Loving Your Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-15-2022

Ephesians 5:25-33

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Hebrews 10:25-27 are possibly the most quoted verses concerning church attendance and has been normally been preached as a negative. 

 

1.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “As the manner of some is.”  The word manner means a custom or habitual practice.  There are so many people who professed to be saved that have no desire to be faithful to the local church. 

 

2.  We have a good nucleus here at Temple.  I want to encourage the “as the manner of some is” this morning to get in.  I also want to encourage the faithful to stay in. Many of the unfaithful were once faithful. 

  

B.  There has been a great forsaking of the assembling in the past few decades with many in America unchurched.  What happened?  Desire and delight turned into discipline and drudgery! Discipline without desire and delight is a recipe for disaster!

 

1.  Our nation if following the same path as England and Europe: the path of godlessness which always leads to ungodliness. 

 

2.  The faithful few that make up the nucleus of the local church have become fewer in number, especially Sunday and Wednesday night crowds.  Few want any time of “extra” services such as revival meetings or mission conferences.

 

3.  Sunday has become a day of recreation. 

 

C.  With some, it is a salvation problem. 

 

1.  In the Bible, when people got saved, they assembled!  I thank God that, when we got saved, Barbara and I “got in!”  We have been faithful to church for 46 years! 

 

2.  With others, it is the problem of worldliness.  These have the love of Ephesus, the deadness of Sardis, and the apathy of Laodicea.  As Demas forsook Paul, having loved this present world, people of our day forsake the church.

 

D.  With many, it is a leaving your “first love” problem.  This morning, I want to encourage you to love your church!  Make it a major part of your life.  What a privilege it is to come to church!  What a blessing to be able to come to church!  What a benefit to be able to come to church!

 

Why should you love the Church:

 

1.  It Is The Place That God Loves - Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.  (Jesus Christ died for the Church!  He gave His life for that which He loves.  Truly, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  When you get saved, you should love what God loves!)

 

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

2.  It Is The Place Of Worship - Psalms 5:7   But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.  (You can and should worship anywhere but the church house is a special place.  It was a place built to worship in.  You can come here and sing as loud as you please; you can say “Amen” or shout “Glory to God;” you can give your tithe and offerings scripturally in God’s house.  What a blessing!)

 

 

Psalms 84:1-2, 10  How amiable (no love of church) are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  (2)  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD (no longing for church): my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God (no desire for God).  

 

(10)  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God (no love of service in the church), than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

3.  It Is The Place Of Preaching And Teach God’s Word - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (You probably know it by now but I love this blessed old King James Bible that I hold in my hand.  We can read it at home; We can study it at home; but here in the house of the Lord, men of God preach like they know what they are preaching about!  I rejoice with the Apostle Paul when the Bible is heralded and the preacher lifts up his voice like a trumpet!)

 

4.  It Is The Place Where God’s People Gather - Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.  (The greatest people on earth are there!  When I got saved I fell in love with a lot of things that please God but one of the greatest of all was the people of God.  No, they are not perfect but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ!  We are all in the Body of Christ which is the Family of God and we love you!)

 

Acts 2:46-47  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  (47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

6.  It Is God’s Instrument For World Evangelism - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.  (I love to give an offering to missions!  We can help support precious families as they cover the globe preaching the same gospel that we preach.  Missionaries are the greatest people in the world!  There is no greater calling than that.  Carrying the Word of God to a world that needs Jesus Christ and we can help go by giving!  We can personally witness to the Lost and occasionally see one get saved!)

Introduction to Psalms

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-15-2022

Psalm 1:1-6

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Tonight, I will begin preaching through the Jewish Hymnbook, the Book of Psalms.  I want to give a generalized and short introduction to the Book of Psalms.

 

B.  The Hebrew name for the Book of Psalms means praises upon instruments accompanied by voice.  Today, we call our "psalms" hymns.  Hymns are an important part of our worship just as these Psalms were to Israel.

 

C.  A psalm is an ode (an epic or story normally based upon personal experience).  "It Is Well" is a hymn that we are familiar with that shows the personal faith of H. G. Spafford in a time of tragedy and great loss when his four daughters died on a transatlantic voyage.  Psalms were normally accompanied by a harp, flute, or other musical instrument and were meant to be sung in worship by the Jews.  Paul alluded to these in three types in Ephesians 5:19. 

 

Ephesians 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

 

D.  Of the 150 Psalms, over one hundred have a pre-fixed inscription containing the particulars of the Psalm along with direction to the musician as to the style of the accompanying instrument.  Our hymns are also set to music, either by the writer of the song or by a musician who wrote the music to which it is sung. 

 

E.  “The Chief Musician” (55x) was a reference to the superintendent of the music or the overseer of the Psalms.  Habakkuk possibly refers him as “the chief singer.”

 

Habakkuk 3:19  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

 

F.  Psalms is also called “The Psalms of David" as he wrote almost half of them.  There are 150 psalms and David is known for 73 of them and possibly more that do not bear his name.

 

G.  David used his musical talents to create instruments and to beautify the worship of the Sanctuary and is referred to as "The Sweet Psalmist of Israel."

 

2 Samuel 23:1  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

 

H.  The Book of Psalms contains 150 Psalms that are independent of each other making it impossible to give an overall analysis of the Book.  The Jewish people divided the Book of Psalms in this way:

 

1.  Psalms 1-41 – Genesis

 

2.  Psalms 43-72 – Exodus

 

3.  Psalms 73-89 – Leviticus

 

4.  Psalms 90-106 – Numbers

 

5.  Psalms 1-7-150 - Deuteronomy

 

J.  Though different and independent, as a whole, they convey a consistent system of moral truth.

 

1.  They are Poetical.  Hebrew poetry.  Most of our songs are also poetical as they rhyme.

 

2.  They are Lyrical.  They are written to music and adapted to musical instruments.

 

3.  They are Devotional.  They are:

 

a)  Didactic—moralistic, portraying both good and bad.  Good and bad people, God’s Law, the vanity of human life, and the duty of rulers.

 

b)  Praise—for the goodness of God to Israel, to good men, mercies to individuals, and for God’s attributes.

 

c)  Devotional—Penitence, trust in trouble, sorrow in hope, peach in distress, desire for help, intercession

 

4.  Historical.  They are a historical record of the lives and deeds of the Jewish people.

 

5.  Prophetical.  Many of ours are also prophetical as they speak of the return of Christ and the beauty of heaven.

 

K.  Found in this devotional nature of the Psalms, we find theological doctrines, the nature—attributes—perfections—providence—grace—mercies—and works of God.

 

L.  The Book of Psalms is instructive in its purpose as they address how we are to praise and trust in the Lord at all times, both good times and bad times.

 

"Although thousands of years old, virtually all the psalms, in one way or another, mirror our own struggles and our joys today. Whatever a particular psalm’s subject may be, each gives voice to the emotions we feel as we grapple with life’s issues. Some psalms capture our delight in God as we experience the divine presence with us through a tough situation that has had a good ending. Others express raw emotions of anger or grief in a struggle to understand why God has not acted as we thought he would when “the wicked triumph.” In some, God speaks. In others God is silent."  (Theology of Work Project, Inc)

 

M.  As we go through the Book of Psalms, we will find that they involve every aspect of our human existence, from birth to death and will therefore be an encouragement and help "in time of trouble." 

 

1.  Psalms of Deliverance - Psalms 126:1-3 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.  The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

2.  Psalms of Encouragement - Psalms 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

3.  Psalms of Comfort - Psalms 42:8  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

4.  Psalms of Rejoicing - Psalms 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

5.  Psalms of Redemption – Psalms 40:13  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

6.  Psalms of Thanksgiving - Psalms 69:30  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

7.  Psalms of Faith - Acts 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God (probably from the Psalms): and the prisoners heard them.

8.  Psalms of Endurance- Psalms 119:54  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Five Last Things

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-8-2022

Revelation 22:17-21

 

A.  Tonight, we will read the end of the Book of Revelation.  What a joy it has been to preach through this wonderful book of prophecy.  There is so much more that could have been said but then it would have taken a lifetime to do so.  I pray that it has been a blessing to each of you.

 

B.  As the Holy Ghost brings the book to a close, there are five last things found in these verses.  These are important things as we often say that He saved the best for last.

 

C.  Verse 17.  A last invitation.  Salvation offered until the end.  You never know when you will be offered your last invitation to be saved.  I pray that all have come to Christ through faith in His finished work, the Gospel!  His vicarious death according to the Scriptures, His burial, and His glorious bodily resurrection.  "It is finished!"  You cannot add to or take away from the Gospel.  To do so is to destroy the Gospel message.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

 

D.  The Spirit says, "Come."  John 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

E.  The Bride says, "Come."  The Church is to preach the Gospel to all who come.  Every creature needs a preacher!  The Bible is not speaking of a pastor or evangelist.  It speaks of all who know Christ having an obligation to share the Gospel with the lost. 

 

Romans 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

F.  Those who heareth say, "Come."  We who have heard the Book of Revelation understand that life eternal hinges upon the Word of God and there is a final state to be shunned called the Lake of Fire.  How can we hear, know, and remain silent?

 

G.  The "water of life" is eternal, it is available to all, it is free, and it is satisfying.  He who hears and thirsts for the Water of Eternal Life needs to come while the door of invitation remains open.  This Water of Eternal Life is free to "whosoever will" come.  Christ died for the sins of the whole world and will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Isaiah 55:1-3  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  (2)  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.  (3)  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

 

H.  Verses 18-19.  A last warning!  Leave God's Word alone!  There are three "Sentinels" or "Watchmen" found in the Bible concerning the Word of God.  The last being these two verses.

 

Deuteronomy 4:2  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

 

Proverbs 30:5-6  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  (6)  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

J.  For the past 140 years, men have become Bible correctors instead of Bible believers and have used other text and "bibles" to correct the King James Bible and the Textus Receptus.  Men now correct the Bible without fear instead of allowing the Bible to correct them in fear. 

 

K.  God said to neither "add to" in verse 18 nor to "take away" in verse 19.  The warning is clear.

 

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." 

 

"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

 

L.  In both verses, we find "words" mentioned.  Every critical text and every perverted version add to and takes away from this blessed old King James Bible.  "Every word of God is pure" is found in Proverbs 30:5.

 

M.  Verse 20.  A last promise.  The Old Testament ends with the promise of Christ's First Advent and the New Testament ends with the promise of Christ's Second Advent.  As surely as Christ came the first time and came on time, He will come the second time and on time.

 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

N.  Verse 20.  A last prayer.  John's answer to Christ coming begins with a prayer.  The first word of the prayer is "Amen."  "Let it be so!"  I thank God that I know that what Christ says is "so!"  The second part of this prayer is "Even so come, Lord Jesus."  Our prayer is for the Lord to come quickly.  The older that I get, the more I long for the day when I see Christ!

 

O.  Verse 21.  A last benediction.  A benediction is a closing prayer normally prayed at the end of a gathering of God's people. The Bible is a book of grace.  From the salvation of Adam and Eve through sacrifice until the last soul comes to Christ by faith.  Grace for salvation and grace to live in this life and grace to die if that is the way that we must go.  Saved by grace, kept by grace, continue by grace.  What a way to end to the book: "Amen!?  And all God's people said, "Amen!"

Loving One Another

Temple Baptist Church - 5-1-2022

John 13:31-35

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we began a series on the Fruit of the Spirit.  Being filled with the Spirit, which is a command of God, means that we have the fruit of the Spirit.  Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.  Three inward, three outward, three upward.

 

B.  When speaking of love, our love for God will dictate our love for all other things. 

 

1 John 4:19-21  We love him, because he first loved us.  (20)  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  (21)  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

 

C.  If we love God, we will love one another! 

 

D.  In our text, we find a new commandment: We Are To Love One Another -

 

1.  Verse 34.  We are taught of God to love one another.  John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.   

 

1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God ("as I have loved you") to love one another.  (Oh, what love!  Our Lord Jesus loves us despite faults and failures.  His love is an overlooking love.  He looks beyond our fault and sees our need.)

 

2.  Verse 35.  We are commanded of God to have love one To another.  John 13:35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  ("love one TO another" is an interesting phrase.  We can love one another without showing that love one to another.  "Don't tell me that you love me, show me that you love me" is an expression that I have heard many times.)

 

E.  In the absence of the physical presence of the Lord, our love for one another is the bond that holds the church together. 

 

Ephesians 4:1-3  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  (2)  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  (3)  Endeavouring (to labor diligently; this speaks of hard work, continuing work, necessary work) to keep the unity (oneness)  of the Spirit in the bond (to tie together) of peace.

 

1.  It Is A Witnessing Love - John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

2.  It Is An Assuring Love - 1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

 

3.  It Is A Forgiving Love - Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

4.  It Is A Compassionate Love - John 15:12-13  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

1 John 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

5.  It Is A Sincere Love - Romans 12:9-10  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 

a.  You like to be with them.

 

b.  You do not talk about them.

 

c.  You do not envy them.

 

d.  You only want the best for them.

 

e.  You do your best to help them.

 

f.  You give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

g.  You hold them up in prayer.

 

h.  You try to encourage them.

 

i.  You are willing to forgive them.

 

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Final Things

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-1-2022

Revelation 22:12-16

 

A.  Verse 9-11.  We ended last week with the admonition " And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."  We who are saved, and Bible believers understand the times in which we live and the timeframe of the prophecy of the end times which begins with the rapture of the church.  One of the saddest verses found in the Bible speaks of the destruction of God's people through a lack of knowledge.

 

Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

 

B.  Why do God's people not have a knowledge of spiritual things when they have the Bible in their hands? 

 

Because of the Pastors in the Pulpits - Amos 8:11-12  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:  (12)  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

 

Because of the People sitting in the Pews - Jeremiah 5:30-31  A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;  (31)  The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

 

C.  People have this preconceived idea that they can live for self and this world and wait until the last minute to be saved.  Yes, people can be saved on their death beds, but this is a rarity and normally occurs with people who have not heard a clear presentation of the gospel.  How you live is normally how you die!  What you are is what you will always be!

 

D.  Verse 12.  Behold is a strong word and is so much more than to just see something.  To beware of; to perceive; to understand.  The imminence of His return is found in the words "I come quickly!"  When the Lord comes, it will be suddenly but not without warning.  For years God's men have preached on the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the eternality of the state of men, either saved or lost.  No Purgatory and no Limbo.  Heaven or Hell!  When our Lord comes, it will be an immediate thing. 

 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

Revelation 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 

Revelation 19:11-13  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.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

 

E.  "and my reward is with me"  While salvation is faith based, reward is works based.  We need to look at a couple of verses in chapter 20 concerning the record of books where our works are recorded.  In these verses, we find that every work that has ever been done has been faithfully recorded.

 

Revelation 20:12-13  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.

 

The wicked will be rewarded for their evil works and the saved will be rewarded later for their good works.  The wicked will be judged by their works (Revelation 3:12-13) and the saved will be rewarded for their works (Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).  The wicked will be rewarded both individually and equally; the saved will be rewarded both individually and equally.  God is no respecter of persons.

 

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 

F.  Verse 13.  Though these three pictures of Christ seem to be the same, there are distinct differences.  "I am" goes with each of these descriptions as it is the name of Jehovah God, I AM THAT I AM.  This name of God refers to both His eternality and self-existence. 

 

"I Am Alpha and Omega" speaks of His Eternal Person: His Omniscience. He knows all things. He Knows the end from the beginning; He knows all about us; He knows our thoughts afar off.  He is Complete.

 

"I AM the Beginning and the End" speaks of His Eternal Power: He is Omnipotence.  In the beginning He created all things and in the end, He will restore all things as they were in the beginning.  He is Timeless.

 

"I AM the First and the Last" speaks of His Eternal Preeminence: He is Omnipresent.  He was the First and He will be the Last.  He will be everything in between.  He is Sovereign.

 

G.  Verse 14.  Here we find the seventh of the Beatitudes of the Blessed.  People of our day are not friendly towards commandments.  Humanism, which is the religion of self, has taught people to be rebellious towards all authority.  God's people are different.  They not only know God's commandments but also endeavor to keep them.

 

1 John 5:2-3  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

 

In the beginning of creation, the right to eat of the Tree of Life was granted to Adam and Eve through their obedience to God's commandment.

 

Genesis 2:16-17  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (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.

 

The same is in the end of all things.  Those who know and do His commandments will have an eternal right to eat of the Tree of Life.  Right to do is through obedience to God's command.

 

H.  Verse 15.  God's people are within but the wicked are "without," a reference to the Lake of Fire as all wicked people who have not come to Christ in faith will be there.  They are without hope, they are without happiness, they are without rights of any kind, and they are without God's new heaven and new earth!  They will not defile eternity.  This list given goes along with Revelation 21:8, 27.

 

The First Mention of the word "defiled" is the destruction of purity and innocence.  Genesis 34:2  And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

 

The Last Mention of the word is "defileth."" Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

J.  Verse 16.  Here we see the Author, "I Jesus."  This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and Eschatology (The study of prophecy or things to come.).  I am glad that we have this precious, powerful book of the Bible so as to know what is coming.  A man once said that he did not like all the vegetables that he was made to eat as a child.  Some he liked and some he did not, but he was taught to eat what was before him.  One thing he loved about meals of his youth was when his heard his mother say, when she took his empty plate away, "Keep your fork!"  Things will get worse and worse in the world but "Keep your fork!" 

 

K.  "I am the root and the offspring of David"  The "root" speaks of His deity as He was the "root" from which David sprang.  Our Lord once told the Pharisees, "Before Abraham was, I am."  In both places, our Lord establishes His eternality.  The "offspring of David" establishes His humanity, born of the seed of the woman through the royal line of David.  Jesus Christ was both God and man, the God-man: 100 percent God and 100 percent man.

 

L.  "The bright and morning star"  When we see Christ, as the bight and morning star opens the day, our Bright and Morning Star will open an eternal one.  A new age will dawn which shall never fade away.