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What Do You Believe?

Mar 12, 2017 | Rev. Dr. K. Rick Baker

The Final Countdown: The Doctrine of the "Not Yet" Kingdom of God

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The Lord’s Table is the ceremonial connection between the “now” of our salvation reality and the “not yet” of the final eternal stage of his Kingdom (Lk. 22:16, 18).

WHEN? (Lk. 17:20-21)

Now, within your reach!

WHAT KINGDOM?

(Is. 65:17 – 25; Lk. 17:22-37; Rev. 21, 22)

- The final countdown started (Lk. 17:25; 19:30; 1 Cor. 11:26; Rev. 21:6)

Lord’s Table – symbol of a people-in-waiting

- The Son of Man’s Days

- In power (Mk. 13:26)

- Visibly (24)

Unexpectedly (26-29)

Noah was taken to safety; those who ignored his message were all destroyed.

Lot was taken to safety; those who rejected righteousness were all destroyed:

Keep remembering … (32-33)

Those who keep their lives from God will lose their lives;

those who lose their lives in Christ will preserve their lives.

Suddenly

without warning (31, 34-35) Taken, left behind, day or night

Urgency (37; 2 Pet. 3:9)

“a field of carcasses staring at us”; no second chance.

WHEN?

Be patient; justice is coming! (Lk. 18:1-8)

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.”

(1 Cor. 11:26, 32).

Are you trying to keep your life for yourself?

Are you willing to lose your life in Christ for Christ?

The Final Kingdom

The promised final eternal rule and reign of God (Is. 65:17-19, 24-25; Rev. 21, 22), after the Rapture of the Church (Dan. 12:1; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 3:10), the Time of Jacob’s Troubles-the great day of the Lamb’s wrath (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12; Rev. 6f ), the Second Coming or Revelation of Christ (Joel 3:2,12; Zech 14:3,4; Matt. 16:27; 24:27-30; Acts 1:11; Rev 19:11-21), the Millennium (Is. 65:20-23; Rev. 20:1-6), final judgement (Rev. 20:7-15), and the first heaven and earth pass away (2 Pet 3:13; Rev. 21:1).

“It is done!” (21:6) – God’s purposes in human history have come to a conclusion.

New heaven / new earth

– old creation replaced by a new one (Rev. 21:1; 2 Pet. 3:7)

-“old order” comes to an end (Is. 65:16; Rev. 21:4)

- former things will not be remembered, not even come to mind (Is. 65:17)

New Jerusalem

– prepared by Christ (Jn. 14:3) and the church (Gal. 4:26; Rev. 3:12)

- Massive, square 1500 miles!

- “Expensive” walls, reflect God’s glory

- No temple, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple

- The nations will walk in its light and all finally be converted

- No gate will be closed

For overcomers only (21:7) in the Lamb’s book of life (21:27); no compromisers (2:14, 20), no one who depends on themselves (3:17), those who have been persecuted and suffered loss (2:10)

A river, the water of life (22:1), paradise re-created, the Garden of God has come into full bloom, one source for life – Jesus. Nature will no longer be our enemy or harm us (Is. 65:25) but the serpent will always eat dust! (Gen. 3:14)

Points to Ponder Concerning the end of history

1. How great is the city of God – Kingdom vs. failed, flawed human attempts

2. How important to be full of righteousness now - getting your wedding clothes ready (Rev. 19:8, 21:2)

3. How glorious is the end of sin! (21:4)

4. How urgent is it to be an overcomer vs. the one who negligently embraces the ways and means of this world (21:6-8, 27)

5. How foolish to amass now what will be common fair then rather than riches in righteousness which will matter (21:19-21) true wealth

6. How amazing to imagine eternal intimacy in the continual proximity of a loving God – who we will always depend upon (upgrade our skill now)

7. How stark is the difference in destiny based on one’s choice on how to live now - eternal decisive judgment or eternal bliss?

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