God's Last Call: Urgency, Judgment, and Redemption

 

Summary

Today, I want to share with you the concept of the "last call," drawing from a personal experience at an airport where my wife and I almost missed our flight. This serves as a metaphor for the urgency and finality of God's call to us, especially as we approach the end times described in Revelation. Even at the brink of judgment, God is calling us to join Him, emphasizing His relentless pursuit of our hearts. The passage from Revelation 15 and 16 illustrates the final set of judgments, the seven plagues, which signify the completion of God's wrath. Yet, even in these moments, God desires for us to be with Him, highlighting His enduring grace and mercy.

The imagery in Revelation is powerful, depicting those who have conquered the beast through the blood of Jesus and the word of their testimony. This conquering is not through force but through faithfulness, even unto death, mirroring how Jesus conquered sin and death through His sacrifice. The song of Moses and the Lamb is a testament to God's deliverance, drawing parallels between the Exodus and the ultimate freedom from sin through Christ. This is a call to praise God for His mighty deeds and His just and true ways.

God's judgments, though severe, are just and serve as warnings to turn our hearts back to Him. The narrative of Revelation underscores the inclusivity of God's call, reaching out to all nations, yet respecting human free will. The plagues and judgments are not merely punitive but are intended to awaken repentance and recognition of God's sovereignty. Despite the severity of these judgments, many still choose to curse God rather than repent, illustrating the hardness of human hearts.

As we navigate these prophetic revelations, we are reminded to stay vigilant and ready, for the enemy will attempt to deceive and lead us astray. The demonic spirits spreading lies about the church are a testament to the spiritual warfare we face. Yet, we are called to stand firm, knowing that God is almighty and His justice will prevail. The finality of God's judgment is a call to action for us to remain faithful and to share the good news with those around us.

Key Takeaways:

- God's relentless pursuit of us is evident even in the final moments before judgment. He desires for us to be with Him, emphasizing His grace and mercy, even as He administers justice. [02:48]

- True conquering as Christians is through faithfulness to Jesus, even unto death, mirroring His sacrifice. This is how we overcome the enemy, not through force, but through steadfast faith. [05:49]

- The song of Moses and the Lamb highlights God's deliverance, drawing parallels between the Exodus and our ultimate freedom from sin through Christ. This is a call to praise God for His mighty deeds. [11:10]

- God's judgments are just and serve as warnings to turn our hearts back to Him. Despite the severity of these judgments, many still choose to curse God rather than repent, illustrating the hardness of human hearts. [21:48]

- We must remain vigilant and ready, as the enemy will attempt to deceive and lead us astray. Yet, we are called to stand firm, knowing that God is almighty and His justice will prevail. [31:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:48] - The Last Call
- [05:49] - Conquering Through Faithfulness
- [11:10] - The Song of Moses and the Lamb
- [14:32] - God's Just Judgments
- [18:51] - The Purpose of Judgment
- [21:48] - The Call to Repentance
- [23:51] - The Enemy's Deception
- [28:46] - Lies About the Church
- [31:12] - Staying Vigilant
- [34:07] - The Final Battle
- [37:09] - God's Ultimate Justice
- [39:21] - Call to Action and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Revelation 15:1-8
- Revelation 16:1-21

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the "last call" as described in the sermon, and how does it relate to the final set of judgments in Revelation? [02:48]

2. How does the imagery of those who have conquered the beast through the blood of Jesus and the word of their testimony illustrate the concept of conquering through faithfulness? [05:49]

3. What parallels are drawn between the song of Moses and the Lamb, and how do they highlight God's deliverance? [11:10]

4. According to the sermon, what is the purpose of God's judgments, and how do they serve as warnings to humanity? [21:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the concept of God's relentless pursuit of humanity, even in the face of impending judgment? [02:48]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true conquering as Christians is achieved, and how does this differ from worldly views of conquering? [05:49]

3. How does the sermon interpret the role of God's judgments in Revelation as both just and merciful? [11:10]

4. What insights does the sermon provide about the spiritual warfare faced by believers, and how are they encouraged to respond? [31:12]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a sense of urgency in your spiritual life. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience in light of the "last call" metaphor? [02:48]

2. Consider the ways in which you can remain faithful to Jesus in your daily life. What specific actions can you take to mirror His sacrifice and overcome challenges through faithfulness? [05:49]

3. How can you incorporate praise and gratitude into your spiritual practice, drawing inspiration from the song of Moses and the Lamb? What are some specific ways you can acknowledge God's deliverance in your life? [11:10]

4. In what areas of your life might you be resisting God's call to repentance? How can you open your heart to His warnings and turn back to Him? [21:48]

5. Identify a situation where you have encountered lies or misconceptions about your faith. How can you stand firm in your beliefs and respond with grace and truth? [28:46]

6. How can you stay vigilant and prepared for spiritual challenges, as encouraged in the sermon? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your spiritual defenses? [31:12]

7. Reflect on the concept of God's justice being both just and merciful. How does this understanding impact your view of God's character and your relationship with Him? [37:09]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Relentless Pursuit of Our Hearts
God's call to us is urgent and final, as illustrated by the metaphor of a "last call" at an airport. This urgency is mirrored in the end times described in Revelation, where even at the brink of judgment, God desires for us to join Him. His relentless pursuit of our hearts is a testament to His grace and mercy, even as He administers justice. The imagery in Revelation 15 and 16, depicting the final set of judgments, underscores the completion of God's wrath. Yet, His enduring grace is evident as He continues to call us to be with Him. [02:48]

"For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men." (Lamentations 3:31-33 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you sense God pursuing your heart today, and how can you respond to His call with urgency and openness?


Day 2: Conquering Through Faithfulness
True conquering as Christians is achieved through faithfulness to Jesus, even unto death. This mirrors how Jesus conquered sin and death through His sacrifice. The passage in Revelation highlights those who have conquered the beast through the blood of Jesus and the word of their testimony. This conquering is not through force but through steadfast faith, emphasizing the power of faithfulness over physical might. [05:49]

"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10b ESV)

Reflection: What does faithfulness to Jesus look like in your daily life, and how can you strengthen your commitment to Him even in challenging times?


Day 3: The Song of Moses and the Lamb
The song of Moses and the Lamb is a powerful testament to God's deliverance, drawing parallels between the Exodus and our ultimate freedom from sin through Christ. This is a call to praise God for His mighty deeds and His just and true ways. The imagery in Revelation serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and the ultimate victory over sin, encouraging us to lift our voices in praise and gratitude. [11:10]

"And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 'Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!'" (Revelation 15:3 ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate praise and gratitude into your daily routine, acknowledging God's deliverance and mighty deeds in your life?


Day 4: The Purpose of God's Judgments
God's judgments, though severe, are just and serve as warnings to turn our hearts back to Him. Despite the severity of these judgments, many still choose to curse God rather than repent, illustrating the hardness of human hearts. The narrative of Revelation underscores the inclusivity of God's call, reaching out to all nations while respecting human free will. These judgments are intended to awaken repentance and recognition of God's sovereignty. [21:48]

"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin." (Ezekiel 18:30 ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to repent and turn back to Him? How can you take a step towards repentance today?


Day 5: Staying Vigilant Against Deception
As we navigate the prophetic revelations, we are reminded to stay vigilant and ready, for the enemy will attempt to deceive and lead us astray. The demonic spirits spreading lies about the church are a testament to the spiritual warfare we face. Yet, we are called to stand firm, knowing that God is almighty and His justice will prevail. This call to vigilance is a reminder to remain steadfast in faith and to share the good news with those around us. [31:12]

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to remain vigilant against deception and strengthen your faith in the face of spiritual warfare?

Quotes

Even though this is it. This is right before the judgment day. This is right before the final judgment. I want you there. And that God never, He never gives up on anybody. He does whatever he takes, whether it's, you know, whether it's a nice offer that he had, or he uses judgment to try to draw people to him. [00:01:20]

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God, the Almighty. [00:02:11]

And so many times in churches throughout the centuries, our people have misunderstood the word, what we do as conquering as Christians. I bring up the example this week. I listen to history podcasts for fun. Yes, I am that nerdy. But I was listening, too, to one about Charlemagne. And Charlemagne, when he became the head of the Holy Roman Empire, he was excited, and he was going to go convert people. So he took his army, and he would surround a village, and he would say, do you want to accept Jesus? And they said, no, he'd kill him. And then he'd go to the next village. [00:04:24]

That we are faithful and true until the end. That's how we conquer. And you say, that doesn't sound very conquering. Well, we just took communion, right? How did Jesus conquer sin? How did Jesus conquer death? How did Jesus conquer all this? He conquered it by his own death, by becoming a servant. And he conquered the enemy by doing this. [00:05:19]

You were taken out of slavery and you were going to the promised land. I mean, you go from completely under the authority of somebody that's killing your, wants to kill all of your babies, literally. You are freed from that. You are set free by God. You are no longer slaves. And on top of that, the mightiest army in the world decides that he's gonna take on God and God drowns them all. [00:06:32]

The song of Moses that rose up from this because they are now set free from slavery they are set free from all of these things pharaoh no longer has control over them and he he can't come after them because he has been utterly and totally defeated but it says that song does not finish until it becomes the song of the lamb which is jesus who sets us free from sin he sets us free from death he sets us free from punishment and he sets us free far beyond anything that happened in the song of moses [00:06:58]

He sent his son when we don't deserve it. So, when we talk about the justice of God, and the wrath of God, and the judgment of God, we have to understand that he is perfectly just in what he does, but he's also willing to say, I will send my son to take the punishment that you justly deserve. [00:10:51]

And so we see that it says that all nations, that people from all nations, this is one thing that just rises up and throughout the book of Revelation. There is no concept, and Martin Luther King loved the book of Revelation for this too, is there's no concept of separation. There's no concept of different races not working together. There's no concept of people being different. There's a concept that we are all one in Christ. [00:11:34]

And behold, I am coming like a thief, blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed. And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the temple from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were flashes of lightning, rumbles, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth. So great was that earthquake. [00:14:56]

And basically, and they cursed God, for the plague of the hail. Even at the very end, the fact that you have to add this tells you that people still had a decision to make at this very end. God had not given up on them. Yes, I am bringing judgment, but just so you know, you thought everything was so great. You thought the great city of Babylon was great. Fine, I'll split it in three. [00:21:17]

We deserve like blood for blood. We deserve the son. We deserve all of these things. But God has taken them all on his son, Jesus Christ, for us. Today is the day to accept him. And if you're here today also, and if you just need someone to pray with you because something's going on in your life, understand this, God is God Almighty. No one is greater. No one is holier. No one is more just. No one is more true. [00:38:27]

Lord, we come before you today and we ask you, Lord, to help us understand that you are worthy of our praise. You are worthy, God. There's no one greater than you. There's no one mightier than you, God. There's no power in this world. And we conquer God by following after you. The enemy is going to come. It's going to come at us with lies. It's going to come at us with attacks. But God, when all the nations rise up against you, you simply just take them out. [00:38:57]

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Transcript
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