The Thread of Life – Part 29 (The end and the beginning)

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The Thread of Life (31 Stories that lead to Jesus)

Part 29

Welcome back: Hope 4 great Christmas… Happy New Year

We have spent an entire year walking through the Bible

• Started with how do we read… relate to the Bible
  • Then went through chronological order of the Story
  • Beginning of Genesis
  • Job – Problem of Evil
  • Story of God’s promise of redemption
• Two weeks ago – looked at the life of Paul
  • And if God can use Paul… he can use anyone
  • So when we look at Paul’s life – it’s really a journey
• And Paul was always: Faithful & Joyful
  • Because he was committed
  • Even in hard times… Always: Lets see what God will do

This week we’re gonna look at The End… which is actually the beginning

Rev. 21:1-5(NIV)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

[Pray]

Story – Sister in law (Rapture)

Ever watch those movies “Left Behind”

• Those scared me to death as a kid…
  • It didn’t matter how good I was – always what if???
  • I didn’t clean my room
  • Lied to my parents
• Once I was on vacation with Michelle’s family
  • Her youngest sister was probably 17… slept super late
  • So I thought it would be fun to make her feel left behind
• Got clothes together like we evaporated from them
  • Made everyone hide outside
  • Blew one of those airhorns
  • Because that’s what brother-in-laws do!!!

But looking at the end… I think its healthy to look back at the beginning

• I love the phrase: When in doubt zoom out
  • When we need a larger perspective than what we currently see
  • Especially when you get closer to the end of something
  • It is so important to take everything in a larger context

Beginning of time

God creates humans with purpose of being with Him

• Sin fractured that relationship… caused separation
  • And the Bible is Jesus getting us back to relationship thru cross
  • End of time prophecy is that we will be with Jesus again

1 Cor. 2:9 (NIV)

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.

TAG: Which means… we can’t concieve the ending

But God did give us Revelation

Revelation was written by John after exiled to Patmos

• And it includes: Past… Present… Future
  • Almost like how it can feel in a dream
  • Where it can seem time is mixed up… but this wasn’t a dream
  • It was a Vision of what is playing out spiritually in the physical
• And whatever people want Revelation to be…
  • What it is – its a promise
  • Revelation is a promise that God wins (never overlook that)
  • And we get to be a part of a new perfect world

And we all know there are many ways to interpret Revelation

• Millennial views… Revelation talks about a period of 1000 years
  • 3 dominate views on what happens in these 1000 years
  • Difficult to know what should be taken literally vs figuratively
  • And we don’t have time in a sermon to go over it all
• But the reason there isn’t consensus… we’re only given glimpse
  • And God does that by design
  • For whatever reason – He wants us to be curious… to wonder
  • He wants us to anticipate his return

Aaron Brockett (Bottom line on Book of Revelation)

When the apocalyptic dust settles, make certain you are standing with Jesus.

So the only thing I’m really sure of… no one knows the day or hour

• Point of today isn’t to figure it out: Its that we need to be ready
  • And we need to live with the urgency that Jesus is coming
  • Not just for ourselves… but for everyone around us
• This is the way the disciples and church lived their lives
  • They were fully convinced Jesus would return in their lifetime
  • And they weren’t wrong to believe that way
  • We should all live like it was our last chance to tell others

And John encouraging the 1^st century persecuted church

• Rome’s goal was to completely destroy the Christian church
  • Those originally hearing Revelation for the first time
  • They were people are living under persecution of Nero
  • People are being beheaded, torn apart, boiled in oil
• They were constantly threatened w/ death for their faith
  • John is in exile… all the other disciples are dead
  • They are feeling fear and defeat
  • To them… it seems like the darkness is winning

But Johns Message: Things aren’t always what they appear to be

• And think about how John would have seen this
  • Because 2000 years ago John experienced another black Friday
  • But things weren’t what they seemed to be then
  • And Jesus unfolded the plan then… and He would again

Rev. 1:8 (NIV)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

• Revelation teaches us that Jesus cannot lose the battle
  • Revelation isn’t book of confusion… it’s a book of hope
  • It shouldn’t bring fear… it should bring relief
  • Because guess who wins in the end??? WE DO!!!
    • Can u imagine how this encouraged the persecuted church
• If you have Jesus… life or death you still win
  • That is what John is telling these persecuted people
  • Following Jesus changes everything about your tomorrows

Rev. 1:12-13 (NIV)

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

• So John sees a vision of Jesus standing b/w all these lampstands
  • Lampstands represent many of the churches Paul had started
  • And Jesus is reminding us that he is in the midst of the church
• And if you like picture books… Revelation has lots of pictures
  • Halo surrounding the throne
  • Lightning and thunder – 7 sealed scroll
  • Harp and bowls of incense – 4 horses
  • Sun becomes dark – Moon becomes blood
  • New Jerusalem descends – Sea of crystal
  • Tree of life

Only New Testament book that promises reading it will bring blessing

Rev. 1:3 (NIV)

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

• So while it might be difficult to wrap your brain around
  • The blessing is in reading or hearing of words
  • God allows John to have a peak into heaven b/c of what coming
    • And it’s just enough to blow John’s mind
• Whatever you think… just remember Christ will return

3 things about the Book of Revelation

1 – Everyone will someday stand before God

Hebrews – Appointed for man once to die and then judgement

• And For unbeliever it’s gonna be bad…
  • But for us who have relationship w/ Jesus
  • Jesus will plead our case on our behalf
• One of the first things John sees in this vision is a throne

Rev. 4:1-2 (NIV)

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

• So John sees this throne in Heaven where God is
  • All eyes on it… city is beautiful… Walls are beautiful
  • But ALL eyes are on Jesus and his throne
• John is describing heaven
  • Pearl gates, streets of gold, walls of stones, crystal river
  • John sees it from a distance… and it blows his mine
  • Makes us long for this place
• If what’s there doesn’t excite you, what isn’t there will
  • No more crying or pain
  • No more arguments
  • No more anxiety
  • No more cancer
  • No more blind or death
  • No more sickness
  • No more divorce
  • No more death
• In this place, life’s trials will seem like nothing
  • Because we will live forever with God
  • Lots of things call for your allegiance
  • Don’t miss heaven for the world

2 – God will keep His Word

God has always wanted to redeem us to relationship with Him

• This was his plan since the beginning
  • Revelation promise of the story of God
  • Intersecting with the stories of you and me
  • I mean… we get glorified body

Phil. 3:20-21 (NIV)

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

• Story of Farmer
  • Went to big city with wife and son – Never seen that before
    • Park to get city newspaper with his son
    • There were 2 walls that opened and close after old lady
    • Circular things above flashing… noise
  • Minutes later walls open up again
    • Beautiful young lady comes walking out
    • Father said boy go get your mama
• Heaven will be instant transformation
  • Similar to Christ’s body after resurrection
  • You can recognize people, but it will be different
  • Don’t know what age, 21 or 51
    • Promises glorified body
• Man with Cerebral Paluzy – Doctors said he’d never be able to walk
  • His sister was at home when she heard the news
  • She was upset and her young son asked what was wrong
  • She said… Uncle Greg is never gonna walk aain
    • He said really? Even in heaven
• She wrote down what son said when he walked in after prognosis

Dave came into the room while I was reading the letter and I was crying. Seeing my tears he asked, “what’s wrong mommy”. I said that I just got a letter saying that the doctors don’t believe uncle Greg will ever walk. Never dave asked? Never, I responded. Not even in heaven, Dave asked? Oh yes, uncle Greg will be able to walk in heaven. Dave looked up and said, then we will wait. On that day I was grateful for a 6 year old who helped me gain me equilibrium. 40 years later our waiting ended, and his walking began.

Heaven can change any disease in an instant… you fill in the break

• Bible says there is no sickness there… heaven heals

Rev. 21:4 (NIV)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

• Who will do this when we get to heaven… Jesus will – one else can
  • He doesn’t pass it off to a saint or an angel
  • Jesus himself will wipe every tear from your eye
• Nothing can describe… nothing can convey all of heaven
  • Don’t miss heaven for the world
  • And with us knowing about Heaven
  • Height of selfishness would be not try & take people with you
• And remember… God always keeps his promises thru the Bible
  • And the promise we are waiting for is his return
  • He will keep His word… Jesus is returning

3 – We need to be ready

• In Gospel Jesus teaches over and over of 2 eternal destinations
  • Heaven and Hell

Rev. 21:7-8 (NIV)
Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

• Chose to invest in a life… Tell others about him
  • We talk of 2^nd coming – many haven’t heard of the 1st
  • There are people all around you
  • They don’t even know the second
• First time Jesus came in love, Second time will be in power

Jn. 14:2 (NIV)

I go to prepare a place for you. If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again so that where I am, there you will be also.

• Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people… are you prepared
  • Over dome in capital building in D.C.
  • Inscription – “1 God, 1 law, 1 element and 1 far-off divine event toward which the whole creation moves.”
• One day you will either die or Christ will return
  • Either way, we come closer to this divine event before God
  • People say, when I get to heaven, I’ll give Jesus a big hug
    • Because I love him so much
  • That will be the second thing you do
    • First will be falling on your knees saying…
    • Holy is Lord God Almighty, who was & is and is to come
    • Every knee shall bow… believer or not

Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

• When trumpet is sounded: All will believe but for some too late
  • James: U believe in God, good. Even demons believe & shutter
  • God demands more than belief… he demands relationship
  • To read story and not live it is a waste

Max Lucado story

Joel Albright had a reputation in Andrews county where I was raised. He was a tough, fair and fearless rancher. He had a huge anchorage on the east side of town and everyone know that if you wanted to go hunt rabbits, you didn’t go on his property. But his son James was my best friend in high school. James and I sat on the bench together in high school football. I remember once after a out of town game that he invited me to spend the night with him. Because the game was out of town, we didn’t reach the ranch house until well after midnight. His father, Mr. Albright did not know me. When I drove up the dirt road to his ranch house, out came Joe Albright onto his porch. If I remember correctly, he was in his underwear. And he had a huge flashlight and not recognizing me or knowing my vehicle, I stepped out of the car and he put the flash light right in my face. He said “Who are you”. I just shook for a second and didn’t have a reply. Finally James, who had not been paying attention stepped out for the other side of the car and said, “its okay dad, its max, he’s with me”. When Joel heard the voice of his son James, he put the flashlight down and said, “Oh come in”. Why could I go in? Because I was with the son of the father. And the reason you will not have to fear judgment isn’t because of your good deeds, but because you know the son of the father. And when your heavenly father sees you in the company of his son, he will lower the floodlight of judgment and will say, “come in, come in”.