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Sermon #2239 — Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: The Golden Chain of Grace

Text: Revelation 20:1-3

Subject: God’s Salvation

Reading: Revelation 12:1-17 and 20:1-21:6

Date: Sunday Morning — August 30, 2015

Introduction

Let’s turn to the Book of Revelation, Revelation 20. The title of my message is The Golden Chain of Grace. My text will be Revelation 20:1-3. — The Golden Chain of Grace (Revelation 20:1-3).

The Book of Revelation gives us seven visions of the Person and work of God our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, in this Gospel Age. In these seven visions the Lord God revealed to John what he had done, is doing, and shall hereafter do for his Church, in his Church, and with his Church. The whole purpose of the Book of Revelation is to assure God’s children in this world of their ultimate conquest over the world, the flesh, and the devil. This blessed book is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” By revealing to us who he is and what he does, our Lord calls for us to ever look unto him with confident faith, and assures us that we are “More than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Seven Visions

The seven visions John saw and recorded by Divine Inspiration are set before us in consecutive order in the twenty-two chapters of this book. He saw...

1. Christ in the midst of his churches, the seven golden candlesticks, in this world (chpts. 1-3).

2. Christ opening and fulfilling the seven sealed book of God’s sovereign, eternal purpose (chpts. 4-7).

3. Christ answering the prayers of his people, protecting them from their enemies, and vindicating them by executing the seven trumpets of judgment in his providential rule of the universe (chpts. 8-11).

4. Christ and his Church persecuted by Satan, world government, and false religion (chpts. 12-14).

5. Christ sending his angels to pour out the seven vials of his wrath upon the earth (chpts. 15-16).

6. Christ’s conquest over Babylon, the beast, and the false prophet (chpts. 17-19).

7. Christ’s dominion over and destruction of Satan and the glory of the New Jerusalem (chpts. 20-22).

These seven visions each cover the whole Gospel Age from the first to the second coming of Christ. They do not represent different ages, dispensations, or prophetic events. They all tell the same story. They all tell us what our Lord has done, is doing, and shall do for the salvation of his people. The use of the word “seven” is striking. There are “seven golden candlesticks,” “seven stars,” “seven seals,” “seven trumpets,” “seven angels,” “seven vials.” Seven is the number of perfection, completion, and satisfaction. And in each of these seven visions, the Holy Spirit assures us of the perfect rule of Christ as the Monarch of the universe for the complete victory and eternal salvation of his Church.

Revelation 20

(Revelation 20:1-3) “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

Here in Revelation 20, the final vision begins. Chapter 19 brought us to the very end of world history, to the final Day of Judgment. In chapter 20 we return to the beginning of the Gospel Age once again. In this vision we see once more the accomplishments of Christ’s first advent; and we are carried through to the final conquests of his second advent. Revelation 20:1-3 reveals the binding of Satan which was accomplished by the work of Christ in his first advent. The sequence of events is clear.

1. Our Lord’s first advent is followed by a long period of time, represented by a “thousand years” (thousands of years), in which Satan is bound.

2. At the close of this Gospel Age Satan is loosed for “a little season.”

3. And the loosing of Satan is followed by Christ’s glorious Second Advent to judge the world and make all things new.

It should be clear to anyone who reads Revelation 20 that the language is figurative. “The thousand years” is no more a literal period of time than “the great chain” is a literal chain. As “the chain” represents restraining power, “the thousand years” represents a long period of time — that whole span of time between Christ’s first and second comings. It is also obvious that “the thousand years” precede (they do not follow) the second coming of Christ. In other words, we are now living in this “thousand year” period which began with the incarnation of Christ. This “thousand years” is this present Gospel Age. It does not begin at Christ’s second coming. It ends at his second coming (See v. 11.). Our Lord Jesus Christ has so thoroughly bound the prince of darkness that he has total dominion over him. Let’s read our text again.

We see the purpose of our Lord’s incarnation in verse 1. This great and mighty Angel, which John saw come down from heaven, is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the Angel of the covenant, the Angel of God’s presence (10:1-7; 18:1). He alone has the keys of death and hell (1:18). No mere creature could ever bind the devil, or even hinder his influence. He was the greatest, most powerful creature of the Almighty. None but Christ, the Creator, could bind him. The purpose of our Lord’s incarnation was the redemption and salvation of God’s elect by the merits of his blood and the power of his grace (Matthew 1:21; 1Timothy 1:15). But in order to accomplish our salvation Satan had to be bound. And here we see Christ coming with the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He came to shackle a treasonous rebel and lock him away! He came to make war with, conquer, and bind the prince of darkness (Genesis 3:15; 1 John 3:5; Revelation 12:5-11).

The character of our great enemy is revealed in four names (v. 2). Satan is too wise, too crafty, too strong, and too cunning for any of us to resist him, overcome him, or avoid his blinding delusions. And this great rebel against God is full of enmity, anger, wrath, and malice toward the souls of men. He knows that by the merits of Christ and in union with Christ, we shall have the place he desired. We shall sit with Christ upon the very throne of God and judge the world (Revelation 3:21; 1 Corinthians 6:2). Satan’s hatred for God’s elect is fueled by envy and jealousy. Let us ever beware of this great enemy.

He is called “The Dragon.” — He is a beast of ferocious power in the earth. He is the instigator of all rebellion and opposition to God, holding power over the minds of men, taking them captive at his will. The governors, kings, and rulers of the earth are his willing subjects, by whom he breathes out the fires of persecution upon God’s saints. Since the days of Nimrod, he has led the confederated kings of the earth against the Lord and his Christ. And he will continue to do so, as God permits, until all things are done, until all the purpose of God is accomplished.

This great enemy of our souls is “The Old Serpent.” — He is old, very old. He has been around since the beginning of history. And he is the serpent. He is best represented by the slithering, crooked, deceiving serpent, with his subtle, hidden poison and deadly malignity. It was the serpent who deceived our mother Eve, to whom Adam submitted and plunged our race into sin and death. It is the serpent who today deceives the souls of men and women with presumptuous pride, false doctrine, perverted wisdom, and unbelief. And it is the serpent who corrupts, divides, and seeks to destroy the Church of God

This deceiver is also “The Devil.” — The word “devil” means “slanderer, liar.” This has been his character throughout history. “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth; when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

· He slanders God to man (Genesis 3:1-5). “Yea, hath God said.”

· And he slanders man to God (Job 1:9-11).

· The devil twists and perverts all: God’s Word, his providence, his Gospel, and his grace!

And the great enemy of our souls is called “Satan.” — The word “Satan” means “accuser.” He is one who waits to entrap, to oppose, to disable, to bring disaster, and to destroy. He is a ready, vicious, unrelenting adversary. He opposed God in the beginning. He opposed Christ upon the earth. And he opposes God’s elect from the cradle to the grave.

Child of God, this is the character of your soul’s great enemy. He is a powerful dragon, a subtle serpent, a deceiving slanderer, and a bitter, relentless adversary. But our Savior is mightier than our adversary! Satan is too great a foe for us. But he is not too a foe great for our Christ.

Satan Bound

The binding of Satan by our Lord Jesus Christ is described in verses 2-3. — John saw the Lord Jesus come down from heaven with a key to lock the bottomless pit and a chain to bind the devil (9:1, 11; 11:7). This bottomless pit has a lid upon it that can be locked and sealed.

Remember, this is only a picture, a figurative symbol, nothing more. But it tells us of the work of Christ. He laid hold upon Satan, overpowered him, rendered him helpless, and bound him securely with the mighty chain of his sovereign power. He cast him into the bottomless pit, locked the lid, and sealed it for a thousand years, more literally, “for the thousands of years.”

What does this mean? How did this binding of Satan take place? You will remember that when our Lord Jesus began his public ministry, the Pharisees accused him of casting out demons by the power of Satan. His answer was, “How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house” (Matthew 12:29). That word, “bind” is exactly the same in Matthew 12:29 and in Revelation 20:2. And it is talking about the same thing.

The binding of Satan began when our Lord triumphed over him in the wilderness of temptation (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). When Satan met Christ Jesus in the wilderness, he was foiled by the Word of God. As a result of this triumph, our Lord, having bound the strong man, began to spoil his goods, casting out demons. —— “The power and influence of Satan over the deluded masses was beginning to be curtailed.” (William Hendriksen)

In the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord Jesus again broke the power of Satan by faith and prayer (Matthew 26:36-46). In that dark, cold night, Satan came to oppose our dear Savior, taunting him with the hideous load of sin that must be put upon him and made his, tormenting him with the anticipation of being made sin, becoming vile (“See, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile!” Lamentations 1:11), being made to suffer the wrath of God, and being forsaken by the Father. He was trying to keep the Lord from the cross. And our Savior’s tender, holy, human soul was crushed with sorrow. But he rose in triumph after he prayed (Hebrews 5:7-9). In confident faith, he rose up to lay down his life for his sheep (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Then, our great Savior, crushed the serpent’s head, bound him as a wild beast, and cast him into the bottomless pit, by his glorious, triumphant death upon the cross (John 12:28-32). By his death upon the cursed tree, our Lord broke the arms of Satan’s usurped dominion over the nations of the world, and began to draw all men unto himself, Gentiles as well as Jews. The light was taken from the Jews who despised it, and sent to the Gentiles who never had it, that God’s elect in every nation might see the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and be saved.

When our Savior ascended up to heaven and was exalted as King over all things, he brought Satan into captivity under his sovereign rule (Psalm 68:18-19; Colossians 2:13-15; Revelation 12:5-11). The Son of God has always ruled Satan, as he has ruled all things, by virtue of his total sovereignty as God. But now, he has, as the God-man our Mediator, taken away Satan’s power to deceive the world so that he might gather his elect out of every nation in the world. Every text of Scripture which speaks of the binding and captivity of Satan refers to and is associated with our Lord’s first advent, his life, his death, and his exaltation. This is a glorious, comforting gospel truth which few people seem to apprehend. We are not awaiting the day when Satan shall be bound and Christ shall be King. Jesus Christ is the sovereign King over all things today! And Satan is bound already!

Proposition: Our Lord Jesus Christ has so thoroughly bound the prince of darkness that he has total dominion over him.

Our great adversary is under the total rule and control of our dear Savior. — He cannot harm God’s elect! His temptations are under the rule of Christ! His assaults are under the rule of Christ! Even his roars are under the rule of Christ! This binding of Satan is not his destruction. That comes later, at the Day of Judgment.

This binding of Satan is specifically the restraint of his power to deceive the nations. Satan’s influence in the world is not destroyed, but curtailed, so that he is unable to prevent the spread of the Gospel, the salvation of God’s elect, and the progress of Christ’s kingdom in the nations of the world. Satan cannot prevent, or withstand, the increase and completion of Christ’s Church in this world (Matthew 16:18).

(Luke 10:19) “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Satan is bound in this Gospel Age by the power of Christ, through the preaching of the Gospel (Luke 10:16-20). As we preach the Gospel of the grace of God, when it is effectually applied to the hearts of chosen, redeemed sinners by God the Holy Spirit, Satan is bound and his house is spoiled! I do not say, by any means, that Satan is bound with reference to all men. But, in so far as God’s elect are concerned, Satan is bound everywhere. He cannot stop the progress of the Gospel until the thousand years are finished, until the Church of Christ is complete, and all God’s elect are saved. But then he must be loosed for “a little season.”

Let’s go back to our text (Revelation 20), and I will wrap up my message.

John saw our Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Angel of the Covenant with “a great chain in his hand” by which he has bound the prince of darkness, the devil, the old serpent, the dragon of hell. What is that chain? I like to call it The Golden Chain of Grace. It is more precious than buckets of gold! It is a chain composed of twelve unbreakable links. I picture it with twelve links because twelve is a figurative number often used in the Word of God to speak of the whole of God’s salvation, the whole Church and Kingdom of God, and the consummation of our salvation in Christ (Revelation 12:1; 21:12, 14, 21 and 22:2).

· The Twelve Stars Crowning God’s Church

· The Twelve Tribes of Israel

· The Twelve Apostles of the Lamb

· The Twelve Foundations of the Holy City

· The Twelve Gates of the New Jerusalem

· The Twelve Pearls in the Gates

· The Twelve Angels at the Gates

· Twelve Manner of Fruit in the Tree of Life

1. Everlasting Love

The first link in the chain is the everlasting love of God (Jeremiah 31:1-3; Psalm 103:17; John 17:23-24).

(Jeremiah 31:1) At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. (2) Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. (3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

“The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.” (Psalms 103:17)

“23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 ¶ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:23-24)

2. DIVINE ELECTION

The second link in this chain is God’s election, the free, unconditional election of grace. In God’s everlasting love of God, poor sinners were chosen, elected by God, as the objects of his grace before the world began (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; John 15:16).

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (1 Peter 1:2)

“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)

3. Eternal Predestination

The third link is God’s eternal predestination. Every sinner loved and chosen of God in Christ before the world began was, from eternity, predestinated to the adoption of sons in Christ — adopted from eternity and predestinated the “glorious liberty of the sons of God” (Romans 8:18-21, 29; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11; 1 John 3:1-3).

“18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:18-21)

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

“3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

“1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3)

4. Effectual Atonement

The fourth golden link in this golden chain of grace is effectual atonement, particular redemption, limited atonement. Those who are loved with an everlasting love, elected and predestinated, were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd when he laid down his life for this sheep. God’s elect, all God’s elect, and only God’s elect were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Limited atonement is the clear, undeniable, foundation doctrine of Holy Scripture. Deny it and you deny the whole Gospel (Isaiah 43:1; 44:22; 53:8; Psalm 31:5; Revelation 14:3).

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” (Isaiah 44:22)

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” (Isaiah 53:8)

“Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” (Psalms 31:5)

“And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” (Revelation 14:3)

5. Effectual Calling

The fifth link in the chain is irresistible grace, effectual calling. All who are loved, elected, predestinated, and made the subjects of particular redemption, are effectually called, or regenerated, and brought from nature’s darkness into God’s marvelous light, and are, by God’s omnipotent mercy, made to rely on the precious blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

6. Divine Forgiveness

Here’s the sixth link in the chain — Divine Forgiveness. Every chosen, redeemed sinner, called by grace trusts Christ. And every sinner who trusts Christ is forgiven of all sin (Isaiah 40:1-2; 43:25; Jeremiah 50:20; Micah 7:18).

“1 ¶ Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1-2)

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)

“In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” (Jeremiah 50:20)

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.” (Micah 7:18)

7. Free Justification

The seventh golden link in this golden chain of grace is free justification in Christ. Every object of God’s everlasting love, eternal election, sovereign predestination, effectual redemption, effectual calling, and free forgiveness, is also justified by righteousness of God, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are complete (Romans 3:24, 28; 4:25-5:1, 9; Galatians 3:16; Isaiah 53:11).

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)

“25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 5:1 ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 4:25-5:1)

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11)

8. Perfect Sanctification

The eighth link in this unbreakable chain of grace is perfect sanctification in Christ, by Christ, and with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:9-11; Hebrews 10:14; Jude 1).

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

“For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)

“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” (Jude 1:1)

9. Special Promises

The ninth link in the chain are all the yea and amen promises of God in Christ Jesus, special promises of grace made to and made sure to divinely loved, eternally chosen, predestined, redeemed, called, justified, sanctified sinners (2 Peter 1:4; Jeremiah 32:38; Isaiah 54:10, 17).

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)

“And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:” (Jeremiah 32:38)

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” (Isaiah 54:10)

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17)

All the promises of God are in Christ; and “all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea and in him amen!”

Illustration: T & P — Tried and Proved

10. Grace Sufficient

The tenth golden link in this golden chain of grace that can never be broken is the relentless supply of grace, grace sufficient to meet our every need as we travel through this world as Zion’s pilgrims. Though we are loved, elected, predestinated, redeemed, called, pardoned, justified, supported by special promises, and sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, our enemies are so many and powerful, both within and without, that we must have continual supplies of grace, to enable us to persevere in the way believing God (Psalm 17:5; 84:11; Ephesians 4:7; Philippians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

“Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” (Psalms 17:5)

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalms 84:11)

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7)

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

11. Sure Preservation

The eleventh link in the chain is the sure and certain preservation of God’s elect in Christ. Were it not for God’s preserving grace we would all perish in a heartbeat. But, blessed be his name, the preservation of our souls is as sure as God himself because he has promised it (Psalm 16:1; 12:5, 7; 40:11; 119:117; Proverbs 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” (Psalms 16:1)

“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.” (Psalms 12:5)

“Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” (Psalms 12:7)

“Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.” (Psalms 40:11)

“Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.” (Psalms 119:117)

“He preserveth the way of his saints.” (Proverbs 2:8)

“23 ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

12. Heavenly Glory

The twelfth link in this glorious golden chain of mercy, love, and grace which the Angel of the covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, holds in his hand, the chain by which he holds Satan in bondage and by which shall at last throw him into hell is the heavenly glory awaiting his redeemed (Psalm 17:15; 73:24; 23:6; 84:11; 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:9).

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalms 17:15)

“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” (Psalms 73:24)

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:6)

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalms 84:11)

“17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

“5:1 ¶ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-5:9)

A Little Season

John tells us that Satan “must be loosed a little season.” The Lord Jesus will once again allow Satan freedom to deceive the nations of the world, because they would not believe the gospel, nor receive the love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). In that little season, there will be a famine of the Word of God (Amos 8:11-13). In that little season, the world will be zealously religious, but utterly ignorant of the true and living God, deceived with false religion (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 16:12-14). But God’s elect shall not be deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). His people are safe. They shall not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel (1John 2:20-29).

Child of God, rejoice! Satan is bound for you! He cannot harm you. He cannot accuse you before God. He cannot bring you into condemnation. He cannot prevent the success of Christ and his kingdom! Soon, God will bruise Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20; Revelation 12:11-12).

Illustration: Pilgrim and the Roaring Lion

(1 Chronicles 29:10) “Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. (11) Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. (12) Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. (13) Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

Amen.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s