Sermon notes: Rev 11:14-19

Intro:

I stood before a group of 9-10 grade boys and asked: "Can you imagine a world without sin?" One of them without even thinking blurted out: "It wouldn't be any fun."  I wonder how many of us believe that...I also wonder how many of us have the view that heaven is like a retirement community where we float around on clouds strumming harps or playing shuffle board. Can you say boring?  Is that something that you would radically sell out or spend your life living for?

Rev 11:14-19:

- is a snapshot of chapters 18-22
- the silence of Rev 8:1 is reversed in Rev 11:15
- anything unusual about vrs 17?  There is no "who is to come" b/c Christ has come to establish his kingdom
- the separation of John 18:36 is gone
- vrs 18 ties back to Psalm 2
- judging of the earth takes place resulting in reward for believers/those who persevere and punishment for those who reject Jesus.  This is also seen in vrs 19 where the Ark represents God's mercy seat and the storms/earthquake representing judgment

Main Point:  "You can play now and pay later or you can pay now and play later" John Maxwell.  JM was not talking about Revelation, but the thought is very applicable with this text.

Throughout the book of Revelation (esp chapters 2-3) we see the challenge to being a witness and persevere.

Witness

- If you are going to be a witness you need to have a way to clearly present the gospel.  My preferred method is to draw out Romans 6:23.
- We need to reverse our thinking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgFU5Ak88-k

Why persevere?

- B/c we will be rewarded (see Gen. 15:1-6, Prov. 11:21, Isa. 40:10 & 62:11, Matt. 5:11-12 & 6:1-18, 1 Cor. 3:5-15)
- B/c God is always with you (Giglio has a powerful message on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg_ZVS6Kecw)

You can live your life playing now and you will pay later (judgment) or you can pay now living sold out for Jesus and play later when he returns.  A world without sin and eternity with Jesus will be sooo much better than here and now, so why wouldn't you live like it?

We ended with communion