Back to the Basics: Eternity

Introduction

Tonight is our last night in the back to the basics series. We have reviewed many key doctrines of the faith and tonight we are finishing up with end times.

Tonight we are going to look at what the Bible says about the spiritual battle surrounding us, the events the Bible Prophesies, and how we can live with an eternal perspective.

A Battle Rages

Scripture is clear that there are unseen forces in the world that actively oppose God and the people of God.

Ephesians 6:11–12 KJV 1900

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Satan is at war against God

Satan’s original name was Lucifer, and God created him as a beautiful and powerful angel

Ezekiel 28:12–15 KJV 1900

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Then he rebelled against God, wanting to be as God, and God expelled him from Heaven.

Isaiah 14:12–15 KJV 1900

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Today, Satan is not in hell. He is actively resisting the work of God and God’s people that are actively working at making things happen for the Lord.

He does that by deceiving

The Bible calls him a deceiver in , an accuser in , and one who hinders God’s servants

1 Thessalonians 2:17–18 KJV 1900

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

He tempts

He tempts

The good news for us is that God has equipped us for this battle.

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He accuses

A common misconception in the minds of Christians is that the forces of evil and good are equally matched. This couldn’t be further from the truth though.

He Perverts

1 John 4:4 KJV 1900

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We have been given everything we need to be victorious in battle. This is typically referred to as the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:13–18 KJV 1900

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Notice the elements of this armor

Belt of Truth:_____________________

This speaks of always having honesty and integrity in our lives

Breastplate of righteousness:_________________

Righteousness, in it’s most basic sense, means doing right.

Shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace:____________________

This is about bringing the gospel to others

Shield of Faith:__________________________

Trusting God with your life and what is happening

Sword of the Spirit:______________________

The Word of God

Prayer: _______________________

This is about praying for others.

Notice something....Prayer and Bible study could only be considered 2/6 or 1/3 of what is needed to be prepared to live a life for the Lord and overcome the Devil. 2/3 of the armor of God deals with our character and things that we do.

One of the reasons we can live a life like this is the future victory we are guarenteed

Future Victory

This is where we will be looking at what is typically referred to as end times or “eschatology”

We are currently living in what can be called the “church” age

Christ established his church during his ministry on earth and the purpose of this age is defined in the great commission

Mark 16:15 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

During this time the world will continue to get worse

2 Timothy 3:1–4 KJV 1900

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Then when Christ comes back we will be called into the air during the rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 KJV 1900

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 which 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.

This is known as the blessed hope of believers as found in

After we are raptured we will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. I’ll talk about that more a little later.

What’s happening on the world is known as the tribulation

The Tribulation

Matthew 24:21 KJV 1900

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

During this time there will be people who still reject God and curse Him according to ,

During this time though there will be two witnesses left that will preach the gospel. Many people, primarily Jews, will be saved.

Revelation 11:3 KJV 1900

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

After the 7 year tribulation we will have what’s known as the 2nd coming

The Second Coming

During the tribulation the world will unite in a one world government and one world religion. Jesus will return to earth and the forces of the earth will initiate war at the battle of Armageddon.

Christ will easily defeat those forces leading into the Millenial reign.

The Milenial Reign

Revelation 20:4 KJV 1900

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.

Following the milienial reign unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgement

Great White throne Judgement

This is for the unsaved and is when Christ will say

Revelation 20:11–15 KJV 1900

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is when Satan will forever be banished to eternal torment in hell

Revelation 20:10 KJV 1900

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Then God will create a new Heaven and a new Earth.

New Heaven and New Earth

Revelation 21:1 KJV 1900

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.

We should live today in light of eternity

We should share the gospel regularly and often.

We should remember that we will give an account.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We are not accounting for our sins, those are covered under the blood. We are giving an account of our works. Were they truly for Christ or were they for some other reason?

This is known as the Judgement seat of Christ or a Bema seat.

Bema seat explination

There are five rewards mentioned that we can obtain to cast at the feet of Christ.

The crown of Righteousness: This crown is given to thsoe who look forward to the rerutn of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:8 KJV 1900

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

The Crown of Life: This is the martyrs crown, but is also given to those who overcome temptation.

Revelation 2:10 KJV 1900

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

The incorruptible crown: Given to those who exhibit temperance or moderation in their lives. This is a result of yielding to the Holy Spirit and being a testimony to those around us.

1 Corinthians 9:25 KJV 1900

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

The crown of rejoicing: This crown is given to those who have given their lives to reach people for Christ. It’s called the crown of rejoicing becuase there is no greater joy than being used of God to win someone to Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV 1900

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

The Crown of Glory: This is given to those who help lead in the Word of God. It’s not reserved only for pastors. Every child of God should be actively involved in teaching someone else.

1 Peter 5:4 KJV 1900

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Once recieved we cast them at the feet of Christ.

Revelation 4:10–11 KJV 1900

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 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.

Conclusion

What do we do now?

We put on the armor of God. Every day make the decision to live for the Lord.

Tell others about Jesus. One day you won’t be able to.

Live every day for His return. Like a bride waiting for her wedding day, remember Christ is coming. This thought should bring us joy.