intro to revelation 21, part 4: imminence (proverbs 11:9)

This message was preached at New Testament Christian Fellowship on December 20, 2020. It is the fourth 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 4 focuses upon the knowledge, as described in Proverbs 11:9, that delivers the righteous in days of trouble. Such knowledge emboldened Mary to accompany her husband to Bethlehem, even though she was “great with child” and Jesus’ birth was imminent (Luke 2:5). Mary believed God and therefore she didn’t put “health and safety” first. Similarly, the knowledge of Christ’s IMMINENT return for His Church should embolden us to put aside “health and safety first” and be obedient when the whole world and a big part of the American Church is cowering in fear. The Scriptures clearly teach that the return of Jesus Christ for His Bride is IMMINENT. If something is imminent, other things MAY take place first but nothing MUST take place. It is therefore both certain and uncertain and demands an attitude of expectancy. And such expectancy is indeed knowledge that delivers the just in these dark days of American tyranny.