Calvary Chapel Of Crook County - Main

The end of Revelation - a section of invitation - closes out with the message: "Jesus is coming quickly." This doesn't so much mean He's coming tomorrow or the next day, although He could, but rather when He comes, it will be quick. Instantaneous. We need to be ready, and Jesus invites anyone who would hear His words to turn from sin and wait for Him. We are also told that as we are found, so shall we be eternally. Change won't be possible after he comes. Found dirty, we'll be dirty forever and cast into hell. Found clean, we'll be with Him forever in heaven. Jesus is the first and last and completes everything. To love Him is to obey Him.

In this final chapter of Revelation, we see the restoration of the earth as a restored Eden. Life flows from the throne of God, both as a river of life and a new tree of life. The nations are healed, all things are restored and the curse is no more. The Throne of God will be there and due to His radiance, there will never be darkness. We will see His face and spend eternity gloriously serving Him through serving one another.

John is shown the New Jerusalem, where the redeemed from all the ages will go for eternity. The city is huge - 3.375 trillion cubic miles in size - and made of pure gold. Its splendor, glory, and radiance are beyond comprehension. No artificial illumination is needed as it is illuminated by the glory of God. There is no night and those who dwell there are in complete safety.

The Resurrection is the most important thing Jesus did and is the best-proven fact in history. Everything depends on this issue. If His claims are true, so are His promises. Six main points of the Resurrection include: it's the foundation of Christianity, it was predicted, the tomb was empty, there were eyewitness accounts, there was the witness of the Apostles, and there is a historical record.

All things are made new in this passage of Revelation. God may either renew His existing creation or may start over - it's not clear. In any case, there will be a purification of some sort. All the negatives and the discoloration of sin will be gone. New Jerusalem will be established as a redeemed community in heaven - beautiful and not made by man. God will dwell with mankind and us with Him. Pain will be no more and death will be dead. This is a full inheritance for those who overcome but for others, it constitutes the second, eternal death.

Continuing in Revelation, we come to the Great White Throne Judgment, the judgment for those who haven't believed in Christ. The non-believers are raised from the dead, the Lamb's Book of Life is opened, and if their names aren't found there they are sent to eternal fire. Those who have rejected Christ will be judged by their deeds which don't measure up to the perfection required by God. Those who have trusted in Christ have their names written the Book of Life and will live forever in the presence of the Lord.

As we enter what may be a new norm - at least temporarily - of gathering together via the internet, it is important to remember that we continue to do so. We need to assemble on a regular basis and even more as we see the day of the Lord approaching. We also need to provoke one another to love and good works. Provoke can also mean incite. It is the responsibility of every Christian to intentionally exhort one another on an increasing basis.

Having had the Nepal mission trip cancelled - definitely a closed door - Jonny gives a biological overview of the Coronavirus, followed by Rory who teaches on what our response as Christians should be. From end times prophesy to simply the result of our sin nature (not the fault of the Chinese), he shows how we need to lean into the Lord and be lights for those around us. This is, no doubt, a tremendous opportunity for the gospel to be preached.

Jesus tells us that we have to enter the Kingdom as a little child - with a simple faith. The rich young ruler thinks he can do it by keeping the commandments, but Jesus says no, that he needs to sell all he has, and then he can follow Him. The ruler won't because he loves his "stuff" more than he loves Jesus. We can't receive the Kingdom - salvation - by doing, and we have to be willing to search our hearts to see what we love more than Jesus.

Coming up is the church's annual week of prayer and fasting - this year April 6-10, just before Resurrection Sunday. For those who haven't been involved before, and as a refresher for those who have, Rory gives a historical and scriptural basis for fasting, a Christian discipline that has been neglected by many. For this episode, examples from the Old Testament were given. In the next episode, Rory will look at the New Testament.

From a pre-millennial standpoint, with conviction and humility, Rory teaches that after the battle of Armageddon, Satan is captured and cast into the bottomless pit, or abyss, for 1,000 years. During this time the earth is restored to its former, created glory. There will be peace among all, and no more war. While the faithful throughout the ages will judge, the "tribulation survivors" will still seek out evil, even though Satan is bound. Then, Satan is released for a little while to deceive the nations once again. Finally, gathered for battle against Jerusalem, he is completely destroyed and cast into the lake of fire, forever and ever.

An angel gathers all the birds for a great supper, while the beast and all the kings and armies gather together to defeat the returned Jesus. The battle of Armageddon rages for all of an instant (don't blink, you'll miss it), and the beast and the false prophet are captured and cast into the lake of fire where they will remain by themselves for 1,000 years, later to be joined by the condemned on earth. The warring armies are all killed and fed on by the birds, who have their fill. We get to choose if we want to be the feast or be at the feast as the bride of Christ.

Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, returns to earth on a white horse, followed by the armies of the saints and angels, also on white horses. He is crowned with many crowns, His eyes are like fire and He has a sword in His mouth to strike the nations. Judgment has come to the earth.

After the Transfiguration, the three disciples - Peter, James and John - come down the mountain with Jesus, who told them not to say a thing to anyone. Why did He say this? It was perhaps so they would treasure this thing in their hearts and then after being filled with the Holy Spirit, they could use this experience to provide credibility to their testimonies. They also questioned that if Jesus had come, why hadn't Elijah as was prophesied? There are various interpretations, such as John the Baptist was a type of Elijah, but we need to just believe and follow Jesus, and focus on Him, whether or not we have full understanding.

Babylon has been destroyed, Heaven exults and God is worshipped. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Pastor Rob Verdeyen teaches on prayer: why we pray and why we need to keep on praying. He uses examples from Calvary Corvallis showing how important it is to pray, how the more you pray the more your will becomes aligned with the Lord's, and that nothing of value is accomplished without prayer.

Jesus is transfigured in front of the disciples showing a vision of heaven and that he is, indeed, God. Moses and Elijah appear as well, representing the Law and the prophets, both of which pointed to Jesus. However, when Peter wants to make tabernacles for all three, that is, worship all three, God rebukes him. "This is my Son. Listen to Him." Jesus is the only one we worship.

Babylon the Great falls and with it, all its wealth and pleasures, partaken of by those who chose the things of this world over the things of God. Utterly destroyed in an hour, it became a place of demons and unclean birds. This was judgment and retribution for the saints, apostles and prophets she killed.

John sees a vision of a red woman on a red beast. The woman is Babylon, the great harlot, which also represents the world. All of us are born to serve the world and are only saved through Jesus. However, we need to be constantly diligent that we don't chase after false gods and other things in the world that take our love from Jesus.

Jesus heals a blind man and people are given what they seek - a miracle. But what they really need is to know who Jesus is. Just like people who go to a doctor to get a pill, but don't want to change their lifestyle, people seek instant relief through miracles, but instead, what they (and we) need is a heart change.