Emory Baptist Church

Your Eternity is Certain!

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Revelation 15:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Your Eternity is Certain!”

 

In today’s text, as we get a preview of eternity, you will come to understand, if you don’t already know, that everyone’s eternity is certain, including everyone in this room.  You will either give God worship in heaven for eternity or you will receive God’s wrath in hell for eternity.  There are no other options.  Your eternity is certain.

 

In our study of Revelation, chronologically, we are at the end of the earthly tribulation, and in order to help you understand a little better, I want to remind you of two diagrams this morning, and both of them are compliments of Dr. Charles Ryrie, long-time professor at Dallas Seminary.  The first is of end time events.

 

On the far left, you will see the cross of Christ.  Obviously, that event has already happened.  It is the only event on this timeline that is in the past.  The next event will be rapture of the Church, and the rapture of the Church will begin the 7-year earthly tribulation period. 

 

When the seven years are complete, Christ will come to the earth for the second time and will inaugurate His 1,000-year earthly reign.  When that is complete, then eternity will begin. 

 

Our second chart is the zooming in on the last half of the 7-year earthly tribulation.  Remember that it is divided into two, three and half year periods.  In that second half, the wrath or anger of God will be manifest or demonstrated on those that reject Christ in the form of 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. 

 

Notice in this diagram that the seventh seal corresponds to the first trumpet, and the seventh trumpet corresponds to all seven bowls.  At the same time of God’s wrath being poured out on earth, the unholy trinity of Satan, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet will be persecuting the nation of Israel and the followers of Christ more than history has ever known.  In Matthew 24:21, Jesus called this the Great Tribulation.

 

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

Currently, we are paused as it relates to time in Revelation.  Chapters 14 and 15 preview and overview what will come later.  Chapter 16 will press play again relating to chronology in our study as the seven bowls will be poured out.

 

At this time, please join me in standing for the reading of God’s Word.  You can follow along in your copy or on the screens behind me.

 

 

Exposition

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 

 

In verse 1, John saw another sign.  He used the language previously in chapter 12.

 

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

 

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

 

I believe the sign in 12:1 is the nation of Israel.  The sign in 12:3 is identified clearly later in 12:9.

 

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

This third sign is in heaven, and John says it will be great and marvelous.  There will be seven angels who will carry the seen last plagues of the wrath of God.  These seven plagues are the seven bowls that we will see next Sunday in Revelation 16.  When these bowls are poured, God’s wrath on earth will be complete. 

 

When God’s judgement is complete, your eternity will be certain.  You will either give God worship in heaven for eternity or receive God’s wrath in hell for eternity. 

 

 

1. Worship in Heaven

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!  Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!  4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?  For You alone are holy.  For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

 

In verse 2, John saw a sea of glass mingled with fire.  The sea of glass demonstrates peace and rest and serenity.  That certainly is consistent with who John sees standing on the sea of glass.

 

Notice how these individuals are described.  They have victory over the beast and over his mark and over his number.  What is that all about?  Go back to Revelation 13.

 

In verse 1, this beast is the Anti-Christ who will be a world-wide political leader.  His image is made in verses 14-15 at the direction of the False Prophet, a world-wide religious leader.  His mark and number are found in verses 17-18 and will be 666.

 

These standing on the sea of glass overcame all of that.  How? 

 

The beasts operate under the power of Satan, the devil.  They will overcome just as we overcome today by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  See 12:11.

 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

 

These overcomers are tribulation saints who will give God worship in heaven for eternity.  The end of verse 2 says they have harps, and in verses 3 and 4, they are singing unto God.

 

What are they singing?  It appears to be at least two songs.  They will sing the song of Moses affirming God’s faithfulness to Israel, and they will sing the song of the Lamb affirming God’s faithfulness to the Church. 

 

Specifically, God’s works are great and marvelous.  He is Almighty.  His ways are just and true.  He is holy, and then individuals from every tribe and tongue will give God worship in heaven for eternity.   What about you?

 

Have you overcome the beast by the blood of Jesus and the word of your testimony?  Do you know that you are a sinner and your sin separates you from God? 

 

However, knowing our need, Jesus died on the cross and in your place for your sins.  His blood was shed for you. 

 

Will you call on Him today to save you?  If you will, that is your testimony. 

 

Your eternity is certain.  You will either give God worship in heaven for eternity or you will receive God’s wrath in hell.

 

 

2. Wrath in Hell

5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

 

If you don’t give God worship in heaven for eternity, the other option is receiving God’s wrath in hell for eternity.  Your eternity is certain.

 

Look at verse 5.  The temple in heaven is opened.  From it come seven angels with seven plagues. We saw them back in verse 1, and they are pure and holy as indicated by their clothing. 

 

In verse 7, one of the four living creatures will give to them seven golden bowls of God’s wrath.  We were introduced to the four living creatures in chapter 4.  I believe these four creatures symbolize or represent all of God’s creation.

 

By the way, just in case you think prayer doesn’t work or God doesn’t hear, go back to 5:8.

 

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

 

Bowls are used for incense and offerings.  However, these golden bowls in chapter 5 which are the prayers of the saints are the same bowls in chapter 15 that contain God’s wrath and will be poured out in chapter 16 on all who reject Christ as Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer matters.  Prayer is God’s plan to accomplish His purpose.  Therefore, don’t give up on praying.

 

Verse 8 says the temple was filled with smoke.  Smoke comes from fire back in verse 1.  This is God’s glory but also His judgement. 

 

When you don’t overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, you are making a personal decision to receive God’s wrath in hell that will be spiritual and physical and eternal.  Your eternity is certain. 

 

 

Conclusion

My invitation for you this morning is to decide today to give God worship in heaven rather than receive God’s wrath in hell.  The decision is yours.

Bloody Hell

Don't Drink the Wine!

For the last two weeks, we have seen the unholy trinity from Revelation 12-13.  It is made up of the great, red dragon or Satan the Devil, beast from the Sea or the Antichrist, and the beast from the earth or False Prophet.  Because Satan the devil will be thrown out of heaven and to the earth to begin the last three and half years of the Tribulation period, chapter thirteen is very depressing because of all that the he and the Antichrist and the False Prophet will do in wreaking havoc on the nation of Israel and the followers of destroying the lives of Christians.

 

In light of Revelation 12-13, you may have been very discouraged about the future as revealed in these last two sermons.  However, I have good news, and it is Revelation 14. 

 

Revelation 14 was meant to encourage the first and second century readers as they were discouraged by Revelation 12-13 as well.  It will also serve us well this morning by encouraging us to persevere even when the situation looks bad.

 

In chapter 14, we are going to see three separate scenes, but they are also very much related to one another, and as I said previously, it’s hard to know of these events are sequential or synonymous.  However, we’re going to see a scene in heaven, a scene on earth, and a scene in hell.

 

 

1. John’s Vision of Exultation in Heaven, Revelation 14:1-5

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. 

 

In verse one, John looked, and he saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.  A big question to begin this morning is where is this happening?  Is this earth or heaven?

 

It is true that Zion usually refers to Jerusalem.  Therefore, this could be a scene on the earth at the end of the Tribulation and as Christ returns to the earth.

 

However, some see it as being a foreshadowing of the millennial kingdom and eternity.  John blends heaven and earth and makes this a difficult question to answer.

 

In my opinion, I believe this first scene is happening at the end of the Tribulation in heaven.  In Revelation, the Lamb, which is Jesus Christ, is always presented as in heaven. 

 

We also see the one hundred and forty-four thousand.  They were introduced in Revelation 7:1-8.  They are twelve thousand from the twelve tribes of Israel.  In other words, these are Jews.

 

Because I believe they are in heaven in this scene, they must have finished their task.  Also, I don’t think they will be martyred because God will protect them.  I simply believe when their task is done, God will take them to heaven. 

 

Verse 2 introduces a call to worship with the sound of many waters and the sound of loud thunder and the sounds of harpists playing their harps.  Then the 144,000 Jews began to sing a new song unique for them. 

 

They are gathered around the throne with the four living creatures and elders from chapters four and five.  Remember, the four living creatures represent believers who have died.  The twenty-four elders represent the raptured Church. 

 

Verse 4 tells us more about these Jews.  It appears that they were 144,000 Jewish single men.  I know that sounds strange, but the text seems to say that.  They were chaste and had not been defiled with women. 

 

Does this speak negatively of women or marriage?  No, it speaks positively of having a single focus during the time on this earth that will be the most difficult for followers of Christ. 

 

The second half of verse 4 says they follow the Lamb where He goes.  This speaks to their daily commitment to follow Christ in every area of their lives. 

 

They serve as a first fruit offering to the Lord and as a sign that more will follow in the earthly reign of Christ.  This is coming in chapter 20. 

 

Finally, verse 5 says no lie was ever found on their mouths.  They practiced honesty, and God honored their faithfulness as they were found blameless…not perfect or sinless, but blameless.

 

Does all of this sound weird?  Does 144,000 single, Jewish men who are followers of Christ and protected by the Lord sound weird?  You just wait.  Soon enough, we’re going to be see a dead man who came back to life will come back to earth on a white horse.  Now, that is weird, and 100% true.

 

 

1. John’s Vision of an Invitation on Earth, Revelation 14:6-7

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

 

Our second scene will happen on earth and introduces the first of three angels.  These could be real angels or they could be humans as angels as we have seen elsewhere in Revelation used as a title for pastor in Revelation 2 and 3. 

 

This first angel offers an invitation to be saved and worship the Lord.  Notice that the invitation is universal.  It is to all those who will be living on the earth during this time, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.

 

By the way, if our church is going to look like the heavenly church, our church needs to look like Emory and Rains County.  That means ethnicity and socio-economic status. 

 

Notice that the invitation is also exclusive. It is to worship God alone.  Fear God and give glory to Him.  It is not an invitation to worship Buddha or Mohammed or any other supposed gods.  It is an exclusive invitation to worship God in heaven who created the heavens and the earth and the sea. 

 

Thirdly, the invitation is limited in how long it will be offered.  It is offered now and will be offered here, but once judgment begins, there will be no more offers.  There will be no more opportunities.  There will be no more second and third and fourth chances.

 

If that is you today and you have never called on the name of the Lord to be saved, why wait any longer?  One of Satan’s favorite words to use with you and us is tomorrow.  Ladies and gentlemen, the invitation for your to be saved is being extended today, this day.  Will you receive it?

 

• John’s Vision of Condemnation in Hell, Revelation 14:8-11

8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”  9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

 

In verses 8 and following, we see two more angels or preachers.  The second angel is introduced in verse eight and says Babylon is fallen.  Who is Babylon?

 

Without going into too much detail because I will explain more in chapters 16, 17, and 18, the original city was the introduction of idolatry in Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel. 

 

Some commentators remind us that first-century Christians used Babylon as a code name for Rome as they were seeing Rome and the Roman Empire do its best to eradicate Christianity.  However, it may very well simply be the devil’s evil empire and world system that stands in opposition to God. 

 

Regardless, she will seek to spiritually intoxicate all humans and lead them and Christians to commit spiritual immorality against the Lord God.  Therefore, please don’t drink the wine.

 

The third angel enters the picture in verse 9.  We now see that if you don’t worship God on earth, you won’t worship in heaven, but you will worship the devil in hell.

 

Verse ten, speaks of the wrath of God along with His anger that will be in hell and on these individuals. For the unbeliever who worships the devil on the earth, you will also worship him in hell and experience the wrath of God and anger of God that will be torment, and according to verse eleven, that torment will be forever and ever.  There will be no rest in hell only torment day and night. 

 

Don’t believe the lie that hell will be fun, easy, or painless.  It will be the wrath and anger of God and torment on the devil and his demons and the unbeliever forever and ever and ever.

 

 

Conclusion

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

 

Verses 12-13 have our final encouragement.  There is blessing and rest for the follower of Christ who is patient and perseveres to the end. 

 

Even though life will get very difficult on earth, eternity will be sweeter than you can imagine.  You will be blessed in heaven and will rest from your labors because there will be no need to evangelize your brothers and sister as they worship the Lord.

 

Will you accept the invitation this morning to fear God and give glory to Him and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

 

 

Because He Knows That He has a Short Time

Last week, in Revelation 12:12, we read, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!  For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

 

Today, in Revelation 13, we are going to see the devil and all his fury reeking havoc on the Body of Christ in the second 42 months of the 7 year tribulation because he knows his time is short.  After the tribulation, he will be bound for 1000 years and then cast into hell for eternity.

 

Some of you are going to be disappointed this morning because I have not answered all of your questions regarding Revelation 13.  I’m sorry that I can’t, but anyone who says he can is ambitious at best and arrogant at worst.  Revelation 12 and 13 are just tough assignments.

 

This morning, we are going to be introduced to two more key figures in the end times.  They are the two beasts from Revelation thirteen and with the devil, they are an unholy trinity.

 

 

1. The Beast from the Sea or the Anti-Christ, 13:1-10

1 Then ^[a]I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having ^[b]seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. ² Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. ³ And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. ⁴ So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to ^[c]continue for forty-two months. ⁶ Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every ^[d]tribe, tongue, and nation. ⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰ He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the ^[e]patience and the faith of the saints.

 

Verses one through ten describe this first beast.  He is seen as coming out of the sea.  Some have said this is symbolic of him being a Gentile coming out of the sea of humanity. That is a possibility, but that is also speculation. 

 

He will have ten horns and seven heads and ten crowns on each horn, and each head will have blasphemous names.  Again, we could be here all day speculating as to what these horns and crowns and heads symbolize.  The fact is that is no one is certain. 

 

However, let’s go to 17:12.

 

¹² “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

 

These ten horns are ten kings who will join with this first beast in the last half of the tribulation to rule the world, but understand, there is one clear-cut leader, and it is the beast.

 

The seven heads are described in verse nine. 

 

⁹ “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

 

The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.  What woman? I’m not going to get sidetracked today.  We’ll come to Revelation 17 soon enough.

 

In verse 2 and following, we see the first beast’s authority.

 

John uses a host of similes in describing this beast.  He is like a leopard with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion.  This beast combines the speed, strength, and power of past world empires, but make no mistake about it, his power and authority come from the dragon who is Satan the devil. 

 

In verse 3, we see his injury.

 

Verse three says that one of his heads had been wounded but healed, and that miracle caused the whole earth to be in wonder and follower after him.  However, ultimately, they worshipped the dragon because he was the beast’s source of power and authority. 

 

Third, we see the beast’s blasphemy.

 

In verse five and six, we see that this beast will stand diametrically opposed to God and everything about God: His character, His power, and His children.

 

If you think things are bad, they only get worse in verse seven.  This first beast is going to make war with the saints, and he is going to overcome them. 

 

It matters not where you are from and what language you speak, the first beast will begin an earthly slaughter of every person who will not worship him.  The entire world will worship him except those who names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life since the foundation of the world. 

 

Allow me to tie up some loose ends before we move to the second beast.  At the beginning of my sermon, I mentioned to you an unholy trinity.

 

This unholy trinity of chapter thirteen includes the great red dragon, Satan the devil masquerading as God the Father.  This first beast will masquerade as God the Son or the Antichrist, and yes, he will be an individual and an entity.  Paul spoke of such.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of ^[a]sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits ^[b]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

 

The Antichrist will seek to attract just like Jesus, but in the end will slaughter Christians as Jesus is the Savior of Christians.  Verse three even speaks of one of the beast’s heads being slain but healed.

 

Some commentators take that to mean that like Jesus, the Antichrist will be assassinated but brought back to life.  That also is implied in verses twelve and fourteen. 

 

The dragon is Satan the devil and masquerades as God the Father.  The first beast from the sea is the Antichrist and masquerades as God the Son.  The second beast from the earth is the False Prophet and will masquerade as God the Holy Spirit pointing people to the Antichrist.

 

 

2. The Beast from the Earth or the False Prophet, 13:11-18

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. ¹² And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³ He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. ¹⁴ And he deceives ^[f]those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. ¹⁵ He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. ¹⁶ He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ and that no one may buy or sell except one who has ^[g]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

 

The second beast is introduced in verse eleven as coming out of the earth.  Those that say that the Antichrist will be Gentile also say the False Prophet, here as the second beast, will be Jewish as designated as coming up out of the land or earth.  That is speculation only. 

 

The first beast is the political leader.  The second is the religious leader. 

 

The second beast has only two horns compared to the ten of the first.  Yet, he will speak as a dragon, and might I add, for the dragon.

 

Like the first, see the second’s authority.

 

He exercises all of the authority as the first beast because they are both part of the unholy Trinity.  As the Holy Spirit leads people to Jesus, the second best will lead people to the first, the False Prophet will lead people to the Antichrist. 

 

Next, notice his ministry.

 

Just like the Holy Trinity, the unholy Trinity will be capable of signs and wonders like making fire come down from heaven.  However, unlike the Holy Trinity who uses signs and wonders to affirm their deity, the unholy Trinity will use signs and wonders to deceive. 

 

The second beast will oversee the production of an image of the Antichrist that will be located in and or around the temple in Jerusalem.  He will even be able to make the image talk in some form and fashion. 

 

Verse fifteen talks about the image having breath and being able to speak.  Will this be technology?  Will this be ventriloquism?  Regardless, if you don’t worship the first beast, the Antichrist, you will be killed. 

 

Finally, notice the second beast’s identity.

 

And they will know who to kill by the mark of the beast on your forehead or your right hand.  It will mean six six six.  That is the mark of the beast.

 

Do we know what that will look like?  We don’t.  All I can tell you this morning is that consistent with his character, six six six is one less than seven seven seven. 

 

Seven is God.  Six is man.  There are three sixes because of three members of the unholy Trinity.  There are three sevens because of the Holy Trinity, which brings me to my conclusion.

 

 

Conclusion

First, during the last 42 months before the return of Christ, Christian persecution will be the worst it has ever been.  See 13:7.

 

Second, that will even mean their death.  See 13:15.

 

Finally, even during this time, God will still be in control.  Everything that Satan does and will do, he will only do with permission of God.  See 13:9-10.

 

God will ultimately take of the devil, but we must be patient.

 

Martin Luther said it like this, and don’t you forget this, “The devil is God’s devil.”

Where is the Devil?

As we have been studying the book of Revelation, we find our study in the seven-year earthly tribulation that comes after the rapture of the Church and before the second coming of Christ.  It begins in Revelation 6.

 

The earthly tribulation is a seven-year period that demonstrates God’s judgement of wrath on unbelief.  It will manifest itself in a multiple series of judgments including seven seals and seven trumpets and seven bowls.

 

The seventh trumpet is sounded in Revelation 11:15. However, I told you incorrectly last Sunday.  We won’t see the details of that seventh trumpet until Revelation 16.

 

In Revelation 12-15, we are going to see some events and experiences that aren’t chronological but happening simultaneously with the second half of the earthly tribulation.  Matthew 24:21 calls this period the Great Tribulation.

 

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

However, it is also possible that we will see some events this morning that happened in the past.  We might be reading what is actually a replay.  Honestly, it is hard to say for certain.

 

Before we get to Revelation 12:1, please keep in mind these time markers.  Three and half years is 42 months.  That is 42 thirty day months.  In days, that is 1,260.

 

Where is the devil right now?  If your answer is hell, it’s a little early.  We won’t get to hell until Revelation 20:10. That will be right before eternity begins.

 

Right now, I would say the devil is splitting his time between heaven and earth.  This may come as a surprise to you, but Satan has access to heaven even as we speak.  See Job 1:6 and Revelation 12:10.

 

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.

 

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

As for the devil on earth, Jesus said in John’s gospel on three occasions that Satan was the ruler of this world: 12:31, 14:30, and 16:11. 

 

In Ephesians 2:2, Paul called him “the prince of the power of the air.” 

 

However, the scariest image of Satan comes from Peter in 1 Peter 5:8.

 

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

 

Needless to say, that is a lot to digest already about the devil, and Revelation 12 contains even more.  This chapter can be easily divided into three scenes.

 

 

Scene 1: A Woman Giving Birth, Revelation 12:1-6

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.  3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

 

Verse one begins with a great sign in heaven.  Another word for sign is symbol.  Therefore, our goal this morning is going to be to try to identify the symbolism that John is using. 

 

As I have said previously with symbolic language in Revelation, I’m not going to be dogmatic.  However, I will tell you what I think.

 

Verse one speaks of a woman, and verse two says she was with child and is in labor with pain.  However, the rest of verse one helps us immensely in identifying this woman.

 

She is clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and her head is a crown of twelve stars.  When first century Jews read this description, they immediately thought of Genesis 37:9. 

 

9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

 

In a dream of Joseph’s, the sun is Jacob.  The moon is Rachel.  The stars are the twelve sons or tribes of Jacob who was later renamed Israel.  I believe this woman is the nation of Israel.

 

However, some have said this woman is the Church.  We’ll see in just a moment that this woman gives birth to Jesus Christ.  However, did the Church give birth to Jesus?  No, and therefore, I don’t think this woman can be the Church.

 

Our Roman Catholic friends say this woman is Mary.  Did Mary give birth to Jesus?  Yes, but did Mary flee into the wildness after Jesus’ birth and was she protected by God for one thousand two hundred and sixty days according to verse six?  No.  This woman is the nation of Israel.

 

Jesus was a Jew.  The nation of Israel gave birth to Jesus.

 

Another sign or symbol in this first scene is this great red dragon in verse three.  He has seven heads and ten horns and a diadem or crown on each head.  Who is this?  John helps us by identifying him in verse nine as the devil and Satan.

 

Are these seven heads and ten horns symbolic?  It is possible that they symbolize seven past ungodly kingdoms and ten future ungodly kingdoms, but we can’t be sure.  They may simply demonstrate his power and his evil.

 

Satan wanted desperately to destroy Jesus at His birth.  The reason is because Satan was in heaven but thrown out of heaven as seen in verse four. 

 

The first scene literally took place in the first century when Jesus was born, but verse four goes back to an event that happened before time began.  Satan fell from heaven and took a third of the angels with him.  Satan was there in Bethlehem waiting for Jesus to be born in order to destroy Him.

 

When the woman gave birth to her son, it was a male child who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.  This is a quote from Psalm 2:9 and certainly applies to Jesus. 

 

However, before the dragon could destroy Jesus, He was caught up to God and His throne.  This is the ascension of Christ at the end of His first coming. 

 

The last verse in this first scene then fast forwards us to the last half of the earthly tribulation that we have been talking about since Revelation six.  Verse six says that the woman, Israel, fled into the wilderness so she could be nourished and protected by God for one thousand two hundred and sixty days or forty-two months or three and a half years.

 

We saw that language last week and know that it refers to the second three and half years of the seven year earthly tribulation that begin in Revelation six.  The last half of the tribulation will be worse than the first, and persecution of God’s people will be the worst it has ever been.

 

 

Scene 2: A War in Heaven, Revelation 12:7-12a

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!

 

Remember that we are now at a time in the future that is the last three and half years before Christ returns.  At the mid-point of the tribulation, a war in heaven will ensue.  It involves Michael and his angels against the dragon, Satan, the devil, and his angels or demons.  Satan will lose and subsequently be thrown out of heaven for good. 

 

However, he will be thrown down to the earth and his angels with him.  When that happens, there will be singing in heaven according to verse ten. 

 

Then see again the beginning of verse twelve.  For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them.  For the last three and a half years, Satan will be out of heaven because he lost the war against Michael, the archangel, and his angels.

 

Scene 3, A Woe on Earth, Revelation 12b-17

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

During the last half of the seven-year tribulation, it is not going to be good for those on the earth.  Woe to them verse twelve ends.  The devil knows his time is short.  Therefore, his persecution on the earth will be intense.

 

Verse thirteen says he will persecute the woman, Israel.  However, the rest of this scene points us to a great eagle who will nourish her in the wilderness while protecting her from the devil. 

 

There have been some who have said this is the United States of America.  Our symbol is the bald eagle, and so in the end times, the United States will run to the aid of Israel and nourish and protect her from the devil.

 

I won’t to be clear this morning.  This is not a reference or even an inference to the United States of America.

 

Verse six has already told us who this great eagle is.  It is God Himself.  The OT often speaks of God’s wings offer protection for His people.  God is the one who will nourish and protect Israel in the last days as this is the same language that God used in protecting Israel from Egypt.  See Exodus 19:4.

 

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

 

Verse fifteen says that the devil will use a flood in trying to remove Israel from the map.  Is this is a literal flood?  I doubt it. 

However, a flood is characterized by destruction, and that is what the devil will seek to do with Israel.  He has tried previously through Pharaoh.  He tried previously through Herod.  He tried previously through Hitler.  He will try again and again through other human means, but he won’t succeed because God is on their side. 

 

However, in his frustration, not only will the devil attempt to eradicate the world of Jews, he will also attempt to eradicate the world of followers of Christ. 

 

Notice verse seventeen.  The devil goes off to make war with the rest of Israel’s children, those that keep the commandments of God, and those who hold to the testimony of Jesus.

 

Can it be said that Judaism gave birth to Christianity?  It sure can, and as a result, we are at war with the devil.

 

 

Conclusion

Let me end this morning with some good news and bad news.  I’ll start with the bad. 

 

We are at war with the devil.  This devil is a great red dragon.  Red symbolizes his desire to inflict pain and bloodshed. 

 

He is a deceiver.  His goal is to lie to you and lead you astray however he can. 

 

He stands before God day and night accusing you.  He accuses you of being a sinner and an adulterer and a liar and thief and an idolater and a drunk. 

 

He cannot endanger your salvation, but he can hurt you physically, and he is desperately trying to destroy your witness for Christ in this community by breaking up your marriage, by luring you into sin, by bankrupting you financially, and or by inflicting disease and suffering on you.

 

However, I have good news.  Are you ready?  As a follower of Jesus, we have victory over the devil.  Look at verse eleven. 

 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

 

They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

How do we overcome?  I have three words for us: Calvary, confession, and commitment. 

 

First, the apex of our victory is Calvary.  Satan can do nothing about Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.  There is no victory apart from Calvary.  There will be no victory over the devil in your life either eternally or earthly apart from a saving relationship with Jesus where you admit that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place and for you sins, and put your faith and trust in him as Lord and Savior.

 

Second, the activity of our victory is confession or our testimony.  Whether at work or home or school or the golf course or the lake or the ball game, we have victory when we verbally confess to others that we are followers of Christ.  However, it won’t be without consequences.  People will treat you differently and look at you differently and talk to you differently, but confession is our activity of victory.

 

Finally, the attitude of our victory is commitment to Jesus rather than self.  That is most assuredly seen in not loving your life even when faced with death. 

 

We are getting closer and closer every day for American Christians to start counting the cost of following Christ with their physical lives. 

 

However, some will say, “Brother Richard, I don’t want to lose my family, my spouse, my children.”  Neither do I, but I want what God’s wants for me more.  I pray that is true of you.

 

The Scriptures are clear about the good news.  It starts with Calvary.  It requires Confession.  It ends with Commitment.  We are in a war against the devil, but we know what is necessary for certain victory.

 

The Two Witnesses of the Tribulation

Please take your Bibles this morning and find Revelation 11:1. Today, I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Two Tribulation Witnesses.”

 

We are studying the book of Revelation verse by verse and chapter by chapter.  As it relates to a time line of the end times and the book of Revelation, we are at the midpoint of the seven-year earthly tribulation.  

 

I believe the rapture of Church occurs between chapter 3 and 4.  I believe the seven-year earthly tribulation begins with Revelation 6 and the seven seal judgments.  It then continues with the 7 trumpet judgements and will end with the seven bowl judgments. 

 

In the recent Sundays, we have used this diagram from Dr. Charles Ryrie in helping us get our minds around all that is taking place on the pages of Scripture.

 

 

The seven trumpet judgements begin in Revelation 8.  Revelation 9 begins the fifth trumpet judgement that is also called the first woe.  Revelation 10 is a parenthesis or an interlude.  Revelation 11 is the sixth trumpet also called the second woe.  The end of Revelation 11 starts the seventh trumpet judgement also called the third woe, and the seven bowl judgement’s of God’s wrath on unbelief will quickly follow.

 

Many commentators have said that Revelation 11 is the most difficult to understand in the entire book.  Therefore, I am not going to tell you today that I have it all figured out.  However, I am going to share with you what I believe to be true and that I understand this chapter as speaking literally.  That is also how I interpret all of Revelation unless the text says otherwise of itself.

 

Therefore, in Revelation 11, I am going to show you what I believe to be a literal temple built in a literal Jerusalem and two literal witness who are literally resurrected and a literal 3.5-year period and a literal 7,000 individuals who die.  Consequently, I would suggest that you interpret this chapter in the same manner.

 

There is one last comment I want to make before we turn to the text.  This chapter is highly Jewish.  What I mean by that is that we will see Jewish Christians worshiping in Jewish Temple with multiple Jewish references from the Old Testament. 

 

 

1. The Ministry of the Two Witness, Revelation 11:1-10

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”  4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.  7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 

 

In verse one, John was given a reed or what we might call a cane pole.  He was to use it to measure the temple of God, the alter in the temple, and those Jews there worshipping. 

 

It seems that this literal temple will be built in Jerusalem during the first half of the tribulation and perhaps even with the influence and leadership of the Anti-Christ.  However, please understand that this measuring is not to determine dimensions but possession.  When John does this measuring, it will be to mark out those who are followers of Christ. 

 

In verse two, John was not to include the court of the Gentiles.  Gentiles here is not an ethnic term but describing unbelievers, and they will want to destroy this temple in the second half of the tribulation known as the Great Tribulation.  It will be worst persecution that Christians have ever known according to Matthew 24. 

 

Verse three introduces these two witnesses that have a prophecy ministry.  However, it is not telling or predicting the future.  It is boldly proclaiming God’s truth, and I believe these will be two literal individuals.

 

Tradition says this will be Moses and Elijah, and that is a good guess.  Moses’s body was hidden when buried, and Elijah was raptured and never died.  They behave like Moses and Elijah in verse 6.  However, at the end of the day, we just don’t know.

 

However, we do know they will preach during the second 3.5-year period. And they will be saddened or grieved when they preach because of the severity of God’s judgement on the depravity of humanity. 

 

According to verse 4, they will have the power of the Holy Spirit.  Two olive trees and two lampstands are Jewish references from Zechariah 4. 

 

They will also be protected by God’s providence in verse 5.  Anyone who wants to harm them will have their lives taken.

 

They will also be able to minister supernaturally according to verse 6.  Again, these signs remind us of Moses and Elijah.

 

Finally, God will use their ministry of preaching to convict hearts.  Verse 7 speaks of when their testimony is finished so we know they will be preaching about how Jesus worked in their lives.  That testimony and their preaching will be so powerful that according to verse 10 that is torments those who reject their message.

 

When their assignment is finished, and that is toward the end of the 7-year tribulation, their lives will be taken by the Anti-Christ.  That is the beast of verse 7.

 

Verses 8 and 9 are hard to imagine, but their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for all the world to see probably through satellite and large video screens like you might see in NYC and Times Square.  At this time, evidently, Jerusalem will be rampant in sexual immorality and Christian enslavement. 

 

This will be true for three and a half days, and the depravity of man will be so awful that unbelievers will celebrate their deaths like we celebrate Christmas, with the giving of gifts.  This picture is almost too much to imagine, but wait.

 

 

2. The Miracle of the Two Witnesses, Revelation 11:11-14

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.  14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

 

Can you even imagine?  Their bodies will be in the streets and dead for almost four days.  Then God intervenes and fills their lungs with breath.

 

All the world is watching and celebrating their death, and they stand to their feet.  Great fear is probably an understatement. 

 

Then God calls them to heaven.  Their ascension then triggers and earthquake in Jerusalem that kills 7,000 people.  However, praise the Lord, some will be saved, and rightfully so. 

 

This ends the second woe or the sixth trumpet judgement, but their third woe and the seventh trumpet judgement is coming quickly. 

 

3. The Message of the Two Witnesses, Revelation 11:15-19

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.  18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”  19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

 

Yes, the two witnesses are no longer on the scene, but their message while preaching during the tribulation is this message here in the seventh trumpet judgement.  The message is simple.  Christ is coming, and His kingdom will reign. 

 

Notice verse 15.  Christ’s kingdom will swallow up every other earthly kingdom.  This verse is looking forward to the second coming of Christ and His earthly reign. 

 

The two witness surely declared this message when they preached as the 24 elders in verse 16 will proclaim in heaven.  Jesus is coming.  That will be bad news for those who don’t believe, but it will be good news for those who are saved as they will be rewarded as saints of God. 

 

This chapter ends with a look into heaven where God is evidenced by the ark of His covenant.  And we see His power in the lightnings and noises and thunderings and another earthquake and hail.

 

 

Conclusion

So what does all this mean?  It means that Jesus came to give you the opportunity to be at peace with God through faith in Him.  If you haven’t made that personal decision, then you aren’t at peace with God and on your way to hell.  God’s judgements of wrath in the tribulation will be on and for you.

 

However, if you will call on the name of the Lord to save you, you will receive peace with God, a personal and saving relationship with Christ, forgiveness of sin, an eternal home in heaven, and deliverance from God’s wrath.

 

Will you call on Him today?  Are you not at peace with God today?  Answer that call and heed the message of the two witnesses.

 

Sweet and Sour Role

Woe is Me!

Have you ever heard anyone make the statement, “Woe is me?”  What they mean is that they are hurting or distressed or sad or grieved. 

 

Did you know those words can be dated all the way back to the oldest book in the Bible? 

 

Job 10:15

If I am wicked, woe to me; Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head.  I am full of disgrace; See my misery!

 

Other instances of this same statement can be found in multiple Old Testament passages.

 

Psalm 120:5

5 Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!

 

Isaiah 6:5

5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”

 

Jeremiah 4:31

31 “For I have heard a voice as of a woman in labor, The anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, The voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself; She spreads her hands, saying, ‘Woe is me now, for my soul is weary Because of murderers!’

 

Shakespeare even included it in Hamlet in 1602. 

 

Again, woe is me means that the speaker is hurt or distressed or sad or grieved.  That is exactly what very well could be said by anyone who lives through Revelation 9.

 

By way of reminder, in our study of John’s Revelation, we are looking at a futuristic event known as the great earthly tribulation.  It begins after the rapture of the church and in Revelation 6 with six seals of God’s judgment. 

 

These six seals include the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.  The seventh seal is opened at the beginning of Revelation 8 and includes four of seven trumpets of God’s judgment. 

 

The final three trumpets of judgment are called woes from Revelation 8:13, and the first and second woes or the fifth and sixth trumpets are here in Revelation 9.  This morning, we are going to see a trumpet of demons and a trumpet of death and a temptation to decline.

 

Let’s see one more reminder before we look at 9:1. This is the diagram that I showed you last week from Dr. Charles Ryrie.  These are God’s judgements on earth during the seven-year tribulation and the second half of the that tribulation.

 

 

1. A Trumpet of Demons, Revelation 9:1-12

1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.  7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.  12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. 

 

Verse one tells us that the fifth trumpet or angel sounded, and John saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth.  John didn’t see the star actually falling.  This was an event that took place in the past, and I believe it is an allusion to the fall of Satan because of similar language found elsewhere.

 

Isaiah 14:12-17 (originally applied to the King of Babylon)

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you are cut down to the ground,

You who weakened the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart:

‘I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation

On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,

I will be like the Most High.’

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,

To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,

And consider you, saying:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

Who shook kingdoms,

17 Who made the world as a wilderness

And destroyed its cities,

Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’

 

Ezekiel 28:12-16 (originally applied to the King of Tyre)

12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“You were the seal of perfection,

Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;

Every precious stone was your covering:

The sardius, topaz, and diamond,

Beryl, onyx, and jasper,

Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.

The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes

Was prepared for you on the day you were created.

14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers;

I established you;

You were on the holy mountain of God;

You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,

Till iniquity was found in you.

16 “By the abundance of your trading

You became filled with violence within,

And you sinned;

Therefore I cast you as a profane thing

Out of the mountain of God;

And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,

From the midst of the fiery stones.

 

Luke 10:18

18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

 

If this wasn’t Satan, it was one of his arch demons.  Verse eleven refers to him as the king over these demons that were locusts.  Other names for him include Abaddon and Apollyon, which both mean destruction.

 

Also in verse one, we see a particular location for these demons as we have already identified their leader.  Verse one says that the key to the bottomless pit was given to him.  This bottomless pit is none other than death and the grave or Hades.  It is the temporary home of demons.

 

Satan will then open the bottomless pit and up will come smoke that was will be so thick and so dark that it covers the sun. 

 

After we have seen the leader of the demons and the location of the demons, we see locusts that will be demonic.  Now there is a question as to whether John is talking about real, literal locusts. 

 

The reason why these may not be literal locusts but for sure demons is because they will not do what locusts normally do.  In verse three, they will have power like scorpions, but they won’t do any harm to the vegetation, but that is usually what locusts do.  Locusts normally ravage plant life. 

 

However, these locusts won’t even kill humans, but they will torment any and all humans who haven’t been sealed by God.   We know the 144,000 Jews have been sealed and any other tribulation saints alive at this time. 

 

Their torment will be like the sting of a scorpion for five months, and men and women will want to die but can’t and won’t.  The purpose of this first woe and all of these judgments is to get men and women to turn to Christ before it is too late.

 

He further describes their appearance in verses seven through ten.  They are like horses prepared for battle.  They have crowns on their heads and faces of men and hair like women and teeth like lions and breastplates of iron, and their wings sound like chariots. 

 

Verse ten moves from the picture of a locust to the locust having a scorpion’s tail, and that tail is going to sting and hurt men and women for five months. 

 

This section ends by going back to the leader of the demons.  He is called their king in verse 11 with the name of Destruction or Destroyer.

 

Brothers and sisters, this fifth woe reminds us that Satan is real and has a real agenda.  That agenda is to destroy and torment anyone he can.  That doesn’t mean I see him around every corner and under every table. 

 

However, I am fully aware of believe 1 Peter 5:8-9.

 

1 Peter 5:8-9

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

 

 

2. The Trumpet of Death, Revelation 9:13-19

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

 

The sixth trumpet or second woe is one of death and begins in verse thirteen.  That verse says that John heard a voice from the alter saying to release four angels or I believe demons that were bound at the Euphrates River.  This destruction will originate from the east.

 

In verse fifteen, you see their objective.  They will kill a third of mankind.

 

If you take this third in Revelation 9 and pair it with quarter in Revelation 8, that is over half of the world’s population and could be in excess of 4 billion people.  What do you do with all of those corpses?

 

This destruction will come in the form of an army of horseman numbering two hundred million.  There was no way for John to see them, but he heard the number. 

 

They were horsemen with breastplates the color of fire.  The heads of the horses were like lions.  From their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone.  Their tails were also lethal and did much harm. 

 

If you can’t wrap your mind around a two hundred-million-member army, remember that India and China both number one billion plus people today.  Furthermore, they are both to the east of the Euphrates? 

 

There was even an edition of Time Magazine dated May 21, 1965 in which China boasted of a two hundred-million-member army over 50 years ago.  Therefore, it might not be as impossible as you think.

 

Before we look at these last three verses, I want to remind you that even in the midst of all of this death, God will still ultimately be in control.  Let me show you.

 

In verse 1, who gave the key to the bottomless pit to fallen star?  It was God.  In verse 3, who gave the locusts their power?  It was God.  In verse 4, who commanded them as to what to do and set their boundaries?  It was God.  In verse 5, where did they get their authority and who determined the five-month period?  It was God.  And in verse 15, who decided the hour and day and month and year four bad angels to carry out their judgement?  It was God.

 

God is in complete control of everything.  Even the devil has to get permission from God to act. 

 

 

3. The Temptation to Decline, Revelation 9:20-21

20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

 

Perhaps the most shocking verses of this chapter are these in verses twenty and twenty-one.  There were witnesses to these demon locusts that tormented humanity and this unthinkable army destroying anyone in its path, but many of them still didn’t repent. 

 

They didn’t repent of their idolatry or their murdering or their sorcery or their immorality.  They kept on with their lives of sin.  They declined to repent. 

 

 

Conclusion

Is that a temptation that you are facing today?  Are you tempted to decline repentance?  You see God’s hand of judgment and hear God’s word, but you’re declining to change your behavior. 

 

Hebrews 3:7-8

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.”

 

Brothers and sisters, don’t harden your hearts today.  What is keeping you from acting today?  What is keeping you from giving your life to Christ today? 

 

• What is keeping you from coming for believer’s baptism today?
• What is keeping you from joining the church today?
• What is keeping you from reconciling your marriage today?
• What is keeping you from committing to tithe today?
• What is keeping you from witnessing to that friend or family member today?

 

You’ve heard God’s voice today.  Don’t harden your hearts, but obey today!

Devastation All Around

Please take your Bibles and turn to Revelation 8:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Devastation All Around.” 

 

In a timeline of end times events, I believe we are currently living in the church age that began at Pentecost and will end with the rapture of the church.  In the bible, this will happen between Revelation 3 and 4. 

 

The rapture of the church is when the Lord Jesus comes in the clouds unexpectedly and raptures all living individuals who have been baptized by the Holy Spirit.  In other words, the rapture is when the Lord Jesus snatches away all living followers of Christ to heaven.

 

No one knows when that will happen.  It will happen unexpectedly without any warning or advance notice.

 

After the rapture, a seven-year period call the Tribulation will begin.  It will be God’s judgement on those living on earth who have rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  The first half of the Tribulation will not seem like judgement.  However, the second half will be the Great Tribulation and the most severe Christian persecution that has ever occurred. 

 

Revelation 6 begins to show us God’s wrath and judgement poured out on the earth.  John speaks of them in the form of seals, trumpets, and bowls.  Today, we will see the seventh seal opened, and this diagram courtesy of Dr. Charles Ryrie of Dallas Theological Seminary may help in your understanding of these judgements going forward.

 

 

 

Notice that the seventh seal actually opens the first four trumpet judgements.  The seventh trumpet judgement opens the seven bowls of God’s wrath, and Ryrie even shows the three woes at the end of today’s text as parallel with the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpet judgments.

 

 

1. The Mercy of God, Revelation 8:1

1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

 

Think back for a moment to Revelation 6.  The first six seals of God’s judgement were opened in Revelation 6. 

 

However, chapter seven is an interlude or parenthesis.  Chapter 7 is a suspension of the judgments to see one hundred and forty-four thousand Jews saved and possibly commissioned on the earth to share the good news of the gospel before Jesus returns. 

 

Chapter 7 is also for seeing an innumerable multitude of primarily Gentiles around the throne in heaven worshipping the Lord.  They will come from every nation and every tribe and every tongue. 

 

All of chapter 7 is a testimony to God’s mercy.  Any time He waits to judge, He is being merciful, and even though I agree that these thirty minutes of silence in 8:1 is a silence of anticipation of what is to follow or a pregnant pause, it too is a silence of mercy. 

 

It is a continuation of chapter seven.  These thirty minutes of silence remind us of the mercy of God. 

 

What is mercy?  It is God withholding from us what we deserve. 

 

Unfortunately, followers of Christ often think that we don’t need the mercy of God because we have been born-again or baptized or belong to a local church.  In reality, we are in desperate need of God’s mercy every day. 

 

Are you guilty of any of these?   

Romans 1:29–31

1 Corinthians 6:9–10

Galatians 5:19–21

Ephesians 5:3–5

Colossians 3:8

2 Timothy 3:2–5

1 Peter 2:1

1 Peter 4:3

Revelation 9:21

Revelation 21:8

Revelation 22:15

 

My point is this.  Every person in this room is in desperate need of God’s mercy each and every day.  Heaven help us if we don’t realize it.

 

 

1. Prayers before God, Revelation 8:2-6

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.  6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

 

Do you ever wonder if your prayers matter?  Wonder no more!  Verse two says that John saw seven angels standing before God, and they were holding seven trumpets which will be part of the seventh seal of judgment. 

 

An eighth angel will come forth in verse three holding a golden censer.  That is a bowl or firepan holding live coals and incense. 

 

Incense was given to him to add to the prayers of the saints.  The smoke of the incense went up to the Lord along with the prayers of the saints. 

 

You may be unfamiliar with this practice, but remember the father of John the Baptist in Luke 1:5-10.

 

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

 

Who were these saints?  At the very least, they are the saints that will be alive during the tribulation, and they will be begging the Lord to bring the tribulation to an end.  They will be begging the Lord to end His wrath on the earth.  However, they could also be the saints of all time who have been praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

 

Do you think that prayer is important to God?  We’ve already seen earlier in Revelation 5 that our prayers are a sweet aroma in the nostrils of God.

 

Do you think that prayer works?  Then why don’t we pray more.  Why do we turn more to the telephone to get results?  Why do we turn to an email or FB to get results?  Why do we turn to protests or riots to get results? 

 

Why have I been announcing and asking and begging for over a year to get 36 individuals or families to commit one hour a week in our prayer room and to no avail?  The bottom line is that we don’t trust the power of prayer.

 

However, it is the prayers of the saints before God here in Revelation 8:5-6 that precipitate the judgements of God in these 7 trumpets of judgement.  Prayer is God’s plan, and it works. 

 

 

• The Judgements of God, Revelation 8:7-12

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.  8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.  10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.  12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.  13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

 

In verse 7, the first trumpet is the destruction of the ground.  With hail and blood and fire, a third of the earth is burned.

 

Imagine the domino effects.  If the grass is burned, what will animals eat?  If animals don’t eat, what will humans eat?  There will be devastation all around.

 

The second trumpet is the destruction of the seas and salt-water bodies.  Some large burning land mass will be thrown into the sea, and the sea will turn to blood or look like blood.  All the sea life will die, and a third of the ships will be destroyed.

 

Maybe this is a volcano or a meteor.  If it is a meteor, imagine the power and might that will be necessary to hurt it to the earth.  Imagine the water displaced when it hits the oceans, and imagine all of the dead marine life.  Where will it go?

 

The third trumpet is the destruction of the rivers.  A great star will fall from heaven into the rivers and springs of water.  Its name is Wormwood which is bitter and disgusting and will turn the waters to the same.  It will cause many men to die.

 

The fourth trumpet is the destruction of light.  A third of the sun and moon and stars will be struck rendering them inoperative.  It seems that twenty-four hour days turn into sixteen hour days.  Judgment will come.

 

Chapter 8 ends with only sounding 4 of the 7 trumpets.  However, a preview of the last 3 are in verse 13.

 

An angel or an eagle or an eagle that is really an angel will speak announce the trilogy of woes to the inhabitants of the earth at the time who have rejected the Lord Jesus.  The final three trumpets of God’s judgement will be worse than the first four.

 

 

Conclusion

Today, I invite you to be so grateful for the mercy of God.  Today, I invite you to begin praying like prayer works.  Today, I invite you to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and avoid the judgment of God on your life.

So Who Can Stand?

Last Sunday morning, Bro. Ronnie guided us through Revelation 6 and the utter terror on the earth that will occur during the great tribulation as God judges those who had and were rejecting the gospel and the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ extended to them. 

 

You saw that through the opening of six of seven seals of judgment.  The seventh seal will start Revelation 8.

 

At the end of Revelation 6, verse seventeen asks a question, “Who is able to stand?”  At that time, who will be able to stand or survive God’s wrath and judgement? 

 

Today, we move to Revelation 7.  This chapter is what is called an interlude or a parenthesis or another scene that will happen ALMOST simultaneously with Revelation 6. 

 

Simply put, the title of this morning’s sermon is “So Who Can Stand?”  The answer is also simple: The Sealed of Israel on the Earth and the Saved from the Tribulation in Heaven.

 

Please allow me to give just a few more introductory comments before we turn our attention to today’s text.  First, I believe the Universal Church will be raptured, and that will occur in between Revelation 3 and 4.  In that even, the Lord will take all of the living believers at that time to heaven to be with Him for eternity.  It hasn’t happened yet, but it will unexpectedly.

 

Second, the earthly tribulation will come next, and we know from the Old Testament, specifically Daniel, that the earthly tribulation will last seven years.  It even appears that the seven years will be divided into two halves designating the first three and half years and then the second three and a half years.  However, remember, the Universal Church will have been raptured to heaven.

 

Third, I would say that Revelation 6 covers all seven years of the tribulation and introduces God’s judgment that will manifest itself in seals then trumpets and then bowls in the weeks to come.

 

Now, who can stand?

 

 

1. The Sealed of Israel on the Earth, Revelation 7:1-8

1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

 

After six major and significant earthly judgments from God in chapter six, the opening verses of chapter seven show God’s mercy as the judgments are temporarily suspended.  Remember, there is still a seventh judgment to come.

 

Verse one says that John will see four angels at the four corners of the earth.  They are holding back the winds of the earth.  This is a very calm and peaceful scene. 

 

A fifth angel emerges in verse two.  He has the seal of the living God.  This is evidence that God Himself is behind this suspension of judgment which goes to show us that in fact, God is in control of all things.

 

This fifth angel then commands the other angels to cease from their judgments until they have sealed God’s servants. I believe these servants mentioned at the end of verse three are Jewish Christians. 

 

To be a servant of God is to be saved.  Evidently, these Jews will recognize Jesus as their Promised Messiah during the tribulation period.  According to Revelation 14:1, they will be sealed on their foreheads. 

 

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

 

However, we cannot determine from this verse if this seal is visible to humans.  It may only be visible to God and His angels, but it certainly is in contrast with the mark of the beast.

 

In verse four, John says those that will be sealed will number 144,000.  Do I believe this number should be taken literally?  I do, but I’m not dogmatic about it because I know that sometimes John uses numbers figuratively or symbolically like he did in 7:1.  I know that there are not four literal corners of the earth. 

 

Please remember, these Jews were not raptured, and we know and believe that just because you are a Jew does NOT mean you are saved.  No one is saved apart from a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  These Jews entered the tribulation after the Universal Church was raptured, and they were saved. 

 

How were they saved if the Universal Church will be raptured?  Bibles won’t be raptured.  Evangelism Tracts won’t be raptured.  YouTube and Facebook and podcasts won’t be raptured. 

 

What does their sealing involve?  I believe it involves a spiritual salvation but also a physical salvation.  When God seals these 144,000 Jews, He will save them, and then He will physically protect them through the remainder of the tribulation. 

 

It will be like He did for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.  He will physically protect them until Jesus comes again to the earth. 

 

What will they be doing after they are saved?  Some have said these will be Jewish evangelists.  This text doesn’t specifically say, but considering what they will know at this time…that Jesus is about to return and there will be no second chances, that is probably a safe bet.

 

Now, there are a host of questions regarding this listing of the 144,000 in verses five through eight.  Unfortunately, I only have one answer. 

 

First, many have asked why Dan is not mentioned in this tribal list.  No one can say for sure. 

 

Second, many have asked why Manasseh is mentioned but not Ephraim.  Weren’t they both sons of Joseph?  Yes, but no one can say for sure why Ephraim was not included. 

 

Third, many have asked why Judah is listed first and not the first-born Reuben.  I can confidently answer that Judah is listed first because Jesus is from the tribe of Judah.

 

Again, personally, I believe these sealed of Israel on the earth who will be able to stand or survive God’s judgment through the tribulation are a literal 144,000.  That means a literal 143,999 plus 1 Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. 

 

 

2. Those Martyred Saints, 7:9-17.

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”  13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”  14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”  So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 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 dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

I believe that verse nine is now another vision for John and another scene in this chapter.  Therefore, I don’t believe that John heard about one group of believers on earth in verses 1-8 and saw the same group of believers in heaven in verses 9-17. 

 

In verse 9, John sees a great multitude of people.  They are very diverse.  This group is multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual.  They are from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.   Because of the specificity of the Jews in verses five through eight, it stands to reason that most of these are Gentiles.

 

John sees them standing before the throne and before Jesus.  They are clothed in white robes, and they are worshipping with palm branches in their hands.  They are crying out, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  They are worshipping both God the Father and Jesus, His Son.

 

Also around the throne in this scene are angels and the elders representing the raptured Church and the four living creatures representing all of creation.  They all are also worshipping as they will prostrate themselves before God and Jesus and the throne. 

 

They will be saying and singing the contents of verse twelve.  BTW Amen means so let it be, you can count on this, or this is true. 

 

As we move to verse thirteen, it becomes clear who this multitude is.  One of the elders will ask John for clarity.  John defers his answer. 

 

The elder then identifies this group as Christian martyrs whose lives were taken during the tribulation.  Again, there will be those saved during the tribulation.  However, these individuals will have been martyred for their faith in Christ. 

 

Actually, this is the same group we saw last week below the alter.  They are now around the throne.  See Revelation 6:9.

 

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

 

These devoted brothers and sisters who will have given their physical lives for the name of Jesus and the furtherance of the gospel will be wearing white robes that have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

 

In heaven, God will protect them and comfort them unlike what they experienced on earth.  They will no longer be starved or burned or in pain.  For them, heaven will be relief and no more physical pain.

 

They will be able to stand or survive God’s judgement and wrath.

 

 

Conclusion

So what do take away this morning from Revelation 7? 

 

First, God is in control.  Go back to verses 1-3.  Who was in charge of the angels and is in charge of all things?  God is. 

 

Nothing that happened in 2020 caught God by surprise, and nothing that will happen in 2021 will either.  God is in complete control of all things.

 

Does that mean God causes evil?  It does not.  God allows evil to exist as a byproduct of giving us a choice to worship Him.  He causes good, and He allows evil.  Regardless, He is in control.

 

Second, heave is real, but it might be different than what you have in mind.  It won’t only be white.  It won’t only be American.  It won’t only be Baptist.  It is going to be different than you might think.  It will be every tribe and tongue from the four corners of the earth. 

 

Heaven will also be more than you can imagine.  Think about the greatest experience you can conceive.  Maybe it is an indefinite, all expense paid vacation in Hawaii.  Maybe it is a fourteen point buck taken at twenty five yards.  Maybe it is an eighteen hole round of seventy two at your favorite course.  Maybe it is your favorite team winning a championship.  Regardless, heaven will be different, and it will be more.  It will be drinking from the living fountains of waters never to thirst again. 

 

Finally, will you be able to stand God’s judgement?  Are you a servant of God?  That’s how 144,000 are described in verse 3. 

 

Do you believe that only way to be saved is through Jesus?  In verse 10, this great multitude will say that salvation belongs only to God and the Lamb, His Son, Jesus Christ. 

 

Do you know that you cannot earn salvation on your own merit?  Implied in verse 14 is that our spiritual garments are filthy rags and are in desperate need of being washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

 

If you aren’t ready to stand or survive the judgment of God today, I invite you to be saved.