Sunday Message: Your Password to Unlocking Revelation

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the glory podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast were starting a brand-new series in the book of Revelation. The title of my message is your password to unlocking the book of Revelation. Let's pray Lord we believe that you're coming back again and you told us so many times in Scripture to watch and be ready and to understand the times that were living in so were asking that your Holy Spirit will help us to understand what this great book of the book of Revelation has to say to us right now.

Speak to us from your were we would pray in Jesus name, amen. Okay will grab your Bible and turn to the book of Revelation.

Again, the title of my message is your password to unlocking the book of Revelation. Speaking of passwords do you ever forget your password. I am forgetting my passwords all the time and I have to reset them and reset them and I was on an iPad recently and I got the wrong code and I was walked out for a period of time. Have you ever been locked out of anything.

One of the same way will we come to the subject of Bible prophecy in the Bible it can seem so vast, so big, even mystical to us. We wonder how can I understand all of these things because you want to understand it. You believe that the Lord could come bad because all around us are signs of the times would how can you crack the code, so to speak. Listen to this. I know the password to unlocking the book of Revelation we might call it the golden key or the encryption key and actually had singing on the front door of the first chapter and working to make sense of this book and try to get a handle on all of these things we care about like Armageddon.

What is that the rapture, the second coming.

Same event, or the two events, the millennium, what is that even mean the hundred and 44,000 who are they, the antichrist, the mark of the beast. All these things we hear about the role found here in the book of Revelation, you find that golden key together that encryption key and I'll share with you in just a few moments I did were all very aware of the fact that our world is in turmoil right now there's a sense of fear in the air of this is due in part to this global pandemic that was supposed to have come and gone but it just seems to go on and on with you strains of the virus.

With no real end in sight at the moment is because the global economic shut down its affected people all around the world. Meanwhile, back at home we see our cities in turmoil. We see the murder rate of dramatically we see all the things that are going on and it causes us to wonder. Are the signs of the times are these the things the Bible told us to be looking for letting us know that crisis coming back. The answer is yes, they are Jesus like in the end times events are the signs of the times to birth pains. So, labor pains, we might say so when the baby is closer to coming to being born. The labor pains get closer and closer together.

The Bible tells us that as we get closer to the Lord's return organist see these signs for these labor pains if you will, closer and closer together alerting us to the fact that his return is there. If you ever heard of the doomsday clock it's sponsored by a group of atomic scientists and it goes way back to 1947, and because of the rise of the use of nuclear weaponry. They thought we are getting closer to doomsday and back in 1947 they said it to 11:43, and each year it's gone. The little bit closer, I just read that the doomsday clock is closer to midnight than it is ever been.

Now they're not even counting it in minutes. It 100 seconds to midnight.

And as we see these things happening, we understand that there almost like dominoes you know if you take a lot of dominoes and stuck them closely together when the first domino goes all the others follow in rapid succession. That's with the last days of events are like the first domino falls and the others come after. Let me give you a big picture of how I see the end times events. I believe the next event on the prophetic calendar will be the rapture of the church, the rapture of the church is out of bed when Christ comes for his church were caught up to meet him in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye that could happen at any time following that will probably be the invasion of Magog against Israel. It could be right after that or a little bit after that, but it seems like it will be in close proximity to that event called the rapture. Also, out of the rapture that coming world leader emerges on the scene called the antichrist also known as the beast, he effectively inaugurates a seven-year period called the great tribulation. When antichrist first comes on the scene.

He seems like a good guy. He seems like a man of peace, a man with economic solutions, a man who fixes things.

But at the halfway point of the seven year tribulation antichrist shows his true colors and commits what is called by Jesus in Matthew 24 the abomination of desolation. He has the Jewish Temple rebuilt and he erects an image of himself in it commands people to worship him. Now there's a series of cataclysmic judgments that fall on the earth for the remainder of the tribulation. And everything culminates in a massive series of battles called Armageddon. Armageddon is from the root word the ghetto Armageddon. So it's basically talking about were the final wars of mankind will be followed in the be fought in Israel, then Christ comes back in the second coming. That's a separate event from the rapture and the rapture. He comes for his church and the second coming, he returns with his church. After this we have what is called the millennium, the millennium means of thousands. The word millennium means a thousand, and it's the 1000 year reign of Christ and then heaven and earth become one is a new Jerusalem comes down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband.

Amazing things are going to happen, but the first domino is not yet fallen, the rapture is not yet taken place. But we know these things because we believe in the book, listen to this. Christians know things that non-Christians do not know, and we know that God is good and man is bad know people often have the reverse they think man is good and God is that this is often expressed in the question along the lines of how good a God of love allow this and that were in effect I'm putting myself in the position to judge God I'm challenging the fact that God is loving because I don't agree with the listen for you. When did you become the moral center of the universe cares about them. Laymen is not good that his Batman is bad bad to the bone.

He's utterly sinful.

All of us are, but God is good, but because we know man is bad and God is good. We know that man is not going to solve these problems, but we know ultimately God will resolve these things. We know God is in control. Yes, folks, I do believe were in the last days.

I do believe were in the end times and it's important that we understand what's happening around us in Romans chapter 13 the apostle Paul writes under standing. The present time, the hour has come for us to wake up from our slumber, because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed the night is nearly over.

Yes, we need to understand the times were living in and there's no better book to explain all of that to us than the book of Revelation.

The last book of the new testament the word revelation means the unveiling, because it is God's desire to unveil or to reveal God does not want to conceal these things from you. He wants to reveal these things to us and Bible prophecy is not given to scare us is given to prepare us so what is it reveal when we come to the book of Revelation. It's like the veil is taken away and I see the spirit world, the spirit world of angels and demons and God and Satan, the world of heaven and of hell and the world that shows us what is coming as well. Yes, I will learn about the antichrist and his henchmen in the book of Revelation, but the primary focus of Revelation is not antichrist. It's Jesus Christ.

Don't waste your time trying to figure out who antichrist is give your attention to who Jesus Christ is because he is the very center of the book of Revelation, and he's a very center of Bible prophecy. In general, Revelation 1910 says the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. Jesus is the centerpiece in this star and focus of the book of Revelation should be not be the centerpiece in star of your life in my life as well. You know sometimes we can get so caught up in the study of eschatology, which is a word that refers to last days events and so forth that we can see the forest for the trees. Listen to this Bible prophecy is not given to inflate our brains if given to a large our hearts understand the book of Revelation was written to believers who were suffering. In fact, it was written by a believer who was suffering banished to the island of O some talking about the apostle John church tradition tells us that they tried to boil him in a pot of oil were on Sam. They were unsuccessful. So he was banished to this island were the Lord gave him this unveiling.

This Revelation of things that come in. Sort of like John was put in a spiritual time machine and catapulted into the future.

I don't think it was a DeLorean but the ideas he saw the future because he entered into the eternal realm and so as we look at this book we need to understand that it was meant to be read aloud and give encouragement to the believers in the first century didn't walk around the throne Bibles like we have today so they would read aloud the truth of God and also this is something that will be an encouragement to you and I care something you need to know about the book of Revelation. It is the only book of the Bible with the built in blessing attached. Let me say that again Revelation is the only book in the Bible with the built in blessing attached. By the way, there is no other book in the Bible with an introduction and a conclusion quite like this one, and a blessing is found in Revelation chapter 1 verse three when it says blessed by the way, the word blessed can also be translated happy so happy or blessed is he who reads and hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps the things that are written in it for the time is near. Now there are three prerequisites necessary to receive this blessing. Number one. Blessed is the person who reads it. Artie mentioned that the implication of the original languages to read it out loud another something wonderful about reading Scripture out loud is in their I will do that in just a moment so you are to read it, but you can't just stop there. Then it says end of the person who hears the words of this prophecy say I can read it, but I have to hear it, and when the Bible says here's something the means to have an understanding of it. It's giving your attention with intention Jesus would often say he that has ears to hear, led him here a modern translation of that might be listen up.

Pay attention to what is actually being said there's nothing magical about simply reading this book, you need to pray that the Holy Spirit will open up your mind and your heart to what is actually saying again when your focus is on Jesus and on heavenly things and changes you in the way that you live in clouds, and three. The apostle Paul says, set your affection on things above are another way to translated think about heaven or simple idea of it is just have your mind and your thoughts focused on the glory of God in on the heaven, and if you do that it will affect you in the way that you live on earth. Fact is, those that think more about heaven make the greatest difference here on earth. This blessing as promised also to the person who keeps the things that are written in it. So first you have to read it. Then you have to hear it or perceive it or understand it.

And thirdly, you must keep these words you know it's interesting to note that whenever you read passages about the return of Christ. There's always an excerpt Tatian attached for us to live a godly life. As a result Peter in second Peter 311 talking about the return of the Lord says since these things are happening around us. What holy and godly lives. Should we be living and studying Bible prophecy does not motivate us to live a godly life. We have missed the point of writing about this. First John 33 says when you have this eager expectation of the Lord's return. You will keep your self pure justice. He is pure. Number two studying the book of Revelation unlocks the mystery of history and unlocks the mystery of history we see that God is in control, and things are moving.

According to a master plan. This is not been decided by people in government or people empower our people in tech are people wherever they are.

God is ultimately in control and he sees the future as accurately as we see the past is it when God tells us something is going to happen is not like he's going out on a limb taking a risk God being eternal sees the past and the future and the present as the saying no. I said he knows the future as well as I know the past. A lot of times I forget the past and I lose my car and a parking lot would level was ion thwarted. I put it against God remembers the past perfectly, but he also knows the future perfectly. So this is the thing that we need to understand that this book unlocks the mystery of history, God tells us what is going on. Number three studying the book of Revelation will bring since to our suffering. It will bring since to our suffering what you say to someone who has suffered tragedy. What you say to someone who is grappling with the disability. What you say to someone who is lost a loved one. What you say to someone who is weeping from grief answer. You say this is not God's final plan. Because Revelation 21 four, says he will wipe every tear from our eyes will be no more death or sorrow or sorrow or crying or pain, all these things are gone forever. When I read the Bible and specifically the book of Revelation.

I realize that God is going to resolve all things. In the end artistry about a guy who love to read the book of Revelation, but he had no proper theological training and he was being criticized by some wiser so-called theologians and they said you you don't understand the book of Revelation, and he said no II do I do understand it, they said no. No one can understand the book of Revelation. It's a mystery it's a riddle it's an enigma. He says no II do understand the book of Revelation this out all right.

What is the book of Revelation about and he replied it means we went hey, that guy was right we win in the end, and God wants us to understand revelation and prophecy. In general I mentioned briefly, the abomination of desolation and then it's interesting this statement is attached so that let the reader understand when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet says Jesus ended that let the reader understand why would that be added if I'm not supposed to understand what that is all about Paul writing about and times since he says brothers I would not have you be ignorant about these things. Speaking of Daniel in chapter 12 of his book. He's disturbed by visions he is having a by the way Daniel in the Old Testament is a parallel book to Revelation. In the New Testament, so I'll be referring to Daniel because they complement one another, but in chapter 12. The prophet is disturbed by visions he's having. He doesn't understand that he can't quite wrap his mind around the meaning of these things and an angel of the Lord appears to him in Daniel chapter 12 and since Daniel keep this prophecy a secret seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase if he Daniel was told that his visions were a glimpse into the future and he wasn't to be able to understand them back. No one would be able to until the time of the end when knowledge would increase. If it was a secret to him at the time but now we know the secret that I mentioned earlier that I wanted to share with you the password or the encryption key, or the golden key if you will, for unlocking the book of Revelation. It's in Revelation chapter 1 verse 19 when John writes, write the things that you have seen the things which are in the things that will take place after this. There's three sections to the book of Revelation number one. The things that you have seen, this is what is being written about here in chapter 1, the resurrected and glorified Christ with all power in heaven and earth to reveal Jesus who is in complete control of all that is about to happen. Then there are the things which are, this is a reference to the seven churches in chapters 2 to 3 though will look at will get sort of flying over or a chronological look at the church from the early church to the present day and finally number three the things that will happen after these things after what things after the churches caught up to meet the Lord in what is called the rapture were now living in the things which are category let's read the Revelation chapter 1 on the reverse is one the eight out loud because there's a blessing attached to doing that isn't there. Don't you want to be blessed read along with me. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God is of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Of all the things he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it for the time is near. John the seven churches who are in Asia. Grace to you and peace from him who was who is and who is to come in from the seven spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth and is made us kings and priests to God our father to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.

And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so. Amen. Finally, verse eight Jesus speaking I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord, who is who was and who is to come, the Almighty. So here's what we learn from what we have just read number one, Revelation reveals that the events of the end times are closely linked together. Verse one says these eventful shortly take place or another translation what must speedily happen. We might say will wait. This is written 2000 years ago, but this is not referring to sooners, but the quickness of execution. Once there is a beginning. Remember I said it's like dominoes closely linked together the ideas when the first one falls, the others follow in rapid succession. This is something that once it begins will not stop.

It will go quickly. The whole machinery of human history will be slipped in the high gear to run its fetal course into judgment. Number two. Revelation is from Jesus Christ. Revealing himself to us. After all, who's a better source on Jesus then Jesus says the Lord himself revealing himself to each of us remember the story of those two discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus after he had been crucified in Christ himself joined them, but they didn't know Jesus was walking with them and we read that he showed them all the things in the Old Testament about himself. So that's what we have here in Revelation is described in verse five as Jesus Christ, the faithful witness of the book of Revelation is nothing else it's a portrait of Jesus as Sophie of God. If you will. And he's presented as the faithful witness. He's a faithful witness, a man we need a faithful witness right now we need a trustworthy source people are coming unhinged with all the crazy conspiracy theories that are out there online and all the stencil weird ideas about what's going on and sometimes a take Bible choose and hijack them and attach other things to them and we need to distance ourselves from all of this and with a clearheaded way of approaching this see what the Bible says about our future and we have no better source to help us with that than the true and faithful witness, Jesus Christ. He always speaks the truth to us, but he always does it in love. You know the Bible says, speak the truth and love it if there's one thing that so clear about the nature of God. It is this. He loves you. Remember years ago I was with Billy grandma by the way of written a book about Willie Graham called Billy Graham the man that I knew and I will be on the couple of months.

I basically told us stories of the times I had with Billy in the things I learned from him but I remember being with him at his last crusade there in New York and Flushing Meadows.

The site of the world's fair and Billy spoke to a massive audience and he was a much older man. At that point we had to be helped up to the pulpit to speak, but when he stood up and began to speak.

There was so much power in his words and this man who would walk with God for so many years turned to the crowd and simply said, God loves you and he turned to the next section into God loves you and he turned to another group of limits as God loves you that this resonated with me and that's what we learn from Scripture, God loves you. He's a faithful witness. He's a loving witness. What a contrast to the physical love of our culture today.

Our world loves you when you're young and beautiful.

In contrast, God loves the plain and aging. Our world loves the famous celebrity and breathlessly follows their every move on social media. In contrast, God loves the unknown nobody our world loves the rich and powerful.

God loves the poor and the weak. God loves all people he loves ordinary people like you and me and you are loved and because your loved. He cleanses you of your sins look in verse five he wants to us from our sins in his own blood.

I want to to notice the past tense of that verse. In other words, this is already been done. If you're a Christian, God is forgiven you for all the wrongs. Do you have done because he loved you declines to John 316 says for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. We also learn from what we just read that when Christ returns all the world will know everyone will know when Jesus comes back again and what we call the second coming. Jesus said, as the lightning shines in the east of the West, so will the coming of the Son of Man be ever seen a lightning storm, Artemis right lights up the sky starts at the second coming will be like in verse seven of Revelation. One says every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. So Christ is going to return again in an open way. Also, we discover here. The Revelation gives us the only description of Jesus Christ and its largely symbolic. You know, it's amazing to me that in all the things written about Jesus for Gospels. All the epistles could not someone have described what he looked like. I mean we do know certain things about certain Bible characters, but we know nothing about the physical appearance of Jesus, was he tall was a short was his hair dark was his hair like colored I can tell you this much, you most likely does not look like the more familiar a portrayal of him and a lot of the older religious art with brownish blond hair. No, not at all. I'm sure his skin was dark and his hair was dark. He was a medic but that's not important. If it was important, God would have given us a physical description of but here is the only description of Jesus found in the Bible again. It is largely symbolic. Revelation 1 verse 14 his head and his hair were white like wool and white like snow. His eyes are like a flame of fire. His feet like fine brass, as if refined in the furnace in his voice is is a sound of many waters.

She mentions his eyes being a flame of fire that could be literally translated, his eyes shot fire.

So it appears that Jesus is indignant about something there, something needs seeing that he is not pleased with he sees and knows everything the Bible says everything is open for the one with whom we have to do you probably used to think your mother had eyes on the back of her head right, she saw everything Jesus sees everything he's aware of everything and only meet someone you look into their eyes, and when a person doesn't want to make eye contact that usually may be an indication of something not being quite right of a Jesus is looking out as we read in the Bible that Jesus looked at Matthew and said follow me. We also read that Jesus looked at Peter after his denial.

He's looking out as he's looking at you, and his eyes are filled with fire.

Also, as he looks of this. He's telling the sentence are important. This is my final point, the book of Revelation tells me to not be afraid. The book of Revelation tells me not to be afraid. I know I've said some things that might alarm someone a while what woo hoo what is the mark of the beast, and one is the antichrist going to show up and and will have to go through this great tribulation. Secured we have this important word in the first chapter of this great book. Don't be afraid. Verse 17 don't be afraid, says Jesus on the first and the last time he who lives in was dead, and behold am alive forevermore and have the keys of Hades and death. Don't be afraid Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen freak out because your dad know you didn't say that Diddy says when you see these things begin to happen. Look up for your redemption draws near. Don't be afraid to. The problem is more afraid of the long things were not showing the proper fear of God were afraid of all going to the dentist are being audited or someone given us a hard time but we don't reverence and fear God, the Bible says, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Now, when the Bible tells us to fear God. It doesn't mean be afraid of God means they have reverence for God have a sense of all about God have respect for God. In fact, the remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else but on the other hand, if you do not fear God you fear everything else are you paralyzed with fear. Right now, about things that can happen if your life is cut short.

If you get the coronavirus or or of some of the thing happens is it. Don't be afraid. Fear God.

And when you fear God delivered confidence in him because your trusting in him. David said the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid when we say the Lord is the strength of my life. We can then say, of whom then shall I be afraid, for the Lord. The strength of your life right now.

If so, don't be afraid.

But as nonbelievers. I'll tell you what you should be afraid of you should be afraid of death and should be afraid of judgment and these are things that are coming but if you put your faith in Jesus. You do not have to be afraid. Let me loop back to something I would.

I mentioned earlier. Where was this book written. It was written on the island of Patmos. That's the island that John the apostle was banished to. It's not a tropical paradise. We hear island with all cool island waves and is probably out surfing and sunbathing. No no no, it was so horrible island that he was banished to a place of extreme isolation. I wonder if I'm talking to somebody right now it feels like their isolated maybe your confined to a hospital bed. Maybe your incarcerated.

You can't get out of the place that you are in, let me say this.

It was in this place of isolation that God revealed himself to John in an amazing way and sometimes in your heart is situations God can reveal himself to you. Larry King recently died. It was my privilege to be in the show back in the early 2000's, and I remember we were having the discussion then Larry always had questions about the afterlife. He had Billy Graham on the show Franklin Graham in the show.

Other preachers they would always ask them about the afterlife and I remember him turning to Billy and asking, are you afraid to die. And Billy said he wasn't on it when I was without Larry Diaz about what we know.

Why does God allow tragedy and hardship in the world of God is all-powerful by this lease, stop it. I told him the story of a lady who would come to me at church the Sunday before that. This was filmed in a Monday and she had found out she had breast cancer and she was very afraid, but it brought her to God. It will corrupt your need for Jesus. She said that horrible event brought me the Jesus and I'm reminded of what the psalmist said when he said before I was afflicted I went astray. But now I have kept your word. So I said Larry sometimes God can use sickness to get our attention and bring him to bring us to himself and then Larry shot back will, don't you think Christianity is a crutch that said all know Larry Christianity as a whole hospital that just as you're going to break. Larry said that's a good line. Write that down.

Hope you heard hope your hearing and I hope you understand that whatever you're going through. It can be that very event that brings you to God, it shows you your need for Jesus when things are not going the way you want them to go. You can turn to him. Don't run from God run to God because, listen, Jesus is coming back again. Yes, one day he'll return as King of Kings and Lord of lords wearing that crown. But before he did wear that crown when he returns he would wear a crown of thorns, or he would die on the cross for our sin and suffer and die in our place because as I said earlier were all sinners separated from God. But we can be forgiven of our sin and no him in a personal way. Let me ask you a question right now one of Jesus Christ came back tonight. Would you be ready to meet him. You know the Bible tells us when Christ comes back to will be in the field. One will be taken in the other left amount and a wife of being the bed and one will be taken and another left. If Christ were to become. Would you go to meet the Lord is another way to state it one of this we are last night on earth. What if this was the moment you would die. Jesus says that he holds the keys did death and hell, which means he decides one will be born. He decides will leave this world. That is why the Bible says prepare to meet your God.

Listen to this heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you. Are you prepared, you can just go down to the airport and board a plane without buying the ticket and going through security in the same way. You can't just assume you go to heaven heaven is not the default destination for every person the way you can know you going to heaven is by believing in Jesus Christ putting your faith in him and I think somebody right now watching me wants to do that you want to know God in a personal way you want to go to heaven when you die you want to be ready for the Lord's return.

You want peace in your heart and sit of the turmoil in fear and agitation. That's in there now listen he's just a prayer away. Jesus says behold I stand at the door and I knock it if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in. I'm not talking about religion here folks I'm talking about a relationship with the Almighty God will come and take residence in your heart if you want Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin if you want to know with certainty that you will go to heaven when you die if you want to know that you're ready for the Lord's return. I like you to stop what you're doing right now and pray a simple prayer affect all pray then you can print after me you can print out loud if you like you can print quietly in your heart but pray this prayer with me right now this is what is sometimes called the sinners prayer. There's no official sinners prayer in the Bible. By the way, but we take principles from Scripture and put them together for a prayer and which are calling on the Lord of the Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. So let me lead you in that prayer will you will do just that.

Just pray this after me, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I know you're coming back again. Jesus and I want to be ready so come in the my heart, forgive me of my sin I choose to follow you from this moment forward.

Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering that in Jesus name I pray, amen. Did you just pray that prayer want to the know on the authority of God's word that he's heard your prayer crisis come to live inside of you and now it's a whole new adventure that's going to start in your life of knowing God in a personal way. Everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast in the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show.

Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org