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Would God ever tell people, “don’t pray to me,” “Don’t ask me what to do!” Join Aaron for this short devotional to find out.
Text: Ezekiel 20
Location: Collierville Church of Christ
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The plagues (bowls) bring destruction to the armies of humanity that fight against God and the Lamb. The kings of the earth have joined forces with the Beast and they are not willing to repent. Every judgment causes greater blasphemy and rebellion. Is there hope? Will the Beast continue to dominate the earth?
Babylon — The Great Harlot
John hears the angel call to him. The angel beckons him to witness the judgment of the “great harlot.”
This harlot is the primary cause of sin and wickedness among the kings of the Earth. The people of Earth are “drunk” on the influence of the harlot and her wickedness.
John sees the harlot, arrayed in rich fabrics and jewellery. She drinks from a cup filled with sin.
The sins of the harlot include the murder of saints and martyrs of Jesus. Her appearance causes John to marvel. There doesn’t appear to be any chance to defeat the great harlot. She is allied with the Beast which carries her and has ten horns on seven heads. The Beast represents Rome and the heads and horns her Caesars and their continuing opposition to the Bride. The text calls them “kings.”
A False Resurrection
The people of Earth marvel at the majesty of the beast and its supposed “resurrection.” The beast himself is the eighth king.
The ten horns are ten kings who recieve their power and ability to rule from the Beast. They supply the Beast with power and authority in return. They together make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb, together with those who are called, chosen, and faithful, will overcome the kings and the Beast.
Rome’s judgment will come from the inside out. God will bring about its fall as it quite consumes itself and judgment comes upon the great city, the Harlot, for her wickedness.
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good evening. We are, for those who may be visitors or joining us only online, we are all remote. This evening. We’re live streaming because unfortunately found out one of our members has COVID who was here at Bible study last Wednesday night. And so just as a precaution we’re we’ve asked everyone to, to stay home and just be on the stream for this evening,
but we’re glad you’re here. And we’re glad that we can have the ability to come together and have class. Well, we’ll still have class and we’ll have a short Divo right at the end of class, and then be dismissed. We are in the book of revelation. We’re closing out revelation, chapter 16 and going into chapter 17. As we get into our class this evening,
let’s begin with a word of prayer gracious father in heaven. We come before you grateful for the day that you’ve given to us grateful for the life that we have been blessed with, grateful for your many blessings that you shower upon us on a regular basis. We are so odd your majesty by your glory, by your creative power, by all that you have done in both the magnificence of this universe,
but also those things which are so tiny that the, I cannot even perceive them. We pray that you will be continually with us in this nation. We know that we’re going through a hard time and the struggle that we deal with in this country because of sin and because of many of the problems that exist, we know that we have rough days ahead matter what happens in our country.
And we pray that we might have the strength, the will to always stand up, to always preach the word. Always hold fast to the truth, no matter what happens, no matter what direction our country goes, we pray that you will be witnesses. We will creative study may the things that we read about in revelation, help us to understand the single lesson that you can emperor in this life.
And that is that you are on the throne. And one day we will stand before you in judgment as every nation and every individual who’s ever lived will do we ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory, we pray that you be with those who are dealing with illnesses, with difficulties, injuries and, and sicknesses. We especially are mindful of those who have lost recent loved ones.
Recently, we pray that they might have comfort and strength in these difficult times, help us to always strive to remember that without Christ and without his blood, without his church that he purchased and redeemed with his blood, we would stand as sinners with no hope. And may we always be thankful for what your son did for us on the cross? All this,
we pray in Jesus name. Amen. So in chapter 16 of revelation, we noticed the first portion of chapter 16 on Sunday. And we noticed the six there, the first six bowls. Now this goes all the way back to chapter six and chapter six, we had introduced to us the seven seals that were on the revelation of God that was handed from the throne of God,
to the lamb. Now, before we get into chapter 17 and chapter 18, which are kind of fundamental To all of this, they’re the culmination of all these things we’ve read. We need to remember something when John in revelation, chapter six, and even in chapter four, when, when John gets invited into the throne room of God, and when he’s there at the throne room of God,
and he’s there seeing the throne of God, and he’s, they’re seeing the four beasts before the throne of God. And these they’re seeing the spirit of God as seven fires before the throne of God. And he sees 24 elders around the throne of God. We’re not supposed to understand Stand from that, that in heaven, when we get there, there will be a throne that will have great And,
and Emerald around it. And that there will be full Or physical representing BESE Run of the throne. And there, there will be 24 literal individuals as elders There before. That’s, that’s not what we’re supposed to understand. That’s not the picture we were supposed to get is that this is the exact Picture of heaven for us. So we know what to expect when we get there.
That’s not what John’s doing. That’s not what Jesus is revealing to. John. John is the same writer who in first, John chapter three, reveals to us that even as an old man, even as an apostle of Christ, the apostle whom Jesus loved the one who is the agent one who’s writing to the church. He says, when this life is over,
we don’t know what will even, Like he says, we know this will be like him like Christ. And that’s enough hope For us to pure VAR purify our lives and be ready for the day. So the same writer who says You don’t know what we B will be like, because it hasn’t been revealed Was yet is the same writer who reveals to us these things about rev In revelation and about the throne room of God.
Is that therefore to mean that in first John chapter three, he didn’t know what we’d be like. And somehow in revelation, chapter four, through the end of the book, he didn’t know what we would be like, No, they’re not contradicting one another. They’re not in opposition to one another, right?<inaudible> is not here to tell us what it will be like in heaven.
It is here to tell us and to tell those first century Christians, what God was going to do in their lifetime And to the church that was bout to in Undergo persecution. And each one of these things was a representation of truth to them, Right? Then, is it the case that Jesus Christ is a physical lamb where God, the father is a individual that can’t even be described,
but the spirit, the Holy spirit is seven tongues. No, we’ll do all, All of those things represent some truth, some aspects, some Attribute of the function of those parts of the Godhead. Yes. When we get over to chapter 16 and we’ve had seven or yeah, seven seals inside of the seventh seal, we have seven trumpets or which are partial judgment.
And inside of that seventh trumpet, we have the full judgment of God brought about and described here in chapter 16, we are not to suddenly start looking for physical literal implementation of these things In history. We’re Being consistent all the way through the book we’re being consistent in handling this book the same way we’re supposed to handle every other book of the Bible written with this kind of visionary language,
apocalyptic language, as we call it, where figures are used to supply truth, instead of literal events written has his Oracle events. Okay? So we just need it, Keep reminding ourselves of that. So that as we go through this, we are being consistent. We’re looking at these things and we’re always, always, always keeping them in their context,
their local context in the verses and chapters that they’re in and their greater biblical context, especially the context of the old Testament prophets that used many of these signs and imagery, imagery in the old Desmond. So verse 12 of chapter 16, then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and its water was dried up. So that the way of the Kings from the East might be repaired.
And we talked about the Kings from the East, being the people of God on Sunday. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. And we mentioned on Sunday that in a chapter, a chapter 13, we have the dragon and the two B’s.
But over here in chapter 16, we have the dragon and the beast and the false prophet and the false prophet here is third is the second beast in John chapter 13. That is the land beast, the earth beast that comes up because he’s the one who declares the religious prophecies, that deceive people. Okay. So he’s referred to here as the false prophet for,
they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the Kings of the earth of the whole world to gather them to the battle of the great day of God almighty. Isn’t it interesting that God’s going to bring his judgment and yet it’s going to be the work and the deception of the dragon and the beast and the false prophet that brings the people To be judged.
So often When you see this in history, you see God using the wicked people in their wickedness, doing their wicked deeds to accomplish his will. He does. He did it all the time in the old Testament, and he’s going to continue to do it here in revelation, dealing with Rome, God is going to allow them to sow their own destruction and bring themselves through their own actions to their own destruction.
But then we read verse 15, behold, I am coming as a thief. Now this is a phrase that is used a number of times in the new Testament. Jesus uses it in the new Testament we read over. I believe it’s in Matthew chapter 24. I’m coming as a thief in the night. Is it the case that every time we read the God is coming as a thief,
that we’re automatically to assume that we’re talking about the day of judgment. We’re talking about the final day. We’re talking about that day, where there’s no signs. There’s no warning God’s coming as a thief. No, certainly not. God’s point here Is these people. And the point of the analogy itself is these people are going to come together. They are going to believe they’re going to be victorious.
They are going to believe that they are going to win the battle. They are going to win the day they are undefeatable. They are unstoppable only to find out. So when God comes, you’re never ready. We are to be those who hear the word of God are sober-minded are prepared and are ready for us Coming at any hour and any day. But the wicked will never be ready because The only thing that prepares you to be ready for the coming of God,
in judgment in this physical life, coming of God, on the day of judgment, when, when time is over, the only thing that prepares you for that event is obedience to the word of God. So if you’re living a life of wickedness, if you’re giving in to those things, which are the loss of the flesh, if you’re doing those things,
which God says not to do, you will Ever be ready and you can’t be. Because the only thing that can prepare you is the word of God. And notice the rest of the statement. He says, behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed it is he who watches. There are people watching. There are people who will be ready,
but they’re going to be watching and they’re going to be ready because they know what God said. He says behold Or blessed. It is he who watches and who keeps his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Now hold on to verse 15. And this statement about the garments, because you remember back over in revelation, chapter three, we need to see this revelation chapter three,
beginning in verse 14, and to the angel of the church of the layout of seasons, right? These things says the amen, the faithful and true witness. The beginning of the creation of God. All right, first and foremost, God says, I want them right to these layout of see in brethren, these Christians, this church. And I want them to know I’m the creator.
I’m God of heaven. I’m the one who made everything. That’s the first thing they need to understand because they’re not Living like it. There’s a whole lot of people right now in our, Our world, in our community who aren’t living as though God is the creator of everything, because they’re only living for themselves. You see If you live, as though you understand that God created everything and that God is the ruler of everything.
And that God will judge you for everything you do and say, and think You live differently than if you live for yourself. The first thing he wants them to understand is these things is the faithful and true witness. The beginning of the creation of God. I know your works, that you are neither cold, nor hot. I wish you were cold nor hot,
cold, or hot. So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold or hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, Have need of nothing. Notice this, the layout of CNN’s Christian’s mindset was I don’t need anything. I’m good. I’ve got everything I want. I’ve got prosperity. I’ve got comfort.
I’ve got wealth. I have everything I need. We need, we should never reach a time as Christians where we live as though we have everything we need, because possessions has nothing to do with the things that we need. Jesus told a rich ruler who came to him, wanting to new, wanting to know what to do to inherit the kingdom of God.
He told him, go take everything you have sell it, give it to the poor. Come and follow me. If you had asked that individual, do you have everything you need? He would have probably said, I have everything I need. I just need, just need one thing. I just need to know what I need to do. But as soon as he heard the word of God and knew what he needed to do,
he didn’t want the one thing that he claimed he wanted. He says, as he writes to these Christians, because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing and do not know. And those, the description here that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. He says, you, you, you don’t even know you have done no self examination to realize in light of the word of God,
that you are nothing like what you need to be. So over here in chapter 16, he says, blessed is he who watches? He’s aware he’s awake. He’s cognizant of what’s going on. Blessing her blessing. As he who watches and keeps his garments. He’s ready. He’s clothed in righteousness, not his own righteousness. Christ’s righteousness. He’s clothed in the garments that are washed white in the blood of the lamb.
Isaiah and Isaiah chapter one would write to the crib to the church or sorry, I’m going to get my tongue untied. He would write to Israel. And he would say to Israel, speaking for God, verse 16, come let us reason together, though, your sins be as Scarlet. They shall be as white as wool. God says, I’m offering you redemption Israel.
I’m offering you salvation, but you’re covered in your sins right now. And the only way that you can leave that state is to be clothed in my righteousness. So here we see a Christian. Who’s aware who’s watching, who’s keeping his garments. That’s active. He’s doing this actively. He’s keeping his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame and they gathered them together to the place in the Hebrew Armageddon.
Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and allowed voice came out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying it is done. The seventh angel with a seventh bowl, pours it out. And God says, it’s finished. This is reminiscent of Christ on the cross. When Christ, as he is about to give up the ghost, as he about as he is about to die as he is about to complete what he came here to do.
He says it is finished here. The declaration from the throne of God is it’s done. Now just like with Christ, his, his coming on to, to die was finished, but not everything he was coming to do was finished. Because three days later he was going to rise up from the grave. That was still something he had left to do.
But the culminating work of what it was that he had come to accomplish was done. And the same way with God, God’s going to declare here it is finished yet. It’s still going to play out. The results of God’s work is going to play out. And there were noises and thunderings and lightenings. There was a great earthquake and mighty and great earthquakes as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
Are we needing to now go into Roman history and look for in earthquake that was greater than every earthquake that had ever happened in all of his? No, no, no. This terminology similar to Matthew chapter 24, Luke chapter 21, similar to earlier on in the book of revelation, similar to revelation, chapter six, similar to the old Testament, his terminology describing the destruction of a nation.
God says it is done and a nation falls and it falls light. No other nation had ever fallen. Before you remember that in Daniel, God says these Kings are going to grow greater and greater and greater. And yet they’re going to be of lesser value, the head of goal. And it will be the greatest, but, but it will not be the largest in size.
Rome will expand to the greatest size and the greatest of power of all of these nations getting significantly more and more and more. And yet it will be the most flawed of all four of those nations in the book of Daniel. So this great nation is going to fall verse 19. Now the great city was divided into three parts. Great city. We read about that in chapter.
We’re going to read about it again in chapter seven, Teen, there’s a breaking up of the city, not Looking for a time in Roman history where the city of Rome was divided into three sections. Now we’re looking at a time where God says, all right, I’m going to split you in pieces Because I’m in control. And then I’m going to bring my judgment upon you.
It was divided into three parts in the cities of the nations fell and great Babylon was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Then every Island fled away and the mountains were not found and great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent men blaspheming God, because of the plague of the Hale,
since that plague was exceeding. Great. So the culmination of this bowl, as we’ve noticed the other bowls, most of which hearkened back to Exodus, this one, hearkens back to the Hale And the book of Exodus in the time that God judges Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt. So then chapter 17, As we’re talking about Babylon, we’re talking about the great City.
This chapter break Really doesn’t belong here, but it’s here anyway. So we’re going to deal with it. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me saying, come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters. So as John is witnessing the pouring out of the seventh bowl and the pouring out of the seventh bowl is the dividing of the city,
the great city into three parts. And then the falling of these hailstones, which by the way, a talent of, of these hailstones weighed about a talent, that’d be about a hundred pound Hales. So again, we’re, we’re not gonna Back to history and looking for a time and a record of a hundred pound Hale Storm that occurred in no we’re not doing,
And we’re not looking for it either. We’re the pre-millennial is, are waiting for a day where a hundred pound hailstones are gonna fall from the sky There. It’s not happening. It’s not meant to Instead we are to understand that what God did in Egypt, he’s going to do in such a greater way Away in Rome. And yet they won’t repent. Notice that yet,
Even this there, the picture is God’s judgment coming down from heaven as hundred pound balls of hail coming to the earth and still mankind, right? Fuses to repent and instead blasts Femes God. Okay. So then one, the seven angels who had the seven bowls comes to John and says, I’m going to show you something, come with me. And I will show you the judgment of the great harlot.
Get ready, John, because I’m going to show you, she looks like she’s victorious. She looks like she’s winning. She looks like she’s enjoying all the pleasures of life, but she’s judged. And she stands condemned. She’s It says, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters. So the very first thing we need to ask is,
Oh, okay, wait a minute. Now we’ve got a harlot. We were just talking about a great city. Who’s the hardest Go to the end of the chapter After 17 verse 18. And the woman whom you saw is that great city, which reigns over the Kings of the earth. We haven’t changed subjects. This wasn’t an interjection where one of the angels comes up and says,
Hey, ignore what you just saw. Let’s go focus on something else. This is the angel with the bowl, coming to John and saying, let me show you the judgment of the great City, but he’s describing her as a harlot That’s characteristic all the way back into the old Testament, but also earlier on in the book of revelation concerning the wickedness of the nation of Rome.
Okay? So he says, I’ll show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters. We’ll see. Later on in the chapter, the many waters are many nations. We look at the end of the chapter and the woman is the gray city who is reigns over the Kings of the earth. We’re just using two different analogies here for Rome,
with whom the Kings of the earth committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the line of her fornication. The picture is of a harlot and she entices those who are her clients with wine, and she gets them drunk. And once they’re drunk on their, her pleasures and on her luck, they’ll do anything Thing that she says. And how many times do we find Off one side and down the other in society where people will I’ll do anything for money,
power, fame, fortune, and once they get a taste of it, they’ll do anything to keep it. This woman, this city, Rome enticed the world with a riches with her economy, with her glory, with all of the things she promised Asked, and she brought These nations to their destruction With her in the process. So This is the great harlot with whom the Kings of the earth committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk or were,
excuse me, were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit, into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a Scarlet beast, which was full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and 10 horns. Here’s the woman, she’s the harlot. She’s sitting on a beast. The beast has seven heads.
And on the seven heads are 10 horns. The seven heads are going to come from the imagery in Daniel, Daniel chapter seven. There is horns here. It’s heads, the horns in this picture or something different. Okay. So, so hold on to that. There’s a little bit of difference between Daniel’s picture and John’s the woman was arrayed in purple and Scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls having in her hand,
a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. This is a picture of the riches and the glory and the majesty of Rome and what Rome would offer the world. If they would just do what Rome says, if they would just give in to Rome’s methods, if they would just bow before Caesar and call Rome, God, Then they too could take part in the riches and the glory and the magic.
And the pleasures of Rome, woman was Raid and purple and Scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. Having in her hand, a golden cup full of abominations and the filled thickness of her fornication and on her forehead, a name was written and here’s what was written mystery word mystery in the original language, just carries with it. That which has yet been unrevealed,
but often in the context is being revealed. Okay. It, the curtains being pulled back, this is God saying, I know who you are. I know what you’ve done. I know what you think you can do, but you’ll be judged and said, mystery Babylon, the great, the same way Babylon fell. So would this woman Babylon the great,
the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth. I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Now wait just a minute, just a minute ago, we read, she had this golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And now we get the picture of what’s in the cup Picture of what’s in the cup is the death,
the destruction, the murder of Christians. Those who would stand in the way of Rome’s abomination, those who, Who would turn the world upside down for the name of Christ, those who would change and would convert people, even in the house of Caesar in Paul’s day, stood in the way of Rome and her desire to rule the world. They stood in the way of Rome and her desire to fulfill Her fleshly loss.
And they would be killed because of it. I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I’m Marvel with great John seeing this and he’s astounded, but notice Reaction to the angel. But the angel said to me, why did you Marvel? Why didn’t you Marvel?
I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has seven heads and 10 horns. John’s told, Whoa, don’t, don’t be surprised. Don’t don’t Marvel at this. Don’t be astounding. I did. I’m going to tell you the mystery, Andrew, Her destruction, her judgment. Okay. So the beast that you saw was,
and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will Marvel, whose names are not written in the book of life, from the foundation of the world. When they see the beach that was and is not. And yet is Here. He says, you’re going to see the beast.
The beast here is pictured. As the persecutor, Rome Sits upon, sits on top of the persecuting beast that kills the Christian. And he says the state of the beast. At one time, he was active. He Was persecuting. He was killing the Christians, But now he’s not, he’s not active, but he’s going to come back up. So don’t be surprised.
Don’t be amazed. Don’t Be like those in the world who dwell on the earth, who are unrighteous, who will look at this and think it’s a miracle that, that the beast has risen back up and is Resurrected like Christ was. Don’t be surprised at that because that is exactly what’s going to happen. And I’m telling you ahead of time, that’s,
what’s going to happen here. The mind, which has wisdom, he says, get a grip on this. Understand the word of God is the declaration. Here. Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits this declares With extreme clarity, the dishes, Rome. This can be Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Didn’t sit on seven mountains.
The city of Rome from its earliest time was recognized as a city that sat on seven Hills, seven mountains. It is Rome. It’s not America In the 21st century. It’s not some other nation. That’s still yet to come and it’s not China. And it’s not Russia. It’s it’s Rome. And it’s in the days Of John, because God says this is the East was and is not right now and is coming back.
Not 2000 years later, it was coming back. When those Christians were going to experience that difficult time, that torture and that martyrdom here Mind, which has wisdom, the seven heads or the seven mountains with on which the woman sits. There are also seven Kings Five have fallen. One is, and the other has not yet come okay. In Daniel,
you have 10 Kings. And then 11th that comes up Revelation 17, three of the Kings in Daniel’s prophecy, which are outbreak Are ignored. Okay. In John’s day in time, those three Kings came And went in less than two years. All three of them came, were gone immediately. And it was a time of civil war. They’re ignored. Okay.
Instead we’re in the time of the mission and we’re dealing with a time where eight Kings are important, The seven substantial ones that leads up to Titus. And then the eighth that will come Up that we’re going to read about here in just a moment. So the seven heads, he pictures, the seven mountains. He also pictures, the seven heads of seven Kings.
Okay. It’s okay. One piece of imagery. Doesn’t just have to stand for one thing in a pop apocalyptic literature. It can stand for two things. It’s seven mountains. Oh, and it’s seven Kings. Okay. But both of them identify this as Rome. He says, there are also seven Kings five Have fallen. One is, and the other has not yet come When he comes,
he must continue a short time. That’s Titus. The, that was And is not. It was in the past. Nero is not Right now. Investigations de Titus is about to come up. The bees that was and is not, is himself also the eighth following a short grain of Titus for tube. And a half years Vespasian would come or, sorry,
not Vespasian. Domitian the brother of Titus. The son of Vespasian would come to the throne and would begin persecuting again Is all of the seventh and is going to perdition 10 Kings, which you saw are 10 Kings, which have received no kingdom as yet. But they receive authority for one hour as Kings with the beast. So we’ve got those Kings, but who are these Kings?
Go back to the prophecy of Daniel and Daniel chapter two that prophecy, that, That as Nebuchadnezzar saw in that vision. And he saw the iron mixed with clay. One of the attributes of Rome is unlike many of the other nations that came before it. And the other Kings that came before and the other great world powers that came before it, they didn’t necessarily go in and pull everybody out of their land and bring them into subjugation and take them captive and move them to another place.
They didn’t do that if they could go in and cause the nation that was already in the land to just Flip And Gill, their power to Rome, Rome would allow them to retain their place, retain their home and retain some power so long as they worshiped Rome so long as they became subject To Rome. And so these are the client Kings. These are the Kings that were the nations that Rome would you SERP,
They would retain, they would, they would have no real kingdom. They would retain a place. A good example of this is Herod. Herod is here in, in Israel in the days of Rome. But Harriet is a puppet King. Herod is not the King who makes the decisions because the governor in Rome has more power or is he to be the governor in Jerusalem has more power than him Does.
He’s a puppet King. That’s what these are. These are Kings, who are Our puppets. They have no kingdom and they received no kingdom as yet, but they receive a foresty for one hour as Kings With the beast. Okay? So They derive their authority from Rome. These are of one mind and they give their power and authority to the beast.
These will make war with the lamb and the lamb will overcome them for, he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. And those who are with him are called chosen and faithful. At some point, we’re going to spend some time looking at those three words in view of revelation, because those three words are incredibly interesting. Those who are with the light Are called,
they are chosen and they are faithful and they do not move from that state, that status. They are those who will remain called Chosen and faithful and ultimately victorious Christ is not only victorious over Rome, the harlot, but he’s going to be victorious over everything that belongs to Rome from the client Kings all the way to the one sitting on the throne, Christ will be victorious.
Then he said to me, the waters, which you saw go back there to verse seven or chapter one, chapter 17, verse one, the great harlot, which sits on many waters. This the waters, which you saw, he says were the, where the harlot sits are peoples multitudes, nations and tongues. All right. So the angel is showing John here’s what these things mean.
Here’s this the B she rides. Here’s the seven heads. Here’s what the seven heads mean. Here are the horns. Here are the Kings that those are signifying. Here’s the woman she’s sitting on the waters. Here’s the waters. Here’s what they mean. He’s explaining the picture. He’s explaining the vision and the tip In horns, verse 16, which you saw on the beast.
These will hate the harlot notice. Here are the Kings. They’re raining Under Rome. They get their power from Rome, but the hater, Hey, they love her riches, but they Hater. And the moment they can tear her, apart from the inside out, They will. And notice the picture that we get the 10th Horns, which you saw on the beast.
These will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked. And remember verse 15 of chapter 16. Bless it. Those who keep their garments because they won’t be found naked. They won’t be found desolate. They won’t Be like Laodicea was, they didn’t know they were naked. They didn’t know they were destitute. They didn’t know they were blind and poor and lane,
But they were. And Here’s the harlot. She knows she is, But she’s getting Horn apart from the inside because of her own iniquity. That doesn’t have to be That way. But the only way to resolve the problem is the word of God. And that was refused already. So 17 forgone has put it into their hearts to fulfill his purpose, to be of one mind and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled Here.
Again, we’re being reminded. God’s going to use these Kings own hatred of Rome and their own willingness to tear apart what they think gives them power for their own glory, their own power, their own Mick. God’s going to allow them to use their own iniquity, to bring about their own judgment. And he does it time and time again, to bring about his will and his ends.
So for God, put into their hearts to fulfill his purpose, to be of one mind, and to give her their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city, which reigns over the Kings of the earth. Not which will rain, not which rain in the past, John, this is the city,
which reigns right now, it’s Rome. And God says this harlot and those who follow after her and those who dwell on the earth that worship her, there’ll be judged. And I’m going to do it by using them to bring about their own destruction and all of the things that God would do as well. All right. So that’s chapter 17. We’ll go through chapter 16 and 17 questions on Sunday.
Appreciate your attention. We’ll have a short devotional here. So take your songbooks. If you will, or a will. I’ll tell you what I’m going to make this easy on us. Jesus loved me. You don’t need the, you don’t need the Psalm, but for that one, Jesus loves me. This I know for the Bible tells me so little ones to him be long.
They are weak, but he is strong. Yes. Jesus loves me. Yes. Jesus loves me. Yes. Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so All throughout our class tonight, we really talked about one primary idea. The only thing that prepares us for eternity, the only thing that prepares us for the judgment of God is the word of God.
And that song right there. Jesus loves me. It ends with those words. The Bible tells me. So when you and I look at our lives, we are Do as, as James described and we are to hold ourselves up to the mirror of the soul. We are to Examine ourselves in light of scripture. Sure. And sometimes we’re going to look at scripture and we’re going to look at it Ourselves.
And we’re not going to see two images that match. We’re not going to see the reflection of God in us because sometimes We find we’ve walked away from Him, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. We mentioned Isaiah chapter one and God’s plea with Israel to reason together. God’s not unreasonable. Doesn’t put upon us things that we can’t handle. And God doesn’t give us commands concerning salvation that we can’t achieve.
God doesn’t require everyone who lives in the earth to come make some great journey to some remote part of the world to achieve some great goal and climb some magnificent mountain and achieve illumination. No. So God said, hear the word of God and believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, because Except you believe that I am. He, Jesus says you will die Or sins not might not.
Maybe you will. It doesn’t matter what nation you were born in. Doesn’t matter what skin color you have. It doesn’t matter what language you speak. It doesn’t matter what, what your blood lineage is. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich. If you’re poor, if you’re mighty, if you’re, if you’re weak, if you can’t walk or if you can run faster than the fastest person who’s ever walked on the face.
So the planet doesn’t matter. Thanks. Do you believe that I am, he, you will die in yours, But he doesn’t stop there. He goes on to make it incredibly clear that when he established his church, when he died and When he ascended back into heaven, he did it to fulfill all righteousness, to bring about his kingdom into this world that could never be destroyed and to bring about salvation that could be preached to every nation Under heaven.
So In Luke chapter 24, Jesus said he had to die. So that repentance and remission of sins could be preached to every nation under heaven. Jesus died. Not so that you could believe because you could believe if he had never died. He was the son of God. He didn’t have to die to prove that he died to bear your sins so that you could repent and change your life.
You could change your mind that brought about a change of life. And then you could confess his name all throughout revelation. As we’ve studied the book of revelation. One, one group of people is, is confessing the name of the beast or confessing the name of the dragon or confessing the name of the harlot. But long before they ever do that, we see those who confess the name of God.
Those who wear his name. And that’s what confession is. It is putting on the name of Jesus Christ and saying, I will have allegiance to him and him alone, no matter what comes, no matter what it costs. But he also said Mark, chapter 16, verse 16, he, that believes and is baptized. God makes it clear and Christ made it clear while he was on this earth.
He came to a, stablish establish a plan of salvation whereby one hears and believes and has a change of life. That brings about a death is buried in the watery grave of baptism and is risen to walk in newness of life, having the remission of sins. And that was to be preached to every nation under heaven. If you’re here, if you’re where you are this evening,
and you’re not a member of the body of Christ, if you’re not a part of the bride of Christ, we’re, we’re about to get to the end of revelation. And, and one of the things you get at the end of revelation is the bride of Christ. If you’re not a member of the church, the church of Christ that Christ died for to purchase with his own blood,
you can change that. You can be immersed in water for the remission of your sins. If you’re local here, we’ll meet you here at the building and we’ll, we’ll baptize you. If you’re somewhere else in the world, we’ll find someone, we’ll find a church of Christ near you and will help you obtain the salvation Christ came to purchase. If you’re a member of the body of Christ and you’ve become wayward like layout of see ya,
you need to repent. You need to be restored. There’s anything that we can do or any way we can help feel free to reach out to us and let us know we’re going to close tonight with a prayer. Let us bow our gracious father in heaven. We humbly come before you so incredibly grateful for your word, which reveals to us who you are.
We have said before, and we are always reminded every day that we know you exist by the things that we see around us for accident and chance could never produce what we have. But knowing that you exist and knowing who you are, are two very different things. And it is through your revealed will. And through your revelation, given to us in scripture that we know who you are and how to obey you.
We pray that we might always be mindful of your commandments. Rightly divide your word and be faithful to you. No matter what comes, we ask that you watch over us and care for us throughout this week, may we always do what is right in your sight, be with our nation, as it continues, going through the process of this election, be with every nation all over the world.
That as well goes through their own difficult times and transitions of power and authority. We pray that it will be peaceful. We pray that people will listen to you more than they listen to the voices of insanity around them. We pray most, especially that they will hear the gospel and be obedient to it. We ask that you watch over us care for us and protect us as we go throughout this night.
And the rest of this week, all this we pray in Jesus name. Amen.
JOHN – Revelation 16 7 Angels with 7 Plagues in Bowls Poured Out.
What was contained in the bowls given to the seven angels? Revelation 16:1 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What reason did the angels of the waters give for bowl two and three?? Revelation 16:6 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For what people in the Old Testament were waters dried up so they could cross over? Revelation 16:12 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the New Testament, does, “I am coming as a thief” always mean that we are talking about the second coming of Christ? Revelation 16:15 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Who is blessed according to verse 15? Revelation 16:15 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the physical location in Palestine for the Hebrew word Armageddon? Revelation 16:16 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. We are in revelation chapter 16 this morning.<inaudible> As we have been doing, we’ll start with the questions from the previous chapter as a little bit of a review and go over those. And then we’ll get into chapter 16 for our class. Let’s begin with a word of prayer gracious father in heaven. We bow before your throne continually grateful for the blessings that you shower upon us.
The blessings that we have in this country to live in land, that we have freedom to worship without fear of persecution. We know that as we go through the book of revelation, we are reading about those who at one time had that kind of Liberty. And then because of the changes and the difficulties that arose around them, they were persecuted and some suffered and some went to prison and some died for your cause.
We pray that no matter what comes in the future of this country, we might always be Christians who are of a mindset that we will endure anything for the name and for the cause of Christ. We pray that as we go through this day, and as we go through this period of study, may the things that we say, the things that we study,
be those things, which draw us closer to you and help us to walk faithfully in your path each and every day we ask that you forgive us. When we sin. We’re mindful of those who are enduring difficulties and hardships, especially those who may be dealing with COVID. At this time, we pray that you help them to recover to a full, a healthy state.
We pray for those who are still at home, pray for those who are struggling with the other difficulties, resolving, revolving around this pandemic. We pray for missionaries who are striving to be back in the mission fields and the difficulties they are enduring. And we pray for all those who are working daily in this country. We pray for the elections that are coming up this week,
and we pray that no matter what comes, we might remember that you give power to whomsoever. You will all this. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Revelation chapter 15, question number one. What did John see in heaven? Another sign. It’s just a constant reminder. John is seeing visions and signs. Okay. What was completed in this sign?
The wrath of God. Okay. So, so as we go through this, keep in mind, 15 introduces 16 and the, the following chapters. And so John says, I saw a sign and the wrath of God was completed. It was fulfilled. Okay. Chapter 15, verse two. What was the sea mixed with and who is standing on it?
Alright. Mixed with fire. And who’s standing on it. Okay. The victors, those Christians who were victorious over the beast, over his name, over the number of his name and over his image. Okay. So what are the people on the sea doing?<inaudible> All right. They’re praising God singing the song of Moses and of the lamb. How are God’s works and ways described?
All right. His works are described as great and marvelous and his ways are described as what just and true. Great. And marvelous are your ways. Oh Lord. And just, and true. Are there, sorry. Great. Marvelous. Are your works just in true are your ways? Oh, King of the saints verse verse four, question five who will come and worship before God,
the Lord. Okay. All nations. One of the things that we need to keep track of as we go through this is you go through the old Testament and there are many times where God says, I’m going to judge Israel because you’ve caused the nations around you to blast fame against me. They’re seeing your wickedness, knowing you’re supposed to be my people.
And as a result of your wickedness, they’re blaspheming against me. Well, now we’ve kind of got that reversal when God, and same is true in the old Testament. When God judges Israel, then the nations around go, Hmm, they weren’t doing it. Right. And they learn about who Jehovah is by the judgment on Israel. Well, now God is bringing this judgment on Rome and the nations are going to see it.
The nations are going to see his great and his marvelous works. They’re going to see his just and his true ways. And they, as a result are going to praise God. Okay. What was opened in heaven in verse five?<inaudible> All right. The temple of the tabernacle or the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle is opened. What came out of the temple in heaven and what was given to them verses six and seven.
Okay. Seven angels proceed forth out of the temple of God, out of the tabernacle of God and are each you’re given a plague in, in a bowl. Okay. What happened in the temple? And what was the result?<inaudible> All right. Temple’s filled with smoke from the glory of God. No one could go in. And we mentioned that in the old Testament,
numerous times, you see the tabernacle and you see even the occasions where Moses and Aaron have to leave the tabernacle of God because God’s presence comes into the tabernacle in the old Testament. And no one could stay. No one could, could be where God’s presence was. So they all departed from the tabernacle and they, they were looking at it. They were seeing it,
they were witnessing it, but they couldn’t go in. Okay. That same idea happens here when God is about to carry out his act of judgment. So kind of summarize a few things in chapter six, we begin opening the six seals or sorry, the seven seals on the scroll. That’s in the hand of God, the lamb comes and he takes the scroll and he begins to open the seals.
And we begin to see first Christ going out and conquering. Then we see the persecution that comes in the four soar judgments of God. Then we see the saints under the altar, crying out how long Oh Lord, until you judge those who are persecuting us. And then we see God’s judgment begin in a forecast of what’s to come. But then the question’s asked,
who can stand in the day of God’s judgment in the day of God’s wrath and the wrath of the lamb and chapter seven, we have the marking of the 144,000. The marking of those who can stand in the day of God’s wrath. And the answer is who can stand on the day of God’s wrath. Every one that belongs to God, everyone who has his Mark in contrast who everyone who doesn’t,
everyone who doesn’t belong to the Lord, then we get in the seventh seal, seven trumpets. And in those seven trumpets, you’re not supposed to look for an historical event. You’re not supposed to look for a historical time in the, in the time of Rome where these things are happening. You’re supposed to see God’s judgment on Egypt brought forward in a partial judgment on Rome.
So seven trumpets are seven partial judgments, but then we get to the seventh trumpet. And the seventh trumpet sounds, you enact this final declaration. The seventh trumpet sounded. And as a result of the fact that the people have not repented, I’m bringing about my full Raff. The partial judgment was to get the people to repent, to get Rome, to change your ways and they won’t do it.
And so now you have in the side, the seventh trumpet, you have this sign, this last sign that John sees, and he sees seven angels. Given seven bowls contained in the golden bowls are seven plagues. And again, we’re going to be predominantly using Egypt and the imagery of the plagues in Egypt to forecast the destruction of Rome. Before we go into this,
I want us to just spend a moment and think about Egypt. When the famine came on Egypt in the days of Joseph, what was the state of Egypt before the famine? What did they just gone through? Okay. Seven years of what? Plenty. And when God says plenty, I mean, he means plenty because they’re going to take 20% of everything that comes in those seven years.
And 20% of what came in those seven years of plenty will feed the entire nation and the nations around them for seven years of famine. So they had to stop and think about it. They had become so prosperous in those seven years of plenty. God had given them every blessing. They could imagine so much. So that 20% was all they needed for those seven years.
And more and 60% was above and beyond that they had 60%, more than half that they didn’t even need because they were able to set aside 20% and it fed them for seven years. They were able to live off of seven or off of 20%, because if they could live off of, for the next seven years, they could live off of it for that seven years.
And they’ve got 60%. They didn’t even need, but they consumed it anyway. Okay. And they’re at the height of their power. And then seven years of famine comes and all of that power, but it was consolidated in Pharaoh Before The famine, they owned their own land before the famine. They own their own cattle during the famine, as a result of their lack ability to provide for themselves and their lack of foresight in storing up what they had.
And they consumed everything they had, then they didn’t have enough. They couldn’t feed themselves. And eventually they sold their cattle to Pharaoh for food. Then they sold their land to Pharaoh for food. And eventually they said, we will become your servants for food. And all the power became consolidated in Pharaoh. And then there are rows of Pharaoh who knew not Joseph.
And instead of treating these people who were in the land of Goshen, like they were the guests in Egypt, the blessed ones that belong to God, he instead treated them like they were the slaves in Egypt. And when Pharaoh turned against the people of God, Pharaoh wrote his own nation’s death warrant. God didn’t come against Pharaoh in Egypt because Pharaoh in Egypt had become too powerful.
God didn’t come against Pharaoh in Egypt because Pharaoh in Egypt had become too burdensome to the nations around him. God came against Pharaoh in Egypt because Pharaoh in Egypt turned against God’s people. And Pharaoh said, I don’t know who this Jehovah is that I should obey him. And instead of repenting through plague one, two, three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, every time when he began to relent, he changed his heart back to doing exactly what God said not to do. Okay. And on plate 10, he finally lets them go only to immediately do what pursue him and try and kill him. And ultimately you take a nation from the height of its power, to decimation of its economy,
decimation of its people, decimation of its crop, decimation of its first born and its entire army and King destroyed<inaudible> And that’s the picture God’s going to use for Rome chapter 16, verse one. Then I heard a loud voice from heaven, from the temple saying to the seven angels go and pour the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth and a foul and loathsome soar came upon the men who have the Mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
Okay. So first bowl is poured out and you have with it, a picture of the plague of boils, the sixth plague in Egypt, Exodus chapter nine, verses nine through 11. Then we read then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it became blood as of a dead man. And every living creature in the sea died. Now in contrast to Exodus,
again, these aren’t exact parallels. They’re using the imagery in Exodus. You have one instance where Moses goes to one body of water, whereas The river, which river, the Nile river. Okay. And the Nile river, because it is the primary, a lifeblood of Egypt. God turns it to blood in this imagery. You’ve got two separate bowls that apply to water,
turning to blood. That is the second. And the third one. So notice what we read. Verse four. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the Springs of water and they became blood. So in the first one, sorry, the second bowl, you’ve got the ocean turned to blood, but there’s a distinct contrast by the way,
between Egypt and Rome, Rome’s power came from where, why did Rome become so powerful?<inaudible> Her access to the Mediterranean sea, her economy that lived off of the sea and her ability to move troops quickly to wherever they needed to go. And so Rome’s power was concentrated around the Mediterranean sea. Very first plague water, turning to blood, turns the sea to blood.
The second plague turns all of the inland water, the fresh water to blood. So the sea water turns to blood. The fresh water turns to blood, but then notice what we read. Verse five. Then I heard an angel of the water say you are righteous. Oh Lord. The one who is and who was, and who is to be because you have judged these things for,
they shed the blood of saints and prophets and you have given them blood to drink for it. Is there just do. Why is it according to the angel of the waters that God turns the water to blood<inaudible> Because they had killed God’s saints and his profits go all the way back to Genesis chapter 10. I believe it is. Noah comes off the Ark Noah and his children begin offering sacrifices.
They’re told they can eat of the meat of the animals, certain animals, but they weren’t to partake of the blood. They weren’t to eat the blood of the animals. And God gives a commandment in Genesis chapter 10, that when someone sheds blood, his blood would be shed. The one who kills with the sword would be killed with the sword. You go all the way back to Genesis,
chapter 10. And from that point forward, there is a theme with God, you shed blood. And by the sword, your life will be taken. And God judges Rome, because Rome had shed the blood of his saints. You, we read in previous chapters about the beast that Rose up and he tried to convince them to worship the beast. He tried to convince them to worship the dragon.
He tried to persecute them and say, if you don’t do this, you can’t buy any food. You can’t do this. And finally, if they wouldn’t give over, he’d kill them. And God said, because you killed my servants. Now, all your water’s turned to blood. Now, is there a time in Rome’s physical history where all the oceans turned to blood and all the rivers turned to blood?
No, that happened physically in Egypt, literally in Egypt, it didn’t happen physically. And literally to Rome. These are signs and visions. And by the way, there, we’re not supposed to be sitting here waiting on a time before the day of judgment, where all the rivers and all the oceans are gonna turn to blood yet, the pre-millennial lists are waiting for that one.
Pre-millennial this writer said that first, the oceans are going to turn to blood. And then the fresh water is going to turn the blood in and there’s going to be a run on Coca-Cola. And even that’s going to run out. What do you think Coca-Cola is made out of Anyway? So the third angel declares that this judgment is just that this judgment is true.
All throughout revelation. You got this constant reminder. God is no arbitrary. Judge. God is no arbitrary. Judge who sits on the throne and just deals out judgment at a whim. He’s given them opportunity. He’s even sent go back to previous chapters angels out to declare the gospel, to give them time to repent. He brought partial judgment to give them time to repent.
And they didn’t it’s God’s judgment is just right. But then he, we read and I heard another from the altar saying, even so Lord God almighty true and righteous are your judgments. So not only does the angel of the waters declare it, but another angel from the alter declares, then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and power was given to him to scorch men with fire and men were scorched with great heat.
And they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues. And they did not repent and give him Lori. Now, this is one of those times where you don’t have a direct parallel to the Exodus Plagues. You Don’t have a direct parallel to something that happened in Egypt, but interestingly, You have a very good parallel to the book of numbers.
Two judgments that God enacted on the people of God who came out of Egypt and then turned against Moses numbers. Chapter 16, verses 34 and 35. You have God destroying the 250 Levi’s that sided with Cora in the rebellion against Moses. And they are killed by fire from the Lord. But then also in numbers, chapter 11, verses one through three,
you have God destroying the outer edges of the camp, which is by the way, where all the Gentiles who came out of Egypt with the, Your lights. Because if you didn’t realize it, a bunch of Gentiles came out of Egypt with the Israelites, God burned up the outer edges of the camp because of their groaning and moaning and complaining against Because of their predicament.
Okay? So numbers 11 and number 16, both provide a picture again of God’s judgment against those who will not conform and will not be obedient to him, but then, Sorry, plague chapter. Yeah. And get my tongue untied here. Plague number five, bold number five, Verse 10. Then The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast.
And his kingdom became full of darkness and they, their tongues because of the pain, they blast fiend the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores and did not repent of their deeds. Now I think the pains in the swords probably hearkens all the way back to the first plague, the plague of boils. So, you know, they’re, they’re going through all of this.
They’re experiencing all of this and now they’re, they’re surrounded by darkness Had nothing but pain. And again, yeah, Not looking for a time in history. When Rome turned to black, we’re looking at spiritual judgment that would result in physical judgment On Rome. But The plague that it relates to back in Exodus is the ninth plague. The plague before the death of the first born was darkness.
And we read about the darkness in Egypt, how the darkness came over it and they just sat in their houses because they couldn’t see, you could turn on a light, you can light a candle and you wouldn’t be able to see the candle. You couldn’t see anything. And so they just sat for days in darkness, But here you’ll notice something interesting as there they’re in the darkness,
as they’re there in their pain, is there, they’re in their anguish. Is there, they’re in the judgment of God? What do they do? I do. They repent not, but what do they do? They blast theme. God, It’s not just previous the previous bowl. They didn’t repent. It’s not just that they didn’t repent, but they blasphemed God above and beyond the fact they would not repent.
They are so unrelenting in their evil doing in their iniquity and in their sin that they will blame God for their situation. And you will meet people like this. You will meet people. So steeped in sin and iniquity in your life that it doesn’t matter what happens to them. God will be at fault, even if they’re the ones who put themselves in that situation.
Yeah. And I mean, this shouldn’t surprise you After all doesn’t Satan know his judgment’s coming. Does it say no one’s going to be involved in it. Is he going to repent? Okay. Oh, why are we surprised When people do the same? And this Is the perspective we have here with Rome, then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and on,
and its water was dried up. So that the way of the Kings from the East might be prepared. Now we’re entering into a discussion here in this bowl that a lot of the pre millennialist start suggesting, all right, here are the Kings of the East. Now this is China. And these are the Kings. And how hold on, Hold on.
Number one, we have Lots of people in the old Testament who are referenced as coming from the East because in view of Israel, everybody that crossed the Euphrates river came from the East. Cyrus is declared to have come from the East, from the rising sun. This is the place where Their nations, Babylon, Syria, all of them came from The East.
But here’s two important Times in history that this could have referenced too. Okay? Because again, we’re all we’re dealing with. Old Testament imagery. One time is Daniel chapter five, Daniel Chapter five. You read about Daniel As an old man and Bell dish. Azure is on the throne and bell to Shazard the great grandson or the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar decides to throw a party.
And he throws A party. And in the midst of taking all of the vessels from the temple and all the golden things from the temple and pouring wine in it and drinking from them in this carousing party, he then sees a hate. Yeah. And writing on the wall, It’s written in such a tongue that he doesn’t understand what it means. And so someone informs him that there’s this one,
Daniel who in the days of his father could reveal signs and visions. And so he brings Daniel in and Daniel says that your kingdom has been weighed in the balances and found, And that very night Babylon falls. But do you know how it fell? Cyrus, the great leading the Medes and the Persians dammed up And diverted the Euphrates river. You see Babylon was built right on top of the Euphrates river,
the river flowed under the walls Of Babylon. The value Of that is if you besiege a city, the thing they run out of food First, typically is water. And if you have no water, you can’t live. So Babylon was able withstand being besieged because the river float under the wall, they always had water Cyrus figured out, you know what?
If I die, just divert the great Euphrates river he did. And he walked his men in the river bed under the wall and took the city in one night. That could be the picture we have here. The picture of the Medes and the Persians destroying Babylon completely in one night. That could be it, or it could be this what people let’s,
let’s go back and read the verse one more time. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and its water was dried up. So that the way of the Kings from the East might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet for,
they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of the great day of God almighty. Okay. There’s Kings that are going to come through and they’re going to cross on what on dry ground. What group of people all throughout the old Testament, get to cross water on dry ground.
God’s people see the pre millennialist want this to be the Kings allied with the beast and the nations rising up to, to defeat God’s people in the gray battle of Armageddon, but either way, whether the picture is of Cyrus, who’s doing God’s bidding or of Israel who crossed the red sea on dry ground, who crossed the Jordan river on dry ground, the or Elijah,
the prophet of God who divided the Jordan river and crossed on dry ground or Elijah, the prophet of God who crossed the river on dry ground. Doesn’t matter which picture you want to take from the old Testament. Everybody who crossed on dry ground belonged to God. And when you step over to chapter 19 and you see the battle, that’s actually being forecasted here,
who’s in the battle. It’s the beast and his servants against Christ and his servants, the Kings here, the Kings from the East. They’re not the servants of the bees. They’re the servants of God, either way. It doesn’t matter which picture you want to use. So we’ve got this angel, he pours out the bowl, a great route on the great river,
Euphrates it dries up the Kings of the East, come through and their way is prepared. Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs. Okay. W where else? We have a picture of frogs In the old Testament aged And interestingly, wasn’t it, Egypt. And wasn’t it. The plague of frogs where Pharaoh, I asked for one more night, you remember Moses comes,
he sends for Moses, he’s a get rid of these frogs. And Moses says, okay, when do you want me to get rid of them? And Pharaoh says Does tomorrow now, why is it that Pharaoh would want, as my Father has always preached a sermon one more night with The frogs and the answers because the frogs were deities in Egypt, They were like every plague.
They were just one more God that the Egyptians. And so he wanted one more night with the frogs, but then he wanted them gone here. You’ve got the frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. You remember, we said the other beast, the third bees that come up,
it comes up from the lamb land, looks like a lamb, but he speaks with the voice of a dragon. He’s the false prophet. He’s the one speaking perverse things. Okay. So you’ve got the two BS, the false prophet and the CBS and the dragon. And they’re all speaking these things. And they’re gathering people For a battle. Is,
is there coming a day in the time of Rome where there’s going to be a great battle between the servants of God Yawn and the centurions of Rome? No. Okay. Matter of fact, when Peter draws his sword to defend his Lord, what is Jesus? Tell him, put away. And when Islet, inquires G with Jesus about whether or not he’s the King that he claims to be,
What does Jesus say? My kingdom is None of this world, but what’s the last half of the statement for, if it was Then would my servants fight The forecast of a great coming battle between God’s servants and Satan’s servants, where there’s going to be a physical battle in the Valley of Maketto Again, because price kingdom isn’t of this world. So notice what happens.
They are the spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out for the, out to the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of the great day of God, almighty behold, I am coming as a thief, excuse me, behold. I am coming as a thief, bless it. As he who watches and keeps his garments,
he walk naked and they see his shame and they gathered them together to the place in Hebrew Armageddon. Now the Hebrew word Armageddon is simply the Hebrew word for the Valley of Maketto. This was a Valley. It was a plane where many battles in Hebrew history and in Israel’s history were fought including the battle where Josiah dies would happen there in the plane of a ghetto.
So this is not an unusual thing. It’s very similar to the idea of when Jesus said to beware of the one who can destroy both your soul and body in Gahanna, and yet Gahanna wasn’t some exclusively, some spiritual place. It was a Valley outside of the city in Jerusalem. It was a Valley where those old Testament people had built their altars and sacrifice their children to false gods,
and eventually became a burning trash heap. It Was a physical place that carried with it, a spiritual connotation. So is the Valley of Ben ghetto. So is Armageddon. It’s not some future battleground where God’s people are going to take on Satan’s people. And then No, no. We’re going to pick up here In verse 16 and go through the end of the chapter on Wednesday night.
But I want us to just, as we go through 16, as we get to the end, remember what’s coming In 17. Remember that when you Get to chapter 17 and you first get into that vision, John sees The great harlot, which is the great city, which we already know is Rome. And she’s riding the beast and the beast has seven heads and 10 horns.
And it’s the dragon. And you’re getting a picture of Rome and it’s persecuting power. That’s about to come on the Christians. But remember, we already read Dad Babylon. The great is fallen is fallen before, Or we ever get started before any of the armies come to the great battle of the, of God almighty before anybody gathers in the plane of the ghetto before any of this visionary picture of a great battle between God and Satan,
the end has all ready. Been declared, Babylon loses Just the same way. God said Babylon in all her greatness and the pinnacle of her might would fall in one Night In the old Testament. And it did. So here we carry forward. Those images we carry forward. Those pictures will open cha Wednesday night with the seventh bowl and verse 17. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> yeah.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning.
Welcome to the Collierville church Christ Sunday morning worship service. It is great to see each and every one of you out this morning, those of you that are visiting with us, it is very great that you chose us to come worship our God with this morning. We are so glad that you are here. It’s great to see Gary and Maggie Kali out this morning and spent a long time since we’ve seen you guys.
It’s really, really good to see you out visitors. If you would, if you have a chance, please fill out a visitor’s card and put it in the collection basket in the back, or just leave it sitting on the Pew and we’ll pick it up later. If you did not get your chance to pick up the Lord’s supper. Now it’d be a good time to do it.
And just prepared on the tables in the back of the worship hall here, please get that. If you did not get it earlier on your way in, on our sick list, please continue to remember Joan Springer, Dorothy Wilson, and Janet Jones, as they all continue to work through their various problems and medical conditions that they have. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers,
Laurie white, who is a friend of the coats arts has COVID-19. So please pray for Lori White. Jessica Dale is having some stomach issues and she’s to have some tests very soon. So please keep Jessica and your thoughts and prayers, and then Robin woods who’s Jessica’s mother. You know, they’re out in Arizona recently to see her because she had bypass surgery. So continue to pray for Jessica and her recovery process as that probably is going to be quite lengthy for her.
So please keep robbing in your thoughts and prayers. Guests song leader today is Matthew Brotherton and his great thank for to you for coming to lead our song service this morning, LA mentioned the Dale’s ready to kindness that they were back from Arizona. They did have a rather lengthy eventful trip on the way back, but it was good that our good Lord saw to bring them back to us safely.
And we were thankful for that. The Potter children’s home, November pantry item is the ranch dressing says you have an opportunity. Please purchase that and bring it by the church building here. And then for the man, our November business meeting will be on Monday the 9th of November at 7:00 PM here at worship hall. That’s all of our announcements for this morning. Our service today,
our song leader will be Matthew Brotherton, opening prayers, Joel caisson. I will be conducting the Lord’s supper. Our sermon would be brother Aaron Cozort and our closing prayer will be Murray Springer. Thank you. If you are using your som book, I would like to turn there. The first song this morning will be number 797 number 797. Lord. We comm<inaudible><inaudible> Lord on the<inaudible><inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> grant that.
Oh man. Hey,<inaudible> fine.<inaudible><inaudible> free.<inaudible> and The sound before our opening prayer be number three, song number three. Yeah.<inaudible> from the heathens spreads his name<inaudible><inaudible> on high praise him. Oh, he have<inaudible><inaudible> is a guy and his<inaudible> and his<inaudible> and his<inaudible> guy<inaudible> they were amazing. That is Matt and them for AF or he has up his<inaudible> from the earth,
grace. Oh, Oh, Searchie drag. And so fire and<inaudible> army wins that hear him call<inaudible> for his name.<inaudible> is a guy and his glow. So really his XO and his clothes. So, and his<inaudible> guy. Oh, he fruit for trees.<inaudible> Oh, ye Hills and mountains, high creeping things and be sand<inaudible> Kings of earth and Oh,
he Prince’s grade hers. Judge is, Oh, praise his name young man. And man, Hey Dan’s Hey chit man. And children’s small<inaudible> for his name alone, his high and his glow. So really is it so to it and his glue. So<inaudible> and his<inaudible> far up, up there and this guy That’s bow, Oh God, our father in heaven,
we truly are grateful to the, for your love for us. And for the privilege that we have to come here to this day in worship, they were grateful God for these songs of praise, it we’ve been able to sing to the, and we pray father, as we sing these songs that we are giving the, the glory and the honor and praising your name.
And we’re also trying to admonish one another. As we sing these songs, we’re thankful for Matthew that is leading them today. And we pray that you be with him as he continues to lead our songs, service. We’re grateful father for all of our visitors today. And it’s so nice to have them to come and worship with us. We pray father that we might worship you in spirit and in truth and,
and be able to gain those thoughts. Aaron would bring to us in a few moments to help strengthen our faith and to glorify your name father, where mind mindful those that are have been able to the congregation. We would ask that you be with Jessica and pray that she might get better and be with her mother as she’s recovering from her surgery. It’s good to have Pam back with us today and pray that she would continue to improve.
And also Sylvia probably that she will also continue to improve her health. Father’s good to see the colleagues here today, and we’re thankful that they’re doing well, and we’re glad they’re back in our midst. And we would pray for those that are still unable to be with us, especially those of our widows and pray that you be with them and help us to encourage them through this particular time in our lives.
Father were mindful of those that are taking care of the young people at Potter. We pray father that they will continue on with that great work there that the young people will be able to learn how to live their lives. And also to hopefully obey the gospel is as they’re taught your word at that facility, father help us each day, that we were mindful of those that are teaching and preaching your word and other lands.
And other countries probably will continue to support them and, and pray for them and for their safety. And that many souls might hear the word of God and be become obedient to it and become your children. Father were mind for the efforts that we put forth here to evangelize this community. We pray that you give us the strength and the courage to share your word with those in this area,
that they too might come to the knowledge of your will and want to be obedient to it. Father, we pray for our nation and we pray that we might help in some way to influence those in leadership roles, to look back to the principles that you have for us to live our lives by and guide our nation in that direction, that we might be a more godly people by the way,
pray that you continue to strengthen us seat day. As, as time goes by that, we draw closer to you that we’re able to encourage one another to live lives that would be pleasing unto you and glorify your name FSE each day, that we will reach out to those in this community and try to demonstrate our love for them and, and help us to be patient and long suffering and compassionate towards our fellow man,
and pray that we might strengthen the body here and encourage one another. We’re thankful for these times that we can be together to worship you and pray it, it will be pleasing unto you help us to go through life and, and, and remember how much he loved us and that we should love one another in light manner. Bless us NAS. We continue our worship service.
We pray that as time goes by that our lives are such that we might have that home in heaven with the, and Jesus, we pray amen. Song to prepare our minds to the Lord supper be number 315. Number three, one five. When I survey the wondrous cross, When I serve<inaudible> on which the friends<inaudible><inaudible> and pork on. Oh,
ma hi, I paid for,<inaudible> say fin, dad of Christ. My like, Oh, thing. Things that jar me Mo so I sacrifice them to, eh, is see from his<inaudible>. So<inaudible> me saying go down<inaudible> and<inaudible> me need<inaudible> thorns come. Oh, so rich ground. We’re the whole<inaudible> that<inaudible> too small.
So, so<inaudible> so the demands, my, so my life ma hi, Oh, To further help prepare our minds for the partaking of the Lord’s supper. I’m going to read this morning from Luke chapter 22, starting in verse 14, when the hour had come, he sat down and the 12 apostles with him, and he said to them with fervent desire,
I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for, I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them saying, this is my body, which is given for you do this in remembrance of me.
Likewise, he also took the cup after supper saying this cup is the new covenant of my blood, which is shed for you. God, our father in heaven would come to you at this time, thanking you for the sacrifice you made of sending your son Jesus to earth, to die for us, the centers. But most importantly, while your son was here,
he taught us the ways that you want us to live taught us how to be a Christian like him. We know it was painful for you and for him to suffer on that cross. But we are thankful that he did it for us to center. We pray this through Jesus Christ. Amen.<inaudible> Let us give thanks for the fruit of the vine God,
our father, as we prepare to take the fruit of the vine, help us to remember what it represents. And that is, it represents the blood that your son shed for our sins so that our sins may be washed away so that we would have that opportunity to one day live with you and Jesus in heaven. We are so thankful that you sent your son Jesus to die on that cross for us.
We cannot thank you enough. We pray all these things in your son’s name. Amen. This time we’d like to pray to our God for the opportunity to give back God, our father. We come to you again, thanking you for each and everything that you do for each and every one of us, we truly do understand as Christians, that everything we have comes through you and from you,
and if it was not for you and your son, Jesus, we would have nothing to include that opportunity to live with you forever in heaven. As we prepare to give back a material portion of the blessings that we’ve been so richly blessed with by you, we ask that you help each and every one of us do in a thoughtful and cheerful manner. And we ask that you help the men of this congregation oversee and provide guidance from you,
with you, for how these funds to be distributed, to help distribute your word to those that have not as fortunate as us to have having have heard the opportunity to hear your word and to become Christians and servants of yours. We pray this through your son, Jesus name. Amen. If you’d like to Mark the song after the that’ll be number 907 number 907.
The song before the lesson will be number 543, number 543. And please stand if you are able wonderful words of life, Seeing them over again to me, wonderful words.<inaudible> wonderful words of life words.<inaudible> wonderful words. Wonderful words.<inaudible> two wonderful words. Wonderful word of life Christ. Bless it. One gives two wonderful words.<inaudible> wonderful word.<inaudible> Oh,
so<inaudible>,<inaudible> forward to wander for words. Wonderful word.<inaudible> wonderful words.<inaudible> two wonderful words.<inaudible> jeez,<inaudible> wander for words.<inaudible> four words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life. You may be seated. Good morning. It is good to have each and every one of you with us, especially those who’ve been away. Those who’ve been traveling and those who’ve been away because of the virus.
It’s good to have all of you present. We’re going to focus our study in Zechariah chapter 13. But as we begin in that section of scripture, you may remember that we read, as we closed last Sunday, Zechariah chapter 12, we read that they would look upon him whom they pierced the Messiah. The Christ would be pierced. John chapter 19 beginning in verse 34,
going down through verse 37. We read about that incident and Zechariah will tell us that’s coming because Zechariah is the prophet that bridges the old and the new Testament. He is the one who bridges the old Testament prophets and all that. They said about Israel and the new Testament where God’s kingdom and its true Israel in spiritual Israel would fulfill so many prophecies, but we concluded last Sunday was Zechariah chapter 13 in verse one where God said,
I will open a fountain in Israel for sin and for uncleanness in the shedding, in the smiting of Christ in the piercing of the one who was on the cross, salvation would come. But as we get into chapter 13, you need two other passages in my mind to truly get a grasp on the things stated in Zechariah 13. Now remember chapter 12,
13 and 14 are all one prophecy, but they’re kind of broken up into sections throughout that section or throughout those passages. Zachariah would write in that day. And we’re going to read in that day in verse one, we’re going to read it again in verse two, we’re going to read it again in verse seven, not referencing a single solitary 24 Hours a day,
but God bringing about the full Film. It of all that. He said Two passages that I mentioned. One of them is an old Testament passage and an older a farmer prophet. And that’s a Zeke Yoel chapter 36 Zeke chapter 36 beginning in verse 19. When you begin to understand what God told Israel in his Z Kiehl’s Day, and You begin to look forward to Zechariah’s day you’ll You see the connections?
Well then in the new Testament in Matthew chapter 26 beginning in verse 21, going down through verse 32 Jesus in the upper room with his apostles, you will see that as well. Let’s begin in Zechariah chapter 13, keep your fingers. If you, if you’ve already turned to those passages in his EQL and Matthew, you might want to keep a ribbon there cause we’ll be there shortly.
Chapter 13 verse one of Zechariah reads in that day, a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin. And for uncleanness, God says, I am opening up a fountain, a bringing forth of salvation that would flow forth from the one who was smitten from the one who was Pierce from the one who belonged to God.
And it was going to be for sin and for uncleanness because Israel had a problem and we have a problem. And that problem is sin. And you and I, as we stand before, God is Israel is stood before God throughout the centuries cannot deal with that problem. Yeah, No man who sinned and fallen short of the glory of God wrote Romans chapter three,
verse 23 can deal with that problem by himself. No man, who has garnered for himself, the wages of sin, Romans chapter six, verse 23, which is death can then reconstitute himself as righteous before God, without Help. Hebrews chapter nine, the Hebrew writer writes this To those first century, Christians Hebrews chapter nine. And in verse 14, actually let’s go to verse 13 for if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer Sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh.
How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. The Hebrew writer makes it clear in Hebrews chapter nine, that the blood of bulls and goats cannot nor could it ever take away sin. It was insufficient for the purpose, separate from the blood of Christ,
but the blood of Christ was shed that we might have not our flesh cleansed, but our conscience and our hearts completely consecrated to God. But then also turn to first Peter first Peter chapter one, Peter writes to these Christians and he says beginning in verse 17. And if you call on the father who without partiality judges, according to each one’s work conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear,
knowing that you are not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold or for, or for excuse me from your aimless conduct received by the tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot Peter, okay. Writes to these Christians and reminds them your life, your actions, and your choices must be lived out in view of the cost of your redemption because no man with enough gold or enough silver could buy as redemption,
no man with enough riches and enough glory could bring about his own salvation. Only through the blood of Christ, is that possible? But in revelation, chapter one, as John would write to the churches, we read beginning in verse four, grace to you and peace from him who is and who was, and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus Christ,
the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler over the Kings of the earth, to him who loved us and notice this phrase and washed us from our sins in his own blood Hebrew writer And Peter and John make it clear that the fountain for sin and for uncleanness That was opened for the son of David and for the city of Jerusalem and not for them,
But for every nation was the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross for you and for me. But we would be negligent if we, We proclaimed the value of the blood of Christ proclaimed, the salvation of the blood of Christ proclaimed the redemptive power of the blood of Christ. And it didn’t tell anyone To contact the blood. Romans chapter six makes it clear That when you are buried with Christ in the watery grave of baptism,
you die with Christ. You come in contact with the blood of Christ and in Christ Death, you are given newness of life and you ride Guys up out of that watery grave of baptism no longer in old debt Person, but a new person in Christ That day of fountain shall be open for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin.
And for uncleanness, it shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land. They shall no longer be remembered. I will call. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to depart from The land. This is a part of the section here in chapter 13, that hearkens back to his equal 36,
God would tell Israel in the words of his Eagle, through the prophet, Ezekiel, that God was going to cleanse them. He wasn’t just going to cleanse them from seeing he was going to cleanse them from their ongoing problem of idolatry. Turn over two is equal 36, Ezekiel 36 beginning in verse, 19 Teen Gone through a Z Gil says to Israel.
So I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the countries. I judge them according to their ways and their deeds notice. First and foremost that his Eagle says, God judged you. God took you out of Israel. God brought you into captivity. He scattered you over the face of the earth because you deserved it. But notice he goes on.
He says, when they came to the wherever they went, they profaned my Holy name. When they said of them, these are the people of the Lord. And yet they have gone out of his land. God says my name was profaned. My name was blasphemed. My name was no longer. Holy. It had become common because you in your idolatry,
where had you in your idolatry had to be cashed out from your land here. The people, the nations around you say there are the people of Jehovah, but those people of Jehovah are being taken into captivity. And it was a blight, not just on them, but on the name of the Lord. He says, when they come to the nations,
wherever they went, they profaned my Holy name. When they said of them, these are the people of the Lord. And yet they have gone out of his land. But I had concern for my Holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, wherever they went, therefore say to the house of Israel, thus as the Lord,
God, I do not do this for your sake. Oh, house of Israel, but for my Holy namesake, which you have profaned among the nations, wherever you went, as the people went out of the land, you might imagine the conversation would have happened. How did this happen to Israel? How did this happen to Judah? How did Jerusalem fall?
And you Might imagine that those wicked Israelites that had been judged would say, it’s all God’s fault. He turned against us. Jehovah did this to us and we didn’t deserve it. God makes it clear. You’re not going to speak about me that way. I’m going to make clear why it is you suffered And why it is you were scattered and you and the nations around.
You will know Who I am. So then notice what we read Verse 23. And I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. And the nations shall know that I am. The Lord says the Lord, God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes, God says, when I am made Holy in your sight before them they’ll know who I am for,
I will take from among the nations or take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.
I will take the hardest stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you will keep my judgments And do them. And notice this phrase here in verse 28, then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You shall be my people and I will be your God.
Zee. Gil makes it clear. God would take them out of the land. And as they went out, they would profane the name of God. But God wanted them to know before they ever left. I’m going to be made Holy in your sight. And I’m going to be made Holy in the sight of all the nations around you. Because as I brought you out of the land at the hand of the Babylonians,
I’m going to bring you back Into the land by My hand, and by my name and all the nations who saw you leave will really Guys that I didn’t turn against you. You turned against me, but now I’m bringing my remnant back And no longer will my remnant be those who are, who are dealing with idolatry no longer would my remnant be those who are worshiping and going after other gods,
my remnant will be my People. So back in Zechariah, chapter 13, we read it. She’ll be in that day, says the Lord of hosts That I will cut off the names of the idols from the land. Remember Zechariah’s the bridge as EQL And these events have already happened in Zechariah’s day. They’re already back in the land, but he’s taking the verbiage and the imagery of Zack of Ezekiel 36.
And he’s carrying it forward Because there would be a day. There would be a day when the servant of God would come where the servant of God and the shepherd of God would be present in the land. And God himself would manifest himself to them. And instead of worshiping God in their presence, They would deny him Instead of praising him for God, being in their presence and doing mighty and wonderful works and doing these things that Christ did before their eyes,
I would say, show us another sign. And then we’ll believe God told them over and over and over again, I’m going to do this. And yet they wouldn’t Worship him. It shall be in that day. Yeah. And I will cut off the names of the idols from the land and they shall no longer be remembered. I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.
Be careful In this text Because it sounds like God’s going to stop speaking through the profits. And that’s not what you’re Reading the profits here in verse three, Two, going through verse six are not God’s Profits. They’re Not speaking on behalf of Jehovah. These are false prophets. Notice what we read it shall come to pass that if anyone’s still prophesies than his father and mother who the guardian will say to him,
you shall not live because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord. Now wait a minute. Did God’s prophets speak? No. Did God’s servants declare his word and lie when they were doing No. Who did The prophets who claimed to belong to the Lord? But didn’t the ones who claim to speak the word of God, but spoke only of themselves.
And if you go back to Deuteronomy chapter 13 and Deuteronomy chapter 18, the law said that when one came forward and spoke a prophecy that was shown to be false, that declared them to be a false prophet. Their own family was to testify against them. There were those who were closest weren’t to hide them. Weren’t a secret them away. So no one knew that the,
this person was leading people away from the Lord. They were to stay in and declare them to be What they were traders to Israel. And those who were false prophets notice what we read and his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies. And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision. When he prophesies,
they will not wear a robe of course, hair to deceive, but he will say, I am no prophet. He says, there’s coming a day. When, because you will be shown to be false profits because of what I will do because of my salvation. Everyone will know, Everyone Will know you’re not Profit. And even you will be ashamed.
And you see what you normally would have called a vision. When you see what you normally would have prophesied that people you’ll hide it. You won’t put on the garments of a prophet and go parading yourself before the people, because they know you’re a liar. Steady says, they will say, I am no prophet. I am a farmer for a man,
taught me to keep cattle from my youth. This is taken from Amos. Chapter seven. Amos will declare himself to not be a profit. Just a simple sheep. Herder aim Is his declaration is God’s doing this, not me. The false prophets carry forward. That phrase ideology to say, I’m not a prophet at all. So they do not have to declare their false prophecies.
And one will say to him, what are these wounds between your arms, that or in your palms, depending upon the translation, then he will answer those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. There’s a passage in Proverbs that speaks concerning the wounds of a friend, Proverbs chapter 27, verse six, the wounds of a friend that is the one who’s willing to love you enough to tell you the truth.
When you’re wrong, the wounds you get from someone who’s willing to correct you, Even When it might cost them your friendship. I think that may be what this passage is talking about. These false prophets have been admonished. They have been corrected. They have been set straight Right by those who love them. Then in chapter 13, verse seven, we have the second Half of the prophecy verse seven Oh Waco sword against my shepherd.
Now, if you go back to the previous chapters of Zechariah, you will find that God’s shepherd was the one who came and supplanted. The evil shepherds, the ones who weren’t caring for the flock, the ones who weren’t tending the sheep, the ones who were feeding themselves off of the flock, the ones who had no interest whatsoever in God’s people, but only themselves and God’s shepherd would come in and would correct the situation.
But ultimately the flock would be asked of how much value am I to you. And they would offer the response of the wages of a slave that had been injured. 30 pieces of silver God’s shepherd, Who would do this for his people would then be smitten by his people. But here in chapter 13, verse seven, the people aren’t doing it This mighty God is so,
Hey, wait, wait, wait, wait. I thought Israel killed Jesus. I fought the scribes and the Pharisees and the chief priests and the people killed. I thought pilot put Jesus on the cross. They did. And they did, but turn to Isaiah chapter 53 and Isaiah chapter 53. Again, the former prophets set clarity for Zechariah’s prophecies. They had chapter 53 beginning in verse four.
As we read about the sacrifice of our Lord, we read surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed Him stricken smitten by who smitten by God and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. Isaiah declares, the suffering servant, Isaiah declares the Messiah to be one who is smitten for our transgressions wounded for our iniquity. But he only had to suffer because we put him there,
but he was smitten by God and afflicted smitten by God in one way, because God is a just, and a true judge and sin cannot go on punished or unpaid for. And so by God, he was smitten. Oh way go sword, verse seven against my shepherd against the man who is my companion, says the Lord of hosts strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.
Then I will turn my hand against the little ones, turn to Matthew chapter 26. We Know this is a reference to Christ because Christ said, so Matthew chapter 26 beginning in verse 21, No. Now as they were eating, he said, assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. And they were exceedingly sorrowful. And each one of them began to say,
Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, he who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. The son of man, indeed goes just as it is written of him. But woe to that, man, by whom the son of man is betrayed, it would have been good for that man, that if he had been born Then Judas,
who was betraying him answered and said, rabbi is it I, he said to him, You have said it. And as They were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, take eat. This is my body. And he took the cup and gave things and gave it to them saying drink from it.
All of you for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. Now, wait a minute. What is it that Christ says was shed for the remission of sins, His blood that’s chapter 13, verse one. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day,
when I drink it new with you in my father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn and they went out to mountain mountain, the Mount of olives, then Jesus said to them, all of you will be made to stumble because of me This night for it is written. I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
But After I have been raised, I will go before you, You to Galilee in Ezekiel 36, God tells his people. I have scattered you, that I might bring you back. I have caused you to endure the hardship of being scattered so that I might cleanse you of the sin that you can overcome on your own. But my redeemed remnant will come back to me.
And in Matthew 26, Jesus said, this night, you will stumble because of me this night, you will be scattered, but those who are faithful, you’ll be gathered back to me in Zachariah Chapter 13, verse seven, we read away, go sword against my shepherd against the man who is my companion, says the Lord of hosts strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.
Then I will turn my hand against the little ones and it shall come to pass in. All the land says the Lord, that two thirds in it shall be cut off and die. But one third shall be left in it. I will bring one third through the fire will refine them as silver is refined and test them as Old is tested, they will on my name and I will answer them.
I will say, remember the end of the ZQ 36, when God breaks Brings his people back. When they’re cleansed of their idolatry. When they again have God’s name hallowed in them, when they again realize who Jehovah is, when they again have been brought back as part of the covenant people of God. When the remnant returns, God says, this is my people.
And God says, I will bring one third of them through the fire. We’ll refine them. Silver is refined and test them. As gold is tested, they will call on my name. We’ll answer them. I will say this is by people. And each one will say, the Lord is my God. In this passage, you see two flocks of God,
two third, the majority they won’t repent. And they’ll perish one third, the minority, the remnant of God, they’ll repent. They’ll come home. They’ll return to God and God will return to them. And in rebel or excuse me, Romans chapter 11, you see that picture Of the remnant of God’s people that always exists. Those who will always turn back to God.
You know, it’s going to be interesting that you’re going to find, even in the church, those False prophets who turned people away from God, Those who would even say that Christ didn’t die for them. They’ll deny his very existence. They’ll deny his sacrifice. They’ll deny the purchase price. And yet they claim to be Christian, But not God’s faithful.
God’s faithful will remember. They will know the price that was paid for them. That the sword of God smoked down the servant of God for you. And for me, if you’re outside the body of Christ this morning, you’re outside of the place where salvation is found. We read in the new Testament that Christ died for every single one of us to purchase our redemption.
But we also read, he died For his church to purchase her redemption. If you’re outside the body of Christ, you’re outside of the blood of Christ. You’re outside of the church of Christ. And you need to change that because it’s the only place where salvation is found. But if you are a member of the body of Christ and you’ve become much like old Testament,
Israel or new Testament, Israel, and you’ve forgotten your God and you’re no longer his people, you can repent. You can change. You can be restored for. There is still a fountain for sin and for uncleanness today, if you have need of restoration, or if you have need of remission of sins that is available to you this morning, why not come forward now?
As we stand in, as we sing,<inaudible> sweet.<inaudible> and here<inaudible> upon your<inaudible> here. That labor and are heavy.<inaudible><inaudible> well hook. If you take his yoke for, he is me.<inaudible> this bird and to him, turn, he who call it<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> that labor and are heavy.<inaudible> man, I give you a list then is loving tender boy.
So bang<inaudible> bird and a big find a kid’s hand is on you. Hey,<inaudible> for his<inaudible><inaudible> upon your dear Lord, bruh. He that labor and are heavy.<inaudible><inaudible> well, if you Sam, for our closing prayer, be number 738 number 738. Take the name of Jesus with you. Take the name of Jesus with you,
child of sorrow. And so it well, joy and comfort. If you take it, then wherever you go. So precious<inaudible> whole house. We hope and joy<inaudible> Oh, house we<inaudible>. Oh, earth and joy up. Take the name of Jesus for as a shield from every snare of temptations around you. Again, the brief that Holy name and prayer,
precious name, a name O house we owe birth and joy up precious<inaudible> Oh, house. We go to hope earth and joy up. Oh, precious name. Archie is how it thrills our souls when his loving arms<inaudible> and his songs are tongues and<inaudible> Oh, house. We need hope Baba birth and joy.<inaudible> Oh, house, we ready?
Oh, Baba birth and joy up. You bow with me. I got in her father in heaven. We’re thankful to de Jesus Christ and well his death and his suffering on the cross of Calvary father banking reconciliation with the father in us, bringing us back to the we’re thankful for this opportunity that we’ve had to hear your words spoken to awful prayers and to the take of the Lord’s supper give around means father.
And here are those things that are beneficial to us from that word we ask that you would be with us as we depart and go to our homes and you would bring us back father when the time is right. These things we asked in Christ’s name. Amen.
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Okay. We are in revelation chapter 15. This evening. We’ll begin with the questions from chapter 14.<inaudible> Chapter 15 is the shortest chapter in the book of revelation. So that means it should take us less time to get through it. Right. Me. I was trying to convince me emphasis on should take us less time.
All right. Well, let’s begin with a word of prayer and then we’ll go into these questions there. Heavenly father, we thank you for this day for its blessings, for all that you do for us on a daily basis for your love, care, and concern for the mercy. That has showered upon us just by the fact that when we rise each morning,
so does the son, we pray that you will be with us as we go throughout this week. And especially in this nation, as we near election day, may this time be peaceful and may those who are being diligent to make sure that it remains peaceful, be blessed in their efforts to guard our election process, but also our streets and our neighborhoods and our cities.
We pray that you watch over us as we go through this continued difficulty with coronavirus and the pandemic that is plaguing this world. We pray that you will help us to help those who are in need, but also to remember that this life is not all there is, and that we need to be prepared, not only for the things that occur in this life,
but in the life to come. We thank you for your son who died on the cross for our sins, without whom we would have no hope. And for the redemption that is offered through his blood. We thank you for all that you do for us on a daily basis. We ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory,
all this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Revelation chapter 14, question one who stood with the lamb on Mount Zion.<inaudible> Right. The 144,000. And what did they sing? All right. They sang a new song. Does the fact of having harps playing in heaven in any way, authorize mechanical instruments, instruments of music in worship today?
No, it doesn’t. If yes, what else would be authorized by the same logic? Okay. They’d all have to be mailed. They’d all have to be virgins. And we could also, by way of other authorizations, we could also offer incense as, as worship the way it occurred in earlier chapters as well, who do these hundred and 44,000 look like in their description?
They look like Christ. Okay. They’re Jews a, you combine chapter seven and chapter 14. They’re Jews, they’re males they’re without the seat in their mouth. All of these descriptions are picture of Christ. What did the first of the six angels declare? Okay. He declared the gospel, the everlasting gospel to those who dwell in the earth. What did the second of six angels declare?
And in what chapters do we find the fulfillment of this? Okay. Okay. I should have been more clear. The chapters are in chapter 17 and 18 of revelation. We find the actual falling of Babylon. So this is a preemptive statement, even though it’s made in the past tense. So revelation 17 and 18 are the fulfillment of this statement. The third of six,
the third angel of six declares that the worshipers of the beast will receive. What, That’s the description of, of those who worship him. They receive that, but they will receive verse 10, the wine of the wrath of God. Okay. So in other words, they’re going to receive the judgment that goes along with being worshipers of the beast. I have to work on my questions being more clear,
cause I, I didn’t realize I used the word that was in verse nine. That would have been an indicator there in this in context. Is this the final judgment on the day of judgment? No, it is not given an old Testament passage that is similar in description to this judgment, Isaiah 34. Okay.<inaudible> what does the voice from heaven declare all right.
Lesson or the dead, which die in the Lord from now on what does the fourth of six angels declare to the one who looks like the son of man who sits on the white cloud.<inaudible> Okay. Thrust in your sickle and reap for the time has come to read. Okay. After the sixth angel who had power over fire told the fifth angel who had the sharp sickle to reap what was trampled outside the city.
All right. The grapes of the wrath of God in the wine press. Okay. Now remember we were, we were shown by the third angel that comes out. He said the worshipers who worship the beast are going to receive the grapes of wrath of God. Okay, they’re going to receive this judgment. And then in the fifth and sixth angels, they received the judgment.
Th the, the grapes of the vineyard of God are trampled out. And this is a picture saying, all right, you didn’t repent. You were warned now here’s what’s going to happen. Okay. And of course we read about the, the results of that there in verses 16 through 18 and down through verse 20. Okay. So Just kind of summary form,
because there’s a couple of pieces that we need as we, as we go through here as with many things in revelation, chapter 15 has some shared imagery with other parts of the book that will help us get a grasp on what’s being stated here. Okay. One of those pieces of shared imagery is a sea of crystal as glass. Okay. We saw that over in chapters four and five,
that was the sea of crystal that appeared as glass. That was before the throne of God. That’s going to come back here again. But also as we go through, we saw the seal or sorry, the book that had seven seals that was in chapter five and chapter six, the seventh seal brought us, or sorry. The sixth seal brings us to the point where here are all the,
those who belong to God and they’re sealed. And chapter seven with the Mark of God, they’re given the Mark of God, the 144,000. We just saw that again for 14, we’re going to see them again in chapter 15. But then the seventh seal shows us the trumpets seven angels was 17 trumpets. So we went from seven seals on the book,
inside the seventh seal. We have seven trumpets inside the seventh trumpet, which we had all the way back in chapter 12, chapter 12, we said, here’s the end of the sixth trumpet. Here comes the seventh trumpet and everything we’ve seeing is introducing. What’s going to come in the seventh trumpet. All of this was the, the prelude to what it is.
God’s about to tell them that is inside the seventh trumpet you have, sir, and angels again, another seven angels. In this time, they’re going to show up with seven bowls, okay. Specifically seven bowls containing the seven plagues. I remember back in the seven trumpets, we were told these are the plagues of God. And many of them were rehearsing plagues of Egypt in the day of Moses.
But all of the things that we read about in the trumpets were partial judgements. Okay, one third of this and one third of that. And one third of this, all of it was a partial judgment. Well, now you’re going to come back through plagues again, but it’s not going to be partial anymore. This is God’s full Raff poured out upon man.
Now the souls being poured out is going to occur in chapter 16. We’re so we’re not gonna spend a lot of time talking about it, but chapter 15 is kind of the introduction. It’s it’s the, the events leading up to the pouring out of the bowls. Okay. So then I saw another sign in heaven. He, you seen the, in chapter 12,
he saw the dragon in chapter 11. He saw the witnesses and chapter 10, he saw the mighty angel with the little book in chapter 13, he sees the two beasts, the CVS and the land beast get the power from the dragon. Chapter 14, the lamb stands victorious on Mount Zion. It’s over. He wins the destruction’s finished because here comes an angel and says,
Babylon’s fallen. It’s over. It’s done. It hasn’t happened yet. But as far as God’s concerned, it’s done. But then one more time God says, and here’s the gospel. Here’s your opportunity. You who dwell on the earth, you who’ve put on the Mark of the beast. You who worship the beast. You who have the Mark of him in your forehead,
or in your hand, you again, keep reminding us. We’re not looking for any of these things to literally happen in the physical history of humanity. We’re saying these things are things that are happening in a spiritual context, and God is saying, here’s your last chance? Here’s your last chance. Here’s where these partial judgements here are all your warnings, but this is finally coming about.
Okay. So then I saw another sign in heaven. Great. And marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues four in them, the wrath of God, hold on. Just a moment. The wrath of God is complete. Okay? So John’s making this clear as he introduces, what’s about to come. This is God’s wrath in completeness poured out on Rome.
This is where one of those, if you take the approach that some do that, the book of revelation is all about the final judgment. All about the day of judgment and the end of time, wait a minute. Chapter 15 says, here we are, we’ve gone through this and now this is going to happen. And here it is, and this is,
is going to happen. And yet it’s, it’s, book-ended by two statements by John. These things must shortly come to pass. How shortly, if shortly doesn’t mean for thousands of years, why is John writing it? Then if it’s not going to be fulfilled for thousands of years, it just doesn’t make sense. The wording, the verbiage, the context,
the message, and the connection to Daniel and his Eagle and Isaiah and all of those prophecies and Zechariah, all of those profits of the old Testament, who said, this is what God is going to do. When he sets up his kingdom, this is what God’s going to do to these four nations that came before his kingdom, he sets up his kingdom and all of this has been God and saying,
I’m doing exactly what I said. I was going to do hundreds of years ago. I am going to do exactly what I told you. I was going to do when Nebuchadnezzar was on the throne. And here it is. And John is saying, wait, wait, wait, wait till the end of time. And God will finally get around to doing it.
No, John is saying, he told you he was going to do it, and now he’s going to do it. Okay. So the completeness in this next round, in the, in the bowls, the, the seven angels with the seven bowls, the focus is we’ve gone partial judgment to complete judgment. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
The first time we saw the sea of glass back over in chapter four, chapter five, we just saw the sea of glass. The, the elders were, were there. The, the, the four beasts were there around the throne was a sea of glass. Okay? And we, we drew forward this idea of the tabernacle in the old Testament,
when the priests would go to serve in the tabernacle, say the day of atonement, the very first thing they had to do before they could enter in to the Holy place to offer the offerings of God, to take what had been put on the burnt offering, which was outside the tabernacle and take that offering inside the tabernacle. They had to wash in the brazen Laver.
Okay, great. Big brazen Laver, great big tub. As it were. They had to go through a purification process. Now, interestingly, you draw the old Testament picture of the brazen Laver forward to its new Testament, auntie type, the type and type between the tabernacle and new Testament. And that bruh brazen Laver new Testament, antique type is baptism.
Before you can enter into the church, which is all throughout the book of Hebrews pictured. As the tabernacle of God, before you can enter into the church, you have to go and be washed. Okay. And so here in, in the new Testament, that picture of the brazen labor is the purification that occurs before you enter in to the tabernacle.
The church of God here, though, the picture of the brazen Laver appears to be a little different because it’s not in, in chapter 15, it’s not just a sea of glass. It’s not just this picture of the brazen labor. It is the sea of glass mingled with What fire Do you know of any passages in the new Testament where new Testament writers describe the Christian life as going through Fire Purifying gold.
Peter talks about it. I think James talks about it. Paul talks about it. The idea that as Christians, we are purified spiritually. We are made strong. We are made Holy by going through difficulty, going through trials, going through, and Peter uses it specifically the purifying, the refining of our souls as by fire. And there’s your picture here in chapter seven,
over in chapter seven, we have the 144,000. Okay. In after these things, I saw four angels standing in the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds, the earth and the wind, the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea or on any tree. Then another angel ascended 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 in the sea saying, do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. Then I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of all the children of Israel were sealed.
Verse nine. 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 the white robes, with palms and Palm branches in there, hands and crying out with a loud voice, saying salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb.
Okay. When you’re introduced to the 144 they’re in the earth, then you see a transition and there’s an innumerable multitude dude in heaven. But when you come back to chapter 15, you have the 144,000 that are about to be described again. But they’re now they’re on the sea of glass. They’re now closer to the throne, but you share the imagery and the picture of what Peter says by the picture of them going through the fire to get to the throne.
See, John presents us with this picture. Here are these Christians. They’re sealed they’re gods. They belong to him, but the closer they get to him, the more pure they become, but they become more pure. The more they endure the trials he sets before them. And so this picture of going through the fire, the sea mingled with fire is a picture of them going through this hardship,
going through this tribulation, going through this difficulty and coming out better for it, closer to God, more like God, how many times, especially in our society right now, are we being constantly told that we, that everybody and I’m talking about, I know I’m mixing spiritual things with physical things, but that everybody needs to have a level playing field.
Everybody needs to have the same, this and the same, that, that, that this discrepancies and differences between people and one, people have one group of people having privilege and another people having disparity Results in a negative, a global harm on society. And yet God tells us over and over and over again. When you finally stop believing that you deserve something and finally start relying on me.
When you look like you have nothing. When you look like you have no strength, then I’m strong. It is a humanistic mindset that says everybody needs to have prosperity. We don’t have any problem with people having prosperity. It’s not anti-God the have prosperity, but to say, everyone needs to have prosperity, or they can’t have value. Is the antithesis of what scripture teaches all throughout the book of Proverbs.
You have the Proverbs writer telling you how dangerous it is to have prosperity. He talks about how good it is for a person who labors in, in the, the sweat and toil of his, his day to go home at night and go to sleep. And here, the rich man is sitting up at night worrying so many times we turn our lives because of our way of thinking to be the exact opposite of what God says.
And we just don’t listen. And as Christians, so often we think if we’re going through hardship, we must be doing it wrong. When God quite often says, if you’re not going through hardship, maybe you’re not doing it. Right. These Christians are going to go through this sea of glass, mingled with fire. And when they come through on the other side,
they’re going to be closer to God, not farther away. Notice what we read. 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 there on the sea of glass,
see a glass of mingled with fire, which means they’re standing where him in the fire, they’re standing in the fire. And so they’re crying out in despair, right? No, they’re standing in the fire and 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 who shall not fear you. Oh, Lord. And glorify. Your name for you alone are Holy for all. Nations shall come and worship before you, their declaration in the midst of the fire in the midst of the hardship is the antithesis of Israel in the midst of their struggle coming out of Egypt.
Do you remember what happened when Moses was sent into Egypt and was sent with the plagues and every time another plague came, what did Pharaoh do? Hardened his heart and did what to the Israelites increased their burden, made it worse. Okay. We’re taking the old Testament picture. We’re drunk. We’re bringing it forward to these Christians. Okay. Remember that here come the plagues.
We were just told here, come the plagues. And you think these Christians don’t know what happened when the plagues came in Egypt, every time life got worse for the Israelites. Every time Pharaoh made it harder on them. Every time they were threatened and abused more and, and, and, and Israel did what to Moses, they blamed him for it.
They said, TRIBE, you’re trying to get us killed. Why don’t I tell you what, why don’t you just go ahead and give Pharaoh the sword to kill us with? That’s what they said. So then they come out of Egypt, get to the river, or the sorry, the red sea. And they sea see the army coming behind them.
And then they say what? Hey, brought us out here to die. And Moses said, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. And then they go through the red sea on dry ground. And they, they sing and they praise God and Moses, right? His song in D in Exodus, chapter 18, I think it is no 1550.
Somebody will fact check me all right, but then they go, or then they go to Mount Sinai. And as they’re going through my going to Mount Sinai, when times get hard, what do they do? Murmur complaint. And then when they leave Mount Sinai and they go towards the edge of the promised land and times get hard, what do they do?
Murmur and complain. Every time times get hard. Israel did what murmured and complained. And quite often God said, this is a problem. And some of you are going to die. Now, chapter 15 is the opposite. Chapter 15 is the church not being like Israel. God has told them in the last three or four chapters, you’re going to get hammered.
The beast is going to rise up and he’s going to fight against you. And the other piece is going to rise up and he’s going to kill you. And blessed are those who die in the Lord. You’re going to get persecuted. You’re going to get punished. You’re going to get killed, but go back to what we read in verse two, who are those in verse two,
who were standing on the sea of glass. They are those who have victory over the beast, over his image, over his Mark. And over the number of his name over in chapter 13, everything that the dragon gave, the two B’s Rome, the power to do chapter 15 says these Christians overcame it. Every thing that the dragon Satan gave the bees,
the ability to do to tear down the church, these people overcame it. And so here they are, and they’re pictured like Israel going through the fire. But unlike Israel, they’re not murmuring and complaining. They’re praising God. They’re singing the song of Moses, the servant of God and of the lamb. Okay. So one last thing, and this has to do with one of the questions.
How is God’s work? How are God’s works and ways described here in this song? All right, his works are great. And marvelous. Now just to stop for a minute didn’t they just bring forward what we’ve just said. Didn’t they suffer and die at the hand of Rome. And yet they’re going to declare God’s works to be great and marvelous because they are because as they suffered and died,
they won. That’s what chapter? Chapter 13, let me find the right verse here.<inaudible> Where’s the blessed are the dead, the dying of the Lord. I just lost the verse 14, 13. There we go. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on that they may rest from their labors.
And here’s a key phrase and their works. Follow them. Here’s the picture. Great. And marvelous are your work. So God, because what we did in being faithful to you on the earth, didn’t stop. You know, w when you do something and, and you improve something, or you build something, you, you do it with the realization.
At some point, that thing dies. At some point, that thing gets torn down at some point, the life of that thing, and the value of that thing, deteriorates, that’s just the way it is in this life. But Jesus made a point, Matthew chapter six, he says, lay up for your treasure or lay up in heaven, your treasure for where your treasure is there will your heart be also,
why should you lay up your treasure in heaven, according to Jesus and not on the earth? What did he say in Matthew six about treasure laid up on the earth, moth and rust, come in and destroy and thieves break in and steal. He said, everything you lay up on this earth, eventually deteriorates and goes away. But what you lay up in heaven,
nobody can touch. Peter describes it as an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that cannot be taken away. And so in the midst of struggle, strife, trial, persecution, and death here, these Christians going, God, your, your works are great and marvelous. And he, they say your ways are just, and true back in chapter six,
they’re crying out to God, God, how long are you going to let this go on? And now they’re saying we see it. We see the justice of God being acted upon those who torment and persecute the church. Okay. So we’re just trying to draw all these pieces together into this final pouring out of God’s wrath. Over in the end of verse four,
for your judgments have been manifested after these things, I looked and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. All right. So picture in your mind, here is John he’s looking in verse one and he sees these angels come out from God and they’re given these seven plagues. And then he sees again in heaven and here,
the temple of God’s opened and the inner sanctuary is open. Okay, it’s the temple and the tabernacle, the inner sanctuary that’s opened up. Okay. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues clothed in pure, bright linen, and having their chest girded with golden bands. Now, which, which character, which individual in revelation was described that way,
Bright, glowing garment and golden chest around or golden bands around his chest. Back on chapter one, Christ was Again, here, here are, here are the representatives of God, seven angels coming out. They look like Christ. They’re dressed like Christ. They’re coming to do his bidding. Okay? So they come out and they’re dressed this way. And 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. So you remember the four creatures that are before the throne of God, temple opens seven angels come out of the temple of God. One of the four beasts comes to them as they’re coming out and begins to hand them. Each a bowl in the bowl is the plague. Okay?
The plague is going to be poured out on the earth, but then notice what happens a lot. Actually, let me go back to verse seven. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels, seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives for forever and ever always this reminder every time God does anything. Anytime God, somebody acts on behalf of God,
that God is eternal. God, isn’t a man. And God’s going to make sure just like he didn’t need jipped, just like he did with Pharaoh, that everybody knows he’s not a man like Pharaoh was. And like Caesar is, he’s not a man. Okay? 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.
A number of times in Exodus. And in other old Testament passages, we read about the glory of God, descending upon the tabernacle specially there at the very beginning, you see the Tabernacles built and the glory of God descends upon the tabernacle and something interesting happens every time you read about that, you read and nobody could go inside. Nobody could stay where God’s presence was.
As it were concentrated in the tabernacle, even Moses had the lead. Even Aaron had the depart, they couldn’t stay there, there with the holiness of God. Well, here’s the picture again? God’s presence. The smoke of the glory of God fills the tabernacle in everybody vacates. And nobody’s coming back until God’s done.<inaudible> The Christians were told back in chapter six,
you’ve been persecuted and you’ve been killed. Now you wait until I’m ready. Chapter 15, verse eight, God says, time’s up. I’m ready. And nobody’s coming back here before me, until I’m done old Testament. Prophets would tell Israel when God judges, you doesn’t matter how many chariots and how many horses you have. Doesn’t matter how big your army is.
You’re not going to stop him. And that’s the picture here. Once God begins judging nobody interrupts him because you can’t. The only thing you can do is not be on the other end of the judging. And that’s the message to Rome. That’s the message to those who dwell on the earth change repent before it’s too late. Okay. That’s chapter 15.<inaudible> Good evening.
Welcome to the Collierville church. Christ’s Wednesday evening Bible study and devotional school to see each and every one of you out tonight are sick. Please continue to remember Rudel and Dorothy Wilson. Dorothy is dealing with extremely high blood pressure. So please say a special prayer for her. John Springer is continuing to battle her pneumonia and et cetera. So please continue to pray for Joan.
And then Janet is at home working through the physical therapy from her fall. So please remember Janet Wayne Vaughn that’s Becky’s brother was released from the hospital today. So that’s good news. After you’d had a fall at home, he’s also being treated for a new diagnosis of thyroid issues and is waiting for the results of a gallstone ultrasound. So please continue to pray for Wayne Robin woods that’s Jessica’s mother is recovering from her bypass surgery.
She has a long recovery time ahead of her. So please, please keep Robin woods in your thoughts and prayers. And then Jessica, once they do make it back here, she’s having some issues and stuff. So she’s got to go get that checked out issues with her stomach. And speaking of the Dale’s, they are on their way home, but they have not made it yet because they got stuck in Oklahoma there and an ice storm in Oklahoma.
So they’re kind of hung out there until that clears and passes. So please continue to pray for the Dales on their return trip to us here. A reminder daylight savings time does, and this Saturday night, Sunday morning, depending on what time you set your clocks, but at 2:00 AM, as one as official. So please make sure you set your clocks back,
fall back. And like I said, Sunday, the good thing is, if you don’t, you’ll be early, you won’t be late. So you won’t miss services. And then last announcement here is Laurie white. Who’s a friend of the Cozort arts is, and as a member at South Haven, church of Christ has been diagnosed and she has COVID-19.
So please pray for her and a speedy recovery for her. This evening song leader is going to be Joe caisson. The devotional beer and quotes are and closing prayer is Terry Whitley. Thank you. If you would Mark number 936, that would be our song of encouragement. Nine three six, and then be turning to number 381, three eight one.<inaudible> My Lord was Chris and five.
No nod. It was for me. Hey doc.<inaudible> mercy then what’s great. And grace was frame<inaudible> Oh, the law. The Drew’s have a plan. Oh, the grace that brought it down to man. That’s it. God Dan’s fan that.<inaudible> see. That was great. And grace was free.<inaudible> damn. I burned stuff on Liberty.<inaudible> Matthew chapter eight,
we read when he was coming down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him and behold there came a leper and worshiped him saying, Lord, if thou wilt thou can make me clean and Jesus put forth his hand and touched him saying, I will be thou clean and immediately his leprosy was cleaned. I want us to key in on something. The leper came to Jesus and said,
it’s up to your determination. It’s inside your authority. If you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus agreed with his observation. Okay? Jesus said, I will. He gave him that by saying, I agree with what you’re saying. And it is in accordance with my will. And so he was made clean Jesus say unto him. See,
they’ll tell no man, but go thy way. Show myself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony under them. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, they came there, came unto him, a Centurion big sea, teaching him and saying, Lord, my servant life at home, sick of the palsy, grievously, tormented,
and Jesus saith unto him. I will come and heal him century incomes. If he’s a century in what is he? He’s a Roman, a Roman comes to Jesus. And this Roman comes to Jesus and says, I have a servant. Who’s lying at home. And he’s played with this problem. And Jesus says, I will come and heal him.
But then notice the centurion’s response. The Centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy. That thou should has come under my roof. Generally speaking, Romans and especially Roman soldiers considered themselves to be of higher standing and have more value than anyone who wasn’t a Roman. And under the law, they had higher status than anyone who wasn’t a Roman.
And yet this Roman says, no, no, I’m not worthy for you to even step foot under my roof. And so notice what he says. He says, I am not worthy. That thou should come under my roof, but speak the word only. And my servant shall be healed for, I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.
And I say to this man go and he go with into another common he cometh and to my servant, do this. And he’d do with it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to them, that followed verily. I say unto you, I have not found so great faith. No, not in Israel. And I say unto you,
that many shall come from the East and the West and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the Centurion, go by way. And hows as thou hast believed. So be it done under the,
and his servant was healed in the self same hour things I want to key on key in, on here. Number one, this interior understood something about authority that Christ didn’t have to be present. He didn’t have to be at the immediate spot for his authority to be there. When the Centurion sent a soldier, his authority directed him, no matter whether the soldier left his presence or not.
And one of the things that we teach our children is you better behave whether your parents are looking or whether they’re present with you or not, their authority doesn’t end when their back’s turned and their authority doesn’t end. When you leave home and go to somebody else’s house. What you have been taught to do is still what you’re supposed to do. Whether you’re at home or somewhere else,
Jesus’s authority, didn’t end with his presence. It continued on because it was authority. But then also notice that the Centurion understood the authority of the word. He said, I say a word and my soldier does this. My servant does this. You say a word and that word holds your authority. Well, what we have right here is the word of God.
So anything we want to know how it is authorized by God, we don’t dream a dream. We don’t look for a vision. We don’t look for a feeling in our heart to see whether or not something’s authorized by God. We open his authority, his word. So how are we saved? We’re saved according to the new Testament, by the word of God,
by being obedient to the its commands, by being obedient to the gospel, hearing the word of God, because it’s the power of God unto salvation, Romans chapter one, verse 16, believing that word, because if we don’t believe it, we will be condemned Mark chapter 16, verse 16, but not just hearing and believing repenting of our sins because the word commands us to do something that one of the things that commands us to do is to change from the old way of sin,
to the new, a new way of righteousness. But it also requires allegiance. The Centurion required allegiance of his soldiers. The Centurion required his servant to recognize he was his master. And Jesus does as well. We can’t go through life saying, I’ll do what you say, but I won’t claim you as my King. That doesn’t make you a citizen of Christ.
And it doesn’t put you under his authority. And so we have to confess the name of Christ, but we also have to die. We have to be buried. We have to be immersed in water for the remission of sins, because in the same place, he said, if you don’t believe you stand condemned, he makes it clear through inference that if you’re not baptized,
you also stand condemned because his word has authority. The word of God could cleanse a man from his leprosy and could heal a man who was sick. And the word of God can save your soul. If you have needed the invitation to respond to it as one who’s outside of the body of Christ or one who is a member of the body Of Christ,
you can do that now as we stand. And as we sing Away from God, nah, I’m coming.<inaudible> Lord. I’m coming. I’m coming. I’m coming home.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> wait, Stan man.<inaudible> nah, I’m coming. I<inaudible><inaudible> I’m coming. I’m coming. I’m coming home.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> coming my song.<inaudible> I’m calming my stress.<inaudible> my<inaudible><inaudible> I’m coming.
I’m coming. I’m coming. Oh,<inaudible> open my arms up.<inaudible> I am coming. Let us pray. Our heavenly father. We thank you for the privilege and the opportunity to come into your house tonight, Lord, and learn more of your word. Lord. We ask that you Be with the sick Lord and ones that have lost loved ones and just continue to comfort them Lord and bring the sick back into our fold.
Lord, if you will it, Lord, we ask that you be with us these times of trouble and turmoil during this election. And just let us remember Lord that you are in control and you will put who you own in the office, Lord. And that way at ease our anxieties and fears. Lord is we go home tonight. Just let us leave Lord.
And just in a heart, just say how great it was to be in your house. We thank you Lord for giving our sins and just bring us back at the next appointed time. These things we’re asking your precious name. Amen.
A Look Back: The Third Woe is coming. It is going to be pronounced, but before that happens, we see the “Lamb” using his power as King to reign. We also see the Beast working in opposition to the Lamb by attacking the church, giving life to the Land Beast, the Sea Beast, and their blasphemy.
Is Victory Ever Going to Come?
True devastation realizes itself in the lives of Christians. Persecution wreaks havoc upon the early Church. In chapter 6, the question is “who could stand in the day of the wrath of the Lamb?” Right now, it looks like the Christians are the ones who will be unable to withstand the beast! Will God allow this? Will the Church be brought to its knees by the Dragon and his crowd?
144,000 Hope in a New Song
John looks to Mount Zion and hope is found. A New Day is dawning in the sunlight of the Lamb of God. Standing on Mount Zion: The Lamb and 12,000 from each tribe of the true Israel (the obedient of God marked by the angels).
He hears a voice that sounds like rushing water, loud as thunder. He hears harps. He hears a song. A new song. A song that only the redeemed of earth could learn–the 144,000 represent those redeemed from the Earth. This song is not the song of Angels, sung at Jesus’ birth. It is the song of those who have suffered, lived, overcome, and reign victorious with the Lamb of God–the song of the first-fruits of the harvest of the Earth’s faithful.
Three Angels Preach
John sees an angel preaching the Gospel to every nation, tribe, and people of the Earth. The angel cries out to all humanity, “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.”
But that angel is followed by another angel crying out, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
The third angel follows the second declaring, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark… he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God… He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone… and they have no rest day or night…”
John declares this the “patience of the saints.” The ability for a Christian to hold on, to endure, is found is the ultimate victory of the Lamb and judgment of the unrighteous. Then the sweetest of declarations to fall upon human ears is delivered from Heaven to John: “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.”
