John begins with a salutation that solidifies what we have been speaking about since we began this study. His first words to the church were about GRACE! Ah, that Amazing Grace . . . given from WHOM? Let’s use John’s words to answer that. He said:

“from him which is, and which was, and which is to come”

Once again there, we see that underlying theme of the New Testament of the “Whosoever will”. Remember, we are seeing the Revelation of Christ here and that’s what the Gospel is all about! It is the Gospel of Christ that is the Key to Heaven’s door, marked with Jesus’ Words,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)

That is that “witness” of the “past, present, and future” we have been talking about since the beginning of this study.

I had someone write in about that and say, “I get the present part of that, and I kind of get the future part of it, but I don’t understand the past tense. People who didn’t know Christ can not claim to be saved by the cross.”

I was elated to write back and tell this dear sister, that anyone who believed in God “before Christ” was saved. Now, before anyone writes back and asks me if I believe ALL Jews are saved from the time of the cross until this very day – since they believe in God, the answer is NO! If they didn’t come to Jesus through the Cross and the Blood of The Lamb, they are not saved and will face judgment! That’s not me saying that – it’s what the WORD says. Most Jews have never, nor will they ever, read or study the New Testament. And for those who have read it or studied it, it is to them – nothing more than a book of folklore. In fact, what you and I are studying and reading here today is foreign to them because it glorifies Christ and they rejected Christ at the Cross. But Jesus said,

"… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" John 14:6 (KJV)

I didn’t say that – the BIBLE DID!

Look at what Jesus said to the Jews concerning their laws and ritualism…

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Luke 13:34-35 (KJV)

But let’s not stop there …

If you are a Christian and you allow things of the world to creep into your home glorifying lustful pleasures, or take part in fellowship with those who like to push the envelope as to what is Godly or not – you’re flirting with destruction – the destruction of your soul. And while there are those like Carlton Pearce who are teaching another Gospel, and saying that there is no such place as Hell, the Bible says,

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die” Eze 18:20 (KJV)

That never said anything about a God who doesn’t love you. He has made it clear that there is only one way, and if you choose another, you have condemned yourself.

I know this is a study on Revelation and I can hear somebody out there saying, “Brother, never mind the commentary, just stick to the facts!” Well, friend, those are the FACTS! Revelation is not meant to stroke your ego so that you can go around impressing people with your knowledge, Revelation is a last-ditch effort (telling the facts) to save those who are lost. What does it say there in verse 5… “And from Jesus Christ, who is:

• the faithful witness,

• the first begotten of the dead,

• the prince of the kings of the earth.

• him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

• hath made us kings .

Every Element of that verse speaks of the Revelation of Christ – “past, present, and future”. Now tell me that’s not some pretty serious FACTS! God’s not messing around with the truth here my friend; He is Serious about your soul! Look at Gal 6:7. It says there:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. (KJV)

Let me throw in that 7th verse (Revelation Chapter 1) as well today, and read this very closely.

“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.”

That 7th verse makes it pretty clear that a great many people will be lost because they tried to live their lives in fellowship with the Laws of Judaism – yet they rejected Christ. A great many lives will be lost because they tried to live in fellowship with the world – never seeking Jesus as their Savior. Some have even died thinking they had plenty of time to decide for Christ later on, but they never got that chance! Sounds Pretty serious to me.

The Bible is clear my friend, and The Book of Revelation Chapter 12 verse 11 says it this way…

“And they overcame him(speaking of the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

It is not by your good works, or your kindness that you are saved, but by the blood of the Lamb. It is not by the endless repetitions of ceremonial rites, but by your testimony that others are saved.

I’m an Evangelist and a Pastor first, so I've got to warn you. Your soul is the MOST IMPORTANT gift you have been given, and what you choose to do with it, how you choose to live – will make the difference in whether your soul is lost or saved on that fateful day when Jesus comes.

I want to say that I had no intention of offending anyone here today. But I don’t mind doing so if it means you will seek the truth and come to Jesus who is waiting patiently for you to come to Him. In fact, all you have to do is to say the word, and He will come to you.

It doesn’t matter what your past has been – He’s a whosoever will God who loves you and wants you to be delivered from the ritualism of religion and come to Him through His Son. Would you like to do that today? Would you like to come to Jesus for the first time in your life? Maybe you’re Jewish or maybe you’re someone who has never heard about the need to accept Jesus into your heart as being THE ONLY WAY to be saved. Well, today, I would like to introduce you to Him. I have prayed with several in my life who have never even heard the Name of Jesus accept in a cuss word, and when they were presented with the facts that Jesus loved them and gave His life for them – that He was God’s Son – born of a virgin. All I can tell you is that when they asked Jesus to come in and save them from their sin, in each case, they beamed with the Spirit of God. In one case, I had a gentleman cry out as though he had found a long-lost friend, dropping to his knees and saying, “My Lord and My God”. It was as though a burden had dropped off his back, and he lived for the Lord – a VICTORIOUS – ON FIRE LIFE from then on.

Probably the one I’ll remember the most though was the man who was walking briskly down the street and The Lord impressed upon me to call out to him and tell him to come on over to talk to me. To my surprise he did, and I told him that he needed to meet Jesus. I didn’t know this man from Adam – but God did. He quickly said, “Jesus?" "If you can introduce Him to me right now, I’ll receive Him as my Savior.” Well, he didn’t have to tell me twice. I opened up my Bible to scriptures He had never heard of before – many of which I have shared here today, and I said, “He is here, and he wants to come into your heart and save you from your sin”. He dropped to his knees – so I did too, and we prayed the sinners prayer. There on that sidewalk, knelt a man I had never met before in a full 3 piece business suit sobbing like a baby – because Jesus had come into his heart. That night he literally met Jesus as on His way home he was struck by a train and killed instantly. That’s a true story my friend.

Will you accept Jesus today? That’s what the Book of Revelation is really about! People coming to Jesus before it’s too late. You don’t know what your tomorrow holds. You don't know what your tonight holds. Come to Jesus now. Pray with me will you. Just say,

Jesus, I am a sinner and I need to be saved from the wrath that is to come. I am sorry for my sin and I confess everything to you Lord – everything that I have ever done, and ask your forgiveness. I am so sorry Lord that I have rejected you, and that I have ignored you even though I didn’t realize I was. But now I have heard the word, and I ask you to come into my heart and to save me from all my sin. I receive you, right now, and in faith believe, I am saved. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you have made that decision for Christ – write to us here at In The Garden and let us know so we can send you some information that will help you in your new found walk with Christ. God Bless you.

Tune in again tomorrow for Verse 8 in our Study on Revelation.