First, the end is near. Revelation 1:1-3 - "The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near. "

Two of my friends died yesterday in their 50’s. Both played sports. One played professionally, and the other was in great shape as a bodybuilder. God took them suddenly. Another kind of end, however, is coming when Christ returns. He’s coming back to judge this world. He is not dead, but alive. Revelation 1:18, “I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”

Flee from the wrath to come. The Revelation is a warning, and a source of comfort to believers. We know that Christ is coming to take us - that he wins. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 - "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." It will be a fearful day, however, to everyone that’s not in Christ, as your deeds are exposed, guilt is discovered, and punishment begins for eternity. This is the BIG TEST of life. Are you ready?

Prepare by faith in Christ. Trust him unto good works. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 - "In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Do not be discouraged by sin, but grab hold of Christ even moreso, because you know you deserve wrath. Salvation is for people who can’t help themselves, and God will help us.

Secondly, all glory belongs to Christ. Revelation 1:4-6 - "John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father ​-- ​to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Christ is the Savior of sinners. He laid down his life, and gave it all up. His self sacrifice is monumental, because he proved his love. Nothing stopped him obeying the Father, and saving us. No selfishness was in his heart! He put away sin, and washed us with his blood! Oh, what a cleansing fountain… Oh, the great cost! God gave up ALL THAT HE HAD to save sinners, and he’s to be praised for it.

Seek no glory for yourself. Jeremiah 45:5 - ""But as for you, do you pursue great things for yourself? Stop pursuing! For I am about to bring disaster on all humanity" ​-- ​this is the LORD's declaration ​-- ​"but I will grant you your life like the spoils of war wherever you go." Don’t try to be somebody. Don’t use the gospel to make a name for you. God’s already given us the highest position at his right hand. We don’t need glory. We need to glorify, so that we’ll be happy.

Our greatest joy is glorifying God, because the Spirit works in power. People don’t realize the joy of the Spirit, so we serve ourselves. We rest, however, as we serve him - not from human strength, but by the Spirit, as we trust the love of Christ.

Grace will make us gracious and truthful. Grace will make us God glorifying people, and we count on it. We have nothing to fear.

Thirdly, submit to Christ destroying the world. Revelation 1:7 - "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen." The wrath of God is coming, and we say, “Amen,” and, “Hallelujah.” We spend our lives saving others, and we submit to God’s will for their destruction.

No one is wise to argue with God. We can’t challenge his authority or wisdom. His love is greater than ours. Therefore, we submit to all that he does, even destroying this world with fire. 2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed."

Do not murmur, nor fault God. Do not take sides with sinners. Say, “Amen,” and it will be well with you. Say, “Amen,” to your own sinfulness being exposed. Say, “Amen,” to all calamities and disappointments, because he saved us. He may not save someone we’re praying for, but he has done righteously, and it won’t be our will or our effort that makes the difference. Genesis 18:25 - ""Far be it from You to do such a thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?""

Christ atoned for a SPECIFIC NUMBER OF PEOPLE, and he’ll have us. He washed away our sins. The outsiders, however, will get the due reward of rejecting Christ, which is the lake of fire. They despised the feast, and they won’t be able to enter.

Oh, child of God. Rejoice in your Savior no matter what. He’s kind, gracious, and holy. He acts in wisdom. If someone perishes, it’s right. If someone never hears the gospel, then they would have rejected it. I came into Nigeria to preach the gospel. One day while street preaching, I observed the people had no interest. If I’d come from California to pass out visa’s, then everyone would have crowded me. Coming to give eternal life, however, meant nothing. They were deceived, and they deserve punishment, even if no one ever told them about Jesus. Their response reveals their heart.

Finally, Jesus is the Almighty, risen from the dead. Revelation 1:8 - ""I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." " [He calls himself the Alpha and the Omega in vs11, and the First and the Last in vs17.]

He has all power. Let that comfort us.

In South Africa, there’s ancestor worship, but it denies the Almighty. Christ has power to answer prayer, and there’s no other name whereby we can be saved. No one else can help us, and we don’t need their help. There is one ruler, and his Son is enthroned. He has power over sickness and death…not only to stop it, but to give it as he pleases. He has power over all turbulence in this world, and it only serves his end. I’ve been through hard things, and so have you, but they’ve made us better, if they’ve made us examine ourselves, and trust Christ.

The Almighty, not the government, controls this world. He opens doors, as he pleases. Revelation 3:7 - ""Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens:" He’s no helpless monarch wishing us luck. He has the devil on a chain, and he can’t roar without permission. He has the keys to unlock poor sinners from the bondage of sin. He has power to spread the gospel, send revival, and raise up missionaries. Oh, we look SO MANY other places, when the Lord Jesus is Almighty, and willing to help us. He’ll give us grace to overcome sin, because he earned the Spirit’s help. The Father hears us because of him, and he’ll do anything to honor the Son.