"The Edge of Eternity"

The Edge of Eternity

INTRODUCTION
The book of the Revelation is a blessing book.
Revelation 1:1-3
The book of Revelation is often ignored, debated or discounted.

THE CENTRAL PERSON OF THE BOOK
The book of the Revelation is about Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the hero of the Bible.
Many who study prophecy are more concerned about the “things” that are going to happen than the One who is going to come.
The Greek word for “revelation” is the word from which we get “apocalypse.”
“Revelation” literally means “an unveiling.”
The book of the Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
We’re going to see Jesus Christ in a different way than we have seen Him before.
When Jesus Christ came the first time, born in a manger, His glory was veiled.
The first time He came to redeem. When He comes again, He is coming to reign.
He came to a crucifixion the first time. He is coming to a coronation the second time.
He came to a tree (the cross) the first time. He is coming to a throne the second time.
The first time He came, He stood before Pilate. The second time He comes, Pilate will stand before Him.
He came the first time as a servant. He is coming the second time as the Sovereign
King of kings and Lord of lords.
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

THE CLEAR PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

The word “servant” in this passage means “bondslave.”
A bondslave was someone who had been a slave, was set free, but who willingly went back to his master out of love and devotion toward his master.
As believers, we are bondslaves of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation is written to those who are bondslaves of Jesus Christ. Since the book of the Revelation is a revelation of Jesus to His servants, the book will remain a mystery to those who are
not bondslaves of Jesus Christ.

THE COMFORTING PROMISE OF THE BOOK
If we read and heed this book, we will receive a blessing. The word “hear” in this passage does not mean to merely hear with our ears, but to get it into our hearts and to heed it.
The devil is not found in the first two chapters of the Bible, nor the last two chapters of the Bible.
The reason everything is such a mess today is that everything is out of place.
The church (the bride) belongs with the Groom (Jesus).
Jesus is the King and the King belongs on the throne; He is not yet ruling.
The devil is a criminal that belongs in prison; he is not yet there.
But one day the bride will be with the Groom.
But one day the King will be on the throne.
But one day the devil will be in prison.
The book of the Revelation helps make sense of our suffering and brings stability to our lives.
This world is cursed with: sin, suffering, pain, moan, groan, death, destruction, tears and tribulation.
The only way we can be stable in this age is to know that there is a blessed hope;
Jesus Christ, (the Hope of the workd) the Son of God, is coming again.
We are to live, keeping our eyes on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. That gives us stability in these unstable times.

THE CERTAIN PROPHECY OF THE BOOK

2,000 years ago, John said the time was at hand. The time is always at hand.
It may not be immediate, but it is always imminent.
The last days began when Jesus ascended; they have always been the last days. We are living in the last days.
1 Peter 4:7
1 Corinthians 10:11 Paul thought that the end would come in his day.
Philippians 4:5 The Lord is near.
James 5:8
1 John 2:18
We are not waiting on certain prophecies to be fulfilled before Jesus returns.
His coming has always been imminent.
The imminency of Jesus’ return can be well described as walking along the edge of the ocean’s shore. We are walking along the edge of the shore; we are always living on the edge of eternity.
From the time that Jesus came the first time until He comes again, we are living on the edge of eternity. The time is at hand; Jesus may come anytime.
God is longsuffering with us and delays the time of the Second Coming of Jesus so that more people can be saved.

THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING REVELATION

The key to understanding Revelation is found in Revelation 1:19.
Revelation 1:19 is the commission, the assignment, that God gave to John.
“Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.”
This is the golden key that unlocks the book of the Revelation.
The book is divided into three categories:
“The things which thou hast seen.”
John had seen a vision of the glorified, conquering Christ.
The book of the Revelation presents Jesus not as Savior, but as Judge.
John sees someone whose countenance is like the Sun, whose eyes are like fire and whose voice is like the sound of many waters.
Revelation 1:12-18
The book of the Revelation unveils the glorified Christ.
“The things which are.”
Revelation chapters 2 and 3 deal with the things that are.
There are seven churches mentioned in these two chapters.
Revelation 2:11
The refrain “He that hath an ear, let him hear” is repeated seven times throughout these two chapters. The Holy Spirit is speaking, do we have ears to hear?
These chapters speak of seven churches representing all churches of all times.
This refers to the present time; the Church Age.
The Church Age began with Pentecost and will end with the coming of Jesus Christ for His church.
“The things which shall be hereafter.”
Not things that “may” be, but “shall” be.
This section spans Revelation chapters 4 through 22.

THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS

Revelation 4:1
In a vision, John hears a voice and a trumpet and is caught up into Heaven. This is the rapture of the church being typified.
The word “rapture” simply means “to be caught away.”
At any moment, the trumpet may sound, and we will leave this Earth.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

THE TRIBULATION OF THIS WORLD

When the saints are raptured, the antichrist will come and transform the world into his kingdom – a vast concentration camp. The Bible refers to this time as the day of God’s wrath.
Revelation 6:12-17
He is the Lamb of God full of mercy, but also the God of wrath and judgment and justice. There seems to be a battle between God’s mercy and God’s wrath. The waters of God’s wrath are pounding against the dam of His mercy. One day the dam
will burst and the great day of His wrath will come.
Revelation 9:6
Antichrist will turn the world into a vast concentration camp and all the inmates will be numbered. No one will be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast.

ARMAGEDDON AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BEAST

Satan’s superman, the beast (the antichrist), will hold sway over the Earth and regiment the world by economy and miracles during the Great Tribulation. This leads up to the final battle: the Battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 13:1-3 The dragon is the devil himself.
Revelation 16:13-16
The unholy trinity: the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. Demon spirits will gather the kings of the Earth and draw them into this final battle, the Battle of Armageddon.
It will appear as if Israel will be destroyed.
Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 19:19-21
The antichrist will be at the battle with his armies.
Jesus Christ, followed with the armies of Heaven, will come to this battle with His church after the seven years of the tribulation. Jesus will destroy the enemy’s armies with His word. The same word that spoke them into existence will speak
them into oblivion.

THE MILLENNIUM AND THE GLORIFICATION OF THE SAVIOR

Revelation 20:1-6
“One thousand years” in the Latin is “a millennium.”
This is a literal 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ upon the Earth.
Christians pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”.
Matthew 6:10 Would Jesus have taught us to pray that if it had not been meant to come to pass?
Matthew 5:5 The Old Testament prophesies over and over that the Messiah will rule from Jerusalem.
Worship of the Risen Savior. Casting our crowns before Him

THE FINAL JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION OF THE SINNERS

Revelation 20:11-15
Is your name in the Book of Life?
One day, sinners will stand before the unavoidable, inescapable Jesus Christ.
They have a date with deity.
This refers to the Great White Throne of judgment.
The dead will be raised to stand before Jesus and be judged.
If we do not meet the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, then we will meet Him as the Sovereign Judge.
God is waiting until all history is finished: until the last period is put on the last sentence upon the last paragraph upon the last chapter upon the last book. When all the deeds are done and our influence has gone down through the ages, then,
judgment comes.

CONCLUSION

The last invitation in the Bible is found in Revelation 22:17.
The Bible says we can take of the water of life freely.
If you want to be saved, then come.
The last prayer in the Bible is found in Revelation 22:20.
This is Jesus testifying. He said, “Surely, I come quickly.”
John said, “Even so, Lord Jesus, come.”
Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.
Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.
Romans 3:23
Romans 10:9-10
Romans 10:13
Acts 16:31
John 3:16