Well, good morning everybody if this is your first time joining us here in hosanna in our building here
Or if you're joining us online, we want to say welcome to all of you
If for those of you in our building if you're watching online you're not getting the the joy of this moment
But for those of you in the room, you may have noticed some differences here in our sanctuary and the reasons for that
You know over the years we've been praying about remodeling the sanctuary a little bit and you know, but budgets are tight
So, what do you think?
No, actually this is all for our vacation Bible school which starts tomorrow
We're so excited about that and we do want to say that for those of you that are sitting under the the pennants and flags there
That means you're all volunteered to serve at VBS. So congratulations. Yeah, no, that's not true either
No, we're just very excited about what is going on for VBS this week
And so I do understand that if you're towards the back of the room
The flags there that are going across are kind of blocking the screen and so it's for one Sunday
So I'm just to ask you to kind of bear with us for the moment or or a crazy thought move forward, right?
You could do that as well
So but I made sure that I could see all your eyes in the back row so that wouldn't infect the teaching too much here
So so bear with us today, but we're really blessed for VBS this week
But for those of you that don't know I am pastor Nathan and this morning
We're gonna be looking at Revelation chapter 11 the sounding of the seventh trumpet
Now this section of Revelation that we find ourselves in
We are right around the middle of the great tribulation period the middle of this
Seven year period called the tribulation that we refer to as the day of the Lord
That's what this entire time period is referred to
Scripturally now the sounding of the seventh trumpet judgment opens with a proclamation
and it's a proclamation of comfort and
Encouragement to those who were in the midst of the tribulation period
some very very
Devastating things are and have been taking place as we've been looking at this time period
And so in this moment as the seventh trumpet sounds this encouragement comes out to encourage those who have trusted in
God for their salvation during this time and those that are then frightened by God's judgments on sin falling on around them
Because you see although salvation is available to those who haven't confessed Christ
Before tribulation during the tribulation period people are still able to get saved
But unfortunately during that time the age of grace is over and the age of God's judgments are pouring up upon the earth
And so there's some very scary and devastating things happening
But this proclamation that the seventh trumpet opens with is is really the picture of hope for them
It's the picture of hope it's the promise of what's to come in their future
Now we know as I said this tribulation period also referred to as the 70th week of Daniel will last seven years
The Bible teaches that in multiple different places the first three and a half years of this tribulation period or are an apparent
Time of peace if you will as a world leader comes on the scene called the Antichrist and he seems to solve all the world's problems
most most significantly he seems to solve the problems in the Middle East as he
appears to bring peace between the Jews and and the Muslims and
And allows the Jews to rebuild their temple there on the temple Mount but even so during this time
God's judgments have begun to fall upon the earth the second three and a half years of this seven year period are called the great
tribulation and as everything escalates during this time as
Literally all hell starts to break loose upon earth God's judgments are
Increasing in severity getting worse and worse and worse as each one falls and during this time all who confess the name of Christ
All who confess the name of Jesus both do Jew and Gentile are under incredibly heavy persecution
Many are even martyred for their faith as we'd seen earlier in Revelation and so these days
These these last times of the tribulation period this last three and a half years although it is only three and a half years long
For those that are in it for those that are falling under these judgments
Even though they have given their life to Christ at that time these judgments are still falling upon the earth
It is a time for them that is a very very difficult and it seems like an eternity. I would imagine it seems like a forever
It seems like a forever and so this seventh trumpet opens with this proclamation of not only what is happening
What this is all about?
But what is to come it's a future look at the end of all of it and
God declares this look at the end of all of it in the past tense
Because we know God is timeless God is outside of time God sees the beginning from the end
And so he gives this proclamation in the tense that it's already happened. And so for us today, there's hope there's always hope and there's continued
Hope that that in the face of the dark direction of human history
God's kingdom will come
And I thought it was pretty cool yesterday as we were setting up here for VBS and setting up this castle prop behind us
Because the whole theme of our VBS this year is keepers of the kingdom
Without really having paid attention to that the title of this morning study is your kingdom come and I just thought Lord
That's really neat. I really appreciate you doing little things like that and we know that God's kingdom will come
Human history is heading somewhere. We know human history is moving in a direction and from God's perspective
Everything is right on schedule. It's exactly as it should be and how it should be and you know as God's people if we know
That the future is coming and we know what the future is because we have it revealed in God's Word
We should be people investing in that future and getting ready for that future
For the Christian our future our hope is heaven
Is eternity with our Creator and that is the future that we should be investing in above all
And so the forecast here in Revelation chapter 11 in the midst of the growing story
Of the growing storms of tribulation is that it's all going to be fine soon
It's all going to be fine soon. Hang on a little bit longer as the one who knows the future reveals exactly what it will be
And so that's what we need to hear at times
We need to hear that it's going to be over soon. It's going to get better
That's what we need to hear at times of difficult difficulty and it's what those suffering and tribulation will need to hear at that time
And so that's what we're going to be looking at this morning
But first we're going to spend some time in worship praising God because he is worthy
He is almighty and again as I said if you're in the back and you're like those flags are blocking my view of the screen
Feel free to move forward. There's plenty of seats up front. Let's pray. God we love you
Lord we're so excited for you and what you're doing Lord and that's a strange thing to say in the view of tribulation Lord as we see
In your word these devastating judgments fallen upon the earth Lord
But God for those that have put their trust in you as our Lord and Savior God we know that all of this means that your kingdom is coming
That your kingdom is almost here
And Lord we look forward to that
God you taught us to pray your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Lord we desire that so much
We desire for your name to be glorified by your creation God as it should be
And yet Lord we know we live in a world today that that doesn't do that in in most ways
But God we as your people are here in this world today Lord
Lights on a hill to take the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to share the hope of heaven to share the truth of the coming kingdom of God
With people who don't yet know you Lord that they would too have salvation as we have found salvation
And so God I pray Lord as we study your word today that you would encourage us about your kingdom come
That Lord we would draw the same encouragement from the words now
As it is intended to be for those that are going to read it then in the midst of tribulation
And that Lord we would find our hope
We would find our peace
We would find our everything in the truth
That your kingdom is coming
That righteousness will come
That your kingdom is coming that righteousness will be restored
That sin will be fully and finally dealt with one day
And that God we will be in perfect righteousness and peace and perfection and joy and all that it is with you Lord
So God encourage us to be people about your work today
as we are not only
Living life here on this earth, but Lord investing in the true future the real future the most important future to come Lord
And that is the heavenly kingdom. That is yours
We love you so much and we thank you. It's in Jesus name. We pray
Amen. All right. We are in revelation chapter 11 starting in verse 15. And so if you will read with me
It says the seventh angel blew his trumpet
And there were loud voices in heaven
Saying the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ
And he will reign forever and ever
What a glorious thing
You know, we have been looking forward to
God's coming kingdom for a long time. I think all of us since we got saved
Right and as we've been studying through revelation, we have finally arrived here at the seventh
Trumpet we've been waiting for it ever since chapter 8
So far what we've seen is four trumpets sounded after which a messenger in the sky came
In uh, it says it was an eagle or in the form of an eagle and it said whoa
Whoa, whoa
To the inhabitants of the earth because of what is about to come
referencing the fifth
Sixth and seventh trumpets and so the three woes that were referenced there
Were referring to these final three trumpet judgments
And if you remember the trumpet judgment started the first one was really the destruction of the greenery
Grasses and trees and stuff on the earth the second trumpet
Was the sea was dealt with the sea was destroyed and devastated the third trumpet all the freshwater sources
The rivers and things of that nature were destroyed
The fourth trumpet the sky was struck
Where we saw that the sun and the moon and the stars and the light was all affected
And then we came to the first woe
The fifth trumpet judgment as hordes of demons were released upon the earth
Allowed to torment people for five months
The torment was so bad. We read there that people wanted to die
But somehow some way they were unable to
They couldn't die during this period and then we came to the second woe
Which was the sixth trumpet
Where we read about four fallen angels who had been bound at the euphrates river that were released
Raising an army of 200 million and being let loose upon the earth to not just torment people
But to kill people as a part of that judgment and now we come to the seventh
trumpet
The final woe
But what's interesting here is after the devastation of the first and the second woes
Which are devastating this one opens up with
loud praise in heaven
worship
celebration
Proclamation. I mean, that's a huge contrast to what we've seen so far
You remember at the opening after the sixth seal was opened
And as part of the interlude between the sixth and seventh seal
We read that there was silence in heaven
for a half an hour
a very somber moment
a very
Anticipatory moment as people were
Waiting for the next judgment to pour out
As the judgments were getting worse and worse, but here after the sixth trumpet
At the sounding of the seventh trumpet
Instead of silence, it says we have loud noises and those loud noises are referring to celebratory
celebratory noises
It's a celebration that's going on now. Why is everybody so happy?
It's devastating what's taking place on the earth. Why is there celebration in heaven? Woe isn't a happy word
Woe means devastation and destruction and this is the third
Woe means devastation and destruction and this is the third woe
Why why is heaven celebrating? Why are they rejoicing because?
It's bad
But the reason they're rejoicing in heaven is because they see the light at the end of the tunnel
The end is coming the end is almost there. It's almost done
And so worship goes up in heaven
Goes up in heaven
From a chronological point of view
This seventh trumpet and in all that happens as a part of the seventh trumpet
All together collectively it brings us to the very end of the tribulation period
The seventh trumpet and the events of the seventh trumpet really encompass everything
Up to the second coming of jesus christ in his reign upon the earth
And that is why this proclamation is made this announcement is made here the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our lord
And of his christ and he will reign forever
and ever
Now what it's looking at and referring to the the the specific events of the seventh trumpet time period
Or the specific judgments that that take part that that are poured out as part of the seventh trumpet
The the judgments that will bring us all the way to the very end the actual judgments themselves are recorded in chapter 15 and 16
Of revelation and we'll look at those when we get there
But here what is taking place in revelation 11 is is is almost a look above and past all of that
It's looking past all of the events to come in the final parts of the great tribulation period
It's looking above all that to the end
And what we're seeing is the rejoicing taking place in heaven of that end about to come
If you remember back in revelation chapter 10 verse 7 it said this
But in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet
Then the mystery of god will be completed as he announced to his servants the prophets
And if you remember what that was referring to is is in the time period
Of the sounding of that seventh trumpet and all that takes place there as a part of that conclusion to the tribulation period
The mystery of god will be completed
The mystery of god the the mystery of god's patience the mystery of why does god delay the mystery of
Of of why hasn't god poured out all of his final judgment on sin like he prophesied
He would like the prophet spoke of why the waiting all of that will come to its completion its fruition and the mystery of god
Will be over it'll be fulfilled
And that whole concept of god's final dealing with sin in his coming reign
It's about to happen is what it was talking about there in revelation 10 7 well if we fast forward to revelation chapter 15 verse 1
It says then I saw another great and awe inspiring sign in heaven
Seven angels with the seven last plagues
For with them god's wrath will be completed
And so it's with these seven last plagues that god wraps everything up
And the introduction of these plagues is a part of the sounding of the seventh trumpet
Just as the seventh seal ushered in the seven trumpets the seventh trumpet is going to usher in the seven bold judgments
And the idea is that the seventh trumpet is what is announcing the end it's it's announcing that god is bringing his wrath
to a completion
And after that it's over after that it's over so when the seventh trumpet sounds
What is going to take place as a part of the seventh trumpet is this rapid-fire judgment of bowls being poured out on earth
at the end of tribulation
And after those seven bold judgments are poured out it's over
This age of earth's history is over
It's done
And so chapter 11 however what we're looking at here is the anticipatory look
at that completion
So here in verse 15 it started with loud voices and a great announcement
loud voices and a proclamation it's
It's almost like a victory chant if you read it that way
It's like a victory chant the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our lord and the kingdom of the earth
the kingdom of our lord and of our christ
Now the actual
Description of that kingdom switch
That's what we're going to see later on in chapter 19 when we get there
And so we'll look at it then at the very end of the tribulation period but here in chapter 11 verse 15 we have this
Anticipatory this this assumptive this this victory declaration, you know, it's kind of like the idea of
like if you watch sports
And sometimes when you're like you're still in the last quarter the last inning or whatever you're there's still time left in the game
But it's obvious you're like we won
The game's over we won. That's kind of what's taking place here. Yeah, there's there's still five minutes to go, but we won
Right. That's this declaration god has won and so as a part of this declaration it says in verse 15 that he will reign forever
and ever
That his kingdom is about to come his kingdom is is is coming to pass the conclusion of it the final judgment of sin
The dealing with all of that completely it's here. It's arrived is what's being declared
As the last final minutes of tribulation are being being looked at
And he says when his kingdom comes he will reign forever and ever
Back in daniel
Um the prophet daniel he tells us that there was a time where king nebuchadnezzar
Who was at that time the king of babalon and effectively the king of the entire world had a dream
and
This man king nebuchadnezzar was a man who who thought i'm invincible nobody can conquer me
Nobody can defeat me
He he calls daniel to him and he says daniel I I had this really weird dream
And I need to tell it to you and and can you tell me what it means and so he says daniel I had this dream
Of this huge statue this huge statue and the head of the statue was made of gold
But then the chest of the statue was made of silver
The abdomen and thigh area of the statue was made of brass the legs were made of iron
And the feet of this statue and its ten toes were made of iron and clay mixed together and he goes
Daniel what does it mean?
And so the lord gave daniel the interpretation of this dream for king nebuchadnezzar the world global leader of that time
And daniel said god has given you a vision of what is to come after you
And he said you nebuchadnezzar you're the you're the head of gold right
But after you there are going to be many more worldwide kingdoms that are going to come upon the earth
He says you are the head of gold but other kingdoms are going to come and and they're going to be less a little bit less than you all the way down
But finally at the end of all that at the end of history
As you see these feet with ten toes he goes at the end of history there's going to be ten nations
That band together to make one worldwide government that'll be ruled by someone at that time
And nebuchadnezzar goes well that that's that's cool daniel thanks for that but something bothers me about the dream
He goes in that dream as I was looking at that statue this big rock came flying out of heaven
And it hit the statue and it disintegrated the statue
And then that rock grew to become a huge mountain and nebuchadnezzar said daniel what does that mean?
And daniel said in the day that those ten nations come together and have this worldwide kingdom led by this world leader in those days
God will come and destroy all of them
And in that destruction god will then set up his kingdom a kingdom that will never be destroyed
A kingdom that will last last forever a kingdom that won't be left for others because
You see in that statue every worldwide kingdom and every worldwide leader that has ever lived they eventually die
And then that kingdom is left for someone else and then more people step in and then it's left and it's left and it's left
But eventually at the end of history
God is going to set up a kingdom that'll be forever and ever
That won't be left to anybody other anybody else to come and rule after because god will be raining there
forever and ever and this is incidentally what's going to happen at the second coming of jesus christ and we're going to see this in chapter 19 of
Revelation that all of man's kingdoms
All of man's governments all all of that is going to come to a screeching halt
There's going to be no diplomatic negotiations
There's going to be no summits and conferences
There's going to be none of that god is going to come and take over completely
And this was all prophesied
There is actually a prediction about jesus christ god almighty coming to rule
When he was born with we read in luke chapter 1 that the angel came and visited mary
And said this in chapter 1 of luke verse 13
The angel said now listen you will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him jesus
He will be great
And will be called the son of the most high
And the lord god will give him the throne of his father david
He will reign over the house of jacob forever and his kingdom will have no end
So at the very beginning
At the very beginning of of jesus's life here on earth if you will at the very beginning this prediction was made that jesus would come
And he would be the ultimate king of kings
He would be the lord of lords
And that's how we refer to him. That's what we know him as is the coming king of kings and lord of lords
And so over the course of his life, it's interesting you read throughout the gospels in the life of jesus and the life of the king of lords
And so over the course of his life. It's interesting you read throughout the gospels in the life of jesus
He loved to speak about his kingdom come
It was one of his favorite topics a major theme of his ministry
In fact in his very first message
He said repent for the kingdom of god is at hand
In luke chapter 4 when he was talking to his disciples
He said to them look I must preach the kingdom of god to other cities also and so we need to go to other places
In matthew chapter 13 you have this whole section of jesus's teaching that are referred to as the kingdom
Parables as jesus kept saying the kingdom of god is like
The kingdom of god is like the kingdom of god is like
Then back in matthew chapter 5 verse 7 you have what is effectively the kingdom manifesto
As jesus goes through really how life is lived in the kingdom of god as he goes through the beatitudes and all these parables
At the end of his life ponchus pilate even said to jesus are you a king
And you remember jesus said you say rightly that I am a king
But then he added but my kingdom is not of this world
Because if it was my servants would rise up and fight
But they don't because it's not
And then after jesus rose from the dead scripture tells us that he spent 40 days teaching his disciples quote things pertaining to the kingdom of god
And then as I mentioned in the in the opening jesus even taught his followers how to pray
You guys remember that right the lord's prayer
Said our father in heaven your kingdom come your will be done
Older translations add the on earth as it is in heaven newer translations omit that
But the idea is that he was teaching his followers to be kingdom minded
To be kingdom minded to be about the kingdom of god and what all that means
But if we look around the earth today, that's not what we see. We don't see god's kingdom here on earth
In the sense of god ruling and reigning and everybody reverencing him as king of kings
We don't we don't see that on earth today. His kingdom hasn't come yet
I definitely wouldn't say we see his will being reflected on earth
We see people servants of his reflecting his will but as a as a global
Creation as a global entity earth and mankind is not reflecting the will of god
What god intended when he put man on the earth originally
His original intent for man on earth. That's it's not what's happening in the earth today
Where people that are stained by sin were people that are scarred by sin
Were people that are stained by sin were people that are scarred by rebellion against god were people that are just
Messed up in so many ways, but guess what church?
One day that will change
One day that will change and until then
We do as jesus commanded his disciples taught them to do and taught us to do we pray
We pray for the return of jesus christ we pray for his kingdom come we pray for his will be done
We look forward to that day
We pray for the for the consummation of of this announcement we are reading about here in revelation chapter 11
But we don't just pray for it to come in the sense of like it's some far-off thing
That that we experience in no way here and now
It's not just a future kingdom because the kingdom of god isn't just something to come
The kingdom of god in a sense does begin now because the minute the king resides in your own heart
The second the king of kings and the lord of lords god of glory resides in your own heart through your faith in him
Through your confession that he is god and then he died for you and your cry to him to say god
Please forgive me of all of my sins the moment that happened
The kingdom of god has come to your life
And you begin to enjoy at least some of the benefits of being a subject of his kingdom
But in that process we are taught in scripture too that hey look our citizenship is not of this earth we are citizens of heaven
So while you are a citizen of the kingdom of god and you get to experience some of the benefits of that citizenship right now
We're in a foreign land. We're in a land that doesn't belong to god that doesn't honor god that doesn't love god
And so we are here as sojourners carrying a message
And so yes while we do enjoy some of the benefits of that citizenship now in our individual lives
There is something so much better to come and it's ultimate fulfillment and that's what we look forward to
That's what we hang on to in in especially in the church of the kingdom of god
And that's what we hang on to in especially in difficult times
That's what we hang on to when things don't make sense
We hang on to that when we look around the world and we see the evil that is being perpetrated and we say god why?
We talked about that in a study a couple weeks ago
That we hang on to the truth and the hope and the promise that god's kingdom is coming
And that one day god's will will be done
That it will be a world of righteousness a place of righteousness
led by god himself
But now we come to the 24 elders and and we see these 24 elders often in the book of revelation verse 16
It says the 24 elders who were seated before god on their thrones fell face down and worshiped god
Now these guys pop up in heavenly scenes
to give praise to god
That's what we see them do over and over they they they pop up they appear on the scene
And and it's like they fall down on their faces and it's not because they have trouble walking or anything like that
The idea is that they're just overwhelmed with the glory of god and his awesomeness and his holiness and they just
They they they can't help but to fall down on their faces and worship of him
Now these 24 elders as we've talked about in the past
We know they're not angels because angels not a single time in scripture are ever seen seated on thrones
So these 24 elders are not angels
They represent the church. They represent the redeemed the glorified church in heaven
Specifically the the church that has caught up to heaven prior to this tribulation period
An event we refer to as as the rapture of the church
As god takes the redeemed and the faithful out of the world before he begins to pour out his judgments
upon this earth
This is incidentally the third time we've seen these 24 elders give praise to god the first time was in chapter four
As john was caught up to heaven and before tribulation happens
He's given this beautiful picture this scene of the throne room of god
And all he sees there is worship taking place and worship and he sees these 24 elders are
Worshiping god and they're in chapter four. They're worshiping god because he's their creator
And then in chapter five we see the 24 elders again they're worshiping god now because he's their redeemer
And here we see them now worshiping god
As the rightful king and judge of all the earth
And so what do they say in verse 17?
It says we give you thanks lord god
the almighty
Who is and who was?
Because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign
The nations were angry, but your wrath has come
The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to your servants the prophets to the saints
And to those who fear you
Name both small and great and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth
And so these 24 others they fall in their face and worship. What do they say?
We give you thanks lord god
That's how they start their worship here and it's just interesting like the sounding of the seventh trump
There's a lot of commotion going on in heaven here. There's a lot of activity. There's a lot of noise
You have the trumpet sound
You have these loud voices you have worship going on and and it's just it's it's this picture at least what I see is it's loud
Now this may be an unpopular opinion, but I think god likes loud worship
I think he does
We see worship loudly multiple times throughout god's word
And since we see worship loudly
Multiple times throughout god's word and since we see loud worship in heaven a lot. I
Think we might get used to it here and now
Okay
Um because it's going to be that way for forever
Now I know loud is a subjective thing to different people and and I think god knows that right and
You know when we get to heaven whatever loud is for you. It's going to be perfectly that loud
But the idea here if we are god's people
And and the kingdom of god has has come to us through our through our
Acceptance of him as our lord and savior our faith placed in him
For what he did if if we are god's people and the kingdom of god has come to us because we've received the king
The idea is that we should then naturally be thankful people
We should naturally be thankful people
Giving of thanks should be second nature for us as god's people
It really should that's that's a that's a function of the holy spirit dwelling within us
That's a function of our hearts being redeemed and transformed is that we should be thankful people
Paul said in Philippians chapter 2 verse 14
Do everything without grumbling and arguing
Arguing is the csb version you might be more familiar with
The new king james where it says do everything without grumbling and complaining
right
And that idea of complaining is the idea of arguing
Because when we're complaining we're really arguing against our circumstances
And when we're complaining against god what we're really doing is arguing with god for what he is allowing in that moment
We are daring to say god, I think you're wrong. I don't agree with this. This isn't right
And paul said look do everything without that attitude, you know, I mean if we're honest if we're honest
I think most of us are probably way better at complaining than we are at giving thanks
You know, it's like it's like as kids are growing up, you know
And the first time the kid, you know tries to hide the cookie behind their back that they took off the
Out of the cookie jar and you're like who taught you how to do that? Right? Nobody had to teach them how to lie
Nobody had to teach them how to deceive, you know, and and really nobody has to teach us how to complain about things
It's just it's a part of our fallen nature
And we're not complaining about things
It's just it's a part of our fallen nature. It's a part of our fallen nature to complain and to grumble about stuff, you know
Um, I heard this is some people consider it a maximum a maximum of life
But the idea is that nobody ever says anything until they want to complain about something
And you may have seen that you know if you've
Led something, you know and you're pouring your heart and soul into it, you know
And sometimes it's discouraging nobody ever comes up and says hey great job great job
But the second something goes wrong. Wow, do you hear about it, right?
And and and it's just it's a part of our nature to do that
But right here in the middle of tribulation
In the middle of judgments in the middle of destruction and devastation in the middle of a time
Where I think anybody would go well, I can understand the complaining and the grumbling
We see a song of thanksgiving
We see a song of praise. Why well it tells us right there while they're praising him
Because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign
We give you thanks lord god almighty who is and who was because you have taken your great power
And have begun to reign that's what they're praising him for as they're watching they're observing from heaven
All this stuff take place as they're going wow, look at look at the judgments falling
That's tragic and that's terrible and the earth is being judged and the people are being judged
And ultimately it's sin and wickedness that is being judged. They give this praise to god
They give this thanks to god because what they're seeing
What they're observing they're watching they're thanking god for his sovereign power and the fact that he is exercising it
This is the moment
That many of us are waiting for when we ask that question why god do you allow this
Why god won't you punish that why god won't you judge them?
Right now god is waiting for all
For all who would hear the gospel of jesus christ
To accept it but the time is coming the time is coming where he will exercise his sovereign power
Where he will exercise his judgment and in that exercising of his judgment and in that final judgment upon sin then he is able
To finally reign and fully exert his authority no more holding back
Right as we've been looking at the judgments of ron and the judgment of the world
One of the things I see in there is is god almighty who could just with a thought obliterate everything
Says here's a judgment
And it doesn't obliterate everything and then no
Here's a little bit more of a severe judgment. No, here's a little bit more of a severe right and he's doing it
It's almost like he's holding back
And I think that is an accurate picture because god wants people to get something
Right and he's doing it. It's almost like he's holding back and I think that is an accurate picture because god wants people to get saved
But the time will come where there's no more holding back
And the people in heaven are thanking him for it thanking him for it
And there is place for that and it is a good thing that when righteousness finally prevails it's it's praise god
It's when when wickedness that that fully and completely and finally and thoroughly rejects god completely says okay gets what's coming to it praise god
We don't want anybody to go to hell
God doesn't want anybody to go to hell but many will choose to do so
And when they do it's going to be righteous and it's going to be just and it's going to be right and appropriate
And what we see here is i'm thanking god for that
Thanking god that he followed through thanking god that he he held the line that he that he maintained and enforced his standard
thanking god for that
Verse 18
Really he goes on to say the nations were angry and your wrath has come and the time has come for the dead to be
Judged and to give the reward to your servants the prophets the saints and to those who fear your name both small and great
And the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth. This is
Really encompassing
The mindset that opening part the nations were angry
It's encompassing the mindset of of really the the world over the entire seven year tribulation period
The nations were angry, right?
What he's mentioning here is national hostility. He's he's mentioning international hostility
He's mentioning the fact that the worlds were angry at god and his people
And we see that today
We see that today and it's only going to keep escalating earlier in chapter 11. We read about these two witnesses
That was our last look here
And we read that the world hated them so much and they're witnessing about jesus that when they were murdered by the antichrist the whole
World celebrated it says with joy and gifts gifts
People sent gifts to one another celebrating the murder of these two witnesses who who did what?
Proclaim the gospel of jesus christ
And they were so excited that they were dead that that when they were murdered they didn't even get the bodies
They just left them on the street for three and a half days to rot
They were angry with the 144 000 jewish evangelists who had been on the scene and the multitudes won to jesus because of their evangelism
And that anger starting in the beginning of revelation carries all the way through some of them just hate god so much
And will not repent revelation 16 9 at the fourth bowl judgment. It tells us the people blasphemed the name of god
There's no question whether it's god the god of the world
No question whether it's god pouring these judgments out at this point, but they blaspheme his name instead of repenting
Revelation 16 11 at the fifth bowl judgment. It says again. They blasphemed the god of heavens the god of the heavens
Revelation 16 21 at the seventh bowl judgment it again says they blasphemed god
And then that word blasphemed means to revile or to speak against someone with hate
Harmful or injurious intent now?
I I the question comes to my head. Can you imagine someone?
Recognizing god almighty creator of the universe recognizing the judgments falling and then still being in the place to revile his name to speak against him
With hate to speak harm upon him. Can you imagine that and then as I ask that question I go
Yeah, I can because that's exactly what I did before I knew jesus christ
In one breath I'd go there is no god, but if he was real right and then I would just blaspheme
From the very beginning to the very end mankind
Is rebellious against god stubborn against his offer they shake their fist at god instead of repenting of sins
But what does it say here in revelation?
But your wrath has come
But your wrath has come but your wrath has come this speaks of judgment this speaks about what is happening during this time
What is happening up to this point in tribulation?
And then what is looked at in in in what's to come as the tribulation closes through the bowl judgments your wrath has come
heaven is rejoicing at this the 24 elders fall down in worship and and and are giving thanks for the
judgment that is falling and
And again, you go. Why would the church get so excited about a god who would judge the earth?
That's one of the critiques people have
against that right
You you you share judgment with them, right?
This is this is instantly why some of us in our evangelism get afraid to to
Share that part of the gospel and all we want to do is god loves you so much. That's all we want to say
right
God loves you so much. Oh just oh, please please god loves you so much and then and then sometimes we wonder
Why why won't people respond to that we get it?
And one of the foundational things about ray comfort in his ministry
Was the idea that if you don't warn people what they need to be saved from they're not going to see any value in the saving
Right
You know he uses an illustration of being on an airplane the airplanes flying fine everything is good and you run up to him
Go you need to put on the parachute and they're like why?
planes fine
But pop out a few windows have a door open nose dive that thing see how fast they'll put the parachute on
And the idea is that that that that people are gonna gonna
just
revile
God and and we're like how can how can they think that and then?
God says my wrath is gonna come my wrath is gonna be poured out
We think how can he do that and then when we try and share that with people in evangelism first
They'll go oh, there's no god. I don't care if he loves me
And then you share his judgment is coming upon you and what do they say all the time?
How could a god of love judge people?
It's not logic that you're arguing with when you share the gospel with people it's the heart
They're always gonna have a reason to reject
You know your logic you got to get to the heart issue the sin issue right anyways, that's a that's a different study
But but for some it could be hard to consider that god's wrath will ever come upon the earth in in the way
that's being described here in revelation, but
If you if you just think today if you think of places like india and in the philippines in thailand and
places in africa and in many other places where christians today have had their families literally butchered before their eyes simply
For confessing jesus christ is lord and lord
Because it's simply for confessing jesus christ is lord and savior
Because it happens today
When you think of people being beheaded
Simply because they're christians
You think of places where people have been actively persecuted and killed just because the world hates their faith that much
Well thinking of those types of things we might understand why the church would rejoice when god's wrath finally comes
So and and really we saw a glimpse of this under the altar if you remember back when we looked at the tribulation saints
They were under the altar and they're like god how long we let this go on how long you're gonna let your people suffer
How long till you avenge our blood?
Right we lived for you god we we lived for you we loved you we preached the gospel and they hurt us they killed us
They slaughtered us when will you do something?
Well now that announcement comes
And they rejoice and I think they rightly rejoice
The kingdoms of this world are over god is stepping in and the 24 elders which represent the church there in heaven are just
Worshipping at his perfect righteousness and his perfect righteous judgment
It's coming but right now he is still patiently waiting
And if you don't know jesus you need to know him today because his wrath is coming
And if you don't like that message i'm sorry I love you enough to share it with you
But he says the time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward
To your servants the prophets to the saints and to those who fear your name both small and great
This may be referring to two events two different events that happen a thousand years apart and what I mean by that is later on in revelation
We're going to read about something called the first resurrection which is the resurrection of the just right the resurrection of believers where it's it's those who believe
In jesus christ are rewarded for their um service and and and then there's this they they're they're raised back
Then jesus comes he reigns on the earth for a thousand years it's called the millennial kingdom and then after that
You have this judgment called the great white throne judgment where the wicked of all time are judged finally
And that's where we're going to read that their names aren't found in the book of life and then they are punished forever
But all of this is is there's a time for the dead to be judged and there's a time for the rewarding of the saints
There are there are two different kind of events here and there is a time coming for all those who serve god now through
Through through everything through all the persecution through all the difficulties through all the hardship and the suffering
There's a time coming where where rewards are going to be given for that service that obedience to christ in this in this life
You know in in i mean revelation 22 12 jesus himself says look i'm coming soon
And my reward is with me to repay each person who has been given to me and who has been given to me
Says look i'm coming soon and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work
So there is this biblical idea that there's going to be reward from our king for our service to him
And it isn't wrong to consider that it isn't wrong to be motivated by that
I think god knew exactly who we were when he made us and he knew that we were motivated by reward
It was just something that was a part of of of how he made us
It's one of the ways that that that we function right that's why we'll work harder because we know a promotion is at the end
Of the line right we'll we'll push a little harder because there might be more profit in in that that business venture we're doing
And we're motivated by these things
And in second corinthians 5 10 in romans chapter 14 verse 10
There's this phrase that is written there by paul called the judgment seat of god or the judgment seat of christ
It's a very specific phrase he uses in romans 14 says 14 10
He says for we will all stand before the judgment seat of god
And in second corinthians 5 10 he says for we must all appear before the judgment seat of christ
Now in both of those instances he's writing to believers
And so that phrase judgment seat of christ in the original language it's the bema seat
The bema seat and some of you might be familiar with this but the bema seat of christ is is is the reward seat
All right, it's the reward seat if you will so um the idea is this is that if you know jesus christ is your lord and savior
You're not going to stand before god
In in judgment and condemnation you're never that's all been taken care of that was taken care of by the blood of christ at the cross
right
Some people have this idea as christians is like you're gonna die and we're all gonna get to heaven and we're gonna be sitting in
A big auditorium like this and then god's gonna say nathan
And then my video is gonna play on the screen
And it's gonna be embarrassing right you're like, oh no
Right, and then and then your name and then you're in it right and and we think and then it's gonna be like
Come forward for judgment and it's like that's not that's not what's gonna take place for the believer
Because judgment for our sin has all been dealt with at the cross
Jesus died for all of it
He shed his blood for all of it and so the idea is that that the judgment seat of christ for the believer
It's a reward seat. It's a place where we're going to be rewarded to to greater or lesser degrees
Based upon our obedience to god based upon our service the based upon how we lived our life
For him in knowing him here on this earth. That's the idea of all of this
It's not a judgment on sin, but it's a determination of reward based upon how you lived
And so then you go wow, what's the reward?
Right lamborghini
That'd be awesome
I heard there's streets of gold like can you drift, you know through heaven? I mean that would be fun
Well primarily the reward is to inherit the kingdom to rule and reign with christ
And so the first thing you do is you take the first step
So primarily the reward is to inherit the kingdom to rule and reign with christ
We are co-heirs with christ and co-rulers with christ specifically during the millennial kingdom
But the bible references crowns different types of crowns will have and there are these crowns will throw at his feet when we're worshiping him
But but beyond the concept of of being saved and ruling and reigning with him
I don't know exactly what those rewards will look like. Okay
I just know that they're promised
They're promised and so um, I do know this though that most of the rewards that were promised
They're they're not rewards that we're going to be getting here in this life
Um, so if you're the type of person who needs accolades and affirmation and pats on the back here on earth
Uh, you're you're probably going to have a miserable time
Because here on earth serving jesus, although there are blessings to come
Yes serving jesus here on this earth means a lot of misunderstanding and being misjudged and being misinterpreted and difficulty and trouble
It means a whole lot of that. Why?
Because we're sojourners in a foreign land preaching a message at the people that are of this land don't want to hear
And in fact the world is going to hate you because you love god that's what jesus said
The world's going to hate you because you put him first and serve him. You'll catch flak
For telling your employer i'm not available sunday morning because I go to church
You'll be ridiculed for volunteering to serve in the church you're not getting paid for that. What are you some kind of slave?
It happens all the time you'll suffer rejection when you put jesus and others first before yourself, right?
You'll be ridiculed for doing what's right over what's best for you in that sense, but later your rewards will come
That's why jesus said store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves don't steal
So then he says the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth now
You know man
climate change advocates
They love this verse
Right, they just love this verse the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth
You and your polluting vehicles and your over consumption of energy and and
That's not at all what he's talking about
Okay, he's not talking about pollution. He's not talking about melting icebergs or carbon footprints. He's talking about sin
He's talking about sin the idea is that way back in the beginning satan
Came into the garden and lured mankind into sin and he observed the whole thing and man gave over the title deed to
To satan and in that whole instance
That's when sin and death entered the world and all of those who are aligned with satan
Against god by rejecting christ are the ones who have ruined the earth
Polluted god's creation destroyed his creation because sin destroys the heart of man
That is where it all starts and everything else is a result of the heart of man being destroyed
So verse 19 it says then the temple of god in heaven was opened in the ark of his covenant appeared in the temple
There were flashes of lightning rumbling through the sky
And the temple there were flashes of lightning rumblings and peals of thunder and earthquake and severe
hail
And so this picture again is when the time comes
That that god's house will be fully out fully open to to to all who who are his
The the the opening to the innermost sanctum of his presence will be accessible
No more veil no more block no more anything, you know
Jesus came to to to die to to give us that access to god and and right now we we have access through prayer and worship
But the time is coming where we will be there with him in god's presence now
Um, some look at this. Uh, the language here could be both figurative or literal
Or both. Okay, but literally
Hebrews really hammers the point that the tabernacle on earth was a model of the true temple in heaven, right?
It says it's a model. So there's a literal idea
And of course in revelation we've already seen that john is observing thrones and altars and floor like glass and all kinds of stuff
So it could be literally referring to some actual temple of god there in the heavenlies. That'll be open to us
Figuratively, it could simply be referring to the idea that god's full covenant in heaven
The covenant of salvation will be fully realized and available to us there in heaven
The ark there was in the temple on earth and the ark here on earth contained the ten commandments of god's law
And they were shattered which was a picture that within the ark up under the mercy seat was the broken law because man had broke god's law
But the blood was sprinkled on that seat to say god, please forgive them for that
And that lid be in the mercy seat where the blood was sprinkled it was the picture of god forgiving the sins of his people
And here on earth that room that holy of holies that innermost place where the ark was was only accessible by one guy
The high priest on one day a year
So here the picture of god god's temple being opened and the ark of the covenant appearing there
Just it could be a a figurative picture of of that access
That access to that covenant fully realized fully perfected is is accessible to all at all times
Like god's saying here at the end of all things like in heaven fellowship is going to be perfect and broke unbroken intimate at all times
Based upon the shed blood of jesus christ
Um could go either way there
But as we look around our world today we see many people living as if nothing will ever change that life is just always gonna go on and time is just gonna march forward with no change
That there'll be no catastrophes there'll be no cataclysms everything will continue to be the same
Just as it always has
And some people we talk to you know we try and share the fact that the kingdom is coming and judgment is coming and god offers salvation to you
They say look you know my grandpa said jesus was coming back and he didn't
And my parents told me jesus was coming back and he didn't and now you're saying jesus is coming back and you know what
I don't think he is
I don't think he is but the bible tells us that we cannot count god's long suffering as negligence
We can't count his patience as neglect and we can't buy into the idea that yeah it has been a long time no he's coming back
He is coming back and yes things are getting worse and humanity is getting more and more debauched and yes jesus will return
And his kingdom will come the end of all of it is coming and so for us today as we live today there is still hope in the face of this very dark direction that the history of mankind is marching into
God's kingdom will come his will will be done
Human history is heading somewhere like I said and everything is exactly on god's schedule as we're seeing here in Revelation
God knows and the day is coming when jesus christ god almighty will reign forever and ever and he will be reigning in a kingdom that has no end
So for us today as god's people with that encouragement and that hope if we know that future is coming what are you doing to invest in it
What are you doing to invest in that future to be prepared and ready for that future for the christian our future our hope it's heaven
It's paradise with god and that is what we should be investing in above all
Storing our treasures up in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy where thieves do not break in and steal
The idea is if everything important to you is in this life you're going to be sorely disappointed because you're going to leave this life one day
But what we've stored up in the heavenlies what we've done for god how we've lived for him how we've taken jesus not just into our lives but then shared him to the people we come across all of that work of living an obedient life to him and shining the light of the gospel all of that is storing up our treasures to come
And so the forecast here in the in the midst of this tribulation period that we're reading about through revelation the forecast here in revelation 11 is that it's all going to be fine soon because the one who knows the future said so
His kingdom is coming
So I encourage all of us let's get ready for that kingdom to come
Let's get ready for that kingdom by worshiping and serving the king every day here on earth amen
Let's pray father we love you so much God and we thank you Lord
We believe your word and we know it's true even the hard stuff
God we know that it is not your hope that any would perish but that all would find eternal life
And so God you put the offer out there to all who would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ the reality that they have sinned against you and that as a holy and just and right and perfect God
The Lord you have to judge sin
You just can't turn a blind eye because then you would be unjust
And so God we know that your wrath is coming upon this earth we know that a time is coming where this age of grace will be over God and so Lord we know that we have a mandate is your people to not just live as Christians but to shine as Christians
Yes Lord to be obedient to you in our daily living and obedient to you and our families and our marriages and obedient to you and raising our kids and obedient to you at work and all of that.
But all of that Lord is a function of us being witnesses of who you are in our lives and witnesses of the truth that we believe in
So help us God
The Lord we do hold to the hope that one day you will judge all of it and we thank you for that
God we know that it isn't wrong and inappropriate for us to be thankful that you will one day judge sin finally and completely
But God may we never in that thankfulness God find any joy in anybody perishing without you
So help us Lord to be motivated by what is to come your kingdom come and your will to be done one day
So help us Lord to be motivated Lord to be people who just shine the light of the gospel
Lord we love you so much we thank you for our salvation we thank you for the blessings in our lives
And we even thank you for the difficulties God because we know if the difficulties weren't there we're probably not doing what we should be doing here on this earth Lord
Help us to be lights on the hill Lord fill us with your spirit empower us and equip us to do what you're calling us to do
As we wait for your kingdom to come in Jesus name we pray Amen let's worship guys