77. The Book Of Revelation Series

IN GOD'S IMAGE 77 - THE BOOK OF REVELATION

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

We now approach the end game of God’s great project of creating man in His image.

• The subject of the end times has held the fascination of all Christians ever since Jesus told His disciples He would return some day.

• Mountains of material have been written about both the timing and the events surrounding Jesus’ return and no wonder when the subject matter conjures up foreboding images of Armageddon, four hostile horseman, terrifying beasts, a great harlot, false prophets, a fiery red dragon, a lake of fire and final judgment.

• As we approach this subject I have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation, not so much from the point of view of the terrifying images it conjures up, but rather from the responsibility to present the material in as accurately a way as humanly possible.

• But mixed with this trepidation, there is also a sense of anticipation.

• Anticipation because finally after many millennia of enforced separation between God and humanity because of our sin and rebellion, the two parties finally come face to face with one another.

• And humanity for its part is in for a huge pleasant surprise when they come face to face with His Creator.

• But that is getting ahead of the story.

• It’s also a time of great anticipation from God’s point of view as it at this point that God’s great project of creating man in His image becomes a reality with the saying, “I will be their God, and they will be my holy people.”

• The subject of the end time has many components, so we will slowly work our way through them in a systematic way.

The story of God’s interaction with His creation comes down to one of allegiance.

• Let me share a Native American legend with you.

• An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

• Like the rest of us, this young Native American faced a choice as he began his own life as to, “Which wolf would he feed?”

• Right from the very beginning, the created beings God has brought into existence have faced a choice as to where their allegiance would lie.

• He created us with freewill with the capacity to choose.

• Sooner or later in the design of things however, our allegiance would be tested.

• Sometime before humanity came on the scene, the created angelic realm too was faced with a choice as to whom they would cast their allegiance.

• Revelation 12:3-4 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.

• It appears a third of the angelic beings rebelled against God and threw their lot in with this red dragon who later on in this chapter is identified as Satan the devil (Revelation 12:7-9).

• Moving forward to the creation of Adam and Eve, we see that they too were confronted with a scenario that would question their allegiance where they had to choose between two trees (Genesis 2:16-17).