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A Prophetic Outlook
Rev 21:1 through 22:6
We have for weeks been looking at the Word of God.
We have been focusing on the great value of the Bible for Salvation, Hope and daily life.
We want to see this morning the value of a Prophetic Outlook.
The Christian should take interest, watching current events,
Knowing by their development that we are approaching the day of His Coming.
The world is fearful of any future event of Biblical Proportions.
But, the believer is not afraid of the future. We know there are great events coming!
The future is filled with blessings: So let us look this morning with a Prophetic Outlook.
I. The Second Coming as seen in Bible Prophecies and Promises.
A. We shall meet Christ; 1Th 4.17
1. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2. Our entire Christian experience has been in anticipation of this great meeting.
3. We have ached for this day of our LORD.
B. We shall see Him as He is; 1Jo 3.2
1. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2. Not as he was, in humiliation and death
3. But as He is, in glory and majesty.
C. We shall be received by Him, as He promised; John 14.3
1. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
2. Which means He will take us to Himself.
3. He will draw us to His HEART to LOVE US.
4. It will be the first time that we will ever truly understand what it means to be SAVED.
D. We shall stand before Him that our life and service may be tried,
1. 2Co 5.10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
2. 1Co 3.12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
(1) 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. {it shall be: Gr. it is}
(2) 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(3) 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
E. Also, our conduct towards our fellow-believers will be examined.
1. Rom 14.10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
2. It stands as a reason we should not take offense at our fellow believers.
3. Let Christ sort it all out.
F. We shall be rewarded by Him, for when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ it is that each may have his praise from God; 1Co 4.5.
1. 1 Co 4.5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
2. We should not feel cheated if no one knows our good intentions.
3. Do right, if no one know, for it shall be revealed.
4. Life without seeking praise is much simpler.
G. We shall be like Him in all the beauty of His manhood, and the glory of His body;
1. 1Jo 3.2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2. Phil 3.20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
3. We shall be changed.
4. All our worry and concern over this body will be history.
H. We shall be with Him and have the joy of His companionship forever;
1. 1Th 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2. We shall have crossed the threshold into the Kingdom of Heaven.
II. The Second Coming as seen in relation to the Church.
A. According to the “high church,”
1. It is the Church which makes Christians;
2. But we believe, Christians make the Church.
3. 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
B. Listen to the relationship between the church (the saints) and the Second Coming:
1. 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come..
a) The Lord’s Supper is observed “till He come;”
2. 1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus..
a) Church discipline: so the spirit may be saved in “the day of the Lord”
3. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,
a) Saints are not to judge anything “until the Lord come;”
4. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;.
a) We are to be living in the light of the Blessed Hope;
5. 1Th 5 - We are not to sleep, for the day of the Lord cometh;
6. 1Th 4 - When believers die, we which remain are comforted with the hope of seeing them when we are ‘caught up’ to meet Christ in the air;
7. 2Tim 4.1-8 - We are to be faithful, and love His appearing, that we may obtain the crown of righteousness;.
8. Such things are found written again and again, all in the light of the Lord’s return.
III. The Second Coming and the Glories of it
A. 1 Cor 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
B. Seven times in 1 Cor 15.40-43 Paul uses the word “glory” in calling attention to the different phases of glory as seen in the sun, moon and stars.
C. He takes these as indicating the difference between a natural body and the spiritual body.
D. Human language cannot describe eternal glories, but in the description of the Celestial City in Rev 21 through Rev 22.6 we see glimpses of glory.
E. Seven times “shall” is found in 22:3-5
1. Verse 3; A glorified Kingdom.
a) 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; .
b) Christ will finally be in His right place, on the throne.
c) In this day we cringe at the injustices and wickedness that come from our government and the people.
d) We have little joy honoring the laws today.
e) But in that day it will be joyfully to obey the rules of His Kingdom.
2. Verse 3; A glorified Service.
a) 3 . . . . . and his servants shall serve him:
b) The word for service here denotes a higher service (e.g. ambassador, diplomat).
c) The saints will be bound in love to their Saviour.
3. Verse 4; A glorified Vision.
a) 4 And they shall see his face; . . . . .
b) To see His face is to enjoy His favor and fellowship.
c) We will share in the great joy and glory of His presence.
4. Verse 4; A glorified Nature.
a) 4 . . . . . And his name shall be in their foreheads.
b) His name stands for His nature and likeness.
c) Christ’s glory will shine from us.
5. Verse 5; A glorified Day.
a) 5 And there shall be no night there . . . . .
b) Night with all its evil associations of sin, robbery, preying animals and fear will be gone;
c) In its place will be the eternal day of the Light of Righteousness.
6. Verse 5; A glorified Illumination.
a) 5 . . . . . And they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light . . . . .
b) Man will no longer need to struggle to produce light for the darkness.
c) No more need of the sun, with its complications of heat and sickness.
7. Verse 5; A glorified Rule.
a) 5 . . . . . And they shall reign for ever and ever.
b) Reign for ever and ever!
c) Only with Him would we dare conceive of this gulf of time.
IV. Conclusion:
A. We need a Prophetic Outlook.
1. It puts things into prospective.
B. We must learn to live in the light of the future – Our future!
1. Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
C. Things of Faith have more value than temporal things.
1. Things not seen: Salvation – Cleansing – Righteousness – Soul Winning.
2. These have more value than: Career – Popularity – Possessions.
D. As we go forth from this place we must remember our LORD!
1. Remember His desire for us
2. Remember His plans for us
3. Remember His love for us
E. We must live for Him.
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Sermon By: Guest Of Higher Praise
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