The Alpha and the Omega
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We are going to begin our next book of the Bible which will be the book of Revelation. This book is probably one of the toughest books in the Bible. It is the last inspired book of the Bible and it ends the New Testament with the second coming of Christ. It was written by the Apostle John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. The book brings to conclusion of the many prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled. By the way the biggest prophetic event that has occured in modern times was when Israel become a country again in 1948. There is no book of Revelation without Israel. There is one more point to make before we begin. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. I believe that Jesus saves those believers before the tribulation begins. There are plenty of scriptures references I can give you back up my point. But here is my simple explanation. I do not believe that the Father sent His son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins just to let us go through the tribulations. It does not show His grace and it cheapens the acts of Jesus on the cross. Now if you would like to know the other beliefs concerning the tribulations, I am happy to talk about them. But there will be people who profess Jesus and He will say “ I did not know you” Jesus knows your heart and He knows your belief in Him. This is why there will be people that profess Jesus and yet go through the tribulations.
If you have your Bibles we are going to start with
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
There are two types of revelations from God. There is general revelation. My neighbor is in his 90s. When I see him outside on a beautiful day. He always says to me. Will how can there be atheists in the world on a day like today? I always say, I have no idea how there can be. That is general revelation. Then there is special revelation. That is when God is speaking, the entire Bible is a special revelation. Jesus walking the earth is a special revelation. If God speaks to you, that is special. God makes known what is going to happen.
John, who testifies to everything he saw. I try to make a point throughout different sermons to highlight people that have come before us and to give historical context. First because I think those things are important but also because I like history. At the same time we have to be careful not to idolize them. It is always Jesus first and this is my exact point. Where would we be as believers without people like John who testified to everything he saw? We wouldn’t have the Gospel of John, his epistles nor this book. We live in a church age where there are churches that do not use the Bible , that do not testify about Jesus and who do not give the sermons on the character of God. Honestly, it doesn’t upset me anymore, it breaks my heart when I hear about it not because of the leaders that do this but because of the people they are leading down the wrong path because of verse two here
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Blessed is the one who reads, blessed are those who hear and take to heart. This book’s chief concern is the ending of the current age and ends with New Jersualem. What’s interesting is even people who do not follow Jesus or the majority of people believe there will be some sort end times. Its actually a fairly popular movie genre. I have said this before every person on earth worships something. and at the same time every person on earth has faith. It just might not be in Jesus, but they have faith. There is exactly one thing that has stood the test of time and that is the Word of God. It has defeated empire after empire. Blessed are those that take to heart what is written. The revelations of God blesses you because they come from the creator and sustainer of all of this. It isn’t about making your life easier. It is about living your life for God and living the way He designed us to live. We are His creation, He knows what is best.
The time is near. Now here is where a lot of debate goes on. Especially when it comes to determining where we are in the time line of events.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
First we do not know the time. I’ve spoken a lot in the past about chronos and Kairos time. Chorons time is how we measure it. God is Kairos time, when God breaks into your life. When that trumpet sounds it will be the ultimate kairos moment.
Now we come to this quote , in the book they are arguing with an elder of the othrodox church in Russia. about the notion of justice and when God will act. Here is what the Elder says
“ And there is no need to trouble oneself with times and seasons, for the mystery of times and seasons is in the wisdom of God, in His foresight, and in His love. And that which by human reckoning may still be rather remote, by divine predestination may already be standing on the eve of its appearance, at the door.”The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Karamazov
But that doesn’t mean we cannot see the signs and the groundwork that is being laid. Jesus tells us to keep watch. This is another reason the Bible is so important to your daily life. It builds your faith and learn about God, but you can also learn and discern the world around you. Now we must not concern ourselves because it is out of our control is the point of the quote. There is a difference between trusting God and His widsom and decideding that we know better in terms of what is going on in the world and justice for that matter
I want to address one other aspect of the end times and faith. While the wrath of God, the justice of God is very real as well see as we get deeper into this book. The book isn’t meant to scare you into faith. That is a shallow faith. We are meant to use this book to point us to the power of Jesus. The transformational power of Jesus and help people find Jesus. An old word for patience is “long-suffering”. Despite any differences I may have with people; I want everyone to truly give their lives over to Jesus. I fear that far to many of us are sleeping and the owner of the house will be back.
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
Here withing the salutation of the book, this goes to the 7 churches that were in the province of Asia. The following establishes God and the Gospel of Jesus as well as His place. The ruler of the kings of earth. Through His love we are freed from our sins. He is the firstborn from the dead because Jesus is the first to be resurrected with the everlasting body
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Again all of the Bible is interconnected. Even though they may be individual books , they are connected through the story of Jesus and God’s working in this world.
This is written during Paul’s first imprisonment
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Through Jesus the very thing that broke the world and the very thing that takes away your ability to live the life you want to live, which is sin. You are made for the kingdom of God, you are made to proclaim the good news of Jesus and to serve the Father.
God made man for a purpose and that purpose is given by the catechism; the answer is, “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” God made us to be worshipers. That was the purpose of God in bringing us into the world.
A. W. Tozer
God made you for this very purpose. This is why Jesus is the only lasting transformational power in this world. Because Jesus is the only power that allow you to live the life that God wants you to live.
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
This is that Kairos moment that I was referring to earlier. I always look at the story of Noah. There are 120 years between the time that God speaks with Noah and the flood.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
The second coming of Jesus is when everyone’s eyes will finally be open. The people will mourn because they will have realized their mistake. See there are consequences to every decision that we make. Where we are putting our faith is the biggest decision you can make. Who is Jesus? Is the most important question you can ask yourself. Your answers to these questions have consequences that do not just have impact on this life but for all eternity. I pray that if you haven’t given your life to Jesus that you make the choice. If you haven’t , please come talk to us, if you haven’t been baptized please come talk to us.
We end with
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The term The almighty is used 10 times in the New Testament. The first is 2 Cor 6:18 and the other 9 times are all in the book of Revelation
The Greek word is pantokrator which means “the all powerful one”.
As we move to the house of prayer time. Ask yourself who your faith is in ? If you would like to give your life over to Jesus we are here, if you are ready for the step of baptism we are here
Let us pray
