WORLD WIDE GLORY

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give GLORY to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water." Revelation 14:7

Glory was announced at our Lord’s first advent and Glory will be announced at our Lord’s second advent. As the World Wide Gospel goes to all the World in the last days, multitudes are called out of Babylon. While we know from the Holy Scriptures that everyone will not be saved, we also know that the GLORY of God fills the earth. At His first, coming angels sang.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host PRAISING God, and saying, GLORY to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:10-14

So, as it was then, so shall it be when our Lord returns for His Church. Peter wrote about the glory of God in that great chapter that speaks of the new heavens and a new earth. (II Peter 3:13) At our Lord’s second coming glory will prevail.

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen." II Peter 3:18

We have seen the gospel scoffed at, ridiculed, walked into the ground, and rejected. Christians are bashed like no other segment of the world’s society. The name of Jesus of Nazareth is walked on in the street and blasphemed in the pulpits. It is politically correct today to reject the Lord Jesus Christ, but in that day, the most glorious day of all days since the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, multitudes from all nations, kindreds, and tongues will give Him glory.

Some of my revivals: Through the years some of my revivals have left everlasting memories. Like all Evangelists, there have been some good ones and some not so good. Thank God for all of them. I can see some of those great old saints sitting in the pews and I can still recall hearing the choir and the different groups singing revival songs to the praise and glory of God. While preaching sermons centered in Christ and the blessed hope, some of those dear old saints would make their salvation and relation to their Lord known. Their inner most cry was "glory to God, preacher, glory to God, our Savior is coming again." Friends, it is glory to God and it is true our Lord is coming again.

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’ sake." Psalm 115:1

There is glory in missionary work and the feet of those who preach the gospel are beautiful. There is glory in the sending and glory in the staying. The Lord does the sending and those sent do the staying. That is the of Glory of God.

"And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things." Romans 10:15

The glory of missionary work is seen.

1. It’s source - the source is glorious because the glorious Lord Jesus Christ is the one who commanded us to become engaged in the work of the gospel going to every nation, kindred and tongue in the whole earth. It is a World Wide Gospel about a World Wide Savior to a World Wide Population.

2. In this glorious gospel we find that it is preached by servants at home and abroad. Missionaries are called by God and sent by God. Mission headquarters are established where by God called men and women can go to the whole wide world to share the gospel and glory of God.

Fanny Crosby wrote:

"To God be the glory, great things He hath done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

and opened the life gate that ALL may go in.

"Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. Let the earth hear His voice,

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice;

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

and give Him the glory, great things He hath done."

3. In this gospel of glory, this glorious message of salvation results are achieved everywhere. The gospel with glory goes to every country to accomplish it’s work. That work is to call out a people for His name’s sake, a people who will give glory to God, a people who will praise His name and honor His Son. That is the gospel with glory that calls upon the people of God to remember Him and keep His commandments. Revelation 14:12

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise the Lord." Psalm 117:1-2

The true and living God should be praised among all people. His name should be lifted up and the work of God should bring glory to His name by all nations. The gospel work in the framework of the three angels of Revelation 14:6-12 calls for such praise and glory from all nations. A blessing God should be blessed and honored by a blessing people. Whatever others do in the last days, people of God ought to bless Jehovah. We should bless Him and we should cry out to others to bless Him and praise His name. Our lives and our witness should move those around us to give glory to God.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."

"Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship. Man is forbidden to give to any other object the first place in his affections or his service. Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god."

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: though shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them." (Patriarchs and Prophets, p 305, E. G. White)

"When we bless God for mercies we prolong them, and when we bless Him for miseries we usually end them. When we reach to praise we have compassed the design of a dispensation, and have reaped the harvest of it. Praise is a soul in flower, and a secret, hearty blessing of the Lord is the soul bearing fruit. Praise is the honey of life, which a devout heart gets from every bloom of Providence and grace. As well be dead as be without praise and glory. They are the joy and crown of life." (Charles H. Spurgeon)

1. Glory and Praise are due God

Now, friends, a cold, normal religion will not give glory to God, will not praise the Lord and will not worship God in and through the Holy Spirit and truth. A dead religion is not sufficient to honor the Lord, is not vibrant enough to bring both praise and give glory. And that is why in these last days of gospel work, we need the gospel preached with the power of the loud cry. That is why we need the gospel preached in the context of last day prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. Preach the Everlasting Gospel. Yes, but preach it in the context of Daniel and Revelation. Preach it with expectations of calling people out of Babylon. (Revelation 18:1-5)

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:5) There are some who seemingly are turned toward Babylon, ready to join the world wide apostate church. The call is to come out, not go in.

2. Loud Cry Gospel given in the power of the Holy Spirit will fill the earth.

"Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." Psalm 72:18-19

3. What happens? Babylon has been formed and established. False teachings and traditions of men have been substituted for the Word of God. Men are worshiped, buildings are looked upon for their beauty, and church organizations are glorified. God is put in the background and the people in the pews sleep the sleep of death.

But what does the gospel in prophecy do? When idolatry creeps in the Churches of God, it is by the preaching of the gospel, attended by the power of the Holy Spirit, that men are turned from idols to serve the true and living God, as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:7) Friends, this will be the call to all nations for God’s people to come out of Babylon and serve the true Creator God and give glory to Him.

"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it and the LAMB is the light thereof: and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:23-24) World Wide Glory - World Wide Honor!

Jude gives us perhaps one of the most sounding doxologies of the Scriptures, both in the present and in the future. Jude’s writing is a solemn ascription of glory to our great God.

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen." Jude verse 18

The glory in the now, and certainly the glory of the Lord at His great and glorious appearing. He is coming again in great glory and every eye shall see Him. (Revelation 1:7) Jesus came the first time with glory and honor. He will come the second time with glory and honor. Glory will fill the earth.

1. First time He came: "For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." II Peter 3:17

2. Second time He comes: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11

3. Worship, Honor, and Glory are all given to the true Creator God in the never ending eternity. Throughout the endless ages of eternity, our lord is adored and worshiped. "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 66:22-23

Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy,

Thou art worthy, O Lord.

To receive glory, glory, and honor,

Glory and honor and power.

For Thou hast created,

Hast created all things,

and for Thy pleasure they are created,

Thou art worthy, O Lord.

I love You, Lord and I lift my voice to worship You,

O my soul rejoice,

Take joy, my King, in what you hear,

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

-author unknown