Revelation's New Life

II Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts.

The world is dark, with fear, uncertainty and sin, but Bible prophecy casts a beam of light penetrating the night. Prophecy shows us where we are in this world’s history, it tells us what is ahead and most importantly it teaches us how we can be saved from the dark deceptions and destructions that inundate our world. Yet many prefer to go along their way without heeding the light of prophecy. Many will even lament that they have discovered these prophetic truths because now they are accountable for what they know. Does any ship captain lament that he must change his course when he sees the lighthouse warning of the danger ahead? Certainly not. With joy the captain realizes that without the faithful lighthouse he and his ship might have been dashed upon the rocks. So when the light of prophecy illuminates our pathway, the Lord desires us to joyfully heed His warning of impending danger.

John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

When Jesus walked this earth, God was allowing the light of truth to shine brighter upon the pathway of His people, but the majority loved darkness rather than light. They did not want to change their ways. It seemed like too big a struggle to accept Jesus and as a result they rejected the Son of God. Today thousands are doing the same thing. God in His great love and mercy is allowing the greater light of truth to shine upon the pathways of the inhabitants of this world, but many instead of praising the Lord for loving them so much to teach them His way more perfectly, complain of the difficulties in chartering a new course. They love darkness rather than light, but in reality the Lord has been so gracious to teach us prophecy so that we can be ready for His coming.

Our prophetic lighthouse also reveals the purpose of all prophecy. Prophecy is not solely to forecast future events. Prophecy is given so that the “morning star” may rise in our hearts. If when we study prophecy, the morning star does not arise in our hearts, something is wrong. We have not experienced the reason that prophecy was given. We may have the books of Daniel and Revelation memorized. We may be able to explain the intricate prophecies recorded in these books, but if the morning star does not arise in our hearts it is all in vain.

Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The morning star is none other than Jesus Himself. He is the light of the world, and the light of truth that shines brighter and brighter in our lives and minds. Thus if we reject the light of truth that the Lord sees fit to shine upon our pathway, we are rejecting Jesus Himself. Many have rejected the truth of God’s Law, His Sabbath and other areas, without even realizing that they were rejecting the author, our Creator and Redeemer. Without this precious experience, all of the hours we may spend studying prophecy is worthless. Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, must arise in our hearts and lives occupying the first and best place in all things. How does Jesus, the morning star, arise in our hearts?

The Everlasting Gospel

Revelation 14:6, 7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

The morning star arises in our hearts through understanding and experiencing the everlasting gospel. Gospel is translated from the Greek word euangelion meaning the “glad tidings” or “good news.” The everlasting gospel is the everlasting good news of how a sinner can be saved.

John 8:10, 11 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Here was a woman who was a great sinner. She had fallen into sin again and again, but Jesus had forgiven her again and again. This time she was the subject of an insidiously laid trap. The Jewish leaders tempted her and led her into sin and then caught her in the very act of adultery. Hoping to gain grounds to accuse Jesus to either the Romans for recommending the death sentence or to the Jews for disregarding the laws of Moses, they brought this poor, despised woman before Jesus and demanded to know what should be done. It was true that according the laws of Moses this woman was worthy of death. She was an open sinner, who had brought reproach upon Christ and His disciples, but Jesus saw more than what men saw. He saw a soul struggling and striving with sin. The poor helpless woman dared not look up, she was expecting to feel the hard, cold stones pelting her back any time. She knew she deserved it, and her hope was gone. Then she heard the sweetest words that ever fell upon mortal ears, “neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” In these ten simple words is contained the everlasting gospel. In these comforting words to a degraded and scorned woman is seen how the morning star arises in our hearts.

“Neither Do I Condemn you”

Isaiah 53:3-6 He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

The first part of the everlasting gospel is “neither do I condemn you.” Although the woman was deserving of death, although the woman was guilty of the aggravated sin of adultery, Jesus promised that he did not condemn her. Why did He not condemn her? Because Jesus took her sin upon Himself—He voluntarily laid down His life that we might have life. He was one with the Father and had dwelt in the Father’s grace and glory for all eternity, but He willingly laid that aside and came to this sin darkened world to save lost mankind. Our sins nailed him to the cross. Our sins plaited the crown of thorns upon His brow. Our sins caused the Roman scourge to lash His back thirty-nine times. It was for our sins that He was despised and rejected. It was for our sins that He was shut out from the Father’s light and presence. It was for my sins that He did all this. We must realize that Jesus’ death was not just for the sins of the world, but it was for me individually. It was me. I caused the death of my Creator and Redeemer.

Romans 3:24-26 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The inexhaustible truth is that Jesus took our place upon the cross of Calvary because it was the only way that our sins could be forgiven. Through Jesus’ death upon the cross, God can be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. Sin was so terrible that the only way it could be forgiven was for the Lifegiver to voluntarily lay down His life and suffer the punishment for sinful man. Only in this way could God’s justice and equity be met. God’s Law, the foundation of God’s government, could not be set aside or annulled. If it could have been, Jesus would not have had to die. The Creator of all things had to give His life to atone for man’s sin. He truly became sin for us. He became our sin, that we might become His righteousness. When we realize the love that Jesus has for us, our hearts will break with love and adoration for him. When we realize with the woman that we only deserve a shameful death, but because He suffered the consequence of our transgression and says to us “neither do I condemn you,” our hearts will overflow with gratitude to Him. Through His merits God can maintain the justice and equity of His throne, yet still forgive that which we have previously committed.

I John 1:7, 9 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The sin pardoning blood of our Savior has the power to cleanse us from all sin. This is the only remedy given for our sin sick souls. Regardless of how great or how many our sins may have been, the blood of Jesus is sufficient to wash them all away. The murderer, the adulterer, the blasphemer all can have their sins forgiven through the blood of Jesus who spilled His blood on Calvary for us. Like the woman, there is nothing we can do to atone for our sins; our only part is to come to Jesus, acknowledge our sins, and plead His forgiveness. The Word of God is clear that He will forgive and cleanse us, if we will only come to Him realizing our utter inability to accomplish any good thing, realizing that we are miserably lost apart from Him, and plead with Him to forgive our wickedness for His great name’s sake. Not one soul who falls in contrition upon our loving Savior will be turned away (John 6:37).

“Go And Sin No More”

John 8:11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 

John 8:32-36 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The second part of the everlasting gospel is just as wonderful as the first part. Many people study about the first part of the everlasting gospel, but then go no further. They are missing the greatest blessing that God could give to us. Although, there is no greater news than that God will wash away our sins for Jesus’ sake, the second and equally as important part of the everlasting gospel is that Jesus will give us the power to overcome our sins. Many people want their sins to be forgiven, but then desire to continue in their sinful ways. Nothing could be more hurtful to the Lord. When the woman heard Jesus’ words new life and hope surged through her. She did not have to continue in her path of sin and shame; she could rise from the degradation into which she had sunk. The Lord longs to wash away our sins and “cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” His power is abundantly bestowed to set us free from the prison house of sin. The chains of sin that the devil has locked upon our arms and legs can be broken, and we can become new creatures in Christ Jesus. Regardless of the habit that has a hold on your life, the Lord can set you free! Do you want that freedom?

I Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Not only has Jesus promised to break the chains of sin that bind us if we will allow Him, He has already done it for many millions before us. In the church at Corinth there were those who had been fornicators, thieves, homosexuals, drunkards and the like, but Paul says, “such were some of you.” That was their condition before, but Christ had set them free. They had been sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord. These two steps of the everlasting gospel can be called in theological terms justification and sanctification. When the Lord justifies us, He washes away our sins and makes us just before God. When the Lord sanctifies us, He is cleansing us from the power of sin in our lives, not just the past sins, but the sins that clamor for the supremacy.

Revelation 3:20, 21 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Hebrews 2:10, 11 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Hebrews 2:14-18 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

I Peter 2:21, 22 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps; “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”.

Jesus has promised this power to overcome all sins because He, Himself, overcame, giving us an example of obedience. Because He has overcome, He has proven that all sins can be overcome through His power. He came to this world in our likeness and in our weaknesses and infirmities beat the devil. He was tempted in all points like we are, but He was without sin. His example proves that we can overcome any and every sin through His power and through His grace. The everlasting gospel is so powerful that God can forgive our past sins and then give us power to overcome the temptations the devil throws our way.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus is ministering as our High Priest to assure us that He still speaks the words that He spoke to the woman nearly two thousand years ago, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Through His death, He has the power to forgive the truly penitent, and through his ministration in the heavenly sanctuary, He gives us the power to overcome all sin. The two steps of the everlasting gospel are seen in these verses, as well—“that we may obtain mercy [forgiveness through Jesus blood] and find grace to help in time of need [the power to overcome sin that Jesus gives us when we are in need].” When we experience the two steps of the everlasting gospel, Jesus, the morning star, is arising in our hearts. That we may experience the beautiful plan of salvation in our lives is the reason prophecy is given.

The New Birth

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Receiving forgiveness and overcoming our sins, is what the Bible calls the “new birth.” When our sins are washed away, it is as if we were born again. We have a new life, like an innocent baby and we must learn an entirely new way of living. Old things are passed away and all things are become new. This new birth experience of the everlasting gospel is not something that is a once in a lifetime experience. It is something that must take place every day. Jesus said that we must take up our “cross daily”. Every day we must make the decision and the choice to follow our Lord. Every day we must choose to die to sin and live for God. Every day we must realize what our Lord has done for us that we might have life. Even though this is a daily experience, there is a ceremony that Jesus has given us to remind us of this daily experience. Just as birthdays are reminders and celebrations of life and marriages are the celebration of the uniting of two lives, so the new birth experience must have a public acknowledgement. What is this ceremony representing the new birth experience of the everlasting gospel?

Baptism

Romans 6:1-7 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For He who has died has been freed from sin.

The sign of the new birth, the reminder of the everlasting gospel and of the morning star rising in our hearts, is baptism. Not that baptism saves a person, but baptism is a public pledge and commitment to the Lord that we will continue to allow the morning star to arise in our hearts. Baptism is similar to marriage. Marriage is a public pledge and a commitment between two people. Baptism is a pledge between the Lord and the individual. It is a pledge saying, “Lord, I’m going to follow you,” and the Lord is saying, “I will be with you always even to the end of the age.” Baptism is a death, burial, and resurrection. It shows faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but it is also pledging that we will die to our sins, bury our sins and be resurrected to walk as Christ walked. Considering the significance behind baptism, there is only one mode of baptism that accurately conveys the deep spiritual meaning.

The Method of Baptism

John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

Mark 1:5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Acts 8:38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

When people were coming to John the Baptist for baptism, God’s Word recorded that John could baptize in thisplace for there was “much water there.” He was baptizing “in the Jordan River.” When Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, they both went down into the water and both came back up again. Why is this so important to note? Because the only Biblical method of baptism is immersion. People can call sprinkling baptism, but that does not make it such. When a person is sprinkled, you do not need much water, it is not done in the water nor do both those who are baptized and the one baptizing go down into the water. Much water is only needed in immersion, thus immersion is the only true Biblical method of baptism. Baptism is actually transliterated from the Greek word baptidzo, which means to immerse or dip. The very meaning of baptism is the opposite of sprinkling. Immersion is also the only method that utilizes the important Biblical symbolism of death, burial and resurrection. When one goes down into the water, he figuratively dies to his sin and his sins are buried there. When the person comes up he has been symbolically resurrected to newness of life. The only Biblical baptism is immersion.

The Steps Before Baptism

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19, 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but He who does not believe will be condemned.

Baptism does not save a person, but it is an experience in which those who are being saved will participate. Baptism is the public commitment and ceremony of the inward experience similar to marriage. The marriage ceremony does not make a happy home; it is the love between the two parties. On the other hand, the marriage ceremony is very important, for no matter how much love there is, if the public commitment has not been made, they are living in fornication. So baptism is not what makes a person a Christian, it is the love for their Lord, but all who have this love will accept the ceremony of baptism because Jesus has asked them to.

There are three simple steps that must be taken prior to baptism. The first step to be taken before baptism is repentance. A person must repent and truly be sorry for their sins. This true repentance will lead to confession (I John 1:9) and making restitution where possible (Ezekiel 33:15). The second step is to be instructed to observe what the Lord Jesus has commanded. It is important to understand the nature of the step that is being taken and the different principles that Jesus has given us to guide our lives. Hasty marriages are never encouraged, and so to make the public commitment of baptism without carefully understanding the ramifications of the decision is not wise either. A person must know and be following what Jesus has taught us in His Word. The third step is to believe in the saving power of Jesus, to believe that He forgives your sins and to believe in the truths that He has taught. This last verse also shows the importance of baptism. It is only those who believe and are baptized that will be saved. (Those who believed but had no opportunity to be baptized, like the thief on the cross, will be judged accordingly.) Baptism is not an optional issue. If we love the Lord and desire to be saved in His kingdom, we must take the three steps and then follow our Lord to the waters of baptism.

Baptized into the Body of Christ

Acts 2:38, 41, 47 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

I Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

When a person is baptized, he is baptized into the body of Christ, or the church. At Pentecost, when the multitude was cut to the heart, they were baptized and added to the church. A person joins God’s last day movement of prophecy through baptism.

Rebaptism

Acts 19:1-5 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Some have been baptized previously, and wonder whether it is permissible to be baptized again. Not only is it permissible, it is even recommended by the apostle Paul. For those who have been baptized before, but have drifted from the Lord, it is perfectly appropriate to make a public witness of their renewed determination to follow the Lord Jesus. There are those who have known the Lord, but never knew the important truths from prophecy before. Like the believers in Ephesus, it is commendable to choose to signify your desire to follow the Lord in the present truth that He has shown you through baptism. Some have been sprinkled, and while you may have thought that it was truly baptism at the time, you see now that sprinkling is not really baptism at all. Being baptized by immersion is what the Lord is calling you to do. Whatever your experience may have been the Lord is making a call to you. A call to follow Him all of the way, to obey Him regardless of the cost, to love Him enough to do whatever He asks. Will you respond to the loving call of our Lord? It is only those who are born of water and the Spirit who will be saved. Have you made the public commitment to the Lord of being born of water? Do you have the heart experience of the Morning Star arising in your heart? Are you experiencing the everlasting gospel of forgiveness and victory over your sins? If it is your desire to enter into the kingdom of God, you must be able to say “yes” to all of these questions. If you are having this experience, will you make the decision to follow the Lord in every particular?

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”