The Predictions about the End, Part 4

This is our fourth sermon on the predictions about the end in Luke chapter 11. We find ourselves on Wednesday evening of Passion Week. We find ourselves on the western slope of the Mount of Olives with Christ and his disciples overlooking the Temple Mount. Overlooking the Herodian temple, and Jesus answering a question that was asked by his men. About when would be the sign of the end of the age. Tell us when will these things be? And Jesus goes into this long discussion. This long teaching, commonly called the Olivet Discourse, that explains to us all that we need to know concerning the return of the king.

J doesn't tell us everything. He just tells us what we need to know. And he explains to his men. About the things concerning the end. He's going to give them the predictions about the end. Then he's going to talk to them about the persecution at the end. And then he's going to talk to them about the perils surrounding the end. And then he's going to say the presence of Christ is the end. And then he's going to say, you need to prepare. For the end. And that's what the Olive discourse is all about, and that's what we're discussing.

And we're right in the middle of talking about the predictions. About the end. And this is our fourth sermon, like I said earlier, and I know it's taken a while to get through just a verse or two, but there's so much surrounding. The issue of Christ and His return, His coming again, then that's why Christ spent as much time on it as He did. It's crucial. Eschatology is crucial. It's the reason for the story. The end is. And he gives us a description of the end. And explains to us that these predictions around the end fall into three categories.

Number one, messianic deception. Number two, military dissens. Number three, mon devastation. This is what he says. Verse eight. See to it that you be not misled, for many will come in my name, saying, I am He, and the time is at hand. Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified. For these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.

Then he continued by saying to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes. and in various places plagues and famines, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. These are the predictions about the end. And Christ says something very significant.

He says, when you see these things, the end does not follow immediately. He lets them understand that. For 2,000 years, there have been, as Christ says in Matthew 24, verse number 8, birth pangs.

But in all reality, they're more like Braxton-Hicks contract. If you ladies know what that is, us men, we have no idea. But the ladies do. Braxton-Hicks contractions tell you that you are pregnant, but they're not the real birth pangs. Because when the real birth pangs come, they will grow with intensity. They will grow with velocity until the end comes. And the tribulation period really is all about the birth pangs as they increase with intensity. But for 2,000 years, there have been many Braxton-Hicks contractions that have taken place.

That we need to understand. And Jesus says: when you see these things, you see messianic deception. Military dissens, mon devastation. The end does not come immediately. Now, why would I say that? Jesus said something on different occasions when he talked about the fact that when he comes, it will be like a thief. In the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Paul would talk to us about the thief that comes in the night. How does a thief come? Well, he comes unexpectedly. Never announces his arrival. Never sends you a text message, an email telling you when he's going to come to your house.

He just kind of shows up suddenly, unexpectedly. And he comes unannounced. And the Bible tells us that in Revelation 16 and in Matthew 24 or Luke 12, excuse me, and in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, that it comes like a thief in the middle of the night. 1 Timothy 6 tells us these words in verses 14 to 16. He says that he comes at the proper time. He says, Paul does, that you keep the commandments without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at Excuse me, the proper time He will bring His coming.

About at the exact time. But nobody knows. No one knows the day or the hour of his coming. That's why. He says in Luke's Gospel, the 12th chapter, you need to be dressed in readiness because you never know when the Son of Man is going to appear. Now you need to understand something that the coming of Christ happens in two phases. There is the rapture of the church and the revelation of the Christ. You need to understand that because people ask me this question all the time. They have questions about, quote, the rapture of the church.

Say, well, that word rapture is never used in the Bible. So, how do we know it's true? And I tell them: well, for instance, the word tr or tri-un is never used in the Bible. But we know that God is three persons in one because the Bible explains that. In fact, the word Bible is never used in the Bible. But we believe the Bible. So we understand the truth. So, you need to come back and realize what the Bible says.

So, a number of years ago, I gave you something. I'm sure you've thrown it away already. So, out of the kindness of my heart, I ran copies of it for you again. And you can pick them up in our media center when the service is over. And what I did a number of years ago is give you a contrast between the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the revelation of the Christ. To show you the difference in the two, you can pick this up, it's free of charge, you can look at it, you can study it.

First thing we tell you, there are 16 different elements that explain the difference. Between the rapture of the church and the revelation of the Christ. Remember, it's the book of Revelation. And by the way, people say to me, you know, it's so hard to read the book of Revelation, it's so difficult. There's so many symbols and. So many analogies and so many things that you just never understand. And you got a beast coming up out of the sea. He's got all these diadems on his head. How do we ever understand all that stuff?

That is just Satan's tool. To keep you from studying the one book you need to know inside and out. Because it is the revelation of Jesus Christ, it is the apocalypsis of the Messiah, it is the unveiling of the Christ. In fact, the book of Revelation is the one book that unveils to us the glory of Christ more so than any other book in the scriptures. And so you need to understand it. You need to come to grips with it. And it's the only book in the Bible that begins and ends with a blessing. We told you that last week.

Revel 1:3. Revelation 22:7. It begins and ends with a blessing to all those who hear it, who read it, and who keep the words of the prophecy. Well, if that's the case, don't you want to be blessed? Sure, you do. So embark on a study of the book of Revelation, and you'll be blessed more than you can ever imagine. So let me give you these different elements.

You can pick this up when our time is over. But the rapture of the church is not revealed in the Old Testament, it's a mystery. It's a mystery. 1 Corinthians 15 talks about that mystery. John 14, as well as 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. But the revelation of Christ is revealed by all the major prophets in the Old Testament. That's the very first difference you need to understand.

Number two, the rapture of the church may occur at any time. We speak of the imminent return of Christ. That nothing has to happen for the rapture of the church to take place, because everything that has said will happen has already happened. The return of Christ for his church is the next thing on the prophetic calendar. Nothing has to happen for that to take place. But There are many prophetic details that have to take place before Revelation 19 and Christ coming again to the earth to set up his kingdom.

Number three, the church at the rapture goes to heaven. The translation of the church Into heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse number 17. The dead in Christ rise first.

We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. But At the revelation of the Christ, the church comes back to earth. Big difference. You can read about it in Revelation chapter 19. You can read about it in 1 Thessalonians 3, verse number 13. The raptured church is the time for comfort for the believer. That's why in 1 Thessalonians 4: it says, Comfort one another with these words. But.

The revelation of Christ is a time of not comfort, but terror for all unbelievers. Revelation 6, verses 15 to 17. At the rapture of the church, the promises of From Christ to the church are fulfilled, but at the revelation of Christ, the promises to Israel are fulfilled. Big difference. Christ has made a promise, John 14, that he will come and receive you to him, that where he is, there you may be also. Christ has made a promise to the church. He will fulfill that promise. To the church through the translation of the church into glory before the tribulation.

But he's also made promises to Israel. That he will fulfill with them at the end of the tribulation. One, the Abrahamic covenant, which is the land. That they will receive the Davidic covenant, which is the Lord that will rule on the throne of David, and the new covenant, which is his love, redeeming Israel. And so that's the promise given to Israel. That's all fulfilled in the revelation of Christ, where the promises of us going to heaven for the church are fulfilled at the rapture. The church. Number six, at the rapture of the church, Christ will meet the church in the air.

1 Thessalonians 4, verse number 18. He will meet us in the air. But at the revelation of Christ, Christ will come back to the ear. That's important. For the rapture of the church to take place, Christ doesn't come back to earth. We meet him in the air. But in Revel 19, he does come back to earth. Z 14:4, he does come back to earth. And by the way, by the way, I know exactly where he's going to come back to. Just in case you didn't know that, I know you think I'm kind of arrogant about that, but you know, I'm going tell you, I know exactly where Jesus is going to come back to.

And it's not the Mount of Olives. People say, well he's going come back, he's going to land on the Mount of Ol with the Mount of Olives. No, he's not going Come back to the Mount of Olives. He will eventually arrive on the Mount of Oliv, Zach 14, 4. He will split the Mount of Olives, but it doesn't come down out of heaven. To the Mount of Olives. See, wait a minute. In Acts 1, it says that this same Jesus will return, yeah, in the same manner in which he left. It doesn't say he's going to return right there to the Mount of Olives.

You stay with me, I'm going to tell you exactly where he's going to come back to, because six times in the Old Testament, it tells us exactly where he's going to come to. And if you go with me to Israel, I'll take you to that place. And so in Revel 19, when you come back with him, you say. I've already been here. I know this place. I was here with my pastor. And Jesus will say, You're right. You were there with your pastor. And we're going back again. You know, but it's a great opportunity. But anyway, we know exactly where Christ is going to come again.

Number seven: at the rapture of the church, it will be private because only the church sees it, the world doesn't see it. They will see the effect of that because we'll be gone, but they don't see the rapture of the church. In the twinkling of an eye, we will all be changed. But with the revelation of Christ, it's not private, it's public. Everybody sees it without exception, according to Revelation 1, verse number 7. Number eight, the believers go out of the world in 1 Thessalonians 4, 16 and 18.

We leave the world. In the revelation of Christ, the unbelievers are taken off the earth. Okay? So in the rapture church, the believers are taken into glory. At the revelation of Christ, the unbelievers are taken off the earth. And the sheep go to judgment, and they are judged. Also, note that in the rapture of the church, evil begins to increase. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Why? The man of lawlessness will be revealed after the restrainer has been taken away. Okay? That's the Spirit of God working in and through the church.

Say, well, if the Spirit of God is taken away working in and through the church, how do people get saved? They can say the same way they were saved in the Old Testament. Okay? Same way. By grace through faith. Faith in Christ alone. But they're still going to be saved. So evil begins to increase at the rapture of the church, but the revelation of Jesus Christ, evil is Supp. Why? Because the king comes. He rids the world of evil. He rules with an iron rod. According to 2 Thessalonians 1, verse number 7, Psalm 37:9 to 10.

The rapture of the church, the Spirit of God is removed. At the revelation of Christ, Satan is removed. He's bound for a thousand years. At the rapture of the church, the believers' bodies will be changed. At the revelation of Christ, The creation itself will be ch because the creation groans even today for the revelation of Christ and the adoption of sons. The rapture of the church, Christ com as the bridegroom. He is the head of the church. In the revelation of Christ, Christ comes as the Messiah and King of Israel.

Number thirteen. At the rapture, the church has told us that the Lord is next. Philippians 4:5, we talked about this last week. Revelation 1, verse number 3, the Lord is at hand. At the revelation of Christ, the theme is the kingdom of God is at hand. Because the king is coming to set up his kingdom. At the rapture of the church, there will be the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5, verse number 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that we may receive that which is done in our body, whether it be good or evil.

That's called the victorious judgment. That is, we go and we stand before Christ and we are given the crown of righteousness. We are given the crown of life. We are granted the crown of j and gl because we are overcomers. It's called the judgment seat of Christ. It's the place of reward for the believer. That's 2 Corinthians 5, verse number 10. That happens at the rapture of the church. We go to heaven and we are rewarded by Christ. But at the revelation of Christ, there's a judgment. It's called the sheep-goat judgment in Matthew 2.

And that judgment allows the sheep to enter his kingdom, but the goats to be judged. At the rapture of the church, the believers are taken into his presence. At the revelation of Christ, believers are taken into the kingdom, the millennial kingdom of Christ. At the rapture of the church, Christ will come suddenly, unexpectedly. At the revelation of Christ, he will come suddenly, unexpectedly. So, there you understand the difference between the two. But they both make up the second coming, the arrival of the Messiah.

And it's the rapture of the church that allows the lawless one to be revealed that he might sign a covenant with Israel. And once he signs the covenant, according to Daniel 9, that's when the seven-year tribulation begins. It doesn't begin with the rapture of the church. It begins when the Antichrist signs a covenant with Israel. And that begins a seven-year tribulational period. See, it's so hard for me to talk about the second coming with giving you so many different elements of that coming so you understand what's going on.

This is crucial to your faith. It's crucial to how you live your life. We need to understand God's plan, God's program, God's purpose, because it all falls into a category that is beyond us, but it's a category we need to understand. Need to grow in our likeness of Christ. So he says, these are the predictions: messianic deception, so much of it. Many will come in my name saying, I am, I'm the Messiah, I'm Jesus. And we told you, what, two weeks ago, that during the time that Felix was governor, that Josephus said that they.

Captured and killed every single day some who claimed to be the Messiah. Again, those are Braxton-Hicks contract. Why? Because it's not till the tribulation that the ultimate deception happens through the Antichrist. Who gets the world to buy into the fact that he is the Messiah, and even Israel buys into the fact that this Antichrist is the Messiah. And Revelation 13 tells us that he deceives the whole world. They buy into the fact that he is the Messiah. And so there's messianic deception that goes beyond anything that we can understand.

It's immeasurable. It is intense. It is incalculable. It is inescapable. Because that's what's going to happen. Number two, military dissension.

Military dissension. Christ says, and when you hear of wars, wars, he goes on to say in verse 10: nations will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

Listen, our whole world is marked by a history of war. Think about it. Peace is that glorious time in history when everybody stops to reload. That's what peace is. Because our whole world has been rack with war, whether it's family war, whether it's world war, whether it's tribal war. Whether it is civil war or whether it's any kind of war that you can imagine. Our world has been marked by all kinds of wars, even as we speak. We're in the process of bombarding Iraq because of that militant group ISIS, and we're going in and bombarding them, even as we speak.

Gaza, the Hamas from Gaza is still shooting missiles into Israel, and Israel is still blowing up tunnels and dealing with Hamas in Gaza. In the Middle East, there will always be war. Okay, but we have a world that's marked by wars. But yet, again That's all Braxton-Hicks contractions that have taken place for 2,000 years because once the tribulation begins. Wars will escalate beyond anything you can imagine. Turn with me to Revel 6 for a moment.

Revelation 6, I love talking about this stuff. I could be here forever. You know, I know I can't be because Jesus is going to come take me home, and then you guys won't need me to preach anymore. You'll know everything. But Revelation chapter 6, verse 1, and I saw, remember, this is the beginning of the tribulation period. Revelation 6 through Revelation 19. And I saw when the land broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with the voice of thunder, come.

And I looked and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Now, look at me just for a second.

When you look at the book of Revel, there are seven seals, okay? Seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls. Seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments, seven Bold judgments, okay. The seven seals span the tribulation. Okay? They span the tribulation. For out of the seventh seal. Maybe we should do it this way. Out of the seventh seal comes seven trumpets, and out of the seventh trumpet comes the seven bowls. And while the seven seals spanned the seven-year tribulational period, okay, when that sixth seal is broken, And the trumpets begin to blow, they happen in quicker succession than the seals were broken.

And then, when the seven bold judgments are poured out upon the world, they happen in rapid succession at the end. Okay, so there's this escalation of judgment upon the world based on Revelation 6 and 19. It begins with the first seal being broken.

We told you. Who is worthy to break the seal? Revel chapter 5. Who is that? It's Jesus Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the one who can break the seal because he's going to take back from the usurper earth. It's his. He's been given as a divine inheritance the kingdoms of this world. And he will take it back because he is the rightful owner of all things. And so, as the seals are broken, the first seal, there's a rider on a white horse.

That's the Antichrist. He comes on a white horse. He has a bow, but he has no arrows. Why? Because he wins the world over with peace. He is the consummate peacemaker. And he wins the world over. He wins Israel over. And there's peace. That's the first seal.

And then it quickly goes to seal number two. And when he broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come, and another, a red horse.

Went out, and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another, and a great sword was given to him. War. War. These are the birth pangs. And the tribulation period will be marked by war. As you go through the book of Revel, begin to understand it. Turn to Revel chapter 9. Revelation chapter 9 and the sixth angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four Horns of the golden altar, which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Release the four angels who are ab at the great river Euphrates.

The great river Euphrates is that That eastern boundary to the land of Israel. That evidently there are four demon angels that are bound there, even as we speak today. They've been bound there s the book of Genesis. And so they are released. They're released. It says, and the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released. Listen.

These four demon angels were prepared for this day, for this hour, at this time. Who prepared them? God did. God bound them and God prepared them for this battle. So they were released. Just to emphasize the fact that God is in complete control of everything that happens in this world. Everything. It says that they may kill a third of mankind.

And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. And I heard the number of them, and this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them. The riders had breastplates the color of fire. And of brimstone, and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceed fire, and smoke, and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.

For the The power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. And the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not. rep of the works of their hands so as to worship demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders, nor their sorceries, nor their immorality, nor their thefts. So these four demons are released, and there's an army.

Of 200 million that go to war, but people still don't repent. They still don't turn from their sorceries, from their immoralities, because. Man loves his sin so much that no matter how bad things are, he does not repent of his sin in the tribulation. Doesn want to. Now there will be people who will repent of their sin, who will give their life to Christ, but this is nothing compared to Revelation chapter 16. Turn back there with me if you would, please. Revelation 16. These are the bowls of wrath that are being Poured out in judgment.

Okay? We told you that there are seven seals, and then there are seven trumpets, and these are the seven bowls that. Come out from the seventh trumpet in rapid succession at the end. And it says in verse 12: And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates. There it is again. And its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. This is important. Why? Why is it? That this great river Euphrates has to be dried up so that the kings from the rising of the sun can get to the place they need to be.

It's because that during the tribulation, everything is going to go back to the stone age. It's all going to go backwards rapidly. They're not going to be able to get in planes and fly to where they need to be or drive where they need to be. They're going to be on horseback. They're going to be on foot. Because of all the technical warfare that will take place, and technology will be destroyed. And so what happens is that the river Euphrates has to dry up so that the kings from the rising of the sun can get to where they need to be.

Where do they need to be? It tells us. Verse 13, and I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are spirits of demons performing signs which go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the war of the great day of God the Almighty. Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.

And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Mag. In the valley of Megiddo. Now, note, there is no battle of Armag. That's not what it says. It says that the kings of the earth gather in the valley of Megiddo, but it never says that there is a battle in the valley of Megiddo. You need to understand that. Because you see, when Jesus comes again, he comes 200 miles south of Megiddah. How do you know that? Turn with me to Isaiah 63.

You're going be so glad you came today. Isaiah chapter 63. In Isaiah 61, you have the whole thing about the day of vengeance that the Lord is going to come and he's going to restore everything back. For Israel in chapter 62, you have the glory of Israel, the glory of Zion, the new name given to them, their marriage to God, the great relationship that Christ has with his people. They will call him. Their Lord and their God, and they will worship him. And then, when you come to chapter 63, verse number 1, Isaiah sees a vision: Who is the one who comes from Edom with garments of glowing colors from Boz-Rah?

This one who is majestic in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength. Who is this? Isaiah has a vision. He knows what's going to happen to. His people Israel. He knows they're going to be married again to Jehovah God. He knows they're going to be in a relationship with the living God. And then he sees this vision of this one coming from Bozra in glowing garments. Now, Bozra is known, okay? Which is the ancient capital of Edom, by the way, is known for the dyeing of garments. Okay? It's known for the dyeing of garments.

And so here is Isaiah. See in this vision and see who is this one majestic in his garments, glowing with the colors of Bozo? Who is this? Read on. It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Well, why is your apparel red and your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? Remember Revelation 14? The Messiah treads the wine press alone. I have trodden the wine trough alone, and from the peoples there was no man with me. I also trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath, and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I stained all my raiment, for the day of vengeance was in my heart.

And my year of redemption has come. And I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished, and there was no one to uphold. So my own arm brought salvation to me, and my wrath upheld me, and I trod down the peoples in my anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their life on the ear. What is that? What does Isaiah see? He sees the Messiah and he's coming not down to the Mount of Olives, he's coming from Bozra. Wh is the ancient capital of Edom. That 's why when you go to Israel with me in February, we take you to Jordan, we take you through Moab and Edom to take you down to a place called Petra.

The rose-red city of the rocks. Why? Because Petra is twenty minutes from Bozra, the ancient capital of Edom. And I'm not saying that Israel is going to be there. What I'm saying is when you read Revelation chapter 12, if you your Bible, go back to Revelation 12. We're going to go long today, so hold on. Revelation 12. Remember, Revelation 12 is the one chapter in the Bible that gives you the history of the world from the beginning to its end. One chapter. Revel 12 says, verse 6, and the woman fled the wilderness.

Where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for 1, days, in other words, for three and a half years. In other words, the latter half of the tribulation. Okay? Where did she flee to? The wilderness. In the Old Testament, the wilderness is always referred to as Edom and Moab. Always without exception. And so now, now Israel flees to the wilderness. They flee to Edom. What's the ancient capital of Edom? Bozra, Isaiah 63, where does Isaiah see the Messiah coming from? Bozra, whose garments are already stained.

He 's treading the winepress alone. If you go back down to verse number 13, and when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, oh, by the way, who was a dragon? That's Satan. When is he thrown down to the earth? In the tribulation. Where is he now? In heaven. I had some people ask you questions from last week's sermon. How can you say that Satan is in heaven? Because Revelation 12:10 says that he is there accusing the brethren day and night. That's where he is. Read the book of Job, Job chapter 1.

And so now he's been cast out geographically. He was cast out morally way back in the book of Genesis, or before that, really. Because that's when sin came to the world in Genesis chapter 3. But he was cast out with a third of his angels.

But now he is cast out geographically, he's thrown down to the earth. That's why the second half of the tribulation is called the great.

And the terrible day of the Lord, right? It's all called the day of the Lord. The tribulation is, but it's called the great and terrible day of the Lord. Why? Because now Satan is on earth. His physical presence is here. His demons are here. The four demons held captive at the great Euphrates River have been released, and everything is demon inf. Fested throughout the world, and the world is deceived. Deceived. Verse 14. And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, which, by the way, is 1 days, which is three and a half years.

From the presence of the serpent. Okay, doesn't mean she gets on a plane and flies to the wilderness. Okay, the wings of the great eagle are symbolism to show about God's protective care of His people. He gets Israel to the wilderness. He gets them to Edom. He gets them to hide there. And they're hidden from the presence of the serpent, who is Satan. And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman who was Israel, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

And the earth helped the woman, Israel, and the earth. Opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. Some way the serpent is looking for a way to destroy Israel. He opens his mouth and looks to destroy them. And my guess is there is an earthquake and swallows up all of Satan's activity to try to destroy Israel, and they are unable to do so. Verse 17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, who was Israel, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, which are the Gentile people.

Who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. So now the Antichrist goes after all people who claim to know Christ. Wars. Military dissension, unlike the world has ever seen, is going to happen. And Jesus says, when you see all this, the end does not come immediately.

Why not? Because God's doing a work. He's doing a work. During the tribulation, remember, it's called the time of Jacob's trouble. In case you ever wanted to know who the tribulation was for, it's for Israel. That's why it's called the time of Jacob's trouble. The church is gone. Now, Gentiles will be saved in the tribulation. That's all about the redemption of Israel. It's all about the salvation of the Jewish nation. And God's going to bring them to salvation. Zechariah chapter 13. He's going to save that rem.

He's going to bring them to the kingdom. He's going to fulfill Abrahamic and Davidic covenant new covenant in the life of Israel. They will be saved. There will be a Lord who rules from the throne of David. There will be a land that's theirs, that's rightfully theirs, that's always been theirs. They will finally have.

God has made a promise, He will keep that promise. He is faithful, He is true, He will do that. Tribulation is for the salvation of Israel, and God will fulfill his purposes. Christ says, when you hear wars, nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom.

It's coming. Messianic deception, military dissension, mon dev. Go back to Luke chapter. 2. Disturbances in verse number 9. Those disturbances are defined for us in verse 11. There will be great earthquakes and in various places plagues and famines, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Terrors, Phob. Great fear upon the people. Why? Because of mon devastation upon the world. There's going to be earthquakes. Did a little thing this past week of looking at the history of earthquakes in our country, I guess, in the world.

I guess the very first Recorded earthquake was in January of 1556. There were more before that, but this is when they started recording them. And you can go through the history of earthquakes around the world and see where there are 10,000 who die and 50,000, 60,000, 80,000. Boy, China has had its share of earthquakes, where 200,000 and again another 200,000 and then again another 250,000 have died just in earthquakes alone. The one we had in Haiti back in what, 2010. 2011, there were 3,000 people who died.

You can go through and look at the history of earthquakes. Thousands upon thousands of people have died in earthquakes. But again, those are Braxton-Hicks contractions compared to what will happen in the tribulation. If you read the book of Revelation, you will see earthquake after earthquake after earthquake after earthquake. But when you come to Revelation 16, turn back there with me if you would, please. Revelation 16. You want to see an earthquake? Here's an earthquake. The other ones were tremors compared to this one.

Verse 17. And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, It is done! Remember when Christ cried for the cross, what did it say? It is finished. The work of redemption was finished. Now remember, you are in the seventh bowl of wrath. There are seven seals that are broken. Upon the seventh seal that is broken, there are seven trumpets that blow. Out of the seventh trumpet that blows, there are seven bowls of judgment that come upon the earth.

Revelation 16, in rapid succession, one after another, upon the earth. And this is that seventh bowl. And there were flashes of lightning, and sounds, and peals of thunder, and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the ear. So great an earthquake was it, and so mighty, and the great city was split into three parts. And the cities of the nations fell, and Babylon the Great was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of his fierce wrath. And every island fl away, and the mountains were not found.

Now, I don know about you, that's an earthquake. Every island flees, and there were no mountains found. Why? Why does that happen? Because in Revelation chapter 19, Revelation 17 and 18, take you back through the tribulation, by the way. Just in case you want to know, I a tape called Running Through Revelation. That will take you in 59 minutes and 47 seconds through the book of Revelation, chapter 1 through chapter 22. But 17 and 18 take you back to the tribulation to show you the rise of Antichrist and the rise of the false prophet to show you exactly how it takes place.

So, when you come to Revelation chapter 16 in the seventh bull, you're at the end because to Revel 19, the king comes back. So, why is there such a great earthquake that every island flees? The mountains are no more because Jesus is putting the earth back the way it was before the flood. There were no mountains before the flood. The mountains are here because of the flood. And so he's going to bring it back to the way it was because he's going to restore the whole nation, the whole world, excuse me, and bring it back to the way it was because he's going to rule and re On this planet.

As he's promised. It says, verse 21: And huge hailstones, about 100 pounds each, came down from heaven upon men. And what did men do? They blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. Wow. Earthquakes, unlike the world has ever seen, will happen in the tribulation. Earthquakes Plagues, famines. If you go back to Revelation chapter 6, we talked about the first seal, the second seal, the third seal, famine.

What happened at the war? Starvation. Because of famines. Third seal, verse 5. And when he broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come.

And I looked, and behold, a black horse. And he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard, as it were, a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, A cord of wheat for den. What is that? A quart of wheat barely feeds one person a day. A denari? One day's wage. So, if you're a father, you have a job, one day's wage will buy you food for one person in your family. Then it says And three quarts of barley for den What's barley? Barley is food to feed to animals. Very low in nutrition.

That you'll have for your family. And do not harm the oil and the wine. Why? Because they're a valuable commodity. There's not much left. You've got to be careful if you're going to make it to the end. Then what? Fourth seal, verse 7. And when he broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come. And I looked, and behold, an ashen horse, a pale horse. And he who sat on it had the name death, and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth.

to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and with wild beasts of the earth. Wow. The fourth horse comes, the fourth horseman. What follows war? Famine. What follows famine? Starvation. What follows starvation? Death. So a fourth of the world at the beginning of the tribulation. Dies. Because when you come to the fifth seal, you're in the middle of the tribulation. Notice what he says.

To kill with the sword, that's wars, with famine, pestilence, and with what? Wild beasts of the earth. What is that? If you're studying the book of Revelation, we told you, good chance it's rats. Rats can carry up to 36 different diseases at one time. If there's going to be famine and starvation, there's going to be plagues and pestilence. The whole bubonic plague of Europe is caused by rats. And maybe rats are the wild beasts that roam. If you kill 95% of rats where they live, they will reproduce themselves fully before the end of the year.

That's how quickly they reproduce themselves. Does that mean the wild beasts are rats? I don know, maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that Luke 21 says: ph, phob, fears. People will die for fear. We'll die for fear because of all the pestilence and all the plagues and everything that's going to happen to the world. If you go back and you read Revelation 8, can I take just a few more minutes? How much time do I have left back there just to let me know so I can time myself here?

Oh, got that much time? We can go to lunch then. Go back to me to Revelation. Please, I want to finish this. Look at.

Look at Revelation chapter 8. When the seven seals broke and seven trumpets blow. Listen to seven trumpets. And when he broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half an hour. Why was there silence in heaven for a half hour? Because heaven is awestruck as to what's about to happen on earth. They can't believe their eyes. That's why there's signs in heaven. They cannot believe what's about to happen. They are so dumbfounded, the angels, the saints in glory, are taken back by the magnitude of judgment upon the earth.

They were silent for about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels to stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar holding a golden censer, and much incense was given to them that he might add. It to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints went up before God out of the angel's hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with fire of the altar.

And threw it to the earth, and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and earthquake. See, earthquakes, you read the book of Revelation, earthquakes everywhere, all over the place. They grow with intensity. Ferocity. Verse 6. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. And the first sounded, and their Came hail and fire mixed with blood, and there were thrown to the earth.

And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

The first trumpet blows, it affects the land. The second trumpet blows, it affects all salt water. The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Why are they destroyed? Because that which came to the earth, landed in the sea, caused such a tsunami that it capsized those ships. Verse 10, Now you have fresh water. And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

And the name of the star is called wormwood. And the third of the waters became wormwood. And many men died from the waters because they were made bitter. Worm used eight times in the Old Testament, always referring to the judgment of God, the bitter judgment of God upon people who rebel. Verse 12, the fourth angel sounded, and the third of the sun, and the third of the moon, and the third of the stars were smitten.

So that a third of them might be darkened, and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

So you have land, you have sea, you have fresh water, and now you have the heavens all affected. By the blowing of the trumpets. Verse 13. And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on The earth. Remember, we told you last week, it's a phrase used in the book of Revelation. I said it's used 10 times. I was wrong. It's used 12 times. I had to go back and count it again. Used 12 times in the book of Revelation to describe only those who make earth their permanent dwelling place.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Cursed, cursed, cursed are you. If you have not repented now, you ain't seen nothing yet. You ain't seen nothing yet. Because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound. Wow. It's coming. Jesus said it was. This is where the world's going. This is what we know the Bible says.

So you say, is there any hope for the world? The answer, no. There is no hope for the world. None. Listen to Revelation 6. Revelation 6: When the sixth seal is broken. And I looked when he broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sack. made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree casts its unripe figs, were shaken by a great wind. and the sky was split apart like a scroll when it's when it's rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the commanders, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave, and every free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the presence of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come. And who was able to stand? Who is able to stand? They know who's causing what's happening. They know it's the Lamb.

And so what they're trying to do is to escape the judgment of the Lamb by asking the rocks to fall upon them and kill them, only to put them before the Lamb in judgment. Because they don't want to suffer anymore. They won't repent. Remember back in the book of Malachi? The book of Malachi, third chapter, it says, Behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. Who can stand? Is there any hope for the world? He answered no. This is where the world's going. Over in the book of Nah, 1 chapter 6, verse: who can stand before his indign? Who can endure the burning of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken up by him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knows those who take refuge.

In him. Is there any hope for the world? Answer: no. Hebrews 10 says that if we go on sinning will without repentant, there is no hope. For the day of vengeance will come. It's a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But you ask the question: is there hope for me? And the answer is yes. There is hope for you. Those who make the Lord their stronghold? For there is no other name in heaven given among men whereby you must be saved. For the world, there is no hope. This is where it's going.

But for you, there is hope. You come to Christ, you repent of your sin, you give your life to Him. You will escape the day of God's wrath upon this earth. For you'll be translated into glory to see him face to face. For that, I'd give my life to Christ. If you've yet to do so, let me pray with you.

Father, we thank you for today. Boy, what a time in the word of the Lord. I pray, Father, that all of our hearts would be stirred. We would live for the glory of Christ. In Jesus' name, amen.