09-23-12 Revelation Conclusion

This morning will be our last morning in our study of Revelation.

We have spent most of this year in our study of prophecy,

beginning with an overview of the basics

of what our Lord shares with us about things to come,

and then moving into a study of the last book in the Bible.

We have moved through 13 chapters of Revelation,

bringing us to the beginning of Revelation chapter 14,

and the passage that begins with this:

Rev. 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, ...

It is the point at which

John shares with us

the events that take place during the hours

immediately surrounding

the physical, personal return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

The chapters that follow

describe the rapid judgment

and execution of the forces

that had been warring against Christ during the time of the Great Tribulation.

It’s not all pleasant reading,

but neither is it all that difficult to understand.

It describes for us

Christ’s personal return,

the removal of all those who had resisted Him,

the chaining of Satan,

and the establishment of the Kingdom of Christ

on this physical earth

for a period of 1000 years,

after which this earth,

and in fact this entire physical creation

is disposed of by God,

and a new, perfect, eternal world is created

in which God’s people will then live with Him forever.

I would strongly encourage you

to read those final chapters of Revelation on your own.

Don’t be afraid of them.

They will serve as a great encouragement for you,

especially if your current view toward the future

fills you with anxiety.

But there are a few specifics I do want us to touch on together this morning

before we end this series.

Because of the tremendous amount of

speculation and sensationalism

that has surrounded the Bible’s teaching

on the mark of the beast,

I want to make just a few additional comments

about that specific topic.

Then, I also want to say just a little more

about the obvious fascination that seems to be floating around the church world

concerning extra-Biblical prophecies about events that are supposed to take place

before the end of this year.

And then, I also want us to spend a few minutes

looking at the final comments our Lord shares with us

before He concludes His written prophetic Revelation to us.

For those of you who are new with us,

or who are new to the study of Biblical prophecy,

or to the study of the Bible,

let me offer a little explanation for what’s happening here.

When Peter began his second letter to Christians

he opened with these words:

2 Pet. 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

2 Pet. 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

In that statement

he tells us that it was God’s intention

that the Bible would provide us

with a clear,

accurate,

and complete presentation

of the truth we need for life.

And that is exactly what He does.

He tells us about ourselves -

where we came from,

why we were created,

how we became separated from our Creator through our willful sin against Him,

how God then bridged our separation from Him through Jesus Christ,

and provided a way

for us to return to an eternal love union with Him.

He tells us about our past,

He tells us about our present life,

and then He also tells us a little bit about both our own future,

and about the future of our physical world.

Those passages that talk about the future

are what we call “Biblical prophecy”.

And it is important to remember

that Biblical prophecy

is not just a guess or a hope

about how things might turn out.

Biblical prophecy is simply

future history revealed to us

before it actually takes place.

If I could offer you one word of advice

in your own reading,

not just of Biblical prophecy,

but of all of Scripture,

it would be this:

focus on the things you do understand,

and set the other things aside.

I’ve told you in the past

that every time I read a passage of Scripture

I find in it things I do not understand.

But I also find things I do understand.

I believe that will be the experience

of every growing Christian

who honestly interacts with Scripture

for as long as we live.

And what that means

is that every time we read the Word

or study it together

we are faced with a choice -

will I focus on the things I don’t understand,

or will I accept and grow

through the things I do understand?

If you take me up

on my suggestion to read the last nine chapters of the Book of Revelation

you will find many things there

that seem strange,

even confusing.

But you will also see some things

with absolute clarity.

Among them will be these:

1. Jesus Christ will physically return to this world

with absolute power,

total authority,

and complete victory

over all those who have fought against Him.

2. He will establish a world-wide kingdom

and rule it perfectly.

3. His people will share in that victory

and that future forever.

If that is all we understand from prophecy

then that’s enough.

Our future does not depend upon the stock market,

or the US or European economy,

or the outcome of any election,

or the moral sewage being pumped out of our society.

Our future depends upon

the mighty hand of our God

and the endless and abundant grace

that He offers His people.

There is no greater source of hope or security than this.

And now for a few words

about the three areas I mentioned earlier.

First, a word about this mark of the beast thing.

The 13^th chapter of Revelation

focuses on the Anti-Christ

who will establish himself as a world ruler just prior to the return of Christ.

He is in power for seven years,

he is empowered by Satan,

and he is Satan’s great false Messiah

who promises to unite the world

and bring in endless happiness and prosperity.

In that 13^th chapter

we are told that he has a side-kick,

a powerful magician

who works all sorts of wonders,

even creating a massive statue of the anti-Christ,

causing it to apparently come to life.

At the end of that anti-Christ chapter

we read these words:

Rev. 13:16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

Rev. 13:17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Immediately following this 13^th chapter

in which the forces of evil are described,

John then goes on to describe

some of the tools by which

God will resist and war against the kingdom of the anti-Christ during its brief existence.

These are described in the first part

of Revelation 14 and include:

the 144,000 Jewish evangelists,

and 3 angels continuously circling the globe

each proclaiming a clear, specific message to the world.

I want to read the message being proclaimed by the 3^rd angel

because it has a direct bearing

on this mark-of-the-beast thing.

It is recorded in Rev. 14:9-12.

Rev. 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

Rev. 14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Rev. 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

Rev. 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Now, these passages about this mark

on the forehead or the hand

has lead to endless speculation on the part of Christians

for the past 2000 years.

All I want to do here

is to state what is obvious from Scripture about this mark,

but seems to have escaped the notice

of many of those who speculate about this mark.

And let me just list what is clearly stated here.

1. Chronologically the mark of the beast will enter human history after the anti-Christ has established

his world-wide empire.

2. Chronologically it will take place

after the anti-Christ’s magician/partner

has displayed his powers

and created his image of the anti-Christ.

3. The primary purpose of the mark

is not economic,

it is political -

it is the means by which

each of those who accept the mark

acknowledge their submission

and allegiance to the anti-Christ.

Now it is true that the anti-Christ

uses economics

to encourage his people

to quickly take the mark.

But the purpose of the mark

is not primarily economic,

it is political.

4. The mark is not OUR number,

it is HIS number.

It apparently will take two forms,

either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

It is not our social security number,

or our VISA number,

or our driver’s license number.

It is not OUR number at all.

It is HIS number,

and just so that there is no misunderstanding,

we are told what the number is: 666.

You see, there is no mystery here.

There is no hidden meaning in the numbers.

The anti-Christ will use that number

to identify those who are submitted to him.

6. And finally, and most important,

it will be impossible

for any human being to take the mark of the beast

without understanding fully and completely

that doing so is an act of rejection of Christ

and acceptance of and submission to the anti-Christ.

And we know that because we are told

that at the time this mark is being given

God in his mercy

will assign an angel to continually broadcast to every human being in the world

the full and complete consequences

of taking that mark.

It will be impossible for any human being

to be tricked

or deceived into taking the mark.

Those six points are obvious from Scripture,

and I mention them so that you have a basis for testing

any mark-of-the-beast scenario

you might hear being batted around.

Then I want to make just a brief comment

about so much of the current hype about supposed great prophetic events

that are supposedly going to take place before the end of this year,

not because it directly correlates with anything specifically I’m aware of

in Biblical prophecy,

but simply because it has become

a huge issue in certain parts of the religious community

and because I have become deeply concerned

with the way I see it being handled by some.

You see, the principles that govern our relationship with Christ

have been and will always be

the solid ground under our feet.

They certainly do not change in the slightest

no matter where we happen to be

in our own personal relationship to the timing of the return of Christ.

And let me say first of all

that no matter where we may be

in the unfolding drama of end-time events,

our Father God’s commitment to us and to our needs

is an absolute certainty for the child of God.

Early in his public ministry our God

offered us these words:

Matt. 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Matt. 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Matt. 6:27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Matt. 6:28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

Matt. 6:29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

Matt. 6:30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Matt. 6:31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'

Matt. 6:32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Matt. 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Those words

and the truths imbedded in them

are not some sort of closed communication

for a select few Christians

who happened to have been born during times of relative peace and prosperity on this earth.

They are given to every child of God

as an expression of our Eternal Father’s irrevocable commitment

to each of His children

no matter what may be happening in the world around us.

God’s care and provision for His people

never has been

and never will be dependant

upon the activity of any demonic plan or influence in this world.

If it would have been...if it could have been,

then we would all have died years ago.

And then let me just offer an observation

about those voices within the church community

who seem to be fascinated with prophetic sources other than the Bible.

And I’ll try to put this as clearly and tactfully as I can.

To them I would say simply, “What! Are you brain-dead?!!!”

I will certainly acknowledge

that there are now and have been throughout history

those who claim prophetic knowledge about future events.

Some are just charlatans playing games with people’s minds and emotions for their own ends,

while others are mouthpieces of Satan,

used by him to divert people from truth given to us through Christ.

But there is only One who has known the end from the beginning,

only One who created,

only One who has already determined the course and timing of the history of the human race.

And the only certain and absolutely reliable source of prophetic knowledge

is the book given to us by our Creator God.

If prophecy interests you,

begin with what you know to be absolute truth -

begin with the Bible

and then stay with the Bible

until you know what it’s saying.

And then, measure and evaluate everything else you hear

on the basis of that certain knowledge.

And then just one word of warning:

if any so-called “Christian”

ever tries to use fear motivation

to get you to send them money

or buy something or support their critical prophetic message

know with certainty

that it is not of God,

and not from God.

It is nothing more than a religious con man

using his pulpit or his microphone

to scam God’s people.

There are few things in our society

that more powerfully undermine our credibility as Christians

than bold prophetic proclamations

supposedly from the mouth of God

that don’t come true.

It isn’t just that it casts doubt on our God in the area of prophecy,

but far more tragic,

it casts doubt on our God

when He offers us His grace and love and kindness and cleansing and freedom through Christ.

If He’s a half a bubble off in one area,

He’s probably half a bubble off in others as well.

Maybe I can say it best this way -

if you are a child of God,

then as such you have the mind of Christ

and the Spirit of Christ within you.

You do not need

nor should you seek some authoritative religious guru

who promises that he knows the mind of God

and will graciously share the truth with those who will follow after him.

Trust the reality of Christ within you.

Trust the mind of Christ within you.

And know that He has no special prophets now

who have secret knowledge of what’s coming.

If there is something you need to know,

He Himself dwells in you and will show you what you need to know

when you need to know it.

And then, just so that we get the ending right,

I want to read a few sections

from the final two chapters of the book of Revelation.

These verses will say

better than anything I could ever say

where we’re headed and why.

This is the section of the word of God

where He comes right out and shares with us

why He has done all that He has done

and why He will do all that is not yet completed.

This is where He’s taking us,

and where He wants us to be.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Rev 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Rev 21:6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

Rev 21:7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My child.

Rev 21:22 I saw no temple..., for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Rev 21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Rev 22:1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,

Rev 22:2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Rev 22:3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;

Rev 22:4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

Rev 22:5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Rev 22:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

Rev 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Rev 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.