The four certainties of Revelation- Part 1| Chris

This message was preached  by Chris at Word of Grace Church on July 24th, 2016. To listen/download the audio please click here. To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here

This book gets big press because of mystery. And because of the mystery we miss the certainties which will motivate us to glory God and sing His praise.

We will do two certainties today.

1.      God's people matter to God and he hears every single one of their prayers

Rev 8:1-5- “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”

The ‘he’ is Jesus who has been chosen worthy to open the seals on account of his death. He is the Lamb of God and the lion of Judah. When he opened the 7^th seal there is silence for half hour. Up to this point there is no silence. He is enthroned on the praises of his creation. Day and night the angels cry holy, holy, holy!

Q. So why the silence?

In the Old Testament, there were 2 altars- one for sacrifice and one for incense, which is the prayer. When this seal is opened heaven falls silent.

In verse 3 it says that the angel came with a golden censer, all the saints from all time resting on the flame.

The very culmination of history is the prayer is all the saints.

Is 62:6-7- “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth”

Pray without ceasing because your prayers are powerful and effective. It’s our prayers that will bring about the end of the age.

2.      Jesus for certain is king over all.

Rev 7:14-17- “I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

John is looking at the vast multitude. He is king over all and shepherd over us. He can bring death, sin and corruption to an end. What a description of Jesus! This is the King who is coming and all the kingdoms of man are nothing. The kingdoms of man are found begging for rocks to fall on them for who can stand before a mighty God.

Two certainties:

·        He loves us and hears us.

·        And he is king and is coming

Rev 22:12-14- “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”

He is coming again!

Q. So, what is the proper response?

In Verse 17- “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Our response is to take the free gift of the water of life!  

Come Lord Jesus!

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.