SOUL WINNING by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction:  For the past 5 weeks, we have been in a series of messages through the Book of Revelation to prepare us for the End-times Series. When we do a survey of Revelation, we find 5 practical themes standing out. There could be more, but these stood out to me. So, the first message was to teach us to become overcomers. The second message was about the importance of praying together. The third message was on worshipping in the New Heavens and the New Earth. Last week’s message was about the importance of doing life together. As you may remember, after my opening video, Ryan did an excellent job laying out the structure of the Circles Small Groups at Clearview. Today, our final focus is on the importance of Soul Winning as seen in the Book of Revelation. My prayer is that as we learn more and more about what God has in store in the end of times that our burden for the lost will grow more and more. We are not called to be just Date Setters or Calendar Keepers but Gospel Sharers and Soul Winners. Turn to Revelation 20:11 (page #1897-1898).

As I have been saying repeatedly, this will be a comprehensive and systematic look at end-times prophecy. Invite family and friends to come. It will be life changing. If you want a head start, read the Book of Romans this week. It all begins next week.

Revelation 20 (page #1897-1898) 11 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Context: Typically, people read the Book of Revelation just to find out how everything will end. When we study this last book of the Bible carefully, we find that it is the culmination of the history of salvation that began in the Garden of Eden. Something tragic and horrendous happened when the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve) chose to disobey God and listen to the Enemy’s lie. This brought Sin into this world, and Death followed. This also initiated the battle of the ages – between good and evil, between God and Satan, and between heaven and Babylon. God’s mission was to reclaim what was lost and rebuild the fellowship he had with us. So, the plan was initiated to send the second person into this world to die for our sins. This was no plan B, last minute ditch effort to save the lost. Revelation 13:8 calls Jesus the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Those who would receive him would be saved from the final judgment to come. Through all of this, God would receive glory, especially the Son. This was not just a Triune God alone plan. He wanted us to join him in the rescue effort. So, he chose the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be the light unto the Gentiles. Since, the church age began, he has given us all the Great Commission to “Go into all the world and make disciples…” The Book of Revelation is where all these strands come weave together to reveal the beautiful tapestry of Soul Winning. In other words, the more and better you understand the Book of Revelation, the greater should be your desire to the share the gospel with the lost.

Application: Do you know people in your life who are lost? Do you take the time to share the gospel with them?

For the next few minutes, I want us to see the importance of soul winning in the Book of Revelation (See Johnny V. Miller, “Mission in Revelation” in Mission in the New Testament). There are 3 things that stand out:

1. The Book of Revelation is centered around Jesus the Savior. We find him depicted in 4 aspects:

A. The Risen Lord:

Revelation 1        12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

B. The Lamb Slain:

Revelation 5         4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

This aspect is brought up again in Revelation 1:5; 5:12-14; 7:14; and 14:3-4.

C. The Judge of the Earth:

Revelation 14:14 “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.”

Revelation 19:11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”

D. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords:

Revelation 19:16 “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Application : Do you know Jesus as your Savior and King?

2. The Book of Revelation is the Consummation of the Conflict of the Ages. Pay attention to the repeated mention of Babylon. It is referring back to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 10 as the beginning of the kingdom of Nimrod. Again, it is referring back to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 when humanity was willing to unite together under the Tyranny of Nimrod. It represents that organized system of religion that stands against God’s plan of salvation. It is pagan worship, atheism, and even legalism. It also represents the economic system that puts material comfort and security against the spiritual blessings of God. Don’t forget that behind Babylon is Satan.

Revelation 14:8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Revelation 16:19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

Revelation 17:5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!” 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities…9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’…21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore… 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

Application: Do you belong to Babylon or are you a citizen of the New Jerusalem? Even churches can become Babylons.

3. The first and the last words of Revelation is that Jesus is coming back soon.

• Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
• Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
• Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
• Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
• Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
• Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’”

Will you be able to stand on the Day of Judgment? 

Revelation 20        11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21         6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Knowing all this, is your soul saved? Knowing all this, have you witnessed to that lost soul in your life?