Heaven is real part 2
Rev 21:1-8
This sermon is gleamed from the Bible and parts of SermonCentral sermons.
Introduction-
Last week we began looking at things of heaven.
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but not many are willing to die to get there.
We agreed that life events cause us to look inward at ourselves, weather it is marriage, divorce, deaths, children born, major losses or major changes.
We saw that heaven was a real place.
It is not a concept, it is not a state of mind, it is a literal place that God has prepared for those that accept the redemption that Christ offers by the cross.
That is a promise of Jesus Christ to believers
We also saw that heaven was not designed for everyone.
This is not a final resting place for all no matter what you do or what you believe.
A faulty view of heaven can cause us to miss heaven.
God is a loving God, Christ died for all, but not all will accept that redemption. Some will be eternally lost by their own choice.
Christ loves us enough to give us a choice, if we do not want to spend eternity with Him, He will not force us. If we do not want to spend time with Christ now, is an indication of where our heart is at.
We will not be floating around in heaven for eternity.
We will not be worshiping 24/7 but will have an attitude of worship 24/7.
We will have responsibilities, and our jobs will be based upon what we do here on earth now.
We cannot earn heaven, but we will be rewarded for what we do for the kingdom of God.
Last week, we saw that an accurate view of heaven will;
1. Provide clear priorities under pressure.
2. Help us persevere in times of trouble.
3. Give us a proper perspective of possessions.
So that brings us to speed for last week.
What else does God say about heaven and the end times?
Prayer-
You know if we took heaven more serious, we would not be so concerned about storing up so many treasures here on earth and we would be more concerned about the spiritual security of those that we come into contact with.
2 things I found this week
1. Caption that had a stadium full of people and underneath, it said- when people like what you preach. 2nd caption had a church with a few people sitting around, underneath, it said- when you preach the truth. (makes you think)
2. We need preachers who preach that hell is still hot, heaven is real, that sin is still wrong, that the Bible is God’s word, and Jesus is the only way of salvation. A.W. Tozer.
So what does God say about end times?
What can we as Nazarenes do to spread the God’sword about end times?
How will we as believers identify end times and get to heaven? How do we help others?
2 Timothy 3:1-7 read
For years our parents and grandparents have said that this world is getting worse. They considered chewing gum and not paying attention to teachers as punishable offenses in 1950’s. Since then we have gravitated to drive by shootings and no value for human lives in 2016.
We abuse, tear down anything that is holy. “Always learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.”
The Bible is very clear that there are end time events that will literally happen and warning signs are happening everyday to let us know the slippery slope that mankind is going down.
Scholars may not all agree on all things, but we are clearly given main events that will happen, and what we can expect. I do not claim to be a scholar, but let’s identify the main events that God’s word clearly shows us.
In the book of Daniel, it is prophesied as the 70 weeks of years. “Jacobs troubles” Jacob is the Nation of Israel and records the falling away of Israel from Jehovah God. Most scholars agree that period was fulfilled when Christ appeared and died on the cross. The church age was inserted allowing all walks of mankind in on the redemption that Christ offers till God again deals with Israel and comes back for His church.
Some things to be aware of;
U.S. becomes less powerful and social unrest.
Seven seals recorded in Revelation are opened at different times and points to tribulation period.
West and East will be at war.
Persecution of those that are according to the world view narrow minded enough to say that Jesus is the only way of salvation.
Russia (Magog in Bible) will attempt to rise up and take smaller countries.
At some point when all these bad things seem to keep happening and man seems out of control- God will rescue His church!
Rapture of the church
Rapture of the church is the first phase of Jesus second coming.
To believers that love Jesus Christ- seeing Jesus Christ in the air will not be frightening, but will be the blessed hope that we have been waiting for and praying for.
The word rapture not found in the bible is the snatching away of Christ church.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
I don’t know about you- I’m a little excited about that!
1 Cor. 15:51-52
“Listen, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but will all be changed. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
The rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ are two separate events of the end times. We will meet the Lord in the air, His feet will not touch earth at that time.
The dead in Christ spirit will be united with the resurrected bodies and we will meet the Lord in the air.
The end times may be scary for some but not for believers. It will be exciting! We will not escape all the troubles, but God will rapture his church.
I do not know exactly when that will happen, so I want my bags to be packed and I want to be ready! Amen.
Dates and times unknown but be ready because Jesus our Lord is coming back! I do not know what the new body will look like, but I am ready to get rid of the old body.
At some point the church is gone- the tribulation period begins. Some believe Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post trib. I personally believe we will see some and then the rapture. Be ready and you will not have to worry about it.
There will be many that have walked away from God will recognize what has happened and some will be given a chance to repent, but it will be much harder.
With believers gone, Revelation tells us the ungodly will have a time of prosperity and will accept the anti-Christ into power, who will deliver them from economic and social chaos. Many people have become false prophets by trying to predict who the anti-Christ is and if he is living today.
Second coming
Like I said before, this is different than the rapture. Christ will physically return to the Mount of Olives from which he ascended at His resurrection. Raptured saints, the resurrected dead in Christ, will return to claim His kingdom. He rides in on a white horse, the saints behind Him on white horses. The battle of righteousness against the world of darkness known as the battle of Armageddon. (Rev. 16) at the conclusion of the battle, Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit (Abyss) for 1000 years (Rev 20)
Millennium
1000 year reign of Christ- Satan bound and the glory of God on the earth. At the end of the 1000 year reign Satan is released to test the love, faith, loyalty of those born during the 1000 year reign. There will be another short battle with Satan and his followers. Satan is permenently cast into the lake of fire.
Great white Throne Judgment
All those that did not accept Christ redemption, all the evil wicked people who have ever lived, will stand before the God of the universe. The one they mocked, the one they choose to deny, and they will be judged according to their works.
This is the saddest verse in the Bible, and should motivate us to reach the lost for Christ so they could escape the flames of hell.
I close again with heaven
Rev. 21:1-8 read from Bible
The holy city heaven
“The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”
The new heaven will come down on this barren earth. Weather that is symbolic or literal, I do not know, but I know that heaven will glorious and that heaven will be for God’s people. The magnificent heaven and all his amazing promises will be ours.
The Lords final victory that was started at Calvary.
Closing, concerns
How can the church of Christ not be excited? How can we not be about God’s business of reaching the lost when we know what happens to the lost?
Some have lost hope of His return because 2000 years have gone by. I look at it as Christ showing us how much He loves mankind giving as many people as possible a chance to be rescued by our savior.
Do not get so caught up in the end times that you miss what you ought to be doing. The times are pointing to Jesus Christ return, and when we sense His presence that is when we need to respond.
