Sermon Central
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The Greatest Harvest Known To Man Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Oct 30, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Chapter 14 is a great encouragement and a preview of terror that sets anyone who doesn't know Christ on a collision course with a righteous God. The time to know Jesus is now, before there are no more chances!
Alpha and Omega, Part 42, Revelation Part 19
The Greatest Harvest known to Man
Introduction
- Been studying Revelation together, to understand God’s plan for creation
-- REM: Redemption of sin is granted through Jesus; and yes, we have a choice
- Last time, we explored the ministry of the 144,000 (Jews from the Tribulation)
-- We looked their primary purpose: To preach the gospel to all living souls
-- We also saw the instruction of angel for this time: Fear God and Worship God
- Today, we will unpack the reason for their instruction & see the APP for 2023
-- Please don’t nod off on this one … this is the reason we do what we do here!
- Read Revelation 14:9-20 / Pray for wisdom
-- TR: Truly, for the non-believer this is a terrible passage of scripture
-- It is a revelation of God’s anger and wrath for all of humanity’s sin
- Might think: This is an interesting piece of scripture for Pastor Apprec Sunday?
-- Well, let me just put this out there – and make no apologies about it …
-- I would not be a “pastor” if I didn’t tell you truth about a future without Jesus
Point 1 –The Wrath and Judgment of God
- God sends an angel to declare judgment for all those who worship the Antichrist
-- That is, all those in the Tribulation who have rejected Jesus Christ (v9)
- Since the beginning of time, man has believed he can control his own destiny
-- We (humanity) have sought to disprove God, and in turn earned His wrath
-- This is why Revelation is so pivotal: it truly is a warning to mankind
- The ungodly will drink the wrath and anger and fury of God
-- RE: God must keep Heaven perfect, without sin, even angels have been cast out
-- God has continually given man chance after chance to repent of their sin
-- Might ask: When? How about right now? If you haven’t accepted Jesus…
- Consider God’s judgment: there will be no (cannot be any) watering this down
- See this: It’s actually a double portion: anger AND wrath of God (v10)
-- Romans 1:18, “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
- How? The ungodly will be tormented with fire and brimstone
-- This is a description / picture of the same material that flows from a volcano
-- Undoubtedly, this must have been a terrifying image for John to take in
- Yet, it is not the first time! RE: Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the same fate
-- But … God is clear that this latter judgment will be even worse than that was!
-- Matthew 10:15, “I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”
- See this (v10b) – they are tormented in front of the Lamb and Holy Angels
-- Every unbeliever will see Jesus Christ, He’ll be vindicated as the Messiah
-- Then, they shall suffer and be banished from His sight for denying Him
- The bible also gives us a picture that this torment will be never ending (v11)
-- GR: basanismos; torture (torment)
-- For all those who have willingly chosen to worship the Antichrist
-- It is for those who willingly reject Jesus - they will suffer for all eternity
-- They’ve chosen their wants over God’s ways, and this is their reward
- FACT: Hell will NOT be a party, nor a place filled with the “cool people”
-- Hell is a very real, very vivid reality – and one that you don’t have to go to
-- This is why John’s capturing is so pivotal: torment, no relief, no escape
- TR: It’s why the next verse gives us hope beyond anything we could imagine!
Point 2 – Faithfulness to Jesus produces Safety
- There is an escape for this torment, and a reason for us to have hope
-- Yes! Even during the worst moments of the Tribulation … there is still hope!
-- APP: Yes, believers will face terrible times during the Tribulation
-- They’ll be hunted, killed, forced to be martyred, and persecuted to death
- Why? The choice for those alive will be simple: worship the beast or die
-- It is those who endure for Christ who will be rescued from eternity
-- Though they may lose their life, the judgment of God will not be on them
- Someone who is faithful in this time (and even today) is described as (v12):
• A saint who endures (perseveres)
• One who keeps the commands of God (lives for God first)
