An Everlasting Kingdom
Griffith Baptist Church – 5/11/08
P.M. Service
Text: Daniel 6:25-28
Main Verse: Daniel 6:26 - I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
The Introduction
Explanation of Darius Decree – 6:25-27
Fortuneteller, gazing into crystal ball, to frog: You are going to meet a beautiful young woman. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you—you’ll fascinate her.”
Frog: “Where am I? At a singles club?”
Fortuneteller: “Biology class.” Source unknown
Our future as Christians is not as dismal as the frog.
Even though we don’t know the fine details of our futures, the Bible reveals enough to get us excited and keep us going.
Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that "more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy...Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the N.T., there are more than 300 references to the Lord’s return--one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event...For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s second coming." SOURCE: Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 40. Submitted by Guy Caley
Transition Statement: First, let us see the view of the future kingdom of God.
Body
1. The View of the Kingdom
A. Christ preparing for us – John 14:1-2 - 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
B. The Rapture of the Church – 1 Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
i. This is:
a. Instantaneous (twinkling of an eye)
b. Audible (the trumpet will sound)
c. Eternally transforming (we shall be changed)
ii. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
a. Hope of the resurrection (13-14)
b. Hope of the coming of the Lord in our lifetime (15)
c. Certainty of Christ coming for His church, the living and the dead (16)
d. Certainty of a reunion of Christ and our loved ones (17)
e. Comfort because of this promise (18)
C. The future eternal kingdom in the New Jerusalem – Read Revelation 21:1-22:5
i. Everything will be brand new – 21:1
a. The old heaven and earth are done away with – 2 Peter 3:10-13 - 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
b. It is a new beginning in every way
ii. The benefits of the New Jerusalem – 21:2-8
a. The awesome, holy presence of God among men (3)
b. The eradication of all separation and suffering (4)
c. Everything is new and alive (5-7
iii. The description of the New Jerusalem – 21:9-27
a. Beautiful and crystal clear (11)
b. 12 gates with the names of the tribes of Israel on each one, three on each side (12-13)
c. 12 foundations stones in the wall with each of the names of the apostles (14)
d. The city was 1500 miles high, 1500 miles wide, and 1500 miles deep (15-16). In modern day thinking this would stretch from New York City to Denver, CO and from Canada to Florida.
e. The walls are about 216 feet high (17)
f. The foundation is 12 layers thick each made of a precious and costly stone (18-20)
g. Each gate is made out of a single pearl (21)
h. The street of the city is made out of pure gold (21). Gold becomes transparent in its purest form. NOTE: This is where we get the term “pearly gates” and “golden streets” from. Actually it is the golden street.
i. The Father and the Son are the temple, the central place of worship (22)
j. The Father and Son illuminate everything so there is no need for the sun or moon or any artificial light (23)
k. A place of worship and light forever and will always be open (24-26)
iv. The glory of the New Jerusalem – 22:1-5
a. The river or the water of life, eternal life, flowing from the throne (1)
b. The tree of life with endless fruit and provision on it (2). When God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, he put at Adam’s disposal the tree of life. But when man sinned, he was driven from Eden and from this tree (see Gen. 2:9; 3:24). At this point in human history the tree of life disappears, but here in the New Jerusalem it reappears, to bloom and blossom as never before.
c. The presence of God: (3-5)
• No more curse of sin and its existence or consequences – Genesis 2:17 - But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
• Service to God
• Seeing God
• Endless supply of light from God
Transition Statement: Second, what do we need to do to prepare for His kingdom?
2. The Preparation for the Kingdom
A. Salvation
i. Hebrews 12:14 - Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
ii. The only way this can be done is through salvation in Jesus Christ
iii. John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
B. His Church
i. The church is the bride of Christ
a. The Bride’s introduction to a new home - Revelation 21:9 – And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
b. The mention of who the Bride is - Ephesians 5:22-32 - 22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
ii. Why it is vital to be in church and meet together - Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
a. A little old lady was amazed at how nice the young man was next door. Everyday he would help her gather things from her car or help her in her yard. One day the old lady finally ask the young man, "son, how did you become such a fine young man". The young man replied, "well, when I was a boy, I had a drug problem". The old lady was shocked, "I can’t believe that". The young man replied, "it’s true, my parents drug me to church on Sunday morning, drug me to church on Sunday night and drug me to church on Wednesday night"
b. To draw close to God together
c. To draw strength from each other (exhorting)
d. To learn His Word, doctrine and above all, to know Him
e. To prepare for His return so that we are holy and pure as Christ gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:27 - That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.)
C. Our Hearts
i. Pure Heart - Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
ii. Heavenly Heart - Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
iii. Godly Heart - Matthew 22:37 – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
iv. Strong heart - James 5:8 – Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Conclusion:
Have you prepared for the future by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior?
Christian, are you prepared for the future?
