TREASURY OF SERMONS
1999 | 2000 |
2001 |
2002 | 2003
For Yet A Little While, And He That Shall Come
Will Come
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC Indonesian 21st Anniversary Thanksgiving, Feb
09 2003)
Text: Heb 1:1,2; 10:25,37
This is the 21st Anniversary of Kebaktian
Indonesia. It was an effort made by 5 FEBC Indonesian and an
Australian student, plus the principal. We met at what was called
the Jerusalem Court but have long been promoted to the FEBC Hall. We
began with a handful of 10. Then Elder and Mrs Charlie Chia joined
us, as our uncle and aunt and later on Deacon David Amir. Thank God
now more FEBC students and Indonesian workers have come to swell the
numbers. As ours is a mobile congregation with a good number
returning to Indonesia after their contract is ended our number
fluctuates between 35 and 40. Today with many well-wishers joining
us, the Lord is certainly pleased to see them worshipping with us in
the Indonesian language. For even in heaven we praise His Name "out
of every kindred and tongue and people and nation" (Rev 5:9). Do you
know four services are held also in English, Chinese, Korean and
Thai in this Church every Lord’s Day?
Now the text of our message, "For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come." The Apostle to the Hebrews
is most conscious of the Second Coming of our Lord. In Heb 1:1-2,
when he talks of Jesus in His First Coming, He is said to enter into
the last days; for 4,000 years of the world’s history had already
passed. In Heb 10:25 he picks up the theme again, "Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching." No sooner has he dipped his pen in the ink bottle to
continue to write (Heb 10:37) than he says, "For yet a little while,
and he that shall come will come."
A very important injunction by our Lord to His
disciples is to be always ready to greet Him at His Second Coming
is, "Be ready, be awake!" For two thousand years the Church has
awaited. But this is the time when the Church is in deep slumber,
like the Five Foolish Virgins. We think He will delay His Second
Coming; being immersed in the things of the world. But, in an hour
when we think not, He comes! This is what the title of our message
says, "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come."
Learn a lesson of the times in which we live,
viz., between the World Wars. WWI ended in 1918 but WWII broke out
in 1939. There were only 21 years of peace in between. WWII ended in
1945. By God’s mercies the world has lived through 58 years to 2003.
By the law of average is it ripe for another war to break out? Yes,
indeed, are we not hearing the threats of war by Bush, president of
USA against Saddam Hussein leader of Iraq? War is expected to be
declared in five weeks’ time.
Now Rev 9:13-16 states that the last War, which
Walvoord, ex-President of Dallas Seminary, USA, says will break out
at the great river Euphrates, which is modern Iraq, will be the 3rd
World War. Whether the present confrontation between USA and Iraq
fits with Rev 9:13-16 or not, it is very significant in that Iraq is
the country concerned.
If a WWIII breaks out, Rev 8 reveals one third
of the population of the world will be killed. This is when the 6th
trumpet is blown. Where can Christians find shelter from such a
holocaust? We have a wonderful escape route, our Blessed Hope, "For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one
another with these words" (I Thess 4:16-18).
At the blowing of which trumpet shall we be
raptured, ie. be caught up to meet with the Lord in the air? Paul
tells us in I Cor 15:51-52, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed."
Now the last trumpet in Revelation is the 7th
trumpet. The 7th trumpet follows the sounding of the 6th trumpet at
which WWIII breaks out. When one third of the world will be killed
with no hope of escape, we who hope in the Lord will be rescued by
the Lord’s Second Coming.
While we await His appearing any day now, "this
gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt 14:24).
This is what Jesus means by, "Occupy till I come." Our work for the
Lord must be regularly maintained without slackening, yea, rather
increased with the passing of the days. How many percent of
Indonesia’s population are Christians? So far our evangelisation of
Indonesia has reached to nearby Batam and Bintan Islands, to Medan,
North Sumatra and to Jakarta and Pontianak. We should make one big
hop to Ujung Pandang and beyond.
"For yet a little while, and he that shall come
will come."
Top|Back
Click here for Sermons by Rev (Dr) Jeffrey Khoo
Click here for Audio Sermons
|
