Category: Eternity

In our text we have the identification of the author, John.  It is almost unanimous that this refers the the apostle.  This depending upon the writing, would make John and old man.  One of the prevalent views is that the book of Revelation was written at the end of the century, about 96 AD.

Also identified are the ones to whom the book was written, the 7 churches of Asia. The number 7 is a complete or holy number in Jewish literature, and would signify the same in this letter. This is not to say that their were only 7, but the 7 mentioned in chapters 2 and 3 are representative.

Jesus is identified here as the one who washed us from our sins with His own blood, and made us kinds and priests before God. His return is predicted, a time of judgment for all (cf. 2 Peter 3:11-13).

Jesus is the “Beginning and the End” and His Deity and eternal nature is established as true.  He is the Almighty, which foreshadows the conflict and end of the entire book.

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Numerous Old Testament passages clearly teach the concept of life after physical death. (Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 49; Genesis 5:24 and 2 Kings 2:11; 2 Samuel 12:22-23).

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When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he knew that his life was nearing an end. His mind was on eternity, and he expressed his expectations in a wonderful way. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Paul spoke of his end as a fait accompli, and we can trust that his faithful service continued until the hour of his passing. The apostle had proven himself a faithful ambassador of the Lord. He had once proclaimed, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

Continue reading “The Crown of Righteousness” →

The title is a fancy way of saying that tomorrow’s addition of an extra date to the calendar (this is a leap year) got me thinking about time.

The insertion of an extra day into the calendar for corrective purposes was an innovation of Julius Caesar 2000 years ago. It was modified a bit when the “Gregorian” calendar was adopted in the western world in 1582. But, this article is not about that…

We are creatures bound by time. We mark the day of our birth, each year in turn, and finally, the day of our death. Our physical existence is measured by decades, years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds. Our written history will add centuries, and perhaps a few millennia, but ultimately the span of our temporal existence is greatly limited.

Perhaps this is why the concept of God is met with such resistance. The skeptic is certainly challenged by the evolutionist’s hypothetical “billions of years”, but is absolutely unable to grasp the idea of a Being without beginning or end.

Even Christians struggle with the scope of eternity. The goal of eternity in God’s presence, while desired, is too often a remote concept. We live in the here and now, and sometimes our focus strays (to our detriment) to what this life has to offer. Let us never forget the only question of importance, as asked of Jesus by the young ruler, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).

A man’s perspective makes it difficult for him to understand the concept of eternity. We think in terms of seconds, minutes, hours, days, years and decades. The longer the time span, as it expands beyond our own lifetime, the more difficult it is to comprehend. Job had it right, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

There is another word that is used when defining terms like eternal and eternity. It is perpetuity. The word perpetuity is defined by Webster, “a state or quality of lasting forever.” The British government has in the past issued bonds called “consols.” The person who bought these bonds is entitled to receive annual interest payments “in perpetuity” or forever. Actually, the bonds will only be good so long as the British government and economy continue to exist.

When Burt Reynolds starred in his movie, Smoky and the Bandit, he popularized Trans Ams to the extent that the Pontiac company promised him a new Trans Am each year in perpetuity. In reality, the promise was only kept for five years.

God has promised, to the faithful, life in perpetuity. Fortunately, He is the one who can and will make good on His promise. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). It may be hard for us to grasp, but we don’t have to fully understand to appreciate and strive for that reward!

God has promised a crown of life to those who obey Him. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

There are number of references to that crown, with it described as:

• An imperishable crown(1 Corinthians 9:25)
• A crown of joy/rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
• A crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4)

In the passage from Revelation 2:10, there is the implication that our crown may be taken away. Thus, the exhortation, “Be faithful until death.” May we all run the race of life in such a way as to obtain the “imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In 2 Corinthians 4, the apostle Paul contrasts the ultimate resolution of our physical lives (death) with the ultimate resolution of our spiritual lives as Christians (eternal life).

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Man is a creature bound by time. His entire existence is measured by date and duration. Nine months in the womb. The first birthday. Becoming a teenager. Sweet sixteen. High School, then college graduation. Marriage, children, anniversaries, retirement, death. We celebrate the various milestones in our lives. Figures such as 1, 16, 18, 21, 40, 50, 65, 80, 90, 100 all bring immediate and sometimes visceral memories and emotions.

Continue reading “Bound by Time” →

Deuteronomy 32 records the song that Moses spoke to assembled Israel just before his death. Joshua took over as leader of the people, as they crossed over the Jordan and at long last entered the promised land of Canaan. There is a beautiful sentiment expressed in the opening words of the song:

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
And hear, o earth, the words of my mouth.
Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As raindrops on the tender herb,
And as showers on the grass.
For I proclaim the name of the Lord:
Ascribe greatness to our God.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.”
(Deuteronomy 32:1-4)

Notice that Moses characterized his speech, where he proclaimed “the name of the Lord,” as words of freshness and revival, likening them to rain and dew.

Dew, (tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces during the night, as water vapor condenses) has always been portrayed as beautiful and rejuvenating. In the very beginning, God used such to water the ground, “but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground” (Genesis 2:6).

Continue reading “Drops of Dew” →

Invitation delivered by: Ben Schmidt

When we witness an unexpected death, we realize that life is a vapor. (James 4:14). Since this is so, where are we laying up our treasures?

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

1 Corinthians 15:20-24. The Apostle Paul affirms the resurrection of the Christ. Through His death, we have the hope of eternal life.

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The sermon is an expository treatment of 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 emphasizing the nature of our hope, serving as motivation for our aim to always “be well pleasing to Him.”

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The sermon first establishes that all of God’s promises are sure. Then, discusses the following promises of God:

1. To supply every need we have.
2. That His grace is sufficient for us.
3. That His children will not be overtaken in temptation.
4. Victory over death.
5. That all things work together for good to those who love Him.
6. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved.
7. Eternal Life.

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When defending my faith to a skeptic, I have been asked on a few occasions, “But, what if you are wrong?” It is a question that arises from my acknowledgment that I accept the claims of scripture by faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Setting aside the evidence that supports my faith, let us consider for a moment the question asked.

Paul actually addressed just this question, in acknowledging the ramifications of the contention that there is no resurrection of the dead. In 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, he wrote, “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (vs. 16-19).

Continue reading ““But, What If You Are Wrong?”” →

This sermon is an expository study of Matthew 10:27-33 helping to establish an important truth… The Almighty God of the universe is the One we should fear, rather than men.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .