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Series Code: RAD
Program Code: RAD170013A
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00:01 What does the future hold?
00:02 Where can we find certainty in a world of uncertainty? 00:05 The book of Revelation provides helpful answers for today, 00:09 tomorrow, and forever. 00:11 Join Mark Finley, author and world renowned speaker, 00:14 on a journey into the future with 00:23 Welcome back. We're journeying through the book 00:25 of Revelation together. 00:26 One of the topics in the book of Revelation that really 00:30 confuses many people is the topic of Armageddon. 00:33 What is Armageddon? 00:35 Is it an earthly conflict? 00:37 Is it nations going at war, facing one another? 00:42 Will Armageddon begin in Jerusalem and then burst forth 00:46 throughout the world? 00:48 We're going to study the book of Revelation, chapters 15 00:51 and 16 especially, and discover the truth about Armageddon. 00:55 Let's pray. Father in Heaven, we thank You so much that in spite 01:00 of this world's confusion and conflict, 01:02 that Jesus is still in control. 01:04 As we study this topic of Armageddon, we pray that You 01:09 would enlighten our minds, and give us hope. 01:11 In Christ's name, Amen. 01:14 This presentation is entitled, 01:22 As you look around the world there are some traumatic things 01:27 that are taking place: earthquakes, hurricanes, 01:32 tornadoes, Tsunami disasters. 01:35 And in this context people are wondering, 01:38 what does the future hold? 01:41 Where is this world headed? 01:44 Think of some of the conflagrations, 01:46 the fires that have taken place, particularly in the 01:50 West Coast of America: hundreds, thousands of acres that have 01:55 been burned, or consider the rumbling of the earth, 02:00 volcanic eruptions that have destroyed entire villages. 02:06 What does the future hold? 02:08 Where is this world headed? 02:10 In the book of Revelation the 16th chapter, the Bible talks 02:15 about the battle of Armageddon; earth's last war. 02:19 But that does lead us to some questions. 02:22 What is Armageddon? 02:24 Where will it be fought? 02:26 Who will fight? Truth is stranger than fiction. 02:30 And to understand the battle of Armageddon, it's necessary to 02:34 understand a larger conflict, a conflict between good and evil, 02:38 a conflict between Christ and Satan. 02:41 We are on the verge in the world of a financial crisis. 02:46 Will that economic collapse lead nations to coalesce and come 02:53 together with a political, religious, and financial union 02:58 to try to save the world? 03:00 When you consider earthquakes, famines, fires, flood, 03:03 when you consider worldwide terrorism, 03:06 when you consider the financial issues that our world is facing, 03:10 and when you add to that the tension between nations and the 03:14 global conflict, you almost wonder if the stage is being set 03:19 for the rise of a universal world ruler. 03:23 You also wonder if these economic problems, 03:27 the global conflict, the natural disasters, will bring together 03:31 a coordination, a consolidation of nations? 03:35 And then will that break apart and lead to Armageddon? 03:38 How will earth's last scenes develop? 03:41 Now fortunately we don't have to guess. 03:44 Fortunately, the book of Revelation reveals to us the 03:48 last scenes of earth's history. 03:50 Let's go back to Revelation, the 14th chapter. 03:52 We've been studying that in this series. 03:54 This is the very heart of the book of Revelation. 04:10 Now notice, an angel flies in the middle of heaven. 04:13 Here's an urgent end time message. 04:16 This message is to leap across geographical boundaries. 04:19 It's to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 04:23 It is a universal message. 04:25 But the Bible goes on. 04:27 The angel says with a loud voice, Fear,... 04:30 Respect, give reverence, or obey God. 04:43 So here's a message for end time. 04:45 It's a message for all humanity. 04:48 It's a judgment hour message for a people on 04:51 the verge of eternity. 04:53 Then in this message, deeply embedded within the heart of 04:57 this message there is a call, a call to 05:06 So here's a call to worship 05:11 Here's a call, in an age of evolution, to worship the One 05:16 that made heaven, and earth, and sea, and fountains of waters. 05:20 How do we worship the Creator? 05:22 You remember Revelation 4:11 says, Thou art worthy, O Lord, 05:28 to receive glory, and honor, and power, 05:30 for You've created all things. 05:32 How do we worship the Creator? 05:34 Has our Lord given us a sign of His creative authority? 05:40 The seventh day of the week, given by God at creation, 05:45 reveals just how we worship the Creator. 05:49 The Sabbath is the sign of God's creative authority. 05:54 The Sabbath is the sign, or symbol, that God created 05:58 the world in six days, and rested the seventh, 06:01 and that we did not evolve. 06:05 There is a conflict over worship in the book of Revelation. 06:09 In fact, in Revelation there are two worships. 06:29 Now notice in the book of 06:42 So the final conflict in this earth's history comes over the 06:46 subject of worship. 06:51 between two kinds of worship. 06:55 That has been true down thru the centuries. 06:59 When you look at the Old Testament, men and women had a 07:03 conflict over worship. 07:10 It's not so much a physical battle between nations, but 07:21 Think about it. Down through the centuries the Israelites 07:25 worshipped the true God. 07:26 The pagan heathen tribes worshipped idols; 07:30 a struggle over worship. 07:32 The Israelites worshiped on the Sabbath. 07:36 Their opposition, the heathen, worshipped the sun god. 07:43 So, again, this struggle over worship. 07:46 The false gods, and the true God. 07:48 The false Sabbath, and the true Sabbath. 07:52 Each of these was 07:56 Worshipping the true God, or false gods. 07:58 Worshipping on the true Sabbath, or false Sabbath. 08:01 There was a much larger issue here. 08:03 In the great controversy between good and evil, in the great 08:07 controversy between Christ and Satan, 08:09 in this great controversy that began millenniums ago 08:13 in Heaven, that focused on earth, with Adam and Eve 08:18 in the garden, the issue has always been, Will I trust God, 08:23 will I sense that God is supreme? 08:26 Will I give my allegiance to Him? 08:29 Will I obey Him? And will I worship Him alone? 08:33 When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, 08:37 and disobeyed God, they aligned themselves 08:40 with Satan in false worship. 08:43 Fortunately, God did not let them go, 08:46 and He came to the garden and gave them that Eden promise; 08:49 the promise of a Messiah. 08:50 When Israel drifted away from God, and they worshipped 08:55 in harmony with the heathen, and intermarried, and at times 08:59 worshipped idols, when that happened they aligned themself 09:02 with false worship rather than true worship. 09:06 In the controversy throughout the Old Testament between the 09:11 people of God, and the heathen, when you look at the whole idea 09:16 of sun worship of the Egyptians, and sun worship of the 09:20 Babylonians, and sun worship of the Persians, and you compare 09:23 that to Sabbath worship, again the issue is a test of loyalty 09:29 between the true God, and the false gods. 09:33 You find that in Daniel 3, when Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden 09:38 image, and commands all to come before 09:42 that image to worship. 09:44 There was a universal decree established by a universal 09:50 world ruler inviting, I said inviting? commanding all the 09:55 nation to come to worship the golden image. 09:58 Now you remember, in Daniel 2, God had given an 10:01 outline of history, an image whose head was of gold, 10:04 breast and arms of silver, thighs of brass, legs of iron, 10:08 and feet of iron and clay. 10:09 God's directions throughout history, God's unfolding of 10:15 history was given in Daniel 2. 10:17 But Nebuchadnezzar didn't like that. 10:20 He didn't want the head to be of gold, then another nation, 10:22 breasts and iron of silver, Medo Persia. 10:24 He wanted the whole image to be of gold, because he wanted his 10:27 kingdom to rule forever, and ever. 10:30 So he sets up a counterfeit image, commands worship 10:34 to that image, and there is a test of loyalty. 10:37 Now on that point the first and second commandments were the 10:42 visible manifestation of that test: Thou shalt have no other 10:45 Gods before Me, and Thou shalt not make unto 10:48 thee any graven image. 10:49 For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three Hebrews 10:53 to bow down, they would have been bowing down in false, 10:57 or in counterfeit worship. 10:59 They could not do this. 11:00 So down through the centuries, the real issue is worship. 11:18 We will see again the issue will be worship, 11:22 true and false worship. 11:24 Now there is something that's a little confusing to some 11:27 people here, because they say the wrath of God is complete. 11:32 Is God's wrath His anger? 11:36 Is God an angry God? 11:39 In the Bible the expression, 11:49 So God's wrath is always God's judgment. 11:52 God is just, and He's merciful. 11:56 At the cross we see the justice of God. 11:59 Christ bears the sins of this world Himself. 12:01 But we also see on the cross the mercy of God reaching 12:06 out to save lost sinners. 12:08 So what is God's wrath? 12:10 It's His judgment upon sin. 12:13 Now according to the book of Revelation, how will these 12:17 events unfold at end time, and what are these 12:22 events that will unfold? 12:25 Often you'll read about certain events that supposedly 12:30 are going to unfold. 12:31 Some people say there will be a rapture, 12:34 then there'll be a tribulation, that God's people will not go 12:38 through the seven last plagues, and they will 12:41 not face Armageddon. 12:42 Other people have various scenarios. 12:46 But I love that old poem, What Says the Bible, 12:49 the Blessed Bible To Me? 12:51 This, my only question be, What says the Bible, 12:55 the blessed Bible to me? 12:58 What are the end events outlined in Scripture? 13:04 before the end. Matthew 24:14 says, This gospel of the kingdom 13:10 will be preached to all the world as a witness to all 13:13 nations; then the end will come. 13:15 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is long suffering, 13:20 not willing that any should perish, but that all should 13:24 come to repentance. 13:25 Revelation 14:6 says, I saw another angel fly in the midst 13:28 of heaven, with the everlasting gospel to preach to those that 13:32 dwell on the earth, to every nation, kindred, 13:34 tongue, and people. 13:35 So before the coming of Christ, it's clear in the Bible, 13:37 that Jesus wants to save every human being. 13:40 And so the message of His love, and grace, and truth goes out 13:47 to the end of the world. 13:54 Every human being on planet earth will have sufficient 13:59 evidence to make a choice for or against Christ, 14:02 to make a choice for true worship or false worship, 14:06 to make a choice over who they're going to worship. 14:09 When every human being has had that choice, 14:17 Do you remember again Revelation 14:7, Fear God, and give glory 14:22 to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship 14:25 Him... Worship the Creator, who made heaven and earth. 14:28 Revelation 14:9, If any man worships the beast, 14:32 he will receive the wrath of God. 14:34 And what's that? That's the judgment of God. 14:36 Revelation 14:12. Here are they that keep the commandments 14:42 of God, and have the faith of Jesus. 14:44 So verse 7, Revelation 14, Worship the Creator. 14:48 Verse 9, Revelation 14, Don't worship the what? 14:52 That's right! Don't worship the beast. 14:53 And those that worship the Creator, and don't worship the 14:56 beast, what do they do? 14:58 They have the faith of Jesus. 15:00 The quality of faith of Christ is living in their hearts, 15:03 and they keep the commandments of God. 15:07 So before Armageddon, before the seven last plagues, 15:13 every human being will have an opportunity to decide who they 15:19 are going to worship. 15:25 They've heard the call of God. 15:27 Revelation 12:17, The dragon, Satan, is angry with the woman, 15:33 and goes to make war with the remnant of her seed, 15:36 those who keep the commandments of God, 15:39 and have the testimony of Jesus. 15:40 So the devil is going to be really angry. 15:43 He is going to be stirred up. 15:45 He's going to want to destroy the people of God. 15:48 That's why he prompts nations at a time of economic, 15:53 political chaos, and natural disasters, 15:57 to come together in a confederacy. 16:00 But what does the Bible say as that confederacy forms? 16:03 Isaiah 8:20, To the law and to the testimony; if they speak 16:07 not according to His Word, there is no light in them. 16:10 So this coordination of nations comes together. 16:14 A powerful world ruler arises, chaos is everywhere, 16:18 economic disaster everywhere, political disaster, 16:22 uncertainty everywhere in this world, 16:25 financial collapse, natural disasters. 16:28 And as this large coordination consolidation takes place, 16:33 with a single world ruler, Jesus says, A confederacy shall they 16:39 not make, Isaiah 8. 16:40 You, My people, lovingly obey Me, follow the light of My law. 16:45 So men and women committed to Christ, sold out to Christ, 16:50 are not intimidated. 16:52 There is a false decree passed over the whole issue of worship. 16:56 And when every human being has had their opportunity to make 17:00 their final choice, the seven last plagues are poured out. 17:03 Now very many people have a very difficult time with the 17:07 plagues because they say, How do you harmonize 17:09 the seven last plagues with the love of God? 17:12 And I want to share with you how you can see in 17:15 those plagues God's love. 17:17 At the end of those plagues Christ comes to 17:19 deliver His people. 17:21 Now somebody says, Pastor Mark, do you mean that the 17:24 people of God actually go through the plagues? 17:27 What we'll see is that our faith deepens. 17:30 God's people are not delivered before the plagues... 17:35 And we'll show you that from the Bible in this presentation. 17:37 ...but they are protected during the plagues. 17:41 The plagues do not afflict them and destroy them, 17:45 because Jesus is there to protect them. 17:47 Now notice clearly what the Bible says. 17:53 What does it say? how many? everyone? no. 18:03 So the Bible is very clear. 18:05 If we were raptured before the plagues, we would be entering 18:09 into heaven, and enter the temple. 18:11 But nobody can enter the temple. 18:12 Just before Jesus comes, every human being has the opportunity 18:18 to make their decision for or against Christ. 18:21 Once that decision has been made, the High Priestly ministry 18:26 of Jesus in Heaven's sanctuary ceases. 18:30 The Bible then says in 18:47 In other words, before the coming of Jesus there are two 18:50 classes that are developed. 18:51 The 12th verse of Revelation 22 says, Behold, I come quickly. 18:56 My reward is with Me. 18:57 So before Jesus comes two classes are developed: 19:01 the righteous and the unrighteous, 19:03 the holy and the unholy, the pure and the impure. 19:06 Once everybody has made their decision then the judgments of 19:13 God fall upon the earth. 19:15 Now human probation... 19:17 And what do we mean by human probation? 19:19 We mean an opportunity for salvation. 19:22 You see, when Christ comes everybody will have made their 19:26 final, irrevocable decision. 19:37 Now let me make it very plain. 19:40 When the decree goes forth, he that is righteous, 19:44 let him be righteous still, and he that is unrighteous 19:47 let him be unrighteous still, and he that is holy 19:49 let him be holy still, 19:52 When that decree goes forth, it is not some arbitrary act 19:57 on the part of God. 19:58 It's not God saying, Okay, ready or not. 20:00 You're either ready or you're not ready. 20:02 It is rather heaven's decree follows the eternal decision 20:08 that has taken place on planet earth. 20:10 The decisions that human beings make in that final crisis are 20:16 the culmination of decisions they've been 20:18 making all their lives, and their destiny is fixed 20:22 in that final moment they make their choice. 20:24 So if probation were open for another 10 years, 50 years, 20:29 a 100 years, a 1000 years, it would make no difference at all, 20:32 because two classes have been developed. 20:35 And these two classes have made their final decision completely 20:40 for Christ, or completely against Christ. 20:43 Once that takes place, according to 20:57 What are the bowls of the wrath of God? 21:00 They are the seven last plagues, and they are God's 21:04 judgments upon the earth. 21:06 You remember in Revelation 7 the angels are holding back 21:11 the winds of strife, the winds of destruction, 21:15 and calamity on earth. 21:17 When God withdraws His protective hand this earth is 21:24 plunged into a time of trouble that we could not imagine. 21:29 Now the question is 21:33 Are they raptured before it? 21:37 Let's notice the clear text of the Bible. 21:46 The Israelites were not delivered 21:49 until after the plagues. 21:51 And you recall in 1 Corinthians, the Bible says this; 21:55 it says, all those things that happened to them 21:59 happened as examples. 22:01 That's everything that happened to Israel happened as examples, 22:03 and they're written for our admonition, upon whom the 22:05 ends of the world were come. 22:15 When the Red Sea opened, and they went through, 22:16 and the Egyptians were killed. 22:24 The journey of Israel from Egypt to the promised land 22:27 is reminiscent, it is symbolic of the journey of God's people 22:33 today, from earth, our Egypt, our Babylon of the earth, 22:38 to the promised land. 22:40 So once again this parallel finds fulfillment 22:46 in the seven last plagues. 22:48 God's people are present during the plagues, just like Israel. 22:52 They are delivered after the plagues. 22:56 You remember also, we mentioned earlier, the image that 23:00 Nebuchadnezzar set up on the plains of Dura 23:03 that was all of gold. 23:05 This universal world ruler passes a death decree, 23:08 and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will not break 23:12 the commandments of God. 23:14 They stand loyally, but they are not raptured before the test, 23:22 they go through the test, and are cast into the flames, 23:27 and Christ is there in the flames with them, 23:31 protecting them, and not a hair of their head is singed. 23:36 Here is the incredible good news! 23:38 You see, there is a theology, there is a Bible teaching today 23:43 that says, If you're righteous, you're going to be healthy. 23:47 If you're righteous, you're going to be wealthy. 23:50 If you're righteous, you're not going to have any problems. 23:53 That's not the teaching of Scripture. 23:55 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were righteous. 23:58 They were faithful to God, but they were not 24:02 delivered from the flames. 24:04 They went through those flames, and Jesus Christ was with 24:07 them in the flames. 24:08 Here's the good news: if you're going through the flames 24:11 of your life; you're going a through a very 24:14 difficult time right now. 24:15 It could be with cancer. 24:17 It could be with a marriage problem. 24:19 It could be something in the family. 24:21 It could be an economic problem. 24:23 Christ is there with you. 24:25 He's there in the flames of your life. 24:28 He's there in the heartache of your life. 24:30 He's there when your heart is broken, 24:32 and tears are running down your face. 24:34 Christ is there. He is going to get you through this. 24:38 And in the last days of earth's history, Jesus is there. 24:42 Just when I need Him, Jesus is near. 24:44 Just when I falter, just when I fear. 24:47 Just when I need Him most. 24:49 Christ is there in the flames of your life, just like He was 24:55 there with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the 24:59 flames of their life. 25:00 Now do God's people go through the tribulation? 25:05 What does the Bible say in 25:08 It talks about the deliverance of God's people, and it says 25:15 So if you come out of great tribulation you must have gone 25:19 into great tribulation. 25:21 The Bible teaches that we will go through that tribulation. 25:25 But we will go through that tribulation protected by God. 25:30 We will go through that tribulation with God as our 25:33 refuge and our strength. 25:35 So the seven last plagues are poured out. 25:38 God's people have made their final, 25:41 irrevocable decision for Him. 25:43 The righteous are righteous, and the wicked are wicked. 25:47 Christ then pours out His judgments upon the world. 25:51 He withdraws His protective hand, and this world is 25:55 plunged into chaos. 25:57 What are those seven last plagues? 26:00 The first plague is sores. The Bible says, 26:07 on those that receive the mark of the beast; 26:11 this sore from head to toe. 26:13 Now how do you harmonize a sore like that 26:18 with the love of God? 26:20 Why would God ever allow this sore that is grievesome, 26:26 loathsome, putrefying, painful... 26:30 Why would God ever withdraw His hand, and allow an 26:34 affliction, or a disease to come that way? 26:37 Here's why. You remember what those who enforced the 26:43 mark of the beast said? 26:45 Do you remember that? 26:46 The Bible says, in Revelation 13, that they said unless you 26:52 take the mark of the beast, you will be physically oppressed. 26:58 You will be physically tormented. 27:01 In fact, you know, the seal of God is 27:06 received only in the mind. 27:08 What is the seal of God? 27:09 It is the settling into God's truth so strongly, 27:14 and the commitment to worship Him so totally, 27:19 that nothing can move us. 27:21 What is the mark of the beast? 27:23 We'll study that in much more detail in this series, 27:27 but it is accepting human decrees, and human commands, 27:31 before the command of God. 27:33 So the mark of the beast can be received 27:35 either in the forehead... 27:37 People are intellectually convinced. 27:38 ...or it can be received in the hand. 27:40 The seal of God, or allegiance to God, can never be 27:44 received in the hand. Why not? 27:46 In Revelation the hand is a symbol of power. 27:49 It's a symbol of coercion. 27:50 So here these people who receive the sore say, Either you take 27:55 the mark of the beast, or else we are going to 27:59 physically oppress you. 28:00 That which they claim to do to others... 28:03 The Bible says, Whatever you sow, you're going to reap. 28:06 They receive a physical sore. 28:09 What does the first plague say? It says, 28:15 It says, Come and give your body to Christ, like Paul says in 28:19 Romans 12:1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, to present 28:23 your bodies a living sacrifice before Christ. 28:27 In other words, the first plague is a physical plague 28:30 that afflicts the body. 28:31 Those who enforce the mark of the beast say, You either take 28:35 the mark, or we're going to torment your body. 28:36 But in the first plague Jesus says, All physical security 28:41 is where? in Christ. 28:55 Notice what Scripture says. 28:59 We have our physical security in Christ. 29:01 We're not going to yield to the threats. 29:03 We're not going to yield to the intimidation. 29:05 We're not going to yield to the pressure. Why? 29:08 Because we are strong? no. 29:09 But because our physical security... 29:12 We've given our bodies to Christ. 29:15 Now notice the second plague: the sea turns to blood. 29:18 If anything like that ever happened, if anything like that 29:23 ever happened, what would take place to the 29:27 economy of the world? 29:29 When a hurricane is coming across the Atlantic, 29:33 what do people typically do? 29:37 They go to stores once they see the weather report, 29:41 and they buy up all their food, right? Why? 29:43 Because commerce takes place on the sea, and of course, 29:47 the great trucking lines. 29:49 Now notice what the Bible says in 30:02 If anything like that ever happened... 30:04 Now just imagine it. 30:06 Let your mind grasp it. 30:08 If the sea ever became like blood; if every living creature 30:14 in the sea died, think of the stinking, putrefying, 30:20 absolutely horrible stench. 30:24 Think of the inability of the shipping lines to be able 30:29 to bring any kind of commerce. 30:32 What would happen? The grocery stores would be jammed. 30:36 Soon they would be out of food. 30:39 I am told that most grocery stores, in the United States 30:45 anyway, have about four, or at most five days of food. 30:51 If that is true, think of what would happen if 30:55 you had a run on food. 30:56 Think of what would happen if the sea couldn't 30:59 transport any food. 31:00 Think of what would happen if every one of our 31:02 ports were shut down. 31:04 There would be economic chaos. 31:07 What does the second plague say? 31:13 Remember the enforcers of the mark of the beast said, 31:17 You'd better receive the mark of the beast or else, 31:21 Revelation 13, you will not be able to buy, 31:24 or you won't be able to sell. 31:26 But here, in the second plague, they cannot deliver, 31:32 because that which they promised never occurs. 31:36 First plague, all physical security is in Christ. 31:40 Second plague, all economic security is in Christ. 31:45 Third plague, the rivers turn to blood. 31:48 What's this all about? the rivers turning to blood? 31:51 Now here's where you get your clue to the deeper 31:54 meaning of the plagues. 31:55 When you're studying the Bible, often Scripture will give you a 31:58 clue to understand the deeper meaning. 32:01 In the Bible water is a symbol of life. 32:16 And so when you take a look at this third plague, 32:31 See Jesus was; He's eternal. 32:34 Jesus is; He conquered the grave, and conquered death. 32:38 This is taken from Revelation 1, and reiterated, or restated in 32:44 Revelation 16, and He is the One to be. 32:46 So Christ is the One who was there yesterday, 32:49 who is there today, and He'll be there tomorrow. 32:51 He is the source of life. 32:53 Then the Scripture says, 33:00 So why does He give them blood to drink? 33:03 Because they have shed the blood of saints and prophets. 33:08 In other words, Jesus says to them, You have thought that 33:13 you have power over life, but you don't. 33:17 I am the source of life. 33:20 So the rivers and waters turning to blood, literally like blood, 33:25 are symbolic of the life that only Christ can give. 33:30 He is the river of the water of life. 33:32 So there's a much deeper meaning here. 33:35 Are the plagues physical plagues? Yes they are. 33:38 Do people really get sores? Yes, they do. 33:42 Does the sea actually turn to something like blood 33:44 with everything that dies in it? Yes, it is. 33:47 Do the rivers actually become like blood? Yes, they do. 33:50 But what is the lesson behind that? 33:53 Often we look at the physical aspects of it, 33:56 and totally fail to see what's going on. 33:58 The first plague says, All physical security is in Christ. 34:03 The beast power says, I'm going torment you. 34:06 What does Jesus say? Trust Me. 34:08 Physical security is in Me. 34:10 The beast power says you won't be able to buy or sell. 34:13 What does Jesus say? Trust Me. 34:15 I will feed you during that time. 34:17 Your bread and waters will be sure. 34:20 All economic security is in Me. 34:22 The beast power says, If you don't worship me, 34:25 I'm going to take your life. 34:27 And what does Jesus say? 34:28 Your life is hid with Christ in God. 34:31 Why does He give them blood to drink? What does it say? 34:36 In other words, they persecuted the people of God, 34:39 and therefore life is only in Him. 34:43 All of our life is in Christ. 34:46 Colossians 3:2 says, Set your affections on things above, 34:50 because your life is hidden with Christ in God. 35:00 In this time of crisis 35:08 You and I will go through this time of tribulation. 35:11 You and I will go through this time of difficulty, 35:15 this time of challenge. 35:16 All around us we will see chaos and disaster, 35:20 but Jesus will manifest His hand. 35:24 Our bread, and our water, the essentials of life will be sure. 35:32 The answer to that is that our bodies are given to Christ. 35:38 All physical security is in Christ. 35:42 The issue here is much deeper than the sea turning to blood; 35:46 is that economic security is in Christ. 35:49 We trust Him for everything in our life. 35:53 The issue here is that our life is in His hands. 35:56 Notice the fourth plague. 36:00 Remember what the issue is in the last days? 36:03 The issue in the last days is over what? It is over worship. 36:08 And what have some done? 36:10 They've turned from the true Bible Sabbath. 36:14 They've turned to the day of the sun. 36:30 Why is it that the sun scorches men? 36:34 The largest luminous body in the heavens has been the object 36:39 of worship for men and women down through the centuries. 36:44 Every pagan society has given reverence, 36:49 and worship to the sun. 36:51 In the last days there is a great controversy between 36:56 sun worship and Sabbath worship, between worshipping the Creator, 37:02 and worshipping the object of creation, between worshipping 37:06 the One that made, and worshipping by some, 37:09 the things that have been made. 37:11 And so the Bible says, 37:25 Now this is a very critical text. 37:28 They did not repent and give Him glory. 37:29 Four plagues have already taken place, and you would think 37:34 that these who have turned from His love, rejected His grace, 37:40 those who are seeing the plagues, 37:42 you'd think that they would repent, and get on their knees 37:45 and say, God, we're so sorry! 37:47 God, forgive us, but they don't. 37:49 It says they didn't repent. Why not? 37:51 Because remember at the beginning of the plagues, 37:53 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. 37:55 And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still. 37:57 And he that is unholy, let him be unholy still. 37:59 And he that is holy, let him be holy still. 38:03 So we see that they have fixed their character. 38:07 They had made their eternal decision. 38:10 So the sun scorches men. 38:16 The plagues reveal that they have worshipped 38:18 at the wrong shrine. 38:19 The plagues reveal that there is only One that can deliver us 38:24 during those plagues, and He is the Creator God. 38:28 What does this fourth plague say? 38:34 That He is the object of our worship. 38:37 Remember in Genesis 2:1, 2, And on the seventh day 38:44 God ended His work which He had made. 38:47 And God blessed the seventh day, and God did what? 38:52 He sanctified the seventh day, and God rested 38:57 upon the seventh day. 38:58 And there at creation, back at the beginning, God invited Adam 39:03 and Eve to find true meaning, true purpose, true rest, 39:08 true blessing, true sanctification, 39:10 true worship in Him. 39:12 And so in the last days of earth's history that 39:14 crisis over worship. 39:22 What is the secret place of the Most High? It's His sanctuary! 39:25 And what is in His sanctuary? the law of God. 39:29 And what's in the heart of the law? the Sabbath. 39:39 When the sun scorches men, the shadow of the 39:43 Almighty protects us. 39:45 His law is over us just like that cloud guiding Israel 39:50 through the deserts protected them from the scorching sun. 39:56 So God, our shadow, His law over us, His love within us, 40:01 protects us in those times. He says, 40:09 When the crisis breaks in this earth's 40:12 history, we can trust Him. 40:16 Now notice where the darkness is. 40:32 Now notice where the darkness is. It says, 40:41 Now by this time all the world has wandered after the beast. 40:46 By this time the beast power's kingdom is throughout the earth, 40:51 so there is darkness. 40:52 They looked to the beast power, a human religious authority, 40:59 who's united church and state. 41:02 They looked to that power for light. 41:05 They looked to that power for truth, but they only found 41:09 tradition, falsehood, and darkness. 41:12 The literal darkness, and the darkness is a literal darkness, 41:17 that literal darkness is symbolic of a deeper 41:21 spiritual darkness. 41:23 What's God saying in that fifth plague? 41:26 He's saying all light is only in Jesus. 41:29 If you want the light of truth, you come to Jesus. 41:32 If you want the light that shines in the 41:35 darkness, you come to Jesus. 41:46 So God's Word illuminates the future. 41:49 God's Word enlightens the future. 41:53 The human beings follow a false religious leader at the time 41:58 of the end, and as they do they're led into superstition, 42:03 falsehood, deception, and tradition. 42:06 But God's people exalt His Word. 42:09 God's people follow in the light of the truth of His Word. 42:14 Jesus says, 42:21 So the question is, if we walk in the darkness of superstition 42:27 now, if we walk in the darkness of falsehood and error now, 42:33 we'll be engulfed in that darkness within 42:36 the seven last plagues. 42:37 But if we walk in the light of God's truth now, 42:42 we will be engulfed with the light of Jesus; 42:46 the light of the world during the plagues. 42:58 Their decisions fixed their destiny. You know, 43:09 The only safety is to walk in the truth of God's Word. 43:14 The only safety is to walk in the light of God's Word. 43:18 The only safety is to walk in the joy and peace of God's Word. 43:23 The sixth plague: Armageddon. 43:38 What is Armageddon? and what's the meaning of Armageddon? 43:53 In the last days of earth's history, in this conflict 43:57 between good and evil, in this conflict between Christ and 44:01 Satan, all of the world is marshalling its forces 44:06 against the people of God. 44:18 So Armageddon, Har Megiddo, the mountain of slaughter, 44:22 the plains of Megiddo were the place where it appeared that 44:27 God's people had no way out, around, or through. 44:30 It looked like they certainly would be defeated, 44:33 but God brought reinforcements to deliver His people. 44:38 So in the last days of earth's history... Follow me closely. 44:41 ...there is war, conflict, famine, and strife. 44:46 There's economic disaster. 44:48 As this world is falling apart, a powerful world leader arises 44:54 to bring the world together. 44:56 The masses of people in this world, the legislators of this 45:01 world, yield to those masses. 45:03 They yield to the popular demand. 45:05 And so a common day of rest and worship is 45:09 enforced upon humanity. 45:11 Those who worship the Creator cannot go along, therefore, 45:15 they worship on the true Sabbath. 45:17 As the result of this, every human being is catapulted to 45:21 make a final, eternal decision for or against Christ. 45:25 When that decision is made the judgments of God are poured out. 45:29 Those judgments come rapidly, one right after the other. 45:34 They're called the seven last plagues. 45:36 By the time of the sixth plague, those who followed the beast 45:41 in this unity movement, this confederacy, recognize that what 45:47 they thought would happened, hasn't happened at all. 45:50 They thought they could bring unity, and bring peace to earth, 45:53 but how there's total chaos and calamity. 45:55 So they marshal their forces; all the forces of hell are 45:59 marshalled against the people of God. 46:01 What is the battle of Armageddon? 46:03 It's not a local military battle. 46:05 It is rather a Titanic struggle between the forces of good, 46:09 and the forces of evil; where evil tries to 46:11 destroy righteousness. 46:13 But what does the Bible say in 46:33 Christ is going to step down the corridor of the sky. 46:36 He's going to come with power. 46:37 He's going to come with glory. 46:39 He's going to come to deliver His people. 46:41 See, what is the message of Armageddon? 46:49 that Jesus Christ is going to come to deliver His people. 47:00 What is Armageddon? the final conflict in the universe between 47:04 good and evil; where wickedness tries to destroy righteousness, 47:09 where the people of God are facing destruction. 47:11 But God, like He did for ancient Israel, 47:14 miraculously delivers them. 47:16 Notice what Jesus says right after the verse in chapter 16, 47:22 verse 14 on Armageddon. 47:24 What does it say in 47:27 Armageddon is come, but behold, look see! 47:31 Quickly, rapidly. 47:39 In other words, hold on! 47:40 Don't give up your righteous commitment to Christ now. 47:45 Do not cast off your faith, your trust in Christ now. 47:49 By the way, what sense would it make to say after six plagues, 47:58 that I'm coming as a thief, if He already had come 48:03 at the beginning of the plagues? 48:12 After six plagues. You and I lived through those plagues, 48:16 but we are protected by God. 48:18 And during that period of the plagues we are His. 48:24 We are secure. Our physical security is in Christ. 48:30 Our economic security is in Christ. 48:33 Our life is in Christ. 48:36 Our true worship is not with the sun god, 48:39 fourth plague, it's in Christ. 48:40 True light is not at the throne of the beast, it's in Christ. 48:44 Our security and hope is in Christ. 48:48 Our deliverance is in Jesus Christ. 48:51 One day He will come again. 48:54 The heavens will be pierced with the lightening that flashes 48:58 from the east to the west. 48:59 The dead will be resurrected who are in Christ. 49:02 The righteous will be changed, and be caught up 49:04 to meet Him in the sky. 49:19 It is finished. It is over. 49:21 Jesus Christ comes again! 49:33 The earth shakes and trembles, every mountain and island 49:36 cast out of their places, according to the Bible. 49:40 According to Scripture every island, every mountain 49:43 shaking of the earth. 49:48 It's over sixty pounds. 49:49 The artillery from heaven comes. 49:51 It's Armageddon. Wickedness is destroyed, evil is destroyed. 49:56 Satan and his angels are bound to this earth at that time, 50:01 at the beginning of the millennium. 50:03 We'll study that next time. 50:04 All of the wicked are destroyed; their bodies strewn across the 50:08 earth, the righteous are resurrected, 50:10 caught up to meet Christ in the sky. 50:15 sheltered by Him, delivered by Him. 50:18 In the crisis of this earth we can have our 50:21 confidence in Jesus Christ. 50:24 In the confidence, in the crisis of this earth, we can know 50:27 that He is coming to deliver us. 50:30 A number of years ago an Australian woodsman, 50:34 who had a little cabin out in the woods, went out one day to 50:39 chop wood for his fireplace. 50:41 And on the way back he saw smoke. 50:43 He was amazed! He picked up his pace and began to run, 50:46 and then he noticed that it was his cabin that was on fire. 50:51 By the time he got back the cabin was burned, 50:54 burned to the ground completely. 50:57 All of his livestock burned, consumed. 51:02 The man walked in so discouraged. 51:06 He didn't have much in life. 51:08 That cabin was about all he had. 51:10 He looked down. He saw all his chickens. 51:12 They were burned to death. 51:15 He said, This is it, over, I... everything I had 51:21 I put into this cabin. 51:23 This is it, it's over. 51:24 As he walked he saw some charred charcoal boards, 51:30 and he just kicked them a little bit, 51:33 and he noticed a dead mother hen. 51:35 He was kind of angry and he kicked that old dead mother hen. 51:39 And out from under her came four little chicks. 51:45 She had sheltered those chicks. 51:50 They scampered around, and he smiled, and he said, 51:55 This is my symbol of a new beginning. 51:59 Jesus says to you, In the time of tribulation in the future, 52:06 and in the time of your tribulation today, 52:09 He says, I'll be with you. The Bible says in 52:24 In the trials of life today, in the tribulation of life today, 52:30 you have One that is there. 52:32 And in the future, according to 52:42 He holds you in his arms. 52:44 He'll never let you go! 52:47 He's with you in the trials today, 52:49 and tomorrow, and forever. 52:53 You are safe in Him, secure in Him, your hope is in Him. 53:01 Listen as Tim sings, I Am Thine O Lord. 53:11 I am Thine O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, 53:18 and it told Thy love to me. 53:25 But I long to rise in the arms of faith, 53:31 and be closer drawn to Thee. 53:38 Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, 53:46 to the cross where Thou hast died. 53:55 Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, 54:03 to Thy precious bleeding side. 54:15 Consecrate me now to Your service Lord, 54:20 by the power of grace divine. 54:28 Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, 54:34 and my will be lost in Thine. 54:41 Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, 54:49 to the cross where Thou hast died. 54:58 Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, 55:08 to Thy precious bleeding side. 55:21 You might be thinking, Pastor Mark, I don't have to wait 55:25 for the great tribulation, because I'm going through a 55:29 tribulation right now. 55:30 I don't have to wait for some future trials, 55:34 or future difficulties, because I don't know if I'm going to 55:37 make it through today, this week, this month, this year. 55:41 Here is the incredibly good news for you. 55:44 Jesus is there. He says, I am your refuge and your strength. 55:49 He says, Come unto Me all you that are burdened and heavy 55:55 laden, and I will give you rest. 55:58 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, and you shall find 56:03 rest for your souls. 56:05 Jesus is there for you right now. 56:08 Will you reach out to Him right now? 56:12 Will you open your heart to Him right now? 56:15 Will you say to Jesus right now, I am Thine, and Thine O Lord. 56:22 Let's pray together. 56:23 Oh my Father, there's a time of trouble coming in the future. 56:27 The great time of tribulation. 56:29 But we're thankful that You were with Shadrach, Meshach, 56:33 and Abednego as they went into the flames, 56:35 and You'll be with us. 56:36 We're thankful that You're our refuge and strength. 56:39 We're thankful that we need not fear. 56:42 And, Father, I'm praying for somebody going through 56:46 tribulation today; somebody facing trial today. 56:49 I pray that You'd come near them. 56:51 Warm their heart with Your presence. 56:53 Give them a sense of hope, and help them to know 56:57 that You'll never let them go. 56:59 In Christ's name, Amen. 57:02 Thank you for joining us for this series called 57:06 Revelation's Ancient Discoveries. 57:09 As the series continues, we are going to delve very deeply 57:14 into Bible prophecy. 57:15 We're going to study Babylon in Revelation; study why there are 57:18 so many different denominations, and also examine the beast 57:22 in Bible prophecy, and look at the United States in prophecy. 57:25 Stay with us for this series and you will be blessed. |
Revised 2018-04-25