Living On The Edge Of Eternity | Part 2

Pastor Adrian Rogers said if you are Heaven-born, you'll be Heaven-bound. At any moment, folks, the trumpet's going to sound, and we're going to be leaving here.

You say, Pastor, that sounds so supernatural. You've got it. Now remember, we're on the edge of eternity. That could happen today.

My advice for you, get right or get left. He's coming. If you're Heaven-born, you'll be Heaven-bound. Welcome to Love Worth Finding, featuring profound truths simply stated in the messages of Adrian Rogers. In part one of today's message, we began analyzing Revelation 1 to find that this book is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. When he comes again, we will see him in a different way than we've seen him before.

Our purpose as his servants is to understand the mysteries of scripture because we love our Master. If you have your Bible, turn to Revelation chapter 1 as Adrian Rogers delivers part two of living on the edge of eternity. Find the last book in the Bible, the book of the Revelation.

Turn to the end of that book and open it up to chapter 1. And the reason I'm asking you to do that is I want you to be blessed. This book is the blessing book. Do you want a blessing? Here is a formula for a blessing. The book of the Revelation is often ignored, sometimes debated, sometimes discounted, but God says this is the blessing book. If you want a blessing, God says, here it is, read it and heed it, and you're going to have a blessing.

Why are you going to be blessed? Well, number one, you're going to understand the mystery of history. Friend, this world does not make sense apart from the book of the Revelation and what God reveals here because in the book of the Revelation, we learn what is the mystery of history, what is God doing. God is moving all things to a purpose, and that purpose, put it down Revelation chapter 11 and verse 15.

Don't turn to it. Write it in the margin, and it says the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. Now, how are we going to understand the book of the Revelation? Well, thank God there's a golden key that opens this book to us, and it's verse 19.

Look at it. Now, the apostle John is on the Alcatraz of his day or the Devil's Island of his day. He's been there.

It's the island of Patmos. He's there for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they thought that they were going to somehow shut him up and hide him away. The biggest blessing that ever came to this world was old John going to Patmos because it's there that God gave him the book of the Revelation, and there was John there, and he's there in the Spirit on the Lord's day. And look, if you will, in verse 19. Here is the commission that God gave to John. Here was John's assignment.

It's so clear. Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter. Now, what I'm going to do in the next section of this message, I'm going to mention those things in chronological order, but what I want to do now is to give you the big picture. I want to give you what I understand to be a panorama of prophecy, the mountain peaks of prophecy. Are you ready?

Let's go. Number one, first event that's going to happen and the things that shall be hereafter is the rapture and the translation of the saints, the rapture and the translation of the saints. Look in chapter 4 now and verse 1. And after this I looked, and behold, I love it, and behold, a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard was, as it were, of a trumpet talking with me which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. Isn't it obvious we're into the third part? He said, Write the things that shall be hereafter.

Here we begin the third part. And so John, in a vision, is caught up into heaven. He hears a voice. He hears a trumpet.

He is caught up into glory. Now, this is the rapture of the church being typified. The word rapture is the Greek word harpazo. Now, rapture is Latin, English, caught away, Greek, harpazo.

They all refer to the same thing, and it just simply means to snatch away. At any moment, at any moment, folks, the trumpet's going to sound, and we're going to be leaving here. You say, Pastor, that sounds so supernatural.

You've got it. 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, verses 16 through 18, put it in your margin, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord, wherefore comfort one another with these words. Now, remember, we're on the edge of eternity. That could happen today.

My advice for you, get right or get left. He's coming. If you're heaven-born, you'll be heaven-bound. When He comes, that's the rapture, all right?

That's number one. Number two, the second great event is the tribulation and the regimentation of this world. When the saints are taken out, the Antichrist will come, and he's going to turn this world into a vast concentration camp. Now, the Bible calls this time the day of God's wrath. Now, I'm only going to dip in and try to give you a sampling of some verses, but look in chapter 6, beginning in verse 12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth.

Now, he's talking here about asteroids, and even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places, and the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, that is, the high, the low, the high muckety-mucks, the big shots, the little shots, everyone, look at it, every free man, hit themselves in the dens and the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and the rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. Now, here's one of the most pregnant statements in all of the Bible, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Friend, don't miss that, the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who is able to stand? Now, he is the Lamb of God, full of mercy, but he's also the God of wrath, and judgment, and justice. And there seems to be a battle between God's mercy and God's wrath, and the raging waters of God's wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of his mercy. One of these days, that dam will burst, and the great day of his wrath will come. Who shall be able to stand? The book of the Revelation says, in that day, men will desire to die, they'll seek death and cannot find it.

What we call death today would be a welcome release, but you cannot crawl up into the grave and pull the dirt over your face and hide from God. They go into the dens and the rocks. The songwriter wrote about it, oh, what a weeping and wailing when the lost are told of their fate. They cry for the rocks and the mountains.

They pray, but their prayers are too late. That's the second thing, the great tribulation and the regimentation of the world. The antichrist is going to turn the world into a vast concentration camp.

With all the inmates numbered, you'll not be able to buy or sell without taking the mark of the beast. That's the way he will control this world. Many clichés are only clichés, but one makes a lot of sense.

It says this, the more machines act like men, the more men will act like machines. It's coming a day when that will happen. Now, here's the third event. Now, we're just giving these in order, going through the book. Number three, Armageddon and the destruction of the beast. Now, we said there's coming a man, Satan's superman, the man of sin, the beast, who will hold sway over the earth and regiment the whole world by economy and miracles.

But there's finally coming a battle called the Battle of Armageddon. Now, let me describe that beast who's going to be ruling over the world. Look, if you will, in Revelation chapter 13, verses one through three, the apostle John says, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the names of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon, by the way, the dragon is the devil himself, gave him his power and his seat, that means his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads, as it were, wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast.

Now, you say, pastor, what does all that mean? Well, we're going to bring a message on this beast, so just say there's coming one, and all of these symbols are rich with meaning. But during this time when this world ruler rises during the tribulation period, demon spirits are going to infest the world, and demon spirits are going to be working on the kings of the earth to gather them and draw them to a battle called the Battle of Armageddon. Look in chapter 16, beginning in verse 13. John says, and I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. That is the unholy trinity, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief.

Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and this is shame. And now watch this, verse 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Unclean, vile spirits like frogs out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet are going to all the kings, the satraps, the rulers of this world to gather them to this particular battle called the Battle of Armageddon. What's going to transpire there?

Here is the beast. He has virtual control over all of the world. He gathers all of the contingents of this world's armies there in that vast valley, the Megiddo Valley, the valley of Armageddon.

I've been there many times. And they're bivouac there. They camp there ready to surround Jerusalem. It looks like it will be the last time for God's ancient people. It looks like now Israel, the nation itself, is finally going to be destroyed, decimated.

But watch what happens. Revelation 19 now, beginning in verse 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he that sat upon him was called fateful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew but himself, and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

And then read in Revelation 19, verse 19. And I saw the beasts and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he had deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone, and the remnant were slain with the sword of him that set upon the horse. Which sword proceedeth out of his mouth?

And all the fowls were filled with their flesh. The battle is set. Here is the antichrist. Here are his armies. They have come to make war on heaven's king. They are going to make war against him.

And Jesus followed with the armies of heaven, coming this time not for his church, coming this time with his church after the seven years of the tribulation. Here's the antichrist, this braggart belching up blasphemies, ready to make war with him. And the battle ensues, and it's over with two words. Jesus says, drop dead.

He destroys them with the sword that goes out of his mouth. His word, the same word that spoke them into existence, will speak them into oblivion. The battle of Armageddon. Next, the millennium and the glorification of the Savior. Revelation 20, beginning verse 1.

Here's what he's seeing now. I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and the great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Latin, a millennium. And cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal on him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled.

And after that, he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they set upon them, and judgment was given unto them. That's us folks. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.

On such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years. You say, Pastor, do you really believe that Jesus is going to rule and reign here upon this earth? Yes. Yes.

Now think about it. How many times have you prayed, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven? Would Jesus have taught us to pray that it had not been meant to come to pass? Did not the Lord Jesus Christ say in the Beatitudes, Blessed are the meek, for they shall what?

Inherit the earth. Don't get the idea that Jesus is going to be thwarted. Read the Old Testament prophecies and the Bible prophesies over and over again that the Messiah, the Son of David, will rule from Jerusalem. I believe that with all of my heart.

What a day that will be. We will rule with the Lord Jesus Christ here upon this earth. Then next, and I don't have any more time to deal on that, there's coming the final judgment and the condemnation of the sinners. When all of this is coming to a climax, we read here Revelation 20, verse 11, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, the big shot and the little shot, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works, and the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every man according to their works, and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Is your name in the book of life? I'm telling you, friend, if it is not, one of these days you're going to stand before the unavoidable, inescapable Jesus Christ. You have a date with deity. Then here's the final thing, the eternal state and the destination of the species.

Oh, Darwin talked about the origin of the species. Friend, you better be concerned about the destination of the species. Where is it going to end? Look, if you will, in Revelation 21 verses 6 and 8. And he said unto me, it is done. That's it.

Finish. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is the thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things.

I love that. When old Noah went into that ark, he probably spent everything he had to build that ark. He went in a pauper, but when he came out, you know what?

He owned the world. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Watch this, but the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. When God made you, God created you to be a living soul, and your soul will no more cease to exist than God himself could cease to exist.

You're made in God's image, and you're made in God's image somewhere. Now, your average person, if he's going to heaven, he'll say, well, I hope so. But he doesn't know Jesus. Friend, if you think that you can go to heaven without being born again, you're woefully ignorant of two things. Number one, you don't know how sinful you are. Number two, you don't know how holy he is. There's only one way to get to heaven.

You're going to either spend eternity in heaven or hell, and it all depends upon what you do with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, go to the end of the book, and let me show you quickly the last invitation in the Bible. Revelation 22, verse 17, look at it.

Here it is. And the Spirit and the bride say... What's that next word? Come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst, come. Now, listen to me. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.

Freely. You want to be saved? Come.

People talking about who are the elect and who are not the elect. Let me tell you something, mister. If you're thirsty, just come on.

Come on. Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely. And then let me give you not only the last invitation, but the last prayer in the Bible. Revelation 22, verse 20. He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly. You know what old John said?

He's saying what Adrian is saying today. Even so, Lord Jesus, come. Come. Come, Lord Jesus. Now, friend, the rapture of the church could be today. If you're thirsty, God's word to you is just come.

Come. Come to Jesus. And, friend, if you want to be saved, would you pray this prayer?

Pray it from your heart. Dear God, I am a sinner, and my sin deserves judgment, but I want mercy. Jesus, you died to save me, and you promised to save me.

If I would trust you, I do trust you, Jesus. With all of my heart, come into my heart. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me and save me. And help me openly and publicly to acknowledge you as my Lord and Savior. In your name I pray, amen.

Amen. And if you prayed to receive Jesus Christ just now, let us celebrate with you. Go to our Find God's Love page on our website, and you'll find answers you may need about your newfound faith. Go to lwf.org slash radio and click the tab that says Find God's Love.

Welcome to His Forever Family. We can't wait to hear from you today. Now, if you'd like to order a copy of today's message, you can call us at 1-877-LOVEGOD. Mention the title Living on the Edge of Eternity. This message is also part of the insightful series The Edge of Eternity. For that complete six-message collection, call 877-LOVEGOD, or you can order online at lwf.org slash radio, or write us at Love Worth Finding, Box 38600, Memphis, Tennessee 38183. You can also purchase our new Bible studies much like this message in our online store.

For more information, go to lwf.org slash radio. Revelation 2220 says, He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

If you want stability on the edge of eternity, keep your eyes on the second coming of Jesus Christ. And join us next time for more from Adrian Rogers right here on Love Worth Finding. One of our online donors reached out through our app recently and said this, I only recently realized I can listen to Pastor Rogers' sermons online and on the app anytime I want. I'm so grateful to join Love Worth Finding in bringing the kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. You know, at Love Worth Finding, our mission is to help Christians grow deeper in their faith through the timeless teachings of pastor and author Adrian Rogers. That's why when you donate to the ministry right now, we want to thank you with a copy of Tapestry, Promises, and Prophecy. In this journal, there are insightful articles from Adrian Rogers' messages regarding the book of Revelation, and there's space to write your own thoughts and notes. Request the journal Tapestry, Promises, and Prophecy when you call with a gift right now at 1-877-LOVEGOD or give online at lwf.org slash radio. And thanks for your generous support of love worth finding.