How Does the Bible End? With an Invitation | Revelation 22:10-21
How Does the Bible End? With an Invitation | Revelation 22:10-21

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “How does the Bible end? With an invitation.”

Scripture: Revelation 22:10-21; Genesis 3:1-19; John 7:37; 20:31; Isaiah 55:1; 2 Peter 3:1-13

(Commentary helps listed at the end)

Need:

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him: To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

INTRODUCTION

Opening story:

God is always working for his people. (Rom 8:28) He’s not waiting on us to ask. Ask, yes! But God’s working whether we ask or not. God initiates mercy and grace. See Gen 3:1-19.

Seminary student Christmas shopping spree. They gave us play money and then let us go in and “buy” gifts for our children. (Isaiah 55:1)

Read Genesis 3:1-19; Revelation 22:1-9

CONTEXT

We have seen:

  • Jesus and his churches (1-3)

  • The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

  • The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

It’s also noteworthy that these last 2 chapters of Revelation and of the Bible occur when sin has been abolished from the universe. No more sin, shame, guilt, death—it’s all history.

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him. (Several, actually) To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

OUTLINE

LAST WEEK invitation 1-2:

Two invitations from God to us as we anticipate the New Eden and the reverse of the curse: (6-9)

A. Obey God. (6-7)

B. Worship God! (8-9)

Five more invitations for a total of 7

  1. Obey the word. (22:6-7)

  2. Worship God! (8-9)

  3. Proclaim the truth of God. (10-11)

    1. Unlike Daniel, reveal, don’t seal his word from the world. Why?

      1. Because “the time is near”

        1. For each of us it’s only a heartbeat away.

        2. For all of us, it’s never been closer. We’re another day closer today.

      2. A day is coming when change will no longer be possible. (11) What some say…others say we can still change…

      3. “Imagine being at the Grand Canyon and having a tour guide take you to some massive precipice. You look over the edge and realize that the drop is so deep it makes you dizzy. Then the tour guide says, ‘Let the self-assertive fool who wants to destroy himself disregard caution, ignore my instructions, and go over the edge.’ Is that what the tour guide wants you to do? P. 414

      4. 3 things we know in our gut:

        1. We all know that we do what we want to do.

        2. We all know that we are responsible for what we do.

        3. We all know that God will hold us accountable for what we do.

    2. “How we respond tot he truth of God’s word in this life will confirm our character and determine our destiny forever.” -D Akin

  4. Pursue the will of God. (12-15)

    1. He’s coming soon. He will…judge or reward after he…

      1. Examines our mind

      2. Tests our heart

      3. Gives us according to our ways

    2. As judge, Jesus is fully qualified as he is the omniscient One

      1. Alpha and omega

      2. First and last

      3. Beginning and end

    3. Be washed in the blood of the lamb

      1. For justification

      2. For sanctification

      3. Washing = “persevering in faithfulness to Christ and refusing to compromise with the world” -D Akin

      4. Gives us access to

        1. Tree of life

        2. River of life

        3. City of life…forever!

      5. In contrast to those who did/do not.

        1. They are left outside the city in the lake of fire (“dogs”)

        2. Dogs in that day

          1. Stink and are dirty

          2. Roll in their own stink

          3. Cannot wash themselves

  5. Respond to the invitation of God. (16-17)

    1. Jesus authenticates the message of Revelation in v. 16.

      1. Root = source (before David, as God)

      2. Offspring = descendant (coming from David, as man)

    2. He’s the God-man who’s the bright morning star (Num 24:17)

      1. This passage is Christological.

      2. Colossians will expand on this (we’ll start that series next week)

    3. The “Great Invitation” is a 4-fold invitation (17):

      1. The Holy Spirit says come!

      2. The bride, the Church of Jesus, says come!

      3. The one who hears is invitated.

      4. The one who thirsts for abundant, eternal life is invited. (Cf. Isaiah 55:1; John 7:37)

    4. Spurgeon says with respect to content and location of these verses:

      1. It’s placed at the end of the Bible because it’s the aim of the Bible.

      2. It’s like the point of the arrow with the rest of the Bible being the shaft and the feathers.

      3. John wrote in his gospel these tings are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, and that by believing you might have life in his name. (John 20:31)

      4. As far as you’re concerned, this book has missed it’s target unless you’ve accepted his invitation.

      5. All the books in the Bible cry to sinners, come to Jesus! Take the water that quenches your thirst!

  6. Heed the warning of God. (18-19)

    1. Severe warning (adding/subtracting)

    2. Everyone

    3. Comprehensive

    4. Literally Revelation (but by implication, all of scripture)

    5. Believers love, obey and receive the word.

    6. Unbelievers hate, disobey and reject the word.

  7. Pray for the coming of God (Return of the King). (20-21)

    1. “Yes” - answer the question

    2. “I am” - remember who he is

    3. “Coming” - second coming/return of the king

    4. “Soon” - one heart beat away; 1 day is like 1,000 years to the Lord (2 Peter 3)

  • There is a God.

  • You’re not him.

  • Are you ready to meet him?

In sum, Revelation ends with a 3-fold posture to assume: watch, wait, and witness.

  1. Watch - Keep your eyes on the clouds…He’s coming again! He’s coming soon! Are you ready?

  2. Wait - Persevere. No doubt, suffering will accompany us as we wait. Do not grow weary in doing good in the meantime. Lean into your witness.

  3. Witness - This is the great work he’s left us to join him in. Exalt the King. Expand the kingdom. As we keep our eyes on the clouds, we also keep our eyes on the crowds (Greg Stier). This is how we’re to continue to do good. Our witness will result in invitations being accepted. It may also result in the ultimate witness of martyrdom. If so, so be it. To live is Christ, to die is gain and more of Christ.

Ever since Genesis 3, the Garden and the Fall, God has been pursuing us with an invitation to repent and return to him. To repent and believe the truth that sets us free. So it’s entirely appropriate that God would end Revelation and the Bible with these grand invitations.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him. (Several, actually) To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

Closing story:

Jim Hamilton’s notes

“The resurrection guarantees the return.” -JH

Mines of Moria scene in the Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf the Grey gives his life to save the Fellowship.

Gandalf the Grey is resurrected and then returns as Gandalf the White. He comes back to them to help them finish what they started—to save the world from darkness. P. 411

Jesus is coming back and he’s inviting you to join him. Of all the ways he could end the Revelation, he chooses to end the letter with an invitation to come to him now.

The question is, will you accept his invitation?

Pray

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

OTHER NOTES:

“The whole point of the book of Revelation is to engender an encounter with Him. An encourager that then empowers us to follow him and his paradoxal way.” - Darryl Johnson

Revelation = Apocalypse = unveiling = breaking through

2-fold purpose:

  1. Seeks to set the present moment (in all it’s brokenness) in light of the unseen realities of the future.

    1. Jesus is coming, and bringing with him a whole new creation!

  2. Seeks to set the present moment in light of the unseen realities of the present.

    1. A fundamental conviction of apocalyptic literature is that “things are not as they seem.”

    2. One of the unseen realities of the present is that the time is near. Nothing around us in history or nature tells us the time in near without help from scripture)

    3. The great purpose-the pastoral purpose-of Revelation is to open up that more and see Jesus in the midst of it all.

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near.” Jesus had to tell us this.

Matt 24-25: Thrust is the time is near. Believe me. “Be alert” And yet, there’s a process that takes time at hand. See kingdom parables too.

Jesus talks about the future as imminent AND lots has to happen over time. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, false messiahs, gospel to the whole world…

This tension is real.

Doesn’t every generation feel Ike they’re the last one? Makes sense in light of Matt 24-25.

Beginning = arche = source and pattern of the series; not just the beginning of the series

End = telos = destiny/purpose of the series

Ex. Acorn’s telos is an oak tree and grove

The telos of humanity is to become like Christ.

After darkness is complete…

Before the faintest sign of dawn…

Tiny star seems barely able…but is a reminder that the night will end…will be defeated.

The star pulls the morning sun behind it…

…just as Jesus pulls the kingdom behind him.

Maybe your life feels like the darkest part of the night right now. Look to the Bright morning star and remember what he is pulling behind him.

Need: To believe Jesus’ words, ways and works with respect to the time is near and his handling of our rescue and evil’s demise. (My take)

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:

No, God wants you to repent. To change your course heart, mind, soul and strength and follow his ways, words and works.

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

  • Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

  • Revelation by Jim Hamilton

  • Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

  • Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

  • 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

  • ESV Global Study Bible

  • Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

  • Bible Knowledge Commentary

  • The Outline Bible, Wilmington

  • Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, SC, Ladson, Bible-believing, Darien Gabriel, Revelation, Revelation 22, Grace Christian Fellowship, The Best Is Yet To Come
Reverse the Curse: What is the New Eden? | Revelation 22:1-9
Reverse the Curse: What is the New Eden? | Revelation 22:1-9

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Reverse the Curse: What is the New Eden?”

Scripture: Revelation 22:1-9

(Commentary helps listed at the end)

Need: Believe that God’s word is “trustworthy and true” enough to follow fully and faithfully.

Bottom line: We reverse the curse in our own lives when we believe the word of God in word and action.

INTRODUCTION

Opening story: Curse of the Bambino

The Curse of the Bambino was a superstitious sports curse in Major League Baseball(MLB) derived from the 86-year championship drought of the Boston Red Sox from 1918 to 2004. The superstition was named after Babe Ruth, colloquially known as "The Bambino", who played for the Red Sox until he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1920.[1] While some fans took the curse seriously, most used the expression in a tongue-in-cheekmanner.[2]

Babe Ruth as a member of the 1918 Boston Red Sox, the final season before the drought.

External images

Picture of the graffitied "reverse curve" road sign

Removal of the sign (then re-graffitied to read "reversed the curse") by a crew including Governor Mitt Romney, following Boston's 2004 World Series victory.

Prior to the drought, the Red Sox had been one of the most successful professional baseball franchises. They won five of the first fifteen World Series titles, including the first in 1903, more than any other MLB team at the time.[3]During this period, Ruth was a core contributor to the Red Sox's three championships in 1915, 1916, and 1918. Following the sale of Ruth, however, the once lackluster Yankees became one of the most dominant professional sports franchises in North America and set the record for World Series titles by more than twice the amount of any other MLB team.[4] The curse became a focal point of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry over the years.

Talk of the curse as an ongoing phenomenon ended when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series.[5] The Red Sox's championship was prefaced by them overcoming a 0–3 deficit against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), the first and, to date, only time an MLB team won a best-of-seven playoff series after losing the first three games.

The curse had been such a part of Boston culture that when a "reverse curve" road sign on Longfellow Bridgeover the city's busy Storrow Drive was graffitied to read "Reverse The Curse,"[6] officials left it in place until the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series. After the World Series that year, the road sign was edited to read "Reversed Curse" in celebration.[6]

Read Genesis 3:1-19; Revelation 22:1-9

CONTEXT

We have seen:

  • Jesus and his churches (1-3)

  • The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

  • The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

It’s also noteworthy that these last 2 chapters of Revelation and of the Bible occur when sin has been abolished from the universe. No more sin, shame, guilt, death—it’s all history.

Bottom line: We reverse the curse in our own lives when we believe the word of God in word and action.

OUTLINE

I. Description of the New Eden

A. We will be nourished by God. (1-2)

    1. Water of life

    2. Tree of life

    3. Leaves of healing

B. We will worship our God. (3)

    1. Curse is reversed

    2. Throne of God

    3. Appropriate response is worship/service (Latreuo) Ex. Romans 12:1

    4. Worship God as Father and Lamb

C. We will see our God. (4)

    1. We will see his face.

    2. His name will be on our forehead.

D. We will reign with our God. (5)

In the meantime, accept these invitations (2 of 7):

II. Two invitations from God to us as we anticipate the New Eden and the reverse of the curse: (6-9)

A. Obey God. (6-7)

    1. His words are trustworthy and true

    2. The Lord sent his angel to show his servants what’s coming

    3. He’s coming soon!

    4. Blessed are the obedient

B. Worship God! (8-9)

    1. John’s signature

    2. John’s overwhelmed response is and isn’t appropriate (faith vs feelings—-> discipline)

    3. We’re servants who worship and we’re worshippers who serve

    4. When we take a good thing and turn it into a god-thing, we sin and commit idolatry

III. Five more invitations (NEXT WEEK)

CONCLUSION

Poem from pg. 409-410

-Jim Hamilton

Bottom line: We reverse the curse in our own lives when we believe the word of God in word and action.

Pray

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

OTHER NOTES:

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:

We make Superman out to be a god.

God makes Superman out to be a cartoon.

A little girl once defined repentance as “Being sorry enough to stop doing it.”

Fort Knox holds 173 billion dollars in gold.

It has held the nation’s gold deposit since 1937.

It could create a 20x20x20 ft cube of gold.

Now imagine how much gold it would take to create a 12,000x12,000x12,000 foot cube. Now 12,000 stadia! (1,500 miles)!

What’s the real treasure in the new heaven, earth, body and city?

God himself.

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

  • Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

  • Revelation by Jim Hamilton

  • Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

  • Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

  • 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

  • ESV Global Study Bible

  • Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

  • Bible Knowledge Commentary

  • The Outline Bible, Wilmington

  • Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson


Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Darien Gabriel, Bible-believing, Revelation 22, Ladson, SC
What's the New Jerusalem? | Revelation 21:9-27
What's the New Jerusalem? | Revelation 21:9-27

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “What’s the New Jerusalem?”

Scripture: Revelation 21:9-27

(Commentary helps listed at the end)

Need: We need to see how dangerous it is to set our hearts on the treasure here on earth.

Bottom line: The real treasure of the new heaven, earth and city is God himself. We look forward to a new heaven, earth and city because there we will:

  1. Live in God’s presence

  2. experiencing his mercy

  3. Satisfied by his pleasures, and

  4. Aware of his justice forever.

God is the treasure. And God treasures us!

INTRODUCTION

Opening story:

A lot has changed in the last 500 years…

Read Rev 21:9-27

CONTEXT

We have seen:

  • Jesus and his churches (1-3)

  • The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

  • The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

It’s also noteworthy that these last 2 chapters of Revelation and of the Bible occur when sin has been abolished from the universe. No more sin, shame, guilt, death—it’s all history.

OUTLINE

The New Jerusalem will be a perfect city. (9-21)

The New Jerusalem will be a perfect temple. (22-27)

  • “I did not see the temple in the city”

  • Why? Because, “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (22)

  • John 2:17-22

  • Ephesians 2:19-22

  • “This means that whereas formerly there was a structure, a tent or a building, that was holy because God was there, now the structure is the whole of the reality. The temple is the new heaven and new earth. Just as the temple was formerly the holy place in the midst of the wider world, now God and the Lamb are what the temple was: they are the holy in the midst of the world, and there is not a particular building that is the temple because the world itself has become the temple. This is what the OT prophesied in the passages such as Zechariah 14:20, 21.” -Jim Hamilton

  • “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” (23)

  • “Have you ever taken a flashlight outside on a clear, sunny day? You can barely see the light of the candle or flashlight at all.” -Jim Hamilton

  • I can remember getting a new Timex watch for Christmas and trying to see it glow during the day. You could never see it because the light in the room or outside was way to bright. You had to go into a closet and close the door to see it. The light of the sun and moon will be that dim in comparison to the light of the glory of God.

  • “but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” will enter this city.

  • “God wrote these people’s names in the Lamb’s book of life before foundation of the world. It is not unfair of God to write down some names and not others. He is God. He shows mercy to whom he pleases (Exodus 33:19). He does not owe mercy to anyone. He has chosen to guarantee that some will be faithful to him, and the rest he allows to make their own choice. They choose to worship the beast and suffer the consequences. But it is not as though those who names are written in the Lamb’s book of life do not get the same choice. God so works that they are born again, and as a result they have the ability to see God’s hidden kingdom. Because of that, they choose to resist the beast. They choose, and God chose them. Humans are responsible, and God is sovereign.” -Jim Hamilton p. 399

The New Jerusalem will be a perfect garden. (22:1-5; Next week)

CONCLUSION

“Image that you were born into a miserable situation—no family, no future, no hope. A father you did not know and never would have met sets his love on you. He makes elaborate plans to redeem you for himself, make you part of his family, and give you hope and a future. The price for your redemption is shocking, but this father who has decided to adopt you doesn’t even flinch.

At a cost to himself that you cannot fathom, a price that you will not understand until your own faculties have matured, he ransoms your life. The redemption entails a journey of a distance we have no categories for comprehending, a sacrifice that risks everything , suffers, dies, and rises from the dead, and in the triumphant resurrection your life is secured. He has bought you back, and he will fetch you home.” -Jim Hamilton

Better questions:

Have you chosen him?

Bottom line: The real treasure of the new heaven, earth and city is God himself. We look forward to a new heaven, earth and city because there we will:

  1. Live in God’s presence

  2. experiencing his mercy

  3. Satisfied by his pleasures, and

  4. Aware of his justice forever.

God is the treasure. And God treasures us!

Pray

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

OTHER NOTES:

The value of a pearl can vary dramatically depending on many factors, such as its type, size, color, surface quality, and more. A wild pearl will be worth more than a cultured pearl. However, on average, a pearl's value ranges from $300 to $1,500.

https://www.thepearlsource.com› h...

How Much are Pearls Worth | The Pearl Source

A natural pearl (often called an Oriental pearl) forms when an irritant works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed.

https://www.jthomasjewelers.com› ...

How Pearls Are Formed - J. Thomas Jewelers

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:

We make Superman out to be a god.

God makes Superman out to be a cartoon.

A little girl once defined repentance as “Being sorry enough to stop doing it.”

Fort Knox holds 173 billion dollars in gold.

It has held the nation’s gold deposit since 1937.

It could create a 20x20x20 ft cube of gold.

Now imagine how much gold it would take to create a 12,000x12,000x12,000 foot cube. Now 12,000 stadia! (1,500 miles)!

What’s the real treasure in the new heaven, earth, body and city?

God himself.

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

  • Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

  • Revelation by Jim Hamilton

  • Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

  • Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

  • 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

  • ESV Global Study Bible

  • Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

  • Bible Knowledge Commentary

  • The Outline Bible, Wilmington

  • Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, Revelation 21, Bible-believing, Ladson, SC, treasure of heaven
What's the Great White Throne of Christ? | Revelation 20:11-15
What's the Great White Throne of Christ? | Revelation 20:11-15

Bottom line: The text teaches us that one day each and every one of us will stand before God and his throne and will be asked to give an account for our lives. (It’s true it’s already written down) There’s a God, you’re not him. Are you ready to meet him?

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Bible-believing, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, Revelation 20, great white throne
Reprioritize Everything (Order & Urgency) | 1 Corinthians 15:10-28
Reprioritize Everything (Order & Urgency) | 1 Corinthians 15:10-28

-Reprioritize Everything (Order & Urgency)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10-28

Blessed to be going through Revelation. Human history (like a good book or movie) seems to be accelerating toward the end. Here is some context of the big picture that will encourage us as we move toward "the end" when God will be "all in all".

The Gospel (verses 1-11)

The Resurrection (verses 12-19)

The First Fruits (verses 20-28)

The Awakening (verses 29-34)

The Spiritual You (verses 35-49)

The Victory (verses 50-58)

M2E - micro ministry encounters (these can happen every day where you live, work and play since God is always working - John 5:17, John 6:44).

GRQ - Gospel Readiness Quotient - variables include sin, prayer, activities (how your time is consumed) and relationships.

The last enemy is death. Death will be swallowed up in victory. So, instead of focusing on death every day, let's talk about Life and Victory through the faith and hope we have in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

Read More
Sarah NetheryGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Bible-believing, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, 1 Corinthians 15
How to See the Future | Revelation 18
How to See the Future | Revelation 18

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “How to See The Future”

Scripture: Revelation 18 (Commentary helps listed at the end)

Introduction: Makes me think of how quickly things can change in a nation. Afghanistan fell to the Taliban this week in 1 day. We know that the foundations of the existing government were weak already so while it fell suddenly, they were vulnerable as soon as our troops left.

Our nation (America) is sliding towards destruction too. And while this slide may be gradual, the crash will also likely to be sudden. Perhaps revival will delay or prevent this. Are you praying for revival in our land?

What will get us through the great tribulation as the church? We’ll have to figure out how to work together to live for Christ with the daily threat of dying for Christ.

What will get us through is this truth:

Bottom line: “The future is bright even though the day is dark.”

Our need: Eyes to see that these dark days as a blip on the timeline of eternity and live accordingly; a drop in the ocean of time.

Quote: “Today, the greatest challenge facing (evangelical, Bible-believing) American (Christians) is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world.” —CJ Mahaney, pastor

Quote: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who goes on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are too easily pleased.” -CS Lewis, Weight of Glory, pp. 25-26

Last week in Revelation 17 we saw how evil turned on evil when the Beast destroyed the Whore.

In Revelation 18 we will see more of the downfall of Babylon and how those seduced by her are drug down with her into destruction. Are you in that crowd? God calls you out today! (V. 4)

Context:

We have seen:

  • Jesus and his churches (1-3)

  • The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

  • The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

Outline:

I. God judges the whore. (1-8)

II. The world laments over the whore. (9-19)

III. The angels sing of the doom of the whore. (20-24)

Conclusion:

Reminders of Afghanistan. Christians there are dying today for their unwillingness to be seduced by Babylon. They are the martyrs spoken of in Revelation.

Question: Would you be willing to die for what you believe in?

  1. Where do you see yourself right now?

    1. Living in light of today?

    2. Living in light of eternity?

  2. Where do you want to see yourself?

  3. What’s keeping you from repenting and believing that the way of Jesus is the way to go?

Repent of your sins today. Trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ who knows the way, the truth and the life.

Pray

Notes:

Rome was considered Babylon (code to the Church in John’s day) and he was prophesying it’s destruction around AD 95. In AD 410, after a long slide into destruction, Alaric, with his northern hordes of Goths, pillaged Rome and laid it waste in one week.

John wrote Rev 17-18 to (Bruce Metzger):

  • Stimulate faithfulness in first century persecuted Christians

  • To remind them of their ultimate victory in Christ no matter what

  • It’s a warning to believers . Babylon is allegorical of the idolatry that any nation commits when it elevates

    • Material abundance

    • Military prowess

    • Technological sophistication

    • Imperial grandeur, and

    • Racial pride over the Creator.

This seems familiar to me as an American citizen.

Revelation concerns the character and timeliness of God’s judgment not only on people but also nations…and all authorities, corporations, institutions, bureaucracies, denominations and even churches. -Bruce Metzger

Questions: Are we drawn to the spiritual “Red light districts” of our world? Or are we drawn to the kingdom of God?

Other Illustrations:

dad joke/Funny: “Everybody is talking about the apocalypse like there’s no tomorrow…”

“Keep your eyes on the clouds and the crowds.” —Greg Stier

Live in light of his imminent return.

“Jesus didn’t give the Church the book of Revelation so we’d build ourselves bigger bomb shelters, but so we’d would build longer dinner tables” - @RayOrtlund

Other thoughts wrt joy and circumstances and Jane / Nightbirdie

“Sow a thought, you reap an action;

Sow an action, you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, you reap a character;

sow a character, you reap a destiny.”

-E. Stanley Jones

Main commentary help:

  • Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

  • Revelation by Jim Hamilton

  • Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

  • Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

  • 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

  • ESV Global Study Bible

  • Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

  • Bible Knowledge Commentary

  • The Outline Bible, Wilmington

  • Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Read More
Sarah NetheryGrace Christian FellowshipRevelation 18, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, Bible, Bible-believing, non-denominational church, Grace Christian Fellowship
What City Are You Living For? | Revelation 17 PG-13
What City Are You Living For? | Revelation 17 PG-13

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Which city are you living for? What woman are you chasing?” Revelation 17 PG-13

Scripture: Revelation 17

(Main commentary helps listed at the end)

Bottom line: “Live for the Lamb and his pure bride, not for the beast and his foul whore.” -Hamilton

Our need: “We need to be convinced that it’s better to live for the Lamb and his pure bride than for the beast and his foul whore.” -Hamilton

Context:

We have seen:

  • Jesus and his churches (1-3)

  • The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

  • Now we move to this section on the whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

Contrast:

  • The world is the foul whore.

  • The Church is the bride of Christ.

Who do you want to live for? Which city?

  • Babylon the Great, or

    • Serves the beast

    • Sells it’s soul to the world, the beast’s foul whore

    • Lives for what will look good for a short while before being destroyed

    • Carries out his purpose

    • Leads to the Great Babylon aka Hell

  • The New Jerusalem

    • Serves the Lamb

    • Fellowships with the church the Lamb’s pure bride

    • Lives for what will last forever

    • Please God through obedience

    • Leads to the New Jerusalem

Which religion: Works or grace?

Intro/Opening story:

“Tale of Two Cities” in 11th grade English class

Also consider:

Foxes Book of Martyrs

Antipas

Outline (from Willmington’s Outline Bible):

I. The information in regard to this prostitute (17:1-6)

A. Her corruption (17:1-2, 4)

  1. She commits adultery with both potentates and people of this earth (17:2)

  2. She says blasphemous things about God (17:4b)

  3. She is utterly materialistic (17:4a)

B. Her compromise (17:3): She has aligned herself with the godless political systems of this world.

C. Her caption (17:5): On her forehead is written,

  1. “Babylon the Great,

  2. Mother of all prostitutes and obscenities in the world”

D. Her cruelty (17:6): She is drunk with the blood of martyrs she has murdered. (Share story of 21 Martyrs)

II. The interpretation in regard to this prostitute (17:7-18)

A. What John sees (17:7): He sees a woman riding a beast with seven heads and ten horns.

B. What John is told (17:8-18)

  1. The woman represents a corrupt religious system depicted by the city of Babylon (17:8)

  2. The beast represents various kings (17:9).

    1. Some have already ruled (17:10-11)

    2. One king will be the most powerful (17:13)

    3. Ten kings are yet to rule (17:12)

    4. These kings will destroy the woman but will themselves be destroyed by the Lamb (17:14-18).

Conclusion:

My sister-in-law and I were talking movies the other day and we were discussing the difference between DC comic movies and Marvel comic movies. I noted that I thought it was ironic that DC who boasts darker, more realistic stories uses fictional cities (Metropolis and Gotham) whereas Marvel, who tends to take itself less seriously uses real cities (mostly) like New York and Budapest.

How serious are you taking the city you’re living in?

John calls us to be in the world but not of the world. (1 John 2:15-17)

  1. Where do you see yourself right now?

    1. Which woman are you more identified with?

    2. Which city seems more like home to you?

  2. Where do you want to see yourself?

  3. What’s keeping you from repenting and believing that the way of the Lamb is the way to go?

Repent of your sins today. Trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ who knows the way, the truth and the life.

Pray

Other Illustrations:

dad joke/Funny: “Everybody is talking about the apocalypse like there’s no tomorrow…”

“Keep your eyes on the clouds and the crowds.” —Greg Stier

Live in light of his imminent return.

“Jesus didn’t give the Church the book of Revelation so we’d build ourselves bigger bomb shelters, but so we’d would build longer dinner tables” - @RayOrtlund

Other thoughts wrt joy and circumstances and Jane / Nightbirdie

“Sow a thought, you reap an action;

Sow an action, you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, you reap a character;

sow a character, you reap a destiny.”

-E. Stanley Jones

Main commentary help:

  • Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

  • Revelation by Jim Hamilton

  • Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

  • Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

  • 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

  • ESV Global Study Bible

  • Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

  • Bible Knowledge Commentary

  • The Outline Bible, Wilmington

  • Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Read More
Sarah NetheryGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, Bible-believing, Darien Gabriel, Revelation 17, non-denominational church
Why Worship God for Armageddon? | Revelation 16:1-21
Why Worship God for Armageddon? | Revelation 16:1-21

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Why worship God for Armageddon?

Scripture: Revelation 16:1-21

(Main commentary helps listed at the end)

Bottom line: God is glorified in his just wrath as he brings is awesome wrath on his enemies—wrath that fits the crime. (Just ask the heavenly host)


Intro/Opening story:

Brave Church by Rowland Smith


The year was 250 CE and Rome found itself facing, invaded even, by a different kind of enemy. It was not an army it could simply defeat on the battlefield, but a plague that swept through parts of the empire.


Most historians think the invader was akin to Smallpox or Bubonic Plague, based on the early descriptions of symptoms. Whole households were disappearing to the ravages of the disease. Proximity was spreading illness at unprecedented rates, causing fear and panic as people saw their friends and family quickly falling ill, only to escape symptoms by death.


Plague and Panic

Bodies were left in the streets, being removed from houses so that remaining inhabitants could hopefully live in relative safety from whatever was attacking. The sick were driven out into the public areas to die a slow and painful death. It caused panic among the public, resulting in many fleeing to the countryside to escape the confines and tighter living of city neighborhoods. At one point, up to 5000 per day were falling in Rome alone. The empire was dying in epidemic proportions!


However, as many fled, there was one group of people that stayed. They cared for the sick, buried the dead, attempting to thwart the plague by burying bodies and covering them in lime, or burning bodies that had been piled in the streets. Who were these lunatics that stayed and cared for those who were dying? Who was this group that ran into the plague instead of fleeing in panic? They were known as Christians.


Love and Loyalty

These so-called Christians that lived within the Empire were found with the sick and dying, not running from them. As people suffered in the community, they responded with love, care and concern. They put their hands on the hurting and brought comfort to their suffering.


In 260 CE Dionysius wrote a tribute to their efforts saying, “Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and only thinking of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ…”


These anomalies of common sense stayed to care for the wholeness of the community, dealing with the ravages of death and infection rather than running to the hills in search of safety. The Christians lived in search of love and in search of a response that looked like Jesus’ life. A life where love triumphed danger and where the values of the kingdom of God overruled the safety of one’s life.


These values resulted in a bravery that was not witnessed in the rest of the community or in the civic rulers. Only the Christians were brave enough to love, in spite of the dangers.


A Growing Faith

Most historians reflect on this era of Roman history as a critical time in Christian history as well. This response of the Christian community is often cited as one reason that this faith in Jesus grew among the population. Even pagan observers noticed a constant charity and love for others. During these times of plague and great need in Roman history, Christians were observed to be standing in the gap where the empire failed to bring wholeness.


The emperor Julian complained in a letter to his pagan priest in Galatia that the virtues and responses of the Christians were out matching their own citizens. He observed that recent Christian growth was partly due to, “benevolence toward strangers and care for the graves of the dead.” He goes on to say, “The impious Galileans support not only their poor, but ours as well, everyone can see that they lack aid from us.”


Curious Values

The early church, as it lived in Rome, gained notice as a community that lived under a different set of values that were based on love and care for neighbor. They brought human care to situations in ways that other philosophies and belief systems did not, and so people were drawn to it. They were drawn to a community that cared for them in spite of their outsidedness and differences in beliefs. And so, the Romans noticed this strange band of brave people that were connected by a Galilean named Jesus. They noticed these oddities because they lived by virtue of a particular verb…love.



Teach the frame reminding us about Rev 11:15 that Jesus will be king. (Time permitting)


Read through and explain Rev 16 as the last 7 judgments of God on his enemies.

We must read Rev 16 from God’s perspective—not ours. Explain why…


Each plague:


The place

The punishment

The promise or perversion


1st 3: response of the righteous

2nd 4: response of the wicked


If time…


Final thoughts with help from Nicky Gumbel:


I. Jesus is coming back. He tells us this in his beatitude. Second coming of Christ—

are you ready? We’re one day closer to it than we were yesterday.


II. Jesus took your judgment. “It is done” reminds me of “It is finished” from Jesus on the cross where he died for my sins so that I wouldn’t have to. (John 19:30) Cf. Romans 6:23 and John 3:16


III. Judgment is delayed. (But this is his final warning) Judgment is for those who “refused to repent and glorify him.” (16:9) …but not forever. It is right and good that God would judge those who deny him giving them what their actions and attitudes deserve. Are we ready? Are we warning others?


IV. Judgment will be totally just. 16:7 (heaven praises him for this too) And we’re reminded that God’s judgments are “true” and “just”. That’s because he is truth and he is holy. This is consistent with his perfect and unchanging character.

Conclusion


As Greg Stier says, let’s keep our eyes on the clouds and on the crowds as we wait expectantly for his imminent return. Let us not walk in fear but in love rooted confidently in the faith we’ve received in Jesus Christ.


Read 10 commandments (Exodus 20); 2 Peter 3:8-9; 1 Thess 5:1-11.


Invite people to repent and believe.


Tell someone.


If you want your name written in the book of life, pray to God something like this,


Dear God, thank you for revealing your word and ways to me today. Thank you for helping me understand better who you are and what you are doing.


I believe that Jesus Christ, the son of God, died for my sins in my place so that I could receive mercy and have life in his name. Forgive me for my sins and fill me with your Holy Spirit to overflowing. Help me read and obey your word daily as I learn to walk in step with you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.


Pray


Other Illustrations:


“Keep your eyes on the clouds and the crowds.” —Greg Stier

Live in light of his imminent return.


“Jesus didn’t give the Church the book of Revelation so we’d build ourselves bigger bomb shelters, but so we’d would build longer dinner tables” - @RayOrtlund


Other thoughts wrt joy and circumstances and Jane / Nightbirdie


“Sow a thought, you reap an action;

Sow an action, you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, you reap a character;

sow a character, you reap a destiny.”

-E. Stanley Jones


The Framed Picture of Revelation 11-16

144,000 sealed—6 trumpet plagues (7-9)

True Prophet John (10:1-11)

Persecuted Church (11:1-14)

Christ is King (11:15-19)

Persecuted Church (12:1-13:10)

Satan’s False Prophet (13:11-18)

144,000 sealed—7 bowls of wrath (14-16)


Notice the symmetry and how it purposefully points to the most important truth in the book of Revelation. Just another way God reinforces the idea that he’s purposefully revealing himself to us for our good and his glory.


Other notes:


References:

Main commentary help:

  • Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

  • Revelation by Jim Hamilton

  • Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

  • Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

  • 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

  • ESV Global Study Bible

  • Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

  • Bible Knowledge Commentary

  • The Book of Revelation, NICNT, Robert Mounce

  • The Outline Bible, Wilmington

  • Bible in One Year reading plan, Nicky Gumbel

  • Exalting Jesus in 1 Kings by Tony Merida

  • Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Read More
Sarah NetheryGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, Revelation 16:1-21, Bible-believing, church, Armageddon
Totally Trustworthy | 2 Kings 18 - 19
Totally Trustworthy | 2 Kings 18 - 19

Totally Trustworthy

Who or what do we place our trust in?

2 Kings 18 & 19

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD.


Trust (outline from Tony Merida)

T - Take it to the Lord

R - Recognize the Greatness of God

U - Unload the Problem to God

S - Seek the Help of God

T - Treasure the Greatness of God


ACTS Prayer

A - Adoration

C - Confession

T - Thanksgiving

S - Supplication

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Sarah NetheryGrace Christian FellowshipBible-believing, non-denominational church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ken Dorrity, Ladson, SC, 2 Kings, trustworthy, Hezekiah, Tony Merida
How to Know Who You're Really Meant to Be | Psalm 100
How to Know Who You're Really Meant to Be | Psalm 100

Scripture: Psalm 100


Always begin with praise. Give thanks to the One who made you!


Verse 1 - shout for joy all you lands

location, language, families united (Genesis 10:5,31)

that all may seek the Lord (Acts 17:26-27)


Verse 2 - service to the Lord = worship

this is the purpose for all people/lands

come before His presence (Hebrews 4:14-16)


Verse 3 - Jesus is Creator and Sustainer

CREATOR - He made us

not we ourselves (Genesis 11:1-9)

Human innovation always contains noble intent and the capacity to be used for evil.

Scattering can be God's good plan (Acts 8:1)

SUSTAINER - He keeps us

the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 23)


Verses 4-5

Thankful journal. 365 days x 3 entries/day = 1,000+ in a year. Helpful reminder of His blessings especially when things are gloomy.


His truth is to all generations!


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Sarah NetheryGrace Christian FellowshipPsalm 100, non-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Bible-believing
How to Be Delivered from Bondage | Revelation 15:1-5
How to Be Delivered from Bondage | Revelation 15:1-5

Can you say that God is your strength and song?

Has Jesus Christ become your salvation?

Is the LORD your God and will you praise Him?

Salvation = Healing = Deliverance

Bondage comes in many forms: financial, physical, emotional, spiritual, addictions, traditions, societal, generational

Steps you must take include: awareness of the bondage you are under, honesty about the consequences and struggles, repent by turning to God in faith, and believe that Jesus Christ will lead you by His Word and Spirit to a better place (now and forever).

Read More
Sarah NetheryGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Bible-believing, Revelation 15
God Has Power Over Life and Death...And Be Glad He Does
God Has Power Over Life and Death...And Be Glad He Does

One of our elders, Chris Karpus shared his testimony about his sudden cardiac arrest. The situation was so serious that his family was told he was brain dead. However, God brought Chris back to life! On Sunday he shared the story of Lazarus as well as the story of the invalid who was told to take up his mat and walk. Listen to this powerful sermon and testimony and be reminded that no matter what our plans are, God has a bigger plan. Our dependence on God is more valuable than anything else.

Read More
Sarah NetheryGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, Bible-believing, church, Revelation 15, God's wrath, James 4:13-15, John 11:1-44, John 5: 1-18