I'm going to turn in our Bible tonight to Revelation chapter 21
and we're going to read together.
The first eight verses Revelation chapter 21.
Last book of the Bible. Very easy to find the
penultimate chapter chapter 21 and will read verses 1 through
28 reading. Of course, from the authorized
version and was faithful and reliable translation of the Holy
scriptures. Just before we read at some
stage and not just exactly sure when.
But I'm going to be able to bring the Geneva Bible, that was
purchased recently for a huge sum of money.
And we're going to organize a little service around the Bible,
not as a holy Relic. But as really honest Oracle
artifact because there's some things that we could learn and
benefit from that copy. Of the Holy scriptures.
Well, not go into that now. I have attempted to you but are
not right. Revelation chapter 21 verses 1
to 8. Let's hear God's word.
And I saw a new Heaven and a new yours.
For the first Heaven, and the first Earth were passed away,
and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband and I heard a great voice out of
Heaven. Saying behold, the Tabernacle of
God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall
be his God. They shall be his people and God
himself shall be with them and be their God, and God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes and there should be no more
death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more
Pian for the former things are passed away.
Neither sat upon the throne said, behold I make all things
you and he said unto me. Write for these words are true
and faithful and he said unto me, it is done.
I am out. And Omega the beginning and the
end, I will give unto him. That is athirst of the Fountain
of the Water of Life freely. He'll overcometh shall inherit
all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son, but the
fearful and unbelieving and the Abominable and murderers and
whoremongers and Sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death A mammal to the Lord will
stump with his own approval and blessing, that's reading of his
own precious and infallible word.
Now, this evening, I'm commencing a short series of
sermons based on the topic of the no more Wars and havin.
I was recently reading through the LTB as quarterly magazine
and really enjoyed the various articles, especially the ones
that focused on the new Moors of havin and upon reading the
magazine that brought to my remembrance a sermon that I had
preached at the very start of my ministry here, some 23 years
ago, nine and not sermon was be assessed on the subject, no more
sea and havin Revelation, 21 and one and tonight, A commence this
miniseries and I want to deal with seven things that are not
in have And here's the first one, look at Revelation, 21 and
one the says on there was no more say.
Now, if you read the Bible carefully, you'll discover, as
I'm just saying, there are seven, no more seven things that
are not in heaven. And here's the first one and
there was no more say now, when the Lord Jesus Christ was upon
the Earth, it made a very remarkable statement, a little
stiff, but a true statement. Matthew 24:35 is recorded three
times in the Bible. I'll have the nurse will pass
away, but my words shall not possibly God's word as an
eternal abating Living Word. The psalmist said in Psalm 119
verse 29 is forever settled in heaven and one day this Earth,
as we knew it and the heavens above the heavens around, the
earth will one day come to an end.
The second coming of Jesus Christ and power and Glory.
Ray will eventually Mark the end of the world as we know it.
Not I and after the last great Judgment of the uncie of dad,
Revelation, 20 and 11 called the Great White Throne judgment
after. God has judged and condemned.
The uncie of debt and cast them into the Lake of Fire, where
they're going to be eternally, punished where they're going to
be eternally dying yet, never dead at that time.
Tame this earth and the heavens will undergo a structural and
geographical change the Bible teaches.
And we've got the words of the Lord Jesus have an under the
shall pass away. Peter tells us that the elements
will melt with fervent heat and as it passes away in the fire of
God's judgment, many things are going to disappear forever.
I'm one of the things that singled out for special Special
mention is the same and there was no more sane think of the
great oceans of the world that will disappear.
Do you know that the planet Earth is also called the Blue
Planet? That's a title adopted for the
BBC series narrated by David Attenborough, who, by the way,
as an agnostic under underneath evolutionist, but why call it
the Blue Planet? Here's the answer. 71% of the
earth's surface is covered in water.
We live in a very technological age, on mankind, has advanced so
much so that we have had the technology to travel to the
Moon. We can send up satellites into
outer space and record was happening.
We can observe gigantic telescopes to survey other
galaxies. And what does mom found out in
all this discovery he is found out this That there's not one
planet as I see, no leaks, no revers, no water.
Only one planet in the whole of the galaxies that make up the
universe house. Seas, Waters, lakes, and rivers,
71% of the earth's surface is covered with water.
That makes the planet Earth unique.
All the planets in the solar system, there's no life.
There's no, we going, man, there's no aliens.
But burning we are slammed. Hurtling through Spears.
Now, the sea as a fascinating part of the whole of the
universe. If we think of it, the ocean
floor. The ocean floor goes from two
point three males, and depth stretching to the Marina Trench.
The deepest part of the earth seven miles in depth 36,000. 201
feet deep. And you know what the Bible
tells us they are in the book of Nehemiah listen to this the high
even though I our Lord alone That was me at Heaven, the
heaven of Heavens with all their host, the Earth and all things
are there in the seas and all that is therein.
And I preserve us the mall and the host of Heaven worship of,
they could meet the sea. I'm go check the boundary of the
sea and many of us believe that prior to the flood there was no
seed evading the land mass of the Earth, the whole of the land
mass was then surrounded by water.
Now let's debate it yet here. The Bible speaks of a day to
come attain. Let's read it together and I saw
a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven, and the first
Earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.
See and not bring to your brought too late to join.
He was in pot boss. He was the Alcatraz of the Roman
world and he was in this little island 10 miles wide but are six
miles wide and 10 miles long and it was surrounded by saying if
you went to walk around and you'll see nothing but the sea
and he discovered that in the new Heaven and the Earth.
And there would be no more say you see the word Seas, but in my
mind, The recent trip that we took Before Christmas to the
Bahamas and back I was thinking of that little song, I do love
to be beside the seaside. You love to be beside the
seaside don't you? You Castle portrush Sports jerk
script for food you know the see st.
You can get fish and chips think of the fission of the see.
Everybody loves a better Fess. I love a very good fish.
What about enjoying the time of recreation at the seaside, the
scenery, the Tranquility, you think of the tree?
It across the seas, with the divided Lama, you think of the
energy at the see purchases. Do you know they even have a
machine now called a I think it's a way of generator and it
can power eletricity into our homes through the Seas of
fascinating part of the universe.
But listen to this in the you haven't in the earth, there's no
more. See.
Let me tell you five things y1 because the see speaks of sin,
you see sin will never be permitted to enter into have
than any shape or form or fashion Senators, barred from
the great city of God. Not that the file of shall enter
in, there's no C in heaven, because the see speaks of sin
wickedness, Rebellion. Listen to the word of God in the
book of Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 57 and in the
verse 20, we read this about the sea as I have 57 and 20.
But the wicked are like, the troubled sea, when it counted
rest, whose Waters cast up mire and dirt.
There is no peace saith. My God to the wicked.
You see the see casts up, you can wait to the seashore walk
along the beach. You'll see in the shoreline, the
rubbish that the sea has brought in tens of bottles and stones
and Timber and debris and seaweed.
That's why we shouldn't be throwing plastic bottles or
glass bottles into the sea. But you picture a scene?
I what's it? Like will as Ayah says The
wicked are like the troubled, sea, whose Waters cast up mire
and dirt. See the sea cows up, things, the
see Talent arrest, it is forever turbulent, it's deeply.
Des failed in the sight of God and a Zaya says, that's a
picture of the human heart. The wicked are like the troubled
sea, whose Waters cast up mire and dirt over there in the
gospel of Mark and Mark chapter 7, the Lord Jesus himself said
this. About the human heart, Mark,
7:20. If I read it to you, listen to
the word of gold. That which cometh out of the
man. The failure of the man for Verma
then out of the heart of man beside evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications murders, thefts covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness an evil eye,
blasphemy Pride, foolishness, all these evil things come from
within and defile. The man Jeremiah said, the heart
is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can
know it. And here's the state of natural
Mound before. God, an unconverted man, his
heart is deceitful, Before the god of heaven and God, he can
look down into the depths of the ocean even into the Marina
Trench, and he can tell us all that's in there.
The seem God can look into our hearts.
God sees that you're born in sin and shapen in iniquity.
It God, sees the total depravity of man's heart.
The will depraved the understanding darkened, the
affections disease. He seized of of new love or
thought for God and it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't
matter. But your background her station
in Life or where you've come from.
Here's the teaching of the Bible.
It's hard to accept. But it's true.
We're all born and send and sheep.
And they were all born vile. Hell deserving Sinners before
God. The Bible talks about, there's
none righteous, the Bible tells us, there's none that doeth
good. No, not one.
And here's the psalm a seat of the scriptures, we will never
ever enter Heaven unless we confess our sin before God come
to that place, where we say, I have nothing and I can do
nothing and I am Nothing to recommend myself to you.
It's not where the psalmist found himself in Psalm 32 and it
tells us there in Psalm 32. And in the verse 5, the psalmist
made this confession, I acknowledge my sin unto thee and
mine iniquity. Have I not heard?
I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and
they forgive us the iniquity of mice and Cielo.
Think about that. Paul said, this is a faithful
saying worthy of all Septation. The Christ Jesus came into the
world, to save Sinners of whom. I am chief the public and saith,
look, 18 and verse 13. God, be merciful to me The
Sinner David spoke about Blessed.
Is he whose transgression is Forgiven?
That means carried away whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and
his Spirit, there is no guile that me ask to mate, do you know
anything about that? You know anything about that
reality? Wasn't it maker talks about in
make a 7 and verse 19, God casting our sin into the depths
of the sea, where sin has been Carried away covered over by the
waves of God's grace and mercy it Council date.
You see you'll never be in heaven until the send question
has dealt with. And tonight, there's only one
who can help centers one who died the just for the unjust
that he might bring us unto God. Well, he died in the cross and
shed his Precious Blood and here's the message, the blood of
Jesus Christ, his son cleanseth us from all.
All set. Can you get the picture sin and
say yourself a troubled, sea Town, addressed casting up mire
and dirt. There's a story told about a
young lady who Lay Dying. She came for a Roman Catholic by
Grind, but she had read her Bible.
She understood something of the Gospel.
And her faith and trust was in Christ.
And the mother sent for the Roman Catholic priest and he was
coming with the intention of Performing the last rites upon
this dear lady. It's interesting.
The preacher would have said to that dear deity, the church can
do nothing more for you and I look to Christ.
But why not tell them not before they die or in the state or
throes of death? But the lady took the priest for
the harmed, And in her die and moment she muttered Des, you're
not my priest. I feel no Neil holes here.
I have only one priest, his name is Jesus Christ, there's a high
priest over the house of God, and he came and offered himself
a once and for all sacrifice for sin.
He died an atoning death and the cross for you.
He kept the law of God perfectly for.
He was the one sinless sacrifice that pleased to God and was
acceptable to God, and here's the proof.
God raised him from the dead. The Resurrection, the empty tomb
is proof that God was satisfied in his wrath and in has
Holiness, and in his Justice. There's no sea and having
because the sea speaks of sin? Secondly, no.
See in heaven because the see speaks of struggles, you know,
before the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world even after
he came into the world. For many centuries.
In fact, right up to 1886 It was a struggle to seal on the oceans
of the sea. In 1886, a mound called William
Maher back. He was an early German engine
designer. He invented the first motorized
book before that to seal, say the Seven Seas is that were
called the oceans of the world. It was a very dangerous
Enterprise, you think of the fury of storms Scary
frightening. You see.
The sea is continually moving its unstable.
It's constantly changing. It can become one minute and
Serene. And the next minute, it can be
stormy and scary and even a not wonder if the Seas with Royal
Caribbean that Rosie. And I and Miriam and Joanna
Barone just before Christmas Even ceiling between Orlando and
the How much is certainly on the evening time?
When we were getting the dinner, you were walking along.
You were thinking if anybody had a signature as a there's a mount
Throne. Well, it was a super as a judge
but it was the say. And even though that boat was 20
stories high and it was fascinating boat yet that
movement just reminded me of how scary and frightening the sea
can be. I have to confess, I'm
fascinated by the Sea, The Sea Halls are big attraction to me.
I can sit and watch for ours but you know something you learn
about the season. Ever, still, it's always on the
Move tide coming in and going out but there's not remind us of
the struggles of life. Uncertainty restlessness life
can be calm and Serene one day and then it can be full of a
storm and a struggle. The next, I think of the sealers
at the high seas, come one day maybe for a few hours in the
morning and in the afternoon towards the evening, there's a
big storm. Remember what the Apostle Paul
experience? Because it's all here in the
Bible and Acts chapter 27, and verse 13 and 14.
We read these Secular words. And when the south wind blew
softly supposing, they had a tender purpose.
Dissing fence. They sealed closed pykrete.
It's wonderful the way island of Crete is mentioned in the bible,
verse 14, but not long after. So you picture them setting off
cow. Sorry.
Not long after their arose, against it, a tempestuous, when
called a rock-solid. All and for 10 days and over
there was a storm at sea that was terrifying, even the
hardened and the most experienced sailors.
Let's apply that to our life. Maybe you're facing mental
struggles. Right now, maybe you're facing
us physical trouble. Maybe you've encountered an
emotional struggle. You're in a spiritual struggle.
We sang tonight, I wrestled on towards have them.
Again, storm and wind and Tay. And I like a weary traveler that
Lena, 'The on has gate. I want to tell you, the see
speaks of struggles life, is full of uncertainty.
Life is full of change. And even though God controls the
mighty waves of the sea, God allows struggles and trials and
troubles to command your lathe. And the scripture tells us boast
not thyself tomorrow, for no man.
Knoweth, what a day may bring forth and for The struggles of
Life can come sooner or later and life's journey, they could
be hidden danger driving down the road and all of a sudden
there's a car accident or maybe in times past during the
troubles inspired by the devil using Republican and Loyalist
terrorists. Then people discovered they were
in the midst of a bomb situation and there lays were gone, I'm
somewhere left crippled forever and and life changed.
With no nanny who Fierce the uncertainty are really.
We could say the certainty of death.
Think of the rich man, looks 16, he enjoyed all the finer and
luxury that money could buy in a big house and food and servants.
He lived in a gated Mansion. The Bible tells us the rich man
died and hey, lift up his eyes being in torment.
Remember God's people can suffer trials.
They can be hardships in this life and tears, but in the world
of come in this place called Heaven, we're traveling to a
plea as well, there's no more tears.
No more trials and troubles, no more struggles in life.
Remember what the Apostle Paul told us there in the book of
Hebrews and Hebrews chapter 4? And in the verse 17, he tells us
this Hebrews 4. Sorry, that's not 17.
That's in the book of chronic ogre Corinthians wrote the wrong
reference day in 2nd, Corinthians chapter 4 and verse
17. This is what the word of God
says, for our late Affliction, which is.
But for a moment worketh for us, a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of Glory second Corinthians, 4 and 17.
I'll tell you something else. No more sea because the sea
speaks of Secrets, if you look at the context of the Book of
Revelation, Revelation chapter 20, and verse 13, we read these
words, Revelation, 20 and 13 and the Sea gave up the dead which
were in it will pause there. You see the sea is a place of
many secrets. You think of the multiplicity of
shipwrecks through War Spanish Armada, for example, in 1580 and
against the United Kingdom, you think of Pirates attacking a
ship and taking it over and stealing its cargo and maybe
even scuttling the ship and killing all on board or some
incident at Sea as happens in recent times.
And all of a sudden the ship has sunk and nobody can find answers
to why You think of that day? When the sea, give up its dead,
when the sea gives up every secret, you see the sea contains
my name is stress, and I have thought of this Marina Trench,
7, miles, deep and thoughtful for us in there.
There's much Tucson explained much.
That's unknown, much sits on explored, but here's the Wonder
there's no secrets in half and there's no Mysteries there.
One day, it's all going to be fully revealed member.
Jesus said what I do now, you knew not, but he shall know here
after we have unanswered questions.
We have. Why?
And why not by, and by the Bible teaches will understand Here's a
fourth reason, because the see speaks of Separation, you see
years ago, people didn't travel by airplanes to go from one
country to another. They traveled in the AC by
wooden vas us when one of our missionaries was going away from
the Belfast docks, get on a big Wooden Boat hundreds turned out
to sing. God be with you till we meet
again. And there was a weave from the
upper deck, there was a shade of goodbye.
There was many a tear because you realized that you were not
going to see your loved ones again for years.
Why? Cuz the sea separated them, it
was the Great debater. Do we all know people born
again, Believers in different parts of the world?
I could name some from Australia.
I could name some from town of the United States Africa, and
Scotland and England Republic of heart.
But one day, even though we're divided nigh by the great
debater called the sea, One day, there'll be no more partying.
The be no more farewells because of not day.
All of God's people will be together.
Remember what Revelation 7 and verse 9 that tells us Revelation
7 & 8. After this I beheld and lo a
great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and
kindred's and people and tongues stood Before the Throne and
before the lamb clothed with white robes and Palms in their
hand and cried with a loud voice saying, salvation to our god,
which sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb.
Let me tell you this little story.
I want you to think of a father, he's on his deathbed, he's got
her two sons and daughters around the bed and he's saying
to each one. Goodnight.
I'll see you in the morning. And there was one particular son
that he stood there with tears, rolling down his fears.
He was the last boy, you were the dad said to him.
Goodbye son. The sun stood there, crying.
And he said, but dogged you have said, goodnight.
I'll see you in the morning to my brothers and sisters, my
siblings. Why have you said goodbye to me?
And he said, son, you're not seeing it.
You've never trusted Christ. I love you, I have prayed for
you, but I fear that I'll never see you again.
I fear. You'll die in your sins to be
lost. Remember what the Bible says in
Revelation, 20 and verse 15 and whosoever was not found written
in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.
The boy Brooke, he knelt at his daddy's dying pad site.
And he prayed the sinner's prayer and he whispered to his
dad has a hell does harmed out of come to Christ?
God of, trust the Savior. And if the doctor is dying
breath, here's what he said, good night my son.
My lovely son. I'll see you to you in the
morning. Is it well with your soul
tonight? Because the see speaks of
Separation, there's a day of separation. there's a day when
it'll be all over and lastly, on our time is gone because the sea
speaks of so landing and there was no more sea I was inspired
by this thought, be listening to her brother duel Shields
preaching recently and he talked about the sea and he talked a
bit, the Fisher man of the sea and he was talking to put the
miracle of the Big Catch of fish and Luke chapter 5, verses 1
through 9. We thought about that this
morning and the Sunday School on the Sea of Galilee also called
The Sea of tiberias, and the lake of Ganesha rent.
So to called chin and off than the Old Testament, But remember
the Lord Jesus called the Fisher man under you and Peter and
James and John to be Fishers of man and not day when they
launched out into the deep. And let down the net supposed to
let down the Nets. But it was the only one that
they left her in and it began to break then that caught all kinds
of fish. And you see in the sea of tame,
we are throwing out the gospel. Now through the preaching of the
Gospel here. the Outreach, the children's ministry, the youth
work, the track distribution, the door knocking, Many, of
course, reject. but some receive but one day, there'll be no more
Soul winning. One day, there'll be no more
opportunity to hear the gospel one day.
The day of Greece will be over and under book of Hebrews says
in Hebrews chapter 4 and in the verse 7 today.
If you will hear his voice Harden, not your hearts as in
the provocation. Paul says, behold now is the
accepted time die. Is the day of salvation and the
only opportunity you have to repent and receive Christ as
Nye. You're not guaranteed tomorrow.
You're not guaranteed next week. I think of d.l.
Moody sending the people home not night before the Chicago
fire brigade and he preached the word of God told me to go home
and think about it and come back next week and give me your
answer. What should I everything with
Jesus, which is called Christ and many who would doubt that
Nate, but they tend to the dark and perished in that fire and he
vowed never again, Would he send them out to thank?
But he called them to repent and receive Christ because that was
the only time. They were sure of the sea speaks
of Soul burning, but the day will come when Jesus will return
the day of great judgment has ushered in the new heavens and
the Earth. Will be no opportunity to
receive Christ and not day. All of God's elect will be
gathered and and many will perish as they lived because
they've chose their sin. Rather than the Savior, here's
five reasons tonight. Why?
The Bible says on there was no more say.
And that's the first of the new mores of Heaven, they will have
to come back. next week and you'll hear another one then at
the end of the month,