The Revelation of Christ – Part 50: John and the Angel

 

The Revelation of Christ –

Part 50: John and the Angel

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

Online Audio Files | HOF Church Facebook | Truth Digest Facebook

 

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church

 

SERMON INTRODUCTION

As we come to the conclusion

 

SERMON SERIES – The Revelation of Christ

 

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

 

TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

Part 50 – John and the Angel

 

SCRIPTURE READING

 

Revelation 22:6-11

 

6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

 

7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

 

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

 

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

 

             I.        THE ANGEL SPOKE TO JOHN

a.    These words are trustworthy and true

                                                 i.    This statement by John exclaims he understands how incredible they sound, yet, they are true

 

                                               ii.    These things he has heard and seen can seem overwhelming and impossible, yet, they are coming, and will be, just as John has written

 

 

b.   The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things that must soon take place

                                                 i.    Here, “Angel” (Greek Aggelos) is meant as “messenger”, not heavenly being

 

                                               ii.    This speaks not of a heavenly being, or Christ, but John, as the messenger sent by God to share this prophecy of what must soon take place

 

 

                                              iii.    Soon?

1.    2 Peter 3:3-13 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking, and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

 

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

 

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

 

2.    We see here some things mentioned that we also read in Revelation

a.    Judgment Day coming to destroy the ungodly

b.   Destruction of heaven and earth

c.    The coming of a new heaven and earth

d.   A reminder of creation, judgment by flood, so believe judgment day is coming and will happen

e.    And the reason for man’s perception of God’s “slowness”

 

3.    Finite man thinks God is restricted by time as we are.

a.    God created time

b.   God’s abode it outside of that creation

c.    Time does not affect God (i.e. “a day is like a thousand years, a thousand years like a day”)

                                                                                                 i.    Meaning, God can jump here and there, back and forth through “time”

                                                                                               ii.    Which is how he “shows” prophets the reality of future events for them to “prophecy” about

                                                                                              iii.    They report the actualities show them

 

4.    So why does man scoff and think God isn’t “coming coon” or at all, if they are mockers of God?

a.    Because they do not understand why God is “patient”

                                                                                                 i.    Vs 9b “he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

 

                                              iv.    THIS is the FIRST WILL of God

1.    1 Timothy 2:4 “God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Meaning YOU!

 

2.    The second will of God is specific to you. Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

3.    And the third will of God is that you use His second will to fulfill His first!

 

c.    Look, I am coming soon!

                                                 i.    Another statement to exclaim it is happening soon!

 

                                               ii.    Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll

1.    You will be blessed for reading, hearing, studying and sharing the Book 0of Revelation!

2.    Why is this book a “blessing”?

3.    Because it is what is coming next in God’s timeline of events!

 

 

           II.        I, JOHN, AM THE ONE WHO HEARD AND SAW THESE THINGS

a.    When I heard and saw these things I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me

 

b.   But he said, do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you

 

c.    And with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!

 

 

          III.        DO NOT SEAL UP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS SCROLL

a.    Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong

 

b.   Let the vile person continue to be vile

 

c.    Let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy

 

 

CONCLUSION –

 

Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”

 

Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”

 

 

 

NEXT WEEK: The Invitation and Warning

 

 

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?   

CLICK HERE!

 

Want to hear the audio to this sermon?   

CLICK HERE!

 

 

The Revelation of Christ – Part 49: Eden Restored

The Revelation of Christ –

Part 49: Eden Restored

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

Online Audio Files | HOF Church Facebook | Truth Digest Facebook

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION

At this point is the great White Throne Judgment.

All are called before the throne, heaven and earth “pass away” Matthew 24:35

All whose name is not in the Lambs Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Burning Sulfur with the Antichrist, false prophet, Satan, Death (dying/time) and Sheol (place of departed spirits is no longer needed because from this point there is no “time”, no one ages, or dies, so there is no reason for a place for spirits that leave the body.

After this we see we have received New Bodies (sinless), and there was created a New Earth and a New Heaven.

And now, a New Jerusalem coming down from God to be on the New Earth

New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb.

Now that judgment has taken place, and all evil, sin, Sheol and Death (time) have been cast into the eternal burning lake of sulfur, where they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever, we have witnessed our New bodies, new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem.

With the conclusion of the existence of time, and the completeness of the Word of God being fulfilled, Eden has now been restored.

SERMON SERIES – The Revelation of Christ

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

Part 49 – Eden Restored

SCRIPTURE READING

Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

             I.        THE RIVER OF LIFE

a.    The angel showed John the River of the Water of Life

                                                 i.    It was as clear as crystal

                                               ii.    Revelation 21:6 “To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”

                                              iii.    This River of the Water of Life is the Holy Spirit!

                                              iv.    John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

                                               v.    We receive a portion of this when we belong to Christ.

                                              vi.    John 4:10 “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God (Holy Spirit), and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

b.   It flowed from the Throne of God and of the Lamb

                                                 i.    Because it IS them

                                               ii.    Notice the “throne” is always referred to as “the Throne of God and of the Lamb”, they are one, along with the Holy Spirit which flows from them

                                              iii.    LAMB being used here to emphasize the Cross and what Christ accomplished

                                              iv.    This River of the Water of Life is called so because it is the Spirit of God which will sustain us for eternity.

                                               v.    The Promise (Holy Spirit), the Gift of God (Holy Spirit) the breath that gave us life in the beginning, the water that quenches our thirst for union with God, is now ours “without cost” because all debt has been paid!

c.    It flowed own the middle of the street of the city

                                                 i.    Literally flowing, but symbolic of the fact that whether you are on one side or the other, you have access!

                                               ii.    No one is restricted and the full measure can now be poured out to us!

                                              iii.    This can ONLY happen because we are, at this point, redeemed souls in redeemed flesh, perfect and in communion with God in a sinless existence for the first time in our lives.

                                              iv.    This was spoke of in Ezekiel 47:1 “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.”

           II.        THE TREE OF LIFE

a.    On each side of the river stood the Tree of Life

                                                 i.    From the description here it appears the Tree of Life has roots on both sides of the river, once again giving the illustration that no matter where you are you have access.

                                               ii.    What IS the Tree of Life?

1.    Genesis 2:8-9 “The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

2.    Two trees in the Garden. One for the tree of knowledge of good and evil we were to never touch, thus making us obedient to the Lord and righteous.

3.    The Tree of Life is fed by the Holy Spirit (grows on both sides of the River of the Water of Life), and it’s fruit sustains us and feeds our everlasting flesh just as the River of Water of Life sustains our everlasting Soul.

4.    Genesis 3:24 “So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”

b.   Bearing 12 crops of fruit yielding every month

                                                 i.    12 crops

1.    Remember last week’s sermon?

2.    12 is the number of God’s perfect government

3.    This literal tree bears 12 crops meaning it symbolizes the New Kingdom!

4.    Which operates as God’s perfect governmental system.

5.    In the Literal translation, it sounds as if there are 12 different types of fruit from this one tree.

                                               ii.    Yielding every month?

                                              iii.    We saw “death” and “Sheol” cast into the burning lake after judgment, because there is no longer a need or use for “time” or a place of departed spirits, because no one will ever die again.

                                              iv.    So, what does “bearing fruit every month” mean if there is no more time? I believe this statement is to acknowledge there is no longer “seasons”, and fruit will “always” be present.

c.    The leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations

                                                 i.    No longer will there be any curse

                                               ii.    Again, the 12 represents God’s perfect governmental system, and the leaves are also symbolic of healing the nations (through perfect rule)

                                              iii.    It is a symbol (the Tree of Life) of a perfect system, Eden, where all is good, and all nations are “healed” from the effects of the curse which has been removed, completely!

                                              iv.    In fact, it is said plainly, there will no longer be ANY CURSE

Remember, ONLY those who died BEFORE the 1,000-year reign receive Glorified bodies.

Revelation 20:4-6 tells us that Millennial saints (those during the 1,000 year reign who belong to the Lord) remain alive in their natural bodies through the end of the Millennial Kingdom and are then resurrected at the conclusion of the Millennial Kingdom.

“Blessed and Holy” is the one who takes part in the first resurrection because they receive a Glorified body.

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

Those who live during the 1,000-year reign will be alive, marry, have children, etc. THEY are the ones we are Priests of God and Christ for and rule over with God during the 1,000 years.

Also, not all of them will make it through the 1,000-year reign!!!

Remember when Satan is released before his judgment, he gathers armies once more to make war against the Lamb.

If these people who go to war with Satan had resurrected Glorified bodies that implies, they were obedient and saved and would not follow Satan. Also, Glorified bodies are impervious to the second death according to Revelation 20:6!

We know from scripture that those who join Satan’s army are cast into the lake of fire with him, therefore, it is impossible for them to have Glorified bodies.

SO…without Glorified bodies, they “need” the fruit from the Tree of Life to live an everlasting existence, JUST AS ADAM AND EVE DID IN THE GARDEN!

That is why the Tree is here.

          III.        THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB

a.    Will be in the city and HIS servants will serve Him

                                                 i.    Pay attention to the wording here, the Throne of God and of the Lamb, followed by HIS servants will serve Him

                                               ii.    Making clear the teaching of the Truth of the Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.

b.   They will

                                                 i.    See His face

1.    Exodus 33:20-23 “But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by”

2.    Why can’t man “see the face of God” and live?

3.    Because we are sinful and His glare would destroy us.

4.    However, by the time of the New Jerusalem, we are made perfect by him, with redeemed soul and New Flesh, we will be sinless and can now gaze upon the face of God!

                                               ii.    And His name will be on their foreheads

1.    This being symbolic of the Name of God will continuously be in our thoughts and minds.

2.    Just as described about the number of the beast on foreheads.

3.    What did God say about the world when he destroyed it with the flood?

a.    Genesis 6:5 “The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”

b.   Matthew 24:37-39 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

c.    Remember Revelation 7:3 God’s people are sealed on their foreheads. Moses said in Deuteronomy 6:2,8 to “bind His commands on your hand and foreheads”

                                                                                                 i.    Hands and foreheads are symbolic of deeds and thoughts.

4.    So, this statement is symbolic of our minds and thoughts consistently on God because we no longer have sinful flesh battling with us for our attention.

c.    There will be no more night

                                                 i.    We will not need light from lamps, or the sun

                                               ii.    The Lord God will give us light, His glory will shine on us, in us, and from us

                                              iii.    And we will reign for ever and ever

CONCLUSION –

Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”

Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”

NEXT WEEK: The Invitation and Warning

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?   

CLICK HERE!

Want to hear the audio to this sermon?   

CLICK HERE!