INTRODUCTION: THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS

If you have brothers and sisters, then I’m sure you were always perfectly behaved and wonderful children.  However, in my house there were times when World War Three was breaking out.  Sometimes we’d be falling out and misbehaving so badly and ignoring shouted commands to stop, that mum or dad would have to come in to intervene in person.  One writer compares the Second Coming to a parent intervening: “I bring my rule to bear.  That might involve punishing one child and rewarding another.  But now I am personally present, intervening and bringing justice.  In biblical terminology that would be called the Day of the Daddy.  I say that because it illustrates the Day of the LORD.  That day is the moment when God steps into a situation to bring His rule to bear – a time when he isn’t simply sending instructions, but is personally present to intervene” (Graham Beynon, “Last Things First”).

The OT looked forward to the Day of the LORD when God would put to right this world that has gone wrong.  Now we’ve finally arrived at that moment at the end of Revelation in NT.  It’s the Day of the LORD JESUS CHRIST – His Second Coming.

Revelation 19 opens with songs and rejoicing in heaven.  It’s like the HALLELUJAH chorus, because the Great Day has arrived.  This is the climax of all God’s saving work and plans and purposes for human history to defeat evil and restore god’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, when Jesus returns and implements the contents of the scroll with God’s purposes for the world (Revelation 5).

What are God’s purposes? (David Pawson: “When Jesus Returns”)

• To complete the Christian saints
• To convert the Jews
• To conquer the devil
• To command the world
• To condemn the ungodly

Sometimes we sing the song Happy Day: “The greatest day in history”… well that was the greatest day SO FAR, but there is still MUCH MORE TO COME!

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

As we naturally read Revelation, this is how events are presented:

You can read online on the Logos blog some of the different approaches that people take to interpreting the Millennium, but we’re not going to get bogged down in that controversy tonight.

BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS

• Who is the bride of Christ and how is she made ready for the wedding in 19:6-10 (cf. Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 5:25-27)?
  • The Bride is the people of God, saved by faith in the Messiah. They will have remained loyal to Christ despite the trials of living in this sinful world.
  • “You are saved by faith alone, but true saving faith does not remain alone” (Luther) – faith produces good works of righteousness.
  • The righteousness of God is given to us in Christ; and because of Christ in us by the Holy Spirit we are enabled to live righteously.

• The victory of Jesus is based on His death and resurrection, thus why He appears wearing robes dipped in His blood (19:13). Summarise what things we learn about the forces of evil who oppose Christ in 19:17-20:10?
  • The Battle of Armageddon is not really a battle – Jesus defeats the Antichrist and the rebellious nations with the words of His mouth, not with military force. Every knee will bow before Jesus (Philippians 2:10).
  • The judgement of the Beast and False Prophet: these forces who appeared so powerful and successful are defeated by the words of Jesus as He returns.
  • The leashing and removal of Satan’s influence in the world by an angel, demonstrating that he is no rival or equal with God.
  • The short-lived success and effortless defeat of Satan in his final rebellion.
  • The reality of evil: it is unrelenting and will not cease in its opposition to God – demonstrated by Satan’s immediate activity upon being released after 1000 years.
  • The reality of the human heart – sin is not environmental – even in the Millennial Paradise, humans rebel against Christ the King and side with Satan. The only hope for human salvation is the work of Christ dying for our sins and regenerating our hearts by the Holy Spirit!

• Summarise what we learn about the Millennial rule of Christ in 20:1-6 (cf. Isaiah 11:1-11; 1 Corinthians 15:22-26)?
  • The Millennium is about the vindication of the martyrs and those who have been faithful to Christ despite the opposition of the world, the flesh and the devil. These are the “overcomers” of the seven letters.  Redeemed Jews will rule with Christ and enjoy life in the Promised Land, while Redeemed Gentiles will share in Christ’s rule over the world.
  • Notice the contrast: While the Beast will triumph over God’s people for 3.5 years (Revelation 11-13), while the kings of the earth will ally themselves with the Beast to rule for “one hour” (Revelation 17); Christ will defeat the Beast with a word from His mouth, and will reign with His vindicated people for 1000 years.
  • Isaiah: describes the rule of the Messiah on the earth. Rescuing His people, judging the wicked, establishing peace on earth, uniting the nations in true worship, undoing the curse on creation, subduing death, evangelising the nations.
  • Corinthians: describes the purpose of the Millennium – that God’s kingdom will come and prevail in this present creation, so that Satan’s rebellion is defeated and God’s original purpose prevails.
  • There is going to be a New Heaven and New Earth (the future heaven), a New Creation. However, God will not allow Satan to have the last word over the Present Creation, in having disrupted His rule and purpose.  Instead, Christ’s kingdom will come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
  • Notice that
  • “If the Present Age is the time of Christ’s veiled reign and hidden glory, and the Age to Come is the time of the Father’s all-encompassing dominion, the Millennial Kingdom will be the age of the manifestation of Christ’s glory when the sovereignty, which he now possesses but does not openly manifest, and which he will turn over to the Father in the Age to Come, will be displayed in the world” (G.E. Ladd)

• Summarise what we learn in 20:11-15 about:

Final Judgement of Believers and the Wicked (cf. Matthew 25:31-41)

Eternal Rewards for Believers (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

• The wicked will suffer eternal death, being judged by their sinful lives recorded in the books.
• Believers will be saved because their names are recorded in the Book of life – the Book of Jesus. Why then is Matthew 25 all about judgement according to works?  Because the works of the Christian are evidence of the reality of their faith in Christ.
• Believers will be judged and rewarded in accordance with how they have invested their time, talents and treasures in faithful service to Jesus in this life.
• On rewards: “What we need to grasp and remember is that any rewards we receive are not earned by our merit, but are given graciously and freely by God. The rewards are not so much an incentive for us to follow in God’s ways, rather, Paul is saying, that everything which is done for the glory of God, faithfully in his service, is known by God and treasured by him, and will have eternal repercussions.  What we do in this world does have influence on life in the world to come” (David Jackman)
• People often wonder if differing levels of rewards would negatively affect the experience of heaven: “Every vessel that is cast into this ocean of happiness is full, though there are some vessels far larger than others; and there shall be no such thing as envy in heaven, but perfect love shall reign throughout the whole society” (Jonathan Edwards)

DISCUSSION FOR APPLICATION

How can the visions of Judgement and Reward help:

• As we struggle with temptations to sin?
  • The judgement of God at your sin has fallen on Jesus.  But you cannot be sinning and serving God at the same time - so as you give into sin, you are also necessarily missing an opportunity to serve God and receive reward from Him.  So let this be a restraint as you feel tempted.

• As we suffer due to evil in the world?
  • One day God will bring to justice those who have wronged you.  One day God will right all the wrongs of this world.

• As we strive to live and work for God’s glory?
  • Your life in all its different facets matters to God and as you give your life as an offering of praise and worship to Him, seeking to do your work for Him and with His help, seeking to faithfully serve the church and advance the gospel, you will be generously rewarded and recognised by Him.

• Someone lacking assurance of salvation?
  • You have nothing to fear so long as your name is written in the Book of Life, which records all those who have trusted in Jesus as their Saviour.

• Someone with an unhealthy fear of the devil?
  • You need not be overcome with fear.  While demonic power is real and dangerous, it has been defeated by Jesus and will be ended by Jesus.  Nothing can separate you from Him and He is sovereignly in control to limit and protect you from their worst plans and designs to destroy you.

CONCLUSION: LIVING IN LIGHT OF THE SECOND COMING

Let me finish with two quick testimonies of people from the past who said helpful things to help us apply the teaching to our lives:

Martin Luther (German pastor and reformer 1483-1546) said there should be only two dates in the Christian’s calendar: TODAY and THAT DAY.

We live very busy lives and there are many things that can distract us from stopping to look at life from an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.  This challenges us to make good use of the time we have in this life to live, study and work for the glory of God in all things.

Horatius Bonar (Scottish preacher and hymn-writer) would arise every morning and walk to the window in his bedroom and say, "Maybe today, Lord, maybe today."  He would end each day in the same manner.  He would stand at the window, looking out toward the sky and say, "Maybe tonight, Lord, maybe tonight."  We easily live our lives without much thought to: “What would Jesus think if He returned at this moment” – when actually He’s already in the room with us by the Holy Spirit; He sees and knows all things.

We should make the best use of our lives, living with expectancy and with consistency in view of the great Day of the Lord Jesus that is coming.