Living On The Edge Of Eternity | Part 1

Listen closely, as Rogers explains why we live with on the edge of eternity. Some people have the idea that there are certain prophecies that have to be fulfilled before Jesus that is not so is coming is always imminent from the time that Jesus came the first time till he comes again.

We are all the time. Jesus welcome to love worth buying dynamic lessons and teachings of pastor and author Roger the book of Revelation was divinely written to inspire us for most of the events surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 1 given a formal introduction to the contents of the whole book.

This passage reveals the person and the purpose of the book as well as the promises and prophecies. We cling to in these last days. If you have your Bible turn there now as Adrian Rogers begins. Part one of living on the edge of eternity finalized the Bible book of the Revelation and open it up to chapter 1 reason I'm asking you to do that is I want you to be blessed. This is blessing book lesson here is a formula for blessing again in chapter 1 verse one the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to him to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, and he sent and signified it by his angel and serving John bare record of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw now look in verse three Blessed is he that Rita and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand Malik in the first part of verse three again last glass. Blessed is he that Rita and they that hear the words of this prophecy. What a blessing God says here is a that has a blessing. The book of Revelation is often ignored, sometimes debated and sometimes discounted but God says this is the blessing book if you want a blessing God says here, it is read it and hated you're going to have a blessing and I want you to see.

First of all what I would call the central person of the book. Look at verse one the revelation of Jesus Christ's what this book is about. It is about Jesus Christ friendly down and playing and straight.

Jesus is the hero of the Bible. Jesus is the hero of the Bible.

If you read the Bible and you will find Jesus back and re-rated it as a hymnbook. It is about him. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. So many people want to study prophecy and are more concerned about things that are going to happen than the one who is going to come. Now the word Revelation actually is what we get our apocalypse from is the great quarterback… Is a blessing when it is frequent apocalypses is the word we get our apocalypse from and it literally means an unveiling.

I guess the best way I could describe this to you is think of a statue in the park.

The sculptors done at the mayor and all of the city Council and everybody's there, and they going to unveil the statue is covered with canvas. The artist pulls the string and the campus falls away. And there's the statue one has been veiled is now on the value the book of Revelation is the one unveiling of Jesus Christ we go to see Jesus Christ in a different way than we see Jesus Christ before when he came the first time. Born into this world to the portals of the virgin's womb laid in meaningful in a stable, with flies buzzing cow manure on the floor. The sun of a carpenter, according to the flesh actually was the son of God, but his earthly stepfather is a carpenter. His mother, I Jewish past. All glory was gay. Revelation the veil is drawn back the first time he came to redeem when he comes again.

He's coming to rain. It came to crucifixion the first time he's coming to a coronation. The second time became the tree the first time Brandy's coming to a throne.

The second time the first time he came he stood before Pilate, when he comes again. Pilate is going to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ became the first time as a surrogate. Revelation shows him coming as the sovereign as the King of Kings and Lord.

It is the revelation of Jesus Christ. He is the central person of the book. Later all Revelation we going to learn that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy that he's the central person. What is the clear purpose of the book, look at me with a verse one again to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass the word serve BC actually is the Greek word which means bond slave bondslave a bondslave or somebody had been a slave could been set free, who willingly went back to his master and said I don't before. That would be excellent. I want to stay with you. I love my master. That's who we are friends we are bondslave of the Lord Jesus Christ. We say we will master question are you a slave to Jesus Christ became valiant because if you say no I am not a slave, Jesus Christ.

I can promise you you will not understand the book of Revelation. It is a book written to them bondslave of Jesus Christ.

If you're not a bondslave or Jesus Christ you have no right to expect understand this book because it will be a mystery to you. It is a revelation of Jesus to his servants, but if you are bondslave, Jesus, you will be stumbling in the dark. Now I want you to notice not only the clear purpose of it, but I want you to notice the comforting promise of it.

Look again in verses two and three. This makes of John bare record of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that Rita and they that hear the words of this prophecy, what is the comforting promise of the book you're going to be blessed.

You are going to be blessed not only if you read it, but if you need it.

Notice that Rita and they that hear the words of this profit is immediately here never spoken your child, and set up do this and this and this insight to me honey you hear me you hear me. Read and hear the hot and God says you are going to be blessed to be blessed when number one you can understand Mr. history friend. This world is not make sense apart from the book of Revelation and what God reveals here because the book of Revelation, we learn what is the Mr. history. What is God doing God's will be all things to purpose and that purpose put down Revelation chapter 11 verse 15 don't target right in the margin and it says the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord is Christ. That is what it is all about.

One of these days this old war-torn world is all since saturated since oak, bumbling, stumbling society is going to see Jesus upon the throne and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and when you read that the Revelation friend that gives you a blessing, but something wonderful. Take your Bible and don't right now but read the first two chapters of the Bible you will find any debt… Read the last two chapters of the Bible you will find in the devil in that right is such a blessing. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the door. The Lord has that cover the sea about the reason everything.

Such a mess.

Today things out of place. Think about the church is the bride with a bride belongs with the groom were not yet within our Jesus is the king. The king belongs on the throne. He is not yet really the devil is a criminal. He belongs in prison is not yet there are bit frantic. One of these days. Father bride to be with the groom. One of these days the keys will be on the throne in one of these days that that was going be in prison. What a day that will be what a day that will bait you see that's the reason we get a blessing on this. We understand the mystery of history, we can make sense to suffering. We live in a world that is cursed with sin and suffering and pain and moan and groan and death and destruction in tears and preparation what you say to father standing beside the grave of his young wife holding the hands of his children looking down into that hole in the ground.

What you say to a child of God, a saint whose bodies being consumed by some greedy malady and is suffering unbearable pain. What you say what you say to a mother whose baby is been torn by death from her bosom.

What you say they want to say friend is not over yet. This is not God's final plan as the reason is such a blessing when you read the book of Revelation friend. It will give used to militate to know James said in James chapter 5 is a be patient, establish our hearts for the coming of the Lord brought nine. The only way that you can be stable in this age is to know friend that there is a blessed hope, Jesus Christ the son of God is coming again and then I want you to notice not only the comforting purpose for the certain prophecy of the book look again in verse three Blessed is he that Rita than they that hear the words of the prophecy of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand. That is the reason I'm calling this series the edge of eternity. The edge of eternity, but time is at hand. That was 2000 years ago, and Johnson is right was John wrong know he was right that you learn anything else in this series of sermons on Bible prophecy. I want to learn this the time is always at hand, it may not be immediate, but it is always imminent that don't miss that dome is that it may not be immediate. It may be immediate, but it is always imminent people are saying. Are these the last days faster friends. The last days began when Jesus ascended, they've always been the last days we are living in the last days, but the Scriptures and margin.

First Peter 4/7, but the end of all things is at hand.

First Corinthians 1011 now all these things are written under them. For examples, and they are written for our admonition notice in Paul's day, upon whom the ends of the world to come.

Paul's advance of the WorldCom NRA Philippians 4 verse five let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand is James five verse eight be ye also patient, establish a heart for the coming of the Lord brought with first John chapter 2, verse 18. The apostle John said little children. It is the last time was 2000 years ago. All of these verses are say Jesus is very near his coming is very near that some people have the idea that the certain prophecies that have to be fulfilled before Jesus can come.

That is not so. His coming is always imminent. Suppose you've never seen the ocean or you wanted to go to the ocean. Atlantico the Pacific blessing you live a thousand miles from the ocean and you driving to the ocean. Driving to the ocean. Driving to the ocean. Driving to the ocean driving driving all right that you are you driving the ocean is not merely ocean is not near the ocean is not near the ocean is not made in final year at the ocean that some people have the idea that that's what the second coming of Jesus is like where way over here the second coming of Jesus is all there somewhere where just maybe trying to get to it on, we're right on the age which is walking along the seashore just like this. We are living on the age of eternity.

From the time that Jesus came the first time till he comes again. We are all on the eternity. We are living all the time is at hand. Anytime Jesus make 2000 years ago the apostle John wrote in verse three, but time is now powering it understandable to the revelation. Thank God there is a golden key that opens this book to us and is verse 19 here is the commission that God gave to John here was John's assignment is so clear right the things which thou has seen and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter like mutation three points. That's the commission to write the book that is the golden key that unlocks the whole book of Revelation is a plane. That's what he was told right right the things without saying the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter now. John had just seen a vision of Jesus. As I've said he saw a vision of the glorified Christ the conquering Christ in the book of Revelation Jesus Christ is not pictured as Savior but as judge were now dealing with the crucified and risen, ascended, glorified and coming Lord and the vision that John had a one his countenance is like the sun, his eyes like fire it is like the sound of many. You read that in verses 12 through 18. I day John was the one described in the Bible, laid his head upon Jesus bosom. He did lay his hand upon this Jesus bosom.

He fell at his feet like a when he saw the risen, glorified, ascended son of God's grace shining sun's light flaming. His voice, like many waters, a lot of people want to come to church on Sunday morning and they will sit with folded hands and hear discourse about the humble Christ walking shows a gala me friend is another Jesus, there's the king there's the Lord there's the sovereign.

There is one whose right it is to redeem, and that Jesus is coming again job right what you're saying back the veil veil.

The glorified Christ. That's the first section then he said, write the things which are be with the present time, not only what you're saying but the things which are, that's the church age. The church age began with Pentecost, it will end with the coming of Jesus for his church. We are living in the time of the things which are, and in chapters 2 and in chapters 3 of the book of Revelation.

He deals with the things that the seven churches that are mentioned in chapters 2 and three and were not going to try to delineate the messages to those seven churches. But there's one reframe that keeps coming through and through, and through seven times in Revelation 2, verse 11, he mentions this, and the six other times he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Listen, he saying put your is own are you hearing he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches that the Holy Spirit is speaking, the question is do we have ears to hear, you know some people come here this morning and they will hear it will not be because the spirit is not speaking, they just won't hear. He that hath the lighting but the spirit saying to the church at seven times he repeats that that's the church age that slaves were living in that John write the things which are seen what MC the glorified Christ John write the things which what did he say seven churches seven is the perfect number. These churches represent all churches of all time. I want to get to the third and final thing you said and write the things which shall be not.

Maybe shall be hereafter is very certain no is antibiotics know maybe you know perhaps no happenstance things that shall be what I want to do in the next section of this message. I'm good to mention those things in chronological order, but what I want to do now is to give you the picture. I want to give you what I understand be a panorama of prophecy the mountain peaks of prophecy are you ready let's go number one first event is going to happen and things I shall be hereafter is the rapture and the translation of the saints, the rapture and the translation of the sayings look in chapter 4. Now in verse one and after this I looked, and behold, I love it and we hold off was opened in heaven and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet, talking with me which said, and I will show the things which must be here in that obvious way into the third part is it right the things that shall be hereafter. Here we begin the third part and so John and the vision is caught up into heaven, he hears a voice here's a trumpet. He is caught up into glory. Now this is the rapture of the church being typified the word rapture is the Greek word for Plaza now rapture's Latin English called away Greek So it they all refer to the same thing and it just simply means to snatch away at any moment at any moment, folks. The truck was going to sound and we're going to be leaving here you say pastor that sounds so supernatural, you've got it. First Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 16 through 18, put it in your margin for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and 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.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I remember we only age of eternity that could happen today.

My advice for you did right or get left he's coming if you heaven born you be heaven bound when he comes. That's the rapture. All right, that's number one number two.

The second great event is the tribulation, and the regimentation of this world when the Saints are taken out. The antichrist will come and he's going to turn this world into a vast concentration camp by the Bible calls this time the day of God's wrath.

I'm going to dip in and try to give you a sampling of some verses look in chapter 6, beginning in verse 12 and I beheld when it opened the sixth seal, and low. There was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood in the stars of heaven fell into their eyes talking about asteroids and and even as a fig tree catheter in time with things when she is shaken of a mighty wind, and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together every mountain and island were moved out of their places and the kings of the earth and the great men, and the rich man and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman and every free man, that is a high below the high monkey mocks the big shots a little shocked everyone, look at it every free man themselves in the dens in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and the rocks fullness and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne is one of most pregnant statements in all of the Bible and from the wrath of the Lamb friend don't miss that. The wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come, and who is able to stand that he is the Lamb of God, full of mercy but is also the God of wrath and judgment and justice, and there seems to be a battle between God's mercy and God's wrath and the raging waters of God's wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of his. One of these days that dam burst and the great day of his wrath will come to just be able to stand the book of Revelation says in that day. Men will desire to die the same and cannot find what we call death today would be a welcome release, but you cannot crawl up into the grave and pull the dirt over your face and hide from God they going to the dens in the rocks. The songwriter wrote about it a lot of weeping and wailing the loss are told of the rocks in the mountains. They pray for their prayers are truly coming up tomorrow will you part two of this important lesson today you have questions regarding your faith in Jesus, so we loved offering insightful resource on our website to find answers page to find resources and materials that will answer questions you may have about how to begin a relationship with God.

We also invite you to check out or grow your faith page where you can get grounded and dig deeper in your faith. So go to LWF.org/radio and click the tab at the top it says find answers or grow your faith, let us hear from you today. Now if you like to order a copy of today's message.

You can call us at 1877 love God and mentioned the title living on the edge of eternity.

This message is also part of the insightful series.

The edge of eternity for that complete collection. All six powerful messages. Call 877 love God or you can go online to LWF.org/radio to order or write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 you may not know. You can also purchase our new Bible studies, much like this message in our online store information, go to LWF.org/radio.

Thanks so much for studying and God's word with us today if you'd like to start receiving daily devotions and links to the program sign up for our daily heartbeat emails LWF.org/radio join us tomorrow for the powerful conclusion of living on the edge of return right on love worth buying. Thank you for reaching out to us in love worth finding. Here's a message from a listener that were grateful for.

I discovered love worth finding by coincidence with Adrian Rogers was preaching the Revelation series from that very first message I've been determined to noon as often as possible.

Is it thrilling that the message does indeed go on long after the messenger is gone. Heaven is near. Will heaven is near.

Indeed, what a privilege it was to receive that encouraging note you and love worth finding your mission is to help Christians grow deeper in their faith through the timeless teachings of pastor and author Adrian Rogers. That's why when you donate to the ministry right now what I think you by sending a copy of tapestry promises and prophecies. This journal explores the meaning and symbolism of the book of Revelation requested journal when you call the gift of 1877 love God thanks for your generous support of love worth finding