God's Epic Blockbuster

I have a question this morning. I'd like to look at Hollywood. It makes all these movies, and there's blockbuster movies, and there's B movies, and terrible movies, and a lot of money spent going to see blockbusters and things that people are interested in seeing. There are a few movies that are called epics. Perhaps you have watched an epic movie that you cannot get out of your head in the past. I think of Casablanca being an epic movie. An epic movie is considered a heroic tale. The story of dramatic events. What comes to your mind? What movie comes to your mind as you think about an epic tale, a heroic tale? Dramatic events. Perhaps Gone with the Wind, Schindler's List, even The Ten Commandments. Count of Monte Cristo? Yes? Very good. Anyone else?

Also, there was Gandhi, Exodus, Star Wars, an epic tale of good and evil, that's for sure, and heroes involved, dramatic events. All of us conjure in our mind, usually when we're asked that question, some movie. You will probably even think about it later on today, or even tomorrow. Some movie that you got, Cas. There was a movie out a few years ago. The director was Ridley Scott. And the movie was called The Kingdom of Heaven. Anybody see The Kingdom of Heaven? She saw The Kingdom of Heaven, yes, got a few others. I know Namath did. We were talking about it last week when we were traveling together.

And it was an epic movie. It was based on actual true events. A few names were changed. A few characters were added. But historically, it was pretty correct, as I watched the movie and then saw it again, just to see the accuracy. But it was called The Kingdom of Heaven because it was a story, the true story, that took place around the year 1100, when the British Knights or the Crusades took place. And during this story, it was so interesting because Britain believed, the leaders at that time of England believed that The Kingdom of God or The Kingdom of Heaven was about to take place.

Because for hundreds and hundreds of years, as they considered the barbarians controlled the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem. But reading the Scriptures, they knew that someday Jesus Christ would return. And it was even a thought that was held for even hundreds of hundreds of years later by British people and the rulers, that they had the post-millennial thought that the thousand-year reign would be set up on earth.

And after the thousand years of these blessings, then Jesus Christ would return. Post-millennial view, we believe in the pre-millennial, that Christ will come back before the thousand years. But it was so interesting because the Islamic leader, Muslim leader at the time, was named Saladin. And he is very well known. And the most interesting part was that the troops so believed, from England, they so believed when they actually set up a king in Jerusalem at that time, and they actually controlled the Holy Lands for around a hundred years.

But then Saladin began to unite the Arab people and got them all to come together, and they drove out. The British, that was where we had not only one, two, and three crusades that took place, but they never retained the Holy Land. But they so believed that God had given them the kingdom of God on earth at that time that they actually sent three hundred of what they considered knights out to take on three thousand Arab troops. And they even looked at it and said, we can't lose because God is behind this, because we are the Holy Land, the Millennium has begun.

And they were slaughtered, and it was not long after that that they were actually driven out of the Holy Land. Well, I bring this up because the real story of the kingdom of God would make an epic movie. I am going to try to do what I've never done before, and that is to explain the kingdom of God in thirty minutes. Now, usually I have a piece of tabernacles for those who go, and then there you realize we usually spend eight days talking about the kingdom of God.

But as we talked about the Holy Spirit last week, and all the things that are promised to those of us who are the first fruits, I would like to paint that picture very quickly. That's why I gave a handout, so you can follow along and you can take this home in case you decide, well, I never even got a chance to turn there because we're going to get on a very fast train here in a minute to go through this.

But I think it's important for our vision, and I think it's very, very important as we go later on into the summer into the prophecy, and go into the book of Revelation, that we understand the events, because we will go very deep, deep into the book of Revelation and Daniel, so that we have a thorough understanding of prophecy and what lies ahead for us.

The real kingdom of God is vividly portrayed in the pages of our Bibles. Jesus Christ preached about the kingdom of God for three and a half years. The pages of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, help us to see how Christ was revealing more and more about this coming kingdom.

Matthew actually mentions the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God, being he was a Jew speaking to the Jews. But he actually mentions the kingdom of heaven 32 times. We actually know from going through the Beatitudes a few weeks ago, that in Matthew 5 it says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

And then we covered, blessed are the meek, for they shall do what? Inherit the earth. They're going to inherit the earth. So just these Scriptures tell us the kingdom of God is coming and it will not be up there, it will be on earth. Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Again. But this time to usher in the kingdom of God. And as we can see from Scriptures, just in time. If you look in the book of Luke, it's also in Matthew 24, but in Luke 21, it tells us about the events, the signs, and the conditions of the last days. And that chapter brings us down to verse 31 and says, When you see all these things happening, you shall know that the kingdom of God is near. Like I mentioned before, the bumper sticker that I've seen, that said, Jesus is coming, everybody looked busy.

Well, we also see in this world, we hear the name Armageddon. We hear the word Armageddon. And Google defines Armageddon as the last battle between good and evil. And I must say, I first turned to that and disagreed, but then as I studied it more, I realized, yes, it is. Because though there's a battle taking place at the end of the millennium, when Satan is released for a little while, that's not really a battle, that's not really a war. It's a split-second show of God's power. But this war to end all wars, as that phrase was canned after World War I, didn't take place. But there is a war coming to end all wars. We see from Scripture a 200 million man army, which gathers in the Valley of Maguetto, as they are prepared for war, as this 200 million man army, as you can see in Revelation, we will go through later on this year. This army is set to have conflict, the ultimate conflict, between two forces with the King of the North, the beast power, controlled by the false prophet, and ultimately Satan himself. As these two armies have come together to do battle, to see who will control the world, and ultimately Satan wants to see the entire world totally destroyed, annihilated, and all mankind destroyed. And even at this time when these two powerful forces come together, this is already after one-third of all mankind has been slaughtered, killed, or died. And you turn to Matthew 24. Matthew 24, verse 21. Said, For then there will be great tribulation, such as not then since the beginning of this world, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.

Like the climax of an epic movie, the Messiah and his army of saints saved the day, humanity, and all the earth. This is all just the prelude to the kingdom of God. Just the prelude. Like you turn, if you will. With me to Revelation 19. I'm reading this from the New Living Translation. As we get a chance to see the Savior of this world. And in Revelation 19, verse 11. Says, Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven dressed in the finest of pure white linen followed him on white horses rather than the first fruits. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe and his thigh was written the title, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures, flying high in the sky, Come, gather together for a great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of the kings, the generals, and the strong warriors, of horses and their riders, and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great. Down in verse 21, their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of one riding the white horse, and vultures all gorged themselves on the body of these dead people. A hero on a white horse. Heaven's open and the night in shining armor is here. Like the cavalry that used to come in the old western movies, just in the nick of time, the whole world is about to be destroyed. With all the atomic warfare and everything that's out there, actually think now that we could destroy this earth with all the warfare we have, a hundred and fifty times plus, all that will be brought in to bear.

Kind of reminds me as I see this Messiah coming with the saints. It reminds me of the old Tarzan movies, where Tarzan's swinging through the vines, and all of a sudden Boy or Jane or one of them's out in the water and they're swimming, and this crocodile gets after them and they're swimming, and you can see they speed up the film. And the crocodile's just about to get them, and all of a sudden you hear that, Aaaaah! And all the animals stop and turn around. It's the Lord of the Jungle. Well, I think about this now in the movie portion, because it said that, all mankind will see God, will see Jesus Christ coming out of the heavens. And he's not going to have to give his Tarzan yell, because everyone will know who it is, and with what power he comes as he saves the day. And Tarzan would always just get there just in time before the crocodile, God Boy or Jane. Jesus Christ will get there just in time to save humanity. The good guys win, and brethren, the kingdom begins. Revelation 11, verse 15. Don't have to turn there. I want you to think on these words, though. Revelation 11, verse 15, I read from the New Living Translation. It says, the seventh angel blows his trumpet, and there were, I love this, loud voices shouting in heaven. Loud voices shouting in heaven. The world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. What a wonderful voice. Those voices we will hear. And we hear the good news, the gospel, the good news that the kingdom of God has arrived. Can you imagine the feelings? Can you imagine the feelings, the emotions of so many people who will be rescued from sure death? The survivors of the worst apocalypse in the history of man. There's an entire world to be rebuilt, starting with the damaging Shelf-Yacht people. You can turn in Joel. I think I have time to turn over to Joel. Joel 3, verse 3, shows what's going to happen the years ahead, just before Christ's return. How bad the world will be, says in verse 3, They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk. Scripture tells of human trafficking. Flesh peddlers have turned the world into a free-for-all. You remember the stories of World War II? We would go back and read, or you see even movies, of how cheap life was and the depth that humanity had fallen to. Remember Schindler's List? They weren't treated like humans, but like animals. It's coming. It's coming again, but worse. But thankfully, we know the good guys win. Jesus Christ returns with His army of saints, not angels, saints.

And there's a lot of healing to take place. They have the restoration of not only this earth, but the restoration of mankind. Imagine, though, the pain and suffering that has been seen by so many people. But there will be a restoration to the wonderful world that's been promised. Sounds like a big task, but it is rather than the kingdom of God, ruled by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I'd like you to turn to Daniel 7, verse 27. Read from the New Living Translation. Then the sovereignty, the power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom, the kingdom of God, that is, will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey Him. The peace mankind has been searching for will finally be here. We read in the New Testament, we read of all the healings in the Bible. What would it feel like to be able to heal someone today? Can you imagine if you had the power to just heal one blind person, one person dying of cancer? Awfully small, compared to what's going to be done in the reign of Jesus Christ, the thousand year reign. What would it feel like to heal hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of people from not only their physical problems, but their mental? It is a destiny before the first fruits of God, the possessors of God's Holy Spirit, and that can only take place after the quickening. Quickening, as the Greek calls it. We recognize it from 1 Corinthians 15. When it says, this mortal shall be changed into immortality. I think of Revelation 20, verse 6. You should know it. It said, blessed and holy are those who share, who share in the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those. That is what last weekend was about. That is what Pentecost was about. The Holy Spirit, and being first fruits. Pointing to this destiny that is before us. We could end there, and it would be a wonderful story. But it doesn't end there. The epic tale continues, as even the nature of animals are changed in the kingdom of God. Amos 9, verse 13, talks about such prosperity that the plowmen overtake the reaper. That there is such an abundance of crops. There is rain when you won't rain. There is sunshine when you won't need sunshine. Peace and kindness shall cover all the land. Scriptures even tell us that man will not be living house to house anymore. That everyone will have acreage to have their own fig tree. That prosperity will be abundant over the entire world. That the utopia, the Shangri-La of all the movies you've ever seen, all the epic tales.

The fairy tales.

In the kingdom of God, it isn't a fairy tale. The utopia, the Shangri-La becomes a reality. I'd like to turn there now. Show a little bit about the nature of not only man, but the nature of animals. And the peace, and why there will be peace. And what a wonderful world it will be. Like you turn to Isaiah, if you will. Isaiah 2. Isaiah 2, I'll read from the New Living Translation. Isaiah 2 and verse 2. It says, In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house will be highest of all, the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills. And people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come, will say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob's God. There He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For the Lord's teaching will go out from Zion. His word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between nations and will set our international disputes. And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor shall they train for war anymore. A wonderful time! You can even see this inscribed at the foot of the United Nations building, as they have this statue there carved, as it shows this man hammering this sword into plowshares. But it's not been achieved! This peace that the world has been looking for has not been achieved and never will, until Jesus Christ returns. Like you turn over to Isaiah 9 as we continue the story. Isaiah 9.

Verse 6. Isaiah 9. Verse 6. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, the government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. And his government and its peace will never end. Isn't that wonderful? His government and peace will never, ever, ever end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David, for all eternity, the passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's armies will make this happen. And I'd like you to turn to Isaiah 11 a couple of pages over. Isaiah 11. We hear these scriptures given during the Feast of Tabernacles. I usually read them. Andy was with us last year. I'm sure he read some. And you will hear these every year at the Feast of Tabernacles. It pictures that time, that millennial reign of Christ. The wonderful time that we all look forward to. But then Isaiah 11, verse 4. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. It shows the power that Jesus Christ will have. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day, the wolf and the lamb will dwell together. You want to prove the kingdom of God is not here? Just throw a lamb into the wolf today. You'll see real fast. The kingdom is not here. The leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the earling will be safe with the lion. And a little child shall eat them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. And the baby will play safely near the whole of the cobra. Not that way today, is it? Do you see the snake they caught just not far from here? Was it 18 foot python? Baby? Well, you couldn't even have a man laying down there, that thing. It's a time to look forward to. Yes, a little child will put his hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Why? They're not deadly anymore. Even the nature of all the animals have been changed.

And in verse 9, it said, Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountains. For as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. What a wonderful time that will be. Everyone will know God.

There won't be any disputes. There won't be any arguing. There will just be the Word of God, and He will be here. And we will be teaching. Teaching all the people in the world, before we get the Scripture. This is the way, walk you in it.

What a kingdom, and what a future. What a destiny. Every good Epic has a grand finale. A great conclusion. A happy ending. And this Epic is no different. I'd like you to turn to the Last Scripture today. Revelation 21. One of the reasons I give this sermon today is your surveys that you gave. I went over those, read those, and someone asked about a sermon on the kingdom of God. Surveys I also gave up in Beryl Beach asked for the same thing. So I will be trying to go through those surveys and pulling out sermons that you want to hear. And this is one that I occasionally need to read myself besides just once a year. Because sometimes we get so caught up in this world, so bogged down by the actions and the mindset and the world around us that we forget. This is all small stuff. Big stuff up ahead. Our future's ahead. A future where we will be glad to be kings and priests. Revelation 21. Verse 1.

Is now among His people. He will live with them and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. See, because now we've come to the conclusion. We've come to the conclusion of the thousand-year millennial reign of Christ. And, as these scriptures tell us, the beginning of eternity with Christ and the family of God. As they say in the movies, it's a bold new world where all shall live happily ever after. It is our future. It is our destiny. It is eternity with God. When you think about Christ's words and as we studied about in Matthew and his prayer. And we see that Christ understood the brand new world. That would be the kingdom of God. And as I talked about the zeal of Christ, because He knew what a great world it would be. As Louis Armstrong said, what a wonderful world it will be if you heard that song. And I never tire of that song. And I picture that in the living room. Think about the depth and the meaning and the passion of the visionary Jesus Christ. When He gives His instructions for when you pray, pray, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The kingdom of God, brother. The ultimate epic.