Forever

We have tried to with the Lord's help these past four days teach from Hebrews 3:18 Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever.

We've seen that Jesus is God, always has been God, and today we will see he Always Will Be God

What will Jesus Be Forever? Well simply three things

He Will Come - I know not when I know not all the hows, nor will we but sometime and probably in the not too far off future perhaps today - "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump pf 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 1 Thess. 4:16-17

What a day that will be to those who are ready. One moment here the next with the Lord in the air.

Coming as Possessor - Revelation 5:1-14 is a very interesting passage. (If time read it)

It starts out with a scroll -

The scroll in God’s (the One on the Throne) right hand is a sign of his all ruling power, and is the title deed to the earth

The scroll was sealed with 7 seals and in the right hand of God. The seals had to be opened one at a time.

The “Seals” according to some scholars, were not in a row along the edge of the scroll, but a Seal was broken and the parchment unrolled until the next seal was reached, and so on and so forth. This is highly probable as an event happens at the unrolling of each scroll.

You will notice that each seal unrolls a new perspective of ownership and is claimed at that time. The seals represent a mark of authority and speak of the absolute security of its contents. . It’s contents are unable to be revealed and accessed without the proper authorization. The seven seals speak of the absolute security of its contents. Roman law required that a will or contract should be sealed with seven seals. The full contract was written inside, and then rolled up and sealed. The description of the contract was the contents of the outside.

Outside was placed the description of what the contract contained.

Jeremiah shows us that deeds could also be written up this way, with one sealed and one left open for record, but ownership could only be transferred when someone with the proper authorization stepped up and was able, and qualified to open the sealed record. In our written vision in Revelation when each seal is opened a portion of the scroll’s contents are revealed in a vision. The Law of Redemption Lev. 25:23-25; Jer. 32:6-27

In Israel the Israelites got a sealed scroll if they had sold or lost the family land – the law of forfeit If the one that lost the land could not buy it back, then a kinsman could buy back the land with a certain price by delivering the sealed scroll. The redeemer would go to the elders at the city gate, break the sealed scroll with requirements and proof that he could fulfill them.

Qualifications of a redeemer

He had to be the previous owner or nearest relative He had to be willing to redeem He had to be able to pay the price of redemption Psalm 24:1 - The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein

It makes it clear that the ultimate owner of earth is its creator, and He has the right to deed it to anyone. He gave Adam dominion of it (Genesis 1:26-28) Satan deceitfully usurped that dominon when Adam sinned, and now as 1 John 5:19 says “the whole world lieth in [the wicked one]” However the Creator is still the owner and had retained the record of ownership in His possession. Paul said to the Ephesians in Eph. 1:13-14 that they were Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.

That means there is a possession to be redeemed. In Romans 8:22-23 Paul tells us “We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And now only they, but ourselves also, which have the “First fruits of the Spirit.” Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our bodies. (This is the rapture or first resurrection)

We see something was lost and is to be redeemed. This deed shows who really owns the earth, and who has the power, and authority and legal right to claim , and evict all trespassers & squatters.

A Weeping Apostle – John weeps – no doubt because he knew what the book (scroll) contained and it seemed like no one was able to come forward and reclaim or redeem the world. No one was found worthy to open, much less read the book

Notice it had to be a man!!! Very important. It probabbly didn't happen this way but maybe they called Adam up - no he wasn't able Nor Enoch Nor Noah Not Abraham, Isaac or Jacob No one was found worthy to open the seal of the book - And John just sat down and cried and wept.

Sometimes it seems Satan has the upper hand - that's why John was weeping, There is one the Elder's cry or shout out - "THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH the ROOT OF DAVID HAS PREVAILED TO OPEN THE BOOK!!!!

We talked the first day how according to Philippians 2 - Jesus made himself of no reputation or emptied himself of his glory to come to earth. Hebrews says he humbled himself Because of that Philippians 2:9-11 Reads - Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Picture this scene in heaven with John the beloved as he is on his face in tears because no one is worthy to open the seals of the scroll - and the Elder's cry out - There is one ONE ONE WHO IS HIGHLY EXALTED - The Father has to step to the side as it were, the Holy Spirit has to scoot over it you will as Jesus steps up and takes the book and begins to claim his deed to earth. One interesting thing - John was told to look for a Lion but John sees a lamb (verse 6)

I love what Joseph Seiss says on verse 7, And when He took the book, “There went a thrill through the universal heart of living things” When the Lamb takes the Book, His Mediatorial work ceases, and His redemptive work begins. As Clarence Larkin states in his book, “When our “KINSMAN REDEEMER” is handed the “Book,” The “TITLE DEED” to the “Purchased Possesion,” He has the right to breaks its SEALS, ad claim the “Inheritance,” and DISPOSSESS the present claimant SATAN. This He will immediately proceed to do, as He breaks the SEALS, Satan is not evicted at once, He contests the claim and it is only after a prolonged conflict that hs is finally dispossessed and cast into the Lake of Fire.” Because he can open the scroll a New Song is Sung -

A New Song has three parts The Lambs Worthiness – v 9b - To take the book and open the seals The Lamb’s Work v9c -

Because – He was slain And redeemed us back to God by His blood The Mighty Chorus – The voice of many angels, the beasts (Living ones) and the angels numbering ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands

Singing – Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. What a time that's going to be when Old Satan is evicted - The Bible says in Revelation 20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Coming as Conqueror -

Conquering (Hebrews 1:3 sitting at the right hand of the Father, till all His enemies are put under His feet.) Rev 19:11 - 16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Coming as Ruler - He Will Rule Primarily used to refer to a set of regulations or guidelines. Or used to reflect the authority or supremacy of a person like a king or queen.

He will rule with a rod of iron during the millennial reign He will smash to pieces all the kingdoms of this world - like the stone that came rolling down in the king's dream in the Old Testament and smashed his image to smithereens. He will rule as the King on David's Throne Coming to Reign - Traditionally used to refer to the time or period during which a king occupied the throne when used as noun. When used as a verb however, it expressed domination or control. To differentiate between rule and reign think this way, A king rules during his reign.

What does it mean to reign? To control, to dominate, to be king over or ruler over.

He shall reign

Over the kingdoms of this world - All the kingdoms of this world at the present are under the control of Satan - the prince of the power of the air. However during this time all of the kingdoms of the world, become the kingdoms of God and his Christ.

This is a joyous time as the twenty four elders fall on their face and begin to worship God, " Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. " With great power and authority (Rod of iron)- He will rule over them with great power and authority. A time of righteousness and holiness like we have never seen or has ever been. Holiness unto the Lord will be written not on just the front walls of a few camp meeting tabernacles but even on the horses bridles, the things that move and transport things. or in our language today, it would be written on the cover of the license plate or bumper sticker on the car. It will be on the pots and pans, the people washing the dishes will look at them and see, "The Lord Reigneth" Holiness unto the Lord. Forever and ever- This isn't a temporary kingship - but is forever and ever eternal never ending. Queen Elisabeth has reigned over the United Kingdom for 64 years. Last year she broke the record and became the longest living reigning monarch they changed their 1st class postage stamp from red to regal purple with the slogan "Long may she reign over us" written on it. But there will come a day when Queen Elisabeth will breath her last and have to relinquish her control to someone else

But Christ he will reign forever and ever - of his kingdom the prophet Isaiah said, there will be no end. it will continue forever and ever how else can you say it. He will reign.

In Closing - He is coming as the great bridegroom - Coming to gather His Bride Home. If you are one of His you are a part of that bride this morning. And we get to spend forever and ever and ever with Him. What a precious thing to look forward to.

I am so thankful for the day I got married. Every once in a while Angie will ask me, "Are you glad you married me?" And I'll say meaning every word Absolutly or Yes! I only wish I had done it sooner. I learn something new about her all the time. I enjoy learning her likes and dislikes, and all of those things. It seems like only yesterday that we were standing at the front of the little church in Powderly TX saying "I Do" that was 13 years ago. We have a little saying that is just between us, in fact I wrote a wedding song about it, I'll sign little notes to her and she will to me, "FOREVER and ALWAYS" that’s our little saying and it's trademarked so don't take it ha ha ha But to think that forever and ever and ever and ever we will get to learn more and more and discover greater truths and deeper things about Jesus than what we have ever known down here. I like what Charles Spurgeon once wrote - “Yea, beloved, I believe when we get to heaven we shall want no subject for meditation there, except Jesus Christ. I know there are some divines and learned philosophers who have been telling us that when we go to heaven we shall occupy our time in flying from star to star, and from one planet to another; that we shall go and see Jupiter, and Mercury, and Venus, and all the host of celestial bodies. We shall behold all the wonders of creation; we shall explore the depths of science, as they tell us, and there are no limits to the mysteries we shall understand. My reply to people who imagine thus of heaven, is, that I have no objection it should be so, if it will afford them any pleasure; I hope you will have, and I know my Father will let you have, whatsoever will make you happy. But, while you are viewing stars, I will sit down and look at Jesus; and if you told me you had seen the inhabitants of Saturn and Venus, and the man in the moon, I would say, Ah! yes—

"But in His looks a wonder stands,

The noblest glory of God's hands;

God in the person of His Son

Hath all His mightiest works outdone."

But you will say, You will become tired, surely, of looking at him. No, I should reply; I have been looking at but one of his hands, and I have not yet thoroughly examined the hole where one of the nails went in; and when I have lived ten thousand years more I will take his other hand, and sit down and look at each gaping wound, and then I may descend to his side and his feet:—

"Millions of years my wond'ring eyes

Shall o'er his beauties rove,

And endless ages I'll adore

The wonders of His love."

You may go flitting about as far as you like; I will sit there, and look at the God in human flesh, for I believe that I shad learn more of God and more of his works in the person of Jesus than you could with all the advantage of traveling on wings of light, though you should have the most elevated imaginations and the most gigantic intellects to help you in your search. Brethren, our meditation of Christ will be sweet. There will be little else we shall want of heaven besides Jesus Christ. He will be our bread, our food, our beauty, and our glorious dress. The atmosphere of heaven will be Christ; everything in heaven will be Christ-like: yea Christ is the heaven of his people. To be in Christ and to be with Christ is the essence of heaven:— (Charles Spurgeon http://www.apibs.org/chs/2690.htm)