Bible Study - Foundation - Jesus is Coming Again - Revelation 22 and 7 and Matthew 24 - April 29,2012

Bible Study – Foundation – Jesus is Coming Again – April 29, 2012

This is our final lesson in our series entitled “Foundations of Our Faith.”

Our scripture is Revelation 22:12-14, 7:9; Matthew 24:39b-44, 24:9-14.

The second coming of JESUS is a much anticipated event. I know many young girls want HIM to wait until they get married and have a baby. Those getting up in age want HIM to come so they will not experience death. There are those who believe in pre-millennialism and others believe in post-millennialism. I like what a former pastor, Dr. Alistair Walker, had to say about millennialism. He thought the pan-theory is the best theory for people to consider, which was it would all pan-out in the end. The major point being most people will die before millennium and will meet CHRIST before HE comes back to earth the second time.

It would be nice to be raptured and not have to go through the death process. Every person upon the face of earth must consider that eternity is one heartbeat or breath away. Christians are admonished to stay ready to meet CHRIST at any moment. Being ready at any moment is the key because no person knows when he/she will be in HIS presence – accident, heart attack or other instant life terminating events.

But after saying that, it is interesting to speculate when JESUS will return. During each of the World Wars people believed that the end of the world was near. Christians look at the condition of the world today and we say, “It cannot be long”. We must keep in mind that even JESUS does not know the moment the Father will give HIM the command to return.

We must keep in mind that GOD’S desire is for all to come to salvation through CHRIST – 2 Peter 3:9:

 9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

We know based upon Ephesians 1:4:

4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.

This verse reveals that before GOD formed the world, HE knew us. HE knows the exact number of people that will be born. HIS desire is for all names written in the Book of Life to remain in the book and not be blotted out. I believe that every conceived human’s name is written in the Book of Life. Those who reject CHRIST as their Savior will see their names blotted out of the Book of Life. The names of those who accept CHRIST as their Savior will be made permanent. When life upon earth is over, I believe the Book of Life becomes the Lamb’s Book of Life because it will contain the names of all who have been redeemed by the shed blood of CHRIST. This includes those looking forward to the cross, the death of CHRIST and HIS resurrection, as well as those looking back at the cross.

Psalm 69:28:

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.  

Let’s read Revelation 22:12-14: (JESUS is speaking and this is after the Rapture, Great Tribulation, Armageddon, Millennium and Great White Throne Judgment. In essence, JESUS seems to be saying, “Fellow humans, I have given my life for all who will accept ME as their Savior. Those who accept the fact that I died for them will escape Hell that was prepared for the Devil and his angels. I left MY glory in heaven and willingly came to earth to live as a human and was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet without sin. I know what it is like to live as a human. I have revealed to the world that I came down from heaven and conquered both sin and death as confirmed by MY resurrection. I have ascended back into heaven to sit at the right hand of MY Father. HE has placed all matters into MY hands to judge and I will judge. I have made it clear to you what the world conditions will be like as the end gets closer. MY Father is very patient and does not want any human to miss eternity in HIS presence. There will be an end and that is a fact. So, please get your house in order by accepting ME as your Savior because you will stand before ME and GOD. Judgment Day will come and if you want to escape it, then accept ME as your Savior.”) John 5:24 - “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life cJn 6:53; 12:25; Ac 13:48; 1Jn 2:25 and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

12 “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done.13 I am the •Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

JESUS is speaking and HE used the word “look” to get John’s attention. In essence, HE was saying to pay special attention to what I am about to reveal to you. JESUS stated that HE was coming quickly and when HE does, the opportunity for earning rewards will be over. Since this is the end, HE will bring the rewards that Christians have received through obedience to HIM to reveal.

JESUS made it clear that HE is the Alpha and Omega or the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It like us saying we have everything covered from A to Z. Then HE stated that HE is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. That is, HE is preeminent in all things. There was no one before HIM and there will not be anyone after HIM. GOD placed HIM in charge of all things and HE will judge all things.

John 5:22-23:

22 The Father,zMt 11:27 in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son,
23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father.aJn 15:23 Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.b

JESUS’ statement in verse 14, could lead one to think that salvation can be earned. HE calls those who wash their robes blessed. The shed blood of JESUS is the only thing that can wash away sin. JESUS was addressing those who take HIS coming seriously and die daily to the desires of the flesh so they will be found doing the will of GOD at any second CHRIST may come. They take being a Christian seriously by confessing their sins, thus being continually cognizant of the cleansing blood of JESUS and seek to live in obedience to serve.

I recall that a navigator for an airline told of a time when he had used a red ink pen to write some information on some of his paperwork to be used on board the plane. When he got on the plane and it got dark he switched on the light in his area, which was red. When the red light shone onto the red ink, he could not read what he had written. The red light blotted out what he had written in red ink. He thought about our sins being written in red and the blood of JESUS being red and how it blots out our sin. The Bible tells us that even though our sins are red like crimson, they will be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18:

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. These are those who have come through the great tribulation.

Sin blocked mankind from access to the tree of life. Salvation, through the shed blood of JESUS, gives all who accept CHRIST as their Savior, access to the tree of life which is in heaven. Christians have full access to the tree of life, to heaven and they enter boldly through the gate. There is no other way to the tree of life except though the shed blood of JESUS.

Let’s read Matthew 24:39b-44: (Keep in mind that this is speaking of those who have come though the Great Tribulation.)

39b So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be: 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one left.42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.44 This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

JESUS was teaching HIS disciples about the end times. This is what will happen after the living church (true Christians) has been raptured. This is at the end of the Great Tribulation. Activity on earth will take place as usual. The Great Tribulation will be the period when there will 144,000 Jewish evangelist preaching salvation through CHRIST. Many who accept CHRIST as their Savior will be martyred but some will be spared. When this event happens it will be swift and a complete surprise. People will be doing ordinary things when in an instant some will be taken. The one taken will be the non-believer. This is not the rapture because when Christians are raptured, they will be “caught up.”The rapture has already taken place as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17:

15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:a Or a word of the Lordb2Pt 1:21; Rv 11:8 We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming c1Jn 2:28 will certainly have no advantage overd Or certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.e1Co 15:51
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,f Or commandgJn 5:25 with the archangel’s hJd 9 voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ iRm 16:7; 1Co 15:18; 1Pt 5:14; Rv 14:13; 20:5 will rise first.
17 Then j1Co 15:23,51-52 we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds kMt 26:64 to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage l Or comfort one another with these words.

Non- Believers are taken, thus, the use of the word “taken” in this scripture. The believer will be left behind. This was a message to non-believers to prepare to meet GOD.

Christians who have been “caught up” in the rapture will not go through the Great Tribulation Period. This is a very controversial issue. I have studied “eschatology” or the study of last things over the years but this is not something that is not clear in my mind and don’t worry about it. I agree with our former pastor, I believe it will all pan-out in the end. The key is to live each day in obedience to our LORD. Chances are much greater that we will die before the rapture and these last things will take place. The most important thing for us to keep in mind is any of us are just one heartbeat or breath away from JESUS or going into eternity. We must stay ready to meet HIM. JESUS made it clear in verses 43 and 44 no one knows; the key is to stay ready.

Much of the prophecy presented in this lesson comes from listening to and reading Dr. Bob Shelton. He has been teaching on prophesy on the Bob Jones University radio station, WMUU, 94.5 FM on Sunday mornings at 7:45 AM. He can be accessed via computer www.wmuu.com. He also has two (2) books on prophecy – Prophecy in Context published by BJU Press, ISBN 978-59166-851-0 and God’s Prophetic Blueprint published by BJU Press, 1-57924-397-5 both can be ordered www.bjupress.com. Dr. Shelton has given me much insight into prophesy.

Let’s read Matthew 24:9-14 and Revelation 7:9:

Persecutions Predicted (JESUS was teaching HIS disciples. This is after the rapture and during the Great Tribulation. During this period there will be 144,000 Jewish evangelists presenting CHRIST. People will become Christians during this period and will be left behind to populate earth during the millennium.)

 9 “Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.10 Then many will •take offense, betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

Many believers will be martyred during this great tribulation period because they are Christians. When they die they will go to heaven the same as those before the rapture of the living church. During this period there will be a worldwide hatred of Christians because they represent CHRIST. There will be a general betrayal of friends and neighbors, especially if they are Christians. There will be many false prophets who will deceive people. A heartless, lawlessness society will prevail. Those who endure will live to experience life in the millennium when CHRIST rules upon earth for 1,000 years. Those taken in the scripture Matthew 24:40-41 will be taken to the place for non-believers. The Good News will be spread to all people in the world and many will accept JESUS as their Savior. After the millennium then the Great White Throne Judgment and then the new heaven and new earth.

Let’s read Revelation 7:9:

9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands.

This scripture is a fitting finish to the scripture we just studied. The Apostle John saw a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the Lamb. These are Christians redeemed by the shed blood of JESUS. Their robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. They are standing before CHRIST not to be judged but to receive their rewards. This is when their works will be tested by fire. Their works of obedience will survive the test by fire.

First Corinthians 3:10-17:

10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it.
11 For no one can lay any other foundation lIsa 28:16; Rm 15:20; 2Co 10:16; 11:4; Gl 1:6-9 than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver,mJms 5:3 costly stones,nRv 17:4 wood, hay, or straw,
13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day o The day of Christ’s judgment of believers will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire;p2Th 1:8; 1Pt 1:7 the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.qPs 62:12; Pr 24:12; Mt 16:27; 2Co 5:10; 1Pt 1:17
14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved;rMt 9:22; Ac 16:30; Eph 2:8 yet it will be like an escape through fire.s Lit yet so as through firetJd 23
16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary uLk 1:21 and that the Spirit of God lives in you?vLv 26:11; Jms 4:5
17 If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him;wHeb 6:8 for God’s sanctuary is holy,xPs 20:6; 1Co 7:14 and that is what you are.

The question all of us need to ask ourselves is, “If I were to die today, am I ready to meet CHRIST?” The only way to GOD is through faith in CHRIST. JESUS said it best in John14:6:

6 Jesus told him, “I am kEx 3:14; Jn 8:24,58 the way,lHeb 10:20 the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

JESUS gave HIS life to pay the penalty for sin. If you accept the fact that HE gave HIS life in place of yours and ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and ask HIM to come into your life, HE will. Through the miracle of rebirth, you will be born into the family of GOD and become HIS Son or Daughter. You receive the gift of eternal life and the gift of GOD’S grace. You receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your life Who seals you until the moment you are delivered safely into the arms of CHRIST. The Holy Spirit is your guarantee that you are GOD’S child. Why not ask CHRIST into your heart right now. CHRIST is coming again or else you will meet HIM when you breath your last breathe. Don’t wait until the last moment. Blessings.