I Shall Be Satisfied

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-3-2023

Psalm 17:13-15

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Tonight’s Psalm is another that can be preached in many ways, so I want to look at a phrase in it tonight that believe that will be a blessing to each of us.

 

B.  In verses 13-14, we see the prospering of the wicked around us. 

 

1.  They seem to have more than the righteous and the tendency is to envy them to some degree. Many of God’s children have chosen the better things of life at the expense of the luxurious things of life.

 

2.  When we envy the world, we strive to emulate the world.  So many of God’s people are caught up in “getting, getting, getting” instead of “giving, giving, giving!”  The Bible says that it is better to give than to receive!

 

3.  Their “portion” is in this life, so I am glad that they have at least a temporal enjoyment.  God is good to the unsaved!  It rains on the just and the unjust.

 

4.  Their bellies are full here, but they pass their riches down to children who will possibly or probably squander all they worked hard to earn.

 

C.  The Psalmist, in verse 15, gives us a proper, biblical perspective of death or the Second Coming of Christ.  Our “portion” will be an eternal one.

 

1.  The word “satisfied” in found 43x and “satisfaction” 2x in the Bible with every mention of these words found in the Old Testament!

 

2.  “Contentment” is found several times in the New Testament, but “contentment” is not “satisfaction.”  I often tell people that I am content but not satisfied.  I am good with the things that are but would love to see things better.  We are never satisfied.

 

D.  We often confuse these two words because we live in a temporal, ever changing world.

 

1.  We often confuse the words “satisfied” and “content.”  We can be content but not satisfied though we may often use the word “satisfied.”  Temporal thing may bring a measure of joy but things often change and men become dissatisfied.

 

2.  Contentment means that you can be comfortable in your present condition.  You eat until you are content but will later become hungry again because your physical appetite will soon return. Dissatisfaction then becomes their driving force.

 

3.When truly satisfied in the eternal sense means that you will never desire or seek anything different because you have all you could possibly want forever. 

 

E.  The Psalmist lived in the light of his impending death.  Today, we do have another scenario facing us, the Rapture of God’s Church.  But, the Psalmist understood that he would awake in Glory and be satisfied when he took on the likeness of the Lord.

 

F.  Eternity has an unnumbered amount of things that will satisfy us so here are just a few.

 

1.  Satisfied with Our Saviour.  1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

2.  Satisfied with Our Likeness.  1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

3.  Satisfied with Our Bodies.  1 Corinthians 15:52-53  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.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 

4.  Satisfied with Our People.  Revelation 7:9-10  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  (10)  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

 

5.  Satisfied with Our Home.  John 14:2  In 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.

 

6.  Satisfied with Our Surroundings.  Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 

 

7.  Satisfied with New Jerusalem.  Revelation 21: 2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 

8.  Satisfied with Our Eternity.  1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

Conclusion:  One day just like today and could be today, we will leave or earthly home behind and wake up in the likeness of our Lord and Saviour.  In that day we will be completely and eternally satisfied.

The Second Coming of Christ - Part 3 - KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-23-2022

Revelation 19:14-16

 

A.  In verse 11, we saw His appearance in the Second Coming or Advent.  Revelation 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

 

B.  In His First Advent, He came meek and lowly, riding on the foal of an ass.  In His First Advent, He came as a Babe born in humility; He came born in poverty as He that was rich became poor for us that through His poverty, we might be made rich; He was born in the weakness of humanity that He might be touched with feeling of our infirmity as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.   In His First Advent, He established His Second Advent.

 

Isaiah 9:6a "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given …"

 

C.  In His Second Advent, He comes as The Word of God: "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."  The Lion of the tribe of Judah!

 

Isaiah 6:6b-7 "and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (7)  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

 

D.  The Contrast of the two Advents.

 

First Advent—meek and lowly / Second Advent—power and glory.

First Advent—a Lamb / Second Advent—a Lion.

First Advent—riding the foal of an ass / Second Advent—riding a white horse.

First Advent—a carpenter-servant / Second Advent—a conquering Sovereign.

First Advent—He wore a crown of thorns / Second Advent—He will wear a golden crown (Revelation 14:14)

First Advent—He died for the sins of the world / Second Advent—He will judge the sins of the world.

First Advent—He became obedient to death / Second Advent—He will do away with death.

 

E.  Verse 14.  Here we see His followers.  The word "armies" is used in this instance instead of "army."  Most nations on earth have an army: a military branch to serve and protect.  The plural usage is because His armies will be made up of multitudes that will come from every nation on earth.  In verse 19, the Bible uses the word "army" as opposed to the "armies" of the beast and the kings of the earth.  There is no contradiction here in the word usage.  The LORD's "armies" will be diverse in their ethnicity but totally unified in their following.  Thus the "armies" will be an "army." 

 

F.  Allow me to illustrate what I believe that the Bible is saying.  In the WWI and WWII, we had "armies" that fought together to defeat a common enemy.  Today, we have the United Nations that often sends an occupation force to an area in a "peace keeping" role or, in extreme cases, to fight a common enemy.  These "armies" fight together but are far from unified which often causes conflict of interests among the sending nations.  The LORD's armies, though diverse in their original ethnicity, are totally unified in their allegiance and purpose.

 

G.  His armies come down from heaven with Him and likewise ride upon white horses.  Their clothing will be the righteousness of God, illustrated by the fine linen, white and clean.  The armies of the beast and kings of the earth will no doubt be as varied in their clothing as they are in their ethnicity.

 

H.  Verse 15.  Here we find the inspiration of God's Word, "Out of His mouth," and the characteristic of God's Word, "sharp sword. 

 

Hebrews 4:12-13  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  (13)  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

 

God's Word is quick—alive; God's Word is powerful—wonderous in its accomplishments; God's Word is sharp—it cuts to the heart and soul of man; God's Word is discerning—both the thoughts and intents of the heart; God's Word is all-seeing—nothing is hidden from it.

 

J.  He is coming to Smite the Nations at Armageddon for their rebellion; He is coming to Rule the Nations during the Kingdom Age in righteousness and equity; He is coming to Judge the Nations in His fierceness and wrath for their rejection.

 

K.  The theme of the Bible is all about ownership.  The words "King" and "Kingdom" are found throughout the Bible as the two together are mentioned 3,273x.  As Adam and Eve walked with the Voice of God in the beginning of creation, it will be the ultimate state of man to eternally with the Voice of God.  God's desire was always to establish His kingdom on the earth but it was corrupted by sin.  He is coming again to reestablish His kingdom on earth in righteousness.

 

L.  Psalms 22, 23, and 24 form what is called a trilogy.  Psalm 22 portrays the Cross of Christ; Psalm 23 portrays the Care of Christ; Psalm 24 portrays the Coming of Christ.  In Psalm 24, we find a description of the Coming of Christ:

 

Psalms 24:7-10  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  (8)  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  (9)  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  (10)  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

 

Jesus was hailed as a King at His birth - Matthew 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

When the people saw the miracles that Jesus performed, they desired to make Him King - John 6:13-15  Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.  (14)  Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.  (15)  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

 

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people called Him King - Luke 19:37-38  And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;  (38)  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

 

Pilate questioned Jesus pertaining to His kingship - John 18:33-40  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?  (34)  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?  (35)  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?  (36)  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.  (37)  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.  (38)  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.  (39)  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?  (40)  Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

 

Pilate placed Jesus before the crowd with this statement - John 19:14  And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

 

The soldiers mocked Christ - Matthew 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

 

Pilate placed a sign upon Jesus' cross - Matthew 27:37  And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

Paul announced Christ's coming to Timothy - 1 Timothy 6:13-16  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;  (14)  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:  (15)  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;  (16)  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

M.  I believe that one verse in Acts says it all - Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

 

Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

The Second Coming of Christ - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 1-2-2022

Revelation 19:11-16

 

A.  Last week, we looked at some of the prophecies concerning the Second Advent or Coming of Christ.  The Bible teaches that Christ's return will be comparable to His first ascent to heaven.  It will be a literal, physical, visible return to this earth.  He will establish His kingdom and reign upon the throne of David for one thousand years.

 

B.  Verse 11.  His Person.  He will be the right One.  In Revelation chapter 6:1, we saw the False Messiah, Antichrist, coming on a white horse to set up his ungodly, unrighteous kingdom on earth.  He will be the hero of this lost world as well as the destruction of it. In this verse, we see the True Messiah, Christ Jesus—Jehovah God—will come to set up His kingdom in righteousness and judgment coming on a white horse.  His description is found in the words Faithful and True.  He is faithful to His Word; He is faithful to His promise; He is faithful to His people; and He is faithful to His purposes.  He is True.  In Him is no unrighteousness at all; in Him is no untruth at all; in Him is no compromise at all!

 

The first time He entered Jerusalem, He was riding upon the "foal of an ass."  He came lowly in salvation.  Zechariah 9:9  "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

 

The second time, He is riding upon a white horse in judgment.  Jeremiah 33:14-15  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.  (15)  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

 

He is faithful to His Word and promises.  He will be faithful in His judgment.  Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

He is True because He is Truth.  Revelation 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 

C.  Verse 11.  His Initial Purpose.  He is coming to judge in righteousness.  Jesus Christ comes to make war on Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the kings of the earth.  The earth is "ripe" and the time is "right" and His judgment will be "just."  Antichrist made war in unrighteousness against the righteous saints of God; Jesus Christ will make war in righteousness against the unrighteous followers of Antichrist.

 

Exodus 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Ecclesiastes 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

D.  Verse 12.  His eyes were as a flame of fire.  This speaks of His glory and His righteous judgment.  His eyes are discerning as He knows all things. 

 

In His eyes we find wisdom.  Revelation 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

 

In His eyes we find discernment.  Revelation 2:18-19  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;  (19)  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

 

E.  Verse 12.  On His head were many crowns.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be five crowns to be won.  Those crowns are not to be worn by God's people but to be cast at the feet of Him that is worthy to wear them.  The song writer wrote, "Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne."  Jesus Christ alone is worthy to wear these crowns!  These are the crowns of His authority; crowns of His sovereignty; crowns of His power; crowns of His position and person; crowns of His glory.

 

Revelation 4:10-11  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

F.  Verse 12.  The mystery of His unknown name.  It will be a "name written" that is peculiar to His person and unknown to the writer or to the riders.  It is a mystery to mankind.  I will spend no time here other than to say that if no one knows this name, I can reflect upon it no more.  Though we do not know this name, we do know that name that is above all others.

 

Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

G.  Verse 13.  His clothing.  "A vesture dipped in blood."  When Christ was crucified, the Jewish Nation rejected their Messiah and gave their voice to His death.  With an oath, they called down the judgment of God upon themselves and their children.  The Nation of Israel plunged into spiritual darkness that was a self-made darkness.

 

Matthew 27:24-26  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  (25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  (26)  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

 

Romans 11:7-10  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded  (8)  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.  (9)  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:  (10)  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

 

Romans 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

2 Corinthians 3:13-16  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  (14)  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  (15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

 

H.  Verse 13.  His name is called The Word of God.  You cannot biblically separate Jesus Christ from His Word!  He is called "The Word of God."  Notice the definite article "The" is capitalized.  It is not "a" word of God, it is "The Word of God."  One of a kind as it stands alone.

 

The Person of The Word of God.  The Word always was with God and the Word always was God.  John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

The Eternality of The Word of God.  Psalms 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

 

The Manifestation of The Word of God.  The Word of God became flesh.  John 1:14-15  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

 

The Fellowship of The Word of God.  "And these things write we unto you."  All that we know about God is found in the Written Word of God.  1 John 1:1-4  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;  (2)  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)  (3)  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  (4)  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 

The Promise of The Word of God.  Psalms 12:6-7  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  (7)  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

 

The Unity of The Word of God.  1 John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ promised that He would come again.  In His First Advent, Israel expected a King but received a Lamb.  In His Second Advent, Israel will receive their King who was a Lamb!

The Day of God

Temple Baptist Church - 6-27-2018

2 Peter 3:10-13

Introduction:

A.  As we get to the end of the Book of 2 Peter, we find the eminent Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the impending judgement of fallen angels, the unsaved, and the removal of the curse placed upon God’s creation.  Two things:

1.  “Looking For” – As God’s children, we are excited in anticipation of eternity.  A new body, a new home, and a new heaven and earth.

2.  “Hastening Unto” – It will not be long until time is no more!  As we studied in Romans, chapter 8, we found the saved groaning, the creation groaning, and the Holy Ghost groaning.  The Lord told John, “Behold, I come quickly.”  This does not reference a set time but the suddenness of His coming.  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

3.  “Righteousness” – Sin judged and the curse removed.

B.  I know that men of God have expounded these verses, but I have never personally heard a sermon preached on the subject.  I have never had a pastor who preached through the books of the Bible verse by verse.  I believe that this failure (I am not knocking my pastors but explaining the necessity of preaching verse by verse) has led to God’s people having a “lack of knowledge” that has hurt their spiritual growth. 

C.   I just want to take a few minutes and look at the sequence of the removal of the curse of sin.  The why, when, where, and time of sin’s curse removed from God’s creation.

1.  God’s creation in all of its purity and perfection. 

Genesis 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Very-vehemence, a superlative; good-beautiful, bountiful, a very good thing, something very special.)

Genesis 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  (No theistic evolution: finished, all the host of them.)

Job 38:5-7  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?  (6)  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;  (7)  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalms 19:1-3  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  (2)  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  (3)  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

2.  Sin’s entrance and the curse of God’s creation implemented. 

Genesis 3:17-19  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  (18)  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  (19)  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 5:29  And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands,because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

Isaiah 24:4-6  The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.  (5)  The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.  (6)  Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Job 25:5  Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

3.  The creation’s curse removed, and righteousness restored.  There will be a two-fold judgement for sin taking place at the same time:

a.  The Great White Throne Judgement – Revelation 20:11-15  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (God’s judgement for man’s sinfulness is Fire!)

2 Peter 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  (Peter, timewise, ties the judgement of ungodly men and the renewal of the universe together!)

b.  The Removal of the Curse of the Heavens and the Earth:

1)  The Time of the Renewal – Revelation 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  The key to know the time of the renovation is found in Revelation 21:1: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

2)  The Method of the Renewal - 2 Peter 3:10-13  But 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.  (11)  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (12)  Looking 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?  (13)  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (God’s judgement for sin in the heavens and the earth is also by Fire!)