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Beyond the Sunset (Revelation 22:1-11)
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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/
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Transcript
Introduction and Ministry Overview
00:00:08
Speaker
Welcome to Growing in Grace with Pastor Victor Morrison. This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas. We are praying that God will bless you as you listen to this message.
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If you would like additional information on worship times and ministries at FBC Columbus, you can find out more at our website, fbccolumbustx.org. And now, take your copy of God's timeless Word as Pastor Victor gives today's message.
00:00:43
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Welcome to Growing in Grace.
Exploring Revelation 22:1-11
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I want to speak to you today from Revelation 22, verses 1 through 11, and if time permits, then all the way to the end of the chapter. But the author of the sweet song about heaven, entitled Beyond the Sunset, was a man named Virgil Brock.
00:01:02
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One evening, he and his wife attended a party at Rainbow Point, Indiana. Most of the guests were faculty from the Road Heaver School of Music ah there at Winona Lake Bible Conference.
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But if upon seeing a breathtaking sunset, those present began to describe the exquisite beauty of the closing to that day. It must have been pretty.
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As the guests eventually grew silent in their admiration of God's creation, Virgil's blind cousin Horace Burr exclaimed, it is the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.
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When asked how he was able to see the twilight without vision, he replied, oh, I see through the eyes of others, and I think I often see more.
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I see beyond the sunset. These words inspired Virgil to write of the magnificence of heaven, which remains just out of sight of those of us living upon the earth.
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You know, through the eyes of the apostle John, we can catch glimpses of the glories of God's presence above as described in Revelation 22, verses 1 through 11.
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verse one through eleven These words, I feel, can boost us when grieving over the loss of a loved one who knew Jesus, but who is no longer here with us on this earth.
Imagery of Heaven
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So what I would like to do is sort of ah just go through this chapter and go verse by verse. And as we go through there, I'll make a few comments arranged under certain main points that I would like to get across.
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What do I see through the eyes of Scripture, through the eyes of John the Apostle as he was inspired by God's Spirit? What do I see beyond the sunset?
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What do I see beyond our sky that we can look out there and see? Well, the first thing I see are the arrangements beyond the sunset.
00:03:16
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Let me read to you about those in chapter 22 of Revelation, verses 1 through 5. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.
00:03:35
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Also on either side of the river, the tree of life with its 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
00:03:49
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No longer will there be anything accursed. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads, and night will be no more.
00:04:07
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They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. If ever trying to motivate a child to anticipate heaven and want to go to heaven, then one thing you can say is hey, there's going to be no more bedtime.
00:04:27
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And so they love that because it says at night will be no more. So nobody's going to have to go to bed of when they get to heaven. But I wanted you to notice what verse 3 says.
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No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. Wouldn't it be nice to finally remove the curse?
00:04:52
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The removal of the curse is one of the arrangements that God has made for heaven. And then it's almost like when you read verse 2 and you see, did I just read the tree of life with its 12 kinds of fruit? What in the world?
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It's like a return to Eden. Remember that book, Paradise Lost? Well, this is like paradise regained. Somehow it's like God is going to restore the original order with that tree of life.
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It's just amazing. But also coming ah through that whole area there will be this river of life. You see, heaven is not about death. Heaven is all about life.
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I guarantee you, there's no one dead in heaven. It's just life forevermore. And I believe that what's described here with the healing of the nations, did you catch that?
00:05:47
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the heat The leaves of the tree of life were for the healing of the nations. You know what I think is going to happen? the restoration of culture. How should mankind relate to other people within mankind? I think there's gonna be a restoration of that whole idea of what culture was meant to be.
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And of course, the responsibilities of the redeemed are mentioned in verse three, when he says his servants, well, they're gonna worship him. And so that's definitely one of the responsibilities of those who are redeemed.
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But it's just wonderful how we will reign forever and ever, he says, with the Lord. ah love that. But I think that there are so many arrangements. Remember how Jesus said in John 14 that he was going to prepare a place for us?
00:06:39
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That's part of what it's like. But how can we know? How can we have assurance? Well, verse six, I believe, addresses that whole idea of our assurance.
The Bible's Divine Trustworthiness
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And he said to me, these words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.
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Wow. You know, the angel ah is nearing the end of all that he's revealed to John as we go through the book of Revelation here. And now we're at the final chapter, even some of the final verses here.
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And so in closing, he gives the apostle the basis of assurance of all that he's already said, of all that's written in the whole entire Bible.
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You see, I believe that our assurance that there is a heaven, that there is the presence of God out there waiting for us, I believe that our assurance is related to the reliability of Scripture.
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How do we know that this is not John's own personal speculation about the future? Well, John himself says, no, the angel told me these words are trustworthy and true.
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Did you know that you can trust the Bible? I believe 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17 assures us that the scriptures were inspired by God. 2 Peter 1, 19 through 21 tells us that scripture was not just any man's private interpretation.
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Oh no, these men wrote as God said. would inspire them and lead them and give them the words to write. So I would say the assurance that we have that there is a heaven, well, it's all connected to the reliability of Scripture.
00:08:39
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God wouldn't tell us a lie. But also, I think we have another kind of assurance here. have you ever wondered, is there really a spiritual place? there You know, it seems like that today, this world emphasizes the material and the physical so much that one would actually question, is there really a spiritual realm?
00:09:02
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And you know what these this verse tells us? Yes, there is. There is a spiritual realm. And ah and all that is revealed in the whole book of Revelation is addressing that very idea about the spiritual realm and how real it is.
Anticipation of Jesus' Return
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I believe that it should be the primary focus of life. Notice that when he describes the messenger, he says that the messenger saw the spirits of the prophets, the spirits.
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He doesn't say, you should have seen those great outfits of those prophets. You should have seen the physique of those prophets. You should have seen all the material possessions of those prophets.
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He didn't say that, did he? No, because I believe in heaven, the focus is not on what we wear. It's not how strong our muscles are. It's not on how beautiful some ah person is. It's not on material possessions.
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No, I believe it's on God. And I believe that we're going to be amazed when we see how beautiful that place where God dwells is. But I believe that it also gives us assurance of the rationality of sovereignty.
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I mean, doesn't it make sense logically? that if the Lord indeed is coming back to take over, that we should be spending our time now preparing for his kingdom.
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I believe that's why John is told, show his servants what must soon take place. So there's this this awareness as we read scripture, not just here, not just the book of Revelation, but all through the Bible.
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There's this assurance. There's this kind of hope that there's a thread running through all of scripture saying, there's more than this life. There's more than this earth.
00:10:57
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And so you should get ready. I believe that leads us to verse seven, where we see this alert until the sunset. Here's what verse seven says.
00:11:08
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And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. you know Matthew recorded Jesus saying to his followers that they should stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
00:11:29
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He also said later, therefore you also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. You know, Revelation 2, 7 is something very, very similar as it's issuing this spiritual alert, be ready.
00:11:48
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But I think it's a wonderful alert because you see, hope keeps us looking forward. Hey, let's let's be honest. Politics and Washington, D.C. and all the world's leaders and so forth, they may never get it right.
00:12:05
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So where is the source of our hope? Well, I believe the source of our great hope is this, the return of Jesus Christ. When he comes back, I think then we're gonna have such excitement and joy as we truly have a better day.
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And so that hope keeps us looking forward. But I believe also that that prophecy, this alert of a day beyond the sunset, tells us also of the faith that keeps us moving forward. It's not only hope that keeps me looking forward,
00:12:43
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But faith in Christ keeps me moving forward in obedience to what he has revealed in the scriptures. You see, I want the blessing that is promised to the ones who keep the words of this prophecy that is stated here.
00:12:59
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What a wonderful alert that we have that's mentioned there. Well, what about attitudes toward the sunset? What would be your attitude to knowing that the book of Revelation is trying to prepare us that we would have the proper attitude?
00:13:16
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Well, I think that John models for us what will be the attitude that's prominent all across heaven. Well, let's look, for example, at verses 8 9.
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I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me.
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But he said to me, you must not do that. I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book.
00:13:55
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Worship God. Man, that was so clear, wasn't it? What kind of attitudes should we have about heaven and about that time? Well, I think one attitude that we would see modeled for us here would be an attitude of awe, an attitude of awe before the Lord.
00:14:15
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I think that you and I will do something very similar to the Apostle John when it's so overwhelming for him to receive this vision that it says he fell down at the feet of the angel.
00:14:28
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you know I think that when we realize you know this whole thing we've been told, it's it's all real. that there is a heaven, there is a throne room, God sits upon the throne, and he's surrounded by millions of angels and so forth.
00:14:45
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I think that should cause us to be in awe. And it's no wonder that that John, he gets it wrong, and he just wants to just fall down and worship. But he has to have an attitude adjustment, doesn't he?
00:14:58
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You know, it's like at first he realizes, ah man, I'm in over my head here in heaven. And so he just wants to adore, adore the Lord, adore him for his wonderful plans or for that wonderful place.
00:15:12
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It just motivated him to want to worship all the hosts of heaven. But the angel says to him, whoa, whoa, John, that's not right. You're not supposed to worship an angel.
00:15:24
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We're all here to worship God. You know, I think that's the prevailing attitude that will dominate all across heaven whenever we go beyond the sunset of what we see and what we know, what we've experienced on this earth.
00:15:43
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But then you read verses 10 and 11, and you realize, wait a minute, there are also announcements of the sunset, the announcements of the sunset. you remember how in the book of Daniel, that Daniel was given incredible insight into the future plans of the Lord?
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And yet, remember what he was told? He was instructed in Daniel 8, 26, in Daniel chapter 12, verses four through 10, to seal up the message.
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But listen to what is stated here to John in verses 10 and 11. And he said to me, do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
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Let the evildoer still do evil. And the filthy still be filthy. And the righteous still do right. And the holy still be holy.
00:16:42
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Wow. You know what's happening here? We see the Spirit of God instructing John to the do the opposite of what Daniel was told. Instead of covering it up, he is told, no, you go share it.
00:16:55
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You go share it. Why is John told to go and proclaim the good news of Jesus? Because the time is near. You see, the imminent return of Christ is mentioned three times in this chapter, in verse seven, in verse 12, in verse 20.
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And I believe that's ah that's a ah motivation, that's an incentive for each one of us to proclaim the good news of Christ as much as possible before the end of the game, before all things change on this earth.
00:17:30
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Verse 11 may seem a bit out of context, But if you think about it, it is really addressing what happens if the people who hear us present the gospel reject it and continue to live in sin.
00:17:45
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They will seal their own fate in eternity. Their hearts will harden, whereas those who embrace the cross will grow in righteousness and holiness that they receive from their personal relationship with Christ.
Rewards and Entry into Heaven
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Oh, I love the announcement that should be going out all across the earth, all across the United States, all across Texas, that we should be announcing time's running out.
00:18:12
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The time is near. He's going to return. Let's all get ready. But then there's something that awaits us on the other side. What awaits us in heaven?
00:18:24
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Well, if we were to read on in verses 12 through 16, you would see that there are some things that are mentioned from verse 12 all the way through verse 16 that are waiting on the other side.
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So let's see what those things are. Behold, I'm coming soon, it says in verse 12, bringing my recompense with me. to repay each one for what he has done. I'm the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
00:18:54
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Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life. and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and practice falsehood.
00:19:15
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I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." What awaits us on the other side?
00:19:30
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Well, there's a few things mentioned that I think will gladden your heart. The first thing is, you know what? Our rewards await us on the other side. The Lord promises He's going to repay for what we have done for Him and for His kingdom.
00:19:47
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I believe that also, in addition to a reward, is the Redeemer Himself. The Lord also, he assures us in verses 13 and 16, he will be standing there at the end of the line, waiting for us.
00:20:02
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He was there when it all began and he will be there to take us to the next phase of reality and eternity when all this earth begins to change and everything ends.
00:20:13
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You see, he will be like a star guiding us toward that bright future. I believe also awaiting for us is our right to enter will also be waiting for us.
00:20:25
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You know, it'll be tragic for any who have not trusted in the Lord's work on the cross to enter into eternity and discover then that they're not permitted to enter heaven because without Christ's blood,
00:20:39
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They have no right of entrance. I would have no right to enter into heaven. Oh, but the blessed assurance of entrance to those whose sins have been cleansed by the blood of Christ.
00:20:52
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They will have permission through Christ. You know, another thing that's waiting on us, a refuge. Our refuge will be waiting for us.
00:21:03
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You know, this world has some cruel things that take place by the hands of sinful men and women. But when will we ever be in a place where we will be safe from killers and thieves and so forth?
00:21:18
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heaven. Heaven will be a refuge from all evil and from every evildoer. It will be a safe haven for us.
00:21:29
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What a refuge is waiting. But also, did you notice the reunion that will be waiting? The Lord makes it clear in verse 16 that this message was for, get this, catch the plural,
00:21:44
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for the churches. This is an implicit way of reminding us that there will be a tremendous family, a tremendous family reunion when we all get to heaven.
00:21:57
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You see, all of the redeemed from every generation will finally be together. Oh man, what a day that is going to be. Who will you want to see after you first arrive in heaven?
00:22:13
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I'm sure it would differ from each one of us from person to person. Well, let me close out where John closes out, where the Holy Spirit closes out, because this is very, very important.
00:22:24
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Don't miss this last point. The appeal before the sunset. The appeal before the sunset. I find it interesting that the last verses form a final appeal to a lost world from the Holy Spirit through the pen of the Apostle paul ah John.
Call to Salvation and Scriptural Integrity
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Just like you know Horace Burr, when he said, he said, you know, through the eyes of others, I think I can see more. Through the eyes, the spirit anointed eyes of John, look at what we can see.
00:22:59
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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 desires take the water of life without price.
00:23:14
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I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
00:23:24
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And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
00:23:36
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He who testifies to these things says, surely i am coming soon. Amen. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
00:23:50
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You see why we're asking you to keep growing in grace? Oh, grace is so important. It's so foundational. But notice here the invitation to come to salvation in Christ. It's so available.
00:24:05
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It's so available. It's so out there and opened up for every one of you who are listening today. If you've never trusted Christ, oh, I encourage you to trust him.
00:24:16
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Everything that is necessary has already been done for your salvation. Oh, that invitation to salvation is wonderful, but don't overlook the prohibition against any change to the scriptures that's written clearly.
00:24:33
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In verses 18 and 19, there's a warning within John's closing appeal. He warns them not to add or take away from Scripture. Some may not be conscious of doing this, and yet they may, in essence, be trying to remove clear commands from God's Word.
00:24:52
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No, we should say, okay, Lord, I trust what you've said and reveal to us in your Word. But then the last thing that is, I guess, an appeal is the anticipation of Christ.
00:25:05
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It should be steady. The strongest appeal within the book of Revelation must be to remain steady in your anticipation of the return of Christ.
00:25:17
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He tells us here in these final two verses, he is coming back and it will be sudden. We must expect his return at any moment.
00:25:29
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Don't ever let go. of that expectation. Well, let me close in a word of prayer. I hope that this series on comfort for those who grieve, I hope it's been helpful and beneficial to you.
00:25:43
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You know, we looked ah at what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1, and then we looked at what Job said on this journey of grief that he was on. So we saw where the comfort is found.
00:25:56
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We saw that the grief is real, but now we come to this and we see, The grief and the loss, that's not the final chapter of the story. The final chapter is Revelation 22. And it tells us what the real story is at the end.
00:26:14
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That's where I want to be. Let's go to the Father in prayer and thank Him for such a glorious ending to the Word of God. Lord, thank you so much for my friends who listen to Growing in Grace.
00:26:26
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Give them a special blessing. Lord, thank you so much for giving us the promise in Christ of heaven. It's gonna be wonderful to be there, to be with you and to be with those who've already trusted you, who've gone before us.
00:26:40
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And so Lord, prepare each one of us. When we do lose someone, help us realize that we're releasing them into the presence of one in whose presence is joy forevermore.
00:26:54
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And so help us anticipate that day when we will join them. But thank you once again, Lord, for this wonderful copy of the word of God. Thank you for Genesis through Revelation.
00:27:06
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We love it all. We thank you for telling us the truth. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Friend, you have a blessed day today.
00:27:29
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This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.