Christ's Final Invitation

Well tonight, I thought it'd be good to talk about The very last book of the Bible the very last book of the Bible, you know It's I don't know about you since I've been retired and had more times been on watching TV And of course, what's the news on TV and social media now is the war in Israel, right? It's something which certainly has preoccupied our minds and you might be watching it just to a little degree or to a large degree but certainly this is a time that It's given us a pause It certainly makes us wonder if this is the end times or not If we're possibly getting close to that and we truly want to make sure as as passive faithfully preached on Sunday Then we also always pray for Israel that we always support Israel and times like this makes you wonder Why did God use us in our world if Romans 828 is true and it is all things work together for what?

Good then there's a reason why God is putting it through situation Why is was going through this and why the world's gone through this and why we're individual in our hearts are going through this And we're going to make sure that that our hearts as Christians are in the right direction And then we don't get preoccupied with things which are of the world Namely gonna get influenced by the things we might see on social media I think you might see in the news that they can very potentially draw us in in the wrong wrong direction But let us say first of all as numbers 24 and 9 says whoever blessed is it will be blessed and whoever curses is it will Be cursed.

Let's say that first and foremost Always side with Israel always want to do that and we've all seen it and I trust in the media You've seen video whatnot of the horrors of the evil Let's call it evil that takes place with terrorists and to me It's clear that the world sees there is evil in our world, which is the author of Satan often I think our world kind of says, you know, you're a good person.

I'm a good person. You got your story You got your truth is kind of a mishmash II good and badness in this world now There is true evil in our world and truly I think our Lord is using this situation now You know what there is purity There is holiness and there's also evil in a which exists and we can use this that Illustration now as we share Christ with the people to explain to people that truly evil does exist But they're very emotional times for us right now as you watch videos We could be tempted to get very emotional your stories We even get tempted to get to decide with the wrong side Right, you get pulled into a silence and take the wrong side biblically you you get angry, right?

Christians are not supposed to get angry. I'm not supposed to have hatred to anybody We should not have hatred hatred toward a terrorist, right? We should not be worried sure about what happens in time because to worry is what Sin, right? And so if we watch the events take place in our world today and we're like, no We have a little fear in our hearts from what happened to us Then you're not trusting our Lord your faith has been tested. So now soon as it is a challenge I would say and I was Christians that we represent Christ well to them believe in world That they see we're not worried.

We're not fearful. We're not angry We don't have hatred in our hearts, but we have a love and compassion to the unbelieving world We're gonna make sure we go to a situation that We honor our Lord in the process of making sure that we represent him properly God always is control in control all parts of the world around us and we see that when you stand that in Some way this is part of God's plan Is eternal plant in God's kingdom? This is part of his plan and we need to ask that. Well, how am I being used in that plan?

How is our church being used? How am I to share Christ better today than I did yesterday because of this? Certainly hearts open to right now to to life and death Right now people think about life and death and and good and bad and evil and what's right and what's wrong They're thinking about the end times This is an opportunity to share Christ as you never had before when things are going smooth and well We're all had Disneyland right things people don't think about Christ, but now they're thinking about it They're thinking about it And so I would encourage you as you talk to your loved ones people that are unsaved That you have opportunity to share Christ that you look for opportunity to share Christ that this might be the opportunity to do so We have daughter Dorian go to We have a we have Mike Guerrero and Dave chopper going open-air preaching if you want to be part of that Maybe kind of watch it as they preach to the larger audience You kind of hear and watch what people are saying over there Whatever whatever option might might have to share Christ We want certainly want to to encourage you to do so but tonight as we get to God's Word Let's go to the very end of the book All right Let's go back to the heart of our faith to make sure we're focusing that upon Christ and Christ give this amazing invitation in Revelation chapter 22 an Invitation that as the things this world so to speak fall apart Don't worry.

He has an invitation to us. It's the greatest book of all time Has been written for us to follow and to encourage us to focus our hearts and our minds upon God's kingdom coming Someday and as you go to revelation chapter 2, we'll go over to verses 12 to 12 to 21 will go through tonight We can see that before this even takes place before Christ's final invitation given to us the last word that he speaks to us The nature of the unbeliever has already gone through some horrific bold judgment as you might have a call to the time the tribulation The first bowl he met unbelievers went through loathsome stores Second and third bowls of waters are turned to blood The fourth bowl men are scorched with heat the fifth bowl men are in darkness and pain yet.

They refuse to repent and the sixth bowl this three unclean spirits like frogs and the seventh bowl is great hill fall upon them Yet men still will not repent even though they know God is in control these things Even though I know that God is the author of these events and he's all-powerful and they can see it You can't attribute it to nothing else still men fail to repent to bow to need to God But about either Christ why because they love their sin, right? They love their sin They want to continue to doing what they want to do and they were not bothered that their need to God Yeah, yet even in these incredible bold judgments God in his judgment still it shows his mercy and his grace He shows mankind a sampling of what how it's like and it's a very small sample What how it's like when men are burned and scorching if he'll fall upon them They get a small sample that God is judged he is holy and pure and that they will suffer punishment because what they've done against him a Small sample would hella be like someday.

All right God is grace portrays that to us about Revelation and it's mercy says here's what looks like a tribulation a Small sample what could possibly take place one day and when you go over to revelation 1919 if you would I call that 1919 The most ridiculous person the Bible like what so go look at it.

You'll see what I mean Revelation 1990 it's the most ridiculous verse in the Bible. Why it says 9th in 1919 They gather together. I saw the beast in the king of the earth and I'm assembled to make a war against him Who sound the horse and against his army the world gathers together to try to defeat God? After going through all they have gone through Their their mind is so disturbed so deluded by Saints influence that they came to think straight They know God has done all this timber ready if they gather together try to defeat God himself And of course, they fail Miserably, so it's it's that taking place before him that Christ talks to us in Revelation 22 12 you would go over there if you would and we'll read 22 12 21 12 or 21 Christ says Behold, I am coming quickly And my reward is with me to render to every man according to what he has done And the Alpha and the Omega The first and the last the beginning and the end blessed are those who wash their robes So that they may have the right to the tree of life and be entered by the gates into the city outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and their moral persons and the murderers and the adulterers everyone who loves and practices lying I Just have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches And the roots and the Senate of David the bright morning star Spirit and the bride say come let the one in here say come let the one who is thirsty Thirsty come let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

I testified everyone It hears the words of the prophets book If anyone adds to them God will add to him the plagues which have been that this book if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God will take away his part from a tree of life and And from the Holy City which I've written this book he testifies to these things says yes I am coming quickly. Amen. Come Lord. Jesus grace the Lord Jesus be with all So I don't know if you get up to get your notes or not But in our notes, we see that first of all Christ has this this warning given to to mankind He says behold him coming quickly.

He tell this early in Revelation to fight to repent or else I will come to you quickly God desires that that we were opinion to to believe upon him and but still unbeliever still refuses to to believe upon him because they want to to To follow their own sin. They want to do what is right in their own minds and Revelation 2215 inscribes these unbelievers outside or as the dogs the sorcerer the section motor persons These are the people which? God Condemns to go to damnations, but our Lord's final words here to us as believers in Christ Is it show us that he has eternal plan for us and that he has chosen for the believer might have eternal life with him He has gives an invitation to the unbelievers to his word to read Revelation 22 It's like in every motel room in the country of the Bible, right?

It's it can be used by us today to share Christ. We can share these words to people today Christ invites you to come and to believe upon him. He's giving you one final wine to believe upon him before it's too late Christ gives wine to mankind out of his love out of his grace now's mercy to fall upon him Point number two is the invitation that Christ gives to us.

It's an open invitation given to all people The Bible said the spirit and the bite say come Anyone and let the one who hears say come here. God's wouldn't come But the one is thirsty come but the one who wishes take the wild life without cost the Holy Spirit and the bride was the church here has Always longed for the return of Christ and that is the one true mark of of the believer in Christ He wants Christ to come that is our desire We want Christ to come back and the spirit and the bride say come But the one he hears says come we want our Lord to return soon It's an open invitation that's given to to all of us then it says not the one who's thirsty come right Thirsty meaning that's the one who's longing for something longing for eternal life You don't you don't come to Christ in a haphazard manner.

I'll try this Jesus thing I'll see if it works or if it fits into my lifestyle. No, you're thirsty for Christ You're sick and tired of his sinning John MacArthur once said that so let's pass glance one time They say to become believer in Christ. You have to be sick of your sin Right, you're sick and tired of living that simple lifestyle. You want a life? So that's gonna change you want God to redeem your heart. You're literally in the gutter with dirty water flowing past you We've tried everything by your own efforts to save yourself and you're looking up in desperation at heaven say help help me Help me hoping that someone would rescue That's a state by which Christ asked us to come to him that repentant attitude that the one who is thirsty come That the one who wishes take the water of life without cost The free gift that is given to us and Christ said the same thing on John 737 he says if anyone's thirsty, let him come to me and drink, but Jesus desires That meant to come to him based upon his love and his grace and his mercy mercy He said in Matthew 1624 if any man would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me That's what God asked us to do Paul commands us and in first Thessalonians 1 9 and 10 He says to that he commends it that Thessalonians because they have turned to God from idols To serve a living and true God and wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead Even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath of of God The unbeliever desires to be away from God, but the believer in Christ wants to come to Christ He wants to be with him and we know that Matthew 25 has some horrific descriptions of what house like 25 41 and 46 described house a place of everlasting fire and a place of everlasting Punishment, but look over you would to keep your finger in Revelation 22 there make your way back to John We all know John 3 16 very well, but the verses that follow it.

I think are really Telling us to the state of the unbelievers hearts a place here I think you perhaps you want to to remember when you talk to an unbeliever about why? Don't you want to come to Christ? You know, you got a person in front of you talking to Christ about a while having a good long Conversation and you're like, you know what man? Just let's be honest here You just don't want to repent from your sins. Do you you don't want to turn from God? Look over at 3 John 3 19 Breaks it down really well here This is a judgment judgment that the last comes to the world and men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil But everyone who does evil hates the light does not come to life for fear that it needs to be exposed But he would practice the truth comes to light so his deeds may be manifested as having been rocked in God the person that That hates the light that hates God loves his sin.

He doesn't want anything to do with God whatsoever He's his heart is it's hard to the point that he wants to wallow in his own sin He wants to wall in his own sin But but but God out of love and his goodness and his grace and his mercy Still sends that invitation to us to repent and leave upon him and you would think perhaps, you know If you had written the entire book God's Word Inviting him to come to believe upon you and you see people turning from you and disobeying you and you give verses like this and explain What your heart is like you would think the very end of Bible God would say good luck to you, buddy Oh, I warned you right or so be it tough luck Charles, right?

But God doesn't do that, even though he knows man's sinful hearts It just would be stills to the very end a love invitation come to me follow in me believe upon me It's an open intention given to all people. It's also a personal invitation. Also Christ says if you make your way back to religion 22 a Personal invitation Christ says my reward is with me to reward each one as his work Deserves Christ is our very reward Christ is eternal life There is no eternal life without Christ.

He is life itself It's a personal invitation the reward we get it to be with Christ forever in heaven Then he says I am the Alpha and Omega the first and the last to be in the ends.

It's invitation to come to him It's not like being invited to a party by another person that you're not invited to but you're still there Now it's a personal invitation that God gives to each and every one of our hearts as you read God's Word as the Holy Spirit Touches our hearts Personally revealing God's Word to us as you read God's Word in the Holy Spirit touches our hearts God opens our minds So he's might see the truth of his word person from the hearts to have a personal relationship with us And we either personally reject Christ or we personally accepted him one on one basis It's not done on a mass amount of people but God individually Saves us and the same God who created the heavens and the earth and create all things around us Is the same one who personally invites it to come to him and to believe upon him to follow him?

He says in verse 16. I Jesus he says it's a divine call. I Jesus he says I've sent my angels to testify to you these things consider churches Jesus personally sent his angels Testified us what shall happen in the very end times? He says I am the roots and the descendant of King David emphasizing his humanity Christ says I am the bright and Morning star the bright morning star brings in the day that announced the day to begin He's the beginning of all things Christ person describes to us in the very last book of the Bible Who he is and to come to accept him as our Lord and Savior He brings in the lights.

He's the end of darkness and the bright morning star But the unbeliever's sin will end and then so life shall take place it shall take place and Johnny 12 Jesus says he is the light of the world and Christ gives his personal invitation to us to come to him and Matthew 11 28 Christ says come to me all who are weary and heavy laden.

I will give you what? Rest John 6 37 the one who comes to me. I will certainly not cast out It's a personal invitation to come to him. It's also a reserved invitation. Also, isn't it? Look at 22 14 Christ has invitation to heaven that's reserved just for us Not only as Christ's invitation person and open, but it's also reserved.

He says Blessed are those who wash their robes or do as commandments that they may have the right to tree of life and They may enter by the gates into the city We're the ones who haven't washed by Christ's righteousness Christ cleanses us he washed and saves us and then we don't put on our old same dirty clothes, do we? it's not like we sin and We're cleansed and then you're like, okay, I put my do my same thing again and you wear your same old coat No, we are cleansed for our sin and then we put on Christ's righteousness We put on Christ clothes We put on Christ life the perfect righteous life that Christ lived is imputed toward us Although we deserve nothing of it God the Father chooses to see his amazing son what he did in his life before he sees us It looks upon us and I think you see I see this ratio of a door back there or a glass back there If God were looking to see us inside of here, he'd have to see Christ He was a righteous pure holy window first The father sees the son and his period of righteousness Before he sees our life and we look holy and pure to father because of it because of Christ we cling to Christ We love Christ.

He's the only means of salvation for us, but was not for his life He gave for us in the cross. We would have nothing here. It said in the very end blessed are those Who washed their robes that they may have the right to tree of life the tree of life? Now which is at the very beginning is given to us afterwards. And now he says we have the right The reservation to enter by the gates into the city. You're not sneaking into heaven here, right? You're going through the front door. You're cleansed by Christ.

You're washed by Christ You have the right to a tree of life You're able to enter to the front door and Jesus said it was the same things back in Revelation 2 7 It says to him who becomes I will give to eat from the tree of life Which in the midst of the paradise of God? Christ allows to come to the very front door He would never we were never feel left out. Heaven is reserved for us We are chosen by God redeemed by Christ and now they get to enter to do to the heavens To do to the gates of heaven look over your word of first Peter one to be the great section of Scripture talking about how Heaven is reserved for us first Peter 1 3 Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his great mercy Has caused to be born again to a living hope to the resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead Here's our reservation of verse 4 to obtain an inheritance Which is imperishable and under filed will not fade away reserving heaven for you Who are protected by the power of God to faith for salvation?

Ready to be revealed in the last times. They said this is that the Reason why we cling to Christ because this heaven has been reserved for us at time We shall be with Christ is specifically reserved for us because we love Christ in comparison The unbeliever described is as being outside of the gate Right. These are the ones that are shall be cast into the lake of fire described as dogs Sorcerers the amoral person Murderers the dollar was able and it practices who loves and practices Lying when the Old Testament dogs were not seen as cute little puppies, right?

They were despised wretched creatures wanting to city dumps John uses the most low animal to describe what the unbeliever is like here Deuteronomy 20 to 18 calls a male homosexual prostitutes dogs It's because someone with no character or no morals at all Along with the sorcerers and the murderers and the list hell is reserved for them Right, but inside God by his grace and his mercy has heaven reserved for us And those that stubbornly refused to follow Christ and to obey and to to follow the invitation We tell a life will eventually have damnation in hell will eventually be on the outside and have everlasting destruction Why should we accept Christ's invitation?

Because because heaven is reserved for us God's love is toward toward men. He is not one and he should perish He wants all people to come to believe upon him and he gives an invitation to accept him and to believe upon him And next you see that Christ's invitation is a a truthful invitation. That's 2218 if you make your way back there 2218 Not only Christ's invitation open to all it's personal. It's reserved, but it's also a very truthful invitation based upon God's Word Revelation 20 to 18 Christ says I testified everyone and here's the words that prophets book If you want to answer them God add in the place or written the book if anyone takes away from the words of the book the prophecy God will take away as part of the tree of life, which is the book of life and from Holy City what you're in this book the unbelievers should accept the invitation of Christ because scripture is Truthful all the heaven and hell the prophets to come are based upon one thing the truth of God's Word It's all based upon him and Christ says in amazing and and very concerned words If you hear the words of this book and you add to them in any way you have the plagues added to you God emphasizing his word is complete and it should be nothing added to it.

You can't have no dreams You can't say God has spoken to me in some manner because that that is to say that God's Word is not good enough It's not sufficient and how prideful would it be able to say do you have the ability to add to God's Word? God has spoken to you They had some extra to say and he's chosen to use you and some false Prophets do say that and in Christ makes it very clear that that the part of the plagues this book The bowls you mentioned earlier be add to that person anybody who possibly does that don't add your opinions Don't add your personal views Read from God's word directly tell people God's what says make sure your interpretation is correct Don't tell us what you think the verse means I don't care what you think the verse means and you don't care what I think the verse means Make sure we're we study God's with sufficient enough.

So we know the accurate and true Interpretation of God's Word we have to cut God's Word correctly and straight Then he says if anyone takes away from the words of the book I just add God take away his partnership life from the Holy City Emphasizing that that this is what unbelievers do They might emphasize as liberal churches do they don't want to follow of God's Word in a strict manner perhaps repentance It's offensive to people, right? It's a secret sensitive movement where you seek to be sensitive the person the pew here to not offend that person So you take away from God's Word and the hope that they stay in the pew and give offering at the same time, right?

We're not to add to God's. Well, yeah, that's all to be faithful. Don't take away from his word That's faithfully could preach the complete gospel Judgment. Yes, how yes economists and yes But also his love and his mercy his grace and his kindness the complete truth of God's with my word must be proclaimed Whatever we do we're told not to to take away or to add to God's Word And the true believer agrees with this in Psalm 119 97 Psalmist says, oh how I love your law is my meditation all the day Psalm 119 70 I did light in your law And we know that God's Word is that which has changed our hearts It saved us it shows how we are to live our lives It tells how what life should be like afterwards in heaven God's Word tells what how should be like afterwards God's Word has that which able to help us to raise our kids and to to lead our homes And to follow our husbands God's Word is that which we find precious and dear in our hearts at life's Christians We don't want to add to it.

We don't want to take away from it We just want to follow and obey it as faithfully as you possibly can And if you get an option to preach God's Word do so faithfully But to summarize that that God's Word is faithful and true Maybe worded written is for our instruction and we have to accept Christ's invitation Because his invitation is given to us in a truthful manner and then it's also a a certain invitation This is a certain image expectation of Christ gives to us and that's over in Revelation 2220 Now is it open and personal?

Now is reserved a truthful it's also a certain invitation. It will take place Christ will come back he says He who testifies to these things says yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come Lord. Jesus the grace Lord is be with you all. Amen Is the very last words are given to us in Scripture and no one is allowed to add to Revelation 22 22 you can't make it to Revelation 22 22 What happens if you do? You've added to God's work there's only a revelation in 20 to 21, right there is nothing to take place to have 20 to 21 there's no further revelation of God that men are supposed to hear afterwards This is a certainty that Christ will come back someday.

The last words of our Lord are spoken with certainty Absolute certainty with a certain warning. Yes, I am coming Quickly he will come back won't he in a second second revelation of Christ and that does not give us fear That's not give us uncertainty Nor that the times of the end times now give us uncertainty.

We want Christ to come back. We want him to return Yes, we get Thinking about our loved ones a lot Yes We think about our kids and our and our work and our school and our minds is so preoccupied with those things of the world So to speak and they have to be to some degree as we interact with this world around us But ultimately our hearts desire should be that Christ would come back We don't want to be here and more longer than we have to be and while we are here I think well, why am I still here?

For what reason am I supposed to represent Christ in some in some manner? Christ gives us except it's a invitation to us to accept the invitation of Christ to enter heaven Because a certainty of is his return And we know as believed in Christ, we will be received by Christ at the rapture of the church He will take us with us. We will not have to go to the horrors of tribulation time period We get to to pass that time period the horrors of the end times of Christ having to pass judge upon mankind upon the world the time of tribulation and Christ has spoke with certainty all throughout the scriptures and here he says, yes, I am coming quickly Amen, Christ will come back and last point in our time together Is that Christ invitation is that he's gonna come and we have to be it has to be an unaccepted invitation An accepted invitation.

What does John say? All right, when Christ says I am coming quickly Did he say? No, what does he say? Come Lord Jesus that's John's desire. It's our desire. We want Christ to come back. He respond is that he says Come back soon. We don't say. Oh, no as Unbeliever says but we said yes, let it be so and that's where our hearts need to be at Titus 2 13th a great verse to learn to memorize Titus 2 13 says we are looking for the blessed hope and the glorious the pain of a great God and Savior We're looking for his return We want him to come back and John encourages us to look for it here to come back James encouraged the brethren He says in James 5 7 be patient brethren till the coming of the Lord Colossians 3 2 tells us where our minds and hearts should be as you wait for Christ to return It says in Colossians 3 to set your mind of things above None of things that are on earth.

That's what our focus is that which the eternal now, which is heavenly That's our mindset every single day and the word used here on set your mind on things above The word sets can also be translated to think or have an inner disposition You're focused upon that which the eternal you're locked into heaven Yes, we have to make dinner for our family you're locked back to heaven. Yes, you got to go to school Locked back to heaven, but don't go to school and don't get locked back Right, don't get folks pumping as the one folks upon that only your mind is set upon that which the eternal always Yes While we are in this world around us the disposition give to us is like a compass that points north And the believers entire disposition should point itself to things which on heaven folks upon that which the eternal or heavenly thoughts folks upon him Matthew 633 says seek first his kingdom and his righteousness all these things would be added to you.

I love that verse That's my second favorite verse in the Bible seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and what all?

These things will be You're not worried about added to you right when I wait about all these things we just focus upon God's kingdom and his righteousness Not worried about the events of the day God will take care of those things he'll provide for us as he always has Romans 8 28 we know that all things work together for Good to those who love God accord according to his purposes all things work together for what? Good. So when I hear that it means that everything that happens to a Christian is Good, except when you sin, you can't call sin good But everything that happens to us is a good thing in God's kingdom in some manner So what we might go through and you're some great testimonies of Vicki today and Don appreciate that It's a good thing that what happens to us Israel the war at Israel It's a good thing in some manner, but our focus has to be upon Christ's return as Christians when we go through these hard times now There's a purpose and a reason for it our job to figure out why are we going through these things and John says come Lord Jesus and it says at the end of the book the grace Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Christ gracious offer tell it give it to us and he says it's because of grace because we're saved by Grace, right?

He's 289 but by what? Grace, you have been saved through faith not in itself. It's the gift of God not a works Otherwise would boast. Yes, I'm coming quickly and we respond by saying amen. Come Lord Jesus. Let's go and pray. I Mean if I think it's so much like God for tonight But you might help us always focus on minds that which the eternal helps to focus on mine and on your return father help us not to be Bothered by the events of the day or by other things that might come into our lives father that we think or bad All things you tell us Florida for your good in some manner father our desire that we might glorify you and whatever does come away father It's not what it happens to us Lord, as you know, but father But how we go through it father and pay might give us a strength and courage father to be able to do that father forgive us of the numerous times in which we didn't See your sovereignty father, but we trust that you're coming back soon and look forward to that day We pray these things in Jesus name Amen