Sunday Words of Encouragement February 23, 2020

Our Sunday School teacher reported that our ministry friends in Haiti are still under attack and endangered by kidnappings. One of the youth members was kidnapped and although the other youth raised the ransom, he was still murdered. Please pray for safety as Haiti continues with widespread lawlessness.

The class lesson this morning continued in his series Genesis to Revelation. This week’s lesson did focus on “What in the world is going on in Heaven?”

We are living in what is often called “the church age’, “age of the Gentiles”, or “age of grace”. Jesus directed his followers on their commission to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:16-20. We are living in a time set aside to win the lost; to change the people; to save mankind while God continues to be patient. 2 Peter 3:9.

Satan tried to get God's kingdom (throne) in heaven but was thrown out. Satan gained authority (the throne) on Earth through deception. Adam lost not only the position of authority but also the position of righteousness. Man’s Righteousness is restored by Christ's sacrifice. Kingdom authority is to be restored later, at the time Christ returns to Earth.

The book of Revelation is Christ revealing things to come. In Matthew 24:3 the disciples ask Jesus when he will return. Jesus tells them of signs but says that no one knows the date or the hour but the father. Matthew 24:36. It will be a time of wickedness (lawlessness) (v12), but the
good news will be preached throughout the world and then the end will come (v14).

God planned kingdom restoration. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 tells us that sinners will not enter the kingdom, but only those who are sanctified through their faith in Christ. Why does the Bible tell us about future events?

Jesus came to restore man to God. Like the destruction of the flood, the Earth must be cleansed of evil. There must be restoration but this time the saved (sanctified) men will have a new body without the old sin nature.

We live in a time for repentance; a time for men to have a change of hearts. There is only a very small percentage of Messianic Jews, God’s chosen nation, so the task of spreading His word is now in hands of the gentiles, the Christ-followers.

Revelation 1 brings the revealed message and bestows a blessing on the reader and the listener. Revelation 1:3. The greeting identifies the messenger (v4-5) and then delivers a message to the seven churches. The messenger identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. At Revelation 2:26-29 He states:

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—

This affirms that His message and His plan for a righteous kingdom has never changed from Genesis, creation to Revelation, restoration.

I think this song video fits this message! Hallelujah!

Verses for Today:
Revelation 1:1-8 (NIV)
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Lord, I give thanks for your love that remains steadfast from creation to the restoration of Your Kingdom!