Hope and Judgment: Assurance in Christ's Return

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound themes of judgment and redemption as depicted in the book of Revelation. This scripture, often seen as daunting, is actually a source of hope and assurance for believers. It was written to the early churches facing persecution, offering them confidence in the ultimate victory of Christ over evil. The imagery of Jesus seated on a white cloud with a victor's crown and a sharp sickle symbolizes His authority and the certainty of His return to gather His followers. This gathering is a promise of salvation for believers, a reassurance that despite the chaos and destruction in the world, those who trust in Jesus will be saved.

We also delved into the parable of the wheat and the weeds, illustrating the separation of true believers from those who are not. This separation is not immediate but will occur at the end of the age when Jesus returns. The wheat, representing the humble and faithful, will be gathered into His kingdom, while the weeds, symbolizing the proud and self-reliant, will face judgment. This serves as a caution to those who have not yet surrendered to Christ, urging them to turn to Him before it's too late.

The message also highlighted the inevitability of God's judgment on evil, as depicted in the imagery of the winepress of God's wrath. This is a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God, but it also emphasizes His justice and righteousness. For believers, this is a call to remain steadfast in faith, knowing that their redemption is near.

As we witness the world becoming more chaotic, we are reminded not to lose hope. Our confidence lies in Christ, who promises to return and establish His kingdom. This assurance should inspire us to live lives of humility and faithfulness, reflecting the light of Christ in a dark world.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Assurance of Revelation: Revelation, though filled with imagery of judgment, is ultimately a book of hope for believers. It assures us that evil will be defeated and that those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. This promise gives us confidence in the face of worldly chaos. [52:12]

2. The Parable of Wheat and Weeds: This parable illustrates the separation of true believers from non-believers at the end of the age. The wheat, representing the humble and faithful, will be gathered into God's kingdom, while the weeds, symbolizing the proud, will face judgment. This serves as a caution to those who have not yet surrendered to Christ. [01:06:07]

3. The Certainty of Judgment: The imagery of the winepress of God's wrath is a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God. It emphasizes His justice and righteousness, assuring believers of their redemption while warning unbelievers of impending judgment. [01:14:21]

4. Living in Hope Amidst Chaos: As the world becomes more chaotic, believers are reminded not to lose hope. Our confidence lies in Christ, who promises to return and establish His kingdom. This assurance should inspire us to live lives of humility and faithfulness. [01:01:33]

5. The Call to Repentance: The message is a call for repentance, urging those who are proud and self-reliant to turn to Jesus. He offers transformation and redemption, inviting us to bow before Him and be gathered into His kingdom. [01:12:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [46:15] - Trust in Jesus
- [52:12] - Revelation: A Book of Hope
- [53:33] - The Warning of Hurricane Katrina
- [54:55] - Jesus: The Victor's Crown
- [56:12] - The Harvest is Ripe
- [57:36] - The Gathering of the Saints
- [01:00:14] - Signs of the End Times
- [01:02:13] - Wheat and Weeds Parable
- [01:05:20] - Kingdom of Light vs. Darkness
- [01:09:06] - True Surrender to God
- [01:12:08] - Confidence and Caution
- [01:14:21] - The Winepress of God's Wrath
- [01:18:30] - The Valley of Decision
- [01:23:06] - The Instrument of Righteousness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 14:14-20
2. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
3. Joel 3:12-16

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Observation Questions:

1. What imagery is used in Revelation 14:14-20 to describe Jesus and His actions? How does this imagery convey His authority and purpose? [54:55]

2. In the parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), what are the key differences between the wheat and the weeds, and what do they symbolize? [01:02:13]

3. According to Joel 3:12-16, what is the significance of the "valley of decision," and what does it represent in the context of God's judgment? [01:18:30]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus in the final gathering of believers, and what comfort does this provide to Christians? [57:36]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the imagery of the sickle and the harvest in Revelation 14:14-20 relate to the themes of judgment and redemption discussed in the sermon? [54:55]

2. What does the parable of the wheat and the weeds teach about the timing and nature of God's judgment, and how should this influence a believer's perspective on the world? [01:02:13]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the current chaos in the world is a sign of the end times, and how should believers respond to these signs? [01:00:14]

4. How does the concept of the "valley of decision" in Joel 3:12-16 challenge individuals to reflect on their spiritual standing and choices? [01:18:30]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the imagery of Jesus with a sickle in Revelation 14:14-20. How does this image of Jesus as both judge and redeemer affect your understanding of His role in your life? [54:55]

2. The parable of the wheat and the weeds highlights the importance of humility and faithfulness. In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride or self-reliance, and how can you cultivate humility? [01:07:10]

3. As the world becomes more chaotic, how can you maintain hope and confidence in Christ's promise to return and establish His kingdom? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith amidst uncertainty? [01:01:33]

4. The sermon calls for repentance and transformation. Is there a specific area in your life where you need to turn away from self-reliance and surrender to Jesus? What steps will you take this week to make that change? [01:12:08]

5. Consider the "valley of decision" described in Joel 3:12-16. Are there decisions in your life where you feel torn between following God's will and the world's promises? How can you seek God's guidance in these areas? [01:18:30]

6. How can you actively reflect the light of Christ in your community, especially in times of darkness and chaos? Identify one specific action you can take this week to be a beacon of hope and faithfulness. [01:01:33]

7. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being ready for Christ's return. What changes can you make in your daily life to live with a greater sense of urgency and readiness for His coming? [01:00:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Revelation as a Beacon of Hope
In the midst of the vivid and often intimidating imagery found in the book of Revelation, there lies a profound message of hope and assurance for believers. This scripture was originally written to early churches enduring persecution, offering them confidence in the ultimate victory of Christ over evil. The depiction of Jesus seated on a white cloud with a victor's crown and a sharp sickle symbolizes His authority and the certainty of His return to gather His followers. This gathering is a promise of salvation for believers, reassuring them that despite the chaos and destruction in the world, those who trust in Jesus will be saved. This assurance gives believers confidence to face worldly chaos with hope, knowing that evil will ultimately be defeated. [52:12]

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'" (Revelation 21:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively remind yourself of the hope and assurance found in Revelation during times of personal chaos or uncertainty?

Day 2: The Parable of Wheat and Weeds
The parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrates the separation of true believers from non-believers at the end of the age. In this parable, the wheat represents the humble and faithful, who will be gathered into God's kingdom, while the weeds symbolize the proud and self-reliant, who will face judgment. This separation is not immediate but will occur when Jesus returns. This serves as a caution to those who have not yet surrendered to Christ, urging them to turn to Him before it's too late. It is a call to examine one's heart and ensure that one's faith is genuine and rooted in humility and reliance on God. [01:06:07]

"Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" (Matthew 13:30, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own life and consider whether there are areas where pride or self-reliance might be hindering your relationship with God. How can you cultivate humility and faithfulness today?

Day 3: The Certainty of God's Judgment
The imagery of the winepress of God's wrath in Revelation serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God. It emphasizes His justice and righteousness, assuring believers of their redemption while warning unbelievers of impending judgment. This depiction of God's judgment is not meant to instill fear but to highlight the seriousness of rejecting His offer of salvation. For believers, it is a call to remain steadfast in faith, knowing that their redemption is near. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of sharing the message of salvation with others, so they too can experience God's grace and avoid judgment. [01:14:21]

"For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" (Revelation 6:17, ESV)

Reflection: How does the certainty of God's judgment influence your perspective on sharing your faith with others? What steps can you take to share the message of salvation with someone in your life this week?

Day 4: Living in Hope Amidst Chaos
As the world becomes more chaotic, believers are reminded not to lose hope. Our confidence lies in Christ, who promises to return and establish His kingdom. This assurance should inspire believers to live lives of humility and faithfulness, reflecting the light of Christ in a dark world. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that may arise, believers are called to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting in God's promises and His ultimate plan for redemption. This hope is not passive but active, motivating believers to be agents of change and love in their communities. [01:01:33]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively live out your hope in Christ amidst the chaos of the world? How can you be a light to those around you today?

Day 5: The Call to Repentance
The message of Revelation is a call for repentance, urging those who are proud and self-reliant to turn to Jesus. He offers transformation and redemption, inviting individuals to bow before Him and be gathered into His kingdom. This call to repentance is not just for those who have never known Christ but also for believers who may have strayed from their faith. It is an invitation to examine one's heart, acknowledge areas of sin or pride, and seek God's forgiveness and guidance. Repentance is a continual process of turning away from sin and turning towards God, allowing His grace to transform and renew one's life. [01:12:08]

"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." (Acts 3:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness? What steps can you take today to turn back to God and experience His refreshing presence?

Quotes

1. "There comes parts of scripture where you want to skip over where you want to kind of just like sweep another rug and say i know that's going to happen but i don't want to talk about it and as we go verse by verse through revelation it kind of forces you to have to talk about these things and we know that there is an incoming and we see it in the coming closer every day and so these letters that were written to the churches this letter of revelation that was written to the seven churches in asia at the time back around 70 ad 69 65 ad it was written to a group of people that were wondering what's going to happen they were wondering if their faith really meant anything they were wondering could they undertake this call of faith in their life because rome was coming down hard on them rome was making it hard for them to do it and they were wondering if they could do it and they were wondering if they could worship not only that they were having trouble from the inside of their family and also from the jews at the time it was very very hard to serve christ back then and it's very very hard to serve christ today now in the states maybe not as hard but around the world it can cost you your life and so what are we doing these moments this is why this was written this was written to believers to give them confidence and things that are going to come" [52:12] (83 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We read this and it's solemn and it's horrible but for a believer it's not it's not going to happen it's not going to happen it's not it's confidence and it's hope this is the most beautiful book of the bible of hope and you read it and it's death and destruction and judgment and chaos and evil seems to be running amok but after you read it you realize that evil will be shut down that you will live forever and those who call in the name of the lord will be saved this is the beauty of revelation and we have to dive into it and today it's going to be heavy it's going to be sobering but i pray today that you choose today to know jesus for who he is and that you allow him to reap you into the kingdom of heaven" [52:12] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "This portion of scripture is that it's a warning and i pray today that you take heed to the warning if you're an unbeliever today it's a caution but if you're a believer today it's confidence that i have been saved from god's wrath but i also have been saved because he loves me and i pray that you understand that today and so verse 14 opens up with this and then i looked and behold a white cloud and seated on the cloud one like the son of man with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand" [54:55] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus is coming for his church this is him reaping believers this is him harvesting the earth this is him coming back for us i i find it comforting to know that he himself is going to come back for us notice in the other other passage an angel comes out but he himself is coming for his bride in the clouds and we take comfort and confidence knowing that he's going to do that and so as i read these things that have come i know that i am saved and redeemed and i can take comfort knowing that his reaping is a good reaping it's a harvest for me the sickle is meant to take me out of trouble and not to place me in trouble the swing of the sickle is a gathering of the saints and jesus will gather his followers to himself" [57:36] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Because here's the truth when you gave your life to jesus you were saved and today you are being saved and one day you will be fully saved we're always in this process and god's always saving his people we're safe from from sin and death and even now we're being saved we're being sanctified we're being more like christ but in the end when he comes we will be completely saved this is the coming kingdom this is the here and not yet that we talked about last week and i have confidence knowing that i may not see my full redemption now but i know it's here because i've seen a part of it today we're going to have eight people give their do baptisms that's amazing and what they said and what they realize is that i am saved by faith and faith alone and that my death jesus died for and because of that i'm going to i'm going to recognize that and i'm going to go under one way come out another they've already given their life to christ baptism doesn't save them but it's an expression of faith and they've realized this point that they see jesus as the one that's going to reap them into his life and they're going to go under one way come out another they've already given their heavenly house" [59:13] (79 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jesus assures us that our redemption is near. He will collect us and he will give us a new place, a new home. When I see the world becoming more chaotic, and it is, not just nature, but just in general, the world's getting worse and worse. To me, I don't lose hope. I don't turn on the news and go, oh my goodness, what's going on? I mean, I do, but I know that it's going to get better because Jesus is coming. And so I'm not fearful. I don't make rash decisions because I know that my hope is not in this world. My hope is in Christ. And as a believer, that's the confidence that we have. And he's saying, I'm going to come back to you. I'm going to harvest you as one harvests the wheat." [01:01:33] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Wrath is not meant for the believer. Jesus took it all. He took it all. And God loves us so much that he himself is going to make sure that we're not hurt. Because it says, don't take it yet. Don't try to gather because you're going to damage the wheat. You're going to damage my people. Wait until the time is ripe. Wait until the harvest, and then you can separate them. And this is what Jesus says, because many of you right now, you're not farmers. What is Jesus talking about here? The disciples were fishermen and tax collectors. Like Jesus, what are you talking about? I don't understand this wheat and weeds parable that Jesus explains it in 1336. Then he left the crowds and went to the house and the disciples came to him saying, explain this to us. Give us the parable of the weeds of the field." [01:03:44] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The weeds are the sons of the evil one. So there's this contrast between the sons of God and the sons of the evil one. Look, here's the truth. There's no in between. You're either a son of God or you're not. You're not. You're either in the kingdom of God or you're another kingdom. What kingdom is that? The kingdom of Satan, kingdom of darkness, there's light and darkness. There is no gray. So you're in one kingdom or the other kingdom. So what kingdom are you in? The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire. So it will be at the end of the age, the son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom, all causes of sin and lawbreakers and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears, let him hear." [01:05:20] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And this is the harvest that he's talking about in Revelation. This is the harvest of the wheat. God is reaping his people, and he's casting the wheat, the weeds into destruction. We need to realize this because there's confidence for the believer, but caution for the unbeliever. And today, you're in here, I don't know where you're at with the Lord. You could be a believer, and this is confidence. Or you could be like, I'm not sure, and it could be caution to you because here's the truth. God will judge, and he judges perfectly, and he judges righteously. There's a difference between wheat and weeds. There's a difference between true believers and not. Jesus also tells a parable about goats and sheep. They look very similar. And he says at the end of the age, he's going to separate them. Goats to the left, sheep to the right. The goats are going to be cast out." [01:08:06] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Here's the thing. Even today, we see the wheat and the weeds being separated. You look around the world today and see the wheat standing tall, being proud. And you see God's people being humble. And there's a separation that happens. Used to, you really couldn't tell the difference between an unbeliever and a believer. Now you can tell pretty easily. Turn on the TV. You can't anymore, hardly. There's more and more stuff I can't watch anymore. Go to a university. There's weeds. I mean, the Olympics is a perfect example of that. There's something happening right now in the world. There's this separation that's happening in the world. There's a harvest coming. The wheat is standing taller than the weeds. I mean, the weeds are standing taller than the wheat. And there's proudness happening, even in the church. We have churches now that have been apostate. We have churches now that celebrate sin rather than holiness. There's pride." [01:11:17] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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