Luke 21:25-36 The Signs of the End Times

At first glance the reading we just heard from Luke 21:25-36 seems to be out of place during Advent. After all, most of us think of Advent as a time to prepare for Christmas. That is only partially true. Advent is also a time to remember and prepare for Christ’s Second Coming, and that preparation includes watching for the signs of his return. On the Third and Fourth Sundays in Advent the readings will focus on Christ’s First Coming over 2,000 years ago.  

                                                                

Luke wrote his Gospel several years after Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension. At that time the church was undergoing suffering and injustice. Luke wrote his Gospel to encourage the church and remind the people that God is in control of events and has a time set for Christ’s return. Luke’s message applies to us today. Luke wants us, like the believers he wrote to, to be ready to meet Jesus when he returns and in the meantime we are to stand firm and witness to his name.

According to Luke, we live in the time between Christ’s triumph over death and his Second Coming. This “in-between” time is filled with both tension and hope. The hope can be found in the beginning and ending of the story of the church (and therefore our story), which has been secured by Christ.

We are also living in the time of the Gentiles, which began with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. This time will end when Christ returns. The end times will begin when armies surround Jerusalem. The end time disasters will be orchestrated by God for the sake of warning sinners and calling on them to repent. At this time the Messiah will return and defeat evil. 

In today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke Jesus gives us some of these signs. The signs mentioned in this passage are supernatural in nature. They are orchestrated by God. They will awaken humanity out of its spiritual slumber before Christ returns. Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation period. He will defeat his enemies and begin his one thousand year reign of peace on a restored planet. Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension were testimonies to God’s faithfulness through the signs of Christ’s return.

Jesus used the parable of the fig tree to explain to his followers how to interpret the signs of the end times. Just like a fig tree behaves in predictable ways, prophecy can reliably point to future events. We can understand prophecy if we take time to read it carefully. For example, just like the leaves of the fig tree come to life after winter, the kingdom of God should not come as a shock to us.

Some of you might look at world affairs and wonder if they are signs of Christ’s return. Your concern is certainly understandable considering the recent attacks in Paris and the war on ISIS. Only time will tell if these are early signs of the end times, but in any event we must keep our faith strong. 

The world will see these signs and quake with fear. On the other hand, Christians will see these signs as a prelude to Christ’s return and their own redemption.  Redemption refers to Christ’s return, and at that time mortality puts on immortality, and the redemption of the body takes place. For Christians, difficult times do not mean that God has deserted them but that God will fulfill all of his word-both the difficult parts as well as the delightful ones.

When Jesus referred to “this generation,” he was not referring to the disciples. He was referring to the people who would see the signs of the end times. These people won’t die until Christ the King returns in power and establishes his kingdom here on earth. These events will happen quickly.  

Jesus claimed to be the divine Son of God. He also called on his followers to put as much confidence in his teachings as they did any other portions of Scripture, and he calls on us to have the same confidence today. His words and teachings are for all time. They are permanent.

Jesus also called on his followers to watch and pray to do his will. When hard times come, praying for escape is not wrong. Even Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that he would escape the cross, but he surrendered himself completely to God’s will. We can and should pray for escape when times are tough, but ultimately we must surrender to God’s will for the particular situation we find ourselves in. God’s Word is our security in times of turmoil. In the words of the hymn, “Will Your Anchor Hold”:

                                                We have an anchor that keeps the soul

                                                Steadfast and sure as the billows roll
                                                Fastened to the Rock which cannot move
                                                Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love

Jesus doesn’t talk about wars, rumours of wars or natural disasters to scare us. He wants to prepare us for his Second Coming. We are not to be afraid. We are not to be led astray by false teachers or people claiming to be Jesus. We are to take advantage of the turmoil that will precede his return to spread the Good News of salvation. As I mentioned earlier, his return is not catastrophic for believers because his return will usher in their redemption. It will be a time for hope, anticipation and glory. On the other hand, his return will be catastrophic for non-believers because it will lead to a new world where evil will be ended and creation will be restored to God’s design.

Jesus tells us to watch for the signs of his return, but in the meantime we have work to do. We must spread the Good News to a sin-filled world. We must also continue to prepare for Christ’s return.

When we see natural disasters and conflicts, we can be sure that Christ’s return is near. We must be ready, because he could return at any time. The promise of his return offers us hope. There are times when we don’t believe that God offers hope, and some of you might be in that situation right now. We might like the outward appearance of Advent with all of the decorations, parties and shopping, but do we let Advent and its promise of Christ’s return change us? We need to let it get into our feelings and open our hearts.

Many times Christians have expressed the desire for the day to just get here already. They want to end the wars and suffering… the waiting… and get on with Christ's return? They read the Scriptures, looking for details, for signs, that Christ is coming soon. Groups form and debates rage about the finer details of the end times.

God appreciates our interest in and desire for his arrival, but do we really know what we’re really asking for when we say that we want him to hurry up and return? Are we really ready? Is the world really ready? If we had to stand before Christ tomorrow, would we be ready? Would your life reflect service to him? Love of him? Submission to him?

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing’; 2013)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Exegesis for Luke 21:25-36. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

4.      Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol.26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles, 2005)

6.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing; 2006)

7.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, First Sunday of Advent (C).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

8.      David Lose, “Commentary on Luke 21:25-36.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=480

9.      The Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews, “A God’s Eye View.” Retrieved from www.day1.org/488-a-gods-eye-view.print

10.  Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2012, pgs. 473-474)

11.  Sarah Phillips, “The Last Days.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

 

Revelation 1:4-8 Christ our King

A minister and his wife were on their way home on a Sunday evening. He was tired because he preached five times that day. His wife asked a question to which he answered in anger. Immediately he felt conviction and apologized to his wife.

He said, “Forgive me. I’m quite tired. I’ve preached five times today.”

His wife replied, “Yes, Dear, I know, but remember, I’ve had to listen to you five times today.” 

Today is Reign of Christ Sunday. It marks the end of the church year, so it is the church’s version of New Year’s Eve. It is the day when we remember that Christ is our King and that He will return one day to claim his kingdom here on earth.

It is not an ancient festival in the Christian calendar. In fact, it was only established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. It was established at a time when Europe was in chaos. Inflation was rampant, and colonialism was at its worst. The seeds of evil that would eventually grow into the Holocaust and World War II were being planted. Pope Pius XI established the Festival of Christ the King to declare that Jesus Christ is King

The Book of Revelation is the story of Jesus himself. After the opening greeting, John gives us a prophetic description of Christ’s Second Coming. Although each of the seven churches received a special letter from Christ through the Book of Revelation, each congregation could read what was written to the others because everything was contained in one large letter. God’s people have the same advantage today. To have the same perspective of the divine Head of the church is convicting. Modern churches could solve some of the problems they face today by reading God’s recommendations to each of the seven churches.

When sinners come to Christ in faith, they receive eternal salvation through God’s grace. We don’t have to do anything or promise anything. Salvation is God’s gift to us. This new relationship with Christ will overcome any trials we have in this life, just like Christ overcame death. This new relationship is due to the work of the Holy Trinity.

All three members of the Trinity-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-were involved in the creation of the Book of Revelation, including the passage we heard from Revelation 1:4-8 earlier in today’s service. John refers to God as “the One who is and who was and who is to come.” God is in control of our unpleasant past, our unnerving present and our uncertain future. Jesus has the authority to rule as the promised King from the line of David. The Holy Spirit represents God and gives us wisdom, understanding, advice, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord. We can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus reigns now and forever during the good times and the bad times. 

Jesus is described as the one who loved, loosened and lifted the people up. The word “washed” could be more literally translated as “loosed” or “freed.” John 11:44 describes Lazarus as being loosed from his grave clothes. The word also recalls that the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Jesus has likewise freed believers from their sin. He conquered death and gave us new life. Consequently we can share his authority as Priest and King through our union with him through the Holy Spirit.

In our present, sin-filled world, guilt is something we avoid. We run from it frantically, drown it in alcohol, escape from it through entertainment, talk about it to a therapist, blame it on someone else or suppress it through mental gymnastics, but we can’t avoid it. It’s like a stain that won’t come out of our clothes no matter how many times we wash them or what type of detergent we use. Salvation is God’s gift to undeserving sinners such as us. We must never forget that. This grace gives us a relationship that offers us true peace and that peace helps us overcome any problems we face. Jesus is the only thing that can wash away our sins. God has given us a conscience with a guilt alarm that goes off when sin enters so that we will go to Jesus for cleansing.

When people are shuffling for power, prestige and wealth, Jesus reigns. He is the only person who can get rid of the plagues of terrorism, poverty, crime and disease. If we let Christ be our King, we don’t have to be kings. We don’t have to rule our world. We also don’t have to let things such as money or fame rule our lives. These things can’t make our lives worth living. Only Jesus makes our lives worth living. Jesus gives us our greatest freedom-freedom from death. That freedom gives us the freedom to live. In return, we are called to serve until Christ returns to claim his earthly kingdom.

Only in Revelation is Christ given the title of “faithful witness.” He was a genuine martyr, faithful until death, and his followers must also be faithful to death. The phrase “ruler over the kings of the earth” refers to Christ’s present reign, not the future one. He is the King of Kings now because he has triumphed over death and he is sovereign over all earthly powers.

Revelation 1:7-8 presents the theme of the entire Book of Revelation-the return of the King and establishment of his rule over the kingdom. “Coming” describes the arrival of the King and the changes in the situation that his arrival proclaims.  

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Here they point to the eternity of Christ and his all-inclusive power. Christ is the supreme sovereign. There is nothing that he doesn’t know, so there are no unknown factors that can sabotage his return. Jesus is the beginning of all history and the goal for whom all things are made. Jesus is the boundless, tireless and powerful One. God is eternal, and he will come again at the end of time to judge and to save.

The purpose of our Christian lives is based on our faith in a God who is eternally past, present and future. It starts in the present. Each of us must encounter and experience the presence of God in our own lives on a daily basis. He continually reaches into our lives and transforms us. He gives us a future to look forward to. We need to look forward to this royal inheritance. We need to begin practicing for the perfected life that will be ours someday. We need to act like the children of a king, because that’s who we are. God ordained the nation of Israel to witness to his glory, majesty, and power. He calls on us as members of his kingdom to do the same.

Our understanding of who Jesus is determines our eternal destiny after death. Of all the pursuits in this life, the knowledge of who Jesus is will be the greatest. To know Jesus is to know who we are and what we really are in this world. To know Jesus is to know the security of purpose and the assurance of peace. Jesus is both Lord and Saviour. He has allowed us to know Him personally like never before.

Ordinary people who receive Christ’s love and freedom are willing to become Christ’s servants and ultimately his very kingdom in the world. We will witness Christ’s return, and we will have the right to enter God’s kingdom. Jesus made us to be both a kingdom here on earth and priests. We are both a kingdom and priests because Jesus loves us and frees us from our sins by dying on the cross. The word “kingdom” refers to the body of believers throughout the world, and that Christ is the King of that kingdom. We as believers are priests who have direct access to God. He is our hope, our refuge and our salvation. His return will be a joyous occasion because it is the event we’ve been waiting for. On the other hand, his return will be mourned by his opponents. Everything will change. Evil will be shut down, order will be restored, and justice will reign. 

God’s reign is the power that keeps our world turning, the rain falling and the seasons returning. It is an expression of God’s faithful, everlasting love-the love he has for us as our King. God cares about the ultimate details of our loves. No matter what comes against us in this life, no matter if all of the power of pain and chaos of the universe seems to overtake us all at once, no matter if we can’t control one single thing or fix one single thing in our lives, the worst is over and the healing has begun, because the Lamb of God is on his heavenly throne.

The Book of Revelation gives us hope in a God we can trust and expectation for a future that God has created. That’s because Jesus is the beginning and the ending, the dawn of the world and its dusk. The Book of Revelation tells us to lean into our faith in a Christ who holds the future in his hands. Nothing can frustrate his eternal will, and that eternal will includes us who will be spending eternity with him in his eternal kingdom here on earth.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2.      ESV Study Bible, Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Palmer, E.F. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 35: 1,2&3 John/ Revelation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Anne Graham Lotz, “Washed in the Blood.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org

6.      Pastor Jack Hibbs, ”Oh, To Know Him!”  Retrieved from wttw@calvarycch.org

7.      Ron Moore, “The Action of Jesus.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org

8.      Pastor John Barnett, “The Safest Spot.” Retrieved from enews@dtbm.org

9.      Steve Preston, “When Jesus Returns.” Retrieved from bibletalk@freegroups.net

10.  The Rev. Eugenia Gamble, “Saltwater Apocalypse.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/821-saltwater_apocalypse.net

11.  Steve Arterburn, “The Grandness of God.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

12.  Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2011)

13.  Jeremiah, David: Agents of the Apocalypse (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers; 2014)

14.  Dr. J. Howard Olds, “The Lord of All.” Retrieved from https://www.esermons.com/sermon/the-lord-of-all/1442836

15.  Patrick Rooney, “The Perfect Sacrifice.” Retrieved from https://www.esermons.com/sermon

16.  Leonard Sweet, “The God Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is To Come.” Retrieved from https://www.esermons.com/sermon/the-god-who-is-who-was-and-who-is-to-come

17.  King Duncan, “Nobless Oblige.” Retrieved from https://www.esermons.com/sermon/noblesse-oblige//1347099

18.  Dr. Keith Wagner, “Thanks Be to God.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/27/Rev/Rev-01-04-8-ThanksBe-Wagner.htm

19.  Eric Baretto, “Commentary on Revelation 1:4-8.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1623

20.  Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark 13:1-8 The End is near, and so is a New Beginning

We’re getting closer to the end of our church year. In fact, next Sunday is Reign of Christ Sunday, which is the church’s equivalent to New Year’s Eve. As we draw closer to the end of the church year, our Gospel readings begin to emphasize the signs of Christ’s Second Coming. In fact, Jesus talks about some of these signs in Mark 13:1-8.

In a sermon often called the Olivet Discourse (because it was delivered on the Mount of Olives), Jesus gave the disciples and us a look into the future. The sermon spoke to both the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD and the destruction to come when Christ returns. Jesus’ sermon focused attention on preparedness, readiness to suffer, and trust. Jesus began his description of the events to come by emphasizing that many people will claim to be Him. All of them will deceive the people. As the time of Christ’s return draws near, wars and rumours of wars will escalate in number or intensity or both. These conflicts will involve both nation states and ethnic groups. Natural disasters will gain more worldwide attention.

One of the signs Jesus talks about is the destruction of the temple, and he uses that sign to describe what things will be like on earth as the Second Coming draws closer. Many of the stones in the temple were the same weight as a large jet. When the disciples commented on the size of the stones, they were likely expecting a messianic takeover of the temple. They were looking forward to a life of power and prestige. Unfortunately, they still did not realize the true nature of Christ’s kingdom.

The destruction of the temple was the result of its misuse by its leaders. The sacrificial system of the temple could not make sufficient atonement for the sinfulness of mankind. The disciples could not believe that one of the architectural wonders of the world had lost the grandeur of the spirit. Jesus’ conversation about the destruction of the temple was symbolic of the systems and institutions that oppress and exclude people. He was talking about the end of the status quo and the beginning of justice, freedom, and the redistribution and/or redefinition of power and wealth.  

When our world is falling apart, God is not through with us-not by a long shot! Jesus reminds us not to create treasures here on earth. We must create treasures in heaven. Things that we think are permanent in our lives are only temporary. Material goods are temporary. They can be taken away. Our journey through life is short. We are travellers passing through. Our true home is in heaven and our true wealth is in knowing Jesus’ love and care for each of us.

The false teachers represented the religious cultism that results from man’s search for spiritual meaning outside of God’s world and word. Man’s self-interest often leads to social upheavals. Natural disasters often occur when the ecological system is upset by things such as pollution. These signs are constantly happening, so Jesus told the disciples not to see them as signs of final judgment. He told then that these signs are precursors to the end-time wrath.

Jesus expects his disciples to be the first people to counter false prophets, condemn war and show compassion to the victims of natural disasters. False prophets arise in every war, cult or natural disaster. If we ignore what they teach, they won’t survive. The main reason why false teachers can thrive is because of our secular society. People do what they please, and they have no time or place for God. All we have to do is look at our congregations on Sunday mornings to see that this is true. People make time for other activities on Sunday but they don’t make time for God. People want to do what they please, and God makes that uncomfortable. They try to gain satisfaction from earthly things such as possessions, status, position or wealth, but the only thing that gives us true satisfaction is faith in God.

When Jesus referred to the pains of childbirth, he was referring to the frequency of the signs of the end time. When a woman is in labour, her contractions are infrequent at first and become more frequent as the baby comes closer to entering the world. In the same way the signs of the end times will be infrequent at first but will escalate to massive and tragic proportions just before Christ’s return.

God’s answer to trouble is trust. He wants us to trust him in times of trouble, especially as the Second Coming draw closer. Faith is the link between heaven and earth. This world is a place where our faith will be refined and where our hope will rest on our future heavenly home-one that will never perish or be destroyed. God is up to stuff that is beyond our ability to understand. Our job is to be alert for it. 

This passage from Mark’s Gospel was not meant to make us worry about the future. It was written to offer comfort to first century believers who were struggling to make sense of their world and their lives.  We have the same struggles, so this passage gives us comfort as well. A prophet speaks both to their own generation and to future generations. When Jesus spoke to the disciples about the destruction of the temple, the troubles leading up to that day and of the signs that the terrible day was upon them, he was speaking to both their generation and ours. We live in the interim between Christ’s ascension and his return, and in this interim we will experience the same circumstances that Jesus promised his disciples. We will experience false prophets, wars and rumours of wars, natural disasters and persecution.

Jesus reminded the disciples that buildings are only stones and bricks. What really matters is what goes on inside. Life-giving waters are splashed and stories from the Bible are told-stories that are meant to give us guidance while we are on our faith journey. A simple meal of bread and wine is given to all of us, and we gather together to bring all of our joys and concerns and thanksgivings to God.

The destruction of the temple was not the end. It was the beginning. It was not about dismantling God. It was about new beginnings in faith. A building may be destroyed, but the place where God dwells can’t be destroyed because God lives in Jesus and his word as well as in the hearts and minds of all believers. The future of this congregation is a good example of what I’m talking about. I know that you have had many challenges during the last few years, and you have had discussions about your future. It is my hope that you can take comfort in the knowledge that although your physical makeup may be changing, your spiritual makeup will remain the same, especially if God lives in your hearts and minds.

Our hope is in Christ’s return, which will be the main event of the end times. We must be careful not to be deceived by world events. Instead, we must look forward to the greatest event in history-Christ’s return for his church!

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2.      Collin Wimberly, “Life in the Last Days.” (Preaching Magazine, September/October 2015, pgs. 49-50)

3.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

4.      McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

5.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

6.      David Jeremiah, “Troubled by trouble.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org

7.      Pastor Bob Coy, “Earth: Don’t Get Too Comfortable.” Retrieved from www.activeword.org

8.      Micah D. Kiehl, “Commentary on Mark 13:1-8.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1419

9.      David Lose, “Apocalypse Now.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=1629

10.  Brian P. Stoffregen, “Proper 28-Year B; Mark 13:1-8.” Retrieved from www.crossmarks.com/brian/mark13x1.htm

11.  The Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin, “Flip the Script.” Retrieved from www.day1.org/490-flip_the_script.print.

12.  Dr. Mickey Anders, “Everything Nailed Down is Coming Loose.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-8-NailedDown-Anders.htm

13.  Pastor Vince Gerhardy, “The End is Still to Come.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-08-EndCome-Gerhardy.htm

14.  The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, “Sic Transit Gloria.” http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-08-SicTransit.-Kegel.htm

15.  Dr. Jeffrey K. London, “Joy Ahead.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-08-JoyAhead-London.htm

 

 

Revelation 18:9-20 Trust God

Have you ever looked at the current economic situation and asked yourself if it represents the end of the world? Well, you can relax. It is not the end of the world, but it paints a picture of what the economic situation will be like just before Christ returns.

The image in Revelation 18:9-20 is also an image of the economic situation that will happen as the time of Christ’s return draws near. God owns everything and gives us all things to enjoy and use. He is a good shepherd to us. We must trust him, not stuff. We must move from the fear of scarcity to the comfort of provision. Less hoarding, more sharing.

Revelation 18 emphasizes the living enjoyed by people who have invested everything they have in the economic system. When their world starts to crumble, they will begin to cry in anguish. The Antichrist, who they love so much, will be crushed along with his empire. Jesus and his followers will take control.

At the time this happens, the only way people will be able to buy and sell is if they have the mark of the Antichrist. As the Antichrist’s empire crumbles, his supporters will realize that their time is short. The new reality become quite obvious to them, and by then it will be too late to reverse their fate. They will be judged for identifying with the false prophet.  

The image in Revelation 18:9-20 is also an image of the fall of the Roman Empire. The vision of destruction is so total that there is no escape or help unless God were to change the inevitable course of the collapse. John points out that although society was built on the economy, only what was built on God would last forever. 

The judgment of humanity will cause the leaders of the world to weep as much for their loss as for hers. They have relied on Babylon for their success. Now it is gone; however, they will be standing at a distance for fear of her torment.

Because they benefit financially from financial power, the merchants and the mariners of the earth will mourn when the economic hub of the world is gone. In the midst of destruction, mankind’s inhumanity is judged. This final system of commerce championed by the beast will dehumanize humankind, as any system without God will do.

The list of 28 items in Revelation 18:12-13 form the basis of end-time economic commerce. This list includes the various material possessions for which people have labored, schemed and become enslaved throughout history, which makes it symbolic of humankind’s perennial pursuit of extravagant wealth. Even though John lists commodities that were significant in his day, it is amazing to see how timeless they are, even to the end of the age.

Three classes of people on earth-monarchs, merchants and mariners-will mourn the judgment of humanity, but three classes of people in heaven-apostles, saints and prophets-will rejoice. Even humans will be reduced to cargo, treated as slaves to drive the engines of products and productivity. Unquestioned jubilation will break free as the people of God will be vindicated and retribution will be meted out to the people that had persecuted and martyred them.

Rome was a spiritual Babylon, and even as Babylon fell, so did Rome. When Rome fell, it caused a huge economic failure for other nations. The same thing happens today. Economic problems in other countries (such as the United States) can cause problems here. What is your source of wealth?? Who do you believe supplies everything that you need? For Christians, the answer to both questions should be-God.

 

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Palmer, E.F. & Ogilvie, L.J: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 35: 1,2 & 3 John/ Revelation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)

6.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2011)

7.      Jeremiah, David: Agents of the Apocalypse (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers; 2014)

 

 

 

Hebrews 9:24-28 Where do we want to Go When We Die?

A man walked home one evening after having some drinks at a local bar. He decided to take a shortcut through a cemetery. Unfortunately, he fell into an open grave and could not get out. He fell asleep and woke up the next morning when the whistle at the local factory blew. He was still suffering the effects of the previous evening, but he managed to get out of the grave, look around and exclaim, “Well what do you know? It’s Judgment Day, and I’m the first one up!”  

What kind of legacy do you want to leave when you die? If you knew that today was the last day of your life, what would you do? Are you prepared to spend eternity with God? There are times when we need to stop and look at our lives, what we are doing and whether or not it’s worth the time and effort. We need to decide if our lives have any sense of accomplishment or purpose.

A police officer stopped a driver for going 25 kilometres over the speed limit. After he received the ticket, the driver asked the officer “Don’t you give out warnings?” “Yes, sir,” the officer replied. “They’re all up and down the road. They say, ’Speed Limit 100.’

There are some people who have rejected God all of their lives and refused to accept his forgiveness for their sins. When they stand before God when they die, they will have to give an account of their lives just like the rest of us. When they receive their judgment, they will probably say the same thing as the driver did: “Don’t you give out warnings?”

God will probably reply, “Yes I do. The Bible is full of warnings to prepare for eternity. Every year you were reminded of my offer of forgiveness and eternal life at both Christmas and Easter. I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.” Because they refused God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation, they will have to pay the penalty for their own sins.

Those who believe in God and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour have their names written in God’s Book of Life. They will still have to stand before God in judgment, but instead of being judged for their sins they will be judged on the basis on how they served God here on earth and be rewarded accordingly. 

One way we can serve God is to meet the spiritual needs of other people. For example, Rev. Billy Graham’s father-in-law, Dr. Nelson Bell, was a medical missionary to China. He built a 300 bed hospital in the community where he lived. Because of his skill many of his patients were cured, but eventually they died. He knew that it wasn’t enough to meet their physical needs, so every patient who was mobile was required to attend chapel every day in the hospital where they were given a Bible lesson and presented with the Gospel. Those who weren’t mobile were visited by someone who would share Christ with them. Consequently, thousands of Chinese men and women received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour at that hospital.

There is nothing we as humans can do to win our salvation. Not even church membership can win our salvation for us. Only Christ can save us, and our hope and trust must be in him alone. He became the sacrifice we need for our sins, and only he can give us hope for eternal life because of his resurrection. Just has humans die only once and after that they are judged, Christ sacrificed himself once to bear all of our sins and will return to save those who are waiting on him for salvation.

The eternal heavens are realities because they are God’s dwelling place. They are truer than earthly copies. In a similar way, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross because of the single offering of himself is sufficient for all his followers for all time. It was superior to the Old Testament sacrifices because the Old Testament sacrifices had to be repeated, and the high priest had to atone for his own sins as well as the sins of the people. Christ was sinless, so he did not have to atone for his own sins. He died once as an offering for all our sins, and he will return to judge the world and save his followers. Each of us has a single life before eternal judgment, so there will be no “second chances” after death.

The copies of the things in heaven were the tabernacle, the laws and the Old Testament rituals. They were only pictures of Christ’s sacrifice. That the heavenly things needed to be purified doesn’t suggest any defilement in heaven, but they represent the complete cleansing brought about by Jesus’ death. This inaugurated heaven itself as the new holy place and Christ as the new and final high priest.  

“Presence” actually means “face.” Jesus has entered into the holy places on our behalf and represents us as our mediator, advocate and attorney before God. Because Christ’s sacrifice to put away sin once was sufficient, it doesn’t have to be repeated, unlike Old Testament sacrifices. For this reason, Communion services today do not repeat Christ’s death but celebrate his once-for-all sacrifice.

Christ’s ministry has three tenses:

1.      Past: His First Advent to save us from the penalty of sin.

2.      Present: He is in heaven to save us from the power of sin.

3.      Future: His Second Advent to deliver us from the presence of sin. It will be confirmation that God has been fully satisfied with Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. At that point salvation will be consummated.

God is a God of infinite holiness who can’t stand sin. No sinner can survive in his presence. He is also a God of infinite justice, so all sin must be punished according to his standard of holiness and perfection. His justice calls for death, and if we don’t accept Christ as our Saviour that death will be spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God in hell. God is also a God of love. That’s why he sent Jesus to die on the cross 2,000 years ago in our place to meet the demands of God’s justice so that we can be forgiven of our sins and receive his gift of eternal life.

When Christ first came, he came because of humanity’s sin. When he returns, he won’t atone for sin. Instead, he will complete salvation for his people. We need to be prepared for life after death. We must endeavor to live our lives in such a way that when we stand before God and give an account of how we have lived our lives, God will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we have the evidence to stand boldly before God in prayer, and we can go boldly into the world to serve others and be witnesses to God’s love.

 Bibliography

 

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Evans, L.F. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 33: Hebrews (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Lucado, M: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)

6.      Ricard Inness, “Know God.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

7.      Ricard Inness, “How to be Sure you’re going to Heaven.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

8.      Ricard Inness, “Ignoring the Warnings.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

9.      Ricard Inness, “God’s Judgment Throne.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

10.  Anne Graham Lotz, ”Physical & Spiritual Needs.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org

11.  Billy Graham, “If I’m Not a Church Member, Will I Be Kept Out of Heaven?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com

12.  Dr. Harold Sala, “If Only You Knew.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org

13.  Lee Ann Dunlap, “Dots on a Screen.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com