Revelation: The Judge Of All The Earth
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:11-15 This passage describes a great judgment before God in a future day. This will be a judgment in which the dead are raised and judged "according to what they had done" (Rev 20:13). Scholars debate whether this "great white throne" judgment will be for unbelievers alone or for all people. What is not debatable is the reality that, whether in one judgment or in two judgments, all people will be judged, one day, according to what they have done. 2 Corinthians 5:10 echoes multiple biblical texts when it says, "For we must all appear...
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Revelation: The Justice of Hell
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:7-15 In the middle ages, the Italian theologian and poet, Dante Alighieri, wrote his famous Inferno. In this lengthy poem he described the horrors of hell. The sign above the gateway to Dante's hell read: ABANDON HOPE, ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE. It is a fitting statement. There is no hope in hell, no community, no joy or peace or love. John's phrase for the place of eternal punishment for sins is 'the lake of fire,' which is found five times in Revelation 19-21. The description in Revelation is that this place "burns with fire"...
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Revelation: The Coming Kingdom of Christ
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:1-10 In light of the multiplied and complicated problems of our world, it is clear that what the world needs is a king … someone to rule in divine wisdom and perfect justice and holy compassion. A king is exactly what God promised to David and through David, in what is usually called the Davidic Covenant. "When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. . . . I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be...
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John: God's Plan and Promise
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: John 3:1-8, 16-21 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16) The most beloved and memorized verse in the Bible is John 3:16. In this wondrous sentence we have a summary of God’s glorious plan for securing a people for Himself for all eternity. Considering who God is and who we are, the actions of the Almighty on our behalf in this verse are staggering to see. First, there is a warning in this verse. For those who do not hope in Jesus Christ, there is a...
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Revelation: King of Kings
Bethel Baptist Church
Revelation 19:11-21 Distinct from the religions of the world (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism), Christianity rests on the identity of a person … Jesus. So, the question 'Who is Jesus?' is all important in the Christian faith. Many folks would allow that He was a good teacher (maybe the best ever) … a sterling moral example … a great man. These statements are all true, but Jesus was infinitely more than these descriptions suggest, and we do not do Him justice unless we see Him in all His divine grandeur and regal splendor. Christ is humble and loving and compassionate and...
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Ephesians: Far Above All Rule
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23 The point being made in Ephesians 1:20-23 is straightforward enough. Having risen from the dead, Jesus has been exalted as head over all things. Conquering death itself, He now rules as sovereign over all authorities, seated at the right hand of God the Father. He reigns, not only now, but forever and leads His church as its regal and tender head. It is the connection between this truth (the royal exaltation of Christ) and the immediate notion preceding it (the conversion and enlightenment of Christians) that is marvelously...
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Revelation: The Lamb and His Bride
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 19:6-10 Revelation 19 contains a stirring image of the relationship between Christ and His people. The imagery is of a joyous wedding ceremony. "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready." What a beautiful picture of the relationship between Christ and His own. A marriage calls to mind Christ's love for His people. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 5:25). A marriage calls to mind the...
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Revelation: God's Book of Life
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Revelation 17:8 Revelation 17:8 refers to people "whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world." Philippians 4:3 refers to people "whose names are in the book of life." Though there are people whose names have never been written in God's book of life, the Bible is clear that this reality does not excuse someone from personal accountability. Unbelievers have "no excuse" for their unbelief and their suppression of the truth (cf. Rom 1:18-20). The enemies of God, as they are described in Revelation, are unmistakably...
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The Glory of God and the Work of His People
Bethel Baptist Church
Bethel Baptist Church was honored to host Reverend Joel David, North America Baptist Vice President of International Missions, during this years NAB Detroit Area Missions Conference.
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Angels in Awe: The Glory of God in the Church
Bethel Baptist Church
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:22-47, 1 Peter 1:12 As the church puts the glory of our risen Savior on display before a dying world and before the curiously marveling angelic realms, our crucified, risen Savior and gloriously coming King will be with us every step of the way. “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:12 ESV
info_outlineScripture Reading: Revelation 13:11-18
A second beast appears in Revelation 13, "exercising all the authority of the first beast . . . and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast" (Rev 13:12). This beast is called the 'false prophet' in Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10. This title suggests that he will bring a religious element to the kingdom of the antichrist. He will have the power to do supernatural acts (Rev 13:13-15).
The combination of a political, militaristic leader and an ecumenical religious leader will be a potent force in galvanizing the earth's population. Coercion to worship the antichrist will be used in the form of economic boycott (Rev 13:16,17) and threat of death (Rev 13:15).
In the face of such global, open, rebellion against God, what happens in chapter 14 stands out as a remarkable display of God's grace. There is a description of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, who were first mentioned in chapter 7. Then there is the appearance of three angels who bring to the earth a message of warning and life. To the whole earth one angel declares, "Fear God and give Him glory . . . worship Him who made heaven and earth" (Rev 14:7).
In the face of undisguised disdain for the true and living God, He patiently and mercifully holds out the gracious offer of life in Christ. People continue to refuse God's love. It is to be dying of thirst and still to refuse the outstretched hand of God, holding a cup of the water of life.