A SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED

IN THE LAST TIME
(Are you PREPARED for it?!)

By: Tim Bauer, Pastor

“… a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  (1 Peter 1:5)

It was the third day since Jesus had been crucified.  Two of His disciples were walking to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.  Luke, in chapter 24, tells us that Jesus joined them in their journey, but that they were kept from recognizing Him.  As they discussed with Jesus the events that had just taken place concerning the crucifixion, they shared their confusion due to things not turning out quite as they thought it was going to.  They said in verse 21: 

“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.  Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.” 

Jesus rebukes them in verses 25 through 27 by answering:

“Oh foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?  And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” 

You see, Jesus had the plan for the redemption of mankind within the scriptures, but until He revealed it to them, they were unable to understand what was happening.

Things have a way of rarely turning out like we thought they were going to.  How many of us have wasted time worrying about something that never happened, or missed something else we should have been more concerned about?  Our problem often times is that we walk in presumption, not looking for the counsel of God.  Jesus has made it clear in His word that we, the Church, should not be caught unaware of coming events, but rather we should be alert and watchful.  The problem is not the scriptures lack of information, but rather the lack of discernment amongst God’s people who are sleeping in apathy when we should be watching!  Our redemption is drawing near and we have our eyes on the things of this world when we should be looking up to Jesus for His guidance and direction. 

Jesus wept over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-44 saying:

“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace --  but now it is hidden from your eyes.  The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.  They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.  They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Their focus had shifted from the worship of God to the worship of their own system.  We are doing the same thing!  The Lord has designed this great end time salvation so that we HAVE TO keep our eyes fixed on Him or we will not recognize the way of escape from the coming judgment in the day of His wrath.  While we were sleeping, the enemy moved in and set up his doctrines of demons that are designed to keep us in a state of deadly lukewarmness.

Mark 16:12-13 gives us another account of the Emmaus encounter.  It says:

“He appeared in a DIFFERENT FORM to two of them, while they were walking along on their way to the country.” 

He was somehow different than what they were used to seeing and hearing.  What about us, the church of America?  If He comes in a different way than what we expect, will our eyes be prevented from seeing Him due to unbelief?  Unless the spiritual pride that is so pervasive within our churches is repented of, you will find yourself in much confusion and destruction in the days ahead. 

We have had these end-time events figured out for years.  They are well entrenched within our doctrines.  May God have mercy on the person who cries out like the little boy in the children’s book: “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”   He knew that the king was naked, even though he claimed to be dressed in fine clothes.  We have become like the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:17 who said:

“I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” 

My wife, Shelly, and I often say how we feel like we are on the Titanic where some of the people were partying as the ship was sinking!

The book of Daniel provides us an example in type of a Christian in the last days who walks in pride, not listening to the words of warning from the Lord to repent of their sins.  In chapter 4, King Nebuchadnezzar says that he was at home in his palace, “contented and prosperous,” just like most in the church in America today.  The Lord gave him a dream that would greatly alarm him.  Daniel was called in to interpret the dream, due to his past track record.  Everyone knew that he had the Spirit of God upon him because of the revelations he was given in other dreams. 

The dream was a warning to Nebuchadnezzar, due to the pride in his heart because of his kingly position.  Daniel advised him in verse 27 to “renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.  It may be that your prosperity will continue.”

Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” 

The scriptures tell us that a voice from heaven then said, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.  You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle.  Seven times (or “years”) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 

“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.  He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle.  His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.”

The pride of his heart had deceived him into self-exaltation!  He began to glorify himself by taking credit personally for his high position and success. 

I believe the seven years of judgment represent the seven-year period we call the tribulation.  We are a “royal priesthood” who have been given a kingdom also, but not by our own strength or power.  I find it very interesting that he was put into the dwelling place of wild beasts. Revelation 13:18 tells us that the number of the beast is that of a man!  Having a heart made like that of beasts, being deposed of your royal throne, and having the glory removed from you is not a good thing!  God warns His people in Revelation 4 to come out and not participate in sin or else we will receive certain plagues.  Verse 7 says, “To the degree that she (Babylon the great, the mother of harlots) glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.'” 

Spiritual pride says that because I am a Christian I am protected from any harm even though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, rejecting the Lordship of Jesus Christ in my life!  That is a very dangerous deception from Satan, setting us up for a great sifting.  His false prophets cry out “PEACE, PEACE” when there is no peace, but rather a false sense of security!

The good news of this story though is in verse 34-37 which says, “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored.  Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.  His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  All the people of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he please with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”  At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.  My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.  And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Praise God!  At the end of the seven-year period, after he had been humbled greatly, his glory and place within the kingdom were restored.

The mercy of God always precedes His judgments.  He reaches out continuously to a stubborn and rebellious people who will not prepare their hearts.  If necessary, may God grant us a spirit of repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, that we may come to our senses like king Nebuchadnezzar, and escape from the snare of the devil BEFORE the disciplining hand of the Lord rightly falls on us, His people, in the time of His judgment and wrath.  Get ready church, your Bridegroom is coming!

Staff Note:  Tim Bauer currently pastors a church in Cedar Springs, Michigan:

Cedar Springs Christian Church

340 West Pine St.

(P.O. Box 680)

Cedar Springs, MI 49319

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 A.M.

Phone 616-696-1180

Fax     616-696-3305

E-mail: cssc@core.com