Old Clothes

I’d like to tell you about my…

My closet.

You might not realize this, but my closet contains a key to End Times prophecy.

I don’t know what’s in your closet or in your dresser drawers, so let me tell you about a couple things I have.

First, I’ll describe…

My shirt.

It’s green. It’s comfortable. It’s soft. It fits well. It’s not too tight.

I like it.

I’ve had this shirt for a long time.

Guess what? It’s worn out. It has holes along the seams. In places, the fabric has worn thin.

You can now listen to/view this message on Rumble and Brighteon. Run time is 12 minutes, 24 seconds. Along with sermon audio, you’ll see outline points and scripture texts.

Be sure to subscribe to the Bruce Tyson channels.

It’s time to stop wearing it. It has served its purpose.

I can’t give it away to Goodwill: Nobody can use it. It’s used up. It’s worn out.

It’s time to throw it away.

I also have a pair of

Bluejeans.

They’re getting old. A hole near the back pocket has worn through. They are frayed at the end of the pant legs. I’ve had them for years. I think the time is right to get a new pair.

Have you ever had similar experiences? Have you ever worn out your clothes?

I think most of you can understand my story. It’s either happened to you, or you’ve seen it.

That means you’re expert in prophecy. You know more about God’s work than most seminary graduates. Seriously.

Now, let’s talk about how…

…illustrate God’s plan.

In Psalms Chapter 102, Verses 25 and 26, the Psalmist is speaking to God saying,

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
Psalms 102: 25-26

You see,

The world is like old clothes.

God will do with the world the same thing as you would do with your old clothes.

The earth and the heavens will not last forever. They are going to wear out.

They have served a purpose.

According to the prophecy,

God will change clothes.

God uses people. God uses things. God uses His creation to accomplish His purpose.

When God no longer finds His creation useful, He will replace it.

Peter writes in his second epistle that…

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10

After God discards this world, He will prepare a new one.

In The Revelation Chapter 21, Verse One, John says,

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Revelation 2:1

Our lives and our world will cease to exist.

However, some things will continue to exist in the new world. Have you ever wondered…

What lasts forever?

The Day of the Lord and the end of this world do not mark the end of history. In fact, as I’ve noted, it launches a new era. We call this new season, “Eternity.”

Some things from this world will carry into the next.

For example,

God is eternal.

He never changes. With Him, there is

No variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:7

Jesus, being God, will also last forever. Hebrews Chapter 13 tells us:

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8

God is forever. Jesus is forever. They will stay the same in this world and the next one.

Also, the Bible teaches that…

God’s Word

…lasts forever. It will never grow old. It will never cease.

Jesus says, in Matthew Chapter 24, Verse 35,

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35

Jesus tells us that His words will outlast this world.

When the new Heaven and new Earth take center stage, guess what? Jesus’ words will be there. They will still be true, faithful, honest, and infallible.

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psalms 119:89

That means God’s Word will not change either in this world or any other.

Do you want to know something else that will outlast this world? It’s…

You.

You have a mortal body, but an eternal soul.

In scripture, Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus

Shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Timothy 4:1

“The quick” are those who are living. “The dead” refers to those who are… well… dead.

Daniel, the Prophet, speaks of life that transcends this world:

Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2

Hebrews Chapter Nine tells us that

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 9:27

Death translates us from this life to the next. Our life in eternity begins with Divine judgment.

In a way,

Your works

…will last forever. If not your works, then their repercussions last forever.

Do you realize that your works do not die with your body? You and I will have to answer to God, in person, for our works.

Here’s one way Apostle Paul explains this principle:

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:13

Apostle Peter gives us a similar warning in his epistle:

[We] shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
1 Peter 4:5

Knowing that judgment awaits you, I urge you to accept God’s eternal…

Salvation.

You can receive grace. You can receive righteousness through Jesus. When you do, it lasts forever.

Here’s what the Bible says:

For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

Salvation changes us. Scripture tells us that…

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:12

Hebrews Chapter Five, Verse Nine tells us something important about Jesus:

Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 5:9

The Book of Hebrews expounds on eternal salvation, saying,

[God] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him…
Hebrews 7:25

When you accept God’s salvation, it’s permanent. Jesus says, in John Chapter Ten,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28

If you’re God’s child, no one, including you, can change that.

If you have not received God’s salvation, you should do it today.

Prophet Isaiah calls out to you:

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isaiah 55:6

Don’t put it off. You have no guarantee that you will have another chance.

The Lord told the wealthy man who lived in comfort and ease,

Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
Luke 12:20

Moreover, Proverbs Chapter 27, Verse One tells us,

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27:1

Apostle Paul urges us not to delay, saying,

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2

Finally, you need to understand that…

Hell

…lasts forever. It’s the destiny of all those who refuse God’s salvation.

Some people choose to believe that Hell doesn’t exist. After all, they say, God is love. He’d never send anyone to Hell. Right?

Others may question God’s justice, asking “Why is Hell forever, if life on earth is but decades?” [The link leads to an external resource.]

Jesus speaks to those who reject Him saying,

These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25:46

Jesus also describes Hell as a place where

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:46

Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians that those who “obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8) shall

Shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Thessalonians 1:9

I began by telling you about my old clothes and how they illustrate the Day of the Lord. I want you to…

Respond

…by thinking about the end of your life and the end of this world.

God gives us the prophecy for a reason. He gives us the example of old clothes to make it understandable.

The universe, as we know it, is temporary. It’s wearing out. Soon, God will fold it up like a worn-out garment and burn it.

After describing the end of this world in Chapter Three of his second epistle, Apostle Peter asks us an important question:

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be[?]…
2 Peter 3:11