Sermon of 08-25-01

Dirty but Clean  

Scripture – Rev. 19:7,8,9 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”  

Have you ever been tempted to attend a wedding naked? I hate to admit it, but I need to point out this morning that is probably the biggest temptation you will ever face. It is one I have struggled with for years. And it is Biblical. Let me prove it to you. Turn with me to Revelation 3:14-17. “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The Bible teaches that just up to Christ’s Second Coming, God’s people will be neither hot nor cold. It’s called the Laodicean Church and it is full of lukewarm people. And lukewarm people make God sick. So much so He wants to spew them out of His mouth. Folks, you realize God is speaking about the days we live in. That’s us He is writing about. The way we are living our Christian life makes God sick. Have you ever thought of it that way? I really haven’t. I’ve always viewed my Christian experience as OK. You see lukewarm people often do look nice. But the Bible says you can look nice on the outside, do all the right things but still make God sick. Want an example? 

Turn with me to Matthew 23:1-7; “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”  

These are some of the hardest hitting words you will find Christ saying. He was basically saying that the Scribes and Pharisees appeared hot on the outside but in reality were cold on the inside. Now if we had the time to go through the history of lukewarm people we would discover that that these are the victims of behavior centered religion. A behavior-centered religion is a religion where people believe you have to behave a certain way in order to be saved. In other words, they feel their good works will save them. So they do good deeds in order to be saved even if they don’t feel like doing good acts. That is exactly what Revelation 3:14-17 says the lukewarm people will be doing in the end to be saved. Are your toes beginning to get sore yet? Ok – if it will make you feel better, I’ll stop meddling and start preaching. My purpose this morning is to try and show you exactly what happens to the people here on earth just before Christ returns. First, you have to understand that when Christ returns there will be no lukewarm people around anymore. When Christ returns there will be only two classes of people – not three. There will not be hot, cold and lukewarm. There will only be hot and cold people. There is no lukewarm lake of fire. God’s reward is for the hot or cold people only.

When Jesus returns lukewarm people are out of the picture. Now we need to look for a moment on how this shake up commences. What happens that makes people become hot or cold? And here is where the term “Shaking time” comes from. Now this term is not found in the Bible but the meaning is. It’s like the words rapture or millennium. They are not found in the Bible. But their meanings are. The shaking time is basically that period when three groups of people become two groups. 

Now friends, please listen to me. Here is where I believe we find solid proof that Jesus is about to return very soon. I believe this polarization of the three becoming two has already begun. All around the world we see people changing. Some are becoming very good. Some are becoming very bad. Some people are becoming hot and many are becoming cold. Now without answering out loud, let me ask you a question. How do you see your self? Are you starting to enjoy studying and coming to church more or less? Do you find more or less excitement in sharing the good news? In other words, are you getting warmer or colder towards the things of God? You need to answer those questions friends. And you need to examine your answers. And this process of changing will continue both inside and outside God’s Church. The wheat and tares have to grow together until the polarization is complete. 

Now along with the term shaking, have you ever heard the term “Sifting”? Now for the sake if those that haven’t heard these two terms, I need to explain that they are not the same. They have two completely different meanings. Both terms come from an old method of thrashing wheat. Let me explain. What they did was take fresh cut wheat from the field and place it in a pan. They would then shake the pan until the wheat and chaff became separated. This is called the shaking. After the shaking they would toss the wheat and chaff into the air and allow the wind to blow the chaff away. Only the wheat would fall back into the pan. This is called the sifting. The shaking came first and then the sifting. All that would be left would be pure wheat. Now if you will study this out further, I believe this is exactly what you will find takes place with God’s people in the last days. 

Now I have an experiment that when I am through I hope will help you understand more of what God’s Word is saying. On this side of the pulpit I have two glasses of water. One red and one black. I wanted to use white water but Washington has had all the white water tied up for years. Anyway, on this side of the pulpit I have two glasses of water. Again, one red and one black. These on my right side represent the people those that have heard and preached the Three Angels Message of Revelation 14:6-12. Have you ever read or heard about the Three Angels Messages yourself? If not then please read them later. But, please take note. Even though there are two classes here on my right that have heard the Three Angles Message, only one has accepted Christ and His Righteous. One has not. One is saved by what Christ has done and is still doing for them. One is trying to be saved by their good works alone. Now please remember we are taking up after the lukewarm people are gone. Also, I hope you understand that this polarization takes place not only inside God’s Church, but outside also. That is whom these other two glasses on my left represent. Again a red and black glass of water. Now, you have those that love Christ and those that do not. 

I hope you recall what the Second Angels Message says Revelation 14:8; “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Then in Revelation 18:2, 4, you may remember it says; “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. V: 4 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.”  

We are to call God’s people out of Babylon - confusion. Call them to accept Christ and His Righteous. Friends, sooner or later, every person alive will go one-way or the other. And you and I are represented in one of these two glasses you see up here today. Where will you be found? Something to think about if you haven’t already. 

Now, as this polarization continues, I believe the 144,000 begin to emerge. I believe the 144,000 are the genuine, pure Christians who know, believe and preach last day truths. Better known as the First Angles Message of Revelation 14:6; …having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” The everlasting Gospel, A Gospel that has never changed. In fact God says in Mal. 3:6; “For I [am] the LORD, I change not;” And in Hebrews 13:8 you find these words; “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” The 144,000 are those that will be overflowing with the remnant experience and those that have stayed in the church when the shaking has taken place. The 144,000 are those that have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb.

Now when these people who are represented by the black water on my right hear that their good works are not worth a dime, they get real mad. They begin to fight and resist and start their own independent churches. They are insulted when they hear that will not receive any credit toward eternal life for their good works. So it comes down to this. There are those that know God and those who do not know God. They were around in Jesus’ days too. They were called Pharisees and Sadducees. They were in God’s Church but they did not know God. They did all the right things for all the wrong reasons. And they are around today. Only today we call them Conservative and Liberal Legalist. One goes too far one way while the other goes too far the other way. Instead of looking to Jesus only, they look at what we should or should not do. 

Now, I hope you also understand that this polarization also takes outside the church the same way. Now watch this. Something very interesting happens about this time. These people on my right who know God and also have the Three Angles Messages become known as what the Bible calls “The Remnant Church.” Later read Romans 11:5 and Revelation 12:17. 

The Remnant Church includes two things in the end. The Remnant Doctrine and the Remnant Experience. You do realize that you can be a member of the Doctrinally Remnant Church, and still not be one of the Remnant don’t you? You see the True Remnant Church will not only have the same true doctrines the Disciples had and preached, which included the keeping of the whole, all Ten of God’s Commandments, they will also have a love relationship with Jesus Christ too. Now as these people on my left start hearing the Three Angels Messages being proclaimed, something called the “Loud Cry” takes place. When these people on my right start telling others around the world the Good News about Christ and His Righteousness, these on my left listen. Then they on my left join the ones on the right. Why? Because when they hear the Good News they respond to their own experience with Jesus. And as they do this, these people on my right in the black glass become nervous. And since they don’t have a love relationship with Jesus – they start throwing trouble toward God’s Commandment Keeping Remnant. Then they sift over to the other side with the others.

Now I have read that verse many times but never fully understood it until lately. The verse lists four classes of people – not two. Some of you recall this is where we receive the phrase “Probation closes.” 

Now watch this. (Point to black glasses on left side ) “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:” These are the people that never accepted Jesus as their Savior. They were never baptized. Never lived any kind of Christian life. Unjust still. “And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still:”  (Point to red glasses on right side) This can include people that accepted Christ as their Savior five minutes before the close of probation. And the Righteousness of Christ covers them just like it covered the thief on the cross. They are saved as anyone that has been in the church for 50 or more years. They know and accept that it is not what they did but whom they know that will save them. “And he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Point to red glasses on right side) Here is what I believe is reference to the 144,000. These are the ones that who spread the Three Angles Message in a special way during the closing scenes of the world. These are the ones that accept that it is Who you know that saves you – not what you did. Well you say wait a minute pastor, you left out the filthy. Yea I did. “And he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:” (Point to black glasses on left side) These are the filthy people. How do I know? Listen to Isaiah 64:6; “But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousness [are] as filthy rags;” These are the people that tried to wash their own robes. (Point to black glasses on left side) These are the ones that tried to produce their own righteous. But God said our righteousness is as filthy rags. These are nothing more than victims of Salvation by works. 

Now let me suggest something and please take note. You will be in one of these two classes very soon. This polarization is becoming more and more pronounced everyday. Let me conclude with one more verse. Please turn with me to Revelation 3:20; “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Now I know what you are thinking. What do I fix Jesus for dinner? 

There once was this Adventist family traveling on vacation. Come Friday afternoon they stopped to spend the night in a camping area. They had enough food to get through Saturday night. The next morning they attended church at the local SDA Church. They were met by a very nice greeter. She had a sweet smile and was so kind.

Now comes the good news. When Christ comes to eat with us – He brings the food. He comes and eats with His friends. You don’t eat with your enemies. Friends I pray you take a good long look at the road you are traveling down right now. He is coming soon.

Texarkana SDA Church 3100 Pleasant Grove Road Texarkana, Texas

Printed From
Texarkana SDA Church Website
http://www.tagnet.org/texarkana