Peter Tan-Chi - Rejoice! Our Future Is Glorious
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Summary
In this encouraging sermon from the Book of Revelation, the preacher declares that believers should rejoice because their future is truly glorious through Christ’s return. He outlines three reasons: Jesus will reign as King and Judge to right all wrongs, renew everything including redeeming past mistakes, and reward the faithful overcomers. The key takeaway is to ensure a personal relationship with Jesus for assurance of this glorious eternity, urging everyone to surrender fully and live ready for His soon coming.
Our Topic: Rejoice! Our Future is Glorious
What’s our topic today? This is our topic today: everybody rejoice! Our future is glorious. Tell your neighbor, «Rejoice! Our future is glorious.» What do we mean by the word «rejoice»? You know, if you look at a dictionary, it talks about being incredibly happy, being delighted, being joyful, and finding great happiness.
Rejoice! Our future is glorious. You know why? Let me explain the meaning of the word «glorious.» The word «glorious» comes from the Hebrew word «kabod, » which means heavy. The idea of the word worship has to do with splendor and magnificence. In other words, greatness and grandeur—your future is magnificent.
Three Important Principles from Revelation
I want to highlight from the Book of Revelation three important principles: one, Jesus will reign; He will surely reign. If you want to just remember the three «R’s»: Jesus will reign, Jesus will renew, Jesus will reward.
To be more specific, Jesus will reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; He will be the judge. Why is your future glorious? Because as King and Judge, He will make right what is wrong. You will be glorious! I will have a glorious future because Jesus will renew everything.
How many of you have made bad decisions in your life? Just wait until you go to heaven; everything is going to be made new. Your bad decisions—you’ll be amazed how God can turn them around, provided you respond properly.
And lastly, your future is glorious. Why? Because God, Jesus will reward the faithful. Do you notice that all of this is conditional? In this room, I’m sad to say that not everybody will have a glorious future.
In a room like this, I can almost predict that there are a few who are not yet in Christ. You have religion, but you don’t have Christ. Your life has not been transformed; you come here, but you have never surrendered your life. I call this religion, not relationship.
So my prayer is that today, everybody who is watching and listening will make sure that your future is glorious, and I will teach you how to make sure your future is glorious.
Reason One: Jesus Will Reign
Reason number one: Jesus will reign. Yes, He’s coming again! Let me share with you the verses. Let’s start with the good news: «Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, He rose again from the dead and is the ruler of the kings of the earth.» Jesus will come again as the ruler of the kings of the earth.
«To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.» Have you experienced the forgiveness of your sins through Christ? That is what God did for us through Christ. He made us to be a kingdom of priests to His God and Father. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
If you study the Book of Revelation, it centers on Christ—who He is, what He will do, and what He promised to do. That’s why your future is glorious.
Jesus is Coming Again
Read the next verse: «Behold, He is coming with the clouds. Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.» Jesus is coming again; He was pierced when He was here 2,000 years ago, and every eye will see Him.
And you know why they will see Him? The Earth will mourn! You know why they will mourn? Because they neglected Jesus. This is the same Jesus who died on the cross 2,000 years ago.
«I am the Alpha and the Omega, » the first letter of the Greek language; Omega is the last letter. «I am the Alpha and Omega; I am the A, I am the Z, » says the Lord God who is, who was, and who is to come.
Let’s read the next verse: «Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last.» Jesus is telling you today, «Don’t be afraid; I am the first, I am the last"—and to make sure you know who Jesus is, «the living one. I was dead; behold, I am alive forevermore. I have the keys of death and of Hades.»
Ladies and gentlemen, do you know this Jesus who died for your sins, who holds the keys of death and hell? You should consider the most important person—who is Jesus to you? In the second coming, it’s all about Jesus.
Worship in Heaven
Let’s read one more verse. «These things I look: behold, a great multitude which no one could count, every nation, and all the tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne, before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, palm branches in their hands.» They cry out with a loud voice, saying, «Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.»
The Bible says one day, every nation, people from every tongue, every nation, and all tribes all over the world will come to Christ, and they will worship Jesus. Whether you are a part of that or not is your choice.
I want to be part of bringing people to Jesus, but I want to make sure I am part of these people. Okay, are you sure your future is glorious? In this room, those who are watching us, I always repeat: two kinds of people.
One, you have religion, but you don’t have assurance of your glorious future; there’s no evidence of your faith. The other are people like you and me, who have surrendered our lives, repented of our sins, and have begun to follow Jesus.
The Bible tells us someday there will always be two kinds of people: those who are in heaven worshiping.
Those Who Came Out of Tribulation
Now read the next verse: John asked them, «How come there are so many people worshiping Jesus? Where did they come from?» Here is the answer: «These are the ones who came out of the Great Tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.»
For this reason, they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple. He who sits on the throne will spread the tabernacle over them.
The Bible tells us these people came out of the Great Tribulation. Why am I emphasizing this? I don’t want you to be dogmatic in listening to some pastors who say you will be raptured before the tribulation. I’m not sure because, in the midst of tribulation, these are the ones who come out of the Great Tribulation.
So does it follow that we may go through tribulation? Yes or no? Question number two: When will Jesus come? I just taught you—when will Jesus come? Soon! When will the tribulation happen? Soon! You don’t need to know; just be ready. Understand: Be ready!
You know why you should rejoice? Because your future is glorious!
Jesus Defeats Evil
What will happen to evil? What will happen? Well, let’s read Revelation 19: «And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him.» So Jesus will come with a great army.
From His mouth comes a sharp sword so that He may strike down the nations and will rule them with a rod of iron. Jesus did not even have to fight; with a word from His mouth, He defeats everybody. That is how mighty Jesus is.
And on His robe and on His thigh, something is written. What is written? Everybody read: «The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.» We worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If you don’t take Jesus seriously, it’s because you fail to meditate on who He is.
What happens to the devil? Let’s find out the end destiny of the devil: «The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast, the false prophet, and they will be tormented.» Everybody read: «Day and night, for how long? Forever and ever.»
I cannot imagine being in the lake of fire, tormented day and night, forever and ever. Someday your future is glorious, but for some people, their future is not glorious.
The Great White Throne Judgment
What does it mean? Read the next verse: «I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, whose presence earth and heaven fled away. No place was found for them.» It is called Judgment Day.
Everybody will be given a chance to be judged one by one. «I saw the dead, the great and the small, » meaning saints, Hitler, famous people—the great, the small, ordinary people—before the throne.
Books were opened. Another book was opened—the book of life. So someday, there will be two books: The Book of Life and the Book of Deeds, which you’ve done. The dead were judged from the things which are written in the books according to their deeds.
Everybody, God has a record of everything you have done from the time you were born to the time you die. On Judgment Day, everything is going to be fair because all the records are kept digitally. I hope—I don’t know what it is.
Now, if God were to judge you based on your deeds, where will you go? Heaven or hell? Hell! You know why? I look at my life. I’ve done things that I’m ashamed of. I have secret things I’ve done in the past; I’m ashamed of. What about you? Have you done things that are not pleasing to God?
So how will you escape that? That’s why you need another book. What is that book? On Judgment Day, let’s read: «Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.»
Everybody read: «If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.» My name, by the grace of God, is transferred to the Book of Life when I gave my life to Jesus and surrendered my life. He placed my name in the Book of Life.
So on Judgment Day, I will not be judged based on that book because Jesus transferred my name to the Book of Life. The question is, is your name written in the Book of Life? Only you know; only God knows.
Because if you are not sincere in trusting Jesus and following Jesus, I will not give you assurance that your name is written in the Book of Life.
Leave Judgment to God
There is an amazing judge coming again—His name is Jesus. But you are not to judge; you are not to take things into your own hands. Why? Look at what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians: «Therefore, everybody read: Do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness, disclose the motives of men’s hearts, and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.»
What the Bible says is that you and I are not capable of judging people; we don’t know their hearts, we don’t know their motives. But God is capable; Jesus knows everything, and Jesus has the power to judge, and Jesus has the power to implement the punishment. But that is not your job.
Your job today—can I tell you what it is? Let’s find out! But be careful! Stop judging other people. I’m warning all of you: beware of Christians always attacking other people, attacking other Christians. Stop judging others!
You know why? Leave that to whom—to God. But what must you do? Look at 2 Timothy: «I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead by His appearing. What must you do?»
Everybody read: «Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience.» In other words, my job today is to teach people the Word.
How do I preach the Word? Number one, with your life—make sure your life reflects the truth of God. With your mouth, you teach the Bible. If people don’t believe, that’s their responsibility. You are to love them; you are to preach the Word.
So my attitude is this: I teach you the Bible whether you believe, whether you accept—I still love you. I will not judge you; there is one that will judge you. Who will judge you? Jesus! So what do I do now? I teach the Bible; you teach the Bible with your life, not just with your mouth.
Reason Two: Jesus Will Renew All Things
Number two: Jesus will make all things new. Why is this important? Because I’ve seen this in my counseling; I’ve seen this in CCF. Many of us have made bad choices; how we wish we could change it.
I have good news for you: someday, all your bad decisions—listen—all your bad choices—God can redeem them if you surrender your life today to Jesus.
Let’s read this together: «Things which eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and what has not entered the heart of man—all that God has prepared for those who love Him.» Present tense, not past tense!
I have made mistakes; I regret them. But starting today, if you love Him, keep following Him! What is His promise? «What eye has not seen, what ear has not heard, what has not entered your imagination—God has prepared for those who love Him.» Huh, that’s the Bible!
A New Heaven and New Earth
Let me share with you Revelation chapter 21: «I saw a new heaven; I saw a new Earth.» What does that mean? Earth and heaven will be changed. «The first heaven and the first Earth passed away; there is no longer any sea.»
Imagine a world with no more sea! What does that mean? Let’s find out. «I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.» So God is giving us a New Jerusalem; that’s where we’ll all be together—an amazing city.
Let’s read the next verse: «I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men.'» Everybody read this: «He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.»
You know what makes heaven beautiful? What makes our future destiny glorious is the presence of God. I don’t know whether you love the Lord or not, but God is telling us He will be with us; He will dwell among them; they shall be His people.
Friends, if you don’t love God, if you don’t want to spend time worshiping God, how will you really enjoy Heaven? I look forward to the day when I will see my Savior face to face; I look forward to the day when I see my Maker—how much He loved me. And that, my friend, is the joy of Heaven.
No More Tears or Pain
Let’s read the next verse: «The Bible tells us He will wipe away every tear.» That means people cry. Why do they cry? Regrets—you did not give your best to Jesus, possibly. I don’t know, but He will wipe away every tear.
«No longer any death, no more mourning, no longer any crying, no longer any pain. The first things passed away.» And somebody told me they don’t need pastors anymore. Amen? Because Jesus is our pastor! Amen!
«He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'» So I want you to know something: whatever your past, whatever mistakes you have done, someday everything will be made new!
Description of the New Jerusalem
You want to see some more about Heaven? Let’s read: «The foundation stones of the city wall are adorned with every kind of precious stone.» In other words, today our wall is made of hollow blocks; in heaven, they are made of precious stones.
What about the road, the streets? «The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.» God has prepared something so much better for all of us. But if your heart is so worldly today—if all you have is Earth—you are going to miss out on your joyful future! Amen?
Let’s read the next verse: «I saw no temple, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb are its temple.» No more temple! What else? «The city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and His lamp is the lamp.»
Imagine a country, a place, where you don’t need the sun for light—it’s God Himself. I’m so happy I don’t need to have sunblock anymore; I won’t get sunburned! The best temperature! My goodness!
The Bible tells us the glory of God will illuminate. You know why? No more temple, for the Lord God and the Almighty and the Lamb—we are in the very presence of God. You have no idea what it is!
Read the next verse: «No longer any curse! Hallelujah! And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bondservants will serve Him.» We will see His face—intimacy!
There will no longer be any night, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them—and they will reign forever and ever. Hallelujah! That is our destiny!
New Bodies in the Resurrection
When my mother was hospitalized and she got sick, one of her legs had to be cut off. You know, I felt sad for my mother, but I read her Bible verses every time I saw her. These are the verses I read to her.
«I tell you a mystery.» Everybody read: «We will not all sleep; we will not all die.» I told my mother, «We will all be changed!» I told my mother, «Your body will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will…» Everybody read: «We will be changed!»
«This perishable must put on the imperishable; this mortal will put on immortality.» Ladies and gentlemen, we will have a new beginning, a new life; your whole body will be transformed! Such is God’s plan for His people.
What must you do? «Therefore, my beloved brethren, » talking to believers, «be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.»
If you have one week to live and you go home, and your wife or your husband does something, will you shout at them? Will you get mad at them? If you know you have one week to live, what will you do?
If your children make a mistake, or your wife does something, or your friend does something to you, and you have one week to live, what will you do? Enough for me! I will let it slide!
You remember that song, «Let It Go, Let It Go»? Because some things are not worth sweating! But if you are so preoccupied with your selfish life, and everything is a problem, you will fight about how people smile at you, how people look at you. You will be mad at everybody!
But if you know you have one week to live, then you want to be a blessing to others! Yes! So whatever you do, now listen to me, do it for the Lord! It is not going to be wasted! Abound in the work of the Lord!
Reason Three: Jesus Will Reward the Faithful
And lastly, the Bible tells us Jesus will reward us! He’ll reward the faithful! Look at the last book of the Bible! What did Jesus say about Himself? Everybody read: «I am coming quickly!» Louder! Quickly! Soon!
And what does He want to remind you? «And My reward is with Me.» Huh! He is focused on reward! For who? «To render to every man according to what he has done.»
«I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.» Jesus is saying, «I’ll reward you according to what you have done.»
Ladies and gentlemen, understand theology. Salvation is free, paid by Jesus—not by good works so that we cannot boast. However, genuine faith is never alone! Genuine faith will have evidence!
The Book of James said, «Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith with my works.» Genuine faith is never alone! Genuine grace will transform lives! A life that has experienced the grace of God will have the power to change!
Are your lives being transformed? If your life is not being transformed, may I suggest you humble yourselves and examine your own heart? Have you really surrendered your life to Jesus, or is Jesus a passport to Heaven only?
For me, Jesus is not just my Savior; He is my Lord; He is my Master. What about you? And that’s why reward is the byproduct of grace, because grace produces works—faith produces transformation, and your works become God’s reward for you. Understand?
Rewards for Overcomers
Alright! Let me show you how He rewards us in the Book of Revelation. Example: «He who overcomes…» You see? Faith makes us overcome!
If you’re an overcomer, you will inherit many things, but then the opposite is true. «Those who don’t overcome"—those who don’t overcome are not Christians: cowards, unbelieving, murderers, immoral persons, idolaters, liars—their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the second death.
So who are true believers? True believers are overcomers, and that’s why they’re given rewards. Let me give you examples of rewards. Are you ready?
«To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.» «To him who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.» «To him who overcomes, I’ll give him the hidden manna.» «I’ll give him a special name.» See? These are overcomers. God rewards Christians who are overcomers because of faith.
Read the next verse: «To him who overcomes, who keeps My deeds until the end"—that’s a true Christian—"I will give authority over the nations.» That’s the reward!
«He who overcomes, I will not erase his name from the Book of Life. I’ll confess his name before My Father and before His angels.»
You will ask me, «I will not erase his name?» Are you telling me God can erase my name from the Book of Life? I will teach you now how to understand the Bible.
When you are a real Christian, your name will not be erased! If you are a counterfeit Christian and you are telling me, «I can keep on sinning; I raised my hand; I trusted Jesus; I can keep on living my life and still go to Heaven, » ah! Here is the warning: Don’t take your salvation lightly!
A true Christian—his name will never be erased! So why is the verse put here? To warn you to take your salvation seriously. Are we clear?
«He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne.» You ask me, «Pastor Peter, how can I be sure I will overcome?»
Look at the promise of God, by the same author—John wrote in 1 John 5: «Whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.»
So how do I know you are a real Christian? You’re an overcomer! Does it mean you will never fail? No! If you are a real Christian, you will not want to stay in sin because the power of God will want to change you! Amen?
That is why you are sure your name will be written in the Book of Life!
Endure for the Reward
So, my friend, what’s your attitude as we close? Hebrews 10:34–36: «This is your attitude: For you, referring to Christians, accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.»
Christians were persecuted; this verse is true! Accepted joyfully the seizure of your property because you are a Christian, and they were persecuted because they were Christians.
«Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which is a great reward. You have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.» God promised you a reward!
You and I don’t need rewards; we serve God because we love Him, and He loves us! But in God’s generosity and goodness, He wants to reward you! Amazing!
Do you have a wonderful God? Yes or no? Tell your neighbor, «Rejoice!» Do you have a wonderful future? Our future is so great that everything you are enjoying here now is only an introductory page; chapter one begins when eternity and us get together when He comes again!
Are you looking forward to that day?
Come, Lord Jesus!
What is the last prayer of the Bible? The last prayer! I will show you from the last book of the Bible: the last prayer. This is the last statement of Jesus: «I am coming quickly!»
And what was the last prayer? «Amen, come, Lord Jesus!» That’s the last prayer! «Come, Lord Jesus!»
Now, question: Are you honestly praying that Jesus will come again? You see, I cannot pray that prayer when I’m not ready! I cannot pray that prayer when I’m living in sin! I cannot pray that prayer when I am not surrendered completely!
But I can pray that prayer every day if I’ve surrendered my life to Jesus! And I pray, you and I pray this prayer every day: «Come, Lord Jesus!»
Even though you are enjoying your life now, it is harder to pray this prayer if everything is okay. It’s okay to pray this prayer when you are sick, when you are in pain. But what if you are not in pain?
I pray every day; you set your mind right! You know what I do every day? I meditate on the reality! I can see Jesus today! I prepare myself! I pray that God will help me go through life! Every day, I want to be ready!
You want to be ready to see Jesus? You must not neglect every day to spend time with Him!
Let’s read this together: «In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, not only to me…» Everybody read: «…but to all who love His appearing!»
Your reward is guaranteed—not just for Paul! You know what Paul is saying? «There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.» I cannot even describe the crown that God will give you!
«Which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.» But he says, «Not just to me, but to all who love His appearing.» Do you love the appearing of Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Let’s bow our heads. If God has spoken to you and you want to love the appearing of Jesus, you want me to pray for you and you want to be ready, will you raise your hands? I want to pray for you.
Okay, let’s pray together: Lord Jesus, we all come before You. I pray for my brothers and sisters that You will give us a heart of humility, a heart to love You, because You have great plans for us—a heart to appreciate Your love and Your plans for each one of us.
I now pray, and all of you, pray this prayer: «Lord, I surrender my life to You! I trust You! I will persevere in following You and in trusting You. Give me the grace and the strength to do what You want me to do.» In Jesus' name, we all pray, Amen and Amen.