1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,520 Well, we like to open by saying welcome first to those of you that may be joining us for 2 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:11,120 the first time here in our sanctuary or if you're joining us online for the first time, 3 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:12,120 yeah, welcome. 4 00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:15,920 We're so glad you're here to worship with us today. 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:22,240 I am Pastor Nathan and this morning we're going to be looking at the seventh seal in 6 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:27,240 Revelation and the first four trumpet judgments of Revelation. 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,800 I titled this study Trumpets of Woe. 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,920 Some people call it Trumpets of Doom. 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:37,760 Doom, woe, whatever negative term you could think of is kind of where we're getting into 10 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,040 the book of Revelation. 11 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:44,000 The end of the world is a fascinating subject. 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,800 It's an interesting subject for many. 13 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,380 There's been movies made about the end of the world. 14 00:00:50,380 --> 00:00:53,560 Books have been written about the end of the world. 15 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:54,620 It's just interesting. 16 00:00:54,620 --> 00:00:59,720 When I was in eighth grade and I went to summer camp at First Baptist Church of Bellflower, 17 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,800 they had this little chapel on the edge of the camp territory. 18 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:11,280 It was kind of like a prayer chapel, but it had this really big illustrated scary important 19 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,960 looking Bible sitting on the little altar in there. 20 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:18,000 Me and my friends would go to this camp. 21 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,960 We didn't know Jesus at all, but one of the things we always found interesting was going 22 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:26,660 to that chapel and turning to the book of Revelation because it was the scary book. 23 00:01:26,660 --> 00:01:27,680 It was the action book. 24 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,160 It was the end of the world book. 25 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,420 Some Gallup polls that are taken say that the end of the world is one of the top issues 26 00:01:35,420 --> 00:01:38,200 on people's minds. 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,120 Really people have been thinking about the end of the world since the beginning of the 28 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:42,120 world. 29 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,520 When is the end going to come and what's that going to look like? 30 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:51,980 On top of that, the end of the world, it's an area of biblical study all on its own. 31 00:01:51,980 --> 00:01:55,840 The term for this is eschatology, if you're familiar with that. 32 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,680 That comes from the term eska, which means end things. 33 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,560 So eschatology is the study of end things. 34 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,160 There are theology classes in Bible schools and universities worldwide. 35 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:15,400 Entire sections are devoted to eschatology, the study of the things of the end times. 36 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:16,960 It's an important biblical concept. 37 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,320 It's something the Bible talks a lot about. 38 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,280 Prophecy deals with the end times in great detail. 39 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:28,200 In the book of Daniel, the phrase the time of the end is used five different times. 40 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:35,280 In the New Testament, we see Jesus using the term the end of the age a whole bunch of times. 41 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,280 But really the question that comes up for some people when we're studying things like 42 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,560 the book of Revelation or studying eschatology is what is the point and the benefit to the 43 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,740 believer today in studying the end times? 44 00:02:47,740 --> 00:02:48,740 What is the point? 45 00:02:48,740 --> 00:02:55,200 Well, among many, I think one of them is found in Matthew chapter 24 verse 35. 46 00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:03,340 And Jesus said this, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 47 00:03:03,340 --> 00:03:07,440 You see, in studying Revelation, in studying the words of God in the Bible, seeing what 48 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:12,440 is taking place in our world today, seeing the darkness that is falling in our world 49 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:18,440 today, the study of these things for us today is meant to bring us peace. 50 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,480 It's meant to bring us peace and hope. 51 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:26,680 It's meant to bring us to a place where we place our trust in God fully because we know 52 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,740 how the story ends. 53 00:03:28,740 --> 00:03:31,360 We know how things are going to unfold. 54 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:36,480 We know the purpose and plan of God for His people, at least as it is revealed in His 55 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:37,480 word. 56 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,900 And so those that believe, the Bible tells us, will be saved. 57 00:03:40,900 --> 00:03:44,880 Those that have put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ will be saved. 58 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,900 Sin and Satan will be dealt with. 59 00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:54,520 And we have peace today, knowing our future, knowing that our future is secure and knowing 60 00:03:54,520 --> 00:04:00,120 in the face of all the sin we see in the world today that justice will be done. 61 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:05,720 Last week we saw an intermission, if you will, between the sixth and seventh seals, an intermission, 62 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:13,880 a pause in the action as we looked at really something taking place after God had begun 63 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,600 to release His judgments on the earth. 64 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:21,120 Through chapter six we saw as the seals began to be opened, we saw how the Antichrist was 65 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:26,440 allowed to step into the earth and take control of the earth, conquering the earth, if you 66 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:32,200 will, not through warfare initially but through a false peace, allegedly solving all the problems 67 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,960 of the planet, solving all the conflicts and everybody's issues. 68 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,720 But that peace quickly turned into war as we saw the red horse and then the black horse 69 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,140 and then the pale horse come in as war entered into the earth. 70 00:04:45,140 --> 00:04:49,400 And then we saw a picture of people being murdered for their faith, people who had turned 71 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:56,400 to God during this time of tribulation, daring to cry out to Jesus Christ for salvation, 72 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:00,780 daring to preach that Jesus is the answer as it's always been preached. 73 00:05:00,780 --> 00:05:04,560 And yet they were murdered for their faith and then we see them crying out to God to 74 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,320 avenge them. 75 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:13,420 And then we see the beginning of the devastations of the creation by the Creator as God starts 76 00:05:13,420 --> 00:05:17,980 to pour out signs and wonders and destructions upon the earth. 77 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:23,040 And even in that we saw that mankind still, instead of turning to God in the face of these 78 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:28,000 judgments, still would turn to the creation for protection as they went and hid in the 79 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,520 rocks and the mountains and crying out to the rocks and mountains to save them instead 80 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,200 of the Creator. 81 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,440 And then we saw just before things start to get even worse, God's seal. 82 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:44,040 During this pause between the six and seven seals of Revelation, God then seals 144,000 83 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:50,560 people from His chosen people, the Jews, Israel, to preach the gospel worldwide. 84 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:55,360 And we saw them called and protected to do that work, to preach that Jesus is the Messiah 85 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:56,360 worldwide. 86 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:01,440 And then we saw this picture where that led to this vast uncountable multitude coming 87 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:06,400 to Christ over the course of this tribulation period, a multitude so huge it couldn't be 88 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:07,400 counted. 89 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:11,000 And then we saw worship taking place there in heaven. 90 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:16,280 But yet there are others still on earth clinging arrogantly to their sin, clinging arrogantly 91 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:24,000 to their sinful ways and their rebellion, refusing to acknowledge God as Lord, as Master, 92 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,480 refusing to accept Him as Savior. 93 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:31,360 And so the judgments continue to escalate with the opening of the seventh seal. 94 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,880 And with that then comes the commencement of the seven trumpet judgments, the second 95 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,960 section of judgments that God is pouring out on the earth during this time. 96 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,880 So that's what we're going to be looking at today in Revelation chapter 8, but before 97 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,140 we do that we're going to spend some time in worship. 98 00:06:46,140 --> 00:06:49,420 Because even though we're looking at this horrible time of tribulation, the picture 99 00:06:49,420 --> 00:06:56,520 of this, the picture of this is how serious God takes sin and what God's judgment of sin 100 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,900 is going to look like during the tribulation period. 101 00:06:58,900 --> 00:07:02,280 But today we are saved. 102 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:05,860 We have been saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and hallelujah, that is something 103 00:07:05,860 --> 00:07:07,840 to praise God for, amen. 104 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:11,400 Let's worship God, or let's pray, then we'll worship God. 105 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,520 We thank you Lord so much for your salvation. 106 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,760 We thank you God that you died on the cross, Lord, that the entire wrath of God in this 107 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:23,040 age of grace started with the wrath being poured out on you. 108 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:29,160 As you stepped into our place to take our punishment, our penalty for our sin, that 109 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:33,880 Lord we would be able to find salvation in you through faith in your work, faith in you 110 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:38,280 as God, faith in what you did for us. 111 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,480 And Lord we say thank you for that. 112 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:46,320 But Lord we know that this time, this age of grace, where people have the opportunity 113 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,880 to come to you before the terrible time of tribulation, Lord we know time is running 114 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:52,340 out. 115 00:07:52,340 --> 00:07:56,880 And your word encourages us to redeem the time for the days are short. 116 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,360 And so Lord we are so grateful for the salvation you've given us God. 117 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,560 And I pray Lord that as we worship you this morning and open today and worship God that 118 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:11,400 we would remember what you've done for us and remember the call Lord, the call to go 119 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,840 out and tell others that don't yet know you about that. 120 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,840 Because judgment is coming. 121 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,840 The time of the end is coming Lord. 122 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:26,720 And God we want as many as will to be saved and to come to heaven with us. 123 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:31,560 But Lord you are almighty and that is worth worship. 124 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,060 You are just, that is worth worship. 125 00:08:34,060 --> 00:08:37,040 You are holy, that is worth worship. 126 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:38,160 God you are perfect. 127 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:39,600 We worship you now. 128 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,960 In Jesus name we pray, amen. 129 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:48,640 All right we are in Revelation chapter 8 and so if you will read with me starting in verse 130 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:49,760 1. 131 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:54,520 It says when he opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about a half an 132 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:55,520 hour. 133 00:08:55,520 --> 00:09:00,080 Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God. 134 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,840 Seven trumpets were given to them. 135 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:07,180 Another angel with a golden incense burner came and stood at the altar. 136 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:12,600 He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on 137 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,820 the golden altar in front of the throne. 138 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:20,720 The smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints went up in the presence of God 139 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,760 from the angel's hand. 140 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,240 The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it 141 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:28,940 to the earth. 142 00:09:28,940 --> 00:09:36,520 And there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 143 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:42,720 So verse 1 here of chapter 8 it's a pretty significant contrast to what we've read so 144 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,800 far taking place there in heaven. 145 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:52,040 If you remember over the last couple chapters there has been a lot of noise in heaven. 146 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,400 Lots and lots of noise, joyful noise. 147 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:00,320 Worship has been taking place as the angels are worshiping and the saints are worshiping 148 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,760 and the elders are worshiping and the four living creatures are worshiping. 149 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:10,000 And so chapters 4 and 5 are all full of heavenly worship, loud singing. 150 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:15,520 And then in chapter 6 the angel comes along and calls out to John and says, come and see. 151 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:16,860 Come and see. 152 00:10:16,860 --> 00:10:19,500 Come and see over and over as the seals are opened. 153 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:23,960 The martyrs we see under the altar saying, Lord, how long? 154 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:25,980 How long until you avenge us? 155 00:10:25,980 --> 00:10:33,740 So there's lots of activity, lots of talking, lots of worshiping, a whole lot of noise. 156 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:36,080 And then silence. 157 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,520 Silence. 158 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:44,480 It says there's silence upon the opening of the seven seal for about a half an hour. 159 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:45,880 It's an ominous phrase. 160 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,120 It's intended to be an ominous phrase. 161 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:53,960 Now half an hour may not seem like a long time to any of you. 162 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:59,380 It really isn't a long time in the context of time, right? 163 00:10:59,380 --> 00:11:05,120 But in terms of a dramatic pause, it's a long time. 164 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:06,480 Try it. 165 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,680 Try and just be still. 166 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:10,680 Be quiet. 167 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:15,640 No rustling, no sound, nothing for a half an hour. 168 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:19,200 And you'll find out how uncomfortable it can be. 169 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:25,080 You know, Pastor Gary was known to do these dramatic type pauses when making decisions. 170 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:31,400 If you ever had the opportunity to sit with him during one of those moments, they were 171 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,720 long and uncomfortable at times. 172 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:42,280 You know, when I first was asked to come on staff in 2000, I think it was, as the junior 173 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:47,100 high leader, I was in a meeting with Pastor Gary and he was sharing with me what God was 174 00:11:47,100 --> 00:11:48,240 doing with the ministry. 175 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,480 I was a counselor in the ministry at the time. 176 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:55,640 And I remember he said, hey, there's an opportunity to come up and we would like to offer the 177 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,600 junior high ministry to you. 178 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,940 We would like you to take over leadership of it. 179 00:12:00,940 --> 00:12:04,600 And I was super blessed and honored and scared. 180 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:10,360 But for some, I can only call it youthful arrogance reason. 181 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:16,200 I said, I won't do it unless you bring me on staff full time. 182 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,480 And he looked at me and he did that Pastor Gary head tilt. 183 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:20,760 Some of you have seen that, right? 184 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,880 Can be terrifying. 185 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:31,000 Kind of furled his brow a little bit, rubbed his cheek and didn't say a word. 186 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,000 Silence. 187 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,000 Dramatic pause. 188 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,920 Now, it was a terrifying pause. 189 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:42,760 And to be honest, I wasn't sure if he wasn't figuring out a way, how do I kill this arrogant 190 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:43,760 punk? 191 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:44,760 Right? 192 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:49,160 At least that might have been what I was thinking at the time. 193 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:55,240 Later I learned that during those dramatic pauses, it was Pastor Gary praying and going, 194 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:56,760 Lord, what do you think? 195 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,400 Lord, what's your direction? 196 00:12:58,400 --> 00:12:59,400 What's your will? 197 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,320 And something, a great habit that I learned from him. 198 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,880 And the pause was probably no more than 30 seconds. 199 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,640 But man, it felt like 30 minutes. 200 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:11,360 It was very uncomfortable. 201 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,880 And here we see this picture in heaven. 202 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:22,600 Every angel, every elder, every creature, all the martyrs, everybody there in heaven. 203 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,200 Silent for 30 minutes. 204 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:30,520 Now contextually, because we have the whole book of Revelation, we know that the silence 205 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:35,200 is the calm before the storm of the escalating judgments that are about to fall upon the 206 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:36,700 earth. 207 00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:39,640 This chapter opens up as the seventh seal is open. 208 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:45,280 The seventh seal, the last of the seals that were keeping the scroll that was closed, the 209 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:51,400 scroll that the lamb purchased with his blood, the scroll now being fully unraveled, fully 210 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,400 unfurled. 211 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,560 And the implication there is that everybody in heaven that is there present could see 212 00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:58,080 this scroll being unfurled. 213 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:03,360 And as they observe the scroll being opened, everyone is silent. 214 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,160 Almost like they're holding their breath. 215 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,600 It's like there's a waiting in this dramatic pause. 216 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,360 All the worship stops. 217 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,140 All speaking stops. 218 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:14,560 And they're in silence. 219 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,480 I believe it's a silence of awe. 220 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:22,280 We know scripture tells us to be still and know that I am God. 221 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:30,400 And I believe the silence is a moment where they're realizing it's about to happen. 222 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,160 The judgments have started to unfurl. 223 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:39,480 And as mankind is still rejected God and still chosen to deny God and still chosen their 224 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:45,020 rebellion as the scroll is finally fully opened, there's a silence of awe. 225 00:14:45,020 --> 00:14:48,480 There's a silence of dread at what's about to happen. 226 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,600 Silence because of the terrible, terrible judgments that are about to fall upon the 227 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,800 earth. 228 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,760 But I also believe it's a silence of joy. 229 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:04,640 A joyous silence, an eager anticipation because the day has finally come. 230 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:10,640 The moment, the time of history has finally arrived that wickedness is finally going to 231 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,800 be dealt with on the earth. 232 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,760 Sin is finally going to get what's coming to it if you will. 233 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,880 Remember those martyrs are under the altar having been slain for their faith going, Lord, 234 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,440 how long till you avenge us? 235 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,580 It's something that we could find ourselves thinking in today's world, right? 236 00:15:27,580 --> 00:15:33,520 When we hear stories about murderers and rapists and pedophiles and we're like, Lord, how long 237 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,520 are you going to continue to allow this type of sin to be present in the world? 238 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:41,680 When are you going to deal with it? 239 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:50,440 And the moment has arrived and everybody is silent in anticipation about what's in the 240 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,140 presence of what is about to fall. 241 00:15:53,140 --> 00:15:54,560 Sin will be dealt with. 242 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:55,840 Satan will be destroyed. 243 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:56,840 Sin will be gone. 244 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,560 Jesus will finally reign forever. 245 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:09,800 God is finally taking it all back and there's this reverent, awe-filled silence. 246 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:14,560 And then verse two, it says, I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God. 247 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,680 Seven trumpets were given to them. 248 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:22,040 Now it's interesting there because when it says the seven angels, the is a definite article 249 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,560 in the original language, definite article. 250 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:29,880 What I mean by that, he doesn't just say and seven random angels. 251 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,720 The seven angels. 252 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,900 It's referring to seven specific angels. 253 00:16:37,900 --> 00:16:44,480 Specific angels with some type of rank or position or authority that are different from 254 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,200 the other angels there. 255 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:51,560 And it says the seven angels and it qualifies them who stand in the presence of God. 256 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,280 And you might think, wasn't everybody standing in the presence of God there in heaven at 257 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:56,600 this point? 258 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,600 Yes. 259 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:02,080 But the definite article there means that this standing in the presence of God is some 260 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:07,240 descriptor of their special nature, these particular seven angels. 261 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:13,600 And it shouldn't be strange for us to consider that because throughout scripture we see that 262 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:15,200 there's rankings of angels. 263 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,440 Paul in the New Testament spoke about this. 264 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:24,320 He said there's principalities and powers and rulers and others that are entitled dominions. 265 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:30,240 He referenced this kind of ranking of position or authority that angels have. 266 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,960 We know that scripture mentions archangels and cherubim and seraphim and so there's many 267 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:39,340 different rankings of angels in the heavenlies. 268 00:17:39,340 --> 00:17:43,800 What's really interesting I find regarding these particular seven angels who stand in 269 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:49,020 the presence of God is we might already know one of them by name. 270 00:17:49,020 --> 00:17:57,320 You see in Luke chapter one verse 19 it tells us the angel answered him, I am Gabriel who 271 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,960 stands in the presence of God. 272 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:05,540 And that word presence there in Luke chapter one is the same exact word for presence used 273 00:18:05,540 --> 00:18:08,960 here in Revelation chapter eight verse two. 274 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,760 That's speculative I know but it's an interesting detail nonetheless. 275 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:18,000 But these seven angels it tells us they were handed these seven trumpets and they take 276 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:22,080 these seven trumpets as verse six tells us and they're ready to sound them. 277 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:28,280 Now John who is recording all of this for us being a Jew himself would be very familiar 278 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:29,640 with the trumpet. 279 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:36,000 The trumpet as an instrument in the context of his culture and in the context of the history 280 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:41,140 of Israel because a trumpet if you go through the Old Testament and you study the history 281 00:18:41,140 --> 00:18:48,160 of Israel and the Jewish people you'll find that the trumpet is likely the most significant 282 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,540 instrument in Israel. 283 00:18:50,540 --> 00:18:53,000 It's the most significant instrument of the nation. 284 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,280 It was used in scripture more than any other instrument. 285 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,760 You know you have lyres, you have harps, you have timbrels but the trumpet we see in scripture 286 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:06,000 is used in the nation of Israel more than any other instrument. 287 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,220 It played a big role in all the meetings of the people of Israel. 288 00:19:10,220 --> 00:19:12,360 It was used to call the people together right. 289 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:16,800 They would sound the trumpet, they would sound the horns and the people would come together. 290 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,880 It was also something used to declare war that when the trumpet was sounded war was 291 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:22,060 declared. 292 00:19:22,060 --> 00:19:28,400 It was used during special festivals for different elements of the festivals but it's all over 293 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:29,400 the place. 294 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:36,320 You know when the law was given at Mount Sinai it tells us a trumpet was sounded. 295 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:42,860 When the children of Israel were at Jericho when they marched out and ended up leveling 296 00:19:42,860 --> 00:19:48,280 that city through the power of God what it tells us is that trumpets were sounded. 297 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:53,720 In first kings trumpets were sounded when a king was inaugurated or a king was anointed 298 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,440 to rule. 299 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:00,280 In Revelation chapter 1 John said that he heard the voice of Jesus and it sounded like 300 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,760 a trumpet. 301 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:08,520 In Revelation 4 it says the voice of that trumpet or the voice like that trumpet is 302 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:16,640 what called him up to heaven which I personally see as a picture of the rapture of the church. 303 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:21,560 Prior to the judgments taking place, prior to the seals being opened John is called up 304 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:26,760 to heaven with a voice of the trumpet and that lines up with 1st Thessalonians chapter 305 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:31,680 4 verses 16 through 18 where it says for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with 306 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:37,480 a shout and that word shout there means a command. 307 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:42,920 I don't know maybe a command like come up here is what we see in Revelation chapter 308 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:47,320 4 but it says he will descend from heaven with a shout with the archangel's voice and 309 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,720 with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. 310 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:55,280 Then we who are still alive who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds 311 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,720 to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. 312 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:05,440 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 313 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:06,720 Encourage one another with these words. 314 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,640 I'm encouraged by those words. 315 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:16,720 I hope you're encouraged by those words where like we see in Revelation chapter 4 that we 316 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:22,360 are called with that voice like the trumpet we are called before the seals, before the 317 00:21:22,360 --> 00:21:27,280 trumpet judgments, before the bowl judgments that pour out upon the earth that we are called 318 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:28,280 up. 319 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:35,680 That's not encouraging to me to think no God's going to leave me here as his child, as his 320 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:41,600 saved forgiven child and then pour out all this wrath on the world and let me who believes 321 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,240 in him now experience all that. 322 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:48,200 That's not encouraging to me and I know there's different interpretations of these things 323 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:54,760 but what I see here is this picture that we are called out but this trumpet is used in 324 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:55,960 all these different pictures. 325 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:01,880 These seven trumpets that John now sees taking place and it's a reoccurring note I keep pointing 326 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,840 out that John who represents the church being caught up to heaven is observing these things 327 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:08,160 from heaven. 328 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,200 He's observing what is taking place on earth from heaven. 329 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,560 He now sees these trumpets but they're not trumpets of festivals. 330 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,720 They're not trumpets of inauguration. 331 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,720 They're not even the trumpet of rapture because that has already happened. 332 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:24,160 They are trumpets of woe. 333 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:28,480 When they sound the trumpet and what comes from the sounding of these seven trumpets 334 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:35,360 we see in verse seven, verse eight, verse ten, verse twelve, chapter nine, verse one, 335 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:38,640 chapter nine, verse thirteen and chapter eleven, verse fifteen. 336 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:44,480 But before we get to those trumpets we see something that is taking place here in heaven, 337 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,080 verse three of Revelation eight. 338 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:51,040 Another angel with a golden incense burner came and stood at the altar. 339 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,520 He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on 340 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,320 the golden altar in front of the throne. 341 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:02,400 The smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints went up in the presence of God 342 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,160 from the angels hand. 343 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:11,000 Now in the book of Hebrews it teaches us that the tabernacle of God that existed on earth, 344 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:16,200 the tabernacle that traveled the Jewish people had in the wilderness as they traveled through, 345 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:21,760 that tabernacle that we see in the Old Testament was an earthly model of heaven, of the throne 346 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:23,600 room of God if you will. 347 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,680 And so in the tabernacle that we have on earth and you could study this in the Old Testament 348 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:29,760 there are actually two altars. 349 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,720 In the outer court you had what was called the brass altar or the brazen altar and that 350 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:39,280 was the altar where the animal sacrifices were killed, where the sacrifice would be 351 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,480 brought in, the sacrifice that was there for the people's sin. 352 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,960 It would be slaughtered on that altar, it would be burned on that altar but in the holy 353 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:53,320 place which was the place where the priest can go before the veil which separated the 354 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:58,440 holy of holies which only the high priest could go into, in the holy place there was 355 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:03,000 a much smaller golden altar in the tabernacle. 356 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,320 And what would happen is that the priest would take coal from the altar of sacrifice where 357 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,220 the sacrifice was burned, he would take one of the hot coals and he would place it inside 358 00:24:11,220 --> 00:24:14,960 this incense burner and you might have seen pictures of these, it's kind of like you got 359 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,900 a handle and a chain and there's this bowl kind of dangling from it and they would swing 360 00:24:18,900 --> 00:24:23,800 it around and the incense burning would spread the smoke around and so he would take a coal 361 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,080 from the altar of sacrifice, put it in this incense burner and then he would walk from 362 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:33,720 the outer court into the holy place where the altar of incense was, he would take the 363 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:38,520 coal out of the incense burner, place it on the altar, sprinkle more incense on it and 364 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,160 the smoke would just go up and fill the holy place. 365 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:49,520 Now the incense would rise up as a sweet aroma to the Lord as it was said, a sweet smelling 366 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:55,320 aroma to the Lord but all of that, that whole picture was that in the holy place, in God's 367 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:59,200 throne room right before the throne which was just separated by the veil at the time 368 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:04,320 because Jesus hadn't died yet, the prayers of the people would go up into the presence 369 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:08,480 of God and that's what all this incense represented in the tabernacle and we see that very same 370 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:12,360 picture taking place here in the heavenlies. 371 00:25:12,360 --> 00:25:17,120 David used the same picture in Psalm chapter 141 verse 2 where he said, may my prayer be 372 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:21,480 set before you as incense. 373 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,520 And so we see that very same thing happening here in heaven. 374 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:30,320 It says the incense is mixed with the prayers of the saints and in heaven it all goes up, 375 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,160 it says it went up to the presence of God. 376 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:39,160 Now this is a picture of the prayer, all the prayers, past and present of all the saints 377 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:42,420 because it says they're the prayers of all the saints right? 378 00:25:42,420 --> 00:25:47,920 So in one way you could look at it and see that it's a symbolic picture of every prayer 379 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:51,440 of every saint and what they do, they go up to God. 380 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:56,280 God hears our prayers, our prayers reach him is what it's showing us and he answers those 381 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:57,280 prayers. 382 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,360 The Bible tells us that God hears our prayers and he answers. 383 00:26:00,360 --> 00:26:03,300 He doesn't lose them is the idea. 384 00:26:03,300 --> 00:26:05,100 He doesn't misplace them. 385 00:26:05,100 --> 00:26:09,080 Like we're not going to get to heaven one day and say God I was praying for that thing 386 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:14,920 you know for 10 years and I never got an answer from you and he's going to be like what? 387 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,920 Hold on, rifle to the file cabinet, oh shoot I misfiled it sorry. 388 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,340 That's not going to happen, that's not the picture. 389 00:26:22,340 --> 00:26:23,960 God hears your prayers and he answers. 390 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:29,280 Now you might be saying but wait a minute, I've prayed lots of things that haven't been 391 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,920 answered right? 392 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:34,640 I think we all feel that way at times. 393 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:38,480 Well just as a quick reminder you know and you've probably heard different variations 394 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:44,120 of this over the years but there's four basic answers to prayer, four basic answers to prayer 395 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:46,980 that I see biblically. 396 00:26:46,980 --> 00:26:51,720 One of them is no, I love you too much to allow that in your life. 397 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,720 That's an answer to prayer. 398 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,600 You see we often think God didn't answer my prayer because he didn't answer in the 399 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,200 affirmative, he didn't give me what I want. 400 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,200 Parents you're very familiar with this aren't you? 401 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:08,240 No is often an answer to your kids desires because you know it's bad for them, you know 402 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,360 it's going to be detrimental for them, you know it's going to be harmful. 403 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:15,160 So one of the answers to prayer is no I love you too much to allow that. 404 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:20,320 One of the other answers to prayer is no not yet. 405 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:25,540 The timing isn't right and we hate that one, we hate that answer. 406 00:27:25,540 --> 00:27:29,120 In this age of instant everything right? 407 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:34,280 Like I'm part of one of those meal plans where they send you food in the mail right and it's 408 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,640 frozen and it just works for me right? 409 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,680 But sometimes when I look on the back and it says five minutes I'm like I'm going to 410 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:43,780 starve to death. 411 00:27:43,780 --> 00:27:46,960 You kidding me five minutes for this thing to get ready? 412 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,680 You know the breakfast ones only take three minutes come on right? 413 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,280 I mean we live in this age where we're so used to things being instantaneously available. 414 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:59,720 You can get all the information you want on your phone instantaneously about anything. 415 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:03,920 So but sometimes it's no not yet wait. 416 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:08,880 The third answer is yes I thought you'd never ask right? 417 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,240 Because the Bible tells us we have not because we ask not. 418 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:17,180 The Lord loves answering the prayers of his people and sometimes he loves answering yes 419 00:28:17,180 --> 00:28:19,800 I've just been waiting for you to ask me. 420 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,560 I own the cattle on a thousand hills. 421 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,240 I'm the creator of everything. 422 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Trust me just come to me with your needs. 423 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,400 And then sometimes the fourth one is yes and here's much more than you asked because the 424 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:37,080 Bible tells us that he does exceedingly above all that we ask or think. 425 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:42,480 So those are the four basic answers to prayer and so keep praying and trust God. 426 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,880 But don't ever be tempted to think he's not hearing your prayers. 427 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:49,400 We see this picture that all the prayers of the saints they go up to the presence of God 428 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:55,840 but but do these prayers in Revelation chapter 8 do they refer to anything specific? 429 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,280 I believe it's very likely because what we see in verse five or six here read with me 430 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:04,120 it says the angel then took the incense burner filled it with fire from the altar and he's 431 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:08,800 referring to that altar of incense that golden altar before the throne and he hurled it to 432 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:11,360 the earth. 433 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:15,080 There were peals of thunder rumblings flashes of lightning and an earthquake and then the 434 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:19,520 seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. 435 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:25,280 You see on the day of atonement down here on earth in the tabernacle the high priest 436 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:30,640 would would again take a call put it in the incense burner walk into the holy place and 437 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:34,160 you would put it on the altar and you would sprinkle incense on it right. 438 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,560 But the high priest on the day of atonement he also had in his other hand blood from the 439 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:43,260 altar of sacrifice so he had the incense and he had the blood from the altar of sacrifice 440 00:29:43,260 --> 00:29:48,240 and so after the incense had burned on the altar of incense he would then the high priest 441 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:54,280 one day a year would walk into the holy of holies the inner place where where the ark 442 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:59,040 of the covenant was the mercy seat array it was it was the picture like this is literally 443 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:04,240 God's throne where he's seated and he would go in there that that one time a year with 444 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:08,240 that incense burner still full of burning incense and the blood and he would sprinkle 445 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:16,080 that blood on the altar and this whole presentation was was casting the the sins of the people 446 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:20,720 onto the mercy seat and saying God please forgive our sins. 447 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:24,640 And then of course we know that God would then forgive the sins for the people that's 448 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,120 it he would atone for those things that's what I call it was the day of atonement right 449 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:32,760 the people were atoning for their sins the animal would take the death the blood sprinkled 450 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:38,840 upon the mercy seat but the whole picture of that of sin was judged in that moment in 451 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:44,520 that moment sin was judged the wrath of God if you will was was appeased was held back 452 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:50,760 for another year but here in Revelation 8 we see a twist instead of the angel with that 453 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:56,480 incense burner having gone to the altar and the prayers lifting up and then and then filling 454 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:01,080 that incense burner again with the firing fiery coals instead of walking to the throne 455 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:07,040 where God since and saying okay God forgive our sins instead of doing that that whole 456 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:13,760 picture there that sensor which is now full of fire is hurled to the earth for judgment. 457 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:19,280 Hurled to the earth for judgment where the people of earth who refuse God's payment for 458 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:26,840 sin are getting the opportunity to pay for it themselves through this tribulation period. 459 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:32,440 With peals of thunder rumblings lightning and earthquake it says here and it's interesting 460 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:36,880 picture to me because the picture is that these judgments that are falling upon the 461 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:45,440 earth during tribulation appear to be a direct response to the prayers of God's people. 462 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:52,320 The prayers of God's people whereas today as I said earlier sometimes we pray God how 463 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:57,560 can you allow that to happen when are you going to judge that when is justice going 464 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:02,120 to come why do the wicked seem to prosper when are you going to deal with it when God 465 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:09,640 when that's what we see taking place here in response to the prayers of God's people 466 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:17,600 judgment the fire is now cast down to earth not thrown upon the altar that time has passed 467 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:22,400 the time where the wrath of God has been cast upon Jesus himself taking the full wrath of 468 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:27,920 God for our sin the age of grace that we live in now at this point that time has passed 469 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,600 we are now in tribulation. 470 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:35,720 We are now in tribulation where God is going look I'm pouring out my judgment now I'm not 471 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:40,440 holding it back now yes during this time there is still the opportunity for people to finally 472 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,800 go God I'm so sorry I repent of my sins I believe you're God please forgive me and he 473 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:52,920 will do that but in the midst of all that wrath has finally come upon the earth for 474 00:32:52,920 --> 00:33:01,120 its sin and then whereas once it was God forgive me and the judgment fell on Jesus now it's 475 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:06,800 God when will you judge those and God is judging those. 476 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:13,720 I believe in this picture we're encouraged to keep praying yes in this age of grace we 477 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:18,640 are called to pray for our enemies to pray for those who persecute us right we're called 478 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:24,120 to turn the other cheek go the extra mile yet we're called to live and behave in all 479 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:30,440 of these examples in actions of grace right why because we're in the age of grace we're 480 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:35,080 in the age of God's long suffering and we as his people are called to be like him long 481 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:43,160 suffering graceful merciful and yet we are still called to pray to pray Jesus taught 482 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:48,160 us to pray our father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done 483 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:56,320 on earth as it is in heaven that's what we're waiting for in this age we are waiting for 484 00:33:56,320 --> 00:34:01,400 God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven and I think you might agree as you 485 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,660 look around the world today with all its sin and all its perversions and all its wickedness 486 00:34:05,660 --> 00:34:10,240 well you know what I don't really see God's will being done on earth in the way it is 487 00:34:10,240 --> 00:34:15,840 in heaven now you might argue with me and go well wait a second God's omniscient and 488 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:23,920 he's allowing things okay sure but people aren't following God's will on earth the 489 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:31,000 way they do in heaven today in this age but one day one day this prayer will be answered 490 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,920 and that is what I believe we're seeing here in Revelation chapter 8 he's taken it all 491 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:43,360 back his will is being enforced sin and Satan is being dealt with Jesus is going to be exalted 492 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:50,920 his power and glory are being made manifest and as horrific as it is it really is a wonderful 493 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:56,480 picture of the power of prayer that God hears and God will answer and does answer but it's 494 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:02,740 always according to his timetable now what unfolds moving forward is is what Paul spoke 495 00:35:02,740 --> 00:35:10,880 about in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul said this in 2nd Thessalonians 1 6 through 496 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:16,560 9 he said it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give 497 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:21,740 relief to you who are afflicted along with us this will take place at the revelation 498 00:35:21,740 --> 00:35:28,480 of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels what is the book of Revelation the 499 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:34,680 revelation of Jesus Christ when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know 500 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:40,280 God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus they will pay the penalty 501 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:46,680 of eternal destruction from the Lord's presence and from his glorious strength and so again 502 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:52,840 just in a couple previous chapters the saints praying oh Lord how long until you avenge 503 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:57,720 us a prayer that many of us pray today when we hear or see different things and now that 504 00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:02,400 prayer is being answered God is stepping in he turns up the judgment on those who are 505 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:08,440 rejecting him he is turning up the judgments on those who have persecuted and harmed those 506 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:14,320 who are his and so we will be looking at the first four trumpet judgments in the last 15 507 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:20,200 or 20 minutes of service today here the first four are what is the conclusion of chapter 508 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:25,320 8 the first four are natural judgments meaning that they are judgments that fall upon nature 509 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:29,520 they fall upon the physical creation and then the second two judgments which we will look 510 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:34,900 at next time are supernatural and these are judgments that are dealing with demonic forces 511 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:38,760 being unleashed upon the earth we are actually going to look at that in two weeks because 512 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:42,000 next week is Father's Day and we are going to take a moment to honor the fathers here 513 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:47,380 in our congregation but when we get to it we are going to see a picture that is a picture 514 00:36:47,380 --> 00:36:53,980 of real judgment real judgment falling on earth and it is indeed these first four trumpets 515 00:36:53,980 --> 00:36:59,840 earth itself that is being judged read with me in verse 7 the first angel blew his trumpet 516 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:07,320 and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled to the earth same word hurled so a third of 517 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:13,200 the earth was burned up a third of the trees were burned up and all the green grass was 518 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:19,760 burned up now this is something that was prophesied in the old testament Joel the prophet Joel 519 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:24,800 in chapter 2 verse 30 said I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth blood 520 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:31,840 fire and columns of smoke it is something that we have seen in God's judgment in prior 521 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:38,800 times of judgment you remember how God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah fire from the sky you guys 522 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:44,880 remember the plagues of Egypt one of those plagues was great hail stones falling from 523 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:50,440 the sky and so here we see this hail and this fire but it says it is mixed with blood that 524 00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:54,120 is an interesting picture right now again this is one of those things where we do not 525 00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:59,240 know exactly what it is we can speculate and conjecture about it but it could be something 526 00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:03,760 related back to verse 5 where it says that sensor was hurled down to the earth and then 527 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:08,440 there was thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake this is the second mention of an 528 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:13,880 earthquake and revelation you remember there was already one large one here and these this 529 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:19,880 blood could be something that is possibly coming from these earthquakes right such severe 530 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:26,820 tectonic shifting worldwide that there are then volcanic eruptions on a worldwide scale 531 00:38:26,820 --> 00:38:33,520 lava being spewed all over the place Dr. Henry Morris is a scientist from San Diego California 532 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:41,200 said this it is possible that a worldwide volcanic explosion would be a normal consequence 533 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:47,920 of a worldwide violent earthquake the masses of water vapor blown skyward might well condense 534 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:52,700 in the intense updraft as hail stones and then showers of burning lava might well then 535 00:38:52,700 --> 00:38:59,280 come down with them upon the earth the blood of entrapped men and animals might be mingled 536 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:05,760 with all of this or possibly showers of liquid water drops might be so contaminated with 537 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:11,600 dust and gases that they would appear blood red so it's a picture of this horrific upheaval 538 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:18,280 upon the earth now what is the target of all of this well you see there the target is the 539 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:23,440 trees and the green grass it's all the green vegetation of the earth it's the land that 540 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:30,200 is the target imagine the upset to the balance of nature the ecological disaster that would 541 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:36,680 take place as a third of the trees are gone and a third of the green grasses right we 542 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:40,760 know that trees are a part of making the oxygen we breathe what's that going to be like when 543 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:45,880 a third are suddenly gone grasses make up pasture lands that then cattle and things 544 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:50,280 graze on to produce the the milk and all the stuff that we get from imagine when a third 545 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:56,360 of that is gone the word trees here in the Greek is dendron and in the Bible that word 546 00:39:56,360 --> 00:40:01,080 dendron is often used to refer to fruit trees in scripture fruit trees trees that bear fruit 547 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:06,000 and so this whole picture is is that grains and vegetables and fruit are going to become 548 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:13,160 scarce and what's that going to do drive up the cost you think things are expensive now 549 00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:17,200 and then imagine with a third of the trees going what housing costs are going to do as 550 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:21,560 the cost of lumber goes through the roof as as lumber itself becomes scarce it's just 551 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:29,200 it's going to be incredible now it's interesting in Romans chapter one as as we see this first 552 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:35,600 trumpet judgment falling upon the land the earth itself Romans one tells us that creation 553 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:41,960 shows the attributes of God right there's this whole section there where it talks about 554 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:47,720 that that who God is is very clearly seen in the creation we see around us and the perfect 555 00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:52,360 balance of things the perfect creation of things right all those little nuances like 556 00:40:52,360 --> 00:40:55,880 if we were one degree closer to the sun we'd burn up if we were one degree farther away 557 00:40:55,880 --> 00:41:00,880 we'd be an ice cube and all this different stuff we see in the very perfect balance of 558 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:08,740 creation and Romans one says yeah duh it shows you that there's a creator and honest scientists 559 00:41:08,740 --> 00:41:13,660 today admit the impossibility of evolution and yet even though creation itself speaks 560 00:41:13,660 --> 00:41:19,480 of a creator even though this perfect delicate impossible balance of all things speaks that 561 00:41:19,480 --> 00:41:30,200 someone created it that there was an intelligence behind it God duh man still denies a creator 562 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:34,160 Romans one says man should have been able to just look at the environment and say you 563 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:38,600 know what there's a God there's a creator out there and he should be worshiped because 564 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:42,840 if he was powerful enough to create all of this he is almighty and worthy to be worshiped 565 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:49,840 instead Romans one says they took God's creation and started worshiping it we're going to worship 566 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:56,120 mother earth we're going to worship the created thing and they worship the created they worship 567 00:41:56,120 --> 00:42:00,760 the creature instead of the creator Romans one says and there's thousands and thousands 568 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:05,880 around the world today that do indeed worship mother earth Gaia she's the one that we worship 569 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:13,200 she's the one that we bow down to you know nature is God God is nature and guess what 570 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:22,920 God the real God God Almighty will judge their God that they think is all powerful and some 571 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:30,360 are going to be like how dare he he made it it's his he can do whatever he wants with 572 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:37,840 it it's his creation he made the rules he's the one that that defined all of that he is 573 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:43,400 free to do with it what he pleases but the point of all this is to say earth is not God 574 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:52,880 because I look what I'm doing to it it can't save you only God can save verse eight the 575 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:56,400 second angel blew his trumpet and something like a great mountain ablaze with fire was 576 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:01,880 hurled into the sea and so a third of the sea became blood a third of the living creatures 577 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:07,040 in the sea died and a third of the ships were destroyed so it's interesting there here it 578 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:13,000 says something like a great mountain ablaze with fire something like we don't know exactly 579 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:20,000 what it is for sure right there is a very specific Greek word that that John uses that 580 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:24,040 we get our word asteroid from he actually uses that in the next trumpet judgment but 581 00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:31,400 he doesn't use it here so it could be this great gigantic rock ablaze with fire could 582 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:35,880 could be a picture of a comet finally striking the earth that's one of the speculations about 583 00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:41,560 this and it strikes the sea specifically but but look how precise these judgments are right 584 00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:48,160 if God is not flexing here look at how precise it's exactly a third and a third and a third 585 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:55,760 and first he strikes the land now he is striking the sea and exactly a third of the green vegetation 586 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:59,480 was affected when he struck the land and now it's exactly a third of the creatures in the 587 00:43:59,480 --> 00:44:05,240 sea and the ships upon it now the sea here it's specifically referencing salt water sources 588 00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:08,800 right but it was interesting because there's there's a bunch of websites out there where 589 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:12,840 you could kind of see how many ships are currently on the ocean kind of stuff you know and it's 590 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:17,320 one of those like Google Earth types of things that you'll spend way too long perusing if 591 00:44:17,320 --> 00:44:24,120 you're into that kind of stuff no personal experience right so but one of these ship 592 00:44:24,120 --> 00:44:31,840 finder websites said that there's currently 58,000 merchant ships trading on the international 593 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:39,240 waters as of 2022 58,000 ships just plying the oceans cargo ships container ships all 594 00:44:39,240 --> 00:44:42,920 this type of stuff this isn't recreational stuff this is just stuff that has to do with 595 00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:48,880 the economy and the and the moving of goods right and it says that a third of all these 596 00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:56,480 ships are going to be destroyed that would be 19,000 of the existing merchant ships on 597 00:44:56,480 --> 00:45:00,360 the ocean just shut suddenly being destroyed imagine what that's going to do to the global 598 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:07,480 economy Amazon's probably not going to have to two-day shipping anymore at that point 599 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:10,720 and then it says the demise of a third of all the ocean creatures that can explain the 600 00:45:10,720 --> 00:45:17,800 sea becoming blood right the creatures that live in the ocean whales dolphins fish everything 601 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:21,120 that's out there all the stuff we know and even the stuff we don't know but a third of 602 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:27,000 it dying suddenly that would explain this the ocean becoming blood and it doesn't say 603 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:31,680 becoming like blood which is very interesting John's very specific sometimes when he says 604 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:36,840 it looks like something he always uses the word like here it says very clearly that the 605 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:44,640 ocean became blood that's interesting too because according to I forgot to write down 606 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:53,720 the website but some some species ocean species census website I visited I can't remember 607 00:45:53,720 --> 00:46:01,000 the name of it but it said that there have been 1.2 as of 2023 1.2 million species identified 608 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:07,840 in the ocean there's 1.2 million different species of creature living in the ocean yet 609 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:14,880 they say that only accounts for 9% of everything they think is out there that as of 2023 today 610 00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:23,900 91% of ocean species have yet to be classified what does that tell me there's a lot of creatures 611 00:46:23,900 --> 00:46:31,840 in the ocean and when a third of that dies the oceans become blood now again as God was 612 00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:36,840 judging people lifting up the land and worshiping the land I believe God is in judging people 613 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:40,940 lifting up sea life and those types of things you know and trying to call them something 614 00:46:40,940 --> 00:46:46,960 to be elevated right creatures are already being elevated in our culture Malibu in the 615 00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:51,720 past here past laws this is Malibu in California past laws to give dolphins and whales human 616 00:46:51,720 --> 00:47:01,320 rights and equal citizenship with humans they worship the creation rather than the creator 617 00:47:01,320 --> 00:47:07,000 but God says no no no the creation is not to be exalted again this stuff was predicted 618 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:12,920 by the prophets Hosea chapter 4 verse 2 cursing lying murder stealing and adultery are rampant 619 00:47:12,920 --> 00:47:17,520 one act of bloodshed follows another and for this reason the land mourns and everyone who 620 00:47:17,520 --> 00:47:21,040 lives in it languishes along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky even the 621 00:47:21,040 --> 00:47:27,280 fish of the sea disappear and Zephaniah 1 3 says I will sweep away the people and animals 622 00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:31,600 I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea and the ruins along with 623 00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:38,840 the wicked I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth this is the Lord's declaration 624 00:47:38,840 --> 00:47:42,640 revelation 8 verse 10 the third angel blew his trumpet and a great star blazing like 625 00:47:42,640 --> 00:47:47,560 a torch fell from heaven it fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water the name 626 00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:52,000 of the star is wormwood and a third of the waters became wormwood so many of the people 627 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:58,600 died from the waters because they had been made bitter and so another cosmic entity falls 628 00:47:58,600 --> 00:48:03,580 to the earth here now again this is fresh water sources right rivers and springs of 629 00:48:03,580 --> 00:48:10,840 waters but it's interesting it's it's something strikes exactly a third of the rivers worldwide 630 00:48:10,840 --> 00:48:16,080 so this could indicate something hitting the atmosphere exploding in the atmosphere then 631 00:48:16,080 --> 00:48:21,480 spreading around the globe to fall then into these fresh water sources it could be that 632 00:48:21,480 --> 00:48:25,560 as I mentioned already when it says a great star that word start there is the Greek word 633 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:31,400 asterose that's where we get the English word asteroid right and so this is very similar 634 00:48:31,400 --> 00:48:36,320 to in chapter 6 when it says the stars of heaven fell to the earth same word asterose 635 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:41,240 and so the speculation is it's talking about asteroid strikes on earth but it calls this 636 00:48:41,240 --> 00:48:47,600 one a great star a great star just referencing the the size and impact of this particular 637 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:52,840 thing possibly an asteroid hitting the earth but according to the National Geographic Society 638 00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:58,440 currently in the world today we have 100 principal rivers in the world the longest one is the 639 00:48:58,440 --> 00:49:06,200 Amazon 4,000 miles long the longest in America is the Mississippi River 3710 miles long but 640 00:49:06,200 --> 00:49:09,800 a third of these are struck and all these fresh water sources then become wormwood it 641 00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:17,200 says wormwood just is a word that means bitter it refers to a plant that has a root that 642 00:49:17,200 --> 00:49:24,200 exudes like this dark green oil and it's very bitter but the idea here of this star being 643 00:49:24,200 --> 00:49:29,960 called wormwood called bitter causing our rivers to become bitter the idea here is that 644 00:49:29,960 --> 00:49:36,200 the fresh water sources are becoming undrinkable possibly poisonous so again that which we 645 00:49:36,200 --> 00:49:41,880 need to survive water humans need water clean drinking water becomes very limited or unavailable 646 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:48,560 around the world you know and in judging the world in judging the God that mankind has 647 00:49:48,560 --> 00:49:54,480 propped up the God of the God that is creation right the earth itself in judging that God 648 00:49:54,480 --> 00:49:58,400 we've seen is judged the sea with the first trunk or the land with the first trumpet the 649 00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:03,240 seas with the second trumpet the fresh water sources with the fourth trump our third trumpet 650 00:50:03,240 --> 00:50:07,920 and now with the fourth trumpet he turns to the air we read in verse 12 the fourth angel 651 00:50:07,920 --> 00:50:12,200 blew his trumpet and a third of the sun was struck a third of the moon and a third of 652 00:50:12,200 --> 00:50:17,320 the stars so that a third of them were darkened and that's the point of this particular judgment 653 00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:22,840 a third of the day was without light and also a third of the night so as the earth is being 654 00:50:22,840 --> 00:50:28,120 afflicted I imagine mankind is probably getting together and having a lot of you know climate 655 00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:33,840 change conferences and you know we need to fix it we need to have seminars we need to 656 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:38,320 bring in the experts about climate change because oh my gosh look what's taking place 657 00:50:38,320 --> 00:50:42,280 and as they're trying to figure out what to do about the land and the sea and the rivers 658 00:50:42,280 --> 00:50:47,880 and all this stuff the sky goes the sun the moon the stars are all affected it's this 659 00:50:47,880 --> 00:50:53,920 could be eclipses we don't know for sure again but some speculate that as a part of the war 660 00:50:53,920 --> 00:50:58,560 that comes with the second seal being unleashed that there's possibly localized nuclear detonations 661 00:50:58,560 --> 00:51:04,000 around the earth and it's known that nuclear detonations can cause what's called a nuclear 662 00:51:04,000 --> 00:51:09,000 winter affecting the skies affecting the weather and the temperatures but regardless of what 663 00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:17,000 it is the point here is that light will be diminished what a picture of mankind right 664 00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:21,360 who has decided to live in darkness and diminish the light light is now diminished in creation 665 00:51:21,360 --> 00:51:26,200 and with the sun being diminished it's likely the temperature drops so so much for global 666 00:51:26,200 --> 00:51:31,420 warming we know the psychological effect on places where the sun doesn't shine for six 667 00:51:31,420 --> 00:51:34,920 months at a time can you imagine the depression and all that's going to take place as the 668 00:51:34,920 --> 00:51:41,200 world is darkened Jesus said in Luke chapter 21 that there would be signs in the sun and 669 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:45,980 signs in the moon and signs in the stars and he said that men will faint from terror apprehensive 670 00:51:45,980 --> 00:51:52,920 of what is coming upon the world and then verse 13 John says I looked and I heard a 671 00:51:52,920 --> 00:51:59,600 flying eagle an eagle flying high overhead crying out in a loud voice whoa whoa whoa 672 00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:03,840 to those who live upon the earth because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three 673 00:52:03,840 --> 00:52:15,400 angels are about to sound if you thought these four were bad wow wait for the remaining ones 674 00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:20,360 what's to come is even worse that has already happened and that word whoa there whoa it 675 00:52:20,360 --> 00:52:29,080 means oh disaster oh horror is what that word whoa means now all of this sounds terribly 676 00:52:29,080 --> 00:52:35,520 grim terribly grim and it's only going to get worse but it's all because the world has 677 00:52:35,520 --> 00:52:42,120 pushed away and rejected the gospel for so long has pushed away God and rejected him 678 00:52:42,120 --> 00:52:47,920 blasphemed his name denied him and God has been patient he is patient now during this 679 00:52:47,920 --> 00:52:54,680 age but one day he will not be one day his judgments will fall upon this earth and regardless 680 00:52:54,680 --> 00:53:00,280 of how man might to might try to judge God it's not fair what you're doing it's not 681 00:53:00,280 --> 00:53:10,160 fair it is because God is just he is and for those that will cry out during this time he 682 00:53:10,160 --> 00:53:19,720 is given ample time but we're not there yet we're not there yet mankind is on this earth 683 00:53:19,720 --> 00:53:29,000 without Christ has always been about itself we as as as as our people without God we are 684 00:53:29,000 --> 00:53:35,240 selfish creatures we're about self-preservation and self-preservation and self-exaltation 685 00:53:35,240 --> 00:53:41,240 that's that's the sin nature that we have as mankind right it's my life and my earth 686 00:53:41,240 --> 00:53:49,240 in my environment in my house in my stuff in my pleasure and my rules in my way it's 687 00:53:49,240 --> 00:54:01,960 about my kingdom my control my influence my authority my will and that's how man lives 688 00:54:01,960 --> 00:54:08,880 but no it's not it's not about any of those things it's not at all about those things 689 00:54:08,880 --> 00:54:16,960 no matter how you build how you live what you do here and now regardless the end comes 690 00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:23,920 for every single one of us the end will come for all of us and Jesus said heaven and earth 691 00:54:23,920 --> 00:54:32,320 will pass away if all of your hope is in this earth if all of your hope is in this kingdom 692 00:54:32,320 --> 00:54:36,400 if all your hope is in the mountains and the rocks if all your hope is in yourself and 693 00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:41,080 your accomplishments and your will and your efforts if all your hope is in all of that 694 00:54:41,080 --> 00:54:49,400 what a tragically sad day it's going to be when you realize it was all for nothing so 695 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:57,760 why do we need to know the future why do we need to study eschatology well for the world's 696 00:54:57,760 --> 00:55:04,960 perspective because like rebellious children we all need to be warned it's almost in a 697 00:55:04,960 --> 00:55:14,120 sense where you know sometimes parents go okay I'm going to count to three God's counting 698 00:55:14,120 --> 00:55:18,440 God's counting and the people of this earth need to be warned they need to wake up they 699 00:55:18,440 --> 00:55:22,440 need to give their lives to Christ they need to cry out to him for salvation today to be 700 00:55:22,440 --> 00:55:27,840 saved because he is the only hope he is the only way he is the only truth he is the only 701 00:55:27,840 --> 00:55:34,400 life there is salvation in none but him and we today as believers have the opportunity 702 00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:40,120 to take that message to a world that desperately needs it you know we have opportunities like 703 00:55:40,120 --> 00:55:47,600 Harvest Crusade and our evangelism ministry and our outreach teams and tracks one of our 704 00:55:47,600 --> 00:55:51,200 faithful brothers here just provided tracks for the church they're over on the table take 705 00:55:51,200 --> 00:55:59,520 as many as you want pass them out the idea is is judgment is coming let's get busy yeah 706 00:55:59,520 --> 00:56:03,720 we got to work yeah we got to pay bills yeah we got to handle our stuff but let's not get 707 00:56:03,720 --> 00:56:08,800 so distracted by those things that we forget the big picture of eternity what God is doing 708 00:56:08,800 --> 00:56:14,240 today what he is going to do in the future to have that passion that he has for the lost 709 00:56:14,240 --> 00:56:17,800 to have a broken heart for those that don't yet know him that we would do everything we 710 00:56:17,800 --> 00:56:25,640 can in kindness in love intact to be able to get the gospel to them to encourage them 711 00:56:25,640 --> 00:56:33,720 to be saved today to redeem the time in their life now because the days are short let's 712 00:56:33,720 --> 00:56:46,000 pray father we love you God it can be hard sometimes to look at these things it can be 713 00:56:46,000 --> 00:56:53,120 hard sometimes to see what you're going to do as you pour out your judgment upon sin 714 00:56:53,120 --> 00:57:00,280 the sin that mankind brought into this earth but Lord it's all simply a picture of your 715 00:57:00,280 --> 00:57:08,120 holiness and I pray God you would help us to see that at the same time Lord we wouldn't 716 00:57:08,120 --> 00:57:14,680 look at any of this as saved believers and find any joy in it God because Lord this represents 717 00:57:14,680 --> 00:57:22,460 people dying without you yes Lord we want to see your justice fall yes Lord we want 718 00:57:22,460 --> 00:57:34,160 to see you deal with these horrible things people do in this world but God you said yourself 719 00:57:34,160 --> 00:57:45,440 that you so loved creation and everything in it Lord the entire world the cosmos that 720 00:57:45,440 --> 00:57:54,280 you gave your only begotten son that whoever would believe in him would not perish but 721 00:57:54,280 --> 00:58:02,340 have everlasting life Lord we know you take no joy in judgment may we as your kids never 722 00:58:02,340 --> 00:58:08,540 take joy in judgment but at the same time Lord that we would be encouraged to know that 723 00:58:08,540 --> 00:58:13,620 justice is coming however in the meantime Lord let us be people that are about the gospel 724 00:58:13,620 --> 00:58:18,480 of Jesus Christ to share the truth of salvation with those who desperately need it because 725 00:58:18,480 --> 00:58:26,360 the time is short we thank you Lord fill us with your spirit we love you and it's in Jesus 726 00:58:26,360 --> 00:58:43,820 name we pray amen let's worship guys.