Today’s message summary of June 12, 2016 from Pastor Gus Brown:
How many of you believe that you are going to go to be with Jesus when you leave here?
We don’t when we will leave here, or when we will be caught up with the Lord in the air. There are areas of Scripture that help us to understand this a little more, but until then we are still called to be alert and stay awake!
God will see the heart of those who are truly following Him.
People who have accepted Jesus are going to heaven before the coming battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 16:15
Look, I am coming like a thief. The one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame is blessed.
God will come in a sudden, unexpected way. He wants us to be ready for His return and keep your clothes ready!
Your clothing is the salvation that He provides–You are made righteous and are sanctified by His presence.
Revelation 16:16-17
So they assembled them at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Then the seventh poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
There are only two great battles that Jesus is involved in. Revelation 19:11-21 is where the first one occurs. The second battle is after the Millennium (after the thousand-year reign of Christ).
Only in the first battle is God’s wrath mentioned, and the beast and the false prophet are noted. The second battle does not mention the beast and false prophet.
First battle — the nations are gathered at a place called Armageddon. There were two great victories there: Barak over the Canaanites and Gideon over the Midianites.
There were two great defeats there: the death of Saul and the death of Josiah.
Armageddon is located in Northern Israel. It is also referred to as Megiddo. It comes from a Hebrew root word meaning “to cut off” or “to slaughter.”
There is a cutting off of Babylon, the beast and the false prophet.
Revelation 19:19-21
Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against His army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
The prayer that you have is that you, as a believer, will indeed be removed to escape this upcoming battle. The believers in Jesus are raptured out–removed from the earth (Revelation 16:15).
Revelation 16:19
The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger.
Revelation 19:15-16
A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:
KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.
In both of these instances, God’s wrath is meted out in judgment. The judgment for those at that time is because they denied Jesus Christ.
According to God’s Word, believers are not to suffer wrath. That was taken care of on Calvary by the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
Christians are removed from His wrath to appear before the judgment seat of Jesus.
1 Peter 4:17-19
For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.
God has given you everything that is necessary to live a godly life. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome Satan and his teachings in this world.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11
For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.
Jesus promised to the church, and all believers, that He would not eat again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:16).
Malachi 3:16
At the time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.
Jeremiah 17:10, 32:19
I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.
The One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men in order to give to each person according to his ways and the result of his deeds.
God will reward us according to our conduct. At the judgment seat of Christ, rewards will be given based upon how one lives as a believer.
The only way for you to walk in life is to do so following Jesus Christ. Are you keeping your eyes on Him and trusting in His Word?
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