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Series Code: TCM
Program Code: TCM200004S
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00:40 Welcome back. I'm glad you joined us for this series
00:44 titled Three Cosmic Messages: Earth's Final Conflict. 00:47 I'm Mark Finley, the host of the series, 00:49 and we've been on a journey... a journey through the book 00:52 of Revelation but particularly looking at Rev. chapter 14 00:57 verses 6 to 12. 00:58 In these verses God presents His last-day message 01:02 for mankind. He pictures that message as being carried by 01:06 three angels in mid heaven. 01:08 In our last presentation we looked at Revelation 14:6. 01:12 We saw that the everlasting gospel, 01:14 the gospel of God's grace and goodness, 01:17 was to go to the ends of the earth. 01:19 We saw as well that God has a plan for us: 01:23 a plan to participate with Him, to cooperate with Him 01:27 in taking the message of His love, grace, and truth 01:30 to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 01:32 And that, of course, begins with our own families, 01:34 with our own neighborhood, with the workplaces where we work, 01:38 with our communities and our schools. 01:40 In Revelation 14 verses 6 and 7 01:44 the Bible says: "I saw another angel 01:46 flying in the middle of heaven having the everlasting gospel 01:49 to preach to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 01:51 Saying with a loud voice: 01:54 'Fear God and give glory to Him 01:56 for the hour of His judgment is come. ' " 01:58 When many people think of the judgment 02:00 they begin to become quite frightened about their lives 02:03 appearing before God in judgment. 02:05 In this presentation we're going to focus especially 02:08 on the good news of the judgment. 02:10 Let's pray together. 02:12 Father in heaven, thank you that we need not fear 02:16 that eternal judgment. That in Christ 02:18 we can have confidence that You are our Judge, 02:21 our Attorney, and that You will vindicate us 02:25 in these last days of earth's history. 02:27 That in Christ we have nothing to fear. 02:30 So as we study about the judgment in Revelation 02:32 help us to have that sense of You're standing by our side. 02:37 But teach us, too, that we're responsible for the choices 02:40 that we make. In Christ's name, Amen. 02:43 The title of this presentation is: 02:51 Now you may not have thought about it that way before. 02:53 You may have thought about the judgment 02:55 and trembled at its thought. 02:57 That's legitimate. The judgment is a very serious issue. 03:01 In fact, some time ago Daniel Webster, who was one 03:05 of America's best-known statesman and orators, 03:08 was asked: "What is the most solemn thought 03:12 that has ever passed your mind? " 03:14 And Webster responded: 03:20 You and I were created as free moral agents. 03:24 We were created with the capacity of choice: 03:27 of the opportunity to make 03:30 decisions based on the faculties of conscience, 03:34 of reason, and of judgment. 03:36 And the judgment of God in eternity 03:41 is based on how we have responded to His grace 03:46 and the choices that we ourselves have made. 03:51 James Russell Lowell said this: 04:25 You and I are created to make positive choices. 04:30 The Holy Spirit impresses our heart to enable us to make 04:33 those choices. God arranges circumstances in our lives 04:37 so that we can make the best possible choices. 04:41 But the judgment has to do with the decisions we've made 04:44 in life. Did you catch what Lowell quoted in Romans 14:12? 04:50 "So every one of us... " Not a few of us, 04:52 not one or two of us... 04:54 but "every one of us shall give account of himself 04:59 to God. " That is part of our destiny. 05:03 One day we'll appear before the judgment bar of God. 05:14 What kind of choices are you making today? 05:16 What kind of choices have you made this last week? 05:20 What kind of choices have you made this last month? 05:23 This last year? 05:24 Are your choices guided by a Spirit-directed conscience? 05:29 Are your choices in life subject 05:32 to the principles of God's Word? 05:35 Are your choices guided and shaped by the teachings 05:40 of Scripture? 05:59 So in the final judgment bar of God 06:03 the issues in that judgment bar 06:07 are how have our choices been made? 06:12 What choices have we actually made that either 06:16 will lead us to eternal life or eternal damnation? 06:21 Now someone says: "But wait a minute! 06:23 In life is it our good deeds are weighed against our bad deeds? " 06:28 Let me explain it this way: 06:30 When God created us, He created, of course, Adam and Eve 06:33 as free moral agents. 06:36 Throughout life since Adam and Eve's fall 06:40 the devil, the serpent, the evil one 06:43 has been leading men and women to make poor choices. 06:47 He's been leading us to make choices that lead us away 06:51 from God. Jesus, on the other hand appeals to us 06:55 with hands outstretched to come to Him. 06:58 He appeals to us to make eternal decisions 07:01 guided by His Spirit... decisions that are based 07:06 and founded in His very Word. 07:19 You know, some people say: "Well, it's my genetics 07:22 that has done this. You know, I'm pre-disposed 07:25 to act this way. My father got angry so I get angry. " 07:29 "My mother lost her patience. She wasn't a patient person... " 07:33 they say... "So I, at times, lose my patience. " 07:36 Somebody says: "Well you know, I have obesity in my family. 07:40 It's in my genes. " Other people say: 07:42 "Well you know, I can avoid anything except smoking 07:45 because my father was a chain smoker. " 07:48 "He was an alcoholic. " 07:49 You see, all kind of excuses can be made 07:51 but the truth of the matter is 07:53 although we may have genetic predispositions to something 07:57 we do not turn on those genes... 08:01 This is called epigenetics. We don't turn on those genes 08:04 until we make choices to indulge those inclinations. 08:08 So we are responsible for our actions. 08:18 Now there are a number of facts about the judgment 08:21 we're going to study... this judgment that's outlined 08:24 in the book of Revelation. Remember Revelation 14:7. 08:33 We're going to study that very clearly. 08:39 That surprises some people because they have the idea that 08:43 the Father is the eternal Judge. 08:45 That is true in a sense but notice what the Bible says: 08:58 So based on Jesus' own statement in John 5:22 09:03 Jesus is our Judge in this final judgment. 09:13 You say: "That's kind of confusing, isn't it? " 09:16 Let's look at it: 09:29 So Jesus is our Judge; Jesus is our Advocate. 09:33 You say: "That's a conflict of interest. " 09:35 It really is... but aren't you thankful 09:38 that Jesus takes upon Himself that conflict as our Judge 09:43 and our Defense Attorney. Let's suppose 09:46 that we're going to court. And let's suppose that 09:49 I have gotten a speeding ticket. Hopefully as a pastor 09:53 I haven't gotten a speeding ticket, but let's suppose I did. 09:55 Let's suppose I'm going 70 mph in a 40 mph zone 09:58 'cause I'm rushing to get to some meeting. 10:00 And the officer stops me and he says: "Now you 10:05 we're going 70 miles an hour in a 40 mile an hour zone. 10:08 That's going to be a fine. " 10:10 Let's say: "Hey, wait a minute. I was rushing to the hospital 10:13 to see somebody dying. I'm going to fight this in court. " 10:16 And so I go to court and I stand up. 10:19 And I look there, and that's my brother who's the judge. 10:23 And I'm astounded! 10:27 Now I don't have a brother... this is an illustration. 10:30 Let's suppose that's my brother who's the judge 10:32 and I'm astounded. That's good news! 10:35 And then let's suppose he gets off the bench 10:38 and he says: "I'm going to be your defense attorney 10:40 as well. " So my brother is my judge; my brother is 10:43 my defense attorney. I think that's a pretty good opportunity 10:46 for me that I'm not going to pay that expensive fine. 10:49 What do you think? 10:51 Jesus, our elder brother, is our Judge. 10:54 And before the judgment bar of God 10:57 our elder brother says to us: 10:59 "These wounded hands were for you. " 11:02 "The thorns that pierced My brow 11:05 were for you. " "The guilt and shame 11:08 and condemnation I bore on the cross was for you. " 11:11 "I am your Judge but I'm also your Attorney. " 11:14 And before the universe, before thousands and ten thousands 11:19 of times being I will present your name 11:22 and I will say: 'This man is one of Mine; 11:24 this woman is one of Mine. ' " 11:26 In Christ, because He is our Judge and our Attorney, 11:30 we need not fear. 11:32 But if we do not have Christ, 11:34 if Christ doesn't fill our hearts, 11:36 we tremble in the judgment as our lives are exposed 11:41 before the universe. 11:45 In the book of Revelation it presents it very clearly 11:49 that there is a judgment. 11:51 These three angels fly in the midst of heaven. 11:54 They announce to the whole world "No more business as usual; 11:57 no more pleasures as usual; no more life as usual. " 12:00 We are living in a critical time of this earth's history. 12:04 Remember what we read and have been studying 12:08 in Revelation 14:6-7. 12:36 Do you notice the expression "For the hour of His judgment? " 12:40 This is not simply the hour of OUR judgment. 12:44 It is the hour of God's judgment. 12:46 What does that mean? 12:48 The devil has claimed that God is unfair and unjust 12:51 and that He's not worthy to rule the universe. 12:54 In the eternal judgment that takes place in heaven, 12:58 the hour of God's judgment, it will be revealed 13:01 before a waiting world and a watching universe 13:04 that God has done everything He could to save us. 13:07 That there was not one more thing He could have done. 13:10 And God will be proved right- eous; God will be proved just. 13:14 God will be proved as the One worthy to rule throughout 13:17 the ceaseless ages of eternity. 13:27 In the judgment it will be shown conclusively 13:31 that this Christ that lived the perfect life 13:34 that we should have lived, that died the death we should have 13:37 died, that was resurrected... this Christ has done 13:41 everything possible to save us. 13:44 There was not one more thing He could have done. 13:46 Now the judgment reveals God's justice and mercy. 13:50 The law demands that those who break that law 13:55 suffer eternal death. 13:57 God's justice could not have let the human race go on 14:02 without paying the penalty of a broken law. 14:05 If God had done that, it would have created 14:08 chaos in the entire universe. 14:10 And so God has to deal justly with the sin problem. 14:15 But God's mercy would not allow Him to destroy the creatures 14:19 that He created. 14:21 And so justice and mercy blend together 14:24 at the cross of Calvary determining for us 14:28 when Jesus determines for us 14:30 to bear the guilt and shame of our sins 14:34 that enables us to stand free before the universe 14:38 as our Judge - Jesus - and as our Advocate - Jesus - 14:41 presents our case before the entire universe. 14:53 In the final judgment before the whole universe 14:57 the record books of heaven will be opened 15:00 and it will be shown that God sent angels to beat back 15:05 the forces of Satan in our life. 15:07 It'll be shown before the uni- verse, recorded in those books 15:10 of heaven that at the times of our deepest temptation, 15:14 at times we're about ready to be discouraged and couldn't go on 15:17 another step that God was sending His angels there 15:21 to beat back the forces of hell, 15:23 to bring light into the darkness of our lives, 15:26 to give us encouragement and hope and inspiration 15:29 just when we needed it. 15:31 It'll be shown in those books of record that God arranged 15:34 the providences in our life, that God brought people 15:37 into our life to lead us closer to Him. 15:40 It'll be shown that He revealed Himself in the natural world. 15:43 Every sunrise and sunset reveals His love. 15:48 The gentle falling rain that causes the crops to grow 15:51 reveals His love. The stars twinkling in the sky 15:55 reveal the very very love of God. 15:58 The earth that spins on its axis 16:02 and orderly makes its way around the sun 16:04 reveals the precision, the accuracy, and the love of God. 16:08 You see, in the judgment it will be shown 16:11 that there's nothing that God could have done 16:14 that He hasn't done to save us. 16:18 But most of all it will be shown that Jesus 16:22 left the glories of heaven, left the worship of the angels, 16:26 left the worship of the cherubim and seraphim, 16:30 and Jesus plunged into the snake pit of this world, 16:34 this morally defiled, this sex-centered, thrill-jaded 16:38 generation, this crime- riddled polluted world. 16:42 Christ came here, and He tabernacled in human flesh. 16:45 And as He did, He lived the life we should have lived 16:49 so that we need not die the death that He died. 16:53 The judgment reveals all of that. 17:00 He sent His Holy Spirit to our hearts 17:03 again and again and again. 17:05 "The hour of God's judgment has come! " 17:08 Satan has claimed God is unfair. 17:11 Satan has claimed God is unjust. 17:13 Satan has claimed that God doesn't care for us. 17:15 Satan has claimed that God is a vindictive Judge... 17:18 that all He wants is selfish worship from His creatures. 17:22 In the judgment it's revealed that His love is magnificent. 17:26 That there's no lengths, no depths, no heights 17:29 that He would not have gone to redeem us. 17:33 That's why the whole universe in Revelation 6 and 7 sings: 17:44 At the end of that judgment every knee will bow, 17:48 every tongue will confess that He indeed is Lord. 17:57 And in the judgment we find that it's not good deeds 18:00 weighed against bad deeds. It's rather have we accepted 18:03 the living Christ into our lives. 18:05 Now the Bible says in Romans 6 verse 23: 18:11 Sin has a wage, and that wage or that price is death. 18:17 But the Bible also says: 18:24 If we have come to Christ, 18:27 if He fills our hearts with His grace, 18:30 if we are charmed by His love, 18:32 if our lives are committed to Him, 18:35 we need not fear the judgment. 18:40 Now how do works play their part in the judgment? 18:43 We talked about choices early on 18:46 and the importance of positive choices. 18:48 It is not love Christ and simply do whatever you want to do. 18:53 When you love Christ, you do what He wants you to do. 18:55 That's why Jesus said in John 8 verse 29: 18:59 "I do always those things that please Him, 19:01 that please the Father. " 19:02 That's why it says in Hebrews 10:7 and onward 19:05 "I come in the volume of the book to do Thy will, O God. " 19:09 That's why in Gethsemane when the world trembled 19:11 in the balance in Matthew 26:36-39 19:16 the Bible says: "Not My will, Lord, but Your will be done. " 19:21 So when we come to Christ 19:23 and we are truly changed by Christ, 19:26 when by faith we grasp His righteousness, 19:29 when His grace changes us, 19:33 we long to do His will... 19:35 not to earn our salvation but because He has saved us. 19:40 Apple trees produce apples 19:43 not in order to become apple trees 19:46 but because they ARE apple trees. 19:48 Christians produce good works 19:50 not to prove they are Christians 19:52 but the good works are the spontaneous result 19:55 of a faith relationship with Jesus Christ. 19:58 Now notice Revelation 20:12: 20:05 What else could the dead be judged by? 20:08 What else could they be judged by? 20:10 Our works are the external manifestation of our faith. 20:15 Now notice how it's put in Ephesians 2:8-9. 20:26 So in the judgment it's not our good works. 20:30 It's not because we have had this striving 20:36 for salvation and we've gone through this painful torture 20:39 to do good works. It's rather 20:42 because Jesus Christ has come into our lives 20:44 and changed our lives... that Christ has made us over again. 20:48 And that's why the Bible says: 20:49 "it's not of works lest anyone should boast. " 20:51 But look what it says next: 20:58 So we are saved totally only completely by grace 21:02 but that grace leads us to obedience. 21:06 And the obedient lives that we live are the spontaneous result 21:10 of being saved and transformed by His grace. 21:23 The external manifestation of our works 21:26 presented in the judgment 21:29 recorded in the books 21:31 based on our choices 21:33 demonstrates that our faith is indeed genuine. 21:37 Did you ever read the story? It's rather an amusing story 21:41 of one of these wizards who is able to do about anything. 21:45 I don't mean some kind of magician 21:48 but I mean one of these guys who does strange odd feats. 21:53 He strung... can you believe this? 21:56 true story... he strung a wire across Niagara Falls 22:01 and he walked on that wire across the falls. 22:05 Now people had died trying to go on a barrel across the falls. 22:08 They had died in other ways trying to do this tightrope. 22:11 But he strung this tight- rope wire across the falls... 22:14 Niagara Falls... and he walked on that tightrope, 22:18 you know, ever so gently across the falls. 22:21 And he did it 2 or 3 times and people gathered to see this man 22:24 and they were yelling and screaming and applauding. 22:27 And he said: "How many of you... " after he had done it 22:30 3 or 4 times... "how many of you think I can do it again? " 22:32 They raised their hands. 22:33 "How many of you think I could do it with a wheelbarrow? " 22:36 They said: "Oh, why we know you could. " 22:37 So he wheel barrowed the thing across 22:39 and he brought it back. "How many of you think 22:41 I could do it with somebody in it? " 22:42 They raised their hand: "Yes! Yes! " 22:44 "How many want to get in it? " 22:47 Not one person stepped forth to get in that wheelbarrow. 22:51 Did they really have faith? 22:54 Did they really believe? See, if you believe, 22:58 if Christ changes your heart and you grasp by faith, 23:02 that is manifest in your choices. 23:05 It's manifest in your actions. 23:19 Our inner faith is revealed in our outer works. 23:22 Now there's some- thing else about the judgment. 23:24 According to Revelation chapter 14 verse 7 23:32 "The hour of God's judgment... " What does Rev. 14 say? 23:36 "has come. " 23:37 Now you say: "What does that mean 'the hour of God's judgment 23:41 HAS COME? " It means that before the coming of Jesus 23:45 there is a judgment in the courts of heaven 23:48 to determine who will be ready when He comes. 23:50 If, according to Revelation chapter 14, 23:53 chapter 22 verse 12 23:56 if Jesus is coming to give out His rewards, 24:00 there must be a judgment previous to His coming 24:03 to determine who receives what rewards when He comes. 24:10 In other words, the destinies of the entire human race: 24:15 all of those who have died in ages past 24:18 are currently being settled in the judgment bar of God. 24:34 When Jesus spoke about the judgment in His day 24:38 in Matthew 12:36-37 24:41 He said: "Every idle word that men speak 24:43 they WILL give account of in the day of judgment. " 24:45 It was future. 24:46 Throughout the gospels, the judgment is always something 24:49 future. But when you come to Revelation 24:52 it predicts that just before the coming of Jesus 24:55 the clock will strike the hour 24:57 and there will be an end-time judgment. 24:59 We'll in fact study in a next presentation 25:03 as well the timing. When did that judgment begin? 25:07 What is the significance to you and me that we're living 25:10 in this judgment hour? 25:23 Again, Revelation 22 verses 11 and 12, 25:27 Matthew 16 verse 27, 25:29 when Christ comes He comes to give out the rewards. 25:32 So there must be a judg- ment previous to His coming 25:36 before the whole universe so they can see God's wisdom, 25:39 His love, His justice. 25:41 So they can see those men and women that have responded 25:45 to that love whose faith has led them 25:47 through the power of the Holy Spirit to live in harmony 25:52 with His will. They will receive that reward 25:55 of righteousness, that reward of eternal salvation 25:58 when He comes. Again, Revelation 22:12, 26:02 again, throughout the Bible: 26:04 I believe His coming is soon. 26:07 That the signs of the times indicate that He's coming 26:10 rapidly, soon, quickly: 26:15 So again, the judgment takes place before His coming. 26:19 Could we be living in the judgment hour now? 26:21 Is time running out? 26:23 We're going to study the exact time period 26:26 of when that judgment began. 26:28 We're going to sense from the Scripture the prophecies 26:31 of Daniel exactly the time the clock struck the hour. 26:36 Revelation's prophecies, my friends, are being fulfilled. 26:39 We are living in critical times of earth's history. 26:43 The sands in the hourglass of time are running out. 26:47 This is a time to open our hearts. 26:51 This is a time to make a full complete absolute 26:54 commitment to Jesus Christ. 27:00 We're going to study that, and this is why it's so 27:03 critically important not to miss one of these presentations. 27:07 Invite your friends to watch these DVDs; 27:10 invite your friends to watch these telecasts 27:14 because we're going to be identifying exactly 27:17 when that judgment hour began. 27:20 The books of Daniel and Revelation are companion books. 27:23 The book of Revelation is explained in the book of Daniel 27:27 and the book of Daniel is explained in Revelation. 27:29 Both of them are prophetic books of prophetic visions. 27:33 The book of Daniel provides a foundation 27:37 for the book of Revelation. 27:39 One can never fully understand Revelation 27:41 and the message of the three angels 27:43 unless you first understand the book of Daniel. 27:46 So let's go back and study this judgment scene 27:49 from Revelation 14:7 in the book of Daniel itself. 27:54 There is a magnificent scene in heaven in the book of Daniel. 27:58 Now in Daniel chapter 7 you have the rise and fall 28:01 and the destiny of the nations. 28:04 There in chapter 7 nations rise and fall. 28:08 These nations want to usurp the very kingdom of God. 28:13 Babylon rises and falls. 28:15 Daniel says: "I watched 28:17 as these nations were rising and falling: 28:20 Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. " 28:22 You have the breakup of the Roman Empire. 28:24 All of these nations. 28:25 And Daniel says: "I looked beyond the rise and fall 28:27 of these nations. I looked beyond the conflict of nations 28:31 on earth. " 28:36 The thrones are moveable thrones the thrones put in place. 28:40 "the Ancient of Days... " Who's that? The Ancient of Days? 28:42 God the Father, right? 29:02 Do you get the sense of this? 29:05 Here is an intergalactic meeting. 29:08 Here is a universal meeting of thousands times 29:13 ten thousands. Every heavenly being is there. 29:17 Cherubim and seraphim are there. 29:19 Angelic beings are there. 29:22 We have the whole host of heaven crowding in 29:25 in the courtroom of God. 29:27 The destinies of the human race are to be settled. 29:30 But even beyond that, God's name is to be cleared. 29:34 On the cross of Calvary Jesus Christ demonstrated 29:39 His love and the name of God was vindicated before the universe. 29:43 But the question is: "Is God fair in dealing with 29:47 every human being? " 29:48 "Has God truly given everybody the opportunity 29:51 to be saved? " In the final judgment 29:54 before the universe it will be revealed the justice of God. 29:57 I want you to catch the majesty of this moment. 30:00 I want you to catch the solemnity of this moment, 30:02 the significance of this moment. 30:04 Let your mind dwell on it. Thousands times thousands 30:08 of beings gather 'round the throne of God! 30:11 They are there to see God's name honored and exalted 30:16 before the entire universe. 30:22 But more than that, God is deal- ing with the great controversy 30:27 between good and evil 30:29 in a way so that sin will never rise up a second time. 30:32 Once we see how bad sin is, 30:34 how evil sin is, how wicked sin is 30:37 and once we see how good God is 30:40 we will never want to go back to the cesspool of sin again. 30:54 Who does He come to? He comes to the Father. 30:57 Father and Son meet together. 30:59 And there, in the courtroom of the universe 31:02 in the Most Holy Place - the inner sanctum 31:05 of the heavenly sanctuary - Jesus presents 31:08 His blood. He presents His sacrifice 31:12 before the whole universe and He says: 31:15 "I am the Savior of mankind 31:20 and those that have accepted Me 31:22 they in Me, through Me, because of Me 31:24 they are accepted in the beloved and they have rights 31:27 to enter into heaven. 31:39 What happens in the judgment? 31:41 Christ in the judgment... did you catch it? 31:43 Did you catch it? Don't miss it! 31:52 So in the kingdom of God, 31:55 in the courtroom of the universe, 31:57 in the inner sanctum of heaven's sanctuary 32:00 Jesus steps forth, and He is presented with the kingdom. 32:06 His sacrifice is enough. 32:08 His righteousness is enough. 32:10 His grace is enough, 32:11 and the whole universe sings for the glory of His name! 32:16 He is given the kingdom. The judgment shows that 32:19 Christ is the rightful Ruler of the kingdom. 32:31 Now the judgment also reveals 32:34 the saving righteousness of Christ 32:36 and His triumph over the prin- cipalities and powers of hell. 32:39 The judgment reveals that Christ will be honored, exalted 32:44 in the universe, and that all the powers of hell 32:47 will be ultimately destroyed. 32:54 Daniel 7 shows us the judgment. 32:57 Revelation 14 shows us it. 33:00 And also there is this vision in heaven 33:03 that John has of the judgment. 33:05 We get some added insights here. When you study the Bible 33:08 you have to compare text with text. 33:11 You get a little bit here and a little bit there 33:13 and you put it together. Revelation 4:1: 33:19 There's a door open in heaven for you, my friend. 33:22 Whatever experiences you're having in life, 33:26 however you feel oppressed, discouraged, disappointed 33:29 there's a door open in heaven. And what does God say? 33:34 And God says: "Come! Look through the open door. 33:36 You'll get new courage, new hope, new inspiration. " 33:45 Here the voice from heaven says: "Come up here. " 33:48 "Come up here into the throne room of the universe. " 33:50 "Come up here into the judgment bar of God. " 33:53 Now when John looked there through that open door 33:56 in heaven in Revelation chapter 4 what does he see? 34:00 This is a magnificent scene. 34:02 Revelation the 4th chapter and I want you to see it 34:06 as I read it from Scripture. 34:08 Revelation chapter 4: "After these things I looked 34:10 and a door is open in heaven. " 34:12 Whoever you are tonight, there's a door open in heaven for you. 34:15 Whatever you're experiencing tonight, 34:16 there's a door open in heaven for you. 34:18 God invites you as He invited John: "Come up 34:20 higher. Take another step. By faith see what Christ is 34:24 doing in your behalf. In the light of the judgment hour 34:27 see this Jesus who stands for you in the judgment. 34:30 Gather round the throne room of the universe. " 34:33 Notice what it says. 34:34 It says: "And He who sat on the throne... " 34:37 verse 3... "was like a sardius stone in appearance. 34:41 There was a rainbow around the throne. " 34:43 The rainbow indicates judgment and mercy. 34:46 God put a rainbow in the sky after the destruction of the 34:49 world by the flood indicating the world would never be 34:52 destroyed by a flood again. 34:53 Notice: "Around the throne were four and twenty thrones 34:57 and on the thrones were twenty-four elders 34:59 sitting clothed in white robes. 35:01 They had crowns of gold upon their heads. " 35:03 Who are these 24 elders that sit on the thrones? 35:08 The Bible says they were "redeemed from the earth. " 35:15 Those priests represented Israel. 35:19 So the twenty-four elders are those who have been redeemed 35:24 from the earth, resurrected at the time of Christ's death 35:29 and resurrection. And remember the Bible says 35:31 when Christ died the graves were opened. 35:34 After His resurrection there were those that came out. 35:37 Who are these twenty-four elders? 35:39 They are men just like you, just like me. 35:42 These are people around the throne of God 35:45 that God has brought up there to His throne. 35:47 Why are they there? 35:49 To represent us before the throne of God. 35:51 You know the Bible says - I Peter chapter 2 verse 9: 36:02 We, too, are priests and kings of God. 36:04 And those 24 elders that are there 36:08 represent us at God's throne. 36:11 And if they are there, if they made it we can make it, too. 36:15 They stand with Jesus around God's throne. 36:18 Notice what the Bible also says: 36:20 It says that these 24 elders that represent all the redeemed 36:24 that one day will rejoice around the throne of God 36:28 it says that they "come from earth. " 36:30 They faced temptations; they faced trials; 36:33 they faced difficulty but they are there. 36:36 If they made it, we can make it. 36:38 Now the Bible also says 36:40 in Revelation chapter 4 verses 6 and 7 36:43 it says that there are four creatures 36:45 around the throne of God. It's a little strange theme. 36:48 It says these 4 creatures are like a lion, 36:51 like a calf, like man, like an eagle. 36:55 What about these 4 creatures? 36:56 What can we learn from the history of Israel about them? 37:07 These were the banners that Israel marched under. 37:20 Now think of it: 37:22 Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 37:24 The Lion. He becomes a sacrifice or a calf, 37:28 an animal of sacrifice, for us. 37:30 He tabernacles in human flesh as a man, the face of a man. 37:35 But after His death He flies again to heaven 37:38 as a soaring eagle. So what do these represent? 37:42 Just as these banners represen- ted God's everlasting guidance 37:46 and just as they emphasized His protection 37:50 so likewise these 4 creatures around the throne of God 37:55 represent the total ministry of Christ for us. 37:58 The One who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah: 38:01 our King, the divine Christ. 38:02 The One who became a man to sacrifice His life 38:06 in our behalf. 38:07 The One that was resurrected from the dead. 38:09 As we look into the judgment bar of God 38:12 there are the elders that are there. 38:15 They represent all humanity. 38:17 They represent all the redeemed. 38:20 There are there the 4 creatures 38:25 representing the living Christ. There before the throne of God 38:29 Jesus stands for you and me. 38:31 And we can come from all points of the compass: 38:33 the north, the south, the east, and the west. 38:35 Whoever we are, every nation, kindred, tongue, and people 38:39 to gather at that throne through faith in Christ 38:42 knowing that Jesus indeed is our Savior. 38:46 That's why at the end of Revelation 4:11 it says: 38:53 This is what the judgment is about. 38:55 It's about the honor of Christ. 38:57 It's about the glory of Christ. 39:06 We exist by the will of God. 39:08 We were brought into existence by God's will. 39:11 We were created by a loving Christ and redeemed by 39:14 a loving Christ. And one day we will be ushered into eternity 39:18 by that loving Christ. 39:20 Now in Revelation chapter 5 it builds on Revelation 4. 39:23 In Revelation chapter 5 John sees the scene. 39:26 There is a being with a scroll. 39:28 The scroll is sealed with seven seals. 39:31 John asks the question: "Who can open the scroll? " 39:34 John senses that this is the scroll of judgment. 39:36 He senses that if nobody can open that scroll 39:39 the sins of humanity are there. 39:41 He watches as Jesus comes forth. 39:44 First John is weeping because it appears nobody can open 39:47 the scroll. But then Jesus steps forth 39:50 and Jesus is worthy to open the scroll. 39:53 The question is asked, Revelation 5 verse 2: 39:56 The answer: Revelation 5:3: 40:04 Nobody in heaven, nobody in earth could open it 40:06 except who? Except Jesus! 40:09 No angel could ensure your salvation. 40:13 No cherubim or seraphim could ensure your salvation. 40:17 No being on earth could ensure your salvation. 40:20 But there is One who can! In the judgment 40:23 Jesus... the living Christ. John says: 40:35 There before the judgment bar of God 40:37 is the picture of a slain lamb: 40:40 the living Christ who has died for you and for me. 41:03 Here is the incredible good news: 41:06 Before the judgment bar of God 41:10 the authority of all heaven 41:14 before all of that authority of heaven 41:17 Jesus steps forth. He is given the kingdom! 41:22 Salvation is given to His people. 41:25 Why? Because Christ has provided ransom. 41:38 We need not fear at the judgment. 41:41 Some time ago, it's a fascinating story 41:44 that took place in New York City. 41:47 There was a judge who was known to be very kind 41:51 and very compassionate. 41:53 And as this judge was trying a particular case 41:56 a man came in before him. 41:58 And the man was tried because he was a thief. 42:02 He was arrested as a thief. 42:03 He had gone into a bakery 42:06 and he had stolen 8 or 10 loaves of bread. 42:10 And as he was leaving with the bread 42:12 the police had apprehended him 42:14 because the owner of the bakery had pressed the alarm. 42:17 The police came 42:20 and they arrested this man. 42:23 He was brought to court, and when he was brought before 42:26 the judge the judge said to him: 42:28 "You stole that bread? " "I did. " 42:32 "Do you confess to stealing it? " "I do. " 42:35 "Do you deem that you're guilty? " "I do. " 42:38 And the judge said: "I have a question for you: 42:40 why did you steal the bread? " 42:43 The man said this: "I have a wife 42:46 and I have four children. 42:48 I tried to get a job but I have not been able 42:51 to get a job. I've been out of work for months. 42:55 My money had run out; my kids were starving 42:59 so I therefore went down to find out 43:03 where I could possibly get them some food. 43:06 And in a weakened moment I went into the bakery 43:09 and stole that bread. " 43:11 The judge looked at him and he said: "You're guilty. 43:15 And what I'm going to do is charge you 43:17 a $50 fine. " 43:19 But he said: "Look, any man in my city 43:24 that has to steal bread to feed his children... " 43:27 he said: "I am taking off my judge's cloak right now 43:32 and I am coming down by your side 43:35 to pay the $50 in your behalf. 43:38 And I want to invite you and your wife and your family 43:41 to my home to eat with me tonight. " 43:44 Jesus says to you and Jesus says to me: 43:48 "I'm stepping out of the judgment seat. 43:51 I'm coming by your side. 43:53 I'm putting My arm around you. 43:55 I'm paying the price for you 43:58 and I want to invite you home. " 44:00 "I want to invite you home. " 44:01 Jesus wants more than anything else 44:04 to have you at home with Him. 44:07 And that's what the universe sees. 44:09 That's what the universe sees in the judgment: 44:11 this amazing manifestation of the love of God. 44:15 And that's why the universe sings: "Worthy, worthy 44:18 is the Lamb. " They have seen a manifestation 44:21 of His love on the cross. 44:24 They have seen His intent in the judgment 44:27 to save every human being. 44:29 They've seen the ways that He was wooed human hearts. 44:44 Daniel and Revelation describe powers that rise. 44:48 They describe Babylon that rises but it does not reign forever. 44:52 It falls. Medo-Persia rises but it does not reign forever. 44:56 It falls. Greece rises but it does not reign forever. 44:59 It falls. Rome rises but it does not reign forever. 45:01 It falls. The kingdoms of this world rise. 45:05 There is a power that rises that unites church and state. 45:11 Rome is divided 45:13 and out of Rome there's this power that rises. 45:15 In Daniel 7 it's called the "little horn" 45:18 with eyes like the eyes of a man. 45:19 We're going to study that in this series to understand 45:21 the whole issue of the anti- Christ, the mark of the beast. 45:23 But here's the point: political kingdoms rise 45:28 A religious-political kingdom rises. 45:30 But then Daniel's eyes are taken away from earth. 45:33 They're pointed to heaven. 45:35 John in Revelation points us to heaven 45:37 and says: "Beyond what is 45:38 there will be the eternal kingdom of God. " 45:41 All the universe one day will worship Christ 45:44 and live with Him forever and ever and ever and ever 45:47 through the ceaseless ages of eternity. 45:50 Christ's kingdom will never come to an end! 45:52 In the judgment the whole universe will see 45:55 the glory, the magnificence, the beauty 45:58 of the plan of salvation. 46:00 They will say: "Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb! " 46:13 Christ will step forth; judgment is made 46:16 in favor of the saints of God. 46:19 One night Martin Luther was sleeping. 46:22 And as he was sleeping he had this terrible dream. 46:26 He dreamed that the devil came to him 46:28 and he dreamed that there was a scroll in the devil's hand 46:31 and the devil unrolled the scroll. 46:33 And he saw this hideous, evil angel 46:35 and he saw a list of all his sins. 46:37 It was the judgment and it was before the judgment bar of God. 46:41 And in Luther's dream he said: 46:45 "Those are my sins! " And the devil said: 46:47 "Are they your sins? " "Yes they are. " 46:49 "Are you guilty of every one? " "Yes, I am. " 46:51 "Is the wages of sin death? " "Yes it is. " 46:55 "Do you deserve to die eternally? " "Yes! " 46:57 And the devil said: "You're condemned! " 46:59 But then Luther saw the devil's hand on top of that scroll 47:02 and he said: "In the name of Christ move your hand. " 47:04 And the devil said: "No. " "In the name of Christ 47:06 move your hand. " The devil moved his hand. 47:07 It said: "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses Martin Luther 47:10 from all his sins. " In the judgment 47:13 NOT good deeds against bad deeds. 47:16 Our deeds reflect our faith. 47:19 Our deeds are important because they reflect 47:22 whether or not we made a full commitment to Christ. 47:25 In the judgment Jesus wants to step forth for you. 47:28 In the judgment Jesus says that He wants to make judgment 47:32 in favor of the saints in the judgment. 47:35 All evil powers will be destroyed. 47:37 In the judgment all wicked powers will crumble. 47:40 In the judgment Christ will be exalted as Lord of all. 47:59 In the judgment the Father gives to the Son the kingdom, 48:03 and you and I participate as the royal line in that kingdom. 48:08 We become princes and princesses and sit on thrones 48:12 with Christ and worship with Him through the ceaseless ages 48:15 of all eternity. Would it not be foolish... 48:18 would it not be foolish? 48:23 I was thinking of another word but that's the only word 48:25 I can think of: FOOLISH. Wouldn't it be a foolish choice 48:29 to turn your back on that love of Christ? 48:32 To turn your back on that invi- tation to be with Him in heaven? 48:36 Wouldn't it be foolish to make choices 48:40 for the tawdry pleasures of this world 48:43 when Jesus offers us eternity? 48:46 When we can sit on a throne with Him? 48:48 When we can worship with Him? 48:49 When we can travel from star to star and planet to planet 48:53 and see the vast technology of civilizations that have 48:57 never fallen by sin? 48:59 And be His honored convoy, sharing with the universe 49:02 the depths of His love and the glory of His grace. 49:17 We with the angels and the redeemed of all ages: 49:34 What was that message of Revelation 14 verse 6? 49:37 "I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven 49:39 having the everlasting gospel... to every nation, kindred, 49:42 tongue, and people. " Here it is: 49:43 Now those that have accepted that message, those that have 49:47 responded to this message of the three angels, 49:51 those who have understood these three cosmic messages 49:54 in earth's last hour. 50:09 We are kings and priests of God! 50:12 Do not throw away your heritage. 50:14 Do not turn your back on a love that is appealing to you. 50:18 Many years ago there was a farmer 50:22 who visited London for the very very first time. 50:26 He had never been to London before, 50:28 and he was awed by things like the London Bridge. 50:33 Awed by things like Big Ben and the Parliament. 50:38 One day he had a little time so he decided 50:41 that he would go to one of London's famous art galleries. 50:44 This farmer was a Christian. 50:47 And as he was walking through the art gallery 50:49 he came to a picture. It was a picture 50:53 of Christ hanging on the cross. 50:55 He stood there. 50:57 Was gripped by that picture. 51:01 Overwhelmed again by the thought of Jesus 51:05 with nails through His hands, 51:08 blood running down His wrists, 51:10 with a crown of thorns upon His head, 51:14 bearing the sin and the guilt of all humanity. 51:19 And as this man stood there 51:23 15 minutes went by, 20 minutes went by. 51:26 Soon there were tears running down his face. 51:32 And all he said was... all he could say was: 51:40 Somebody standing by heard the old man. 51:44 Stood by his side and looked at the picture and said: 51:46 "I love Him, too. " 51:47 Somebody else stood by his side and said: "I love Him, too. " 51:51 Pretty soon there was a group of people there... 51:54 arms around one another. 51:57 Riveted to that picture, they made a decision in their life. 52:01 "I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold. 52:06 I'd rather have Jesus than riches untold. " 52:13 In the judgment you need not fear. 52:17 Christ reaches out to you right now. 52:20 Deep within your heart as Charles sings 52:23 would you like to say "I'd rather have Jesus? " 52:35 I'd rather have Jesus 52:40 than silver or gold. 52:45 I'd rather be His 52:49 than have riches untold. 52:55 I'd rather have Jesus 53:00 than houses or lands. 53:04 I'd rather be led 53:09 by His nail-pierced hand. 53:14 Than to be 53:17 the king of 53:19 a vast domain 53:24 or be held in sin's 53:28 dread sway. 53:33 I would rather have Jesus 53:38 than anything 53:43 this world 53:46 affords today. 53:53 I would rather have Jesus 53:57 than men's applause. 54:03 I'd rather be faithful 54:07 to His dear cause. 54:12 I'd rather have Jesus 54:17 than world-wide fame, 54:21 I'd rather be true 54:26 to His holy name. 54:30 Than to be the king 54:35 of a vast domain 54:39 and be held 54:42 in sin's dread sway. 54:48 I'd rather have Jesus 54:53 than anything 54:58 this world 55:00 affords today. 55:07 Yes, He's fairer than lilies 55:12 of rarest bloom. 55:16 He is sweeter than honey 55:21 out of the comb. 55:26 He's all that my hungering 55:31 spirit needs. 55:35 I'd rather have Jesus 55:39 and let Him lead. 55:44 Than to be the king 55:48 of a vast domain 55:53 and be held 55:55 in sin's dread sway. 56:03 I'd rather have Jesus 56:08 than anything... 56:16 anything 56:25 this world 56:30 affords 56:35 today. 56:48 Will you open your heart to pray with me 56:52 right now? 56:54 Father in heaven, 56:56 we have heard the appeal of the song 57:00 and deep within our hearts we respond 57:03 that we would rather have Jesus. 57:06 Help us each day 57:09 to make those eternal decisions: 57:12 decisions prompted and guided by Your Spirit. 57:17 Enable us today deep within our hearts 57:21 to say: "I would rather have Jesus. " 57:24 In Christ's name, Amen. |
Revised 2020-06-23