Global Unity, Global Judgement!

A point in history has finally come. We, not as a city nor even as a nation but rather as a planet are now united! When else could that have been said? Oh, it could have been and it was, so many thousands of years ago.

And now… We’re back!

In that last historical unification, mankind combined: we with all of our anything-but-God fallen natures joined together, we as one were joined as one, and then… all but eight of us were choked together, at the same time, in a world-wide Flood which, despite the overwhelming evidence, the world still denies!

And now… Well, don’t let us tell it. Hear it for yourself, from the world, via GlobalCitizens.org, where we read this:

“Following One World: Together At Home, a historic global broadcasting event, Global Citizen together with Lady Gaga, announced $127 million in commitments to date in support of health care workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“World leaders, corporate partners and philanthropists announced their support for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO, powered by the UN Foundation, during the One World:Together At Home global broadcast event.” (“One World: Together At Home’ Raised Almost $128 Million in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis.” Global Citizen, 18 Apr. 2020, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/one-world-together-at-home-impact/.)

How big was this event? The same online article goes on to tell us this:

“The historic broadcast was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert, alongside friends from Sesame Street to help unify and inspire people around the world. The special [broadcast program] featured communities impacted by COVID-19 across the world, and included conversations with — and tributes to — the political leaders, scientists, health care professionals, and other essential service workers on the frontlines.” (Ibid)

The World! This world-wide event was given for and sponsored by, and paid for by, and still, even now, continues to receive rising contributions from… the World! Yes, not a region; not a nation, but rather… the whole World!

Everyone? No, not everyone. There still remains that hold out; that persistently offbeat contradiction. They for whom our Lord prays (and still receives the answer to his prayer to God) “not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (John 17:15)

“What is this”, you may ask? “Another world within this world?” Yes: two kingdoms; two worlds! Can they co-exist? Not for long.

Jesus is coming again! Hallelujah!

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

Jesus is coming again; and we are prepared to end this sermon right here! What could be a more glorious subject than that of our Lord’s imminent return?

“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.” (Revelation 1:7)

Jesus is coming again; and Christian (member of the Body of Christ), pastor (minister of the Lord Jesus Christ) if you can’t get your heart wrapped around, your mind full of, your eyes straining forth towards seeing Him, then… what? Then indeed:

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Ah, how Scripture speaks with Scripture. Let it, oh let him speak a bit more, as from the pages of God’s Holy Word we hear this preached.

1. The end of the world is near, and we are not of the world!
2. The end of the world is near, and they are of the world!
3. The end of the world is near, and Jesus is coming again!

I. The end of the world is near, and we are not of the world!

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18)

It was late April, 40 years ago, in the year 1980. I lay there, in Inglewood, California; in that one room single apartment, with those with whom I had formerly sinned sleeping, there within those same walls all around me.

Like Teflon, that material that keeps burning food from sticking to a burning pan, what they were and what I had done had no hold on me. I had seen him, and he had looked upon me; and he had taken away all my sin! Moreover, I was free! Free from enslavement to sin. No more the outcast. I was the loved! I was forgiven! I was… his!

Later, I would learn to, as the Bible puts it, “come out from among them, and be ye separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) And yet, I had already been separated. In that wonderful way, I had already been separated by him: by his love for me; by the love he had put in my heart for him; and by the overwhelming joy that continued to overflow until, one day, all of them were gone, and only he was left in that room with me.

Jesus, lover of my soul: let me to thy bosom fly!

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18)

II. The end of the world is near, and they are of the world!

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19)

Six million souls here, in Los Angeles, and oh, so many more throughout the world. As God once said,

“And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11)

“Cattle” indeed! As it was with our Lord, ever so let it be with us.

“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34)

No “shepherd!” “As sheep not having a shepherd!” But I know a shepherd, and so do you, my brother, my sister in Christ! We know a shepherd who will

“…leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Matthew 18:12)

Oh, ye ministers of God, you have been wearied but our Lord was weary too. Come join that band of faith-filled men and women “of whom the world was not worthy.” (Hebrews 11:38) Come with them who “wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (ibid) Come do whatever it takes to, like our Savior, stretch out your weakened arms and legs and feet and hands out upon your cross, and look down upon a world filled with inward pain and say,

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Be not as the not-yet-converted-ministers James and John, of whom this proof of carnality is recorded:

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?’ But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, ‘Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:54-56)

Nay, but rather “be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) How so? Behold the cause and affect of our Lord, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Savior of the World.

• The Savior’s cause:

“And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, ‘Unclean, unclean.” (Leviticus 13:45)

• The Savior’s affect:

“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, ‘I will; be thou clean.’ And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” (Mark 1:41-42)

III. The end of the world is near, and Jesus is coming again!

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

Jesus is coming again! Hallelujah!

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)

The end of the world? Yes, but is that all there is to focus on? Shall not the sun outshine the dark and gloom of night? Think!

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14)

The end of the world is near, and the following is what the world has to offer. Yes, even just yesterday, and as recent as earlier this very morning. Listen to this and think!

This is what they have to offer you.

     A. Yesterday, in a statement issued from her home, world famous philanthropist spokeswoman, former TV show host and actress, Oprah Winfrey said this:

“Tonight, we stand as one world united in our fight to rid the world of this disease, and to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again; and when and if it does, we… will… be… ready!” (Winfrey, Oprah. “Oprah Winfrey Urges Global Unity in Fight Against COVID-19 | One World: Together At Home.” YouTube, 18 Apr. 2020, youtu.be/o68IBs42IlE.)

     B. And just this morning, April 19, 2020, at 1:28 A.M., India in Israel tweeted from the world to the world… this:

“Acting on the Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-The World is One Family”, India supplies medical assistance to over 65 countries, including Israel, in the joint fight against COVID-19. Many more countries to receive assistance in the coming days. #IndiaFightsCoronavirus” (“India Supplies Medical Assistance to over 65 Countries.” Twitter, India in Israel, 19 Apr. 2020, 1:28 A.M., twitter.com/indemtel/status/1251789757539127296.)

Sorry, Oprah! According to the Bible, and especially to prophetic portions such as those so pointedly found in the book of Revelation… No! The world will not “be ready.” Judgement shall increase, pestilence shall spread, earthquakes will destroy, and the natural ecological balance of our planet shall finally fall apart.

So, please… please go ahead, India in Israel. Feed the people. Give them medical supplies. Strap on the masks, roll on the gloves, quarantine for another fourteen days. Do all this and find a vaccine; but as you do so, know that it… has… only… just… begun.

O’, world! I can tarry here with you no longer. All you have is this, but there is so much more.

Listen more carefully as I tell you again.

Jesus is coming again! Hallelujah!

“He which testifieth these things saith, ‘Surely I come quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)

Do you see it? Do you see…

1. Surely, Jesus will “come quickly.”
2. And yet he still offers you this (we oh, so gladly quote the very last verse in the Bible, again):

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:22)

And so, concludes the inspired Word of God, with this, the last verse of the Bible offering grace to you!

Trust him, o’ sinful soul! Look upon him whom you pierced, whom you put upon the cross. Look upon him and let him look down at you. Be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22:12)

Jesus is coming again! That is the focus! Trust him! Be saved from your sins by him who has paid for all of your sins! And then you too may, in the midst of this global pestilence, and in the midst of so many more judgments to come… So that, in the midst of all this you may long with us from the depths of your soul and cry out with us,

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)

OUTLINE:

Global Unity, Global Judgement!

1. The end of the world is near, and we are not of the world! (1 John 5:18)
2. The end of the world is near, and they are of the world! (1 John 5:19)
3. The end of the world is near, and Jesus is coming again! (1 John 5:20)

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give..” (Revelation 22:12)