What is Behind Door # 2?

Who doesn't love a vacation? In fact, most of us are counting down the number of days or hours until we leave for a vacation. You know what the best part of a vacation is? The anticipation! It is knowing all the planning, all the preparation is counting it down til the day you leave. That is the best part! That is how God wants you to be in anticipation of Jesus Christ's return.

He is coming soon! The more we think on that and the more real it becomes to us, we begin to prioritize what is really important and what isn't. We need to weed out those things that carry us far from what Jesus wants in our life and start digging in a bit more to what He wants us to know and do in these coming and final days.

In our study today, we will realize that Jesus doesn't say I am coming soon, but He says "I am coming quickly." As you look around the world today, doesn't it seem like things are becoming unhinged, a bit on the crazy side? When we see these things we know that they are signs that He will come quickly, when we least expect it.

We need to turn off those distractions and get some time alone with God. Pray that God will reveal those things in your life that are keeping us apart from God. To knowing who He really is. That is how we can prepare to get ready for His coming. We won't have time to look around when He does come back. He is coming quickly.

As we begin our study today, in these final lessons on the Book of Revelation, we see the last words of Jesus and they are found in the final book of the Bible. These are His last recorded words and the words, "Surely, I am coming quickly," answers any questions we might have regarding our Christian walk of faith. Why do we read our Bible? Why do we go to church? Why do we feed the poor? Why do we help the homeless? All because Jesus is coming quickly.

Now a days there are more theologies out there than you can shake a stick at. Everyone has their own theory, everyone has the right answer to get you into heaven, and to help you know God more fully. One thing is certain, that all roads lead to God!" The real meat of it is, however, that not everyone gets to stay. Every man and woman will stand before God one day regards of your religious beliefs or non religious beliefs. Every. Single. One. We need to be concerned however, about what lies behind door number 2. The first door gets us all into God's presence, it's what lies behind door number 2 that should really cause us to sit up and take notice.

Just like the television show, Let's Make a Deal. There were always three doors, and more than anything you wanted to ensure that you picked the right door to get the best prize. This is certainly the case here. It's what lies beyond door number 2 that matters. Is it heaven? Or is it hell? Those are our only two options, regardless of what your "religious" upbringing my have you to believe.

Revelation 22:18-21 ~ "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plague that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

These final words of Jesus Christ demand an attentiveness to exhort the church to be ready and stay awake. But how do we get ready and how do we stay awake?

These are the questions that we must answer if we're going to be faithful until the end, if we're going to persevere in this life, if we're going to be effective Christians.

There are those who would tell you that the Bible does not contain the Word of God, and that is true! The Bible IS the Word of God. To say that it contains the Word of God implies that not all of it is the Word of God and other interpretations are represented in it. That is 100% false. Every. Single. Word. of the Bible is the Word of God. Not of man. Don't be confused.

Because Jesus is coming quickly, we need to know our wholly Bibles like never before. Yes, I said, "wholly" Bible.

Revelation 22: 18 ~ "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plague that are written in this book;"

"Wholly" means complete in its fullness. There is nothing more to add or take away. It is done. Here in the consummation of the Bible, warnings are given that ring loud and true in our day. Who hasn't heard of numerous versions of the Bible or additional books claiming to contain the Words of God? There have never been more cults on earth than right now.

"If anyone adds..." In other words: (1) to tamper with what the Father has said, God has preserved the Bible throughout all these years. (2)To confuse what Jesus has said; people have always argued with the words of Jesus Christ, and what He really meant or who He was really. (3) To improved upon what the Holy Spirit has said; the Holy Spirit is the author of the Scriptures.

Galatians 1:8-9 ~ "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you that what you have received, let him be accursed."

This was written more than 2000 years ago and now there are numerous other resources out there other than the Bible.

Acts 17:11 ~ "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

This is the standard on how we are to judge things today, from what our pastors have to say from the pulpit, and what other Christians say.

1 John 4:1 ~ "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

There have been and will continue to be...many false prophets in the world today, from Jim Jones, David Koresh, to even Dan Brown, author of the DaVinci Code, is a false prophet. In just one novel he has people second guessing what they know of the Bible to be true. He makes you doubt the Bible and only through a fictional novel.

Proverbs 30:5-6 ~ "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to his words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar."

Even without the Bible as a resource, we know that in 1947, the Dead Sea scrolls have backed up the Bible, Word for Word, with the exclusion of the Book of Esther. So how can we know our wholly Bibles like never before? (1) stop pretending that you're a Christian, and become one. Put it into practice every single day, not just on Sunday's. Be a Christian every single day. (2) Determine now to put the Bible into practice daily. Don't just read it, live it out among your family and friends. (3) Go on a diet, eat up what it is saying to you!

We will finish our study on the Book of Revelation tomorrow.