THEME: "BUY OF ME" - Are you a bankrupt church? Rev 3:18, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
You need to invest with the Lord Jesus Christ. Gold refined in the fire, that you maybe rich, White Garment, that you maybe clothed, and Anoint your eyes with Eyesalve, that you may see. KEY VERSES: Rev 21:1-7, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven & the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, co- ming 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, & God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; & 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 & faithful. And he said un- to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst 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.
LESSON-5: "THOSE WHO OVERCOMES" - SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS. The Lord God Al- mighty is always fighting for us and His heaven's angels all around. Our delight is found in knowing that He wears the Victor's crown. Alleluia! PTLGA and TGBATG!
I. INTRODUCTION:
Coming to the conclusion of our study, we are aware that 12 lessons have not begun to uncover all the wonderful truths of the Bible. We have only laid a foundation to assist in developing a more mean- ingful, personal Bible study.
Our goal in providing these lessons is to ignite an unquenchable flame in our soul that will motivate us to share the gospel with someone else. The greatest joy of the Christian life is in telling the grand old story to a fellow traveler.
II. TOPICS TO BE DISCUSS:
A. THE KINGDOM AGE-SEVENTH DISPENSATION. The procession from heaven to earth will make a dramatic entrance in full view of earth's spectators. At this precise moment, new age dawns, the long-anticipated kingdom of God on earth will have become a reality!
OBJECTIVE: To explain the perfect and ideal conditions that characterize God's kingdom on earth in the final dispensation of time.
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1. The Millennium Kingdom. Bible scholars term this new era as the "Millennium," a combination of two Latin words: mille meaning "one thousand" and annum meaning "year." One thousand years describe God's kingdom on earth.
a) The Lord's prayer. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." How many times have we all repeated that familiar prayer? -
b) The answer. The day Christ and His glorious bride (the saints) descend on Mount Olivet, that prayer will be answered! -
c) The kingdom age. The world will receive its greatest blessing since the Garden of Eden. The coming of the Lord transfers the kingdom of heaven to earth.
2. Satan bound. (Rev 20:1-3 and Isa 24:21-22). Satan, the chief enemy of mankind, will be bound! The one who condemned, hindered, deceived, confused, tempted, accused, & made havoc will be imprisoned! -
a) A promise. With Christ's heel planted firmly on Satan's head, we will gasp at the sight! Could this be the one who made us tremble in fear? Why did we allow him to intimidate us? b) Satan's bound. Earth's citizens will enjoy wonderful liberty & freedom.
Man still possess the death nature, but it will be more easily controlled with the absence of Satan as a devious force. c) Final test. Millennial age will display divine righteousness. This will be God's final test of fallen humanity under the most ideal circumstances.
d) The true nature. All outward sources of temptations must removed so that man may demons- trate his true nature apart from satanic influence.
e) Satanless existence. The kingdom will demonstrate a vast contrast in human behavior as many enterprises will be absent. With Satan influence removed, so will be his evil inspiration in the minds of men. Imagine! A glorious, Satanless existence!
3. Eden recreated. This age will be the most wonderful era since the Garden of Eden, an incredible transformation of the earth during the next thousand years.
a) Universal scale. Eden recreated in a universal scale. Survivors of the Tribulation will scarcely believe earth's new conditions!
b) The curse. Curse upon earth will be abolished (Rev 22:3). Whole earth will be an agricultural paradise (Zec 8:12), "For the seed shall be prosperous..., ground shall give her increase..."
c) The renewal of Eden's paradise. (Isa 35:1, 6-7; 55:13). With the absence of weeds, briers and thorns, the earth will yield crops in abundance, generating such prosperity that every man will enjoy plenty for himself: "But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid" (Mic 4:4)
4. Animal natures changed. It will be drastically altered in this era. Fierce and poisonous creatures will lose their ferocity and venom, as it was before the curse.
a) Animal kingdom. When artists attempt to illustrate kingdom age, they often portray this scene depicted by Isaiah: (Isa 11:6-8), “...; and the calf & the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them..."
b) Peacefully. Creatures existing together peacefully with no threat of being abuse or destroy by man or beast (Isa 65:25), “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,
5. Health restored. The medical & pharmaceutical professions will be non-existence. With no sick- nesses or disease, there will be no purpose for their existence.
a) Forgive sins. (Isa 33:24), “And the inhabitant shall not say, I'm sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity."
b) No blindness. (Isa 35:5-6), "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. ... lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing”
c) Childbirth. With no sorrow and pain is absent in childbirth, physician will be no need to assist. Births will occur naturally, without suffering.
6. Human life extended. New kingdom will feature life spans much longer than our present "three- score years & ten” (Psa 90:10). Like patriarchs of old, citizens will experience full & long lives. a) Kind of life. So the matter is not great whether lives on earth be long or short, but whether they live a lives of saints or the lives of sinners. "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred yrs old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed"
b) Very age. Old age needs a support, & should not be ashamed to use it, but should furnish itself with divine graces, strength of the heart and a better support than a staff in the hand (Zec 8:4).
7. One language. Before the dispersion of nations, the earth will again be united with one language. a) Language barriers. With all language barriers removed, world citizens will flourish in a free, united society.
b) A pure language. "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" (Zep 3:9).
8. One religion. Serving God will be the popular thing to do. There will not be hundreds of various faith & religions.
a) One faith. The salvation of the Lord Jesus, based on the Word of God.
b) One Lord. (Zec 14:9), “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name is one.
9. Peace and justice. A chief characteristic of this age will be a universal peace. At last, the utopia sought by world leaders will become reality.
a) No war. After uniting all world governments, wars & conflicts shall cease. What an ideal environment! Economic prosperity will flourish! (Isa 2:4 & Mic 4:3).
b) Perfect government. The kingdom era will feature the perfect government, founded on God's perfect laws. Crimes will be erased. The Lord and His glorified saints will judge all men, thus assuring equal justice (Isa 9:7), ". "..., and to establish it with judgment and with justice..."
10. Jerusalem headquarters. With the kingdom in full swing, Jerusalem will be a place to go. It will feature the most glorious action center of the world.
a) Teach the way of the Lord. "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; & he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his path: ..." (Isa 2:3).
b) Regulations. From His Jerusalem headquarters, Christ & His saints will rule for the entire one thousand years. New kingdom regulation will require all earth citizens to make one annual pil- grimage to Jerusalem to worship.
c) Negligence. Those who ignore the command will be punished with an absence of rain for their crops. "& it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year ..., that whoso will not come up ..., even upon them shall be no rain" (Zec 14:16-17).
d) The temple's location. The temple of this era will be located at the same site where Solomon, Zerubbabel, and Herod built their temples. This will serve as the seat of worship & the center of divine government. The Lord shall have residence in the temple (Eze 20:40-41; 46:24). d-1)
No need of furniture. No ark of the covenant, no Holy of Holies or veil to conceal God's presence. The Lord Himself replaced those items, the symbolic of the Lamb of God. All sacrifices will be memorial in character. The new worship order will primarily serve as a remembrance of Christ's work on which our salvation rests.
d-2) Literal river. Will flow out from the Temple eastward and from the south side of the altar in Jerusalem. Half will flow into the Dead Sea and half into the Mediterranean. With the Dead sea healed, schools of fish will swim in it & vegetation will flourish (Eze 47:1-12).
B. REIGNING IN THE KINGDOM AGE. Not only will the earth and its system be vastly different than before, we too shall gloriously changed from our present condition.
OBJECTIVE: A various ranks, assignments and positions determined at the judgment seat of Christ will be effected as the glorified, immortal bride of Christ rules and reigns with her Bridegroom.
1. We shall be like Him! By examining Christ's glorified body, we can have a preview of our own. a) At the mount of transfiguration. Curtain is parted for a brief moment to reveal a transfigured Christ glory & radiance! His face & apparel became bright like sun (Mat 17:2 & Rev 1:16).
b) Our physical bodies. Will be changed & altered to match Christ glorified body (Phi 3:21).
c) Contrasts. Notice these contrasts of present & glorified bodies: "It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: ..." (1Cor 15:42-44).
d) Earth suit. Imprisons the spirit, binding us to earth. Often this earth suit becomes weary, weak and sick. We must feed, nourish & give the body rest (1Cor 15:54).
e) Real handicap. Placing the image of God into an earth suit is a real handicap. So, we must re- ceive a new body, unhampered by its present limitations.
f) No limitation. Unlimited to time, space, or a physical barriers, the new body will be subject to our spirits! Functioning beyond earth's gravity laws requires a spiritual body!
g) What a contrast! Earth citizens in kingdom age still possess the present form of human bodies, mortal & earth-bound dwellers. Our kingdom uniform, shows no mistake as an earth citizen!
2. Various ranks & positions of authority. Enjoying such a magnificent environment and equipped with such remarkable bodies, our next question: What will be doing in the millennial kingdom?
a) Operation. Once the kingdom begins in operation, we will assume the job assignments given at the judgment seat of Christ, as we orient of specific duties before returning at Mt Olives.
b) Station. Many will be stationed at Jerusalem headquarters, the hub & center of all kingdom activity. Some will enjoy higher rank than others, depending on the results of our judgment.
c) Crucial task. To maintain smooth flow of government, many categories of leaders will be needed, the most crucial task is to enforce righteousness as the law of the land.
d) Our best. Dare we give less than our very best to our Lord, knowing that He evaluates our be- havior, our motives, our works, and our very lives?
e) Policies. The new government diligently enforces its policies: In Rev 2:27, "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron." Remembering, earth's occupants still possess their old sin nature.
f) Position. John revealed two positions for qualified saints: (Rev 1:6 & 5:10), "And hath made us kings & priests unto God." "..., and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev 20:6).
g) Additional positions. OT prophets provide additional kingdom positions, such as: nobles, gov- ernors, and princes: (Jer 30:21 & Isa 32:1).
h) Supervision. The twelve-tribes of Israel will be supervised by the disciples (Mat 19:28), "Ye which have followed me, ... shall sit upon 12-thrones, judging the 12-tribes of Israel.”
i) Earth's subject. Saints will judge earth's subject (1Co 6:2-3), “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? ...? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? ... that pertain to life?"
j) Parable of talent. It indicates that responsible stewards will be rewarded with leadership roles over "ten cities" & "five cities" in the kingdom (Lke 19:12-28 & Mat 25:21).
k) Dream. Certainly, we shall be very busy! Qualified position awaits every saint wearing a glo- rified body! It will be more marvelous than our wildest dreams!
3. Subjects in the kingdom. As we learned something of the earth's restoration and our capabilities and responsibilities, a final question must be answered: Who will be in the millennium kingdom? Glorified saints will be present: (Dan 7:18-22), “...; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." But who will be living on earth? Who remain for us to reign?
a) Survivors. Zechariah assures that survivors of Armageddon war will repopulate the earth: Zec 14:16, ".. that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King,
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b) Who are they? Who are these people who are left on the earth? They are both unsaved Jews & Gentiles will be present, will multiply & rebuild the nations. Unsaved Jews rebuild Israel.
c) Infants. Earth's citizens will include infants & children born during the time of tribulation and the millennial age.
d) Isolated places. Finally, it seems logical that isolated, impoverished areas of the world would
not become involved in the Beast's system of commerce. Therefore, they, too, will be present.
4. Satan's final rebellion. However ideal & blissful the kingdom will be, human nature is the same in every era, even in the kingdom age. Unsaved citizens will resent the "rod of iron" and grow to hate righteous ways. A thousand years will not expired until men will yearn to do evil.
a) Mindset. Many will remember the bad old days, when man could freely sin. Restlessness will target them as easy prey when Satan is finally released, before 1,000 yrs expired (Rev 20:7-8).
b) Deceive. Upon release Satan proceeds to deceive the billions born during the Millennium. Seemingly, he will have no difficulty in enticed appealing temptations and join Satan's rebellion.
c) The attack. Leading as a general with his army, Satan and his rebels will attack the Lord & His saints headquartered at Jerusalem. He never gives up!
d) Satan's defeat. As centuries after an overwhelming defeat, he still dream of over powering the Lord & seizing His throne (Re 20:9-10). Satan's attempts, of course, are futile. Fire from hea- ven consumes all rebellious troops. His fate is once & for all settled - forever!
C. THE NEW JERUSALEM.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss John's vision of the New Jerusalem. Its dimensions, details & decorations are beyond all description. Indeed, this is one of the most exciting chapters of the Bible!
1. John's vision. Here is the promise fulfilled! The prize at the end of the race! The happily ever af- ter ending at the back of the Book!
a) Things unseen. Best of all, this story is indeed true! At this point, we trade our faith in "things unseen" for the real, the tangible, the literal! This is it!
b) Patriarchs. From the earliest centuries, patriarchs of the OT had expected a city as the ultimate of their hopes and dreams: "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb 11:10, 16).
2. New Jerusalem. John was astonished to see a city floating down from the skies. Made by God, is this exquisitely decorated city will be the home and reward of the faithful.
a) Glorious phenomenon. The newly created earth will house the restored & redeemed nation of Israel. Suspended in the sky above the earth, hangs the gigantic city, the New Jerusalem, & the home of Christ's bride.
b) Physical substance. Not until eternity begins will the new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusa- lem be visibly interrelated with the others. John was astonished that material city, built & pre- pared by God Himself, could be so vast and grand, beyond all description!
c) The promised. This is the place Christ promised, since he has been away nearly 2,000 years, it surely must be astonishingly gorgeous dwelling! (Jhn 14:2-3), “... many mansions: if it ...
d) Outer city wall. John in amazement when his eye caught the inscription on the outer city wall. "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apos- tle of the Lamb" (Rev 21:14).
John's name was there engraved in the majestic foundations!
e) The foundations. Because of apostles' preaching had helped to found and establish the church, heaven didn't forget them! They will be rightfully honored as the original "founding fathers."
f) Tabernacle. The translation is "tent." God will tent with man & will live among us! That is the best part! "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, & he will dwell with them" (Rev 21:3).
g) Dimension. Its beauty and dimensions are so immense, no city or nation could ever be compa- rable. Here are its dimensions: (Rev 21:15-16). An area of 2,250 sqm much larger than India!
h) Population. It could accommodate more than the current population of our globe! A Glorious body won't have problem with accommodation or of any area or space.
i) Twelve entrance. Twelve angels guarded each entryway with a resembling pearl on each gate that correspond to twelve-tribes of Israel.
j) Perfect blending. Here in this eternal city, we recognize a perfect blending and bond of unity among members of OT Israel with NT Christians. One group is not superior to the other.
k) The same Lord. Finally joined, the same Lord of the ages has provided for both OT Israel and NT Christians! Music features highlights of both the old & new, the selection, the song of Mo- ses and the Lamb (Rev 15:3)!
3. The new heaven and new earth. Finally, John described the Tree of Life: (Rev 22:1-2). a) Prohibit. Remember the Tree of Life in Eden's garden. Now we see that same life-giving Tree transplanted and a flourishing in the paradise of God. All will be allowed to partake of its deli- cious varieties of fruit forever!
b) The temple. In this beautifully adorned, permanent home of the redeemed Israel, something is noticeably absent. "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it" (Rev 21:22).
c) God will be the temple. We shall see Him face to face. No need to gather in a specific place, as heaven's citizens need no place to worship, the Object of all worship is present everywhere!
d) Access. No curtain or veil to separate us from His holiness! Living directly in the throne room of God, we will praise and glorify Him visibly and personally forever!
e) The sun and the moon. Another object will be missing that man depended upon since creation begun: "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glo- ry of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev 21:23).
f) Source of Life. The Lamb will be the direct sources for everything! He will be the Temple, the Light, & the Water of Life: "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Rev 22:1).
g) Decoration. Lavishly decorating the city's interior are variety of precious gems. Even streets and walkways will be transparent gold: "And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass" (Rev 21:21).
h) Pure gold. How difficult to imagine? No available process on earth can perfectly refine gold with transparency of glass. Impurities in gold lend its yellowish brilliant color.
4. Heaven ... a life of: What will heaven be like? How will it differ from our present surroundings?
a) Joy and happiness. John described this beautiful city a place of complete joy and happiness, a totally void of sorrow and pains: (Rev 22:4), “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; & there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'
a-1) Emotions. Like a mother caresses a hurting child, our heavenly Father will gently "wipe away every tear." New atmosphere, all emotions of sadness & heartache will be excluded.
a-2) Death. Can we imagine a world without death? With sin forever gone, its wages & results will also disappear. "There shall be no more death."
b) Continual fellowship. At last, God's big happy family will all be together. Saints of every age will enjoy continuous fellowship forever and ever!
b-1) Everlasting life is forever. In this perfect existence, time will be no more. No clocks, no calendars, no deadlines, no schedule.
b-2) Endless. And throughout this endless eternity will be the delight of perpetual fellowship with the Lord God Almighty (Jhn 14:3), "...: that where I am, there ye may be also."
c) Peaceful rest. Heaven will be void of all work, labor, or strenuous activity. In this life we are encouraged to seek, strive, attain, and gain. But there our labor will be rewarded with peaceful rest: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Rev 14:13).
d) Complete knowledge. We mortals experience situations that's impossible to understand.
d-1) We moan. "Why did this happen to me? Obediently we try to accept life's mysteries and walk by faith, yet we often wonder... why?
d-2) Different. But in heaven, all will be different. We shall have complete knowledge. Quest- ions will be answered, mysteries will be solved, and all secrets revealed: "Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1Cor 13:12).
e) Purity & holiness. In this city of sinless perfection, no unclean thing shall ever come. No tem- ptation to sin shall ever assault or interrupt our life of purity and holiness (Rev 21:27), "And there shall in no wise enter ... that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, ..."
f) In abundance. No citizen of the New Jerusalem will ever lack for anything. Are in abundance. "I will give him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev 21:6).
g) Divine glory. In that wonderful future, Christ's divine glory shall also radiate in our lives: (Col 3:4), "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, ... ye also appear with him in glory."
h) Worship. What will be heaven's pastime? A constant surge of love & adoration will compel us to offer continual worship to our wonderful Savior (Rev 7:9-10, 12).
What a place! What a prospect! What a promise! This greatest love story ever told ends as all good stories should" "happily ever after” – in the presence of the Lord!III.
CONCLUSION:
This magnificent story has a wonderful ending: Happily Ever After in the presence of the Lord God Almighty! However, the Bible indicates that there won't be a happy ending for everyone. Therefore you and I can do something! We must tell the "good news!" We must share our light for living!
"To God Be The Glory" - "Praise The Lord"