intro to revelation 21, part 3: paralambano (proverbs 11:8)

This message was preached at New Testament Christian Fellowship on December 13, 2020. It is the third of a 7-part miniseries delivered during the Advent Season to serve as a fitting introduction to the glorious portrait portrayed in Revelation 21. Accentuating principles from Proverbs 11 , this series highlights unsung heroes and details from the birth narrative of Jesus Christ while also detailing aspects of the believer’s future expectation and hope that ultimately culminates in a new heaven and a new earth.

Part 3 focuses upon the eternal truth of Proverbs 11:8 as demonstrated in the part played by Joseph in the birth narrative of the Lord Jesus Christ. What Joseph was used to do for Mary and the baby Jesus is a perfect picture of what our Lord is going to do for us, His Church. Special attention is given to the Greek verb paralambano and how this sheds light on the biblical doctrine of the pre-tribulational Rapture of the Church. The ultimate deliverance of the righteous out of trouble, of course, is in the new heaven and the new earth, what is revealed in Revelation 21.