REVELATION

GOD’S FINAL MESSAGE TO THIS AGE
REVELATION 22:12-22

Introduction:

God’s message has not changed down through the ages. He is still offering life eternal by faith in Jesus Christ. Here He adds a warning: Don’t mess with the Word of God. The price is very high for doing so violence to the Scriptures.

I. BEHOLD! v. 12

A. God ‘s SURPRISING announcement of the birth of Christ, Matthew 1:20-21, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”

B. The word “Behold” occurs 30 times in Revelation calling attention to special events such as the Coming of the Lord, Revelation 3:11, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

C. It is used to announce special changes, Revelation 21:5, “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

II. “BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY” v. 12

A. The Lord will be “on time,” Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

1. The birth of Christ was on time in God’s schedule, Acts 1:7, “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

2. God does not count time as we do, 2 Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

B. The Coming of the Lord is IMMINANT and we are commanded to WATCH, Mark 13:32-33, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

C. “QUICKLY” means that these events will occur in RAPID SUCCESSION, as in Peter’s rescue from prison, Acts 12:7, “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

III. THE MESSENGER HAS BEEN SENT vv. 16-17

A. The Churches have been informed of what God expects, v. 16; Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”

B. The Messenger has identified the AUTHORITY behind his message, v. 16; Acts 22:8, “And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.”

C. The Message is: “COME,” v. 17; Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

1. The SPIRIT invites man to come, v. 17; Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

2. The BRIDE (the Lord’s Churches) invites man to come, v. 17; Luke 14:23, “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

a. The invitation is to TRUST Christ, Psalms 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

b. The offer is to TAKE of the Water of Life, Revelation 21:6, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

IV. GOD’S FINAL WARNING vv. 18-19

A. The Messenger bears witness to the WARNING, Revelation 22:16, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

B. The warning is “TO EVERY MAN,” v. 18; Proverbs 29:26, “Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man‘s judgment cometh from the LORD.”

C. Don’t MESS WITH the WORD of God, vv. 18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

1. IF any man shall ADD unto these things, Revelation 14:10, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”

2. IF any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, Luke 11:52, “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”

a. These are they who have NOT received Jesus Christ as Savior, Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship HIM [the Antichrist], whose names are NOT written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

b. These will receive their JUST REWARD for their deeds, Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

CONCLUSION

This is the final message of the Lord in the Word of God. He is still offering Eternal Life through faith in Christ. The message has not changed down through the ages.

However, the Lord has reiterated the danger of adding to or taking from His Word. Many have done that in our day and God’s impending Judgement awaits them in the near future.

“COME UP HITHER”
REVELATION 11:3-13

Key verse: v. 12, “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Introduction:

There is a great day coming when we shall hear our Lord call us home. We shall hear His Command. We shall hear the Archangel of God call and we shall hear the trumpet of God sound the call to come home.

The New Testament has recorded the words of our Lord during His ministry on this earth and has given us to signs and symbols of that coming. We are to be watchful and anticipate His coming while we do His bidding on this earth among the lost souls heading for eternity without hope and without God.

I. THE INVITATION OF OUR GREAT REDEEMER

A. In due time we shall hear a great voice from heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

1. Our hearts will thrill at His “shout,” His military command as He comes as Conqueror, Revelation 6:2, “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

2. We will hear the voice of the archangel, Michael who will fight against the dragon (the devil), Revelation 12:7, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,”

3. We will hear the trumpet of God sound, 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

B. In the mean time, watch and pray, Mark 13:32-33, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

1. As to the time of His Coming the Father has reserved to Himself, Acts 1:7, “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

a. The Lord had spoken of His earthly kingdom, Matthew 19:28, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

b. He spoke of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

c. He said that the TIME or season was not for you to know, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, 6, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

2. John says the it will come to pass shortly, Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”

a. These things must shortly come to pass, that is, “SPEEDILY,” Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

b. John says, the TIME IS AT HAND, Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

II. THE INVITATION OF OUR GREAT SAVIOR

A. Each moment we listen for the Command, “Come up hither,” v. 12.

1. Perhaps we will “COME UP” as Our Savior did, Acts 1:9, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”

2. Perhaps like ELIJAH did, 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

B. The voice of the Archangel of God will be heard, who is mentioned only one other time in NT, Jude 9, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

C. The trumpet call of God will be heard and we will be raised or raptured up to heaven…

1. To see Him FACE TO FACE, 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

2. To stand before Him in all of His GLORY, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

3. To PRAISE His name throughout all of eternity, Revelation 5:12, “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

CONCLUSION:

Our future is certainly bright while our present seems difficult. Our hope in our Savior shall not diminish because we have His promise of a glorious future.

The Lord of lords and King of kings comes and we will be with Him on His return to earth to establish His Kingdom, Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

“BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY”

REVELATION 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Introduction:

This is the Coming of the Lord to the earth in JUDGMENT. He will come with His Saints and destroy His enemies and establish His Kingdom on this earth.

I. BEHOLD

A. To see with the EYES, 1 Timothy 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, VIGILANT, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”

B. To see with the MIND:

1. To become AWARE of, Matthew 24:50, “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,”

2. To identify by means of the SENSES, Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

C. To see, i.e. become ACQUAINTED with by EXPERIENCE, Ecclesiastes 1:16, “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had GREAT EXPERIENCE of wisdom and knowledge.”

II. I COME “QUICKLY”

A. I Come QUICKLY to Judgment, Revelation 22:10-12, “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

1. God will judge all things, Ecclesiastes 11:9, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

2. Men will give account of every idle word, Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

3. All nations will stand before the Lord, Matthew 25:32, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”

B. I Come SWIFTLY, Revelation 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

C. I Come WITHOUT Delay, Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

1. Blessed is he that READS this prophecy, Matthew 24:15, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)”

2. Blessed is he that HEARS this prophecy, Psalms 119:130, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

3. Blessed is he that KEEPS the things that are written in this prophecy, Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

III. THE COMING REWARDS

Reward = Heb., Dues paid for work; used of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavors.

A. For the SAINTS, Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and THEY THAT TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS as the stars for ever and ever.”

1. His REWARD is WITH Him, Isaiah 40:10, “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM, and his work before him.”

a. He came with a STRONG, COURAGEOUS HAND, having ALL POWER, Isaiah 53:12, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH: and he was NUMBERED WITH the TRANSGRESSORS; and he BARE THE SIN of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

b. His ARM that SCATTERED THE SEED shall rule for Him, Romans 10:18, “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, THEIR SOUND went into ALL the earth, and their words unto the ENDS of the world.”

2. The Lord has proclaimed His Word through His Churches to the UTTERMOST PART of the earth, Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the UTTERMOST PART of the earth.”

3. Their efforts under His Powerful hand have had success, Isaiah 55:11, “So shall MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall NOT RETURN UNTO ME VOID, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

B. For the Unbeliever, v. 12; Hebrews 2:2, “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;”

1. It will be ill with the unbeliever, Isaiah 3:11, “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”

2. They will receive a just recompense according to their works, Psalms 28:4, “Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.”

BEHOLD HE COMES WITH CLOUDS

REVELATION 1:7, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Introduction:

The Coming of the Lord in the clouds is one of the great doctrines in the Scriptures. The Lord mentioned in the book of Matthew and elsewhere in the Bible.

His Coming is in two parts: the first part relates to the Born-again believer who waits for his return and the second part refers to the time when Jesus will put his feet down upon the Mount Moriah to establish His Millennial Kingdom on this earth.

I. THE COMING OF THE LORD IN THE CLOUDS FOR THE REDEEMED

A. The Lord shall descend from heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:

B. with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

1. This was the Lord’s promise, Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

2. This is the hope of every believer, Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

C. The Resurrection of the Just, Luke 20:35-36, “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

1. Those who are “worthy” have done the “work of God,” John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

2. Those who are “worthy” have become the “sons of God,” John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

D. The Rapture of the Living Believer, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 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.”

1. The rapture and the resurrection will be “in a moment,” 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

2. Our bodies will be changed, 1 Corinthians 15:50-51, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

II. THE COMING OF THE LORD IN THE CLOUDS FOR JUDGMENT

A. The “Son of man” that Daniel saw, Daniel 7:13, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”

B. At the end of the Tribulation period, Matthew 24:30, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

1. Those who rejected Him, Zechariah 12:10, “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplicatons: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

2. Those that crucified Him, yea, the Jews themselves, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

C. He will come with a sharp sickle for the harvest, Revelation 14:14, 17, “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.”

1. Harvest time at the end, Matthew 13:39, “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.”

2. The harvest is plenteous, Matthew 9:37-38, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

a. The time of the Gentiles had come to an end, Luke 21:24, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

b. Now God returns to redeem His People, Israel, Romans 11:25-27, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

D. And all kindreds of the earth shall WAIL because of him, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

1. They shall wail because it will be an event that will CALL THE SINS of men to REMEMBRANCE, John 19:15, “But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.”

2. They shall wail because they will be OVERWHELMED with the APPREHENSION OF THE WRATH TO COME, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

A VISION OF THE LORD OF GLORY

REVELATION 1:4-20

Introduction:

This book is addressed “to the seven churches which are in Asia.” We will not address these “churches” at the moment, but rather, look at the word picture of our LORD as He is drawn by the Apostle John. This picture is OUTSTANDING LIKE NO OTHER PICTURE EVERY DRAW of a man because this is NO ORDINARY MAN, BUT “The MAN,” the Son of God.

I. THE ALMIGHTY GOD

A. He describes Himself…

1. As “El Shaddai,” the Almighty God, vv. 8, 18; Exodus 6:3, “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”

2. This is the Almighty God that supplies every need, Genesis 22:8, 13, “And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

B. The “Alpha and Omega,” v. 8, 11; 21:6; 22:13; Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

“Among the Jewish Rabbins, it was common to use the first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet to denote the whole of anything, from beginning to end. —Barnes

II. JEHOVAH GOD

A. I am He [JEHOVAH]… vv. 4, 8;

This phraseology is purely Jewish, and probably taken from the Tetragrammaton [the four CONSONANTS of the ancient Hebrew name of God, YHWH], JEHOVAH; which is supposed to include in itself all time, PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE. Adam Clarke’s Commentary by Gary Gallant.

“No expression could more strikingly denote eternity than this. He now exists; he has existed in the past; he will exist in the future.” —Barnes

1. “WHICH IS, v. 8.

a. God identifies Himself as ALWAYS in the PRESENT, Exodus 3:14, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

b. Jesus identified Himself saying, “before Abraham was I AM,” John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

2. And “WHICH WAS,” v. 8; Psalms 90:2, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

a. The WORD was in the BEGINNING, John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

b. Jesus was INVOLVED in the creation, Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

3. “And WHICH IS TO COME,” v. 8; Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

a. The PROMISE, John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

b. The HOPE, Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

B. This is the God of GLORY that appeared to Abraham, Acts 7:2, “And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,”

1. This is the God of glory that appeared to Israel in a CLOUD, Exodus 16:10,“And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.”

2. This is God of glory that led Israel through the wilderness by a PILLAR of FIRE at night, Exodus 13:21, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:”

a. This is the God that is able to show man the WAY by day or night, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

b. This is the God that gave His Son that men might have eternal life, John 3:15-16, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

c. This is the God who holds the keys to hell and death, Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

CONCLUSION:

John saw a vision of the Lord of God, the Almighty God, and the Jehovah God that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew as their Savior. This is Jesus of the New Testament, the Savior of the world. This is the One who died on Calvary to pay my sin debt, the One who was resurrected on the third day and who is sitting at the right hand of God today making intercession for you and me. He is coming soon. Do you know Him as your Savior?