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07312016GodsFinalDeclarationOnSalvationRev19-20DonRuhl

 

God’s Final Declaration on Salvation 

Revelation 19–20

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • July 31, In the year of our Lord, 2016

Scripture Reader and Reading: Mike Crisp – Revelation 19.11–16

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Kevin Michael – Songs on judgment

Prelude: 

  1. Revelation 17 shows that a major part of God’s people 
    1. became like a great harlot.
    2. She had formed unspiritual relationships with the nations of the world.
      1. She also fought with deadly force all who opposed her,
      2. even the disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
    3. She headquartered herself in Rome.
  2. Then Revelation 19 shows the other part of God’s people 
    1. becoming the Bride of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
    2. Revelation 19 says of her,

      8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints (Rev 19.8).
  3. What is so wonderful about this, 
    1. Psalm 23 explains,

      4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil;
      For You are with me;
      Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
      5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
      You anoint my head with oil;
      My cup runs over.
      (Psa 23.4–5)
    2. For you see,

      “When the danger is greatest, the saving power also increases” (Friedrich Hölderlin).
    3. Sometimes a great harlot like the one in chapter 17
      1. confronts the faithful followers of Jesus of Nazareth, and
      2. they cry out to the Lord for help, and
        1. He answers their pleas,
        2. giving them greater power,
          1. especially as they continue righteous acts
          2. that they might adore the Bride of Christ
          3. even during the time of their persecution.

Persuasion: 

  1. Jesus the Groom 
    1. Great things happen in Revelation 19, but
      1. the chapter starts off with the celebration of
      2. the judgment against the great harlot,

        1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” (Rev 19.1–3).

        1. This was in answer to the cries of the souls under the altar,
        2. asking how long before the Lord judged those who killed them.
    2. After rejoicing over the judged harlot,
      1. the scene has something refreshing and wonderful,

        6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Rev 19.6–7).
      2. The Book of Revelation focuses on Jesus our Lord.
        1. Listen to the opening of the Book,

          1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants… (Rev 1.1).
        2. Now listen to the ending of the Book,

          1 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Rev 22.21).
        3. Therefore, it does not surprise us to learn of celebrating in Heaven
          1. when the Lamb defeats the beast and the great harlot, and
          2. when the Lamb has His wedding feast.
    3. Revelation 19 has four, “Alleluias,” or “Hallelujahs,” in other translations:
      1. 19.1 – Alleluia because salvation, glory, honor, and power belong to God.
      2. 19.3 – Alleluia for the endless smoke of the great harlot.
      3. 19.4 – Alleluia and Amen say the 24 elders and 4 living creatures.
      4. 19.6 – Alleluia fills heaven because God Almighty reigns.
    4. The last alleluia moves us into the marriage of the Lamb,

      7 “Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev 19.7).

      1. How would you like to have part in such an event?
      2. Then John wrote,

        9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God” (Rev 19.9).

        1. Luke 12 shows a little more about the server (waiter) at the feast,

          37 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them” (Luke 12.37).
        2. Luke 13 shows with whom we shall eat,

          28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13.28–29).
  2. Jesus the Warrior 
    1. After the wedding feast,
      1. John then saw Heaven open and
      2. he saw Jesus as a warrior,
        1. going out to fight His enemies, and
        2. His enemies do not fare well against Him,

          13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (Rev 19.13–15).
    2. It might seem odd that such a scene would follow a wedding feast scene.
      1. Yet, that is what our salvation is.
      2. It is rejoicing, celebrating, and happiness.
      3. It is also warfare, victory, and blood.
  3. Jesus the Conqueror 
    1. Verse 17 shows another feast, but
      1. this time they feast upon the enemy, for
      2. Jesus has won the battle,

        17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God…” (Rev 19.17).
    2. Then see how Jesus conquered when He defeated the two beasts,

      20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (Rev 19.20).

      1. The beast of Rome ruled the Mediterranean world,
        1. even extending its reach clear to England, and
        2. the coupling of Rome with the church
          1. turned it into a powerful beast combination
          2. that controlled the world.
      2. Yet, Jesus defeated them all, and
        1. whatever foe keeps us from our God,
        2. whatever foe seeks to prevent us from worshiping God,
          1. shall suffer the same fate.
          2. Jesus spoke of people who did not
            1. do His Father’s will,
              1. although they were religious, but
            2. they suffer the same destruction.
  4. One More Enemy to Finish All Things 
    1. Finally we move into Revelation 20.
      1. There we learn of the evil one
      2. behind all the evil revealed in the Book of Revelation.
    2. Jesus reigns for 1000 years, but
      1. Satan makes one last attempt to fight Jesus,
      2. gathering all the nations against Jesus and against His church.
    3. Verses 9 and 10 show the fate of the devil and his followers,

      9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev 20.9–10).

      1. Every day that passes,
      2. we are one day closer
        1. to the day when God eliminates all evil and all evil-doers, and then
        2. will come to pass the saying of Peter,

          13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2Pe 3.13).

          1. Imagine a place where nothing evil dwells,
          2. a place where righteousness has no competition from wickedness.
            1. May the Lord hasten the day, or
            2. as John responded to Jesus at the Book of Revelation,

              20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22.20)

Exhortation: 

  1. With all evil and evil-doers banished, 
    1. the Book of Revelation shows logically the next event,

      11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20.11–15).
    2. Observe these facts from this passage:
      1. Every person who has ever lived will be present for the Judgment.
      2. Every person will be judged according to three open books:
        1. The Bible
        2. The Book of Life
        3. The Book of Your Life
      3. Every person will be judged by his works.
      4. Three things shall be cast into the lake of fire:
        1. Death
        2. Hades
        3. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life.
  2. If you fall away, 
    1. your name is removed from the Book of Life.
    2. Therefore, repent today that it might be in that Book again!
      1. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot fall away, for
      2. Revelation 2 and 3 showed that very possibility.