Communion Message
From Genesis to Revelation
August 22, 2004
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Before Genesis was ever written...God is; after Revelation is fully fulfilled...God is. God is from everlasting to everlasting.

Dr. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe wrote a book entitled "What If the Bible Had Never Been Written?" and they begin the first chapter with these words: The Bible's name actually means book of books, for it is not only one book, it is sixty-six books in one. Sixty-six love letters from God to us. Their diversity is amazing. These sixty-six books were written by about forty different authors, living on different continents, in the nations of Palestine, Babylon, Greece, Rome, Asian Minor, and perhaps Arabia. They wrote in different languages, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, and were separated in time by some 16 centuries. And yet the Bible tells the same story from beginning to end, as a golden thread that weaves through it.

We begin in the book of Genesis in a garden in Paradise. We end in the book of Revelation, again, in the paradise of God. In the beginning man is driven out because of his sin and forbidden to eat of the tree, and in the end he is invited to come in and partake of the tree that he might live forever. We began in a garden where there was a river. We end in paradise where there is a river that flows from the throne of God. The same doctrines are taught throughout the Bible. The same person, Jesus Christ, is the central theme of the Bible. It is about Him. It builds to His coming, describes it, and interprets what it means. The golden thread is the redemption of sinful man by the grace of God through faith in the shed blood of the Redeemer.

Now suppose that forty different artists were to paint a picture without having any idea what the others might be doing, or, that the others were doing anything at all. Imagine someone collecting these pieces and arranging them on a huge wall. And the result was a perfect picture that displayed all of the features of Jesus Christ. Or suppose that forty different sculptors without any knowledge of what the others were doing each decided to create a piece of sculpture, and when the pieces were brought together they formed an exquisite statue of Christ. These outcomes are incomprehensible and yet the Bible is a greater accomplishment by far.

Keep in mind that no human publisher commissioned the writing of such a book. No editor set forth a plan. No editorial committee oversaw its development. No one distributed an outline to the different authors. Despite these facts, there is every sort of literature in the Bible including prose and poetry, history and law, biography and travel, genealogies, theologies, and philosophies; and somehow, all of these elements combine to provide an incredible unity from Genesis to Revelation. God is from everlasting to everlasting.

Read then from Revelation: Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

And after this I looked and there was before me a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where do they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not bear upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

God bless the reading of his word. Covered by his blood we are made righteous lifting up the name of Christ our king, and in the strong name of Jesus there is no other name given among men by which we can be saved. By the blood of the Lamb we are able to triumph over sin and over its destiny, we are able to stand in the presence of a holy and almighty God. Amen?

The Scriptures say at times like this we should examine our self, and I'd like to invite you, if you're physically able, to join with me know as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Thank you Lord, you who are from everlasting to everlasting, for giving us our Bible and revealing therein your plan for our salvation, from the beginning of man's rebellion to the full and final redemption you have provided. And Lord when we think of how awesome you are and how awesome your plan, and we reflect upon our self, we examine our self, we are so thankful Lord that we can call upon you for forgiveness and cleansing.

Each and every one of us sin in thought, word or deed each and every day. Your word says if we confess our sin, you are faithful and just and will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Forgive and cleanse us this day we pray. We know partake of these elements of remembrance of you. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.