Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: RJC
Program Code: RJC000027
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00:19 And welcome to The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
00:24 a study of the book of Revelation. 00:27 And it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ 00:30 and what He had to say concerning the time 00:34 in which you and I are living. 00:37 You need to understand that: 00:38 that this book is dealing with the time we're living in. 00:42 And it's very, very important that we understand what the book 00:47 says because it's speaking specifically to us. 00:52 And so we hope that as we've been going through 00:54 this book of Revelation that it has been a blessing to you 00:58 and helped you understand what we're looking at. 01:01 This particular series we've entitled 01:04 Final Events because we're looking at verses... or chapters 01:08 17 through 22. 01:10 And today we're taking a look at the 20th chapter 01:16 of Revelation... 20th chapter of Revelation: 01:19 a very, very vital chapter. As we go through it 01:23 we hope it will bless you in the study of God's Word. 01:26 Our subject that we're looking at is The Millennium. 01:31 The thousand years... 01:34 1,000 years of peace. 01:39 I can remember talking to a lady about this subject once. 01:43 And as we were talking about it she said to me... she said: 01:46 "Oh, we're already into that millennium. 01:49 We're already there. " 01:51 I said: "We are? " 01:53 And she said: "Yeah, " said "we're already there. " 01:55 I said: "Well my Bible tells me that the devil is chained up 01:59 during that thousand years. " 02:01 And she said: "He is. " 02:03 And I said: "The devil's chained up? " 02:05 She said: "Yes. " And I said: "It has to be 02:07 on a rubber chain 'cause he gets around to me quite often. " 02:10 See, well... What we're going to try to find out today 02:14 is: When does that thousand years start? 02:16 When does it end? 02:17 What goes on during that thousand years? 02:20 Where is the devil? Where are the righteous? 02:22 Where are the wicked? All that has to be fit together. 02:25 And so we hope that you will follow carefully 02:28 in your Bible. If you have your Bible, follow with us. 02:30 Get a piece of paper and write down 02:35 questions you have or points that we're trying to make. 02:38 And all of you who are watching by television 02:42 we welcome you. If you're listening on the radio, 02:45 we welcome you. Or even today if you 02:49 dialed in or however you do it on the Internet 02:52 we're glad that you're tuning in to what is being said. 02:55 We hope it will bless you in a special way. 02:59 Our next presentation is chapter 21 of Revelation 03:04 which is the New Jerusalem. 03:06 And God gives you a picture - a word picture - 03:10 of the New Jerusalem. 03:12 Marvelous the things that are involved in this New Jerusalem 03:15 that we'll be looking at. So you don't particularly want to miss 03:19 that presentation on the New Jerusalem 03:22 which is our next presentation. 03:24 But today we're going to take a look at 03:27 the question of The Millennium. 03:30 We're very pleased to have with us the His Voice quartet. 03:35 We have been so blessed 03:38 by having them here and enjoy their music so much. 03:41 And I know you'll be blessed this morning also. 03:44 Before they sing, though, Chuck Allgaier is going to come 03:47 and read with you the 20th chapter 03:51 of the book of Revelation. 03:54 Good morning. If you have your Bibles with you this morning, 03:58 we're going to go to Revelation chapter 20. 04:01 Revelation chapter 20. 04:02 I'd like for you to read along with me. 04:04 So if you have your Bibles, turn them to Revelation chapter 20 04:08 and we'll read together. Let us read: 06:41 May God add His blessing to His Word. 06:48 Still, still with Thee 06:53 when purple morning 06:57 breaketh, 07:01 When the bird waketh, 07:06 and the shadows 07:11 flee 07:14 Fairer than morning, 07:18 lovelier than the 07:22 daylight 07:26 Dawns the sweet consciousness, 07:32 I am with 07:38 Thee. 07:42 Alone with Thee 07:45 amid the mystic 07:48 shadows, 07:52 The solemn hush 07:55 of nature newly born; 08:02 Alone with Thee 08:05 in breathless 08:07 adoration 08:13 In the calm dew 08:16 and freshness of 08:20 the morn. 08:27 So shall it be at last, 08:31 in that bright morning, 08:38 When the soul waketh, 08:43 and life's shadows 08:47 flee; 08:51 Oh! In that hour, 08:56 fairer than daylight 09:00 dawning, 09:05 Shall rise the glorious 09:09 thought, 09:12 I am 09:16 with 09:21 Thee. 09:27 Amen! 09:44 Father in heaven, 09:47 we thank you... thank you for the assurance 09:52 that Your Word gives us 09:56 that we can each be with You in Your kingdom. 10:01 We ask, Lord, that as we study Your Word today 10:06 that the Holy Spirit may come into our lives. 10:11 That it may fill us, and that we will be given understanding 10:17 to see and to know Your greatness and Your goodness 10:21 towards each one of us. 10:23 Bless us as we study together. 10:28 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 10:38 This is what I call settling in 10:44 for eternity. 10:47 Say that again... This is what I call 10:49 settling in for eternity. 10:53 There's certain things that has to be done 10:57 and we have here a thousand years 11:00 that is set aside for that purpose. 11:06 The righteous have to know 11:10 in their own hearts that God is 11:16 totally and completely just. 11:20 The wicked... the wicked have to also understand 11:27 that He is just 11:31 in carrying out the punishment 11:34 for their rebellion. 11:38 And the entire universe 11:41 has to know that God is just. 11:49 Thus, for righteousness to reign 11:53 throughout eternity, these things have to be taken care of. 11:59 So we'll take a look at this thousand years 12:04 and what takes place during that time 12:06 that God has given for that purpose: for you and I 12:12 to settle in for eternity. 12:36 "Bound him for a thousand years. " 12:55 So the devil is bound for a thousand years. 13:01 Not able to deceive the nations or anything 13:05 for one thousand years. 13:09 Says: 13:31 So the scripture tells us clearly 13:34 that this thousand years begins 13:38 with the resurrection. 13:41 It begins with the resurrection of the righteous 13:45 because it says: "Blessed and holy is he that has part 13:49 in the first resurrection. " 13:51 So all the righteous... all those that have accepted Christ, 13:55 all those that have given their lives to Him, 13:58 all those who have walked with Him... 14:00 they will come forth from the grave first. 14:04 OK. Then the scripture says: 14:15 Now if all the righteous 14:18 have been resurrected in the first resurrection 14:21 and come out of the grave, 14:22 then who is left? 14:25 The wicked. That's the only ones left. 14:27 So when it says: "The rest of the dead lived not again 14:31 until the thousand years were finished, " 14:33 that can only refer to the wicked. 14:36 OK? So it tells us 14:38 that there is a thousand years between a first resurrection 14:44 and a second resurrection. 14:46 That's what the scripture tells us clearly: 14:49 that's a thousand years. 14:50 And in John it even clarifies it more 'cause it says here: 15:05 OK? 15:08 Watch: 15:22 So you have two resurrections. 15:24 You have the resurrection of life. 15:26 This is the one in which the righteous are resurrected 15:29 from the grave. And you have the resurrection of condemnation 15:33 in which the wicked are resurrected and come forth 15:36 from the grave. Two resurrections 15:38 separated by one thousand years. 15:42 Now the scripture makes it very clear 15:45 that there are five events that happen and take place 15:50 at the beginning of this thousand years. 15:53 Those five events are as follows: 15:56 one is the second coming of Jesus. 15:59 Nothing is going to happen concerning this thousand years 16:02 until Jesus shows up. 16:05 But with the coming of Jesus 16:07 then that thousand years will begin. 16:10 And we find that Jesus is going to come back 16:13 as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 16:31 So Christ is coming back... 16:35 coming back to claim His people. 16:40 Coming back to gather all the righteous. 16:43 Coming back to set up His kingdom 16:48 that will last how long? 16:53 For eternity. OK. 16:56 So with the coming of Jesus the thousand years begins. 16:59 And with the coming Christ, certain events begin to happen 17:03 and one is the righteous are all resurrected. 17:08 Jesus comes, and as He comes it says He will shout. 17:12 His voice will roll through this earth like peals 17:15 of the loudest thunder. 17:17 And all those that are in the grave 17:20 are going to hear His voice and come forth. 17:33 They're going to come out of the grave at the call of Christ. 17:38 Do you know why? Hmmm? 17:43 You see, when you accept Christ 17:47 as your personal Savior 17:50 He gives you... He gives you a new nature. 17:55 He gives you a spiritual nature that is in tune with Him. 18:00 And so when He comes and calls, that nature responds 18:04 to that call and we will come forth from the grave. 18:08 You and I will come forth. 18:10 Oh I could spend time but I won't... 18:12 But you come forth from that grave, dear friends, 18:16 with nothing wrong with you. 18:20 I mean everything is right. 18:23 Nothing wrong. No sickness; no sorrow. 18:27 No death; no pain. All that is forever gone 18:32 throughout eternity! 18:34 OK. They come forth from that grave. 18:37 Then it says: 18:58 That means perfect... that means nothing wrong. 19:11 That will be given to all the righteous. 19:16 Glorious! Marvelous hope. 19:22 Can you take hold of it? 19:25 Can you... can you take hold of it 19:27 and say: "Yes, we'll receive that? " 19:31 Comprehend if you can eternity. 19:37 Eternity... where there will be no sickness; 19:43 no sorrow; no death. 19:47 Then it says all those who are living. 19:51 Now we've just been talking about all those who were dead. 19:54 All those that have died in Christ: 19:56 they've been resurrected. 19:58 But now the living that are on the earth at the time 20:01 Jesus comes back, it says all those people 20:05 are going to be translated. 20:08 What it means is they're going to be changed 20:11 and caught up with those. Listen: 20:33 So it says that they're going to be resurrected. 20:36 They're going to come up out of the grave. 20:39 And those people that have been resurrected and come up 20:42 out of the grave are going to be caught up 20:44 to meet the Lord in the air. 20:46 And all those that are on the earth alive when Jesus comes, 20:50 the righteous, all those people will be changed 20:54 and they will be caught up with them 20:57 to meet the Lord in the air. 21:00 So God has gathered all of His children 21:07 to meet Him. OK. 21:11 What about? 21:14 What about the wicked that are living? 21:19 What about all those people that are on the earth 21:22 when Christ comes? And by the way, folks, 21:25 the Bible doesn't teach anything 21:28 about the righteous being whisked out of here 21:33 and nobody knowing it. 21:34 It doesn't teach anything about that. 21:37 That's strictly a fairy tale. 21:39 That's not scripture. 21:41 OK. The wicked... the wicked that are living on the earth... 21:46 the scripture says this is what happens to them. 21:56 I'm going to ask you something: 21:58 if the sky rolls back like a scroll 22:03 and islands start disappearing 22:07 and mountains are moving around, 22:10 do you think people will realize something's going on? 22:14 Yeah, not very secret. OK? 22:42 You'd better believe that the wicked know it. 22:45 They're aware of it very, very clear. 22:49 They're saying: "Who can stand before this? " 22:52 And it tells exactly what's going to happen to them. 23:18 So it makes it clear that the wicked will be destroyed 23:23 if you please by the brightness of His coming... 23:26 by the very fire. 23:35 So the wicked that are living when Jesus comes 23:39 they are slain, if you please, by the brightness of His coming 23:44 as if a fire covered the whole earth. 23:50 Well, that's what happens to the wicked that are living. 23:56 What about all the wicked who were dead? 24:02 What happens to them? 24:04 Well, they're not disturbed. 24:09 Let me tell you something: 24:10 when Jesus comes and He shouts 24:14 and His voice rolls through this earth 24:16 and the righteous that are dead in the grave 24:19 they hear that voice and they come out of the grave, 24:21 they respond... 24:23 the wicked don't hear a thing. 24:26 They're not disturbed in the grave. 24:30 They don't hear a thing... they just continue. 24:33 In fact, they do not show up again 24:35 for one thousand years. 24:45 So a thousand years takes place 24:48 before they come up out of the grave. 24:50 With the resurrection of the righteous 24:55 and the translation of the living, 24:58 they are taken to heaven. 25:00 The wicked that were living are slain, 25:04 the wicked that were dead are not disturbed, 25:07 and thus... the devil is bound. 25:13 You see, it says that he was "bound. " 25:16 Listen: 25:51 You see, with all the righteous in heaven 25:54 and all the wicked dead 25:59 the devil doesn't have anybody to tempt, does he? 26:02 No, he's bound. 26:05 It doesn't mean when it says he's bound with a chain... 26:07 Do you think a chain would hold the devil? 26:09 Huh? No. A chain wouldn't hold him. 26:15 But it says he's bound or he's chained for a thousand years. 26:18 Have you ever had somebody come over to your house 26:20 and say: "Go to town with me. " 26:23 And you said: "I really would like to go with you 26:25 but I can't... I'm just tied down. " 26:28 What'd you mean? 26:30 Well you just meant 26:32 circumstances wouldn't let you go. 26:34 And that's the same thing here with the devil. 26:37 Circumstances have bound him. 26:39 The righteous are in heaven; the wicked are dead. 26:40 He's bound for one thousand years. 26:46 OK? 26:49 The wicked are dead. 26:51 The earth, the Bible says, is empty. 26:57 It's a desert. 27:01 The devil and his angels are here for one thousand years. 27:06 It describes it with these words in Jeremiah: 27:24 The wicked will fall... there they will be 27:29 till the end of the thousand years. 27:33 Thus the devil is bound. 27:37 At this point the scripture says 27:40 that judgment is given to the righteous. 27:45 Interesting idea: 27:48 that judgment is given to the righteous. 27:50 And by the way, let me ask you something: 27:52 when is judgment given to the righteous? 27:56 Huh? 27:58 Yeah, during the thousand years. 28:01 Clear on that? 28:03 You do not have it now! 28:05 Do you understand that? 28:07 You don't have it now, so don't be judging 28:11 and don't even tell me you're a fruit inspector. 28:14 You're not even that. 28:15 See... given to them during the thousand years 28:20 is when it's given to them. 28:46 So the righteous are given judgment. It goes on and says: 29:08 Yes, the righteous. Judgment will be given to them. Why? 29:14 I mean, isn't... isn't what God said good enough? 29:21 Why? Why would judgment be given to the righteous? 29:26 Well the Bible says one thing for sure: 29:29 that sin is not going to rise up a second time. 29:45 That will not happen a second time. 29:49 Well, God doesn't intend for that to happen. 29:52 God doesn't intend for someone 29:58 to bring up something or to have sin rise again. 30:01 So God intends to answer every question 30:06 the righteous might have. 30:08 In other words... Have you ever thought about it? 30:12 What's going to happen? What's going to take place 30:15 when you get to heaven? 30:18 Is God going to turn some little key back here 30:22 and all of us become stooges? 30:24 Is that what's going to happen? 30:27 Huh? 30:29 No! I think God's going to let you use your mind. 30:34 In fact, I think we'll use it more than we do now. 30:39 At least I hope so. 30:41 Well, if He is... Let's say you get to heaven 30:47 and there's somebody that you thought ought to be there 30:51 that isn't there. 30:55 I mean, somebody you thought for sure would be in heaven. 30:59 And here you look around and they're not there. 31:03 What are you going to do about that? 31:07 Are you going to say: "Ah, better not say anything. " 31:12 "Wonder... wonder why John didn't make it. " 31:16 "Oh, I'd better keep quiet. " 31:20 "Strange that John didn't make it. " 31:24 "Wonder why he didn't. " 31:25 Let me tell you something: God doesn't intend 31:29 to get 10,000 years into eternity 31:33 and all of a sudden have you say: "Hey, where's John? " 31:38 He's going to answer that question... 31:41 going to answer it for every person exactly what happened 31:45 to each individual and why they aren't there. 31:48 That's why the books are going to be open 31:51 and the righteous are going to go through them 31:53 and they're going to know that God was perfectly loving, 31:56 kind, merciful, and just in all that He did. 32:00 And let me tell you something, dear friends: 32:03 if you don't make it, it won't be God's fault 32:09 because He is doing all that He can 32:12 to see that every one of us make it into the kingdom of heaven. 32:15 And so the righteous are going to go through the books 32:19 and they're going to see that God was just 32:23 in everything that He did. 32:27 Thus, judgment is given to them. 32:43 You see, dear friends, there has to be some tears 32:48 in order to wipe them away. 32:54 That's what that thousand years is for: 32:56 to settle it once and for all 33:01 so that there'll be no more sorrow; 33:03 there'll be no more crying; there'll be no more pain. 33:06 All that... all the questions will be answered. 33:09 We will be settling in for eternity 33:13 for sin never to rise again. 33:16 This is what He's doing for us. 33:26 Well, like at the beginning of the thousand years - 33:30 there were five events that marked the beginning - 33:33 there's five events that mark the close of the thousand years, 33:36 and wonderful things. 33:39 The righteous have spent a thousand years up in heaven. 33:45 That's beyond my comprehension. 33:49 But think of it: spending a thousand years in heaven 33:54 where there will be no struggles 33:57 and all the things that we face now. 34:00 But at the end of the thousand years, the New Jerusalem 34:06 that Jesus has prepared 34:10 because He went and made a place for His bride... 34:14 OK? That city that He has prepared 34:18 is going to come back to this earth. 34:22 I'm going to say more about that in the next presentation. 34:26 But you see, this is going to become 34:31 where... the place where God dwells. 34:36 It's going to come to this earth. 34:48 Comes back prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 34:56 Marvelous! That's what we're going to look at 34:58 in the next presentation, so I can't get into this city 35:01 and talk to you about it now. 35:03 But if you miss it... shame on you. 35:08 Marvelous... what it should be... 35:11 prepared for you and I. 35:14 But that New Jerusalem comes and settles here on this earth. 35:18 The scripture even tells you, folks, 35:20 exactly where it comes to. 35:24 The book of Zechariah tells you exactly where it comes to: 35:28 to the Mount of Olives. There how it settles. 35:31 That's where that city will set. 35:34 Marvelous will be that city 35:38 the righteous have lived in now for a thousand years. 35:45 OK. 35:48 With the New Jerusalem coming back, 35:51 the wicked... all the wicked that are dead 35:55 that have been in the grave now for a thousand years... 35:59 they're resurrected. 36:01 "But the rest of the dead did not live again 36:04 until the thousand years were finished. " 36:06 And so we've come to the end of the thousand years 36:09 and all the wicked come out of the grave. 36:11 Oh what a difference that is. 36:15 What a difference that is. 36:18 All those who were resurrected in the first resurrection 36:24 are resurrected incorruptible. 36:29 Are resurrected immortal. 36:33 No sickness; no pain. 36:37 No sorrow; everything is absolutely perfect. 36:44 Those that are resurrected in the second resurrection... 36:50 no change. 36:55 No change. 36:58 If they were blind, 37:02 they come out of the grave blind. 37:05 If they went into the grave sick, 37:09 they come out still sick. 37:14 No change. 37:17 Please mark it: there is no change physically for them. 37:24 There is no change for them character-wise. 37:30 Mark it down, dear friends. Put it down. 37:34 It's now... it's during this time 37:39 that you develop character. 37:42 You don't develop character after the resurrection. 37:47 If you're playing around and thinking that all of a sudden 37:50 God is going to zap you and you're going to become 37:54 loving and merciful and kind and good 37:56 and all that, you're kidding yourself. 37:59 That's not going to happen. 38:03 If you have trouble loving the brethren, 38:09 dear friend, be careful 38:14 because you've got to learn to love them 38:17 before the resurrection... not after. 38:23 They come out of that grave - the wicked - 38:26 just exactly like they went into the grave. 38:33 The devil is released out of his prison. 38:38 You know why? 38:39 Hmmm? 38:42 Oh, he's got people. 38:44 All of a sudden all of the wicked have been resurrected. 38:47 They're as thick as the sands of the sea 38:51 and now he's got something to work with. 39:15 They're thick as the sands of the sea 39:18 and now the devil is going out to deceive them to battle. 39:23 Why? Let me ask you something: 39:24 why don't the wicked and the devil... why don't they 39:28 just say: "Well, the New Jerusalem's over there 39:31 and the righteous are in it. 39:33 And we'll just leave them alone. 39:35 And we won't bother them, 39:37 and we'll go over here on this side of the earth 39:39 and we'll live here and maybe they won't bother us 39:42 and we won't bother them. " 39:45 Why don't they just do that? 39:51 Well, let's go back to the beginning. 39:55 It says that those wicked when they come out of the grave 40:00 they are resurrected just like they went in. 40:05 That means, dear friends, they do not have 40:10 immortality. 40:46 God said: "Well, man's going to take of the Tree of Life 40:50 and eat and live forever. " 40:51 Therefore He put an angel guarding it so that man 40:55 could not eat of it. Do you know where the Tree of Life is now? 41:23 So the Tree of Life is inside the New Jerusalem. 41:33 And the New Jerusalem is now on earth. 41:39 So the devil tells the wicked: "If we can just inside the city 41:45 and eat of the Tree of Life, 41:49 we'll live forever. " 42:05 The wicked go up 42:10 to take the city. 42:12 Maybe they can get in and eat of the Tree of Life and live. 42:19 This is where the scripture says that the great 42:22 white throne judgment takes place. 42:25 Because... inside the city 42:30 are all the righteous 42:32 that have ever lived. They're inside the city. 42:35 Outside the city are all the wicked that have ever lived. 42:39 So there at this time all humanity 42:43 stand before God. 42:46 And it says that He is lifted up above the city. 43:25 There is no change. 43:38 There all mankind is. There is no change at this point. 43:45 And there God stands before them all 43:51 and mankind realizes and understands 43:56 that God has been just in all of His dealings. 44:16 You see, every one of us 44:21 I don't care whether you're righteous or you're wicked 44:26 every one of us are going to come forth in the resurrection. 44:31 You're going to be resurrected. Doesn't make... 44:36 you know, who you are, you're going to come forth... 44:39 either in the first resurrection or in the second 44:41 you're going to come forth. 44:44 But the righteous will live and the wicked will die 44:51 because it describes it with these words: 45:13 Earth is going to burn. 45:18 And all the wicked and all the works of the wicked 45:23 will be burned up. 45:29 The New Jerusalem 45:31 will ride those waves of fire 45:36 just like the ark rode the waves of the flood. 45:41 The righteous will all be inside the city. 45:44 They'll be cared for by God. 45:49 And then after the fire has purified this earth - 45:55 and remember, we're talking about settling in for eternity - 46:00 after this earth has been purified with fire 46:04 there will be no signs left of sin 46:10 and degradation. It will all be gone. 46:26 All going to burn. 46:39 You see, to you and to me - 46:45 the righteous - we may die the first death 46:51 but I don't have to die the second death. 46:54 The wicked die twice. 46:59 They die the first time and then this is the second death. 47:14 Because this is the cleansing of the universe. 47:19 It's the cleansing of sin. 47:22 It will be eradicated from the earth. 47:37 Look for a new heaven and a new earth 47:40 in which righteousness dwells. 47:57 Oh, dear friends, let me take just a little time 48:01 and appeal to you. 48:05 Don't pass up the opportunity. 48:10 I mean this is the time God has given to you. 48:15 Given this time to you to have the opportunity 48:21 of spending eternity. 48:26 The Lord Jesus Christ left heaven, 48:31 came to this earth and died 48:36 that you might have this opportunity. 48:40 It's strictly up to you to accept it. 48:47 God is not saying to you 48:52 "you've got to do certain things to qualify. " 48:56 I was talking to a group of fifth-graders, 49:02 and I was talking about how that this gift is a free gift 49:08 given to us by God. 49:12 This little fifth-grader said: "Do you mean 49:15 all this stuff my parents tell me I've got to do 49:17 I don't have to do? " 49:20 And I said: "Well, the only people that will get to heaven 49:27 are those that qualify. " 49:29 He said to me: "Well, 49:32 OK, what do I have to do to qualify? " 49:35 And I said: "Well the only people that get to heaven 49:39 are sinners. " And he said: "Well I qualify. " 49:45 So to you I would just say 49:48 "Each one of us... we qualify. " 49:52 Jesus Christ said He did not come to call the righteous. 49:55 He came to call the sinners. 49:58 He came to call you... to give you life. 50:01 To give you hope. To give you something much, much better 50:05 than this world could ever give you. 50:07 Made that possible for you and I to have eternal life. 50:13 To dwell with Him for eternity. 50:16 Earth will be made brand new. 50:22 All this stuff that we put up with out here 50:27 is gonna be gone. 50:30 There won't be such things as pollution. 50:34 All that'll be gone. It's a new earth. 50:47 "Come, all you. 50:52 I've prepared a kingdom; I've prepared a place just for you. " 50:57 Think about it. 51:00 There'll be no more sin. 51:05 God will have been justified 51:11 in the eyes of the universe. 51:17 It will be settled 51:20 that He is just... that He is righteous. 51:25 That He is merciful; that He is kind. 51:30 That He is loving; that He is all those things. 51:36 God just simply says to you 51:38 "Come, enjoy... enjoy the things 51:45 that I have prepared for you. 51:48 I made it just for you. " 51:52 And then down through the ceaseless ages of eternity 51:58 all the righteous will be able to live and rejoice 52:04 and enjoy all the wonderful things that God has prepared 52:09 for those that love Him. 52:12 It's my prayer 52:14 that you will definitely plan on being there. 52:18 Let's bow our heads for prayer. 52:21 Father in heaven, 52:24 we're coming to You today realizing Lord 52:31 without You we are hopelessly lost. 52:38 That we have nothing... nothing to recommend ourselves 52:43 to You but our great need. 52:47 And we come today with that need 52:53 asking, Lord, that You'll cleanse us. 52:59 Take away all the sin and the selfishness. 53:04 Make our lives clean, pure, 53:10 white in Christ Jesus. 53:14 Lord, make us kind. 53:18 Make us gentle. 53:20 Make us loving. 53:25 Give us... give us, Lord, in great abundance 53:30 the Holy Spirit. 53:32 May it fill our hearts. 53:35 May the fruits of the Spirit be manifest in our lives. 53:42 And may all of us have the privilege 53:47 of being with You in your kingdom. 53:49 Not because we deserve it, Lord, 53:52 but because we've accepted Christ as our Savior. 53:57 We put our faith and our trust in Him 54:00 and we look forward to that day 54:03 in which He's going to be coming back. 54:06 This we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 54:14 Our next presentation is on The New Jerusalem: 54:19 wonderful place that God has prepared for you and for me. 54:26 And let me tell you, He has some certain things 54:29 in mind for you and for me that you don't want to miss. 54:34 So we hope that all of you will be with us. 54:37 God bless you. 54:40 In the heart of southern Illinois 54:43 lies a small town named after A. J. Mason 54:47 who came in 1923 with plans for a dream city 54:51 and the largest coal mine in the United States. 54:55 Surveyors laid out the streets and the sidewalk 54:58 and workers built the tallest smokestack in the country 55:02 complete with a Spanish turret 55:04 and decorative cathedral doors at the top. 55:07 Railroad tracks were laid, 55:10 and as word of this dream city spread 55:12 people flocked in by the thousands. 55:16 But as the black coal came out of those deep tunnels 55:19 miners came closer and closer to the end of the dream. 55:24 And after just three years of mining 55:26 an underground river flooded the shaft. 55:30 Suddenly the operations became very costly 55:34 and although Mr. Mason poured millions into his mine 55:38 eventually it was taken over by the bank. 55:41 People left the city in droves. 55:44 Some didn't even bother to take their furniture. 55:47 Soon the tracks lay dormant. 55:49 Weeds grew up around the beautiful train station, 55:52 and abandoned homes gave way to trees. 55:56 Today locals say that Mason is the only town in America 56:01 where you can hunt quail from the sidewalk. 56:04 Although other coal companies tried to revive it, 56:08 Mason's mine never again turned a profit 56:12 and today only a few hundred people are left. 56:15 Mr. Mason's dream went up in smoke. 56:20 All that remains is a beautiful smokestack, 56:23 an old train station, 56:26 and miles of deserted tracks. 56:30 The Bible says earthly treasures are easily stolen 56:34 by thieves and destroyed by moth and rust. 56:37 But our Heavenly Father is building a dream city 56:40 with streets of gold and mansions by a crystal sea. 56:45 He invites us to come live with Him for eternity 56:48 and never grow old. 56:50 The Bible also says that where our treasure is 56:53 there our heart will be also. 56:55 And in this day and age when stocks lose their value 56:59 in minutes and entire banking systems fail 57:03 God invites us to put our treasures in things of 57:07 eternal value. 57:08 Friends, nothing is more valuable than a human soul. 57:13 Won't you help us bring the good news of salvation 57:16 to those who are lost? 57:19 Please, ask the Holy Spirit what He would have you do. 57:25 Please consider what you can do for those who 57:28 still don't know about Jesus. 57:30 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:32 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 57:47 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 57:50 through television. Your gifts bring the blessed hope 57:53 of salvation to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17