Victory Through the Lamb
Notes
Transcript
Victory through the Lamb
Victory through the Lamb
Bible Passage: Revelation 19:17–20:3
Bible Passage: Revelation 19:17–20:3
This 19th chapter begins with worship in heaven then the marriage of the Lamb.
It continues with the Second coming of Jesus, coming in victory on the white horse with his army of Saints following behind.
His victory comes by the Sword of God in the mouth of Jesus.
John continues the story of victory by describing not only what happens to the faithful followers of Jesus Christ but he also describes what happens to those who do not follow Jesus Christ.
It is always costly to follow Jesus
Maybe you have seen the video of the pastor in Louisiana beating on that man from across the street.
I have no doubt he deserved his beating.
I believe he said the things that pastor said he said.
But the price of following Jesus is being like Jesus.
Jesus gave strict instructions about revenge or retribution.
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
Being like Jesus means we must abandon our right to get even. We trust God to take vengeance
Sometimes we cower from sharing the love of Jesus because of fear.
Maybe someone will criticize us or dislike us.
Perhaps I’ll loose my job.
At other times we deem our comfort more important than sharing the love of Jesus.
But throughout the centuries men and women have died for the privilege of sharing the love of Jesus to those who do not believe.
Martyrdom is not just an ancient act.
Many believers are still losing their lives for accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.
Mansuur Mohammed, a Somali aid worker, received Jesus Christ as his savior in 2006.
Militants from the al Shabab group captured him in 2008 and paraded him before villagers in Manyafulka, who had gathered at the insistence of the militant group.
The militant leaders began to recite from the Quran, accusing Mohammed of apostasy.
A witness said Mohammed remained composed, never uttering a word, as his captors yelled “Allahu akbar” (“God is great”) and then beheaded him.
Some say the video of his death is being circulated in an attempt to prevent Muslims from converting to Christianity.
The enemy is still at work in the 21st century, adding to the countless numbers of men and women who have held steadfast to their faith while being put to death.
“Jesus Christ is Lord” has been uttered now for 2000 years, and the enemy is still trying to silence the voices of the faithful.
300 Illustrations for Preachers (Beheaded for Converting to Christianity)—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell
I tell you that story to remind you that this scripture tells you that stories like this one will end one day.
It is ultra important that you and I stand today in face of any intimidation to stop us from sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
And we must stand as Jesus stood.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Pray
1. Summoning of Divine Justice
1. Summoning of Divine Justice
Notice I saw an angel
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
Ordinary as far as angels go.
Not Jesus, just an angel standing in the sun
But this angel cried out with a loud voice.
He was calling the birds, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God.”
Don’t confuse this with the marriage supper of the Lamb in 19:7
What is this great supper of God?
V.18 clarifies for us why the angel was calling the birds
18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
This supper is for the birds because God removed the sinful of this world.
These verses remind us to not get discouraged when so many things are going badly.
So many Christians in the world are suffering horribly at the hands of wicked men.
But here, we see, those men get their just desserts.
All you and I have to do is forgive them and do our best to share the love of Christ with them.
I realize that is a tall order but remembering these verses is great incentive to forgive.
So don’t worry about the world hating us, It always has and in the end they will see what we tried to tell them.
2. Subjugation of All Enemies
2. Subjugation of All Enemies
V.19 the world tries to invoke terror
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
The world wants us to believe they have the power
The beast and the kings amass a mighty army
This army came against the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and His army of saints.
All the armies of the world were gathered in the valley of Megiddo.
There the beast and false prophet make their one last-ditch effort to destroy the God of the Universe.
Think of the ways Satan has tried to remove God from the memory of God’s creation.
He has taken creation itself to replace God.
He’s used education as a replacement for God
He uses medicine and/or economics to make people believe they don’t need God.
But remember Jesus is on the white horse and in his mouth is the sword of his Word
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
V.20 With what appears to be little effort the beast and false prophet were seized.
Their armies are defeated at Armageddon vv. 20-21
The beast and false prophet cast, alive, into the lake of fire v. 20.
The 2 who so influenced the world toward evil during the great tribulation will be the first 2 inhabitants of hell.
Yes they will be the first inhabitants of hell.
Those who have died without Christ as their Savior and Lord are in Hades.
A place of torment and suffering.
But we will see that at the end of the millennial reign of Christ all the dead in Hades and the sea will be raised and judged at the great white throne.
The beast and false prophet will be taken alive, judged and cast into the lake of fire that tortures for eternity.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
The rest of the army destroyed v.21.
Killed by the sword from the mouth of Christ himself.
The birds were filled by the flesh of the dead.
A graphic picture is painted as kings, commanders, mighty men, the flesh of horses and of all men will be eaten by the birds v.18.
3. Securing the Sovereign Reign
3. Securing the Sovereign Reign
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
Notice ch 20 begins with v.1 an angel coming down from heave.
He holds a key to the abyss
He also holds a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
v.2 Again with seemingly very little effort he lays hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan.
He binds him for a thousand years.
3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
v.3 Satan is thrown into the abyss, shut up, sealed over so that...
That old deceiver is finally put away.
No longer will he lead people astray.
For 1000 years he is locked away in the abyss cooling his heals as he thinks of that one last opportunity to get back at God.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Christ’s second coming will look quite different from the first coming.
He first came as redeemer paying the price you and I owe for the sin in our lives.
But when he returns he comes in victory.
Those of us who have let him change our lives will reign with Christ for 1000 years.
Jesus has already paid the price you just have to be willing to accept it.
There must be genuine brokenness over the sin you have committed that separates you from God.
In humility you ask God to forgive that sin.
Giving Him control of your life as you turn away from your former life of sin and to a new life of submission to the will of God.
317
Only Trust Him
317
Only Trust Him
1.Come, ev'ry soul by sin oppressed,
There's mercy with the Lord;
And He will surely give you rest,
By trusting in His word.
Refrain:
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.
2.For Jesus shed His precious blood
Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
That washes white as snow.
(Refrain)
3.Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way
That leads you into rest;
Believe in Him without delay,
And you are fully blest.
(Refrain)
4.Come, then, and join this holy band,
And on to glory go,
To dwell in that celestial land
Where joys immortal flow.
(Refrain)
Refrain:
Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.
