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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=120 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04a76ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="42b6e480.gif" border=0 width="110" height="72" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Statements Of Faith"><U> Statements Of Faith</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Events"><U>Special Events</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Directions"><U>Directions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Louis Radio"><U>St. Louis Radio</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fridaynight Meetings"><U>Fridaynight Meetings</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Partners"><U>Partners</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="mailto:richesinchrist@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:richesinchrist@hotmail.com"><U><IMG SRC="85e6e6c0.gif" border=0 width="110" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04b76bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="CommercialScript BT" ><I><B><U>Riches In Christ</U></B></I><B> </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riches In Christ"><U><B> </B></U></A><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riches In Christ"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Msftedit 5.41.21.2509;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B><U>EARTH MADE RIGHT</U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>A.     Introduction:  We have been discussing the wrath of God.  Many Christians are afraid of the wrath of God      when they have no reason to be afraid.  The wrath of God is His judicial response to the sins of men.  </B></div> <div> <B>     1.     The wrath of God for our sin, His judicial response to our sin, was poured out on Jesus at the Cross.                 Jesus took our place at the Cross and was punished for our sin. Isa 53:4-6 </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     Justice has been carried out in regard to our sin.  There is no more wrath for those who have                          accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Rom 5:9; I Thess 1:10; 5:9</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     In the New Testament the phrase "wrath of God" is never used in connection with Christians or                     with daily Christian living.</B></div> <div> <B>     2.     The phrase "the wrath of God" is used in connection with the future fate of all who reject Jesus Christ                and with the Second Coming of Jesus. John 3:36; II Thess 1:7-9 </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     The wrath of God is going to be expressed at the return of Jesus to this earth.  In fact, in the Book                     of Revelation, it is called the wrath of the Lamb. Rev 6:16.17; etc.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     Jesus came to earth the first time to offer salvation to all men through the Cross.  He will come the                second time to deal with all who throughout history have rejected that gift.  </B></div> <div> <B>               1.     At that time Jesus will execute the righteous penalty for sin on all who have not received the                          work of the Cross and He will cleanse creation of all corruption. Matt 13:36-43</B></div> <div> <B>               2.     The righteous penalty for sin is eternal separation from God, first in hell, and then, ultimately,                          in the lake of fire or the second death (Rev 20:14,15).  That is the fate of all who reject Jesus                          Christ.  That is the wrath of God.   </B></div> <div> <B>     3.     There is coming a day of judgment in the earth.  It will not be a literal twenty-four hour Judgment Day,                but rather a time of judgment associated with the Second Coming of Jesus.  God has been warning men           about this coming judgment since the fall of man. Jude 14,15</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     The Lord will come to execute or carry out judgment.  Judgment comes from a word that means                     justice.  Jesus is coming back to carry out justice.   </B></div> <div> <B>          b.     Justice is about doing what is right and making things right. Rev 11:18</B></div> <div> <B>               1.     It is right to punish evil doers and it is right to reward those who do works of righteousness.</B></div> <div> <B>               2.     There is no punishment for those who have received Jesus Christ.  We will stand before God                          to be rewarded for having done the work of God.  We have believed on Jesus. John 6:29     </B></div> <div> <B>     4.     This process of making things right will begin with a seven year period of time just prior to the return                of Jesus to this earth.  It is commonly known as the tribulation.  The Old Testament prophets called it                the "day of the Lord" or the "day of wrath". Zeph 1:14,15; etc.</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     The tribulation will be a time of unprecedented suffering, with the last three and a half years being                     particularly bad.   The Book of Revelation describes a series of three increasingly severe events on                     the earth in these years. (See Chart)</B></div> <div> <B>               1.     There are a number of unanswered questions about these destructive events of the tribulation.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>               2.     At what point in the tribulation does each series begin?  How long do they last?  What,                               exactly, are some of them?  Because we have a 1</B></FONT><B>st</B><B> century man describing warfare and                               technology in the 21</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>st</B><B> century it`s not clear if some of these events consist of nuclear,                               chemical, or biological warfare, or something else.  It will all be clear when it happens.                     b.     In response to this information we might ask these questions:  How could a good, loving God                          allow all of that?  Are all those horrible events expressions of the wrath of God?  If so, how can I                     be sure He's not going to do something like that to me?   In this lesson we want to continue our                     discussion of the wrath of God and the Second Coming of Jesus.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>B.     The catastrophe and calamity of the final seven years of human history does not come from God.  </B></div> <div> <B>     1.     When God "judges" people or "expresses His wrath" in this life He does not send down lightning bolts.            He allows people to reap the consequences of their actions (Rom 1:18-32; Num 14:28,29; Ps 81:8-12;                Isa 3:9,10; Jer 2:17,19; 4:18;etc.).  The tribulation will be a time of horror and suffering because all                restraints on evil will be removed.</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     Just prior to the tribulation God will take the church off the earth (I Thess 1:10; 4:13-18; etc.) and                     the restraint that God exercised on evil through the Church will cease. </B></div> <div> <B>          b.     II Thess 2:7,8a--For the mystery of lawlessness -- that hidden principle of rebellion against                          constituted authority -- is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who                          restrains is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one (the Antichrist) will be revealed.                          (Amp)</B></div> <div> <B>     2.     God will allow Satan's wickedness and the wickedness in human hearts to be demonstrated as never                before.  </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     Satan knows his time is short and he will act in with great wrath which will produce great                          suffering on the earth. Rev 12:12</B></div> <div> <B>               1.     Satan will offer his counterfeit of Jesus, Antichrist, in an effort to persuade the whole world to                     worship him.  He will try to wipe out the Jews and he will try to stop the return of Jesus.</B></div> <div> <B>               2.     Satan has tried numerous times through the centuries to work through a man to take over the                          world, set up a world government, a world religion -- Hitler, Napoleon, Stalin, etc.  But he has                     been restrained until the time of the end.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     Dan 8:23-25 tells us that the satanically inspired activities of the Antichrist will cause great                          suffering on this earth.  The actions of the Antichrist and the responses of the people of this earth                     to him will bring the heartache and suffering of the tribulation.</B></div> <div> <B>     3.     According to II Thess 2:3 the Day of the Lord, the hour of His wrath, will not begin until the church is                taken off the earth and the man of sin, the Antichrist, is revealed. II Thess 2:3,4</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     In the Book of Revelation John was shown what will happen after the church is taken off the earth.                 He was caught up into heaven (Rev 4:1; etc.) and he saw the throne of God and God holding a                     book (scroll) with seven seals (Rev 5:1).</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     Jesus is pronounced as the one who is worthy to open the book because of His redemptive work at                     the Cross. Rev 5:5-10  </B></div> <div> <B>               1.     It is fitting that Jesus open the scroll because, according to Acts 17:31, God will judge the                          world according to righteousness by Jesus.  Jesus, the Living Word, is the standard. </B></div> <div> <B>               2.     All human beings will be judged based on their response to Jesus and His sacrifice.  </B></div> <div> <B>     4.     As Jesus opens each seal events occur on the earth (Rev 6).  When the first seal is opened Antichrist is                revealed and goes forth to begin his work (v1).  Does God "make it happen"?  Does God "bring the               Antichrist to power"?  Of course not.  </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     II Thess 2:9-11--It is through the cunning of Satan that this man of sin will come, and Satan will                     furnish him with every sort of power and with pretended signs and miracles.  He will be equipped                     with all kinds of wicked deceptions so as to make men perish, all because they refused to love the                     truth by means of which they could be saved.  It is because of this refusal that God will send                          powerful heresies among them and let them believe lies. (Norlie)</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     Satan will deceive men through the Antichrist and they will willing be deceived.  God will allow                     them to believe the lie that the Antichrist is God and reap the consequences thereof.  Notice, these                     are people who do not love the truth but love unrighteousness (v12).  </B></div> <div> <B>     5.     Yes, but doesn't it say that God is going to deceive them?  Think about it.  How can God deceive                     anyone?  He is truth!       All He has is truth!    </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     God wants it clearly understood that the calamity the people of earth will experience, the ruin they                     will reap, is a direct result of their rejection of Him.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     Remember, during the tribulation God will be "bending over backwards" to show Himself to men.                 1.     There will be more supernatural signs of the reality of God given during the tribulation than                          ever before in the history of man.  </B></div> <div> <B>               2.     They will be like the plagues of Egypt, demonstrations of God's power designed to draw men                          to Him:  signs in the heavens and on earth (Matt 24:29; Rev 6:12; etc.), two witnesses with                          supernatural powers who oppose the Antichrist (Rev 11:3-12), an angel will preach the gospel                     (Rev 14:6,7).</B></div> <div> <B>     6.     Why is the appearing of the Antichrist connected to something happening in heaven (Jesus opening the           seals) if God is not behind all the suffering of the tribulation?</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     It is to show John, to show the people who will live through the tribulation, and to show us that                     nothing is out of control in the sense that it took God by surprise.  The first mention of Antichrist                     is in the Book of Daniel written 2500 years ago.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     It is to show people that this is the culmination of the plan of God, a plan conceived in eternity                     past -- His plan to have a family of sons and daughters in a kingdom of righteousness on a perfect                     earth.</B></div> <div> <B>          c.     The Hebrew people would have been familiar with Zechariah 5:1-4.  Zechariah is sometimes                          called the Book of Revelation of the Old Testament because it has more references to the Second                     Coming than any other Old Testament book.</B></div> <div> <B>               1.     Zechariah sees a flying scroll.  v3--"This scroll", he told me, "represents the words of God's                          curse going out over the entire land.  It says that all who steal and lie have been judged and                          sentenced to death." (Living)</B></div> <div> <B>               2.     The Hebrew people knew that judgment would precede the establishment of the kingdom of                          God, but that they would make it through the judgment because of their faith in Messiah.  The                     opening of the scroll is about meting out justice -- and that's a good thing.</B></div> <div> <B>          </B></div> <div> <B>C.     The tribulation will be unlike any other period in history.  Time as we know it will end in seven years. </B></div> <div> <B>     1.     Billions of people living on the earth will not have a lifetime to repent.  They must make a definitive                choice for God or the devil before the end of this age.  </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     The tribulation will be an "attention getter" for mankind showing both the goodness of God and                     the wickedness of Satan.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     But, something else will be happening.  The earth itself will be prepared for the establishment of                     God's visible kingdom on this earth.  </B></div> <div> <B>               1.     Sin had a cataclysmic effect on creation.  The natural laws in effect now are the result of                               changes in the earth because of sin.      That's why there are earthquakes, famines, killer storms,                          etc. Gen 3:17,18; Rom 8:20</B></div> <div> <B>               2.     All of that will be undone when Jesus returns.  The earth itself will be cleansed from the death                     and corruption that has been at work since the fall of man. II Pet 3:10-12; Rev 22:3; Rom 8:21</B></div> <div> <B>     2.     The topography of the earth itself will change and be restored to the conditions that existed before sin                entered in.  Those changes will begin during the tribulation.</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     In the original creation there were no uninhabitable areas -- the oceans, the polar ice caps, the                          deserts, the high mountains.  That must be restored.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     In the original creation there were waters about the firmament (Gen 1:7), a vast canopy of water                     vapor surrounding the earth in its upper atmosphere.  It would have produced a strong greenhouse                     effect which would have provided a pleasant, warm climate, with none of the air mass movements                     that produce rainfall and storms.  There were great reservoirs of water beneath the earth.</B></div> <div> <B>     3.     In addition, the flood of Noah brought great changes to earth's landscape which must be undone.</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     At the time of the flood the water vapor above the earth condensed and fell to earth and the waters                     from below the earth burst forth. Gen 7:11  </B></div> <div> <B>          b.      High mountain ranges were the result of volcanic activity connected with the flood.  Ocean valleys                opened up after the flood to allow the flood waters to drain off the earth. Ps 104:5-9 (Living Bible)  </B></div> <div> <B>     4.     Much of what happens during the tribulation will undo these effects and restore the earth.</B></div> <div> <B>          a.     The mountains must be "cut down" and valleys raised up.  Isa 40:3-5 says every valley will be                     exalted and every hill made low when the Messiah comes.</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     The two witnesses in Rev 11 will have power to stop the rain for 3 ½ years.  That means famine,                     falling water levels in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and ground water, brown and barren lands where                     fires will easily burn (Rev 8:7).  Even great rivers will dry up (Rev 16:12).</B></div> <div> <B>               1.     Water will evaporate from the oceans.  Currently that water is moved by winds inland to                               produce rain.  But during the tribulation four angels will keep the winds from blowing on the                          earth or the sea (Rev 7:1).  The evaporated water won't move inland and produce rain.  </B></div> <div> <B>               2.     It will be stored up in the upper atmosphere gradually restoring the waters about the                                    firmament.  Ps 148:4-6 implies that the water above will be restored.</B></div> <div> <B>          c.     Rev 6:12-14--The opening of the sixth seal signals earthquakes and volcanoes.  It will seem to                     those on earth like "the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together". Isa 34:4; Zech 14:8</B></div> <div> <B>               1.     All mountains and islands (ocean floor mountains) will be shaken, breaking them down.  The                          debris will help fill up the ocean valleys.</B></div> <div> <B>               2.     Cracks in the earth's surface will fill with water and falling mountains will cover them,                               recreating subterranean water reservoirs (the great deep). </B></div> <div> <B>               3.      This last quake will destroy many cities (Rev 16:18-20; 11:13), but Jerusalem will survive                          and  the quake will open up a fountain. Zech 14:4,8,9,11; Ezek 47:1-9</B></div> <div> <B>          d.     Isa 35:1-6--As a result of all of this activity the whole world will be habitable once more.                           1.     Mountains will become gentle hills.  Polar ices caps will be fertile plains.  Oceans will be                               shallow, narrow sea.  Deserts will have springs from the fountains of the deep.  The water                          vapor blanket in the sky will be restored.  </B></div> <div> <B>               2.     The earth will be ready for the establishment of the millennial kingdom, the visible reign of                          Jesus Christ on this earth.</B></div> <div> <B>     5.     Some might say:  Yes, this is wonderful.  But look at the cost in terms of human lost and suffering.                 Consider these points. </B></div> <div> <B>          a.     Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, famines, killer storms, etc, (the natural laws in effect in the earth)                are the result of the change in the earth because of sin.  It is the nature of sin and the corruption it                     brings to get worse and worse (I Cor 5:7; Rom 1:21-32).  Remember, Jesus compared these events                     to birth pangs when He was giving signs that point to His soon return (Matt 24:7,8).</B></div> <div> <B>          b.     No one has to be on earth when this renovation takes place.  Those who put faith in Christ prior to                     the start of the tribulation will be removed from the earth.  They'll be in the ark of safety.</B></div> <div> <B>          c.     The destruction of the tribulation is progressive (from lesser to greater) with space given in                          between each judgment for people to repent.  Yet people refuse to repent. Rev 6:15-17; 9:20-21</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>D.     Conclusion:  The wrath of God is the remedy for sin.  The wrath of God removes sin and the corruption it      produces -- in us and in the earth itself.  And, that is a good thing!!  More next week!!</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id236.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MP3 Free Audio"><U><B>MP3 Free Audio</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id237.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study"><U><B>Bible Study</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" About This Ministry "><U><B> About This Ministry </B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ministers Pastors"><U><B>Ministers & Pastors</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Order Tapes"><U><B>Order Tapes</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Study Outlines "><U><B>Study Outlines </B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><B>Current Radio Lesson</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="current_radio_lesson_2_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Current Radio Lesson                                           </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Times New Roman" > <A NAME="current_radio_lesson_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT><U>Click below to download this lesson in a PDF file.</U> </div> <div>                  <IMG SRC="7e613100.gif" border=0 width="19" height="16" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  > <a href="HTMLobj-2155/tcc711.pdf"><u>A Time Of Restitution</u> </a>  <</div> <bR> <div> <U> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="826" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 4044 WIDTH="814"><bR> <div> A TIME OF RESTITUTION</div> <bR> <div> A.     Introduction:  We have been talking about the wrath of God in order to remove some of the fears that many      Christians have.  God does have wrath against sin, but there is no reason for a Christian to fear His wrath.</div> <div>      1.     God's wrath is not His emotional reaction to sin but rather His judicial response to sin.  God dealt with                our sins at the Cross.  The wrath of God for our sin, God's judicial response to our sin, went to Jesus.</div> <div>           a.     There is no more wrath for Christians.  The wrath of God is never mentioned in the Bible in                          connection with Christians.  It is used in connection with the future fate of unbelievers and with                     the Second Coming of Jesus. John 3:36; II Thess 1:7-9; etc.</div> <div>                1.     For several weeks we have been talking about the wrath of God and the Second Coming.                        2.     Jesus is coming again in wrath (Rev 6:16,17; etc.), not because He is really mad, but because                          He is going to carry out justice and cleanse creation from sin and its effects -- all the death and                     corruption it brings.</div> <div>           b.     Yes, but aren't the end times horrible and shouldn't we be afraid?  No, because if  you understand                     what is going to happen in terms of the over all plan of God and in terms of what scripture says                     rather than in terms of religious clichés, you will see there is no reason for us to fear.  </div> <div>      2.     The Second Coming of Jesus is not some freaky science fiction event at the end of the Bible.  </div> <div>           a.     It will be the culmination of the plan of God conceived in eternity past -- His plan to have a family                     with whom He will live in a kingdom of righteousness on a perfect earth.   </div> <div>           b.      Jesus is coming back to establish God's  kingdom of righteousness, peace, and perfection on this                     earth -- and that's a good thing.   We want to continue our discussion in this lesson.</div> <div>      </div> <div> B.     In Acts 3 Peter and John prayed for a lame man who was dramatically healed.  When a crowd gathered,            Peter preached to them (v12-26).  Through Peter's words we learn some things about the Second Coming.</div> <div>      1.     Peter first told the crowd that he and John had not healed the man, but rather that God had healed him                through faith in the name of Jesus and, in doing so, glorified His Son Jesus whom they crucified.  </div> <div>           a.     Peter went on to tell them that through the events which had occurred, God fulfilled prophecies                     concerning the Messiah. Luke 24:44</div> <div>           b.     Then Peter told the crowd to repent and turn to God:   So he can cleanse away your sins and send                     you      wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord and send Jesus your Messiah                     back to you again. (v19,20--Living Bible)</div> <div>                1.     This is a powerful promise to the Jews that even though they have rejected Jesus, when they                          turn to Him, He will come back to them.  But, we get an important detail about the Second                          Coming of Jesus as well.  It will be a time of restitution. v21</div> <div>                2.     Restitution comes from a word meaning to restore, a restoration of a thing to its former state:</div> <div>                     Of universal restoration (20th Cent); When all things are put right (Basic); until the whole                               world is re-created (Rieu); until the final recovery of all things from sin (Taylor).</div> <div>      2.     In the context of Jesus fulfilling prophecy at His first coming Peter said prophets have been predicting                His Second Coming since the world began:  From the most ancient time in the memory of man. (Amp)</div> <div>           a.     Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, spoke of the coming of the Lord to this earth (Gen                          5:21-24; Jude14,15).   Job, who lived at the time of the Patriarchs, knew Jesus would come to this                     earth (Job 19:25,26).   Peter reminded them that all the prophets from Samuel on down to their                     time had spoken of these days of the coming of the Lord. Acts 3:24,25</div> <div>                1.     Peter further reminded the crowd that Moses said that Prophet (Jesus) is coming those who                          will not hear the Messiah will be destroyed from among the people. Deut 18:15,18,19</div> <div>                2.     Destroyed is the word extirpate which means to pull up by the roots, to eradicate (as by                               surgery), destroyed, not in the sense of ceasing to exist but cut off from their destiny.</div> <div>      3.     Peter's statement did not lead to a frenzied discussion of end time events like it can for us.  All we                     know about the Second Coming is the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, 666, the new world order!  </div> <div>           a.      We worry about whether or not we're going in the rapture or if there even is a rapture.  We argue                     about the timing of the rapture and who is going in it  Should we stock pile food?  How will we                     survive in a cashless society?  Do we qualify for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? etc. etc. etc.!!</div> <div>           b.     We don't realize that we are missing the forest because we are focused on individual trees -- and                     the individual trees don't make any sense to us because we don't even know what forest we're in!!                 All of these topics must be understood in the context of the rest of the Bible.  Then it makes sense.</div> <div>      4.     The people to whom Peter preached that day knew from the writings of the prophets that the Lord is                coming to establish a kingdom of righteousness on this earth for His people. Dan 2:44; 7:27; etc.</div> <div>           a.     We are all familiar with the phrase:  The meek shall inherit the earth.  Jesus made that statement in                the Sermon on the Mount.  However, we hear that phrase religiously and miss the whole point.</div> <div>                1.     When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount He was speaking to Old Covenant Jews who                          were familiar with the writings of the prophets, or the Old Testament.  When Jesus said the                          meek will inherit the earth they would been familiar with Ps 37:11.</div> <div>                2.     Meek means humble or lowly in spirit.  In context this is one who trusts in the Lord, who does                     what is right, who delights Himself in the Lord, and who commits His way to the Lord. v1-5</div> <div>           b.     Those familiar with the prophets understood that their ultimate home, their ultimate destiny was to                live on this earth, a perfect earth, with the Lord in His kingdom.</div> <div>           c.     Ps 37:11--But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth. (Amp); The upright will have the earth                     for their heritage, and will go on living there forever. (Basic); But the humble will come into their                     true inheritance and be happy amidst great prosperity. (Harrison).</div> <div>      5.     The people to whom Peter preached that day in Acts 3 knew from the writings of the prophets that it                was the righteous who would qualify for this kingdom of God on earth.  Ps 37:29 </div> <div>           a.     They did not hear Peter's message about the return of the Lord and begin to fret about the                               Antichrist and the mark of the beast.  </div> <div>                1.     Their concern was how to obtain the righteousness necessary to qualify for Gods kingdom.     </div> <div>                2.     They knew from the prophets that God Himself would provide the righteousness they needed                          to enter the kingdom.  But how? Jer 23:5,6; Jer 33:15,16</div> <div>           b.     When Peter told them in v19:  Turn to this Man whom God has raised from the dead and your      sins                will be blotted out -- the record of your sins may be cancelled (Weymouth); so that your sins may                     be completely taken away (Basic) -- they knew what Peter was saying.  </div> <div>                1.     This One whom God has sent, this One whom God has raised from the dead, this One will                          give us the righteousness necessary to enter His kingdom.</div> <div>                2.     The end result of Peter`s message?  Five thousand men believed on Jesus that day, received                          His      righteousness, and qualified for the coming kingdom of God on earth. Acts 4:4</div> <div>      6.     Jesus came to earth the first time, and through the Cross and the new birth, He made available the                     righteousness necessary to enter the kingdom.</div> <div>           a.     Righteousness (right standing with God) has been imputed to us (written down to our account) and                imparted to us (given to us through the eternal life we received at the new birth).   We have been                     made the righteousness of God in Christ (Rom 4:24; II Cor 5:21).  God Himself has become our                     righteousness.</div> <div>           b.     At His Second Coming Jesus is going to remove all unrighteousness (those who have not received                     the righteousness offered through the Cross) and establish His visible kingdom of righteousness on                this earth (Matt 13:41-43).  </div> <div>           c.     God's desire is not to destroy men but to remove their sin and transform the sinner.  But if a sinner                will not come to Jesus for cleansing and transformation he will be removed from this earth.</div> <bR> <div> C.     Not only is Jesus going to remove the unrighteousness He is going to remove all the consequences and      effects of unrighteousness from His creation.  </div> <div>      1.     The people to whom Peter spoke that day in Acts 3 knew from the scripture that the Lord was coming                to earth to establish His everlasting kingdom on earth.     </div> <div>           a.     When Peter said it would be a time of restoration, a time of re-creating the earth, it didn't scare                     them.  They knew from the prophets that there was coming a new heaven and a new earth.                          1.     They knew from the prophets would be wonderful. Isa 65:16-25; 35:4-10;11:6-9; 25:6-9;                               Ezek 34:25-31</div> <div>                2.     They knew from the prophets that there would be calamity on this earth immediately                                    preceding the establishment of the Lord's kingdom on this earth but they knew from the                               scripture that they would make it through.</div> <div>           c.     We need to learn to view the end of this age, the end of time as we know it, from the standpoint of                     the entire Bible, not just from what we think we know about the Book of Revelation.     </div> <div>      2.     Because we have been religiously taught rather than biblically taught, our concept of the future is                     fuzzy.  We all want to miss hell because it is awful, but we aren't that excited about heaven.  If we are                honest, most      of us see heaven as a boring place with clouds and harps.</div> <div>           a.     In the last lesson we discussed heaven.  We said that the word paradise is used three times to mean                the place where those who have died in Christ dwell (II Cor 12:4; Luke 24:43; Rev 2:7).  The word                means a park, an Eden.  Earth before sin occurred gives us a picture what heaven is like.</div> <div>           b.     According to Gen 2 it was a beautiful place of full provision.  There were trees, plants, and                          animals.  There were rivers, gold and minerals, and food.  There was interaction with each other                     and with God.  There was meaningful work.</div> <div>                1.     There is no reason to think that heaven is any less wonderful.  The primary difference is that                          heaven is a spiritual kingdom rather than a material kingdom.</div> <div>                2.     As wonderful as heaven is, it is only a temporary dwelling place.  Our ultimate destiny is an                          eternal home on this earth.  Isa 45:18 says God made the earth as a home for His family.     </div> <div>      3.     Jesus is coming back to restore the earth to a fitting home for His family.  This present earth is not a fit                home for God's family -- not since the fall of man in the garden.       </div> <div>           a.     When Adam sinned the dust of the ground, the earth itself, came under the bondage of corruption.                 The curse of sin which is death permeates the material creation. Gen 3:17,18; Rom 8:20,21</div> <div>           b.     The earth itself will be purged by fire at the return of Jesus by fire and refurbished and restored to                     become the scene for God's family in His kingdom of righteousness. II Pet 3:7</div> <div>                1.     The earth is not going to be destroyed by fire.  It is going to be renovated by the fire of God. </div> <div>                2.     II Pet 3:6 calls what happened to the world at the flood of Noah the world perishing.  The                               earth was not destroyed by the flood, it was changed.</div> <div>           c.     II Pet 3:10-13--The very elements will melt.  Elements means the basic parts or components of                     something.  Melt and dissolve are the same words meaning to loose or to loosen.  </div> <div>                1.     The elements of the heavens and the earth will be dissolved, or literally loosed from the                               corruption of death.</div> <div>                2.     "Matter itself can be converted into energy.  The chemical energy locked in the dust of the                          earth will be converted into heat and light and sound energy -- `the heavens shall pass away                          with a great noise, and …fervent heat…being on fire' -- but it will not be annihilated.  With                          His creative Word, God will convert the purified energy again into the material substance of                          the earth and its atmospheric heaven." (Henry M. Morris -- CREATION AND THE SECOND </div> <div>                     COMING, p 132)</div> <div>      4.     Jesus is not coming back with a heavenly blowtorch to incinerate the earth and all the bad people on it.            Jesus will cleanse and transform creation with His word.</div> <div>           a.     God spoke and the first creation came into being.  Jesus will once again speak His word and                          transform the present heavens and the earth, removing every trace of corruption and death.                           1.     God's word purges, purifies, cleanses.  Jer 23:29--Is not my word like a fire [that consumes all                     that cannot endure the test]? (Amp)</div> <div>                2.     In Heb 12:29 God is called a consuming fire not because He is fire, but because He is going to                     cleanse His creation with the fire of His word and remove all that corrupts and offends as                               surely as fire consumes everything in its path.</div> <div>           b.     With His word Jesus will cleanse and make right His creation.  With His word Jesus will remove                     those who refuse His sacrifice and Lordship from His kingdom -- depart from Me. II Thess 2:8;                     Rev 19:15,21; Matt 25:41; 7:23; Isa 11:4</div> <div>      5.     There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  New means new in kind or order as distinguished from                new in point of time.  What will it be like?</div> <div>           a.     We discussed last week how the physical, material realm reveals some things about the spiritual                     realm, some things about heaven.  The physical, material creation is based on a pattern of heavenly                things. Rom 1:20; Heb 8:5; 9:23</div> <div>           b.     At the return of the Lord heaven and earth will come together and the spiritual and the material                     realm will be in perfect balance.  It won't be something we have never seen before.  </div> <div>                1.     It will be what earth was meant to be, what the heavens and the earth were before sin.  The                          invisible perfectly expressed through the physical.</div> <div>                2.     God and His family will once again dwell together, walk together, on this earth as God and                          His first man Adam did in a kingdom of righteousness and peace.  There will be no more                               curse, no more death. Rev 21:1-4,7; 22:3</div> <bR> <div> D.     Conclusion:  If you understand the whole plan of God for His kingdom then scriptures about the end of time      and the Second Coming will not scare you.</div> <div>      1.     Jesus is coming in wrath.  He is coming to carry out the righteous penalty of God's Law and remove                from creation all that corrupts, every trace of sin and death.</div> <div>           a.     Wrath is good because it consumes evil and it cleanses.  God's wrath is the remedy for sin.  </div> <div>                1.     The wrath of God for our sins went to Jesus at the Cross and it produced wholeness for us.  </div> <div>                2.     Isa 53:5--The chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and                          with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole. (Amp)</div> <div>           b.     The wrath that Jesus will express through His word at His return will cleanse and restore creation                     making it a fit home for God and His family for eternity. </div> <div>      2.     Isa 33:14,15 says the righteous (lit: those who walk in righteousness) can stand before the devouring                fire of the Lord.  </div> <div>           a.     Through the Cross of Christ and the new birth we have be qualified for a place in God's kingdom                     of righteousness on this earth.  We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ.</div> <div>           b.     Through accurate knowledge from the word of God we can be excited that the times of the                          restitution of all things is just ahead, at the return of the Lord Jesus to this earth.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm" TITLE="Current Radio Lesson"><U>Back to Top</U></A></div> <div>  <script language="javascript" src="http://www.dataplain.com/cgi/js_counter.cgi?kannady"></script>    <script type="text/javascript"> var sc_project=5423948; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_partition=47; var sc_click_stat=1; var sc_security="c5f52b00"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a title="joomla 1.5 stats" href="http://www.statcounter.com/joomla/" target="_blank"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c.statcounter.com/5423948/0/c5f52b00/1/" alt="joomla 1.5 stats" ></a></div></noscript>   </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>