Understanding Christianity

Pastor Sean gives an overview of three major interpretations of Revelation 20 and the thousand-year reign: (1) Historic Premillennialism (2) Amillennialism and (3) Premillennniall Dispensationalism. Get out your charts and graphs!

In Revelation 19, we see the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the return of Jesus as the rider on the white horse.

The Lord's Supper is the New Covenant transformation of the Passover. In this sermon. Dr. Sean Cole gives five aspects of the Passover in Exodus 12 that inform how we should celebrate the Lord's Supper as a church family. www.seancole.net

In his book "Determined to Believe?" mathematician and apologist John Lennox argues against divine determinism/compatibilsm as making God immoral and unloving. He makes the assumption that the Bible assumes a libertarian free will approach to anthropology. Dr. Sean Cole interacts with many of the claims in the book by showing the weak argumentation and poor exegesis of many key Biblical texts used to try to "debunk" God's sovereign and meticulous decree whereby He ordains all things that come to pass. www.seancole.net

In Revelation 17 and 18, we see the fall of Babylon the prostitute on many waters. She represents all cultures throughout time that attempt to seduce the world through sexual immorality, power, and pleasure. God decisively judges her for her abominations. This calls for us as believers to come out from the world and live distinctly holy lives for God's glory instead of getting drunk on her sinful rebellion.

In the Tenth Plague, the LORD has the sovereign right to execute justice against sin. HE also has the sovereign right to provide the ONLY means to escape that justice--the blood of a spotless lamb.

In Revelation 15, the saints in heaven praise the LORD for His justice and righteousness in executing judgment on a world in rebellion. In Revelation 16, we see the 7 bowls of God's wrath poured out on the unrepentant. Both these chapters cause us to pause in sober awareness of the sovereign right God has to punish sin. This should cause us to watch and be ready for Christ's return and encourage us with an urgency to share the gospel with passion.

In the 9th plague the Lord confronts the false Egyptian sun god Ra by consuming the entire nation in three days of darkness that could be felt. The only way to escape spiritual darkness is to come into the light. Jesus is the light of the world who overcame the darkness. www.seancole.net

In Revelation 14, we see two destinies: We first see those who are redeemed by Jesus and reign with Him in heaven. The second group are those who will endure the wrath of God in eternal conscious torment in hell. This passage is a sobering reminder of the reality of hell. Why does John portray such graphic images of eternal suffering? Pastor Sean helps navigate these difficult waters. www.seancole.net

Pastor Sean challenged Emmanuel Baptist Church to start out 2019 with a commitment to financial faithfulness in giving and tithing. What does the Bible say about this "touchy" subject?

This passage gives us four reasons why we can love one another with a sacrificial, unconditional, and selfless love for the good of others and the glory of God--not only this Christmas, but all year round! www.seancole.net

Don't drift into spiritual apathy this Christmas. Instead, drop down three anchors into the depths of the gospel. (1) Jesus was born to destroy the devil, (2) Jesus was born to pay the full penalty for our sins, and (3) Jesus was born to help us in our temptations.

The beast from the sea (anti-christ) represents totalitarian governments that oppress God's people from the OUTSIDE. The beast from the earth (false prophet) represents false and heretical teachings that seduce God's people from the INSIDE. We rest in God's sovereign election because our names were written in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world.

In Micah 5, we see five prophecies about Jesus who was born in the little town of Bethlehem. www.seancole.net

What is libertarian free will? Is it biblical or simply assumed to be true? Pastor Sean interacts with those who hold to a libertarian understanding of human nature and asks some questions to consider. Matthew 7:17–18 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. www.seancole.net

Pastor Sean does an overview of the first 8 plagues. The LORD confronts each of the pagan gods and goddesses of Egypt head-on to show that HE alone is the absolute Lord of all. The issue is idolatry and what our hearts are drawn to serve. www.seancole.net

Satan, that great red dragon, has been thrown down to earth. Since his time is short, he comes with great wrath against God's people. How do we stand against the assaults of the enemy? We conquer him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. www.seancole.net

The temple John sees is symbolic of the church. The two witnesses are also symbolic of the church who witnesses to the ends of the earth by the power of the Spirit. The world hates the church and will one day force it to go underground. Thinking the church is dead, the world will throw a party in celebration. At that moment, God will vindicate the church by resurrecting the dead/rapture. www.seancole.net

This showdown between Aaron's staff and the magicians' staffs illustrates a deeper reality. Pastor Sean explores four realities concerning Satan and spiritual warfare from this passage. The LORD rescues His people from the bondage of Satan. www.seancole.net

The purpose of the Exodus is to reveal God’s glory in both salvation and judgment. In this message, Pastor Sean explores the hardening of Pharaoh's heart and how that relates to evangelism and being faithful to the Word of God in a culture that is hostile to truth. www.seancole.net