GET READY JESUS IS COMING SOON

Revelation Chapter 22

This has been my most exciting time in the Book of Revelation. I know I do not have everything correct BUT I know for sure that God has all His word perfect and true, in fact He will caution us in this chapter about dealing with His Holy word.

We must take the word of God for what it says. God means what He says and he says what he means. Unless God tells us different we should just read and accept what God says, rightly divided and remember that all scripture is for our learning.

No one, NO ONE, can tell you they understand everything that the Holy Ghost has delivered to us in this book. The Key to the Bible can be only one thing:

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for [he that cometh to God must believe that he is], and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1.) He that comes to God must believe that He exist!
2.) He rewards those that “diligently” seeks Him!
3.) IT TAKES FAITH IN HIS HOLY WORD TO PLEASE HIM!
4.) And it is just that simple! Praise God.

“He that comes to God must believe that He is God” God makes no explanation for Himself. He has always existed and will always exist eternally. That’a why it is called faith even though He has given us more than enough evidence to see that there must be a God, a CREATOR and therefore A SAVIOUR.

This Almighty God that “created” it all was the only one that could save His creation.

So what we have is a prepared place for a prepared people:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. [I go to prepare a place (for you)].
Joh 14:3  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).

I know by the response to these lessons that there are many out there who do not believe the words of the book of Revelation and many more that do not believe the word of God at all. Many refuse to see the obvious. “It took an almighty God to create this place we live called Earth.” The key to Gospel of Christ and God’s word really rest in just one thought:

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

To continue, most of what we know about “eternity” is found in Chapters 21 and 22 of this great book of the Bible. If we just allow God’s word to sink in we can see the most beautiful place that has ever existed. There is nothing on this Earth that we can compare to the New Jerusalem. At this time all the battles are over. All the plagues and the wrath of God have ceased. The old Earth is gone.

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face [the earth and the heaven fled away]; and there was found no place for them.

All things have been made new:

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

THE PROBLEM OF SIN HAS BEEN FOREVER SETTLED!

The Book of Revelation has connected us many times back to the first Book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis. We have now come full circle. We have a new Earth and a new Heaven above that Earth. You see there will never be another book added to the Bible. “IT IS A COMPLETE BOOK “.  With the fulfillment of this prophesy, We that know the Lord will be in eternal glory. Those that have rejected Him will be in eternal damnation, [by their own choice].

Why should we rejoice?

2Co 5:1 says  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, [we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens].

Why should we rejoice?

Luk 10:20 says  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, [because your names are written in heaven].

What are we looking for?

Tit 2:13 says  Looking for that blessed hope, and [the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ];
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Who are the happy people?

“Those that are looking for the return of Christ!”

*****Our Text:

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

(Water of life)

There is no doubt that there will be a beautiful river in New Jerusalem, “a river of life” and there have been many throughout all time looking for the fountain of life. There will be one in New Jerusalem but it has been here all along. Maybe it has not been visible to the eye but there is a Saviour who has said from the beginning that He was that river of life.

There was a woman of Samaria who went to a well to draw water one time and she met Jesus:

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Jesus stood up in the Temple one day before it was destroyed with these words:

Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

We can believe that there will be that there will be a Pure River of Life in the New Jerusalem and it will be there but our River of Life already exist while we are on this Earth:

You see following John 7:38 we find this verse:

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

You see until we get to Heaven a saint of God is alive now through the Holy Spirit.

A Psalmist wrote of this time many years ago:

Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psa 46:4  [There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God], the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psa 46:6  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Psa 46:7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psa 46:8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Psa 46:9  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Water is an emblem of the Holy Spirit and He signifies eternal life as Jesus told that woman at the well in Samaria:

Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

You know the prophet Isaiah also wrote of this:

Isa 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isa 12:3  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Also Joel:

Joe 2:28  And it shall come to pass afterward, that [I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh]; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

It’s obvious that the pouring would be as water poured on a person and so the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Life:

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Just as the Holy Spirit was involved in Creation(Genesis 1:2) So He will also involved in the creation of the New Heaven, The New Earth, and New Jerusalem.

Psa 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psa 104:30  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

Job 26:13  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

It is the Spirit that gives life to the Messiah and to every saint of God:

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It is the Holy Spirit that brings “regeneration”.

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

When we understand this it is easy to see that all religions are not the same. There is only one Christ, (the Messiah) brought back to life by the Holy Spirit, and sent by the Father, God from Heaven.

Not three different persons but the same person in His three forms.

1.) The Holy Spirit is God but He is not the Father and he is not the Christ!
2.) The Father  is God but He is not the Holy Spirit and He is not the Christ.
3.) Jesus Christ is God but He is not the Father and He is not the Holy Spirit.
4.) YET, THERE IS ONLY ONE  GOD!

And we are created in this image!

A “tree of life” will also be in the New Jerusalem and the “tree of life” represents Jesus Christ! He is our tree of life now as we live for Him today.

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but [he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God]?
1Jn 5:6  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1Jn 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

You know the Bible will always lead you to Jesus no matter what the world says!

The Prophet Jeremiah said:

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jer 17:8  For [he shall be as a tree planted by the waters], and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Jesus Himself said of the Holy Spirit back in chapter two:

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; [To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God].

The Psalmist wrote of the believer:

Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The wise man wrote of “WISDOM”:

Pro 3:18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Pro 3:19  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

Notice the picture of the Holy Trinity in these verses:

1.) This river proceeds from the throne of God.
2.) This river proceeds from the throne of the Lamb.
3.) This river of life symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

How many times does God have to say it before we accept His truth?

(In the midst of the street)

How many times have you driven through a beautiful city and seen trees planted between the ongoing traffic. This place of New Jerusalem will be more beautiful than we can imagine and have fruit for every season.

And beautiful rivers with the majestic trees growing along it’s banks. God tells us more about the beauty of New Jerusalem in these passages than in any other place in the Bible. But there is also the spiritual meaning here.

The twelve manner of fruit that we have now on this Earth if you are a “born again” child of God:

1.) Glory.

1Pe 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; [for the spirit of glory and of God] resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

2.) Life.

Rom 8:2  [For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus] hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3.) Holiness.

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, [according to the spirit of holiness], by the resurrection from the dead:

4.) Wisdom.

Exo 28:3  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with [the spirit of wisdom], that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

5.) Understanding.

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and [understanding], the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

6.) Counsel.

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, [the spirit of counsel] and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

7.) Knowledge.

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, [the spirit of knowledge] and of the fear of the LORD;

8.) Might.

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and [might], the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

9.) Fear of the Lord.

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and [of the fear of the LORD];

10.) Truth.

Joh 14:17  Even [the Spirit of truth]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

11.) Grace.

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto [the Spirit of grace]?

12.) Supplication.

Zec 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [the spirit of grace and of supplications]: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

You see in the eternal Grace of God everyone on Heaven will partake of this fruit throughout eternity and we will love as God loves.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(those leaves)

We know it is our Lord Jesus that brings healing:

Mal 4:2 says  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

1Pe 2:24 says  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

In the words of Jesus the Christ:

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

*****Our Text:

Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

When Adam listened to his wife instead of to the Lord:

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

To Cain the first to shed innocent blood:

Gen 4:11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Gen 4:14  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Gen 4:16  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

This should be a sign to all that think they can strap on a bomb in the name of some false religion and kill innocent people. Cain will be separated from God throughout eternity.

THERE WILL NEVER BE A NEED FOR A CURSE IN GOD’S NEW CREATION. IF YOU HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT THERE WILL BE LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS EVERYWHERE.

*****Our Text:

Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

In the old world, the one we live in now, no one can look upon the face of the Lord and live:

Exo 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

There are those that say we will never look upon the the face of God. If that were true than we would have to throw this verse out of the Bible. Just as all the rest we need to accept the word of God just as it is written, rightly divided.

“WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY TROUBLE REMEMBERING HIS NAME”!

*****Our text:

Rev 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

We know that in the creation of the world we now live in the time began in verse five of the book of Genesis:

Gen 1:5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

What we see in our text verse is that when there is no more night then there will be no more time as we know it and we will be in the time of God or as we say eternity. We will live in the presence of God forever.

Here is an interesting thought. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. It is said that if a person could travel that fast, his time would stop. Our Lord Jesus said that “He is the Light of eternal life”.

*****Our text:

Rev 22:6  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

When we first began this study of the book of Revelation we read that this book is the revealing, the unveiling of Jesus Christ our Lord. and He came to the Apostle John so we would have this record. John was told to write down all these things and give them to the Church. This message is for the Church. This study comes with the blessing of God and I hope everyone has gotten their blessing as I have been blessed many times during this study. Remember it is the teacher who is blessed the most sometimes. God wrote:

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Now at the end of this book we see that God has said that we can believe what He wrote for us because it is all true. God cannot lie:

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

God promised eternal life, not death, to all those that believe upon Him and His word. I believe, how about you?

God does not live or abide by our time so when He writes about coming shortly it is still the truth. His coming and it will be shortly compared to the eternal time clock of the Lord. Even those that say He is not coming is a sign that it is about time for Him to come.

The Apostle Peter wrote:

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

*****Our text:

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

What this verse tells us is that when the Mighty God of Heaven does come it will be quick. This word quickly means more “suddenly” than it does fast.

Christ tells us four times that He will come as a thief. That is without warning. A thief does not call you to tell you he is coming.

1Th 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

*****Our text:

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

The Apostle John claims he is an eyewitness to all these things he “saw” in all these visions and in Heaven and also that he heard from the angels and the fellow servants and from the Lord Jesus Himself. I believe John saw everything he said he did. God ‘s word is true. It is man’s word that I cannot believe.

The Bible says:

Rom 3:3  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Let’s not miss this important hint of what the saint of God will look like in Heaven. This the second time John was so excited that he bowed to this messenger of God. This verse tells us that this was not an angel but actually a fellow servant, even a prophet. You see John had seen God, He had seen the Lord. This messenger must have been also something marvelous to look upon but we can also see everyone in Heaven knows it is only God that will be worshipped.

John wrote:

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 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.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Does what John wrote make more sense now?

That glorified body we will have will also be marvelous to look upon. There will be no jealousy because we will all have one. Praise God for what is coming to those who love Him.

*****Our text:

Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

In the book of Daniel when He had some similar visions he was told to seal them up:

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

America is only two hundred and thirty years old. When this nation began we could only travel at the speed of a horse. For a short distance that could be about thirty miles an hour. Not only in America but the world was in the same shape. The world had been that way for about six thousand years. It does not take a genius to see how far the world has developed in a short period of time. It is easy to see that “knowledge has been increased” to an amazing extent.

The Apostle John was placed on the Isle of Patmos to die. The ruling government of the world was tired of hearing about Jesus Christ and salvation and everlasting life and a coming King to rule this world. Kind of sounds like our day doesn’t it. God had different plans, John wrote all this down to be given to the Church and John also was to preach the word again. John was a very old man but despite what the government had done God reversed it and the word of God flowed off that Isle of Patmos and no one and no government can stop God’s word until He says so, though they may try.

It is God that sits on the throne in Heaven and this is still His world!

Notice when Jesus Comes there will be no massive exodus from the evil world of sin to Him. He will not allow that.

The Bible says:

1.) The unjust will stay unjust.
2.) The filthy will stay filthy.
3.) The righteous will stay righteous.
4.) The holy will stay holy.

Everyone will stay just as they are!

In fact the Bible says:

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

There will be no last minute Christians at that time, at least none of those that have felt the tug of the Holy Spirit and refused Him.

You can get a reward at the Bema seat at the rapture [or] the reward for the wages for your sin. This is a choice we all have to make.

The wages of sin is death and eternal damnation, separated from God forever!
The best reward at the Bema seat is eternal life in New Jerusalem with our Lord!

Only Jesus Christ fits the description of verse 13.

He was before the foundations of the Old Earth and will never cease being God. It is He that laid the foundations of our world!

Heb 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Heb 1:11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
Heb 1:12  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

You see He laid the foundation of the Church also at the same time:

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

****Our text:

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Who are blessed?

Those that obey the word of God.

They will meet Jesus Christ the tree of life.

They will enter into New Jerusalem through the Church.

Remember that gate is a pearl, a single pearl.

Remember this little parable?

Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

The Church represents that Pearl.

Who cannot enter?

1.) Dogs: They are the assembly of the wicked.

Psa 22:16  For dogs have compassed me: [the assembly of the wicked] have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

2.) Sorcerers: Those that have fallen to the drug effect of sin and false religion.

Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and [bewitched the people] of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

3.) Whoremongers: Those that have rejected the true living God after once saying they knew Him. “The Laodicean Church”.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 4.) Murderers:

5.) Idolaters: Those that placed the things of this world above of the Living God.

Mar 4:18  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

6.) Whosoever loves a lie: The followers of Satan.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

*****Our text:

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Who is the author of the Book of Revelation?

We know Him as The Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Who is He speaking to?

The Church.

He will fulfill all prophesy and therefore the King of the Jew?

He is the “root and offspring of David!

Is He the Sun of Righteousness?

He is the bright and Morning Star:

The Bible said in the book of Genesis:

Gen 1:3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

In the Book of Numbers:

Num 24:17  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

In Matthew:

Mat 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

In Luke:

Luk 1:78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

In Peter:

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

In Malachi:

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Our text:

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The Holy Spirit though He brings about Salvation to all that commit them selves to the Lord, still has never left the Bride. That tells us His “Omnipresence”. Only God can be everywhere all the time. The Spirit is still saying to all that read this book  and to all that hear this word to come. COME

God told Moses to “Come” into the ark just before He sent the flood that destroyed mankind years ago:

Gen 7:1  And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

God is telling “whosoever” will to come into the Church, the Ark of the New Testament to come into the Bride of Christ, the Church of the Living God before He brings destruction this world. This will be a total destruction!

AND IT DOES NOT COST A THING IT IS FREE!

SALVATION IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD BUT ONLY IN THIS TIME OF THE CHURCH AGE!

Many will be save during the tribulation period but they will have to give up their lives as martyrs to get there. It will be a terrible time. Israel will not be saved until the very last day of the Great Tribulation.

So, Why not just believe what God has to say?

*****Our text:

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

This is God’s final warning.

This the Book that the Lord Wrote. God’s word is not to be added to or taken away from. There is no need to expand on what God says here.

1.) Those that would add works to the Free Gift of God will go through the tribulation period plagues.
2.) Those that take away the Blood and the Virgin Birth and say that that there are other ways to Heaven will not be named in the Lamb’s Book Of Life.

God is serious about this time of Grace. Remember this Book was written to the Church, The Bride of Christ. It is the Church will be judged first.

Yes, Come Lord Jesus Come!

Let’s pray!

THE ETERNAL AGE

Revelation 21

The truth is we don’t have a clue to what will happen after the White Throne Judgment. What we do know is that everything will be NEW and all the FORMER things will be gone.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote:

Isa 42:9  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

He said in another place:

Isa 64:3  When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
Isa 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

God told Isaiah to write that after these terrible things of the Great Tribulation that no one has seen what is to be prepared for those that choose Jesus.

Jesus Christ said:

Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: (if it were not so, I would have told you). [I go to prepare a place for you].
Joh 14:3  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.

The Apostle Paul wrote in reference to this verse that God hath revealed some by His Spirit. We will see in Revelation Chapter 21 and 22 some of the “wonderful” sights that await us.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

What are some of the things we know now?

1.) There even some things that the Angles don’t know:

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

2.) We will see goodness so great it is unbelievable:

Psa 31:19  Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

3.) The Father has prepared a real special place:

Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, [but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father].

4.) It’s going to be a wonderful city:

Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: [for he hath prepared for them a city].

5.) It will be very good:

Rom 8:28  [And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God], to them who are the called according to his purpose.

6.) It is a Kingdom:

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and [heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him]?

7.) There can be many gifts:

1Co 1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7  [So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ]:

8.)  We’ve already said if mansions are already there that we haven’t seen then our homes could be better than mansions:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  [In my Father’s house are many mansions]: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  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.
Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

9.) We will see Our God face to face:

Rev 22:4  [And they shall see his face]; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

We will get our best view of our New World in chapters 21 and 22 in this great book but “There’s only one way to get there”!

Act 8:37  And Philip said, [If thou believest with all thine heart], thou mayest. And he answered and said, [I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God].

*****Our text:

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

(A new heaven and Earth)

There is going to be a new heaven and a new Earth. I believe the new heaven will replace that one that is above us where we get the air that we breath maybe and probably including at least part of the heaven where the Sun, Moon and Stars are.

I believe that the entire planet of Earth will be replaced with a new Earth, just as the Bible says. I you believe the words of salvation then we should also believe these words.

Jesus said:

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

We know this will happen when Christ sits on the White Throne of Judgment:

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

The Apostle Peter wrote of this day:

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

We should not get this confused with the second coming of our Lord for this will not happen until the end of the Millennial reign of Christ. For Peter also writes by the Holy Spirit, that we knowing all these things should be serving in all manner of godliness, looking for these things that will happen after the “Rapture” of the Church.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

There’s a new world coming but you must be saved in order to see it!

The prophet wrote:

Isa 60:21  Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Even Job knew of this day:

Job 9:2  I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Job 9:6  Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

(There is no more Sea)

This new Earth will not need a Sea:

1.) There will be no more “pollution”. The Sea purifies our drinking water the dirty water flows into the sea and through God’s miracles, it is evaporated and comes back to us in the form of rain.

2.) Climate Regulation: Ocean dynamics strongly affect climate and weather patterns, transferring heat from the equator to the poles and moderating carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

a.) Land-based pollutants: Waste originating on land such as plastics and electronics account for 80 percent of all marine debris.
b.) Toxic chemicals: Chemicals that have been implicated in cancer, developmental problems and other health issues end up in the ocean.
c.) Energy consumption: The burning of coal, accounting for roughly 50 percent of U.S. energy use, releases toxic mercury that ends up in the ocean and the fish we eat.
d.) Pharmaceuticals: The Associated Press reports that U.S. hospitals and long-term care facilities alone flush millions of pounds of pharmaceuticals annually down the drain.
e.) Oil spills: An estimated 706 million gallons of oil are leaked from ships or wash from land into the ocean each year.
d.) Carbon emissions: The oceans have absorbed about 50 percent of carbon dioxide from our carbon emissions, resulting in a 30 percent increase in ocean acidity since the Industrial Revolution.

Not only are we contaminating the ocean and its inhabitants, we are ultimately contaminating ourselves. Our health is directly reliant upon the health of the ocean for our most basic sustenance—food and water.

Some results of this pollution:

1.) Seafood: We ingest harmful chemicals via toxin-laden seafood, including mercury and PCB s. These contaminants, among others, have serious developmental implications.
2.) Water: Polluted water transfers water-borne diseases and toxic chemicals. Every year, more than 3.5 million people die worldwide from water-related diseases.

Knowing these things we can also get some idea of what God has planned for all His children.

WHY NOT BE A CHILD OF GOD!

Jesus said:

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

IT’S A SIMPLE ENOUGH WAY BECAUSE SALVATION IS JUST THIS SIMPLE!

(a new city)

This another thing that God has promised to all that believe upon Him. There is no city on this Earth that it can be said it will last forever. Only the New Jerusalem will fill this emptiness we long for and the following verses will describe her beauty.

Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

The prophet Isaiah wrote:

Isa 52:1  Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

The city of “faith”, Abraham looked for it:

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The “heavenly” Jerusalem:

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Jesus told us about it at the first of this great book we are about to finish. The city of all those that overcome the works of Satan in the Church Age:

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

As always the Holy Spirit says “LISTEN TO WHAT I AM TELLING YOU”

Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

WAKE UP WORLD!

(the tabernacle of God)

Why only a tabernacle? We will see in this chapter that God will be the Temple.

We will be with God face to face:

Job wrote:

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Paul wrote:

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

*****Our text:

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

What will not be in this new city:

1.) No Sea (no pollution)[I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.]
2.) No tears (no reason to cry)
3.) No death (no grave yards, no funerals, no hospitals, no cancer, no heart problems, no sickness of any kind)
4.) No sorrow (no reason at all to be unhappy)
5.) No pain (no pressure, no distress, no tension, no wounds, no bruises, no broken bones, no mental problems)
6.) No murderers (not one penitentiary, not one jail, not one lawyer, nor judge)
7.) No adulterers (no jealousy, no marriages, no wives nor husbands [all of one family])
8.) No idolaters (everyone will worship God)
9.) No liars (only the truth, it is the only way to get there to “Believe in God’s Truth” [Write: for these words are true and faithful.] )
10.) THERE WILL BE NO SIN!
11.) IF IT IS ON THIS EARTH IT WILL NOT BE IN NEW JERUSALEM. (Behold, I make all things new)

*****Our text:

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

(one of the seven angels)

Just to show how the term angel is used sometimes in the Bible, this certain angel was one of the Saints that had gone home to be with the Lord.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

This a hint of what a Saint of God in Heaven will look like. Don’t get me wrong there is only one God and no Saint will ever be a God but John was so excited and this messenger sent from God was so majestic and wonderful John made the mistake of bowing to him. Remember every saint of God is also a child of God therefore in the family of “royalty”.

Not every angel is Jesus, not every angel is described as one of the Saints of God and some are truly angels as we know that they are innumerable. We all will have jobs to do in Heaven. We will not be just stretched out on a cloud taking it easy. There will be a society in Heaven.

(The Bride)

The Beauty of this city was nothing like John had ever seen so he described it as a new bride. There is no doubt of the beauty of a new bride going to meet her husband on the wedding day. The Oriental bride was adourned with all things to increase her beauty and her worth. After all this is the place God prepared for His “bride”.

This city was not on the New Earth but may be suspended in the New Heaven above the Earth.

*****Our Text:

Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

(the Glory of God)

The prophet Isaiah wrote these words:

Isa 60:19  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Isa 60:20  Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

What did this light resemble? This entire city, New Jerusalem, resembled a most precious stone. We already know that a Jasper stone reflects a multitude of colors. It may be said this city looked somewhat like a a crystal clear ice cube with the spectrum of the rainbow, glowing, reflecting, flickering in an awesome display of light. A truly beautiful sight.

Jasper also represents “Wisdom”.

Job wrote:

Job 28:12  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:13  Man knoweth not the price thereof; [neither is it found in the land of the living].
Job 28:14  The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
Job 28:15  It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
Job 28:16  It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Job 28:17  The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
Job 28:18  No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: [for the price of wisdom is above rubies].
Job 28:19  The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Job 28:20  Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:21  Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Job 28:22  Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
Job 28:23  [God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof].

(a great wall)

The wall of this great city have a purpose but it’s not for defense. The wall around New Jerusalem tells us a story. I guess a Bible story for remembering all things will be made new.

Notice the “seven” twelves:

1,) This is a square wall much like the city.
2.) Twelve gates.
3.) Twelve angles as guards.
4.) Twelve names of the tribes of Israel were on these gates.
5.) Twelve foundations.
6.) Twelve names of the Apostles were on the foundations
7.) Twelve cubits times twelve the height of the wall[214 feet].
8.) Twelve pearls were the gates thereof.

(Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.)

Scofield writes:

The true Church, “one body” formed by the Holy Spirit (1Co_12:12-13). As Israel is the hid treasure, so the Church is the pearl of great cost. Covering the same period of time as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the Church; (Rom_16:25-26); (Eph_3:3-10); (Eph_5:32). Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol:

(1) A pearl is one, a perfect symbol of unity (1Co_10:17); (1Co_12:12); (1Co_12:13); (Eph_4:4-6).

(2) a pearl is formed by the accretion, and that not mechanically, but vitally, through a living one, as Christ adds to the Church (Act_2:41); (Act_2:47); (Act_5:14); (Act_11:24); (Eph_2:21); (Col_2:19).

(3) Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for presentation to Himself (Eph_5:25-27). The kingdom is not the Church, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfillment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body (1Co_12:12-13) compose the true Church, the pearl.

The seven twelves connects the Lamb’s bride.

Yes this wall is much like the stones Joshua placed at and in the River Jordan.

Jos 4:8  And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
Jos 4:9  And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
Jos 4:10  For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

It is a sign to all that enter her gates of the ministries of God from the old Earth.

1.) Salvation is of the Jews:

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

2.) The Apostles preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and began the Church Age.

Act 2:14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Act 2:16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 2:19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Act 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

3.) It is through the Church that the gateway to Heaven was revealed:

Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Yes this wall is a memorial to the work of God throughout all the ages and is for all to see for eternity.

There is and always has been only one way to Heaven!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And that through a “Bloody Cross”!

By the way that city would be 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide, and 1500 miles high.
That wall would be 216 feet high and would encircle the entire city. The wall is not there for protection it is there for a memorial.

*****Our text:

Rev 21:19  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20  The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

The foundations:

1.) Jasper—–Wisdom

The people who accept God’s gift are wise.

Hos 14:9  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

2.) Sapphire——-Repentance

A change of mind.

Mat 21:28  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

3.) Chalcedony——-shaped by the Lord

Isa 44:24  Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

4.) Emerald——-Green the color of “Grace”

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

5.) Sardonyx——The Red “blood” of Calvary, The purity of White

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

6.) Sardius——-Behold the face of God

Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

7.) Chrysolite——The Healing Stone

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

8.) Beryl——–Life giving force

Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

9.) Topaz——Protection against enemies

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

10.) Chrysoprasus——-No struggles or fights

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

11.) Jacinth——-God’s riches

Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

12.) Amethyst——–Led by the Holy Spirit

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Those Pearly Gates:

The Pearl is a gem that is not mined but is made by life itself. Jesus Christ is life and He has covered us from all sin until we have become a lively stone.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

*****Our text:

Rev 21:22  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

To review:

1.) God will be the Temple along with the Lamb. (One and the same)
2.) Eternal life begins. (No darkness anywhere)
3.) All that are saved will glorify this great city.
4.) Those that live eternally can enter in and out forever.
5.) Your name must be in the Lamb’s Book Of Life.

Why not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior today, right now.

It’s simple.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and therefore in need of a Savior. I know that you are that Savior and I believe with all my heart. I ask you to come into my heart and save me today. Thank you for saving me. Amen

If you pray that prayer with all your heart and mean it YOU WILL BE SAVED AT THAT VERY MOMENT and the Holy Ghost will begin His work of sanctification on you immediately. Remember you are only one step from your old sinful life and it will take a while for God to move you away from what you used to be because you are now a New Person because you have been “Born Again”.

Lets Pray!

The Millennial Reign Of Christ

Our text:

Revelation Chapter 20

What is a Millennium? A thousand years; a word used to denote the thousand years mentioned in Revelations 20. during which period Satan shall be bound and restrained from seducing men to sin, and Christ shall reign on earth with his saints.

The phrase a thousand years is used six times in Chapter twenty. There is no reason to believe that it does not mean a “literal” one thousand year period.

There are a great number of Old Testament passages that refer to Christ’s future millennial reign on this Earth!

Just to name a few.

1.) Christ as King in Jerusalem ruling over all Nations:

Psa 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

2.) The returning King from His Victory:

Psa 24:7  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Psa 24:9  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:10  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

3.) Christ as the Son in His Governmental rule:

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

4.) Christ reign will be a reign of Justice:

Jer 23:5  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jer 23:7  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
Jer 23:8  But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

Again:

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

a.) A peaceful reign:

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

b.) A rule over restored Israel and the nations of the world:

Isa 11:10  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isa 11:11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Isa 11:12  And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Isa 11:13  The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
Isa 11:14  But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Isa 11:15  And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
Isa 11:16  And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

5.) Christ will reign in Jerusalem:

Isa 24:23  Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

6.) Christ will bless the land again:

Isa 35:1  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Isa 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isa 35:4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Isa 35:5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isa 35:6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isa 35:7  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isa 35:9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Isa 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

7.) Christ will rule over “all” people:

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

8.) The Enemies of Israel will be destroyed!:

Zec 14:9  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
Zec 14:10  All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
Zec 14:11  And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
Zec 14:12  And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
Zec 14:13  And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
Zec 14:14  And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
Zec 14:15  And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
Zec 14:16  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Zec 14:17  And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Zec 14:18  And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Zec 14:19  This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Zec 14:20  In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Zec 14:21  Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

There is no doubt what the scriptures say Christ will rescue His people!

Mic 5:4  And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

Zec 9:10  And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

Jesus Christ has taught us all to pray for this day to come:

Luk 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Luk 11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth].

This day is not so far off! It will begin at the very end of the Great Tribulation Period!

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Our Text:

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

We are going to see four main things in this chapter:

1.) The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound in the Bottomless Pit for one thousand years.
2.) Jesus Christ will reign and the Saints for one thousand years.
3.) Satan will be loosed for a little season to test those that will be born during the Millennium.
4.) The “judgment” of the wicked dead.

Back in Revelation 1 verse 18 we saw that it is the Lord Jesus who has possession of all the keys.

Rev 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Then this must be the Lord will bind Satan. By placing His Seal it shows that Christ has taken on His role as King. It is His “government that is now in control on Earth. (Thy will be done on Earth as in Heaven)

We can see in verse two four names of Satan.

1.) Satan = The Enemy of Christ
2.) The Devil = The Deceiver
3.) The Dragon = Cruelty
4.) The Serpent = Guile and Cunning

We can see how the Holy Spirit again refers us back to the book of Genesis.

Gen 3:1  [Now the serpent] was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

We can see the Satan is indeed a person and not just some evil influence.

Until this chapter Satan has been the prince of the power of the air:

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The god of this age:

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The ruler of the powers of darkness:

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It was Michael that tossed him out of the heavens(where the stars are) but I believe that it is Jesus that locks him up. The Almighty God can stop the Devil in his tracks at any time.

The term after that refers to after the one thousand year period.

Our text:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Who is sitting on these thrones?

1.) 1Co 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

It is the Church, the  Saints of God that will judge the world.

1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

and

Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

2.) It is the Apostles that will judge Israel:

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

There will no conflict in judgment because we all have only one King.

Verse four tells us that everyone that died in the name of Jesus Christ during the tribulation period(all seven years) will be resurrected at this time. This is not the Church which was resurrected at the time of the Rapture.

Luk 14:13  But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luk 14:14  And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Verse five tells of the wicked dead of all ages that will not be resurrected until the end of the one thousand years. This will be the “White Throne Judgment”.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Only the righteous will be raised in the Rapture:

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, [and now is], when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

The phrase “and now is” is referring to the time we call the Age of Grace, the Church Age.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, [even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him].
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Peter describes the ruling Church:

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Verse six tells us that death will never have power over these saints of God. Eternal Life!

The resurrection of the wicked is not a resurrection unto life but unto eternal damnation.

What will it be like on Earth during this one thousand years?

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

We’ve already seen what Isaiah said but Amos also tells us:

Amo 9:13  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
Amo 9:14  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
Amo 9:15  And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Our text:

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

We can see again in this verse a thousand years will expire before Satan will be released from his prison. We might ask why was Satan released when God had him bound.

1.) God is no respecter of persons:

Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

In  the time of the Millennial Kingdom there will be children born. The Prophet Ezekiel wrote of this time:

Eze 47:21  So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.
Eze 47:22  And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, [which shall beget children among you]: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
Eze 47:23  And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.

Many saved at the end of the Great Tribulation will be in their natural bodies and they only, can have children. The Church, now the Bride will come back with Jesus but will be as the angels and no children will be born of them.

Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Now God will prove just as He has said. Every one in the flesh are born with a sin nature.

Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Job 25:4  How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Gen 8:21  And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; [for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth]; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Psa 58:3  The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and [were by nature the children of wrath, even as others].

2.) Everyone will be Tempted of the Devil:

Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, [he is able to succour them that are tempted].

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; [but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin].
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

These are no different even though they be born in a perfect world.

Notice when Satan was loosened from his chains he found them. They were as far away from God as they could get.(four quarters of the Earth). It did not take him long to convince them that with him leading the way they could defeat the Lord Jesus as He sat as King.

Ezekiel 38 and 39 tells us of this battle. Notice the horses. All the military hardware had been converted to farm equipment at the end of the tribulation.

Eze 38:15  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
Eze 38:16  And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Verse 9 tells us that this may be the shortest battle of all time. God will not allow this to go on because The King Of Glory is sitting on the throne ruling in righteousness.

Satan will be sent to the burning lake of fire and will never tempt anyone again. The torment he has earned will will begin and will never end. Angels cannot die but he will not be a ruler here. The false prophet and the beast have already been there for a thousand years.

Our text:

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Who sits on this throne?

Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

The Earth and it’s heavens(the place of our air and where the birds fly and the place of the stars and the galaxies) will dissolve and melt away.

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Jer 4:23  I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
Jer 4:24  I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Jer 4:25  I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
Jer 4:26  I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Who are these dead?

This group of people are all those since the beginning of time that have rejected God! Everyone of these have been in Hell.

Our text:

Rev 20:5  [But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished]. This is the first resurrection.

What are some of the books?

1.) The Bible:

2Ti 3:16  [All scripture is given by inspiration of God], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and [receiveth not my words], hath one that judgeth him: [the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day].

Now you can throw that Bible down, or you can find one that suits your life style but these are the words of Jesus Christ and the WORD OF GOD.

2.) The Book of Idle Words:

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

3.) And the Lamb’s Book of Life:

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

And there are other books.

4.) The Book of the living:

Psa 69:28  Let them be blotted out of [the book of the living], and not be written with the righteous.

If you are a child of God your name will never be removed from this book but all those that do not accept the Lord Jesus Christ before they die a natural death, their names will be removed.

Jesus will say of these:

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There are other Books so there will be NO doubt even to your own self. God will judge a righteous judgment.

All those buried at sea.
All those in Hell.
All those that had died.

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Finally Death and Hell will be cast into the Burning Lake of Fire:

Rev 6:8  And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and [his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him]. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Death is the place where the body goes!
Hell is the place where the soul has been since death!

That old body(not a glorified body) and that tormented soul will be reunited before these are cast into the Lake of Fire.

IS YOU NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’ BOOK OF LIFE?

ARE YOU SURE?

Whosoever will come can be saved but whosoever chooses not to come will be cast in the Eternal Fire Forever.

Let’s Pray!