JESUS: THE CREATOR GOD

When you share the Gospel with the lost, you declare that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose from the grave, all as the Scriptures had said He would.  Right?  Of course, because the Gospel is "spelled-out" for us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.  However, unless you identify Who Jesus is, He will have no more honor than any other martyr, or self-sacrificing hero.  It is when Jesus is identified as God, as the only begotten Son of God, as Creator God, as King of kings and Lord of lords, that His love for humanity can be seen for what it truly is:  beyond amazing!   Jesus was the Lamb of God, our Passover, and before He created the heaven and the earth, He, knowing what it would cost Him, love you and me (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7; Rev. 13:8; etc.)!!!  Salvation is a gift from God; however, we who have believed the Gospel, have been saved to do the Lord's will (Eph. 2:8-10).  OUR MOTIVATION IS GRATITUDE!

IDENTIFYING THE CREATOR

*  Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
*  Genesis 2:4 - "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens."
*  Psalm 148:5 - "Let them praise the name of the LORD:  for He commanded, and they were created."
*  Isaiah 42:5 - "Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein."
*  Isaiah 45:18 - "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."
*  Amos 4:13 - "For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is His thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is His name."
*  Malachi 2:10 - "Have we not all one Father?  Hath not one God created us?  Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?"
*  John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made."
*  Ephesians 3:9 - "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ."
*  Colossians 1:16-17 - "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
*  Hebrews 1:1-3 - "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
*  Revelation 4:11 - "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS A CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

JESUS WAS QUITE CLEAR ABOUT HIS IDENTITY

IN JOHN 13:13

JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES,

 

"YOU CALL ME MASTER AND LORD:

 AND YOU SAY WELL;

FOR SO I AM!"

IN JOHN 20:28-29

THOMAS SAID UNTO JESUS,

 

"MY LORD AND MY GOD."

JESUS REPLIED TO THOMAS,

"BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU BELIEVED:  BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE NOT SEEN,

AND YET HAVE BELIEVED."

WHAT IS ALL THIS PANIC ABOUT "LORDSHIP SALVATION?"

I hate to say this, but I am afraid that there has been such a phobia about religious people trying to work their way to heaven, that evangelical Christians preach only that Jesus is the Savior of all who believe, and have actually risen up against anyone who dares to focus on the Lordship of Christ! Somehow, I have no idea how, they have decided believing Jesus is the Savior is not considered works, but that believing He is Lord, is!?!  Sadly, they acknowledge Jesus is the manifestation of God in the flesh, but God forbid anyone call Him Lord!  Well, I hate to be a problem, but the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" appears eighty-four times in the New Testament, and in eighteen of the twenty-seven books!  It is my contention that "believing" is not a work, and that unless the whole Gospel record revealing His identity is preached, the lost will simply "add Jesus" to their lives, and fail to allow Him to be Lord of their lives!  Here are just a few examples of the importance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ:

*  Acts 20:21 - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Romans 5:11 - "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement."
*  1 Corinthians 8:6 - "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him."
*  2 Corinthians 8:9 - "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."
*  Galatians 6:14 - "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
*  Ephesians 5:20 - "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Philippians 3:20 - "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Colossians 1:2 - "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
*  1 Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  2 Thessalonians 2:14 - "Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  1 Timothy 1:1 - "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our hope."
*  2 Timothy 4:22 - "The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen."
*  Titus 1:4 - "To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour."
*  Philemon 1:3 - "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
*  James 2:1 - "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons."
*  1 Peter 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
*  2 Peter 1:16 - "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."
*  2 John 1:3 - "Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."
*  Jude 1:17 - "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ."

SO WHO IS JESUS?

*  Revelation 19:16 - "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

JESUS IS WORTHY OF OUR WORSHIP

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SHOULD BE ONE OF WORSHIP

*  1 Samuel 15:24-25, 31 - "And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned:  for I have transgressed the Commandment of the LORD, and thy Words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.  Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
....So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD."
*  1 Chronicles 16:29 - "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him:  worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
*  Psalm 29:2 - "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
*  Psalm 96:9 - "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness:  fear before Him, all the earth."
*  Isaiah 27:13 - "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem."
*  Jeremiah 7:2, 68 - "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this Word, and say, Hear the Word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
....O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise Him, and give Him thanks:  for His mercy endureth forever."

ALL WORSHIP BELONGS TO OUR CREATOR, OUR SAVIOR, OUR LORD

*  Matthew 4:10 - "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."

JESUS IS OUR CREATOR, OUR SAVIOR, AND OUR LORD

*  John 1:1-3, 14 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." 

 [Also see:  Colossians 1:16-17 and Hebrews 1:1-2].

JESUS IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP

*  Matthew 2:11 - "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him:  and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

*  Matthew 8:2 - "And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean."
*  Matthew 9:18 - "While He spoke these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live."
*  Matthew 14:33 - "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God."
*  Matthew 15:25 - "Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me."
*  Matthew 28:9, 17 -  "And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him....And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him:  but some doubted."

[Also see:  Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; and John 9:38].

GOOD WORKS DON'T SAVE YOU; BUT SAVED PEOPLE DO GOOD WORKS

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN

*  Romans 9:31-32 - "But Israel, which followed after the Law of righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of righteousness.  Wherefore?  Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone
*  Romans 10:3-4 - "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
*  Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS

*  Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
*  Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace (unmerited favor) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."
*  Philippians 3:9 - "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

ALL WHO ARE SAVED BY FAITH IN CHRIST, SHOULD SHOW EVIDENCE OF IT!

*  Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." [Note:  He is speaking to a child of the Father]
*  Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
*  1 Timothy 2:9-10 - "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but that which becometh women professing godliness with good works."
*  1 Timothy 6:17-18 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate."
*  2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
*  Titus 2:12-14 - "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
*  Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."
*  1 Peter 2:12 - "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

WARNING TO BELIEVERS

*  2 Timothy 2:19 - "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.  And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

REPENTANCE RESULTS FROM ONE OF TWO THINGS

1.  FEAR OF THE LORD'S JUDGMENT.

*  1 Kings 8:35 - "When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against Thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin, when Thou afflictest them."

*  2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
*  Isaiah 59:20 - "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."
*  Jeremiah 18:8 - "If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them."
*  Jeremiah 44:5 - "But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods."
*  Ezekiel 18:21 - "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die."
*  Ezekiel 33:19 - "But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby."
*  Daniel 9:13 - "As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us:  yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth."

2.  GRATITUDE FOR THE LORD'S GOODNESS.

Luke 5:32 - "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 15:10 - "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Luke 24:47 - "And that repentance AND remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Acts 5:31 - "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Acts 11:18 - "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
Acts 20:21 - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Acts 26:20 - "But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God...."
Romans 2:4 - "Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
2 Corinthians 7:10 - "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Hebrews 6:1 - "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God"
2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

JESUS DIED TO BE OUR SAVIOR.  HE ROSE TO BE OUR LORD!

WHY DOES THE CHURCH GATHER ON SUNDAY?

FEAST OF WEEKS - PENTECOST - PROPHETIC PICTURE OF THE CHURCH AGE

*  Leviticus 23:9-17 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the Firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:  And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you:  on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.  And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.  And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.  And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:  Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.  Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD."
----- Jesus is the Firstfruits from the grave - 1 Cor. 15:20-23!
----- The morrow after seven Sabbaths is the 50th day known as Pentecost - See Acts 2:1-47!
----- Two leavened loaves - the Church consists of converted Jews and Gentiles who still struggle with sin - See Rom. 7:15-25; Jam. 5:13-15; 1 Jn. 1:8-10; etc.!
----- The Sabbath is only mentioned one time following the Book of Acts - See Col. 2:16.

THE CHURCH GATHERED TOGETHER ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

*  Matthew 28:1 - "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
*  Mark 16:2, 9 - "And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun....Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils."
*  Luke 24:1 - "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."
*  John 20:1, 19 - "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre....Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
*  Acts 20:7 - "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
*  1 Corinthians 16:2 - "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

REMISSION IS WHAT JESUS DID; REPENTANCE IS THE RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IT!

On the day that Jesus ascended into heaven, He said to His disciples:  "...These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.  Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  and that repentance AND remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And you are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:44-48).

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE HAS THE POWER TO BRING SINNERS TO

REPENTANCE AND TO FAITH TOWARD GOD!

*  1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."  [Jesus died as our Savior; He rose as our Lord!]

*  Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile)."

REPENTANCE  (TURNING TO FOLLOW THE LORD)

*  Luke 5:32 - "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
*  Acts 20:21 - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, AND faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Acts 20:26 - "But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance."
*  2 Corinthians 7:10 - "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
*  Hebrews 6:1-2 - "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
*  2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

REMISSION OF SINS  (FORGIVENESS OF SINS)

*  Matthew 26:28 - "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
*  Acts 10:48 - "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
*  Hebrews 9:22 - "And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
*  Hebrews 10:16-18 - " This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."

THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, OUT OF GRATITUDE, TURN FROM A LIFE OF SIN, AND FOLLOW JESUS AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR!

UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK OF REVELATION

THE KEY TO RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE BOOK OF REVELATION

*  Revelation 1:19 - "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."


- Revelation Ch. 1 - "the things which thou hast seen."
         - 1:17 - "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.  And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the Last."


- Revelation Ch. 2 - 3 - "the things which are." [The Church Age]
        - 1:11 - "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."


- Revelation Ch. 4 - 18 - "the things which shall be hereafter." [The Tribulation]
        - 4:1-2 - "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:  and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.  And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne."


- Revelation Ch. 19 - "the things which shall be hereafter." [Christ's Second Coming]
       - 19:11 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war."


- Revelation Ch. 20 - "the things which shall be hereafter." [The Millennium Kingdom]
       - 20:4 - "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."


- Revelation Ch. 21-22 - "the things which shall be hereafter." [The New Heaven and New Earth; Eternity]
       - 21:1-3 - "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God."
   

WE ARE SAVED, SEALED, AND WILL BE DELIVERED

MANKIND DESERVES TO SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL

*  Romans 3:23 - "...all have sinned...."
*  Romans 6:23a - "...the wages of sin (the payment required for sin) is death...."

GOD SACRIFICED HIS SON JESUS SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

*  John 3:14-17 - "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved (from the penalty of sin)."
*  Romans 5:8 - "But God commended (demonstrated; manifested) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
*  2 Corinthians 5:21 - "...He (The Father) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us (God placed our sins on Jesus), Who knew no sin (Jesus was sinless - Hebrews 4:15); that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 

OUR SALVATION CAN NOT BE EARNED BY RELIGIOUS WORKS

*  Romans 10:3 - "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
*  Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
*  Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace (unmerited favor) are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast."

SO WHAT MUST I DO IN ORDER TO BE SAVED?

*  John 6:28-29 - "Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent."
*  Acts 16:30-31 - "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...."
*  Romans 10:9-13 - "That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says,  Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

THE SAVED PERSON HAS ETERNAL LIFE

*  Ephesians 1:12-13 - "That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In Whom you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation:  in Whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."

*  Philippians 1:5-6 - "For your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

*  1 John 3:2 - "Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

JESUS HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE!

ONE OVERCOMES THE WORLD BY FAITH IN THE ONE WHO CREATED IT!

TO OVERCOME THE WORLD, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

*  1 John 5:1-5 - "WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD:  and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, EVEN OUR FAITH.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD?" 

(See:  John 1:14,18; 3:16,18; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5; 11:17; 1 John 4:9).

CHRIST'S PROMISES TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME THE WORLD

*  Revelation 2:7 - "...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
*  Revelation 2:11 - "...He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
*  Revelation 2:17 - "...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
*  Revelation 2:26 - "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations."
*  Revelation 3:5 - "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."
*  Revelation 3:12 - "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name."
*  Revelation 3:21 - "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."
*  Revelation 21:7 - "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son."

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS PAID FOR YOUR SINS?

THAT HE DIED, WAS BURIED, AND GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD? 

IF SO, YOU ARE BORN AGAIN AND HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!

THE DAY OF THE LORD

*  Isaiah 2:12 - "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low."
*  Isaiah 13:6, 9 - "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty....Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it."
*  Isaiah 34:8 - "For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion."
*  Jeremiah 46:10 - "For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that He may avenge Him of His adversaries:  and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood:  for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates."
*  Lamentations 2:22 - "Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD's anger none escaped nor remained:  those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed."
*  Ezekiel 13:5 - "Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD."
*  Ezekiel 30:3 - "For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen."
*  Joel 1:15 - "Alas for the day!  For the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."
*  Joel 2:1, 11 - "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain:  let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:  for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand....And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great:  for He is strong that executeth His Word:  for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?"
*  Joel 3:14 - "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision:  for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."
*  Amos 5:18-20 - "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD!  To what end is it for you?  The day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.  Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light?  Even very dark, and no brightness in it?"
*  Obadiah 1:15 - "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen:  as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."
*  Zephaniah 1:7-8, 14, 18 - "Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand:  for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, He hath bid His guests.  And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel....The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD:  the mighty man shall cry there bitterly....Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy:  for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land."
*  Zephaniah 2:2-3 - "Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you.  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness:  it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger."
*  Zechariah 14:1 - "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee."
*  1 Corinthians 5:5 - "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
*  2 Corinthians 1:14 - "As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus."
*  1 Thessalonians 5:2 - "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."
*  2 Peter 3:10 - "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

ALL BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WILL ALREADY BE GATHERED IN HEAVEN

WHEN THE TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD TAKES PLACE! 

[SEE:  JN. 14:1-3; 1 COR. 15:50-54; 1 THES. 4:13-18; 5:9; REV. 3:10; 4:1]

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 - 5:11 AS I UNDERSTAND IT

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS 

THE LORD IS COMING TO TAKE US HOME

I, Paul, would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have died, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who have died believing in Jesus, will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede the dead in Christ.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

WORDS OF WARNING TO THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE

THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING ON UNBELIEVERS

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.  For you know perfectly well that the Day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night.  For when unbelievers shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all the children of light, and the children of the day, just as we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not be like them; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunkards, are drunk in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or we have died, we shall live together with Him.  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and continue building one another up just as you have been doing.

SEEING GOD: AS I UNDERSTAND IT

NO MAN HAS SEEN GOD THE FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST

*  John 1:18 - "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him."
*  1 John 4:12 - "No man hath seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us."

MANY MISTAKENLY BELIEVE SOME HAVE SEEN THE FATHER

*  Genesis 3:8-10 - "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:  and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
*  Genesis 5:24 - "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
*  Genesis 6:9 - "These are the generations of Noah:  Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."
*  Genesis 32:30 - "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:  for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."
*  Judges 13:22 - "And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God."

IF THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE FATHER, WHO DID THEY SEE?

*  John 14:9 - "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?  He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"
*  1 Timothy 3:16 - "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
*  Hebrews 1:1-3 - "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

YES, JESUS IS GOD AND WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH

*  John 1:1-3, 14 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

JESUS IS LORD!  

"LORD" is defined as "I AM" in Exodus 3:14, which says, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:  and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."  Later, Jesus would identify Himself as the I AM in John 8:58 - "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."  His enemies knew He was calling Himself God, and they were going to stone Him to death!  So, in other words, I believe the 6000 plus times the LORD (all caps) appears in the Old Testament, it is referring to Jesus, not the Father!

JESUS:  CREATOR OF ALL THERE IS; THE I AM; GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH; SAVIOR OF ALL WHO BELIEVE; KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! 

EVENTS LEADING UP TO CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

*  Titus 2:11-13 - "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."
*  John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
*  Acts 1:9-11 - "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; who also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven."
*  1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 - "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
*  1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 - "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK / THE TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE / THE TRIBULATION

*  Daniel 9:26-27 - "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
*  Jeremiah 30:7 - "Alas!  For that day is great, so that none is like it:  it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."

[See also:  Matthew 24:4-28; Mark 13:5-23; Luke 21:8-26; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3;

2 Thessalonians 2:1-11; and Revelation Chapters 6-18]

THE SECOND COMING OF THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

*  Matthew 24:29-30 - "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
*  Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, THAT IS, THE CHURCH

*  Romans 10:9-13 - "...if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentiles:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

READING THE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS

There is currently a teaching that the church did not begin at Pentecost (Acts 2), but that it was "conceived" at that time.  Then, on the Feast of Trumpets (perhaps Sep. 23, 2017), the church will be "born" and immediately called up to heaven in what is known as the Rapture.  This teaching is based upon the assumption that Revelation 12:1-5 is a picture of Christ's body, the church, being the "man child," joining Jesus Christ, the Head of the church (Col. 1:18).  According to this view, the time between Pentecost and a future Feast of Trumpets, now nearly 2000 years, represents the forming of the "man child" in the womb.  Without going into the signs in the heavens (Virgo, Leo, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, and Mars lining up), I would ask these questions:  If the church is made up of born again believers, and the Word states that we are now born again (1 Pet. 1:23); that we are now children of God (Rom. 8:16; Gal. 3:26; 1 Jn. 3:2), how can it be said that we are not yet "born?"  And how can these verses in the Book of Acts be explained?  These verses, now Historical, speak of the church as being present in the days of the Apostles!


*  Acts 2:47 - "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
*  Acts 5:11 - "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."
*  Acts 8:1-3 - "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison."
*  Acts 9:31 - "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."
*  Acts 11:22, 26 - "Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch....And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.  And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
*  Acts 12:1, 5 - "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church....Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
*  Acts 13:1 - "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul."
*  Acts 14:23, 27 - "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed....And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."
*  Acts 15:3-4 - "And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them."
*  Acts 16:5 - "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."
*  Acts 18:22 - "And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch."
*  Acts 20:17, 28 - And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church....Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."

WHILE I DO BELIEVE THE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS ARE PROPHETIC, I AM NOT WILLING TO BE DOGMATIC THAT THEY REFER TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.  ESPECIALLY SINCE REVELATION 4:1 IS A CLEARER PICTURE AS IT IS TIMED BETWEEN THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE AND THE BEGINNING OF THE TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE, THAT IS, THE TRIBULATION.

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE: JESUS IS THE RISEN LORD!

MATTHEW 28:18-20

[18] And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

VERSE 18

"All power is given unto Me" - the Greek ἐξουσία (exousia), speaks of His authority.  In Acts 1:8, the Holy Spirit would come and His disciples would also receive power.  Here, the Greek δύναμις (dynamis), could refer to the Gospel message, which is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16 where the Greek δύναμις (dynamis) is also used).  This makes sense because in the next verse, those who receive their message, were to be baptized.

VERSE 19

"Teach all nations" - the Greek μαθητεύω (mathēteuō), means to make disciples.  Again, only disciples would be baptized.  Those doing the baptizing were to do so as servants of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!  The fact that the word "and" is there, indicates that there are three personages of the Trinity, and that the Trinity was part of the message accepted by the new babes in Christ. 

VERSE 20

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" - this clearly shows that the new believers were to be taught the same teachings that the disciples had received from Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.

 

SOME OTHER VERSES TO CONSIDER

*  Mark 1:1 - "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (the entire Gospel of Mark is considered "the Gospel.").

*  Luke 24:47 - "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

*  Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

*  Acts 15:7 - "And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe."  (Finally, they understood what Jesus meant when He told them to preach the Gospel to ALL NATIONS!).

*  Romans 10:9-13 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

THE GREATEST FATHER OF ALL



BECOMING A CHILD OF GOD

*  Acts 4:10, 12 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole....Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
*  John 1:11-12 - "(Jesus) came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the (children) of God, even to them that believe on His name." 
*  Romans 10:9-10 - "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
*  Galatians 3:26 - "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD BY ADOPTION

*  Romans 8:15 - "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
*  Ephesians 1:2-6 - "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in The Beloved."

AS HIS ADOPTED CHILDREN, WE HAVE GOD AS OUR FATHER

*  Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven."
*  Matthew 6:1 - "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:  otherwise ye have no reward of your Father Who is in heaven."
*  Matthew 7:11 - "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"
*  Matthew 18:14 - "Even so it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
*  Luke 6:36 - "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."
*  Luke 12:32 - "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
*  John 20:17 - "Jesus saith unto her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God."

SOMETIMES, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN!

*  1 John 3:1-2 - "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the (children) of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

SOME INTERESTING SEVENS IN THE BIBLE

The number seven, in its various forms, appears 763 times in the King James Bible.  Here are just thirty examples: 


*  Seven days of creation:  Gen. 2:2-3.
*  The seventh day God rested:  Gen. 2:2.
*  Enoch was the seventh generation from creation:  Gen. 5:24.
*  The life of Lamech, son of Methuselah was 777 years:  Gen. 5:31.
*  The number of clean animals and fowls on the Ark was 7 pairs each:  Gen. 7:2-3.
*  The seven feasts of the LORD:  Lev. 23.
*  Seven priests, seven trumpets, seventh day, Jericho fell:  Josh. 6:1-20.
*  Solomon's 700 wives turned him away for God:  1 Kgs. 11:3.
*  Naaman dipped seven time in the Jordon:   2 Kgs. 5:14.
*  David was the seventh son of Jesse:  1 Chron. 2:13-15.
*  Job's "counselors" were silent for seven days:  Job 2:13.
*  The seven abominations to God:  Prov. 6:16.
*  Daniel's seventy-sevens prophecy:  Dan. 9:24-27.
*  The 4000 fed from seven loaves:  Mt. 15:32-39.
*  We are to forgive 70 time 7:  Mt. 18:21-22.
*  Seven "devils" cast out of Mary Magdalene:  Mk. 16:9.
*  Seven spiritual men ordained to be servants to the Church:  Acts 6:1-6.
*  The seven churches which are in Asia:  Rev. 1:4.
*  Seven candlesticks:  Rev. 1:12.
*  Seven stars in Christ's right hand:  Rev. 1:16.
*  The seven Spirits of God:  Rev. 3:1.
*  The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne:  Rev. 4:5.
*  The book with seven seals:  Rev. 5:1.
*  Seven angels with seven trumpets:  Rev. 8:2.
*  The seven thunders uttered their voices:  Rev. 10:3.
*  Seven thousand killed in an earthquake:  Rev. 11:13.
*  The dragon with seven heads and seven horns:  Rev. 12:3.
*  Seven angel with seven plagues:  Rev. 15:1.
*  Seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits:  Rev. 17:9.
*  Seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come:  Rev. 17:10.

Seven is obviously easily identified with God, but have you ever noticed that the next number, the number eight, which speaks of new beginnings, is the sign for infinity when it is horizontal?  

 

WHO IS THE GOD OF THE BIBLE?

I AM

*  Exodus 3:14 - "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
*  John 8:58 - "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."

ALMIGHTY GOD

*  Genesis 17:1 - "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect."
*  Ezekiel 10:5 - "And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when He speaketh."
*  Revelation 19:15 - "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations:  and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
*  Revelation 19:6 - "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth."

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

*  1 Timothy 6:15 - "Who in His times He shall show, Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords."
*  Revelation 17:14 - "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them:  for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful."
*  Revelation 19:16 - "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS

*  Genesis 1:26 - "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
*  Deuteronomy 6:4 - "Hear, O Israel:  The LORD (singular - Jehovah) our God (plural - Elohim) is one LORD (singular - Jehovah)."
*  Matthew 28:19 - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
*  Ephesians 4:4-6 - "There is one body, and One Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
*  1 John 5:7 - "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One."

THE MARK OF A MATURE BELIEVER

*  Micah 6:8 - "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?


*  Matthew 18:4 - "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."


*  Matthew 23:12 - "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."


*  Luke 18:14 - "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:  for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."


*  Philippians 2:5-8 - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."


*  Colossians 3:12-13 - "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."


*  James 4:6, 10 - "But He giveth more grace.  Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble....Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up."


*  1 Peter 5:5-6 - "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:  for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."


*  Romans 1: 21-22 - "...when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."


*  Romans 12:3 - "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." 

STOP COMPLAINING AND START PRAISING

Do you love God?  If you do, then regardless of your circumstances, you can believe what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28:  "...ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose!"  Biblical writers used the phrase "praise the Lord," thirty-three times!  In addition to praising the Lord, believers are admonished to be grateful and thankful to God!  Here are just a few examples:


*  Psalm 69:30 - "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving."


*  Psalm 95:2 - "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."


*  Psalm 100:1-5 - "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD He is God:  it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise:  be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."




*  Psalm 147:7 - "Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God."


*  Philippians 4:6 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."


*  Colossians 3:15-17 - "...let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."


*  Revelation 7:11-12 - "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen."

THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

IS TO BELIEVE GOD IS ULTIMATELY USING THEM FOR GOOD!

JESUS CHRIST: THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

IT IS BELIEVING IN JESUS THAT SAVES US

*  John 3:18, 36 - "He that believeth on Him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God....He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
*  John 6:35, 47 - "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:  he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst....Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.
*  John 7:38 - "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
*  John 11:25 - "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
*  John 12:44 - "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not (just) on Me, but (also) on Him Who sent Me."
*  John 14:12 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father."
*  1 John 5:5, 10 - "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:  he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

JESUS, THE ROCK UPON WHOM GOD IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH

*  Matthew 16:18 - "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (a small stone), and upon this Rock (foundation) I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." [Note:  None of the other Gospel accounts mention this - Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71].
*  Isaiah 28:16 - "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation:   he that believeth shall not make haste." 
*  Romans 9:33 - "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."
*  1 Corinthians 3:11 - "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
*  1 Peter 2:6 which reads:  "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded."

HE DIED TO BE OUR SAVIOR; HE ROSE TO BE OUR LORD!!

In the four Gospel accounts of Christ's life, His death, His burial, and His resurrection, Jesus is quoted as saying "Follow Me" seventeen times!  They can be summed by this verse:

"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15).

Here are the verses in which the Lord Jesus called for believers to follow His lead: 

*  Matthew 4:19 - "And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
*  Matthew 8:22 - "But Jesus said unto him, Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead."
*  Matthew 9:9 - "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom:  and He saith unto him, Follow Me.  And he arose, and followed Him."
*  Matthew 16:24 - "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
*  Matthew 19:21 - "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come and follow Me."
*  Mark 2:14 - "And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him."
*  Mark 8:34 - "And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
*  Mark 10:21 - "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
*  Luke 5:27 - "And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom:  and He said unto him, Follow Me."
*  Luke 9:23 - "And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
*  Luke 9:59 - "And He said unto another, Follow Me.  But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father."
*  Luke 18:22 - "Now when Jesus heard these things, He said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me."
*  John 1:43 - "The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me."
*  John 10:27 - "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
*  John 12:26 - "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be:  if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour."
*  John 13:36 - "Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest Thou?  Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards."

*  John 21:19 - "This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me."

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us

an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour" (Ephesians 5:1-2).