00:43:25.380 So that we can obey Christ. and we can worship 00:43:25.380 --> 00:43:32.500 Him more. That's what we do with Scripture. We 00:43:32.500 --> 00:43:38.099 focus on that which is clear, and we obey it, 00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:44.260 and we worship God. If your understanding of 00:43:44.260 --> 00:43:52.239 the Bible does not produce obedience, and it 00:43:52.239 --> 00:43:56.579 does not bring about greater degrees of worship 00:43:56.579 --> 00:44:01.539 and prayer in your life, then I would question 00:44:01.539 --> 00:44:05.199 whether or not you really understand the Scripture. 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:13.239 In many ways, worship and prayer and obedience 00:44:13.239 --> 00:44:19.280 are the measure of a man's understanding of the 00:44:19.280 --> 00:44:22.579 Word. Do you know what I mean by that, brothers 00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:28.719 and sisters? I mean this. If you're reading the 00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:33.039 Word and you're filling your head and you're 00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:37.300 grasping information, but that scriptural knowledge 00:44:37.300 --> 00:44:40.519 and truth never makes its way to your heart and 00:44:40.519 --> 00:44:44.840 changes you and brings about greater desire to 00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:48.880 obey Christ and actual obedience to His commands 00:44:48.880 --> 00:44:52.079 and requirements and the law of God, if it doesn't 00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:56.090 sanctify you, and if it doesn't make you more 00:44:56.090 --> 00:45:00.789 worshipful in your heart, then you don't really 00:45:00.789 --> 00:45:04.949 grasp and comprehend the reality of the Word. 00:45:07.550 --> 00:45:15.010 Because when God speaks, people obey. When a 00:45:15.010 --> 00:45:17.949 holy and a righteous and a good and a faithful 00:45:17.949 --> 00:45:20.889 and a redeeming God speaks, brothers and sisters, 00:45:21.050 --> 00:45:24.480 and His people really, truly hear them, They 00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:27.239 obey and they are brought to a place where they 00:45:27.239 --> 00:45:30.460 worship Him and they long for greater communion 00:45:30.460 --> 00:45:37.599 with Him. Is the truth affecting change in your 00:45:37.599 --> 00:45:44.019 life? Are you praying more as a result of your 00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:49.840 study of the Scriptures? Are you worshiping more? 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:51.860 Are you longing more? Are you desiring more? 00:45:52.190 --> 00:45:54.510 Are you being transformed as a result of the 00:45:54.510 --> 00:45:59.809 Scriptures? It doesn't matter how many books 00:45:59.809 --> 00:46:04.750 you've read last year. It doesn't matter how 00:46:04.750 --> 00:46:07.889 many books you're going to read this year. If 00:46:07.889 --> 00:46:11.929 none of them change you because of the Scriptural 00:46:11.929 --> 00:46:17.829 truth, it all amounts to zilch. Brothers and 00:46:17.829 --> 00:46:21.110 sisters, if you want to make a New Year's resolution, 00:46:22.829 --> 00:46:26.110 If you want to walk into the new year in a godly 00:46:26.110 --> 00:46:30.829 fashion that honors Christ, determine this. You 00:46:30.829 --> 00:46:33.929 are going to study the scriptures and you are 00:46:33.929 --> 00:46:37.510 going to pursue spirit -wrought, grace -driven 00:46:37.510 --> 00:46:41.750 sanctification in your life more than ever before. 00:46:43.750 --> 00:46:46.309 That you are going to give yourself to obedience 00:46:46.309 --> 00:46:49.510 to the word of God regardless of what that means 00:46:49.510 --> 00:46:54.809 for your life. Give yourself to that this year, 00:46:54.909 --> 00:46:57.250 brothers and sisters. Give up everything else 00:46:57.250 --> 00:47:01.949 if you have to just for that. Go all in on that, 00:47:02.170 --> 00:47:04.289 brothers and sisters, and you will not be the 00:47:04.289 --> 00:47:09.510 same next year that you are now. There's a godly 00:47:09.510 --> 00:47:19.269 and holy New Year's resolution. So many things 00:47:19.269 --> 00:47:25.280 that we do. myself included, are based on worldly 00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:30.179 principles and practices and carnal strength. 00:47:31.460 --> 00:47:35.500 Brothers and sisters, we want to be made more 00:47:35.500 --> 00:47:40.579 like the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to grow in 00:47:40.579 --> 00:47:43.860 holiness and godliness. We want to honor Him 00:47:43.860 --> 00:47:47.019 more. That is what we want in our life. Isn't 00:47:47.019 --> 00:47:50.789 it, brothers and sisters? Give yourself to the 00:47:50.789 --> 00:47:56.550 truth and being changed and affected. Work at 00:47:56.550 --> 00:48:01.070 your sanctification. Rest in your justification. 00:48:02.849 --> 00:48:07.030 Give yourself to these realities in the coming 00:48:07.030 --> 00:48:10.289 year and you will do well in the Lord, brothers 00:48:10.289 --> 00:48:14.309 and sisters. Now, just as there are warnings 00:48:14.309 --> 00:48:17.829 that are announced with this, There's also invitations 00:48:17.829 --> 00:48:23.769 for response. In a way, we could say that John 00:48:23.769 --> 00:48:30.130 tells us the responses that he wants. And that 00:48:30.130 --> 00:48:33.690 the Lord Jesus Christ himself tells us the response 00:48:33.690 --> 00:48:37.489 that he wants from the people of God. We read 00:48:37.489 --> 00:48:43.329 this in verse 17. The spirit and the bride say, 00:48:43.570 --> 00:48:50.139 come. And let the one who hears say, come. And 00:48:50.139 --> 00:48:53.820 let the one who is thirsty, come. Let the one 00:48:53.820 --> 00:48:58.460 who wishes take the water of life without cost. 00:48:58.880 --> 00:49:05.219 Without cost. There is an invitation for the 00:49:05.219 --> 00:49:12.320 church to welcome the return of Christ. And there 00:49:12.320 --> 00:49:15.170 is an invitation for the unbeliever. while the 00:49:15.170 --> 00:49:19.789 Word is still proclaimed, to come to the Lord 00:49:19.789 --> 00:49:23.730 Jesus Christ. I just want to end with a few verses 00:49:23.730 --> 00:49:36.190 here. I want to read 2 Thessalonians 1. In a 00:49:36.190 --> 00:49:40.150 sense, for the church, this is a call, brothers 00:49:40.150 --> 00:49:44.860 and sisters, to cultivate. A heart that loves 00:49:44.860 --> 00:49:49.039 and longs and looks for the coming of the Lord 00:49:49.039 --> 00:49:55.920 Jesus Christ. We read this in 2 Thessalonians 00:49:55.920 --> 00:50:07.019 chapter 1. We start reading in verse 5. This 00:50:07.019 --> 00:50:09.780 is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment. 00:50:10.570 --> 00:50:12.590 so that you will be considered worthy of the 00:50:12.590 --> 00:50:15.710 kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 00:50:16.130 --> 00:50:21.550 For after all, it is only just for God to repay 00:50:21.550 --> 00:50:25.889 with affliction those who afflict you, and to 00:50:25.889 --> 00:50:30.030 give relief to you who are afflicted, and to 00:50:30.030 --> 00:50:33.710 us as well, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed 00:50:33.710 --> 00:50:37.250 from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming 00:50:37.250 --> 00:50:41.429 fire. dealing out retribution to those who do 00:50:41.429 --> 00:50:45.050 not know God and to those who do not obey the 00:50:45.050 --> 00:50:48.650 gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the 00:50:48.650 --> 00:50:52.789 penalty of eternal destruction away from the 00:50:52.789 --> 00:50:55.230 presence of the Lord and from the glory of His 00:50:55.230 --> 00:50:57.670 power. Now here's what I want us to see in this. 00:50:59.070 --> 00:51:03.449 When He comes to be glorified in His saints on 00:51:03.449 --> 00:51:09.829 that day and to be marveled at, Among all who 00:51:09.829 --> 00:51:14.070 have believed. When Christ returns. Brothers 00:51:14.070 --> 00:51:16.969 and sisters. The saints are going to marvel. 00:51:18.170 --> 00:51:23.349 At his glory. His greatness. And the reality 00:51:23.349 --> 00:51:26.670 of what he is accomplishing. In that moment. 00:51:26.909 --> 00:51:30.710 So this is a call to cultivate a heart. Now. 00:51:31.670 --> 00:51:35.949 That marvels. At the Lord Jesus Christ. Now. 00:51:38.500 --> 00:51:42.940 Cultivate in your heart now what you will be 00:51:42.940 --> 00:51:49.099 when Christ returns. We also read in Hebrews 00:51:49.099 --> 00:51:54.440 chapter 9, verse 28, So Christ also, having been 00:51:54.440 --> 00:51:57.659 offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear 00:51:57.659 --> 00:52:01.079 a second time for salvation without reference 00:52:01.079 --> 00:52:09.360 to sin to those who eagerly await Him. So, what 00:52:09.360 --> 00:52:13.840 is this a call to cultivate in this case? A heart 00:52:13.840 --> 00:52:19.900 that eagerly waits and longs for the return of 00:52:19.900 --> 00:52:25.340 the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in the first letter 00:52:25.340 --> 00:52:32.480 of John, chapter 3. Beloved, now we are children 00:52:32.480 --> 00:52:38.679 of God, and it has not appeared as yet, What 00:52:38.679 --> 00:52:43.679 we will be. We know that when he appears. We 00:52:43.679 --> 00:52:48.619 will be like him. Because we will see him just 00:52:48.619 --> 00:52:55.039 as he is. And everyone who has this hope. Fixed 00:52:55.039 --> 00:53:00.099 on him. Purifies himself. Just as he is pure. 00:53:01.619 --> 00:53:05.139 What is this text telling us? That if we love 00:53:05.139 --> 00:53:10.920 Christ now. We long for His coming. We will pursue 00:53:10.920 --> 00:53:15.800 holiness now in this life to honor Him and to 00:53:15.800 --> 00:53:20.360 be more like Him now here in this world as we 00:53:20.360 --> 00:53:26.260 look forward to His return. And lastly, and finally, 00:53:26.360 --> 00:53:32.980 I want to read 2 Peter 3. Here's what Peter says. 00:53:35.239 --> 00:53:37.860 Since all these things are to be destroyed in 00:53:37.860 --> 00:53:42.420 this way, what sort of people ought you to be 00:53:42.420 --> 00:53:48.119 in holy conduct and godliness? Looking for and 00:53:48.119 --> 00:53:52.980 hastening the coming of the day of God, because 00:53:52.980 --> 00:53:57.619 of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning 00:53:57.619 --> 00:54:00.019 and the elements will melt with intense heat. 00:54:00.719 --> 00:54:03.460 But according to his promise, we are looking 00:54:03.460 --> 00:54:08.610 for new heavens. and a new earth in which righteousness 00:54:08.610 --> 00:54:13.409 dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for 00:54:13.409 --> 00:54:17.170 these things, be diligent to be found blameless 00:54:17.170 --> 00:54:23.690 by Him in peace, spotless and blameless in regard 00:54:23.690 --> 00:54:28.949 the patience of our Lord as salvation. Brothers 00:54:28.949 --> 00:54:33.510 and sisters, let us live now because of the grace 00:54:33.510 --> 00:54:39.289 of God. and the grace of God at work in us. Let 00:54:39.289 --> 00:54:45.150 us live looking to the coming of Christ, seeking 00:54:45.150 --> 00:54:49.289 to bring Him honor and glory in this life by 00:54:49.289 --> 00:54:53.030 means of who we are by His grace.