Revelation 20:1-20:10

Politics and Christianity - there has been many an article about this past election. Some, praising Christians and some condemning them. As for me being a Minister, I'm disappointed in both sides.

Politics have no place in the Church. Jesus would not have voted for neither. 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Our war is with the spirit and not with the flesh. God ordains the Powers that be. Vote, but don't get involved in all the rhetoric, the damage has been done, its time to repair it.

Our missions as Christians:

1. Worship God.
2. Preach the Gospel.
3. Be instant in season and out of Season
4. Seek out the Lost

If the Church just did as our Lord commanded, it would not have brought this hate toward Christians. Politicians speak of peace in the Middle East, but the Christian community should know better. Look at God's prophecy for the Middle East. Rev 20:1-10

Rev 20:1-10 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were behead-ed for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Let me ask a question now that you've heard these passages from Revelations. Do you really believe that John in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Church is True? How many says yes? Raise your hands. Then how can we believe any politician that says that there is going to be peace in the Middle East? John said in just these few passages that "And I saw", John was stating facts, a future presentation of war and destruction in the Middle East.

1."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 I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them." 3. "I saw the souls of them that were be-headed for the witness of Jesus." I had a brother, the other day; tell me that He doesn't read prophecy because He can't do anything about it. This is a common mistake that many Christians make.

Prophecy is as important as the rest of Scripture. Warning after warning from Christ about the impending destruction of the enemies of Israel, and still many want to ignore the facts of the Bible. Many churches will not even acknowledge that the Book of Revelations is for our time. Many clame that the Book of Revelations has been fulfilled. Paul even warned us not to be deceived by any means. 2Th 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. We as Christians from time to time make mistakes and as Paul states many time and even Our Lord Jesus stated, none of us are perfect only God Himself is perfect. Let us learn from our mistakes and go out into the world and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Time is running out and we all must be about our Fathers business. Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Our Lord commands us, to seek out the Lost for Gods Kingdom, and Brothers and Sisters that is a fulltime job. 2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Let us now all, be about our Fathers business and start repairing the damage that has been done, learn from mistakes, repent, bear the burden and go on.

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Lift up you eyes Children, Our Repentance Draweth nigh. Here is an artical that was posted in a local paper, I thought it reflects the trend among Christians; Politics shouldn't be preached at church.

In response to condolences to Democrats of Nov. 5, 2004, my condolences now go out to your church, or maybe I should say lack of churches.

I have lived a rather long life as men go. I have never heard as much perverted gospel coming from pulpits. Many have taken the grace of God and turned it into a Republican campaign gathering.

When anything is preached other than the gospel from the pulpit, it becomes a cult. When anyone is preached except Jesus Christ, he becomes the anti-Christ. (The word anti in this case means instead of -- in place of.) Read I John 2:18. "To all those prophets of Baal, it will be a terrible day when you stand before the great white throne for judgment."

There is nothing wrong with voting for any candidate of your choice. More than one million American servicemen have died in combat so you could have that privilege.

Jesus Christ died for all. I Timothy 4:10 -- to suggest that God favors the rich over the poor or the whites over the blacks or any other discriminatory idea is pure blasphemy.

If you have heard politics preached from your pulpit, I would strongly advise you to change preachers or churches because that is not a church of the Living God. Read II Corinthians 11:13-15.

Here is a little update; Members of the small Baptist Church say their Pastor led an effort to kick out congregants who didn't support President Bush. Nine members were voted out at a Monday church meeting in this mountain town, about 120 miles west of Charlotte.

"I hate to see the church suffer like that," she said. "God doesn't care whether you're a Republican or a Democrat. It just hurts to see that going on."

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Sermons International
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/