The Righteous are Worthy to Escape the Wrath to Come Pt 2a

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 Lk 21:35 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with binging/excess/carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and That Day come on you unexpectedly like a snare. 36 Watch/be on guard therefore, and pray always that you may be counted WORTHY to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 Rev 18:4  another voice: Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues

 I. How did OT believers escape wrath (Lk 3), become forgiven (Lev) and righteous (Job), exercise faith (Heb 11), and have a blessable rlshp with God (Dt & David, Rm 11)? If you can't answer these, you can't understand the NT, nor be blessable (Mt 5-7)

 1Cor 10:5 with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come

 2Kg 22:13 Josiah: Go inquire of the LORD for me re the words of this book; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled cx us, 'cs our fathers have not obeyed the Words of this book, to do acc to all that which is written concerning us.

 2Kg 23:25 no king like him, who turned to LORD with all his heart/soul/might, acc to all Law of Moses; 26 Nevertheless LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath...His anger was aroused cx Judah, 'cse of all the provocations...

 2Ch 34:25 they have forsaken me...other gods, provoke me to anger...works; thus My wrath poured...not be quenched 36:16  mocked messengers..despised His words, misused prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose cx His people...no remedy.

Ex 22:24 My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword 32:11 Moses pleaded LORD, why Your wrath wax hot cx Your people, You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power, and a mighty hand? (cf Ex 14 redeemed with faith; Num 14)

 Dt 11:16 Take heed...deceived...serve other 17 LORD’S wrath be kindled cx you, shut up the heaven..no rain, land yield not her fruit; and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD gives you. 18 store these words in you heart and soul

 Ps 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry..you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed all that put their trust in Him. 90:11 Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear due You. 95:11 not enter my rest

II Many NT teachers don't understand the OT (90% haven't read all of it 1x) & many NT hearers don't understand their teachers

Rev 22:7 I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 9 fellow servant, and of your brethren, prophets, and those who keep the words of this book Heb 1:14 12 I am coming quickly, My reward is with Me, to give to every one acc to his work (Isa 40:10; Gal 6:7 not deceived..God not mocked...reap what sow...flesh vs Spirit  cf Rm 8:4-7!! Mt 16:27)

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. *Ellicott: Eternal laws of God...are not God!!! For those hunted by the wickedness of their own doings, God himself provides a refuge: underneath all laws are the everlasting arms (Dt 33:27!!)

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter thru the gates into the city. 15 But outside are idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

 Ellicott Rev 22:14 Hub) Blessed are they that do his commandments so that they will have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the city by the gates.  . . .—The reading of two of the best MSS (BC Alex vs Majority see Jude sermon) is, “Blessed are they that wash (washing=pres act ptcp) their robes.” If we adopt, as we probably ought, this reading, the line of thought suggested above (v13*) is helped forward: there is in Him who is the First and the Last, refuge from the power of sin and law against which such solemn warning has been given. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin: the best who have striven and conquered were victors not by their own might, but by the blood of the Lamb (Rev 12:11) [BC 'and word of their testimony and self denial to death' cf Rev 2-3; Lk 9].

 If  however, we follow the Received text, we have a benediction which echoes the blessing promised to obedience in Rev 22:7,9,12+18-19: this echoing of promises from point to point is in harmony with the spirit of the whole epilogue. The special blessing held out to those who wash their robes (or do His commandments) is the right or authority over the tree of life. Blessed are they. . .that they may have (and continue to have) authority over the tree of life, and that they may enter in by the gates into the city. Admission into the city by the gate, which is of one pearl, and the continuous access to the tree of life, are the privileges of the faithful; and these privileges are free to all, for warnings do not forfeit privileges???? but rather do they urge us to use them (BC cx 22:18 if anyone adds to these [words], God will add to him the plagues in this book; 19 if anyone takes away from words of this prophecy, God shall take away his part/inherit from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the [blessings]  written in this book

 III. John warns sinning, unfruitful, Day of Atonement. “this worldly-churchy” believers to repent or face the coming wrath 

Mt 3:7  Lk 3:4 Prepare the way of LORD; make His paths straight. 7 Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8  bear fruits worthy of repentance, don't say 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Jn 15) 10 What shall we do then? 16 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.

 III. Like in OT (1Cor 10 -God not pleased...die in desert) Paul warns born-again NT believers of wrath & loss of blessing/glory for their unfaithfulness (1Cor 3; 9; 2Cor 4-7; Col 3; Eph 5 etc) as does Hebrews (5x), Peter, John, and Jesus (Mt 7; 23-23; Lk 12; Rev 2-3; 22)