Read
v.9-11
Intro: If you are visiting w/ us
today might be thinking this is an
odd TEXT - ( Rev. 6:9 )
A) Not really see here at CCV we believe the best way to study the Bible
is Chapt. By Chapt. Verse by verse
C) Now some people think Why study the book
of Rev. it is too confusing
1)
NOT
SO DIVINE OUTLINE V.19 OF CH. 1 / Write
.
SEEN Vision of the Lamb / Write
..ARE / Letters
D) Write
AFTER THIS Ch. 4,5 Church is in
Heaven / Ch. 6-19 Wrath Ch. 19-22 The Reign
BUT others say it
is not RELEVANT
I am worrying about next weeks bills not the end of the world/ I am worried about my marriage
A)
I am trying to
figure out how to keep my kids focused or I am concerned about my Job
Interview tomorrow
B) Listen: Studying the book of
Revelation not only pertains to Relevant things Suggest
: It is the Relevant thing
C)
See
our Tendency is to get so focused on the Temporal things Bills / Jobs /
Problems - Revelation reminds us that
Eternity is what matters
1)
It Reminds us that Our Future is not here !!!!
Perhaps you have heard it Said those people are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.
A)
I dont think Ive ever met such a person. /
B) Now I have met
some people who are too weird or spaced out to be
any earthly good.
C) And I have met many other people who are too earthly minded to be any
heavenly good.
1)
They are like the
individual described by Jesus Mark 4:19
19 "and the cares of this world, the
deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the
word, and it becomes unfruitful.
C) Really the
Bible teaches us that you will NEVER be any earthly good
UNTIL you are heavenly minded.
1)
( Until
You realize what counts is in eternity)
Colossians 3:1- Since you
have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of
heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power.
2
Let heaven fill your thoughts.
Do not think only about things down here on earth NLT
So the Book of Rev. puts things into
proper perspective Eternity is what Matters Reminded that my Future is
Bright Heaven home
A) But it also
reassures me in the Present How so ?
B)
When I am worrying
about the Bills / focused on the Problems concerned about the Marriage
1)
Something happens in my
heart as I study this book
C)
Remember what Jesus told his disciples in Luke 12 Not to worry about stuff
like Provision Bills & stuff -
1)
Because the Heavenly Father
knows that You have need of those things So Seek first the Kingdom
D)You see it is the Fathers good Pleasure to give you the
Kingdom
1)
Guess what This book
gives us some great insights into the Kingdom Also Reminds me about my
Heavenly Fathers Power
A)
It Reassures my heart
that My Heavenly Father is in Control & that He has got things covered
!!!!!
Concerned about the Kids their future ?
Listen this book gives us some Incredible insights into reasons why our Society
is in such a mess
A) Study this
w/ your Kids - Go over it ( Chapel
this yr.)
B)
Marriage the Issue
Reminds us that we are the Bride of Christ
1)
Insights into marriage ( Jesus w/ us ) returning to 1st love
Another reason we
study this book Reminds us of HOW
GREAT OUR SALVATION IS !!!!!! Seeing
what saved from !!!!!
A)
Great
Reasons to Worship Book is filled w/
Worship There is a ton of worship that goes on in this book -
B)
Seen
worship services in Ch. 4 & 5 / Another in Ch.7 / Ch.11 / Ch. 15 / Ch. 16 /
- Almost every time taken into heavenly scene Worship
C)
Because
we have so much to sing about Be thankful for !!!!
Must never lose sight of that
1)
Rev.
Reminds us of the Horrors we shall escape
Studying this book
puts those things in perspective reminds of our need to always be looking for
opportunities to Share the Gospel shine for Jesus
A)
Said
it before Imaginary sticker TEMPORAL Another that reads ETERNAL
B) Lastly
We should study this book - because
there is a Blessing Promised to those who Do !!!!! Rev. 1:3
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear
the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for
the time is near.
C)
READ / HEAR / & KEEP those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
So w/ that in mind we
come to v.9 of Ch.6 We are in the Tribulation time ( first 4 seals )
A) In Chapter 5 we saw Jesus
Christ take the title deed to the earth out of the
right hand of His Father -
The title deed was sealed with 7 seals
B) Saw last time In this
Chapter the Lord Jesus Christ begins to open the 7
seals of the Scroll
1) With each seal that is opened there is a corresponding event
that transpires upon the earth
C) In VERSE 2 we
saw the first seal opened -As it was opened we saw a rider
on a white horse going forth
conquering and to conquer
1) We noted that this is
the Anti-Christ
D) Man who comes on the scene
w/ some Great solutions to the worlds problems comes in the name of peace
Forced peace
E) Then
We saw that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th seals correspond with
WAR - Verse 4 / FAMINE - Verse 5-6 / DEATH - Verse 7-8
F) In these first four seals
1/4 of the worlds population will be
destroyed.....
1 BILLION people (approx. the pop. of the U.S.)
This brings us to the 5th seal Now the scene shifts from the
Madness taking place on Planet earth to this scene around the throne in Heaven
A) Where John sees a New
Group Martyrs - John sees souls
under the altar
B) We are told that they were slain for the word
of God, and for the testimony which they held: (
Conviction & Confession )
C)We're told that their
murderers are still alive on the earth-how long until
You Judge &
avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth
1)
Jesus
responds by saying that their # is not Complete - there are still
more to follow
A) These are the
same souls we find in Rev. 7:9-17- accept
there we see in v.9 that they have grown in #
Great Multitude which no man could #
1)
And
they are clearly identified for us in v. 14 As those who have come out of the
Great Trib.
Folks Listen the Greatest Revival that the World has ever
scene is going to take place after the Rapture
A) At that point MANY people
who missed out on the rapture will realize
how FOOLISH they were in rejecting Jesus Christ
B) There are MANY people who
are on the FRINGE of Christianity
1)
Brothers,
sisters, mothers, fathers, friends that you've been
witnessing to- They aren't really
anti-gospel
C) But they just haven't
made a commitment to Jesus/ maybe Religious
No PERSONAL relationship with Jesus
1) They are living on the fringe
D)Jesus told a Parable of
this scene Parable of the ten virgins / 5 wise / 5 were foolish / 5 Ready / 5 that were not ready !!!!
and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and
the door was shut. 11 "Afterward
the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly,
I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in
which the Son of Man is coming.
E) Now Those who WERE NOT watching... WERE NOT
ready..... will realize how foolish
they were to be living after the flesh
1)
They
will realize the TRAGEDY of missing the rapture/ But MANY
will make a real commitment of their lives to Jesus at that
time
F) But it will cost them
their lives !!!!!!!!
Why not the Church? Seen already not
here Ch. 4,5 / 1 Thes. 5 not appointed unto wrath but to obtain Salvation but
also
A) Jesus said: Matt. 16:18 I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
A)
See In Daniel 7 we are told that the Anti Christ will make war against the
saints and prevail against them
1)
In REV. 13 we are told the
same thing/ He will "overcome
them"
C) By this we can be CERTAIN
that these "saints" ARE NOT the Church
D)So the 5th
seal reveals that Martyrdom has occurred
6th Seal read v. 12-14
With the opening of the 6th seal we see the beginning of
CATACLYSMIC events
A) 1.) Great Earthquakes 2.) Sun becomes black
3.) Moon
became like blood (color) 4.) Meteorite
Shower
B) 5.) The heavens departing 6.)
Mountains and islands removed
C) Isaiah tells us Isa.
24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a
drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage ( Major Earthquake 1st of 3)
D)Joel Declares- Joel 2:30-31
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of
smoke. The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the
LORD come.
A) Scientists theorize about
what they call a polar axis shift
B)They believe that there
have been periods of time in the earths existence
that the axis of the earth has shifted
C) PRESENTLY the earth is
tilted on it's polar axis at a 23 and 1/2 degree tilt AWAY from the sun / This angel produces
our seasons
1)
as
we ORBIT the sun & ROTATE upon our axis / this angle determines the amount
of exposure to the suns rays
D) We get DIRECT rays in the
summer and INDIRECT rays in winter
1) But It is believed that this HAS NOT always been the case
E) What is the North pole
HAS NOT always been the North pole
Some scientists have come up with some interesting scenarios
of the cataclysmic results of a polar
axis shift
A) Tremendous earthquakes/
Geological plates will shift causing
tremendous volcanic eruptions
B) Tremendous amounts of ash
will be forced into the air
C) We
remember Mt. St. Helens Sunday Morning March 28th / 1980
1) The Mountain exploded w/ a force that was 500 times greater than the Bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima
D)Huge Rocks were sent flying landing 14 miles away / Huge Redwood
trees were Leveled
1) Do You Realize That was MILD compared to other volcanic
eruptions
In fields some 70 MILES away there are huge boulders that were thrown there when Lasen
erupted ( ash 200 miles away)
A) Imagine walking through
that field 70 MILES away and have it
rain
boulders down on you
(
RICHARDS POOL )
1) There were lava flows 1000 ft thick
B) In the event of a polar
axis shift there would be a whole new topography
1)
Islands/coastlines
submerged/ Mountain ranges collapse/New ranges
forced
up
A) There are some who
believe that the flood of Noah was the last polar axis in which the great
fountains of the deep were broken up
1) Utah used to be a vast
ocean - Why Salt Lake
B)
There
are fossils found on the rim of the Grand canyon at an elevation of 7,00o ft.
that are typical of life found on the ocean floor
1)
A polar axis
shift could cause a great ice age/
A)
In
Siberia they have found Mammoths perfectly preserved in the ice
1)
These
huge animals were frozen INSTANTLY/ They found TROPICAL
vegetation in their digestive tracts
f) All of which points to the
fact that There was some cataclysmic event that instantaneously turned Siberia
from a tropical jungle into frozen wasteland
Consider this When the last polar axis shift took place 6,000 - 7,000 yrs ago
there weren't as many people tall
buildings man made structures as today
A) Can you IMAGINE the
effects of such a cataclysmic event today?
The earth reeling like a drunk man being moved out of his
place?
B)So it could be a Polar
Axis Shift Either way God is going to do something
to Stir up this place
1) Notice the reaction of those who go through it
!!!!
15 And the kings of
the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every
slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the
mountains,
16 and said to the
mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits
on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 "For the
great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Here we see the Magnitude of the Hardness of mens Hearts /
Not Repentance but resistance
A) Note v. 17 again Ch. 6 ends w/ a Question - 17 "For the
great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
B) What an AWESOME
question!! - As we move into Ch. 7 We are given the
Answer !!!!
7:1 After these
things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the
four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the
sea, or on any tree.
Four angels standing at four
corners of the earth
A)
Some
try to DISCREDIT the Bible by saying that the Bible is saying here
in this verse that the earth is flat
B)There is a Marine Corp add
that says: "The
Marines are in the four corners of the earth" Does that mean
that they believe in a flat earth- NO!
C) It is a figure of speech referring to four directions
North-South-East-West
A)
Winds
in scripture are symbolic of Devastating & Destroying Power
Tornadoes & Hurricanes
- Great Devastation
B)
God
commissions these Angels to Hold back the winds why
2 Then I saw another
angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried
with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth
and the sea,
3 saying, "Do
not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of
our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the
number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
A) Ch. 7 Marks a Parenthesis
between the 6th & 7th Seals & answers the
Question concerning who is able to stand Two
groups
1st is
seen in v.s 1-8 - This group known as
the 144,000 sealed by God
A) Seal of Protection : God will separate this group by this seal to be protected from certain judgements of God before the return of Jesus
B) Now it is AMAZING how many groups claim to be the 144,000
C) There is Garner Ted Armstrong World Wide Church of God in Pasadena
In his publication "Plain Truth"
1) He says that the members of his World Wide Church of God are the 144,000 ( recent yrs come around but son Herbert- still holds)
D)You can be one by tithing 20% to his church/ And if you do he'll send you
a telegram when it's time to flee to the wilderness
There's
the Jehovah's Witnesses/ They say that THEY are the 144,00
A) Change their
stance when they reached that # - 144,000 special ones in heaven rest here
on earth
B) Historic Mormonism
1)
Ellen G. White -
& the 7th day Adventist
C) There should be NO DISPUTING over who these 144,000 are
D)It is only IGNORANT and UNLEARNED people who CAN'T READ the Scriptures &ACCEPT them for what they say that stop to dispute this
A) God
makes it very clear - ( v.4 again 144,000
of all the tribes of Israel)
1) And Just so there is no Confusion He proceeds to list the Tribes
A) 12,000 from the tribe of Judah / Gad /Asher/ Naphtali/
Manasseh/ Simeon/ Levi / Zebulun / Joseph / Benjamin
B) When I
meet some one who claims to be a part of the 144,000 I like to ask which
Tribe are you From !!!!!.
Consider Jacob 12 sons/are the 12 Tribes! -
Joseph(2nd to the youngest) had 2 sons named Eph. & Man. which sometimes
represent Joseph.
A) This would make 13
tribes but you see the tribe of Levi was designated as the Priestly
Tribe they were not to have a portionNum.18:20 τThen the LORD said to Aaron
"You
shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among
them; I am your portion & your inheritance among the children of
Israel.φ
B)
Interesting that Levi is listed But This is not for their Portion
but for their Protection!
C) Notice also that Joseph is mentioned
instead of Ephraim?
C
1) Usually Ephraim
& Mannaseh are mentioned together, since they received an equal portion of
territory w/the rest of the tribes.
D)Here
in this list we have Mannasseh & Joseph Ephraim included
in Joseph
But if
you look closely there is a tribe Missing -
Dan is M.I.A.? why?
Gen49: 17
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the
horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
Idolatry! Led Israel set up the golden calf in region of
Dan
A) According to Duet. 29 any tribe involved in idolatry would be separated from the remaining tribes of Israel
B) Dan settled on the Coast unhappy moved to region of the Sea of Galilee quickly fell into Idolatry
1) According to Duet.29:21 Dan was the Blotted out tribe
C)
Some Rabbis believe the Anti
Christ will come out of the tribe of Dan
1) What is great is in Ezk 48:1-3 which describes when the Lord comes back & sets up his millennial reign Dan is first tribe given allotment
A) Gods Grace & Mercy
So these 144,000 are sealed on their foreheads / AntiChrist Counterfeit
666
A) What is their Purpose ? Not sure but it would seem that because we are told in Matt. 24:14
14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be
preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end
will come.
B) It seems that they
would be a part of this group 144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams preaching the
Gospel
1) So this is the first group that is able to stand during the Trib / learn some more about them in Ch. 14
2nd
Group we have met already the Martyrs read v.9-17
A) Those who refuse the Mark of the antiChrist who Profess Christ in the Trib are able to stand Stand to the death
B) There are always those who say That is going to be me !!!!!
1)
Noted Last week that is a stupid Mentality 2 Reasons
Cant Live for Christ Now what makes you
think
. Die for Him then
A)
2nd More
resist the Harder your Heart gets
B)
But there is a 3rd
reason you dont want to be a part of this group this is heavy ( Look
closely These people are not the Church)
1) They are not the Bride / They are in a different Category / Diff position
A)
Yes they are in Heaven / yes
they are in white Robes ( Righteousness)
Yes the
Angels are rejoicing that they are there
1) But they are in a Different Position from the Church not included in the Bride
What
mean ? V.15 says that these people stand before the throne
A)
What about us ? We
sit in the Throne Rev.3:21
21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to
sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His
throne.
B) We dont stand before the throne WE SIT in the Throne w/ our Lord ruling & reigning w/ Him !!!!!- Millennial Kingdom
C)
They stand what are they doing ? v.15 they serve
Him day & night
1) Great place to be a servant
In fact in Luke 12 Something amazing
35 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36
"and you yourselves be like men who wait for their
master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and
knocks they may open to him immediately.
37
"Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will
gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
A) Another DISTINCTION They have v.14 CAME OUT OF THE TRIB
1) We are kept From it Rev. 3:10
10
"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep
you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those
who dwell on the earth.
A) This
is important to understand that this group that comes out is different from
the Bride !!!!
1)
I would rather be the Bride
C) Are You watching Waiting /
Waist Girded / Lamps burning Bright ?