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 c; ; ; 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,z 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.a Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.b
23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father.a 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 Lordb; We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming c will
certainly have no advantage overd Or certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.e
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,f Or commandg with the archangel’s h voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ i; ; ; ; will rise first.
17 Then j, we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds k 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.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,f Or commandg with the archangel’s h voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ i; ; ; ; will rise first.
17 Then j, we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds k 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 l; ; ; ; than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver,m costly stones,n 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;p; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.q; ; ; ;
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;r; ; yet it will be like an escape through fire.s Lit yet so as through firet
16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary u and that the Spirit of God lives in you?v;
17 If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him;w for God’s sanctuary is holy,x; and that is what you are.
11 For no one can lay any other foundation l; ; ; ; than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver,m costly stones,n 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;p; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.q; ; ; ;
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;r; ; yet it will be like an escape through fire.s Lit yet so as through firet
16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary u and that the Spirit of God lives in you?v;
17 If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him;w for God’s sanctuary is holy,x; 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 k; , the way,l 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.
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