Wednesday Night Bible Study

Thank you. Thank you so much for your giving. Thank you for your giving. Testing one, two, three. That's all right. We uh did that. Go ahead and let me have that uh mic. Thank you. Thank you so much for your giving. Thank you musicians for leading us in worship. Uh we uh are still in the process. we have uh redeployed some of our sound system and done some adjusting and so uh there's a couple of things that we're still getting working properly. So uh we'll just use this handheld for now and we'll we'll work with that lavalier later. I will let sound tech knows sound text know that I am turning it off so we don't have a a double mic. We'll work on that at a future time. We do greet you in the precious name of Jesus. Good to see everybody here on this Wednesday night for Wednesday night worship in the word. I add my voice to that of Pastor Anony's by saying thank you uh for the wonderful celebration of our anniversary and bishop's birthday this past Sunday. What a wonderful wonderful time we had. Uh we have been in touch uh with uh brother Woodward as he journeyed home and he was so complimentary of this church and all of your kindness to him and uh you're celebrating this special event. So I do again say thank you to everyone for that. I want us to get into the word of the Lord tonight. It is Bible study time. And those of you who have been uh following with us in the U uh curriculum that we use, um this is actually the final uh lesson in uh our curriculum as we will begin uh a new uh next Wednesday night. And uh the u most beautiful thing about it was that uh this year's entire curriculum was uh titled covenant and then it had subtitles with the different lessons and it actually began in Genesis and we're uh uh going to be studying uh in the book of the revelation tonight. Beginning in the book of the revelation uh in uh chapter 21, we're going to read verses that are familiar to us. The book of the revelation uh beginning at verse number one in Revelation 21. 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. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. And he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said unto me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And he said unto me, "It is done. I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomemeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. The title that our lesson gave was the covenant fulfilled. But I gave our lesson a different title tonight with a question. The end. We're in Revelation. Is this the end? Let's pray. Savior, I love you. God, I thank you for your word. I thank you for this wonderful crowd of believers who join tonight to study your word. God, Bible study time is a special time that your word speaks to us and speaks to our hearts. Let us study to be full of your word. Let us study to show ourselves approved unto you, God. For all this, we're grateful and thankful. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. One of the characteristics of an avid reader is the anticipating of the last chapter and the conclusion of a book that they were reading. Whether a novel, fiction or non-fiction, the conclusion, the conclusion brings closure and completion to all the events that you've read about up to that point. Tonight, we are studying not a book, but we have been studying once again the book. And we are chronologically in the last verses and last chapters of the word of God, the book. But I want to ask us tonight, is this the end? >> I'm not saying that as a statement that it's the end. I'm saying, is it the end? Well, let's see what scripture says. We can have our opinions, but what does scripture tell us? Notice verses 5 and six said this. And he that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Now understand these words are being pinned by John. John has been imprisoned or has been relegated to the aisle of Patmas. John has no way of getting off. This is his prison. And in fact when chapter 21 begins he is repeating a vision that he is having from God. He said I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and first earth were passed away and there was no more sea. No more sea would be pretty valuable to a fellow that's stuck on an island. And he says in verse five that this is what he saw. He saw HE THAT SAT ON the throne and he said, "I make all things do." And he said to me, said unto me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." This is what he who sat on the throne told John to write. He said unto me, "It is done." Does that mean it's the end? I am Alpha and Omega. That's if you're studying Greek, that's I'm A to Z. I'm the first and the last. I'm the beginning and the ending. That's alpha and omega. That's the first and the last of the alphabet. The beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. John said, "He that sat upon the throne told me to write, it is done. I am the beginning and the end." Let's not pass over the significance of what's being said and who is actually saying it. Who is instructing John to write such words to say it's done. I'm the beginning and the end. You see, John is not telling us this is the end of the book. John is not saying this is the end of the word, but John is telling us what is done. You know, if you say something is done, that means it's over with. I'm done with this. I it's it's over. You see, the what that is being spoken of here is not the end of the word of God. Instead, here's what the word done is telling us. Here's what's done. John said in verse four, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death." HE SAID, "DEATH IS DONE." This is the end of death. NEITHER SORROW NOR CRYING, neither shall there be any more pain. For the former things are passed away. HE SAID DEATH IS DONE. You see, death is that horrible stranger that pursues all of mankind. that up until the death of Christ, it was such a final thing to speak of death. But he said, "The former things are done." Remember Jesus made a similar statement on the cross in John 19:30. It said, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished." and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. Notice what Jesus didn't say. Jesus didn't say, "I am finished." Jesus said, "It is finished." What is the it that Jesus was talking about? He that sat upon the throne that said, "Right, it is done." What's he talking about? Well, Paul had insight when he spoke to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15 and 51. BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY. We shall not all sleep. We shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE. AND WE SHALL be changed. Oh, hallelujah. The it that is finished, THE DONE THAT IS DONE IS NOT US. INSTEAD, IT'S DEATH ITSELF AND THE STING OF DEATH. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass THE SAYING THAT IS WRITTEN, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We sing about it all the time. I hear the choir sing, "Ain't no grave going to hold my body down." They sing one verse that says, "If you got up out of the grave, I'm walking, too. If you walked out of the grave, I'm walking, too." It's the assurance that we have that death is not the final >> chapter. >> Aren't you glad to know THAT IT'S NOT THE FINAL CHAPTER, IT'S NOT THE END. DEATH IS NOT THE END. THAT'S THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE. >> Scripture said, "If we have hope in this life only, we're all men." Most miserable. >> The what that is done and is finished is death's sting. BUT WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY to make such statements? Well, John the Revelator said, "It's he who sat on the throne." Who was sitting on the throne? For you see, denominational theology would have to defend much of what they state that there was a subordinate to he that sat on the throne, or there would have to be multiple thrones. Just think about it a minute. Was there going to be a father's throne and a son's throne? Let me ask you, who would be sitting on the throne? Well, the voice said, "I am the beginning and the ending." Genesis 1 and1 said, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." If I'm the beginning and in the beginning, God, THE ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE MUST BE GOD. >> Is that not simple to understand? THE ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE IS GOD. >> And God told John to write, "I am the beginning and the end." You see, Paul had insight to the Corinthians to explain this more perfectly. For in 1 Corinthians 8:5 it said, "For though there be that that are called gods with a little G, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many and Lords many. But to us there is but one God, the Father OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, AND we in him, and the one Lord JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM ALL THINGS, and we by him." Now, we're unraveling a mystery. WE WE FIGURED out when he said, "It's done." And when Jesus said, "It's finished," it was speaking of death. Now, who's on the throne? WHO WHO CAN MAKE SUCH strong statements? It's the one that was in the beginning. But wait, there's more scripture to reconcile. FOR REMEMBER OUR TEXT DID SAY, HE THAT SAT ON THE THRONE SAID, "BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW AND RIGHT." AND HE SAID unto me, "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." GOD SAID THAT. THE ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE said that. But I find JUST ONE CHAPTER LATER IN REVELATION 22:12, Jesus said, "And behold, I COME QUICKLY, AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME to give every man according as his WORK SHALL BE. I am alpha and omega, the beginning AND THE END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST." WAS IT GOD OR WAS IT JESUS ON THE THRONE? I SUBMIT TO YOU, THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME. JESUS WAS GOD MANIFEST IN FLESH AND THE ONE ON the throne is Jesus. THAT'S WHO GOD IS. THERE IS BUT ONE GOD. Time and time again in his ministry. Jesus would make that proclamation in Revelation 1 and8. Jesus said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, sayeth the Lord, which is which was the Almighty." In Revelation 1:11, he said, "I am the ALPHA AND OMEGA, FIRST AND THE LAST." He went on to say in Revelation 22 in verse 14, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city, for without are dogs and scorners, and or hormongers, and murderers, and idolattors, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. But I Jesus have sent mine angels to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David. In other words, before David, I was. After David, I am. >> Oh, what a wonderful revelation. WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, I'M THE beginning and the ending? GOD DOES. WHO SAID IT? JESUS said it. John 1:1 said, "In the beginning was the word." >> The word WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. >> The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him. Without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the LIGHT OF MEN. YET JESUS PROCLAIMED, "I'M THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD." This is not contrary scripture. It's simply clarifying who had the authority to say death is done. The one who died in flesh and rose again. God manifest in flesh. Not a part of God, not a portion of God. As brother Whitley sometimes says, not Jehovah Jr., but he was all God and he was all man. >> Aren't you glad TO KNOW WHO HAD THE AUTHORITY? THIS IS NOT THE END. This is not the end. HALLELUJAH. YOU SEE IN THE book something took place. Our beginning passage said, "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. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, COMING DOWN FROM GOD out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Verse one of Revelation 22 gives even a more beautiful descriptive statement. He said, "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the tree of life, which beare 12 manners of fruit, yielding her fruit every month. And the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him, AND THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE, AND HIS NAME SHALL BE IN THEIR FOREHEADS, AND THERE SHALL BE NO night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun. For the Lord God GIVETH THEM LIGHT. THEY SHALL RAIN forever and ever. I'm talking about heaven. THIS IS NOT THE END. THIS IS JUST A START AND A NEW BEGINNING. HALLELUJAH. JUST BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE LAST CHAPTER AND THE LAST VERSES OF THE REVELATION, IT DOESN'T SAY the end. >> The it is done and it is finished is only speaking of death and all of its attributes. And I John saw these things and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel and showed me these things. In that passage, Jesus said in verse seven again, he repeats, "Behold, I come quickly." Let me tell you, we do a lot of preaching about a lot of things and a lot of instructions on how we should live our lives properly. And that's instructions that was given to the church. We've studied for the past several weeks. The Apostle Paul gave directions, to the Ephesians, to the Corinthians on and on about how we live our life on this earth. But let me tell you, if we're not careful, we'll forget that there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shine. That's just as real as the remainder of the scriptures and passages that we've studied up to this point. It's bringing us to a climax, but it's not the end. He said, "I come quickly." Jesus said this, "Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." Simply stated, we've covenanted with Christ and obedience to his word. He's coming back for a people who have covenanted with him. He's coming back for a people who are obedient to his word. Now, I would pause a minute and uh tell you uh I did a little bit of research and study about the ending of books and I found out there are a lot of forums nowadays, especially with the uh advancement of the internet. There are a lot of forums that are available to uh tell writers good strategies for composing a good novel if they want to if they want to write a a work and uh how to uh uh put that together and uh how many chapters and what you should do. And one of the things I read that I found quite interesting is it has become popular for folks to write an entire work and have alternative endings. Now think about that just a minute. They they can write this work and they're the author and they they can uh they can create an ending that the the hero isn't is truly the hero or with the stroke of the pen they can change the hero into a villain and completely change all of the conclusion of the story. >> Hebrews said looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. I want us to take a moment and consider some alternative endings. For I find too here in the book of the Revelation 21. Verse 7 said, "He that overcomemeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Well, that sounds like a pretty good ending to me. But verse eight says this, "But the fearful and the unbelieving and the abominable and the murderers and the whoreongers and the sorcerers and the idoltors and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burnth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Let it sink in just a moment. There is a heaven to gain and there's a hell to shine. Which direction do you want to go as we study? It's simple as this. Eternal life, an inheritance and a bloodline said he'll if you're an overcomer, you've got eternal life. You're going to inherit all things and you will be a son of God. You will be the offspring of God. Or the alternative ending is described as having their part in the lake that burnth with fire. Jesus described hell this way. He said in Mark 9:47, "And if thine eyes offend thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes and to be cast into hellfire where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. It's eternal destruction and eternal damnation. We're talking about an end that we have a decision to make. In contrast, here's what John the Revelator further described in Revelation 21:10. He said, "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain. And he showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God in her light, was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." What a beautiful place. and had a wall great and high, and had 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels, and names written there on which are the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. On the east, three gates, on the north, three gates, on the south, three gates, and on the west, three gates. VERSE 17. AND HE MEASURED THE WALL thereof 140 and4 cubits according to the measure of man that is of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper. And the city was pure gold LIKENED TO CLEAR GLASS. NOW think about this just a minute. THIS IS WHAT JOHN SAW. THIS IS WHAT JOHN THE REVELATOR. THIS IS WHAT WAS BEING REVEALED TO HIM. He said the city was pure gold. Now, I didn't take the time to look up the current value of gold, but I I do know they still do guard for it not. I still do know that uh gold is that most valuable commodity that mankind finds so precious and sadly criminals will steal it and the wealthy will hoard it. But it's so plentiful. This city, the building material is gold. The foundation of THE WALL OF THAT CITY WAS GARNISHED WITH all manner of stones and the 12 gates were 12 pearls. Can you imagine? I don't know what kind of oyster it takes to make a pearl that big to make a gate. But you see it said the gates were 12 gates of pearl and every several gate was of one pearl and the city in the street of the city was pure gold. Man, they we have to use asphalt. Gold was so plentiful. That's what the that's what the the streets are made of. That's a place I want to go. That's a place I WANT TO BE. THAT'S THE PLACE I WANT TO LIVE. THAT'S THE PLACE I WANT TO DWELL. YOU SEE, THIS IS THE PROMISE. IT'S NOT THE END. IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. HE SAID, "AND I SAW NO TEMPLE THERE FOR THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. THE LAMB ARE THE TEMPLE OF IT. AND THE CITY HATH no need of the sun, NEITHER OF THE MOON TO SHINE IN IT. FOR THE GLORY OF GOD DID LIGHT IT, AND THE Lamb is the light thereof." >> Oh, hallelujah. Let me tell you, WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS IN THE PULL PIT, BUT I'M PLANNING on going to heaven. I And I want to be like my grandma. COOL. SHE WOULD TESTIFY. AND EVERY TIME MAMA WOULD TESTIFY, SHE WOULD END HER TESTIMONY THIS WAY. SHE'D SAID, "I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN AND I WANT TO TAKE EVERYBODY WITH ME." THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL. FIRST APOSTOLIC CHURCH. NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN, I WANT TO TAKE EVERYBODY WITH ME. WHY ARE WE REACHING LOST SOULS? WHY ARE WE MINISTERING? WHY DO WE HAVE MINISTRIES TRYING TO REACH THE LOST? I WANT EVERYBODY TO EXPERIENCE THAT. WALLS OF JASPER, GATES OF PEARL, STREETS OF GOLD. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO. MAN, THIS IS NOT SOME OLD CRAZY GUY UP HERE READING SOME FROM SOME ANTIQUATED BOOK. >> This is THE WORD OF GOD. I'M GOING TO THAT PLACE. I PLAN ON MAKING IT. For you see, most books that you read after they've taken you through all the story, if it's an adventure novel, if it's sci-fi, WHATEVER IT IS, AFTER ALL OF THE TESTS AND THE TRIALS AND THE adversities and the victories, when you finally reach the last chapter, most of those books in great big letters, usually all caps, it'll say the end. But you see, the book I'm reading from tonight doesn't say that. You see the book I'm reading from tonight when you go to Revelation 22 verse 20 and 21 it says this. And he which testifyth these things saith. Here's Jesus words again. Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus. I'm here to tell YOU HE'S COMING BACK AND IT'S GOING TO BE QUICK. THE BIBLE TELLS US it'll be a in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. >> And verse 21 then beautifully states this rather than saying the end, it says the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Three beautiful statements in those last two verses. Number one, Jesus is coming. He's coming quickly. You better get ready. Time is winding up. >> Everybody in the house should be looking forward to his soon return. We should be excited that Jesus is coming quickly. >> But then IT SAID, "THE GRACE OF our Lord Jesus Christ." Did you hear any of the preaching this weekend about the grace of God? Have we been hearing about the grace of God? About his forgiveness, his unmmerited grace, about his favor, about his ABUNDANT GRACE. HE'S RICH IN GRACE. >> MAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD. IT DIDN'T SAY THE END. IT SAID THERE'S GRACE. LET ME TELL YOU, THE DEVIL MAY BE TRYING TO TELL SOMEBODY IN THIS HOUSE THAT WHAT YOU'VE DONE, WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, OR WHERE YOU'RE GOING IS THE END. I'm here to tell you A THOUSAND TIMES, THE GRACE OF GOD IS THE END FOR YOU BECAUSE HE WANTS TO REVITALIZE YOU. HE WANTS TO RENEW YOU. HE WANTS TO RESTORE YOU. THAT'S WHAT THE END IS HERE. THERE'S GRACE. THERE'S GRACE IN THE END. >> HALLELUJAH. And it's the last statement says amen. Amen. Amen. >> You know, uh just if you look up the dictionary definition of the word amen, you know what it says? It says so be it. So be it. I'm here to tell you there may be doubters and scoffers. There may be those who do not believe the word of God is true. There may be those that think it's a fairy tale or man's ideology. I'm here to tell you, so be it. His word is true. He'd already warned in that last passage. He said, "Don't add to it. Don't take from it. It doesn't need any help. It stands alone. His word is true. HE'S COMING BACK. THERE'S A HELL to dodge. There's a heaven to gain. And we're going TO MAKE IT. HALLELUJAH. WOULD YOU STAND with me right now? And would you lift your voices AND PRAY SAYING, "GOD, I PLAN ON MAKING IT." HALLELUJAH. I'm going to make it. I'M MAKING MY PLANS TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN. I SAY AMEN TO YOUR WORD. You see, there may be 66 books, but it's one word. There may be many there may BE MANY WRITERS, BUT THERE'S ONE AUTHOR. FOR IT'S ALL ALL INSPIRED BY THE HOLY word and the power of God. Aren't you thankful to know him tonight? Aren't you thankful to know who he is tonight? Let's worship him together. Savior, I love you. God, I thank you for your word. I thank you for your guidance and direction. Lord, let us be found among those Lord who have obeyed your word. Lord, I want to be an heir. Lord, I want to have that privilege. I want to be obedient to your call. I want to be found worthy of your call, Lord. I want to be able to stand before you, Lord, and to be able to say that I've obeyed your word, Lord, not of any of my righteousness. For your word tells me it's as filthy rags. But Lord, you are righteous. YOU ARE HOLY. Your grace forgives, provides, protects, and brings salvation to us. Now, Lord, I thank you for your mighty word. Let us go from this place encouraged, expecting your soon and quick return. For all this, we're grateful and thankful. In the name of Jesus, we do pray. Amen. And amen. Lord bless you. Greet your brothers and sisters in the name of the Lord. This coming Sunday is our our morning service and then our Labor Day uh fellowship on Sunday afternoon. Please be here expecting a great time in the Lord.