Book of Revelation chapter 17. Before we look at this verse
that we want to spend some time on tonight, I want to say that
everything in this book, from chapter 1 to chapter 22, declares
the great victory of the Lord Jesus Christ. And in that victory
is bound up the eternal security and final perseverance of all
who believe. Bound up in that victory is the
eternal security and final perseverance of all who believe. God's church
in this world is an elect redeemed, sealed multitude whose names
are written from eternity in the book of life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. Now in our verse of
scripture that we'd like to look at tonight, it mentions something
happening to all those whose names are not written in the
Lamb's book of life. all those whose names are not
written. And a couple of times, three
times, in the book of Revelation, we find what is going to happen
to those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of
Life. Now, these names were written
down before the world began. In the covenant of grace, God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit knew completely
and wholly who they would elect. And it was unconditional. And by that I mean it was not
based on something that they saw in the people that they wrote
down. In fact, if we have any comprehension
about what is mentioned over there as we spoke on Sunday in
Psalm 14, we find there that God did look down from heaven. And he did not find one that
sought after him. And the only hope that we have
is that he had an interest in us before the world began, that
he had an interest in us, and that he would play out that interest
in the redemption of his people, the coming of his son, the death
of his son on the cross, the resurrection of his son, and
the ascension and sitting down of his son. We've said in the
past that there were no chair makers at the tabernacle and
there were no chair makers at the temple because none of those
priests were ever allowed to sit down in their high priestly
function or in their priestly function because their work was
never completed. And yet we find that the Lord
Jesus Christ sat down at the right hand of the father because
he was able to say before he left this life on the cross,
it is finished. That's why. And when he sat down
at the right hand of the Father, he was recognized as having completed
the ministry of the great covenant of grace. Now in Revelation chapter
17 and verse 8, the beast that thou sawest was and is not and
shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. And
they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were
not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world
when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is." There's
going to be something that these are attached to about the world's
religion, about their own religion. They are captivated by it. and
they are held by it, and all those whose names are not written
in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world have
this upon them. Now turn with me, if you would,
back just a little bit in chapter 13 in verse eight, chapter 13
in verse eight, and it mentions this. Revelation chapter 13 in verse
eight, and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.
whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. Now all of those whose
names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, they will
worship for time and for eternity, if you please, this false religion. This, self-will, free will, works
religion, they will worship that. And we, when we went to, at this
place, when we were here, we find out this is the alternative
to grace. This is the alternative to having
names written down in the Lamb's Book of Life. This is not a good
alternative from the standpoint of the church, but it is a just
alternative, and the church will say with every voice, that is
what I deserve. But His grace has brought me
out of that. I deserved not to have my names
written in the Lamb's Book of Life. I deserved to eternally
worship the beast and to worship false religion. And then, if
you'll turn with me over to the book of Revelation chapter 20
and verse 15. Revelation chapter 20 and verse
15, it tells us here that those who were not found in the Book
of Life, This is the final judgment. This is the last that the church
will ever hear, ever think of those that are without Christ.
It says in verse 15 of Revelation chapter 20, and whosoever was
not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire. Now this is the judgment, whose
names are not written in the book of life. Names are not added
in time, they're identified in time. Names were written before
the world began. Names were written in the covenant
of grace. The Lord Jesus, the Spirit, and the Father in covenant
mercy wrote the names of those that they would seek out, those
that would be redeemed. They had their names written
and there's nothing written in time They are written in eternity. Now, we've said enough about
that side. I want to go to the other side.
Let's look at a few verses that deal with those whose names are
written in the book of life. And let's see what the Bible
has to say about that because it is very vocal. on this great
subject. There's not just one or two verses
that speak about it. We can look at it from the negative
side and say, if you're not written, you're going to do this. If you're
not written, you'll do this. And if you're not written, you're
going here. We'll never know who's written until the end.
And only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are those identified
whose names are written. It's not by works of righteousness
that we find it. It's by faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ and he supplies it in regeneration. who he regenerates,
their names are written in the book of life, and by their repentance
and faith, they are identified as those whose names are written
in the book of life. Turn with me to the book of Luke,
Luke chapter 10. In Luke chapter 10, the Lord
Jesus gives a beautiful statement about this great book. that he had inscribed the names
of all those that he would die for before the beginning of the
world. And he makes a great statement
about this wonderful subject. We have seen enough about those
who will not have their, and do not have, excuse me, do not
have their names, but I want to find out what is in store
for those whose names are written in the Book of Life. I would
never tell anybody that their names are not written in the
book of life. The only ones that can be identified as those are
those who leave this life without Christ. We would never tell anybody,
but we do know that those who leave this life without Christ,
their names were not written in the book of life. Alright?
In the book of Luke, chapter 10, Verse one, it says, after
these things, the Lord appointed other 70 also, and sent them
out two and two before his face into every city and place, whether
he himself would come. Now, 35 teams, 35 groups of two
were sent out. The Lord ordained it, the Lord
sent them out, and he gave them great power. They preached the
gospel. They were able to heal the sick.
They were just they had a great deal of power given to them by
the Lord. Now let's drop down through there
just a little bit and in verse. Verse 17, and the 70 returned
again with joy. And it doesn't tell us how long
they spent out. It does tell us that they spent
some time in the cities that the Lord Jesus Christ was going
to go into. They were his ambassadors. They
were his introducers. They were declares of the gospel
like any other preacher of righteousness. Anyone else that is called by
God to be a minister, that is what they were. They were not
preaching some strange gospel. They were preaching the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they were introducers, much like
John was. Introducers of one that's coming.
There's one coming whose shoes were not worthy to unlatch, but
there's one coming. And they came back, and it tells
us there that they came to the Lord with joy, saying, Lord,
Even the devils are subject under us through thy name. Now when
they use the word Lord in that capacity, it really meant something. They recognized that because
of His name, they were able to do things that they commonly
could not do. That the Lord had great power,
that He had great power over His creation, over His created
beings, even to the point of devils being subject to them. In Your name, You have great
power, and we recognize that, and we're thankful that we were
used in all of this stuff. And then He goes on to say, and
He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
I know what you're talking about, but I saw it better, bigger.
And then it says, behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents
and scorpions and over all power of the enemy, and nothing shall
by any means hurt you, notwithstanding in this rejoice not that the
spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice. Now this
gives the church great reason for rejoicing. God had an interest
in me before the world began. And that's the only reason we
will ever call out to him. It's the only reason we'll ever
have repentance towards him, faith in him. is this, notwithstanding,
but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Now, I have a feeling that every one of those 70, when he said
that, said, he is right. We thought it was great capacity
to do all these things but that's nothing compared to having the
knowledge that our names are written in heaven. That God had
an interest in us before the world began and even through
the fall. And even as a result of the fall,
and even as all the fall took place, he saw through it all,
he knew through it all, he purposed through it all, and said, I will
take a people out of a people that was not a people, and I'll
make them my people, and they shall love me, and I shall love
them, and I'll be their God, and they shall be my people.
That's what he's telling them. when their names are written
in heaven. Just rejoice in this. The 70 doesn't tell us word for
word, but we know what happens to God's people today when they
find out that God had an interest in them before the world began.
They are thankful. They are compassionate toward
God. They recognize him as the Lord because he was able to deal
with this issue that we could not deal with. And so they rejoiced. Now, turn with me back to the
book of Daniel. Daniel chapter 12. Daniel chapter
12. This subject is mentioned there
in the book of Daniel. The subject of names. Names written down. We know a
little bit about what will happen to those that leave this life
without Christ. Their names were not written
down, and they shall be cast into the lake of fire. But we
find that those whose names are written down, and God regenerates
them by his grace and glory, and gives to them all the blessings
of redemption, they are caused to rejoice as a result of this
activity on God's part before the world began. They rejoice
that their names are written down. The fall could not destroy
them, even though it took us into absolute and total darkness. He is able to take people out
of that total darkness and put them into the kingdom of light.
And the church rejoices that their names are written down.
Now here in the book of Daniel. Daniel chapter 12, much is said
in the book of Daniel, like in the book of Revelation, that
the Lord Jesus Christ is going to be the victor. Sometimes it
didn't look like it, but He is. Sometimes when the children of
Israel are taken off into captivity and spent 70 years there and
even these prophets were taken off into captivity and spent
their life. Many of them spent their life,
70 years. They spent the bulk of their
life in captivity. They were there by God's divine
appointment and Daniel was given some messages about when will
the children of Israel go back? what will happen, the birth of
the Lord Jesus, the measurement of time, and notice here in Daniel
chapter 12, and it tells us here, and at that time shall Michael
stand up, the great prince would stand for the children of thy
people. Now I'm convinced that this Michael
is more than just a created angel. There are groups that would like
to think that this is just a created angel. This is our Savior, the
Lord Jesus, standing up on the behalf of his, he's the archangel,
Michael the archangel. He is the archmessenger of God. He is the supreme messenger of
God. He is God's messenger of grace. The rest of us are sub-messengers. Just like we are, he's the shepherd,
we're the sheep. Nobody wants to take that position
away from him. We just want to be the sheep
of the shepherd. And there are, he is the chief shepherd, he's
the pastor, and there are sub-pastors, and on it goes. But he's chief. He is lord of lords. He's king of all kings. And he doeth according to his
will among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth.
We have scripture for that. We can say it with all authority. All right, now notice here. Michael
stood up, great prince, which standeth for the children of
thy people. And there shall be a time of trouble such as never
was since there was a nation even to this same time. Now,
I was trained that this time of trouble is for people, but
now I'm convinced that this time of trouble was for Jesus Christ. The time of trouble. When I read
over in the book of Luke that he, the Son of God, was in agony. That's the time of trouble like
this world has never seen. It had never seen God in agony. It had never seen Him with sweating
great drops of blood. The reason I say that is because
of the very next phrase that's brought up here. And at that
time, thy people shall be delivered. Now, when were we delivered?
At that great time of trouble. When Jesus Christ went to the
cross, when he was in great agony and sweat great drops of blood,
when he was taken and arrested and beaten and then placed on
the cross, we read about the Lord Jesus, God shall see the
travail of his soul. There was never a time in the
history of the world where there was trouble like that. And the
result of it is, at that time, thy people shall be delivered.
Now who? Every one that shall be found
written in the book. Now that's who will be delivered.
Now the church says, hallelujah. I like that kind of deliverance.
I can be delivered. I've been delivered from sin. I've been delivered from Satan.
I've been delivered from hell. I've been delivered from the
grave. I've been delivered. I've been delivered. The deliver
delivered me. Here he is, the Lord Jesus. And
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.
Verse two, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting
contempt. If we follow that theme through
the Bible, we'll find out that God said in his word that there's
going to be a general judgment, and not a thousand years in between
the saved and the lost. Everybody. And then we go over
there to the book of Matthew, says he's got the goats on the
left hand, the sheep on the right hand, and what's he do? He divides
them. Welcome to those on the right hand, to the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world. Depart from me. to
the others. Everyone will be standing together.
It was termed a general judgment for thousands of years until
about 1800, someone came along and says, oh, we can't have that,
and started sifting through the Bible and find a few verses that
they used to point it out. And most of it has to do with
the tribulation. And if you look at that from
the point of scripture, you'll find that tribulation is God's
tribulation on the cross Anyway, let's go on. They that be wise
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. Now, if we notice there, they
shall be delivered. Verse 1, everyone shall be found
written in the book of life. Turn with me, if you would, over
to the book of Philippians. Philippians, here in the book
of Philippians we have another statement with regard to those
who are found in the book of life. We know what will happen
to those whose names are not written. Mentioned three times
in the book of Revelation. God is of God a victory and he
will win the victory in everyone whose names are written in the
book of life. the elect, the redeemed, the
sealed, those whose names are written from eternity in the
book of life. These shall have eternal security and they shall
persevere to the end without question. without question. My sheep hear my voice and they
follow me. And we'll look at some verses
over there with regard to that in just a moment. The book of
Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4 verse 1.
Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, long for my joy and
crown. So stand fast in the Lord, my
dearly beloved. I beseech you, Odius, and beseech
Scythian, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. A couple
of saints got a little crosswise, and Paul is admonishing them
to say the same thing about the Lord. We never find that there's
ever room to say different things about the Lord. The church will
agree on this, things about the Lord, all right? And then it
says, and I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those
women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also,
and with other my fellow laborers whose names are in the book of
life. These are those who helped Paul.
These are those who were ministers of the gospel. These are those
who knew the gospel. These are those that would hold
the gospel. These are those who would hold Paul, support Paul
and his preaching. Why? Because their names are
written in the book of life. And what is the result of that?
Regeneration. What is the result of that? God
has promised those he regenerates, those he had written in the Lamb's
Book of Life, he promised them that he would grant repentance
to them and they would turn from dumb idols to the living and
true God and they would also Be given the grace to exercise
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That He is their faith. They
look to Him. They follow Him. They approach
Him. They come to Him. And so, this is the promise.
Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life have
great promises on their behalf. They will be a work of God. They will be a creation of God. They will be the love of God.
They will be His purpose. That's why He came. He purposed
that they would be drawn with cords of love out of every kindred
nation, people, and tongue. That He would make sure that
they heard the seed. The seed would be spread in their
field, the word of God, the gospel would be brought to them, and
the Holy Spirit would be there to witness and testify of the
gospel to their heart and that he would give them life. And as a result of that, boy,
helping the gospel, loving the gospel, sending out the gospel,
Not their own, but the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The
book of Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews chapter 12, talks about two mountains. Mount Sinai, Mount Zion. And the writer of the book of
Hebrews, led by the Holy Spirit, wants to make sure that nobody
stops at Mount Sinai. Oh, it genders strife. It's a
place of death. It's a place of fear. It's fearful to be at Sinai. God's law stirs fear in the hearts
of his people, and they don't want to be under it. They want
to be over here at Mount Zion. Notice here, Hebrews chapter
12, verse 22, the scripture says, But ye have come unto Mount Zion,
and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly
and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven.
Now look at all the qualification, qualifiers of those who are written
in heaven. They come to Mount Zion. They
have no hope in Mount Sinai. They have hope at Mount Zion. Christ is our Mount Zion. And
they come to heavenly Jerusalem, city of God. It tells us with
regard to Abraham that he looked for a city whose builder and
maker was God. He wasn't looking for that city
on this earth. He was looking, and he found
it in Christ. And then it tells us here, to
innumerable company of angels. Now what does that mean? To the
presence of God. You've come to the presence of
God. Are we allowed to come into the presence of God in our sin?
No. Are we able to come into the
presence of God in Christ? Absolutely. Without fear, come
boldly into His presence, in the presence of God. To the General
Assembly in Church of the Firstborn, every one of God's people in
heaven and on earth, are in this general assembly. Everyone that
Jesus Christ ever died for. We have a oneness with those
sitting at the feet of Jesus. We have a oneness with those
on this earth that know Christ. And then it says, which are written
in heaven and to the God, the judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect. This is what God gives to all
those whose names are written in the book of life. What? Just men made perfect? Sins forgiven? Sins taken away? And to Jesus,
the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling
that speaketh better things than that of Abel. The Lord's blood
does not cry out revenge. The Lord's blood cries out, peace. Peace. By his blood, he made
peace. Covenant of grace was fulfilled.
Peace for his people. No wonder he can come into that
room after his resurrection and say, peace be unto you. His blood
means peace. His blood brings peace. His blood
is peace. He's brought peace. We have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, his shed blood and his
righteousness. So look what we have, because the names are written
in heaven. I can't list them all. I couldn't
spend a year on going through those verses. There's too much
there, but look at what we have. And then, turn with me to Revelation
chapter three. Revelation chapter three. This
is a wonderful statement that God made with regard to those
whose names are written in the book of life. Those whose names
are written in the Lamb's book of life, slain from the foundation
of the world, Revelation chapter three, and verse five, it says
this, he that overcometh, now, We don't overcome in the flesh,
we overcome by the Spirit. And all those who overcome, overcome
means to be born again. That's just another word for
it. You can go back to 1 John and find that. He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not
blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess
his name before my Father and before his angels. Now that's
rich. That's good. I will confess his
name. What's he say? Mine? Mine? There are some times we
don't mind being possessed. Possessed of the Lord. He possesses
us. We are his possession. We don't
mind that because that means life. Everyone whose names are
written in the Lamb's Book of Life are possessions of Christ. And he confesses their names
before the Father and in the presence of the angels. And then
over in the book of Revelation 21, we see that God has a book
and written in this book are all that he set out to save. from beginning to end. The first one, we're a little,
I'm just a little, I don't know for sure who is the first one
whose name was written. I've read Adam was. Well, I can
take it to the bank that Abel was there. He's found in the
book of Hebrews, chapter 11. Now, if Adam was, hallelujah.
Eve was, hallelujah. We see other times in the Old
Testament where God typified that he covered his people. Look
at all the sacrifices. And not everyone was saved. Adam
and Eve were covered with the skins of animals to typify what
was necessary. But I'll look at Abel, and I'll
say, by faith, he offered a more excellent sacrifice. And if Adam
was saved, I'm going to say hallelujah. And someday we'll know, and it
probably won't even care. All right, here in the book of
Revelation 21, 27, chapter 21, verse 27, and there shall in
no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they which are written
in the Lamb's book of life. Now that's the residence. of
this heavenly Jerusalem. That's the residence of heaven.
That's the residence of those who stand in the presence of
God without fear. These are those who can approach
his throne boldly, whose names are written in the Lamb's Book
of Life. What does that tell us about those? Well, they're
not defiling. What made the difference? the
Lord Jesus Christ. By nature we defile, but in Christ
Jesus it's been taken away. It also tells us there, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination. By nature we worked abomination.
Our friend Saul of Tarsus would tell us that. Our religion was
an abomination. Our worship was an abomination.
Our thoughts were an abomination. Our heart was an abomination
to God by nature. But because God has written the
names in the Lamb's Book of Life, he made sure that they would
no longer be an abomination in his sight. He sees Christ. He
doesn't see us. He sees Christ. And then it says
there, or maketh a lie. David said, in my haste, He said,
all men are liars. I don't want to change the Bible
in any sense of the imagination, but I like what our brother said.
He could have said the same thing just walking away. All men are
liars, every one of us. We're liars by nature and practice
and choice. But here, no liars will be present. What's he do? He takes that out
of us. He gives us Christ. He gives us his holiness. Without holiness, we'll not see
God. We must have His holiness. We must be as pure as He is,
and it only comes as He gives that to us, imparts it to us,
implants it to us. Now, these names that were written
in the Book of Life before the world was, Before there was a
creation, before there was a fall of Adam, these names were written
down. And this salvation is so great a salvation, and those
that are in Christ shall never perish due to these facts. Number one, the perfection of
God's character. Turn with me over to lamentations. Lamentations. Jeremiah's Lamentations. Lamentations chapter three. Lamentations chapter three, verse
21. Lamentations chapter three, verse
21. This I recall to my mind, therefore
have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that
we're not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are
new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. The
Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in
him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul
that seeketh him. It is good that a man should
both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. I
was down there visiting the other day at the hospital. I brought
this subject up. We cannot, we cannot pick the
fruit. I was conversing with Nancy's
dad. We cannot be baby deliverers. We're not in that business. We're
not baby deliverers when it comes to spiritual things. He is. We
can only cast the seed out. We can only sow the seed. And
here it tells us, because of God's perfection of his character,
everybody that's written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be eternally
saved. Without exception, not one will
be lost. That's his promise. And God's
immutability forbids change in the object of his love. Turn
with me, if you would, to the last book of the Old Testament.
The last book of the Old Testament. The book of Malachi, we've spent
some time here in the past looking at this verse, but it's worth
looking at again. The church of the Lord Jesus
Christ, those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of
life depend on this. They depend on that God does
not change. If God should count iniquity,
who can stand? Here it tells us in the book
of Malachi chapter three, and there in verse six, For I am
the Lord, I change not. Therefore, or as a result of
that not changing, his immutability, he cannot, he will not change. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are
not consumed. The church is not consumed because
God does not change. He will not change his love for
his people. He will not change his love for
those whose names are written in the book of life. God's mercy
will never turn to wrath. God's mercy will never turn to
wrath. And God's love will never become
hatred. And God's faithfulness will never
cease. And God's goodness cannot fail. God has made a purpose. He has
made a pact. The church rejoices in that.
Turn with me to Job as we look at the subject of God's immutability. He doesn't change. Therefore,
his love does not change. His mercy does not change. His
salvation does not change. The hope he gives his people,
that does not change. Here in the book of Job, way
over here, some say it's the oldest book in the Bible. Some
of the great truths are still found here. I know my Redeemer
liveth. That's what Job said. And he's saying the same thing
we do. Boy, how can God do this to me? God answers him. I have a right. I can do whatever I want. By
the way, there's next four months daily Bible readings on the front
pew here. We're almost to the end of this
month, so they're printed up. Anyway, Job chapter 23. Job 23
and verse 13. It's written, Job 23 verse 13, but he is of one
mind. Job 23 verse 13, but he is of
one mind, and who can turn him Thank God, nobody. He doesn't turn. He doesn't turn. Verse 13, and what his soul desireth,
even that he doeth. Whatever God purposes to do,
that is what he does. No man turneth him. No man has
power over him. And along with that, we read
over in the book of James. James was writing by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, and he shared this with us about this. I don't know about you, but there's
been a few days in the past that I've been seeking the shade.
Like the shade, it's cooler than out in the sunshine. When I was
down there in Tennessee and helping Donnie Bell on a piece of machinery,
every once in a while, I'd say, you gotta move this pickup. The
sun's moved around, and we're standing in the sunshine, and
I'm allergic. Move the pickup into the shade
of that big tree. Well, notice this. With regard
to our Savior, to God Almighty, the book of James. James chapter
1. James chapter 1. And there in
verse 17, it says, Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. With whom
is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." You can't even mark
the shadow. It's not going to move. Peg it
down. It will not move. And we depend on this. Everyone
whose names are written in the book of life depend on his immutability. He will not change his mind about
his people. He will ever love them. He says, I've loved you with
an everlasting love. And next we find the reason God
is so valuable to the church is he is omnipotent. Jesus used
this to share, no man can pluck you out of my father's hand or
out of my hand. What's that tell us about God?
He is omnipotent. That means he has all power.
He is all powerful. There is no power that he is
slack in. He is all powerful in every power
that is necessary. There's none greater. And because
of this, Because of being omnipotent, having all power, no one can
pluck those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, can
pluck them out of Jesus' hands or out of the Father's hands.
And he said, I and my Father are one. First Peter, chapter 1. Turn
with me to First Peter, chapter 1, verse 2 through 5. First Peter, chapter 1, verse
2 through 5. There is a power here that we
just can't imagine. It's called all power. I have
yet to realize what it is to have all power. Can you tell
us how much power these generators can create? and how much power
is in a hydrogen bomb, and all that. I can't even imagine that.
Not alone, all power. That's God, all power. All right? 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, it says,
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification
of the Spirit, and to obedience of the sprinkling of the blood
of Jesus, Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you. who are kept by the
power of God through faith of the salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time who are kept by the power of God he's the
only one that has all power he can do the job kept by all power,
kept by the power of God. This is his purpose, is to keep
his people with all power. Nothing's like, he doesn't give
up. There's no sliding of his feet. He is steadfast and unmovable. That's the only reason the church
can say that about themselves. I'm steadfast and unmovable.
Why? Because He is steadfast and unmovable. And then finally,
if you would just turn a little bit to the book of Jude. The
book of Jude, verses 24 and 25. The character of God. The character of God. secures his people, whose names
are written in the Book of Life. The immutability, the unmovability
of God keeps the people whose names are written in the Book
of Life. And his omnipotence keeps the people whose names
are written in the book of life. He has a lot invested in the
security of his people and presenting them. And as it tells us right
here in the book of Jude, verses 24 and 25, now unto him that
is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Keep us from
falling and present us faultless. To the only wise God, our Savior,
be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Dominion. That means he dominates. He has
dominion over and power, all power. And as we said, his mercy
will never turn to wrath. I'll have mercy on whom I'll
have mercy, but I'll never turn it to wrath. His love will never
turn to hatred. Never. And his faithfulness will
never cease. Oh, Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations,
we read, great is thy faithfulness. Even in lamentable times, great
is thy faithfulness, and God's goodness cannot fail. Now, we
have some things to be thankful for. to have names written in
the Lamb's Book of Life. There are some verses that share
with us what will happen to those whose names are not written.
But oh, the statements that are made with regard to those whose
names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And great rejoicing. And we only find out that our
names are there in regeneration. When He gives us Christ, then
we know.