Famous Last Words On Scripture Series

HoHum:

Some famous and morbidly funny last words:

“Turn me over—I’m done on this side.” Last words of Lawrence of Rome. Said as he was being burned alive for being a Christian in 258 AD.

“Now is not the time for making new enemies.” Last words of Voltaire, French philosopher. Voltaire was a critic of any faith and he said this to a priest when the priest asked him to renounce the devil and his works.

“Hey, fellas! How about this for a headline for tomorrow’s paper? ‘French fries.’” Said by James French, a convicted murderer on death row, to a news reporter about his impending execution by electric chair.

“And now for a final word from our sponsor—” Said by Charles Gussman, a famous radio and TV announcer

“They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist—” said by John Sedgwick, a general in the Union Army, at the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. John Sedgwick was shot mid-sentence and died almost instantly.

“I’m looking for loopholes, my friend, looking for loopholes.” Said by W.C. Fields, actor. This was the comedian’s response when asked why he was reading the bible on his deathbed. Fields was known for his hard-drinking, humorously cantankerous character.

WBTU:

I pray we have more noble intentions when it comes to the Scriptures. Starting a series today called “Famous Last Words” from the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Going through Revelation in the adult Sunday school and thought this would be a great addition for church service- more of a topical way whereas Sunday school is more verse by verse. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” One has to have an imagination to experience all that Scripture has to offer. Reading and listening using our imagination converts the words on paper to voices and visions in us. In this context, I pray that through the preaching of the Word we will take it to heart and this will pull us into a personal encounter with the personal God. Our mission is to love people and lead them to a relationship with Jesus Christ… by the way Jesus Christ is the Word

Thesis: Revelation and the last word concerning Scripture

For instances:

I. Revelation is the last word on Scripture

Language is the most distinctive thing about us as humans. Even more unique among the creatures of earth is our ability to record language through writing onto a page. To put letters into a series that signifies a word and then to take a series of words and make a sentence. Building on this is the doctrine of inerrancy. Every word in Scripture is inerrant, without error. Jesus said in John 10:35 that Scripture cannot be set aside, or Scripture cannot be broken. What constitutes Scripture? Used to say Genesis to Revelation but in the past few centuries had to say the books that the early (2nd century) Christians accepted as Scripture. They knew which ones were authoritative. Modern day idea that Constantine got church leaders together and then decided which books to accept, hogwash. They did get together but they just confirmed what had been agreed upon for years. Ever read some of the books that were rejected, crazy stuff. Sad that we make the Bible so boring, John in Revelation exercises all five senses.

1. Revelation 1:17- "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me." Have to imagine Jesus touching us- He touched me, Oh, he touched me. Baptism is touching experience, use all 5 senses, totally immersed. People want experience and this one exercises all 5 senses

2. From this we taste and see (sight, talk about later) that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. John is Revelation has a different take on this. Revelation 10:9-10: "So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour." What does this mean? We must experience the sweetness of the message but also experience the suffering, the cross bearing (the offense of the cross), which will be our lot as we proclaim it. In communion, we taste that the Lord is good and his gospel is sweet but we also know that this is offensive to some (body and blood stuff).