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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 87

TITLE: THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST

TEXT: REVELATION 22:6-12

INTRODUCTION: (1) JESUS CHRIST COULD RETURN FOR HIS CHURCH AT ANY MOMENT.

* NOW I BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I READ IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND ONLINE, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT I READ IN THE WORD OF GOD.

** IN FACT, THE N.T. IS CONSISTENT IN IT’S ANTICIPATION AND HOPE THAT THE RETURN OF CHRIST MIGHT OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT.

*** FURTHERMORE, A NATURAL READING OF THE N.T. COMMUNICATES THE TRUTH THAT THE EARLY CHURCH IN THE FIRST CENTURY WAS LOOKING FOR THE RETURN OF CHRIST, THAT HIS COMING WAS IMMINENT; THAT IS, THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, EVEN IN THEIR LIFETIME.

**** BELOVED, FOR THE EARLY CHURCH, IMMINENCE CONTAINED COMPONENTS BOTH OF CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY.

(2) NO. 1 THEY WERE CERTAIN, THEY WERE POSITIVE, THEY BELIEVED WITHOUT DOUBT THAT CHRIST WOULD ONE DAY RETURN, BUT UNLIKE SOME CONTEMPORARY DATE SETTERS WERE UNCERTAIN WHEN, THEY JUST KNEW THAT HE COULD RETURN AT ANY MOMENT.

* THUS NOT KNOWING WHEN HE WOULD RETURN THEY LIVED WITH EXPECTATION, LIVING FOR AND HOPING FOR CHRIST TO RETURN AT ANY MOMENT.

** WITH THAT SAID, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF N.T. SCRIPTURES THAT REFLECT THAT THE APOSTLES AND FIRST GENERATION CHRISTIANS HELD TO A FERVENT EXPECTATION AND HOPE THAT CHRIST MIGHT SUDDENLY RETURN AT ANY TIME TO GATHER HIS CHURCH TO HEAVEN.

**** FOR EXAMPLE, AND HERE IS THE EVIDENCE, JAMES, WRITING ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MAYBE THEE EARLIEST N.T. EPISTLE, CLEARLY COMMUNICATED THAT THE LORD’S RETURN WAS IMMINENT.

***** FOR HE WAS INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SAY THIS IN JAMES 5:7-9:

V. 7 – THEREFORE BE PATIENT, BRETHREN, UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD. THE FARMER WAITS FOR THE PRECIOUS PRODUCE OF THE SOIL, BEING PATIENT ABOUT IT, UNTIL IT GETS THE EARLY AND LATE RAINS.

V. 8 – YOU TOO BE PATIENT; STRENGTHEN YOUR HEARTS, FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IS NEAR.

V. 9 – DO NOT COMPLAIN, BRETHREN, AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, SO THAT YOU YOURSELVES MAY NOT BE JUDGED; BEHOLD, THE JUDGE IS STANDING RIGHT AT THE DOOR.

(3) THEN PETER ECHOED THAT SAME EXPECTATION IN I PETER 4:7 WHERE HE SAID: (READ IT)

* BEYOND PETER, THE WRITER OF HEBREWS TALKED ABOUT THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST AS A REASON TO REMAIN FAITHFUL, FOR HEBREWS 10:24 SAYS: “AND LET US CONSIDER HOW TO STIMULATE ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS.”

** THEN V. 25 SAYS (READ IT), PLUS READ HEBREWS 10:37.

*** BEYOND THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, PAUL COMMENDED THE CORINTHIANS IN I CORINTHIANS 1:7B BECAUSE THEY WERE “AWAITING EAGERLY THE REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

**** THEN PAUL CLOSES THE BOOK OF I CORINTHIANS IN CHAPTER 16 VERSE 22 BY USING THE ARAMAIC WORD MARANATHA WHICH LIT. MEANS OUR LORD COMETH OR OUR LORD WILL COME, OR “O LORD COME,” WHICH IT IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN USED AS A WATCHWORD, EXPRESSING THE BELIEVER’S LONGING FOR CHRIST’S RETURN.

(4) AND GET THIS, WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL DESCRIBED THE LORD’S COMING IN THE AIR IN I THESSALONIANS 4:13-18, HE USED PERSONAL PRONOUNS THAT SHOW HE BELIEVED THAT HE HIMSELF MIGHT BE AMONG THOSE WHO WOULD BE RAPTURED OUT – CAUGHT UP ALIVE TO MEET THE LORD, FOR HE SAID: (READ I THESS. 4:13-18).

* THEN ONE LAST TEXT, PAUL MADE IT PLAIN TO TITUS, THAT A WATCHFUL EYE, A HOPEFUL EXPECTANCY OF CHRIST’S 2’D COMING SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR LIVES, FOR HE SAID IN TITUS 2:11-13, READ THEM.

** NOW FROM ALL THESE TEXTS I HAVE GIVEN TO YOU, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVED IN THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST.

*** AND THE QUESTION CAN BE ASKED AT THIS POINT OF MY INTRODUCTION, DOES THE PASSING OF TWO THOUSAND YEARS PROVE THAT CHRIST’S RETURN WAS NOT IMMINENT AND THAT THE EARLY CHURCH AND THE APOSTLES WERE WRONG?

**** WELL, THE ANSWER IS AN EMPHATIC NO!

(5) FOR JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 24:36 (READ IT).

* THEN IN V. 42 OF MATTHEW 24 HE SAID: “THEREFORE BE ON THE ALERT, FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHICH DAY THE LORD IS COMING.”

** AND THEN IN V. 44 OF MATTHEW 24 HE SAID: (READ IT).

*** SO THE EXACT TIME IS HIDDEN FROM US AS IT WAS WITH THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH.

**** BUT NONETHELESS CHRIST COULD COME AT ANY TIME. THE JUDGE IS STILL AT THE DOOR. THE DAY IS STILL AT HAND, HE COULD COME AT ANY MOMENT, SO IN THAT SENSE CHRIST’S COMING IS IMMINENT.

(6) THEREFORE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE COMMAND TO BE READY AND WATCHFUL IS AS APPLICABLE TO US AS IT WAS TO THE EARLY CHURCH.

* IN FACT, THE RETURN OF CHRIST IS 2,000 YEARS CLOSER THAN IT WAS FOR JAMES AND PAUL AND THE EARLY CHURCH.

** AND ONE DAY HE WILL RETURN, SO HIS RETURN IS IMMINENT.

*** AND THAT TRUTH IS A CLEAR THEME IN OUR STUDY OF REVELATION TODAY.

**** FOR IN V. 6 OF OUR TEXT, THE ANGEL SAID THAT THE THINGS TALKED ABOUT IN REVELATION “MUST SOON TAKE PLACE.”

(7) IN V. 7 JESUS SAID, “I AM COMING QUICKLY.”

* IN V. 10 THE ANGEL SAID, “THE TIME IS NEAR.”

** AND THEN IN V. 12 JESUS SAID AGAIN, “I AM COMING QUICKLY.”

*** THUS, I HAVE TITLED OUR STUDY TODAY: “THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST.”

**** AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL, OF JESUS CHRIST AND JOHN IN OUR STUDY OF REVELATION 22:6-12.

(8) NO. 1 THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL IN V. 6; NO. 2 THE WORDS OF CHRIST IN V. 7; NO. 3 THE WORDS OF JOHN, V. 8; NO. 4 THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL AGAIN IN VV. 9-11; AND NO. 5 THE WORDS OF CHRIST AGAIN IN V. 12.

* AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR SPIRITUAL G.P.S. DIRECTOR, LOOK AT V. 6 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL.

I. THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL, (READ V. 6)

A. NOW THE “HE” OF V. 6 IS THE ANGEL THAT HAS BEEN JOHN’S TOUR GUIDE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM GOING BACK TO REVELATION 21:9.

* AND THIS ANGEL REITERATES THE RELIABILITY OF WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO JOHN, THE ACCURACY AND TRUTH OF THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO JOHN THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

** FOR JOHN’S LAST VISION OF THINGS TO COME IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION ENDED IN REVELATION 22:5.

*** SO BY SAYING, “THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE” THE ANGEL IS TESTIFYING AND GIVING AFFIRMATION TO ALL THAT JOHN HEARD AND SAW THROUGHOUT HIS SERIES OF VISIONS THAT MAKE UP THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

**** JOHN WAS NOT HAVING A SERIES OF BAD DREAMS AND GOOD DREAMS RESULTING FROM EATING SOMETHING THAT DIDN’T SIT WELL THAT CAUSED HIM TO HAVE BIZARRE DREAMS NOR WERE THESE THINGS A RESULT OF AN OVER-ACTIVE IMAGINATION.

1. THE ANGELS WORDS SIMPLY REINFORCED AN IMPORTANT AND VITAL TRUTH: EVERYTHING THAT JOHN HAS SEEN IN REVELATION WILL SURELY COME TO PASS.

* THESE TRUTHS ARE NOT MYSTICAL OR ALLEGORICAL, THEY ARE NOT UNKNOWABLE, BUT REVELATION FROM GOD OF THINGS TO COME.

** AND THIS IS FURTHER CONFIRMED BY THE NEXT PHRASE IN V. 6, “AND THE LORD, THE GOD OF THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS, SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHOW TO HIS BONDSERVANTS THE THINGS WHICH MUST SOON TAKE PLACE.”

*** ROBERT MOUNCE IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION QUOTES A COMMENTATOR NAMED SWETE AND THEN GIVES HIS OWN COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PHRASE, AND I QUOTE:

**** THE SOURCE OF THE REVELATION IS THE LORD, WHO IS FURTHER DESCRIBED AS “THE GOD OF THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS.” THE “SPIRITS” (NOTE PLURAL) ARE THE NATURAL FACULTIES OF THE PROPHETS, RAISED AND QUICKENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

2. THEN MOUNCE SAID: “IT IS UNNECESSARY TO DECIDE BETWEEN O.T. AND N.T. PROPHETS (IN REFERENCE TO WHICH PROPHETS ARE TALKED ABOUT HERE) BECAUSE IN EITHER CASE THE SAME PROPHETIC FUNCTION IS BEING CARRIED OUT. ALL TRUE PROPHECY ORIGINATES WITH GOD AND COMES THROUGH PEOPLE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (II PETER 1:21).” (END QUOTE)

* NOW II PETER 1:20&21 SAYS: (READ THEM).

** NOW WITH THOSE VERSES AND QUOTES IN MIND, THIS CLAUSE OR PHRASE THAT FOLLOWS “THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE” GIVES THE REASON WHY THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

*** FOR THE GOD WHO MOVED THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS TO INSPIRE BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS IS THE SAME GOD WHO SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHOW HIS BONDSERVANTS, LIT. SLAVES, BELIEVERS, THE THINGS WHICH MUST SOON TAKE PLACE.

**** AND THIS PHRASE IS NOTHING SHORT OF A CLAIM BY JOHN FOR THE FULL AND COMPLETE INSPIRATION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

3. AND AS THE PROPHECIES OF ALL BIBLICALLY INSPIRED PROPHETS CAME TO PASS IN THE WORD AND WERE LITERALLY FULFILLED, SO WILL THESE PROPHECIES OF THINGS TO COME.

* IN FACT, THESE THINGS “MUST SOON TAKE PLACE” AT THE END OF V. 6.

** AND THE IDEA AND TRUTH OF THIS PHRASE IS, WHEN THE TIME FOR THESE THINGS TO TAKE PLACE COMES, IT WILL BE SUDDEN, THEY WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY.

*** AND THIS SAME THOUGHT IS COMMUNICATED IN THE PROLOGUE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION IN REVELATION 1:1 WHERE IT SAYS: “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE HIM TO SHOW TO HIS BOND-SERVANTS, THE THINGS WHICH MUST SOON TAKE PLACE; AND HE SENT AND COMMUNICATED IT BY HIS ANGEL TO HIS BOND-SERVANT JOHN.”

**** NOW THE WORD TRANSLATED SOON OR SHORTLY DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE MEANS IN BRIEF TIME OR QUICKLY.

4. AND THIS PARTICULAR GREEK WORD IS TRANSLATED SOON OR SHORTLY IS USED 7 TIMES IN THE N.T. AND TWICE IN REVELATION.

* AND A STUDY OF IT’S OCCURRENCES SUGGEST THAT THE PRIMARY THOUGHT AND MEANING IS NOT SO MUCH THE PROXIMITY OF THE EVENT, BUT THE ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OF THE EVENT, AS IS COMMUNICATED IN REVELATION 22:6 – THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE AND INSPIRED.

** BUT NOT ONLY THE ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OF THE EVENT, BUT ALSO THE RAPID FULFILLMENT ONCE THE ACTION IS STARTED OR IS COMMENCED.

*** THE IDEA IS NOT THAT THE EVENT MAY OCCUR SOON, BUT THAT WHEN IT DOES, IT WILL BE SUDDEN.

**** SO ONCE THE END TIME EVENTS BEGIN, THEY WILL OCCUR IN RAPID SUCCESSION, THE ACTION WILL BE SUDDEN WHEN IT COMES, NOT NECESSARILY THAT IT WILL OCCUR IMMEDIATELY.

5. AND I DEVELOPED THIS MORE BACK IN REVELATION 1, LOOKING AT THE GREEK WORDS USED IN LUKE 18:7&8 AND I DON’T HAVE TIME TODAY TO REPEAT THAT.

* BUT TO SAY THESE THINGS LIKE CHRIST’S COMING IS IMMINENT, NOT IMMEDIATE.

** AND IMMEDIATE AS DEFINED BY THE OXFORD DICTIONARY MEANS “TAKING EFFECT WITHOUT DELAY.”

*** WHEREAS IMMINENT MEANS “IMPENDING, IT MAY HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.”

**** AND THESE EVENTS ARE IMMINENT BUT NOT IMMEDIATE, THEY COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, BUT WHEN THEY DO, THEY WILL BE RAPID FIRE.

6. AND THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL.

* NOW MOVING ON WE’LL LOOK AT THE WORDS OF CHRIST, LOOK AT V. 7 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE WORDS OF CHRIST.

II. THE WORDS OF CHRIST, (READ V. 7)

A. NOW CLEARLY WE SEE A CHANGE OF SPEAKERS HERE, FOR THE PERSON SPEAKING IN V. 7 SAYS, “BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY.”

* AND WITHOUT QUESTION, JESUS CHRIST IS NOW SPEAKING, FOR HE IS THE ONE COMING BACK.

** AND HERE CHRIST COMMUNICATES THAT HE IS COMING QUICKLY.

*** NOW THE WORD QUICKLY OR SOON DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE GIVES TO US THE TRUTH AGAIN OF WITHOUT DELAY. HIS IMMINENT RETURN, NOT AN IMMEDIATE RETURN, IS THE TRUTH, HE WILL COME SOON IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF GOD’S PLAN.

**** AND ACCORDING TO GOD’S TIME THAT HE HAS ORDAINED, AND OF COURSE GOD DOESN’T WORK ON THE SAME VIEW OF TIME AS WE DO.

1. BUT IN THE PLAN OF GOD, IT WILL HAPPEN SOON, QUICKLY, IMMINENCE AGAIN IS THE TRUTH, THERE WILL BE NO DELAY AS THE PLAN OF GOD UNFOLDS.

* AND THEN MOVING ON IN V. 7, JESUS PRONOUNCES A BLESSING UPON THE ONES WHO HEED OR KEEP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK.

*** AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF 4 USES IN REVELATION 22 OF THE WORD PROPHECY IN TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION, PLUS IT’S CONTENTS ARE CALLED A PROPHECY IN CHAPTER 1 VERSE 3 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ IT).

**** NOW THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A BOOK LARGELY CONSISTING OF FUTURE PREDICTIONS AND PROPHECIES, IT IS PRIMARILY A BOOK OF PROPHECY.

2. AND JESUS PRONOUNCES A BLESSING UPON THOSE WHO HEED TO OR KEEP THE WORDS FOUND IN IT.

* AND THIS VERB LIT. MEANS TO KEEP, TO HOLD FAST, OR TO GUARD.

** AND IN ESSENCE BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO GUARD OR PROTECT THE BOOK OF REVELATION. THIS BOOK IS AN INSPIRED BOOK OF THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE THAT IS NOT TO BE NEGLECTED, AND DEFENDED AS RELEVANT, AND COMMUNICATED AS A BOOK OF AUTHORITY COMMUNICATING THE END OF IT ALL, THAT IS NOT OBSCURE.

*** AND PLEASE CONSIDER THIS, WE DON’T HEED TO OR GUARD IT’S WORDS MERELY TO SATISFY CURIOSITY ABOUT THE FUTURE OR TO SET DATES AND SPECULATE WHEN ALL OF THIS WILL HAPPEN.

**** GOD INSPIRED REVELATION TO WET OUR WHISTLES ABOUT THINGS TO COME AND HEAVEN AND THE FUTURE, BUT PRIMARILY THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.

3. TO REVEAL THE GLORY OF CHRIST AND CALL BELIEVERS TO LIVE GODLY OBEDIENT LIVES IN LIGHT OF HIS IMMINENT RETURN.

* THE PURPOSE OF REVELATION IS TO REVEAL CHRIST’S SOVEREIGNTY, NOT TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT, BUT TO PROVIDE MOTIVATION FOR GODLY LIVES.

** AND BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO READ, HEED, DEFEND AND OBEY ITS TRUTHS.

*** AND THESE ARE THE WORDS OF CHRIST IN V. 7, BUT IN V. 8 WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANGE OF SPEAKERS AS WE SEE JOHN SPEAK, SO LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE WORDS OF JOHN.

III. THE WORDS OF JOHN, (READ V. 8)

A. NOW JOHN IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS THE SPEAKER IN V. 8 AND THEN GIVES FURTHER TESTIMONY TO THE ACCURACY AND TRUTHFULNESS OF WHAT THE ANGEL SAID IN V. 6 ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THAT REVELATION’S WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

* FOR JOHN SAYS I AM THE GUY WHO HEARD AND SAW THE THINGS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, OF ALL THE VISIONS I SAW AND ALL THE WORDS I HEARD FROM ANGELS AND FROM THE LORD.

** AND SPECIFICALLY AND CONTEXTUALLY JOHN MAY BE REFERRING TO ALL THE THINGS HE HEARD AND SAW CONCERNING THE NEW JERUSALEM BEGINNING IN REVELATION 21 THROUGH REVELATION 22:5.

*** THINGS ABOUT A NEW HEAVEN, A NEW EARTH, A NEW ORDER AND A NEW JERUSALEM.

**** AND JOHN PROBABLY IN RECAPPING AND THINKING ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS HE SAW AND HEARD WAS OVERWHELMED WITH AWE AND EMOTION.

1. AND HIS EMOTIONS TAKE OVER AND IN HIS HUMANNESS WANTS TO FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP, BUT UNFORTUNATELY DOES IT AT THE FEET OF THE ANGEL WHICH STARTED TO SHOW HIM THESE THINGS GOING BACK TO REVELATION 21:9.

* BUT NOTICE THE RESPONSE OF THE ANGEL IN V. 9 WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR 4TH POINT TODAY, THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL, LOOK AT V. 9 PLEASE.

IV. THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL, (READ V. 9)

A. NOW THE ANGEL GIVES JOHN A SHARP REBUKE IN WHAT HE DOES THAT IS COMPRISED OF TWO IMPERATIVES.

* AND THE FIRST IMPERATIVE OR COMMAND IS NEGATIVE, “DO NOT DO THAT.”

** AND THE 2’D IMPERATIVE IS A POSITIVE, “WORSHIP GOD.”

*** AND FIRST OF ALL, DO NOT DO THAT REMINDS US THAT ANGELS ARE NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED FOR THEY ARE FELLOW-SERVANTS OF OURS, LIKE THE PROPHETS OF OLD ARE, THEY ARE CREATED BEINGS, THEY ARE NOT DEITIES, FOR ONLY DEITY-GOD IS TO BE WORSHIPPED.

**** ANGELS LIKE PROPHETS ARE SERVANTS OF GOD, NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED OR VENERATED. ONE SERVANT OR SLAVE DOESN’T WORSHIP ANOTHER SERVANT OR SLAVE.

***** AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME JOHN HAS DONE THIS, FOR BACK IN REVELATION 19:10, JOHN DID THE SAME THING AND WAS REBUKED.

1. AND BELOVED, SOME REAL QUICK APPLICATIONS. NO. 1 THE BIBLE FORBIDS THE WORSHIP OF ANYONE ELSE BUT GOD ALONE.

* ANGELS, SAINTS, PROPHETS, POPES, THE VIRGIN MARY OR ANY OTHER CREATED BEINGS ARE NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED.

** NO. 2 AND I MADE THE APPLICATION BACK IN REVELATION 19:10, BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT OUR EMOTIONS CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL AND LEAD US TO DO THINGS THAT ARE PROHIBITED IN SCRIPTURE.

*** DON’T ALLOW YOUR EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS TO BE IN CONTROL, DON’T RATIONALIZE WHEN YOU ARE OVERLY EMOTIONAL, DON’T MAKE DECISIONS WHEN YOU ARE OVERLY EMOTIONAL, DON’T CONFRONT PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE OVERLY EMOTIONAL, DON’T BUY THINGS OUT OF EMOTION, DON’T EAT OUT OF EMOTION.

**** DON’T ALLOW YOUR FEELINGS TO BE IN CONTROL, BUT YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BE UNDER HIS CONTROL, BEING DIRECTED BY OBJECTIVE TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD.

2. NO. 3, WE FALL BACK INTO THE SAME SINS EASILY WHEN WE ARE OVERWHELMED OR ARE EMOTIONAL, AND ARE NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT.

* AND WHEN WE ARE NOT UNDER THE CONTROL AND FILLED AND LED BY THE SPIRIT WE WILL YIELD TO THE DESIRES, THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH AND WE ARE EASILY DECEIVED AND FALL INTO TRAPS.

** THAT’S WHY GALATIANS 5:16 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** BELOVED WE MUST WALK AND YIELD TO THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE WHEN WE YIELD TO THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH WE DO STUPID THINGS, I HAVE TO BE SURE.

**** AND JOHN WAS A MAN OF GOD, AN APOSTLE, BUT HE DID SOMETHING STUPID AND FELL BACK INTO A SIN HE HAD YIELDED TO BEFORE AND HE KNEW BETTER.

3. AND WE FALL INTO TRAPS AND BACK INTO SINS WHEN WE ARE NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT. SO THIS ANGEL GIVES JOHN THE IMPERATIVES IN V. 9.

* BUT THE ANGEL TELLS JOHN NOT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE IN V. 10 AS INSTRUCTION OBVIOUSLY FROM THE LORD, LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 10. NOW CONTINUING HIS WORDS TO JOHN THE ANGEL COMMANDS JOHN, NOT TO SEAL UP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THE BOOK.

* AND AGAIN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS CALLED A PROPHECY, AND JOHN IS NOT TO SEAL UP ITS WORDS.

** MEANING JOHN IS NOT TO KEEP THESE WORDS HIDDEN, THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE KNOWN AND READ, SO JOHN IS TO WRITE THEM OUT AND GIVES THEM TO THE 7 CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR AND TO ALL THE CHURCHES THAT FOLLOW.

*** AND BELOVED, THE BOOK OF REVELATION NEEDS TO BE AN OPEN BOOK, NOT CONCEALED, NOT SEALED UP, BUT HEARD, READ AND OBEYED. THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS TO BE DISCLOSED, OPENED, EXPOUNDED AND EXPLAINED.

**** AND THE REASON FOR NOT SEALING UP THESE WORDS IS THE TRUTH I STARTED WITH AND WE HAVE RETURNED TO, “THE TIME IS NEAR,” THE TIME IS AT HAND, IT IS IMMINENT.

1. AND THE POINT IS AGAIN, THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH THE CONSUMMATION OF THE AGES IS TO TAKE PLACE IS NEAR, IT IS IMMINENT, IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

* AND THE GREEK WORD FOR TIME HERE IS KAI-ROOSE WHICH LIT. MEANS AN APPOINTED TIME, AN OPPORTUNE MOMENT, A FIXED AND DEFINITE TIME, NOT CLOCK TIME, BUT THE RIGHT TIME.

** AND HERE AGAIN, THE ANGEL IS ALERTING GOD’S PEOPLE TO BE PREPARED WHEN THE APPOINTED TIME COMES, THE FULLNESS OF TIME.

*** BUT MOVING ON THE ANGEL GIVES ONE LAST INSTRUCTION IN HIS WORDS, LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 11. NOW WITH A SURFACE READING, THIS EXHORTATION APPEARS TO BE KIND OF WILD, PUZZLING TO SAY THE LEAST.

* FOR THOSE WHO DO WRONG AND THOSE WHO ARE FILTHY ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO AND CONTINUE IN THEIR SIN.

** BUT IN CONTRAST, THOSE WHO DO RIGHT AND ARE HOLY ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO, TO CONTINUE ON IN THEIR BEHAVIOR.

*** NOW THE 2’D EXHORTATION MAKES SENSE, BUT THE FIRST ONE APPEARS TO BE RATHER BIZARRE, DOESN’T IT? RATHER STRANGE.

**** SO WHAT IS THE ANGEL SAYING?

***** WELL, THE POINT HERE IS NOT TO CONDONE WHAT IS EVIL, BUT TO POINT OUT THAT IF PEOPLE DO NOT HEED THE WORD OF THIS PROPHECY, THEY WILL CONTINUE IN THEIR WICKEDNESS.

1. FOR YOU SEE IF THESE PROPHECIES IN V. 10 THAT ARE TO BE REVEALED ARE REJECTED, THERE IS NO MESSAGE THAT WILL WORK.

* IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE WARNINGS OF THIS BOOK THAT ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE, ARE NOT SUFFICIENT, THERE IS NO MORE THAT GOD HAS TO SAY.

** THE WICKED WILL CONTINUE IN THEIR WICKED WAY AND BE JUDGED BY THE LORD ONE DAY WHEN HE COMES.

*** BELOVED, THE CONTEXT ASSERTS URGENCY AND IMMANENCY, THE TIME WILL COME, IT IS FIXED, THE LORD IS COMING BACK, IN LIGHT OF THAT, EVERYONE SHOULD EVALUATE THEIR LIVES IN THE LIGHT OF HIS COMING.

**** AND IF THE REALITY OF HIS COMING DOESN’T BRING REPENTANCE, YOU WILL CONTINUE IN YOUR WICKED WAY.

2. AND IT APPEARS WE HAVE AN EITHER OR PROPOSITION HERE AND PRESENT CHOICES FIX CHARACTER, A TIME IS COMING WHEN CHANGE IS IMPOSSIBLE AND PRESENT CHOICES WILL BECOME PERMANENT IN CHARACTER.

* AND WHEN THE LORD COMES, HE WILL COME QUICKLY, SO REPENT NOW OR REMAIN IN YOUR SINS AND WICKEDNESS, LET PEOPLE REPENT WHILE THEY CAN, FOR THE TIME ARRIVES WHEN CHANGE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

** BUT FOR THE RIGHTEOUS, THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK AT ANY TIME IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY STILL.

*** AND THAT TRUTH THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK IS REPEATED IN V. 12 WITH ANOTHER HOLY REMINDER THAT SHOULD BE A MOTIVATOR TO PERSEVERE.

**** SO QUICKLY LOOK AT V. 12, WHERE WE WILL SEE OUR FIFTH AND FINAL POINT, THE WORDS OF CHRIST.

V. THE WORDS OF CHRIST, (READ V. 12)

A. NOW JESUS REPEATS THE TRUTH HE HAS COMMUNICATED IN V. 7 AND THAT HE WILL REPEAT AGAIN IN V. 10, “I AM COMING QUICKLY.”

* AND I AM NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THIS EXCEPT THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST IS SET BEFORE BELIEVERS AGAIN WHICH SHOULD LEAD TO CONTINUED RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY LIVING, V. 11B.

** BUT ALSO ANOTHER MOTIVATION FOR TRUE BELIEVERS TO BE RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY AND TO PERSEVERE IS, WHEN I COME BACK I AM GOING TO REWARD MY OWN, MY SHEEP, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THEIR WORKS FOR ME.

*** AND THAT IS WHAT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE ALL ABOUT, REWARDING BELIEVERS FOR THEIR WORKS, THE DEEDS THEY HAVE DONE FOR THEIR SAVIOR, FOR II CORINTHIANS 5:10 SAYS: (READ IT).

**** AND ACCORDING TO I CORINTHIANS 3:11-15, OUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED, OUR MOTIVES, THE WAY AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AND IF DONE FOR CHRIST, WE WILL BE REWARDED, FOR THE JUDGMENT SEAT IS THE BEMA, THE HONOR STAND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE RUN THE RACE FOR CHRIST IN I CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 AND REWARDS WILL FOLLOW. (THAT’S A GOOD MOTIVATION SO WE CAN CAST OUR CROWNS BEFORE HIM AND GIVE THEM BACK TO THE ONE WHO IS WORTHY.

IN WRAP UP AND APPLICATION: (1) I ASK THE QUESTION, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BELIEVE THAT CHRIST CAN COME AT ANY MOMENT? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BELIEVE IN THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST?

* THE ANSWER IS THE 2’D COMING OF CHRIST FOR HIS CHURCH HAS A POWERFUL SANCTIFYING AND PURIFYING EFFECT ON US.

** FOR THE REALITY THAT JESUS COULD RETURN TODAY SHOULD MOTIVATE US TO PURITY, TO PURSUE CHRISTLIKENESS AND TO PUT OFF THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT SHOULD NOT BE THERE.

*** THEREFORE THE HOPE OF CHRIST’S IMMINENT RETURN IS THE HINGE, THE PIVOT ON WHICH A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF SANCTIFICATION TURNS!

**** AND PRACTICALLY IT SHOULD PRODUCE THE FOLLOWING HOLY RESPONSES IN OUR LIVES, AND THESE ARE NOT ORIGINAL, I’M BORROWING THEM FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE MASTER’S SEMINARY JOURNAL TITLED, “IS CHRIST’S RETURN IMMINENT?” WRITTEN BY JOHN MACARTHUR.

- AND I’LL CLOSE WITH THOSE APPLICATIONS.

(2) NO. 1 THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST SHOULD LEAD TO PATIENCE AND COMMITMENT, JAMES 5:8 SAYS: “YOU TOO BE PATIENT; STRENGTHEN YOUR HEARTS, FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IS NEAR.”

* NO. 2 THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST SHOULD LEAD US NOT TO COMPLAIN AND GRUMBLE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES, FOR JAMES 5:9 SAYS: “DO NOT COMPLAIN, BRETHREN, AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, SO THAT YOU YOURSELVES MAY NOT BE JUDGED; BEHOLD, THE JUDGE IS STANDING RIGHT AT THE DOOR.”

** NO. 3 THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST SHOULD LEAD TO PRAYER FOR I PETER 4:7 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** NO. 4 THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST SHOULD LEAD TO ASSEMBLING FAITHFULLY TOGETHER AS A CHURCH AND ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER.

**** FOR HEBREWS 10:24 SAYS: “AND LET US CONSIDER HOW TO STIMULATE ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS.” THEN READ HEBREWS 10:25.

(3) AND NO. 5 THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST SHOULD LEAD TO PURITY AND CHRISTLIKENESS, FOR I JOHN 2:28&29 SAYS: “NOW LITTLE CHILDREN, ABIDE IN HIM, SO THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT SHRINK AWAY FROM HIM IN SHAME AT HIS COMING.

V. 29 – IF YOU KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE ALSO WHO PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF HIM.”

THEN I JOHN 3:1&3 SAYS: (READ THEM)

* NOW AS WE PUT ALL THESE TRUTHS TOGETHER, THE HOPE OF CHRIST’S IMMINENT RETURN SHOULD BE AN INCENTIVE AND CATALYST FOR SANCTIFICATION.

** HIS IMMINENT COMING SHOULD LEAD US NOT TO BE OBSESSED WITH THIS WORLD SYSTEM AND LIGHT AFFLICTIONS WHICH ARE A SHORT TIME IN COMPARISON TO ETERNITY.

*** OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE TURNED HEAVENWARD TO OCCUPY TILL HE COMES AND BE ENCOURAGED. READ PHILIPPIANS 3:20&21.

V. 6 – AND HE SAID TO ME, “THESE WORDS

ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE”; AND THE LORD, THE GOD

OF THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS, SENT HIS ANGEL

TO SHOW TO HIS BOND-SERVANTS THE THINGS

WHICH MUST SOON TAKE PLACE.

V. 7 – AND BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY.

BLESSED IS HE WHO HEEDS THE WORDS OF

THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK.

V. 8 – I, JOHN, AM THE ONE WHO HEARD AND

SAW THESE THINGS. AND WHEN I HEARD AND SAW,

I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF THE

ANGEL WHO SHOWED ME THESE THINGS.

V. 9 – BUT HE SAID TO ME, “DO NOT DO THAT. I AM

A FELLOW SERVANT OF YOURS AND OF

YOUR BRETHREN THE PROPHETS AND OF THOSE

WHO HEED THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK. WORSHIP GOD.”

V. 10 – AND HE SAID TO ME, “DO NOT SEAL UP

THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK, FOR

THE TIME IS NEAR.”

V. 11 – “LET THE ONE WHO DOES WRONG, STILL

DO WRONG; AND THE ONE WHO IS FILTHY, STILL

BE FILTHY; AND LET THE ONE WHO IS RIGHTEOUS,

STILL PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND THE ONE WHO

IS HOLY, STILL KEEP HIMSELF HOLY.”

V. 12 – “BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY, AND

MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO RENDER TO EVERY

MAN ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE.”