Rev. 11:15-19 Living PROLEPTICALLY

Topical Categories # 28

 

Intro: We are Currently  studying the Book of Rev. –Noted a  key to Understanding is the DIVINE OUTLINE : Ch.1:19

A)   Seen – Vision Ch. 1 /

1)                 Are / Ch. 2& 3 Church age

2)                 After This : After the Church age -  Church Raptured in Ch.4 –

In Heaven in Ch. 5

 

A)   What Follows is the time Known as the TRIBULATION Ch. 6-19

1)                 Then in Ch.19 Jesus returns & we are w/ Him / the Lord sets up His reign for 1,000 yrs. Satan is Bound

 

A)   At the end of the 1,000 yrs / Satan is Loosed for a Season – He deceives some people /  Then  Great White Throne Judgement

1)                 Where Satan & all of his FOLLOWERS past Present & Future are thrown into the Lake of Fire

 

D) Ch.21,22 Jesus Creates a New Heaven & a New Earth / New Jerusalem

          And We all live happily ever after

 

 

Now we are Presently in the section of the book that deals w/ the Tribulation Period

A)      Now I think the Best & Clearest way to study this part of the Book is  to see it as a Chronological Flow of Judgements

 

B)      That Begins w/ the Seal Judgements in Ch. 6 / Then Moves to the Trumpet Judgements in Ch.8 / Finally the Bowl Judgements in Ch.15

 

C)      Now one thing I want to point out is a Pattern we have seen in the Chronological Flow of the Judgements

1) Between the 6th & 7th Seal / and the 6th & 7th Trumpets has been a Pause in the Narrative /   GAP !!!

D)      And What we are given are some Parenthetical Chapters – or Sections that are put in Parenthesis

1)              Purpose is to give us some deeper insight into what we are reading!!!!!

 

Example: Between the 6th Seal in Ch.6 & the 7th Seal in Ch.8 / We have Ch. 7 where there is a Pause in the flow

A)    There we were introduced to a new Group of People 144,000 Sealed Jews

 

And We are Also  given some insight into the Martyrs /  those People who would die for their Faith – During the  Tribulation

1)                 Ch. 8 Opens w/ this Silence in Heaven for ½ Hr. as all of Heaven anticipated the Sounding of the First Trumpet & devastation to follow

 

First Trumpet Sounded : Resulting in a Destruction of the Greenery

1)                 2nd Trumpet Sounded : resulting in 1/3 of Sea became Blood

2)                 3rd Trumpet sounded : Resulting in Destruction of 3rd of Fresh water

3)                 4th “””””””””””””””””””””””””   Great Signs in the Sky !!!!!

 

After the 4th Trumpet : 3 WOES ARE PRONOUNCED

1)                 5TH Trumpet sounded Ch.9 :1-12 :resulting in Horde of Demons – Torment the earth for 51/2 months – 1st Woe

 

6th Trumpet : Ch.9:13-21 /  4 Demons let lose & given power to Kill a 3rd of Mankind

 

But Just like w/ the 6th seal after the sounded of the 6th Trumpet there is a Pause in the Flow – another Parenthetical section

A)   Where we are given some details concerning –what is happening on the earth & in Heaven at this time !!!

 

B)    Be like me writing about my Trip to England – Broken up into 4 day segments / First 4 days at Stockport & We did so & so / 2nd 4 days ….

 

C)   Now in those first 4 days I met Raula – her story

1)                 2nd 4 days I met Daniel &

We are currently in that 2nd Parenthetical section – where the Lord is giving us some Details about the Story

A)   This sections began in Ch.10 Big Angel w/ the Little Book – Preview of the Take over in Progress ( Lord laying claim to this Planet)

 

B)    Ch. 11- TEMPLE – Key place / 2 Witnesses – who Prophesy during the last 31/2 yrs – but are Killed by the AntiChrist the BEAST

1)                 Ch. 12 –14 – We are given some insights into the Kingdom / the mindset / the Power & actions of the AntiChrist

 

A)    And then finally in Ch.15 We see the results of the sounding of the 7th trumpet as the Final Bowl Judgements are Poured out

1)                 In Rapid fire Succession & then comes the end ( Lord RETURNS)

 

D) Now we left off at the end of Ch.11:15 where all of Heaven is seen Anticipating that End !!!!!   Read.v.  14-19

 

 

After the 2 Witnesses come back to life & 2nd Woe is past & the 7th Trumpet is sounded – There is not Silence in Heaven but Rejoicing

A)    Why ?  - BECAUSE – WE ARE COMING TO THE END !!!

 

B)    Like going to the Dentist – He says – Hang in there I am almost Done!!!

1)                 HEART LEEPS

 

C) Here HEAVEN gets Excited – Because It is Almost Over !!!!!

1)                   The sounding of the 7th Trumpet sets in motion the Final events leading up to the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ

 

 

NOTE: Is the 7th Trumpet the “ Last Trumpet?”

A)   This is where the Mid-trib camp tries to say Rev 11 is where  the church – is raptured / at the 7th Trumpet 

 

B)    Which is Followed by - Celebration in Heaven v.15-19/ Church is there 

C)They Say/see  here is the last trumpet and we know According to

1Cor 15:51-58 that at the last trumpet - rapture takes place:

          1.)          So   This is last trumpet in Rev 11

 

D) They need to take a Closer Look – See What 1 Cor 15  and  1 Thess 4 are describing - Last trumpet of God - gathering His church!

1.)                                     Trumpet of God - Not an angel! Rev. 11 is the 7th & last trumpet of the Angels therefore  Rev. 11 Doesn't work!

 

A)   The first trumpet of God was in Ex. 19 Voice of God like a Trumpet gathered Israel at Mt. Sinai to Receive the Law

1)                 The Last Trumpet of God will be at the Rapture when the Voice of God like a Trumpet says to the Church Come up here !!!!

 

 

But as the Trumpet is Sounded all of Heaven – rejoices as it Anticipates the End is at Hand !!!!!  

A) THIS IS WHAT CREATION HAS BEEN LONGING FOR !!!!!

 

A)     Rom.8:22 – Creation groans

1)                 Ever since the Fall – Creation has been waiting for that Day when Christ is going to Lay Claim to that which He Redeemed

 

A)     Jesus Triumphal Entry – Even the Rocks will Cry out !!!!

1)                 Rocks / Mts the trees are all waiting to Break forth into Praise / Oceans are WAITING TO ROAR – IMAGINE

 

Psa. 96:12  Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD.

13  For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

 

One example of Several in scripture of Nature being told to be expressive in Worship – (  Jesus seemed Validate w/ His Statement / Rocks Cry out)

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LONGING FOR !!!! – turn 2 Cor. 4

 

16     Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

18  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

5:1  For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2       For in this WE GROAN earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3  if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4  For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

 

A)    While we live in this body – and on this planet – We are Constantly being reminded that this life is Short

1)                 Bodies Ache – There are Trials / come in the form of Diseases & other types of Illness

 

A)    But Paul says that LIGHT AFFLICTION-  ( that is what it all is in light of Eternity )

1)           That  LIGHT AFFLICTION – is just doing a work in us of Preparing us more & more for Eternity

 

Joni Erickson Tada – who Knows about Affliction had this insight

While lunching at a friend's house, I had to borrow a spoon and have her bend it so it could be inserted in my hand splint and I could feed myself. Throughout lunch, she glanced at the spoon. Embarrassed, I offered to have my husband straighten it out.

   Later I thought, Isn't that the way God works in our lives? He knows he can accomplish his unique plan when he bends us to suit his will. The metal of our souls may be difficult to bend, but when we allow God the privilege of shaping our lives, we discover new depths of purpose and meaning. We become perfectly suited for his use.

 

The same tears that break our hearts may also nourish us in ways that matter most to God.  Philip Yancey,

 

But those times of AFFLICTION Make us Long more & more for Heaven)

 

A)    So We GROAN – at times – Lord get me out of this TENT -  We long to be in & to Experience that Holy Habitation

1)                 LORD TAKE US TO HEAVEN !!!!

 

The SPIRIT OF GOD IN US REMINDS US !!!!

5       Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7  For we walk by faith, not by sight.  8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

 

A)   That work that the H.S. is Constantly doing in our Lives – This world is not your Home !!!!!

 

B)    Every time we sense the Dissatisfaction over – Something that has happened ( Good or Bad )

1)                 Lose Job -  Don’t worry this place is not where it’s at!!!

 

A)    New HOUSE :  It is Great / it’s nice / But there is still that Unsettled ness

1)                 There is that Longing for something Else : Not a New or Better one / It is the Spirit – Crying Abba – Longing for DADDY

 

A)    Longing to Be HOME !!! – Longing to come into that REST –

1)                 Longing to see – Things come into the Hands of the Lord

 

A)    We Pray : Thy Kingdom Come / Thy will be Done on earth as it is in Heaven !!!!!

1)                 That is what are Hearts are Longing for / that is what the Spirit in us is Longing for !!!

 

Well It is  AT THIS POINT – that ALL OF HEAVEN – realizes that PRAYER IS ABOUT TO BE ANSWERED !!!! – Glory

 

NOTICE  the Language of their Song in v. 15 "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

 

A)    The KINGDOMS HAVE BECOME :  - This is what they call a

PROLEPTIC PHRASE –

1)                 It describes a future event that is so certain that it can be spoken of as if it had already taken place.

 

Ex. Isa. 53 5  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

 

A)    Now Isa. Wrote this several hundred yrs before Christ was even born – but He wrote it in the Past tense

1)                 Because it was as Certain as if it had already HAPPENED

 

A)    Another Ex.  In Rom.8:30  Paul makes the statement that we have

     been Glorified ?   ( You don’t look Glorified to Me)

1)                           But that Reality is so Certain that it is used Proleptically

 

 

Now Why do I say this: Because in Heaven they are so certain this is coming down  they are saying : "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord .   CERTAIN

 

A)    That is how they speak in Heaven – Proleptically – How do You speak ?

 

B)    Listen you are either Proleptic or You are Spiritually Dyslexic : What mean ?   There are those who speak w/ a certainty :

 

 

  C)   I Know that God is working even in the middle of my Tribulation

I know that God is on the Throne & that He rules & reigns & it is GOOD

     1)I Know that all things are Working together for Good – I believe that

 

 

On Wed. night we were having a time of waiting on the Lord /// - scriptures shared – giving some verbal praise

A)   So Blessed by the Praise of one Brother – Lord thank you for the trial that I am currently in – I know you are working in my Life

 

B)   That  blessed me to hear his heart & to see His attitude in the midst of that Trial – Lord I know you are working & whatever the outcome

1)                 Whatever happens I know that it is going to be Good – I know that it is part of the process – of Glorification doing in me / Conformed image

 

A)   That is speaking Proleptically !!!!!  Love to See that !!!!

 

 

But at other times we can be Spiritually DYSLEXIC :

A)   Everything is just Backward   “ I don’t know what is going on – I don’t understand what is happening  it makes no sense to me”

 

B)   It is the Eyore Mentality/ I don’t know where God is in this – I don’t know what He is doing

1)                 What is the use of Praying – why even Worship – Woe is me – Life is a Mess 

 

But then there are the Tigger’s – ( One sees light … Tunnel / other thinks it’s train)

A) But it is much more than having a Positive attitude – Spiritually speaking it is Those who realize God is in control & they give Him Glory

 

B)Heaven – Proleptic Even in the Middle of the Tribulation it is so  certain He is Coming / He is at Work / He is doing what He said He would do!!!

 

A)   Phil. 1: 6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 

B)   So in the Midst of whatever Situation that person says – God in His Faithfulness is doing a Work & He will be faithful to bring it to Completion

 

C)   Those who are Proleptic – rejoice in times of Trial – those who are not don’t they complain / moan / grumble

 

Israel at the Red Sea – Waters parted – they crossed over on Dry Ground & there was REJOICING – Singing / Dancing

A)   And that was fine – but how much Better it would have been had they been singing & dancing on the other side before the waters parted

 

B)   Instead of grumbling complaining & wanting to kill Moses !!!

 

C)   Guys it is so much Better to be Praising & Trusting before the Prayer is answered

1)                 Declaring that the Lord is good & that God is on the Throne

 

A)   That is what Takes place in Heaven here in Ch.11 & If you want Heaven in Your Heart & in Your Home – that is the way to Live !!!!

1)                 Be like these in Heaven in the Middle of the tribulation – Declaring He shall reign & the Kingdoms of this World …become ….. our LORD

 

E) That is Hard to do Practically ?  How – 2 Ideas

 

Jesus Prayed in John 17: 4  "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

A) Now this was before the Cross – which was the Chief thing that Jesus came to do !!! It  was the Main Work

1)                 Yet He Prayed as if it was already a Done Deal !!!! – Why ?

 

A) He had purposed in His Heart to do the Will of the Father !!!!!

B)  We can do the Same thing: Daily Prayer – Lord be glorified in my Life today / Reign / Be on the throne in every Situation

1)               Let my life be a Platform for you to be Glorified / for your Glory to be Seen .

 

A) When we truly make that our Prayer – it affects our Perspective & our Attitude when we come into our Situations

 

2nd Illustrate in this way: Seen that has been replayed many times

 

 October afternoon in 1982, Badger Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, was packed. More than 60,000 die-hard University of Wisconsin supporters were watching their football team take on the Michigan State Spartans.

But  It soon became obvious that MSU had the better team.

  

What seemed odd, however, as the score became more lopsided, were the bursts of applause and shouts of joy from the Wisconsin fans. How could they cheer when their team was losing?  It turns out that seventy miles away the Milwaukee Brewers were beating the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the 1982 World Series.

   Many of the fans in the stands were listening to portable radios--and responding to something other than their immediate circumstances. 

 

 

Which brings us back to how Paul encouraged us in (2 Cor. 4:18 to fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen !!

      When we do, we can rejoice even in hardships because we see  

      Christ's larger victory.

 

 

Note the EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP that is given : 4 things

A)V.15 It was  Loud –Loud voices in Heaven: One Comm. Said  “It wasn’t GUTLESS WORSHIP”  I like that !!!

 

B)  As I read through the Scriptures the thing I notice is God seems to Enjoy worship w/ Guts !!! Loud expressions of Worship / Make a Loud noise

C) Word Loud – Concordance ( Used often – God Communicating w/ His people & Them w/ Him

1)               Word Loud – focuses not on the Volume / not that God is old & hard of Hearing – But the Expression :

 

B) Grk – signifies Great & Intense / Boisterous /  Strong & Mighty

That is the type of worship that God enjoys – From the Heart

1)               From the depth’s of a soul that has been so touched by God & so moved by God – that the only Logical response is WORSHIP

 

E) Only Logical Response is to reverently & Enthusiastically – Direct Praise to His Name !!!!!

 

A) Now If this is what the Worship of heaven is going to be like – I think we should get w/ the Program Now

1)               Expressing to the Lord – our Worship w/ all of our hearts

 

 

2nd Humble / v. 16  And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,

A)   What a Beautiful Combination :  Strong Boisterous but w/ a sense of Humility - 

 

B)    That is what is so lacking in many Pentecostal type settings – Oh it is loud – but not Humble LOOK AT ME /  The attention is not on God

1) Instead the attention is on Let’s see how loud we can be & watch sister so & so dance

 

C)    That is when You can tell that Real Worship is happening – there is a Humble attitude – ( Focus & attention is only on the Lord )

 

 

3rd Affectionate : V.16 They fell down & worshipped

A)    Worship = Proscuneo – To turn & to Kiss / ( Affectionate / Emotional)

1)                 Not some heady stoic display of Gratitude – ( Feeling)

A)   When I Proposed to my wife I didn’t do so by Stating all the Rational & Mathematically Reasons why I thought we should be a Couple

1)                 Why we should get Ready

 

A)    Things like that were not even on my Mind: It simply Boiled down to the Fact that this was the Most Incredible/ Beautiful & / Godly woman

1) I had ever met & I wanted to spend the Rest of my Life w/ Her !!!

 

 

4th Thankful -  v.17 We give you thanks

A)      Thanksgiving day -  every day / Complaining day once a yr.

 

 

They Praise Him for His Power in v. 17 You have taken Your great power and reigned.

 

Because His Plan is being Accomplished – v.18 The Nations are being judged

 

Because His Promise is Being Fulfilled v.18 – The Church is  rewarded

   HIS SERVANTS

 

Because God’s final Punishment is being Declared – He Destroys those who Destroy the earth !!!!

 

 

v.18 TAKES US TO THE END OF THE MILL. – Preview of the Great white Throne Judgement ( Final Things )