[I have gotten behind in publishing my sermons because of the Kairos Prison Ministry that I served at and because of getting ready for Charge Conference at our churches. I am going to try to put out one sermon each day until I get caught up.]
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
3 September 2006
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Romans 1
18. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
19. since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
23. and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
26. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
27. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
29. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
30. slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31. they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
-- the Bible tells us that God is patient and long-suffering -- that He gives us every opportunity to turn from our sins and to turn to Him -- to turn from our iniquities and to turn to the One who died in our place
-- but sometimes the cup of iniquity is full and the people are ripe for judgement -- sometimes the hearts of people have been so hardened that they refuse to respond to God's word and receive the forgiveness offered through Christ Jesus -- when this happens, the Bible tells us that God removes His divine protection and pours out His wrath and judgement on those whose hearts have become darkened
-- such appeared to be the case in 1908, when the inhabitants of the city of Messina, Italy, flaunted their wickedness and their anti-Christian spirit by publishing an abominable parody on Christmas Day, daring God to prove Himself by sending an earthquake to destroy them if He was real -- if we are so evil, they wrote, then do something about it
-- three days later, in the early morning hours of December 28, 1908, a devastating earthquake struck, literally destroying the city of Messina and the surrounding districts and resulting in the deaths of 84,000 people
-- God is patient and long-suffering, not wanting any to perish but all to be saved -- but there will come a point when He will not allow wickedness and violence and injustice to continue unpunished any longer
-- at some point in the future, the Bible tells us that God's wrath is going to pour out on this world to such an extent that Jesus Himself said that if the days were not cut short, no one would survive
-- in Matthew 24:21, Jesus called this the time of great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- Jeremiah called it the time of Jacob's trouble -- and we call it Daniel's 70th week -- the Great Tribulation of the Book of Revelation
-- during this final seven-year period, God is going to pour out His wrath on this planet for one purpose -- to force everyone on the earth to decide -- once and for all -- if they are going to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior or if they are going to reject God and choose an eternity in Hell
-- this morning, we are going to finish up our series on eschatology -- the study of end-times events -- as we rapidly look at the events of Daniel's 70th week from the Book of Revelation
-- as you remember, we are waiting for the start of this final seven-year period to begin -- it will start with the signing of a peace treaty between the antichrist and Israel -- and when this happens, the events outlined in Revelation chapters 5 through 22 will be triggered and all of the horrible events of Revelation that you grew up hearing about will come to pass
-- if you would, turn over now to Revelation Chapter 5 and let's finish our study with a quick overview of the events of this period
II. The Scroll of Judgement
-- Chapter 5
1. Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
2. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
3. But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
4. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
5. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
-- as this chapter opens, the Apostle John has been carried to heaven in a vision -- and while he is there, he sees God the Father Almighty sitting on His throne -- high and mighty -- being worshiped by all in heaven -- and in the right hand of the Father He holds a scroll with writing on both sides
-- the scroll is rolled up and is secured with seven seals -- in the days when messages from the king were transmitted on scrolls, the king would seal up the scroll by dropping wax on the scroll and pressing his ring into it -- when the recipient received the scroll, they would know immediately who it was from and whether it had been read -- if the seal was intact, the scroll had not been opened -- but if the seal had been broken, the scroll had been read
-- this scroll identified in Chapter 5 has seven seals -- evidently, the scroll was partially written on -- and then a drop of wax put in the scroll to seal it -- and then some more was written -- and another seal put in place -- until the scroll was fully written upon and the final seal was placed on the outside
-- some scholars have suggested that this scroll is the title-deed to earth -- that God gave it to Adam and that Adam gave it to Satan when he sinned in the garden of Eden -- the reason John is weeping is because he realizes that unless someone is found who is worthy to open and read the scroll, Satan will maintain possession of the earth and its inhabitants
-- however, this is merely conjecture -- we do not know what the scroll is or what it contains outside of the judgements of God on the earth that will be poured out during this final seven-year period
-- John tells us here that only one Person, in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll -- Jesus -- the Lion of the tribe of Judah -- the Root of David -- the Lamb who was slain -- Jesus is the only One able to open the scroll and its seven seals
III. The Seal Judgements
-- look over at Chapter 6
1. I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"
2. I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3. When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"
4. Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
5. When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.
6. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7. When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
8. I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
-- as each seal is broken, a judgement from God is released in a final attempt to bring the hearts of the people to Him -- the breaking of the first four seals releases the beings that we call the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
-- the first rider on a white horse represents the antichrist and his government that appear at the start of the tribulation -- the second rider on a red horse represents war that will be waged on earth during this time -- the third rider on a black horse represents famine that will stalk the land -- and the fourth rider on a pale horse brings with him death for one-fourth of the people left on earth
-- verse 9
9. When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
-- when the fifth seal is broken, John sees the souls of those who have been martyred for their faith in Christ -- the tribulation period will be a period of intense persecution of Christians and will result in the death of many who profess Jesus as Lord and Savior -- those who are on the earth will have had their hearts so hardened that they take out their anger on the people of God
-- verse 12
12. I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,
13. and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
14. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
-- the breaking of the sixth seal results in a great earthquake that is so powerful that it shakes the very foundation of earth and heaven -- the people who are left -- from the kings to the princes to the slaves and the poor -- all hide in fear at the wrath of God that is being poured out on the earth
-- according to Tim LaHaye, by this point, 21 months will have passed -- the people on earth will be fully aware that they are in the Tribulation period -- the antichrist has appeared and taken control of the world, establishing a one-world government and preparing to implement his one-world religion -- the world has been suffering through a time of war, famine, inflation, resulting in the death of 25% of the world's population -- and the worst is yet to come
-- six seals on the scroll have been broken -- and when the seventh seal is broken, it will introduce seven additional judgements called the Trumpet Judgements -- Chapter 8
1. When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
-- seven angels are seen who are given seven trumpets, and as each blows his trumpet, additional calamities pour out on the people of earth
-- as we move from the seal judgements to the trumpet judgements, the intensity of God's wrath increases as His judgements grow more and more severe
IV. Trumpet Judgements-- verse 6
6. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
-- when the first angel sounds his trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood was hurled down on earth -- a third of the earth was burned up -- a third of the trees were burned up -- and all of the green grass burned up -- there is no reason to believe that this is not a literal judgement being poured out on the people -- God displayed His wrath in a similar fashion against the people of Sodom and Gomorrah -- this time, He will do so against the whole earth
-- verse 8
8. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,
9. a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
-- when the second angel sounds his trumpet, a great mountain is thrown into the sea -- third of sea turned into blood -- third of living creatures in sea died -- third of ships destroyed
-- verse 10
10. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky 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 turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
-- when the third angel sounds his trumpet, a great star falls from the sky and poisons a third of the waters
-- verse 12
12. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, 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 turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
-- the fourth angel sounds his trumpet, and the light of the sky is lessened as the sun and stars and moon are affected
-- each of these trumpet judgements becomes more severe in their impact on the people on earth -- the land itself -- the ability of the land to produce food and shelter and water -- is affected -- and yet the majority of the people refuse to come to God, so God's wrath continues to pour out on them
-- Chapter 9
1. The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.
2. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.
3. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.
4. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
-- when the fifth trumpet is sounded, demonic beings are released to torment the people on earth who have refused to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior -- they are described as locusts with the power of scorpions -- we don't know if this is a literal description of what they look like, but we do know they will inflict horrible wounds on everyone who has not received Christ
-- as is the case in all of these judgements, God is trying to turn the hearts of the people towards Him by giving them a glimpse of hell on earth -- sometimes God will allow trials and tribulations and calamities into our lives to drive us to our knees -- to drive us to Him through our despair -- such is the case in this final seven-year period
-- verse 13
13. The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.
14. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
15. And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.
16. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.
-- the sixth angel sounds his trumpet and a great army is released against the people on earth -- whether this is a demonic army or an army filled with the power of Satan is not certain -- but this army will kill one-third of those left alive by the plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur
-- yet still the people do not repent of their sins and turn to God -- look at verse 20
20. The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
21. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
-- flip over to Chapter 11, verse 15
15. The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
-- when the angel sounds the final, seventh trumpet, John once again sees the heavens filled with the worship of God -- just like the seventh seal introduced seven additional judgements, the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowl judgements -- in Chapter 15, we read that the angels with the seven bowls introduce the seven last plagues -- last, because with them God's wrath is completed
V. Bowl Judgements
-- these last seven judgements are found in Revelation 16 -- we don't have time to look at them in detail, so let me just list them for you
-- the first bowl produces painful sores on those who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image
-- the second bowl turns all the waters of the sea into blood, killing all living things in the sea
-- the third bowl turns all the rivers and springs -- all the remaining fresh water -- to blood
-- the fourth bowl intensifies the sun and causes it to painfully burn the people on earth
-- the fifth bowl plunges the earth into a supernatural darkness like that experienced when Christ died on the cross
-- the sixth bowl dries up the waters of the Euphrates River and releases three demonic spirits who go forth to gather the world for the final battle against God, Armageddon
-- and the seventh bowl brings forth a great earthquake that destroys all the nations and splits the city of Jerusalem into three parts
VI. Closing
-- at this point, having suffered through seven years of torment and distress unequaled in its power, the earth is completely destroyed and broken -- those whose hearts have not been hardened and who have not received the mark of the beast have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior -- the rest refuse to repent of their sin and choose to oppose God tothe bitter end
-- at this point, we see the second coming of Christ -- with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, the heavens split open and Christ returns to earth on a magnificient white horse -- flip over to Revelation Chapter 19, verse 11, and let's close there
11. I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
-- when Jesus returns, He destroys the armies of the beast and casts the antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire -- He binds Satan and throws him into the Abyss for 1,000 years and He establishes a kingdom on earth that will stand for 1,000 years until the new Jerusalem comes down from Heaven and the earth and the heavens are made new
-- why does all of this happen? -- Why does God allow His judgement and His wrath to be poured out on the earth in such a way during this final seven-year period? -- for one reason -- to show men the folly of their ways and to force them to make a decision as to whether they will follow God or whether they will follow their own evil desires
-- by the end of the great tribulation, everyone will have made their choice -- either they will have received the mark of Jesus -- the Holy Spirit within them -- or they will have received the mark of the beast -- there are only two choices -- the way of God or the way of Satan
-- each of us are faced with that same choice -- we can choose to go through life doing things our own way -- living life based on our own desires and wants and wishes -- living in bondage to sin and death -- or we can choose to accept the forgiveness of our sins offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
-- the choice is up to us -- it is a choice that we will have to make at some point in our lives -- either we choose God -- either we choose heaven and life with God in eternity -- or we choose hell
-- as I close in prayer, I want you to close your eyes and ponder this question -- is there a time in your life when you remember making a choice to follow God -- is there a time in your life when you consciously chose to accept Jesus -- when you asked Him to forgive you of your sins and to be your Lord and Savior?
-- you may have come to church your whole life -- you may have been a leader in this church -- you may have taught the Bible to others -- but if you have never made a personal decision to accept Jesus, then the Bible teaches that you are lost
-- Romans 10:9-10 says, "If you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved"
-- if you have never made this confession before, then God invites you to do so today -- right now -- to ask Him to forgive you of your sins -- to free you from His wrath -- and to lead you to eternal life in heaven
-- the choice is yours -- choose wisely
-- let us pray
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