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THE
CHURCH’S DESTINY Introduction: The angels in the second and third chapters are messengers (pastors) with a message from God to the church. Only one church among the seven did not receive a rebuke from the Lord. This chapter begins the third division of the Book of Revelation (expound Rev.1:19). Three truths that help us understand the Church’s destiny. I. THE CHURCH’S RAPTURE (VV.1-3) Expound:
doors in the Bible - (Rev.3:8) the door of opportunity; (Rev.3:20) the
door of the human heart; here is the door of heaven (Rev.4:1). Here is a
picture of the rapture the event that will close out this Church Age (Rom
11:25) "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this
mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the
Gentiles be come in." A. The Sounds (v.1 &1Thess. 4) Shout
- (Jesus shouts three times in the Bible) (1 Thess.4:16). Voice
- (Arch-Angel calling the Holy Angels to battle, war is declared on the
world. Trumpet = call to battle;
time of fresh season; strike the tents and break camp. This is the
church’s destiny! B. The Speed (v.2a) “Immediately” = (directly, at once.); (1 Thess.4:17) "caught
up"; (1Cor.15:52) "in
a moment...twinkling of an eye" - 11/100 of a second. Summery:
Enoch was taken before the flood. Enoch = type of the church. Noah = type
of
C.
The Sovereignty
(v.2b-3) “Throne” Until that glorious day of the rapture I need to remember that He’s on the throne. Whatever comes, Jesus is still on the throne. “Like a jasper and a sardine stone” What radiant beauty we’ll see in Jesus. “A rainbow round about the throne” When does the rainbow come out? When the storm is over! (Illus: go on through the tribulation if you want, but for me, the storm is over!) This is a complete rainbow, we only see half rainbows. There are a lot of things I don’t understand here, but I am going to understand in heaven. Emerald green = grace. Everything is complete there. II THE CHURCH’S ROYALTY (VV.4-9) A. The Church Crowned (vv.4-5) The
24 are Representatives. O.T. = All Priest of Crowns
of Gold = Rewards (expound the Bema Judgment). Five Crowns can be earned. ·
Incorruption (1Cor.9:25-27) ·
Rejoicing (1Thess.2:19, 20) ·
Righteousness (2Tim.4:8) ·
Glory (1Pet.5:2-4) ·
Life (Jas.1:12) B.
The Church Cleansed
(vv.6-9) “Sea
of glass” why not water? No need for cleansing in heaven because we
have already been cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb. (Illus: it’s not
easy to say no to sin. Sin will leave a stain and a stink in your life.
Thank God one day we’ll be removed form the very presence of sin and so
thoroughly cleansed there’ll be no need for confession or the alter of
repentance. We’ll be reign in royalty clean and holy for all eternity).
What follows is a description of the attributes of Christ: full
of eyes = our Lord is all seeing; like
a lion = Our Lord has great majesty and courage; like
a calf = speaks of our Lord’s patience (working to win the lost at
any cost); face as a man =
Humanity & Pity, He knows our every weakness and the feelings of our
infirmities; like a flying eagle
= speaks of our Lord’s Sovereignty who soars above everything and is in
charge of all. III.
THE CHURCH’S REVERENCE (VV.10-11) A. Instinctive Service (v.10) B. Interactive Worship (v.11) Conclusion:
Open the Gates, the Bride is coming for the Wedding, The Lambs are
coming home to the Lamb. Gather for Worship; Swing Wide the Gates; here
comes the Saints of God. I'm glade I'm one of them. Are you one? Are you
ready?
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