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Dover Assembly of God

9.25.2022 | Revelation - Week 37

Locations & Times

4790 Carlisle Rd, Dover, PA 17315, USA

Sunday 10:30 AM

Dover Assembly Online

Sunday 10:30 AM

Welcome!

Welcome to Dover Assembly of God! We're glad that you've joined us this morning. If you're on Facebook, we encourage you to take a moment to check in at Dover Assembly.

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Weekly Bulletin

September 25, 2022 Welcome to Dover Assembly! We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life. THIS WEEK Sunday 9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donuts 9:30 am ~ Sunday School 10:30 am ~ Worship Service 10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministry 1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service 4:00 pm ~ Franklin Graham Crusade Tuesday 12:30 pm ~ Bible Release 6:30 pm ~ Worship Practice Wednesday 7:00 am ~ See You At The Pole 6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT MINISTRIES Thursday 12:30 pm ~ Bible Release Saturday 6:30 pm ~ Spanish Service UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Hot Dog Grab N Go Update Our Youth Hot Dog Grab ‘N Go was a great success. The teens raised over $500 towards convention and other activities they have planned for the year. Thank you all for your support! Men's Conference All men are invited to join us for a District Men’s Conference to be held at Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill on Fri., Oct. 14 in the evening and then Sat., Oct. 15 in the morning. You may attend one session or both. Sign-up is in the lower foyer and please indicate which service/s you would like to attend. Invite a friend who doesn’t know the Lord! Pastor Appreciation Day October has been designated as Pastor Appreciation month. We have set aside Sunday, October 2 as the day we will honor Pastor Jeff and Anna and Pastor Savy and Jasmine. Franklin Graham God Loves You Tour - TODAY! Sun., Sept. 25 at 4:00 pm at the York Fairgrounds. Start handing out the bus invites (in your Bulletin today and more on the back table) to this free event. This is the perfect time to invite all those unsaved friends and family you have been praying for! Hell is real! We want all our unsaved loved ones spending eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The time is short – this is a great evangelistic opportunity. Every day at 3:16 (as in John 3:16) take a minute or so to pray for this event! Women of Purpose Fall Event at Dover Assembly “Breakthrough”.. . What are you trusting God for? Join us on Friday, Oct 14 at 6:30 as we grow in faith together! Fun Food Fellowship Men's Dinner The guys will be venturing out to Cheddars for our monthly dinner on Thursday, Oct 6. Sign up in the foyer and meet us there at 6:30. if you need a ride, see Pastor Jeff Baby Shower for Baby Landis Please join us as we celebrate the upcoming birth of Jen and Tyler's baby girl in December! We are having a baby shower on Sat., Oct. 29, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. here at the church. Jen is registered at https://www.babylist.com/baby-jennifer-landis Sign-up sheet is in the upper foyer table. See you there! BODY NEWS Membership If you would like to be a voting member of our church, please complete a Blue form found at the Information Center and return it to Pastor Jeff Prayer & Fast Nights A reminder that Pastor Jeff and Dover Assembly have prayer and fast nights in the Sanctuary on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month. Please join us! The Lord is doing great things! Items of specific prayer include: ~ Salvations of Loved ones, family, friends.(2 Peter 3:9) ~ Revival ~ Church property that the township wants to take. The battle belongs to the Lord! Church Cookbook Ladies! And Gents too! Get those recipes together! We are going to work on putting together a church cookbook with all your favorite recipes. Please turn them in to Anna. If you would like to be on the ‘cookbook committee’ please see Anna Shut Ins Please continue to pray for those of our church family who are no longer able to join us for worship. ~ Marian T. ~ Olga K. ~ Beulah S. ~ Mary S. ~ Joyce G. MARK YOUR CALENDARS Sept. 28 – SYATP See-You-at-the-Pole - Theme: Aflame Romans 12:11,12 Oct. 2 – Pastor Appreciation Sunday Oct. 6 – Men’s Dinner @ Cheddars Oct. 7 – Young Adults Devo & Chill Oct. 8, 9, 10 – Youth Convention, Kalahari Oct. 13 – Pastor Savy’s BD Oct. 14 – Women’s Event “Breakthrough” Oct. 19 – Youth Fall Party Oct. 23 – Youth Corn Maze Nov. 4 – Pastor Jeff’s BD Nov. 5 – Men’s Breakfast, Lyndon Diner Nov. 11, 12 – Women’s District WOP Conference at Hershey Lodge Nov. 13 – Youth Bowling Nov. 16 – Youth Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 17 – Young Adults Friendsgiving Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving Eve Service Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving Dec. 1 – Men’s Christmas Dinner Dec. 2 – Women’s Christmas Party Dec. 3 – Youth Gingerbread Competition Dec. 7 – Caroling at Providence Place Dec. 10 – Kids’ Christmas Rehearsal Dec. 11 – Kids’ Christmas Play Dec. 15 – Deacon Christmas Dinner Dec. 16 – Young Adults Christmas Party Dec. 21 – Youth – Ugly Sweater Christmas Dec. 24 – Candlelight Service Dec. 25 – Christmas Day! Service at 10 am. No S.S.

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September 25th, 2022 - Week 37 - Rev. Jeff Bender

Well, this is our last week in our study of Revelation.

If we remember back to the beginning and all throughout the series, I have mentioned why we are taking our time with this book.

Even though most of it doesn’t apply to us because we will be raptured.

Revelation 1:3

This last chapter re-emphasizes that last part.

Christ is coming soon.

We ended last week describing the beauties and unimaginable images of what heaven will be like.

Chapter 22 concluded that thought and gives us some last notes on the end of time.

Revelation 22:1-2

We mentioned earlier that this water of life was symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

Since this appears to be a literal river it suggests a continual flow of the Holy Spirit and the life, blessings and spiritual power He gives.

It reminds us that we will still be dependent on the Holy Spirit now as we will be then.

The throne of God is in the center of the city and the river starts there. Indicating that the Holy Spirit’s blessings are coming from God.

The city we mentioned last week is 1400 miles high, so it appears that there are many levels and that river is coursing down the levels on the gold streets.

Revelation 22:2

Many commentators say that there are trees lining the sides of the river, not just one or 2.

It also goes back back to the garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:9

Genesis 3:22

The trees refer to eternal life given to all of God’s people.

Revelation 22:2

The word heal is also the word for “health”.

This does not mean that people in heaven are sick or get sick, it simply means that the leaves provide perfect health for those in heaven.

Since there is no death, the health provided by God allows them to live forever.

Revelation 22:3

The curse of Adam and Eve has been lifted, therefore, there is no effects of that curse.

No death, sickness, or disease.

Work in the garden before the fall was enjoyable. It wasn’t until after the fall did work become cursed and a toil and a hardship.

Work and serving God will be enjoyable.

We said earlier in the series that there will be work to do in heaven along with time to worship. And all of it will be a pleasure and a joy to do.

Whatever God has for us to do we will enjoy it! We won’t have the same mindset we have now of boredom and apathy.

Revelation 22:4

This is talking about Jesus because God the father is a spirit.

Right now, we have an image in our minds of what Jesus looks like. There are no photos of him and there are 1000’s of drawings of what people think he might look like

And we are able to worship him without really knowing what he looks like.

Imagine how we will feel when see him face to face.

The only analogy that I can think of is when a woman is pregnant and you can see an ultrasound, but you never really see the babies face until they are born. You love that baby before they are born, but our reaction after they are born, and you can see and hold them.

Imagine that 10,000-fold!

The name on the forehead indicates that we belong to Jesus, and we have been restored to the image that God created us to be.

Revelation 22:5

We said this last week. There will be no sun, moon, or any need for light because God will be our light.

God will give us all the joys, benefits, and privileges of royalty.

Revelation 22:6-7

In other words, the angel is saying to John:

You know God’s word is trustworthy and true. Just look at the prophets of the Old Testament who prophesied about all the events that happened in their time and all of them that told of the coming Messiah and his death and resurrection.

All those came true, so you can believe that what I’m showing you know will come true as well!

So, you better obey what is written! In other words, you better be ready.

Remember our first verse?

Revelation 1:3

Romans 13:11

1 Corinthians 15:52

Revelation 22:8-9

John didn’t need to be convinced that anything the angel said was true.

The angel was so full of God’s glory and power as he showed these visions, that John’s first reaction was to worship the angel.

Sometimes when a person is very influential in your walk with Christ, it’s easy to put them on a pedestal. Maybe they led you to Christ and discipled you and were there for you when you needed them.

It’s easy to start to think more highly of them than the God who empowered them. You hang on their every word, you follow them around listening to their teachings.

All of a sudden, they become more important to your walk than God is.

It happened to Peter.

Acts of the Apostles 10:24-26

God alone is worthy of worship.

Luke 4:8

John was told before not to worship angels.

Revelation 19:10

It was probably a spontaneous reaction.

This angel’s response was the same as before. Don’t worship me, “Worship God”.

Revelation 22:10

No longer were prophecies to be secret until the end but revealed to all believers.

Compare what Daniel was told.

For Daniel, the time was in the future, no need to think about it now.

John, however, was told “ok now is the time, we are at the end of time, so reveal it to everyone”.

John uses the word “near” also means “soon”.

But since God doesn’t use time like we do, for God, it’s still “soon”.

But if we look at the signs and times, we can anticipate it being close.

Matthew 24:3

Matthew 24 lists all the signs to watch for that indicate Jesus’ return.

False prophets, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, persecution and the spread of the gospel.

Matthew 24:37-39

It will come when everyone least expects it.

Revelation 22:11

There is still time for people to repent and trust Christ for salvation. But that time will eventually end and there will be no more opportunities.

He is saying that the choices you make now will determine your eternal future.

If you want to keep doing wrong, then keep it up. You are making your choice now.

If you want to be holy and good, keep it up, God will help you end well. Your choices now also determine your future.

Revelation 22:12-13

This is the 5th time Jesus says that he is coming soon. It can refer to a sense of imminence that we are to have. That Jesus can come at any time.

It can also refer to how quickly all this will happen.

His rewards will be issued after we have been judged. Believers will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, where our works will be judged. Not what we did, but on the spirit, motivation and love that we showed while doing them.

Unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment, according to their works, which we know will be insufficient.

Alpha and Omega indicate that he is eternal and will bring about all the events described.

Revelation 22:14-15

Wash their robes is a euphemism for salvation and obedience.

Revelation 7:14

Those who have been saved and have been obedient following salvation will be granted entrance into the New Jerusalem.

That means you can’t just say a prayer and live like you want.

Faith is always shown by obedience.

James 2:17-18

Outside the city means outside of anything having to do with heaven.

We talked last week about those who won’t be in heaven.

Revelation 22:15

Revelation 22:16

Jesus is confirming to John that He is the one who sent the angel to let John and the churches know what is going to happen in the future.

All these events haven’t taken place yet, and Jesus wants everyone to know what’s coming.

And we better be ready.

He’s also saying that he is the fulfillment of the prophecies spoke of in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 11:1-2

Morning star is probably the sun that brought the morning.

We’ve seen references to God the Father and to the Son.

Revelation 22:6

Revelation 22:16

Now we have the last reference to the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 22:17

When we preach, evangelize, or work in any capacity for the Lord, it has to be done with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The spirit and the bride must cooperate together.

The bride is the church. We can’t work for God unless we work with the Holy Spirit.

Remember these events haven’t happened yet and this is the last call for people to be saved.

Revelation 22:18-19

Our first verse about hearing these things read and taught will give us blessings. But this verse tells us that we can’t take this book lightly.

We will be blessed, but we will also be cursed if we change it in any way.

We do our best to teach God’s word exactly as it is written without any of my own thoughts or opinions. We can’t pick and chose what we want to believe and what we don’t want to believe.

We can’t just dismiss parts of it because we don’t like it--the book of Revelation or any part of the bible.

Why? Because of this verse. If we add anything to this book, we will be plagued. If I take anything out of it, I won’t get to heaven. Another example of losing your salvation.

At the beginning we talked about the signs of the end times. False teachers and prophets are a sign of that, and we are seeing them today.

That means we need to be diligent in our study of God’s word and we need to be sure that “study to show ourselves approved by God”.

So, when these false teachers come knocking, we will be well versed in what is true.

Revelation 22:20

The final promise repeats his assurance to return soon.

And how John replies is how we should reply.

Revelation 22:20

Do we really want Jesus to come back or are we happy that he doesn’t?

Maybe you aren’t saved yet and you think the longer he takes, the longer I have to get saved.

Or maybe we enjoy our lives too much now and we don’t want to be raptured yet?

We should have the same attitude as John. “Yay, come back now!”

The last words in the Bible are these:

Revelation 22:21

It ends with a benediction. The assurance that God’s grace will be with us until he does return.

No matter what we’re going thru, God’s grace is sufficient for every need.

It provides for our forgiveness when we sin, it also provided power to us to live a holy life until the end.

The question is, are you ready?

Thank you for joining us!

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