As I said in my first message on this subject, this matter came before me as a result of a comment that I made to a brother who emailed me in response to an article posted on ‘The Burning Bush’ website about the corruption and deceit very evident amongst our local Unionist politicians.
I pointed out to him:
“Any age of apostasy is an age in which ‘Judas’ appears!! The Antichrist will be the personification of duplicity.”
That comment brought about a realisation that the days of the Saviour’s ministry, during His first advent, were days of apostasy!
I am seeking to set down proof that we can expect the blessing of revival in the last days.
Here is our final study.
WE HAVE SET BEFORE US IN THE BIBLE A MOST GLORIOUS FUTURE TIME OF REVIVAL
Times of revival have always been times when God is pleased to reveal His presence and power amongst His people in a most wonderful way. The Lord said so to Moses, Exodus 3:7-8.
Revival has always begun with the prayers of God’s people, provoked by a sense of affliction and bondage into which their backsliding and sin has brought them and it is in essence the Lord coming down to bring His people forth out of bondage and into the glorious Gospel liberty of the children of God!
I. AT THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO THIS WORLD THERE WILL BE THE ESTABLISHING OF A TIME OF HOLY JOY AND PEACE OF WHICH EVERY PREVIOUS REVIVAL WAS A FORETASTE.
1. The prophet Isaiah pictures that time for us. Isaiah 2:1-4.
(1). Jerusalem will be at the centre of this time of blessing.
(2). The nations will flow there to be taught God’s truth.
(3). The Saviour will rule the world from there.
(4). War will cease amongst the nations.
The character of that time is set forth in many places in Holy Scripture. Please read Isaiah 66:23 and Zechariah 14:16-21.
2. Isaiah gives us more explicit pictures of the blessings of that time. Chapter 11.
(1). Isaiah speaks of the Saviour’s return and the destruction of Antichrist, v 4. Paul refers to this verse when speaking of the destruction of the Antichrist, 2 Thesss 2:8.
(2). Even the creatures will be restored to their first estate, verses 6-9. Paul referred to that time, Romans 8:21-22. Adam freely mingled with all the animals, Gen 2:19.
(3). It will be a day of the restoration of Israel. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth,” verses 11-12.
(4). Israel will be elevated to a position of world dominance. “But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them,” verse 14. Isaiah 60:14-16.
II. THE VICTORY OF THAT DAY IS FORESHADOWED IN GOD’S VICTORIES OVER HIS ENEMIES IN THE PAST.
1. This is wonderfully illustrated for us in a portion of Scripture I referred to in an earlier message. Judges 7:25 — This incident is referred to in again in Isaiah, 10:25-27. This is a reference to the deliverance of Israel from her enemies at the second advent of Christ. That deliverance will be like that which took place under Gideon, only much greater in every way.
2. Every revival is the experiencing of the glorious elevating liberty that only the Holy Spirit can bestow. That will be especially seen at the return of Christ. Revival always results in God’s people on the throne of victory over their enemies! Revelation 20:4. This is what the Saviour was referring to in His parable of “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return,” Luke 19:11-27.
3. The honour of ‘reigning with Christ’ is reserved for those who share in His reproach here on earth! “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us,” 2 Timothy 2:12.
III. ‘TIME’ WILL END IN REVIVAL!
1. The final revival will last for one thousand years. This truth is repeated SIX times in Revelation 20:2-5. Sadly, even that number of repetitions is not enough for some who refuse to believe God’s Word!
2. At the end of the millennial reign the devil, who has been bound in the bottomless pit during these years of blessing, is released from the pit. He immediately goes forth in a display of inexorable defiance and, gathering together sinners of a like mind, for not all shall be saved during the millennial reign though such will brought to a state of submissiveness, they are destroyed under God’s judgment. Revelation 20:7-15.
He has learned nothing!
3. Thus the final period of time will conclude with saints enthroned and reigning with Christ and sharing in His glory and honour and the wicked damned eternally in the lake of fire! The judgement of the Great White Throne marks the end of TIME.
The next verse, the first verse of chapter 21, brings us into the eternal state.
Sinner, here are the two destinations to which all mankind will come. Eternal damnation or eternal bliss. Which will it be for you? You will face an eternity of unspeakable suffering if you do not repent and turn to Christ in faith, embracing the message of the Gospel.
How more merciful can the Lord be than when He takes you by the hand and shows you your latter end! Please heed the Gospel warning today!