Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Revelation 19:10
Dec 26th, 2010
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

We have examined the wedding feast, now in verse 10 we consider John’s reaction to the announcement of the wedding feast. John is overwhelmed by the wonder and thrill of the whole scenario of the wedding feast. He is so thrilled and at the promise of such blessing upon those called to marriage feast that he forgets himself and falls down at the feet of the angel who made the announcement. Remember that John is to be a partaker in the coming marriage feast. If John is so excited by this coming event, we ought to be excited as well. We can revel and rejoice in this prospect that awaits us.

The angel quickly responds to John, “See thou do it not.” Then he adds, “Worship God.” We are reminded that angel is merely a creature of God and that all worship must be directed toward God. When Jesus accepts worship, which He does, it proves the deity of Christ.

Though the wedding feast has been announced, the events of verses 11-12 must occur prior to the feast. Christ must return to the earth and defeat his enemies and not until that happens does the marriage feast occur.

In chapter five there was weeping because Satan was seemingly about to consolidate his kingdom on the earth as the tribulation was beginning. The announcement was made in heaven that Lion of the tribe of Judah had prevailed to open the book and take the kingdom from Satan.

We read about the response to that announcement in Revelation 5: 8-13, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” At that point in chapter five the entire tribulation period lay yet ahead. When God makes a promise it is as good as if it had already been done.

It is the event celebrated in chapter five that is now about to be consummated. The Lamb is about to crush Satan and ascend the throne of David in Jerusalem. Can you see why John was so excited, after the promise and after the entire tribulation period is now concluding, the long awaited defeat of Satan and demons and followers is about to take place.

Revelation 19:7-10 we have the preannouncement of the marriage feast of the Lamb which actually follows the events of verse 11-21. The judgments of the tribulation period must be completed and the millennium established. The counterfeit bride of Satan, the harlot church, must be judged and cast into hell before the bride of Christ is presented in the righteousness of Christ. Then the marriage feast will take place.

God has a plan and a time for all His works.

Notice the concluding words of our text verse, “...the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The entire book of Revelation from cover to cover is about Jesus and the entire book is a prophecy.

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:
Dec 26th, 2010
Weekly Bible StudyArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Exhortation;Book Study

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

God’s original intention in creation was to establish a kingdom on earth. Adam and Eve would live forever. They would govern the kingdom on God’s behalf. It would be a glorious kingdom in which billions of men and women would be born and live in a utopia and worship God. Adam’s sin effectively terminated that kingdom. The world became the kingdom of Satan, at least temporarily. All down through the Old Testament this re-stablished kingdom was promised to Israel. Finally, Jesus came offering the re-establishment of the kingdom to Israel.

Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He was saying, "the king is here, the kingdom is offered to you." However, Israel did not realize that the literal kingdom of God on earth could only come after every living Jew repented and was saved. Individual salvation was necessary.

Israel had several problems.

1 - Israel was not looking for individual, personal salvation. Israel was looking for national salvation; they were looking for political salvation. They were looking for a military salvation which would bring freedom from Rome. They wanted the restoration of the physical aspects of the kingdom.

2 - Israel did not realize that there were conditions for establishing the earthly kingdom. The earthly kingdom could only be established for those who were members of God’s spiritual kingdom. Personal, individual salvation had to come first. This personal salvation had to come to the whole nation before the literal, earthly kingdom could be re-established.

3 - Israel did not realize that they did not qualify for the kingdom. They did not realize that they fell short of God’s requirements. They had to repent, yet they had no conviction of sin; instead they had a sense of self-righteousness.

This is the setting for the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5-7 Jesus describes the character and the heart attitude of those who are in the kingdom. Jesus describes these characteristics and attitudes so that Israelis can recognize their sin and repent and qualify for the kingdom. We know that Israel did not repent, but crucified the king. Therefore, the earthly kingdom was postponed until a future day when all Israel would repent. (See Zechariah 12)

In the meantime, the Lord has established a mystery form of the kingdom. This would be a time when Christ would reign in the hearts of men and women. That is the church, the body of Christ today. When God’s time comes, He will take the church out of the world. At that time He will go back to re-establishing the literal earthly kingdom for Israel and the nations. In the meantime, in Matthew 5-7, we have the heart attitude of all those in both aspects of God’s kingdom. This applies to us as part of the mystery form of the kingdom.

We have five reasons why the Sermon on the Mount is so important.

1 – It shows the absolute necessity of the new birth. No man in his own natural abilities or strength can live up to these demands of God. Only a dynamic new nature within, can enable men to live this way.

2 – It is intended to drive men to Jesus Christ. Provision for past failures, and power to live up to God’s requirements can only be found in Christ. He is the deliverer from past sin, and the enablement to live righteously in the present.

3 – It gives God’s pattern for happiness and true success. Here we find the way of peace and joy and  true contentment God intends us to have.

4 – It is a great resource for witnessing. The person who personifies these principles will attract others to him. Such a life will whet the spiritual appetite of those around us. The obedience to these principles is the church's greatest tool for evangelism.

5 – This kind of life is the only life that is pleasing to God. This is the believer’s highest motivation for following Christ’s teaching. It pleases God.