God Is Coming, pt. 9

Last Sunday, Terry continued his flyover of the Book of Revelation by taking us through chapter 8 and into chapter 9. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to verses referenced.

If you’ve missed any of the messages and would like to catch up or hear them from the beginning, check out the archives to the right of this post. Terry began this series in October 2023.

God Is Coming, pt. 9

Introduction: God’s wrath during the Tribulation is because there will be people who will refuse to receive Jesus, and God will have done all He possibly can to soften their hearts. He will always (up until the final moment) give the opportunity to be saved. Many will come to salvation during the Tribulation. God’s people are not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Matthew 24 & 25 are a snapshot of the Book of Revelation in Jesus’ own words.

Revelation 8

  • v. 1 – the Lamb opens the 7th seal
    • silence in heaven for 1/2 hour
      • the rejoicing and praising ceases
      • in recognition of the devastation to come
    • the 7th seal contains the 7 trumpet judgments
  • v. 2 – 7 angels before God
    • God’s messengers
      • do His work on earth
      • serve Him in many ways
    • given 7 trumpets
  • v. 3 – another angel comes
    • stands before the altar of God
    • holds a golden censer (incense burner)
      • given incense to add to the prayers of the saints on the altar
      • as the priests would do in the Tabernacle in the wilderness & the Temple in Jerusalem
        • what they did was a shadow of what was being done in heaven
        • Ezekiel 40-46 – the future Temple
  • v. 4 – the smoke of the incense is mixed with the prayers
    • the mixture rises up to God
  • v. 5 – the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar
    • throws the fire at the earth, which unleashes:
      • thunder
      • lightning
      • earthquake
  • v. 6 – 7 angels prepare to blow the trumpets
  • v. 7 – 1st trumpet
    • 1st three trumpets affect the earth
    • hail & fire mixed with blood falls on the earth
      • 1/3 of the earth is burned
      • 1/3 of the trees are burned
      • All of the green grass is burned
  • v. 8 – 2nd trumpet
    • Like the plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:14-24)
    • what looks like a mountain on fire is thrown into the sea
    • 1/3 of the sea turns to blood
  • v. 9 – Results of the 2nd trumpet
    • 1/3 of the sea creatures die
    • 1/3 of the ships are destroyed
  • v. 10 – 3rd trumpet
    • a “great star” falls on:
      • 1/3 of the rivers
      • the springs of water
  • v. 11 – the “star”
    • called Wormwood
      • maybe a meteor or asteroid, we don’t know
    • 1/3 of all water becomes bitter (wormwood is a bitter substance)
    • many people die as a result
  • v. 12 – 4th trumpet
    • affects the heavenlies
      • 1/3 of the sun is darkened
      • 1/3 of the moon is darkened
      • 1/3 of the stars are darkened
        • Imagine the day and night darkened by 33%
        • Talk about climate change!
        • Will affect EVERYTHING on earth
  • v. 13 – An angel (or an eagle, depending on your translation) flies by
    • cries out “Woe, woe, woe!”
    • the next trumpets will affect people directly

Revelation 9

  • v. 1 – 5th trumpet
    • a “star” falls from heaven
  • v. 2 – Fallen angel opens the abyss
    • smoke comes out of the abyss
    • smoke is so thick, it covers/darkens the sun

Praise God, He is still in control!

God Is Coming, pt. 8

The last Sunday in November in his overview of the Book of Revelation, Terry took us through the end of chapter 6 and all through chapter 7. If you have missed any of these messages and want to hear them from the beginning, check out the archives on the right of this post. The first message was in October 2023. All of the teachings include notes and links to BibleGateway for any Scriptures referenced in his message. Simply click on the audio player below to hear this message. Enjoy!

God Is Coming, pt. 8

Introduction: The entire Bible is the story of Jesus and of God making a way for fallen, sinful man to come back to Him. Isaiah 45:22 – salvation begins by looking (turning) to God. God’s wrath will be poured out on those who reject Jesus.

Review: Revelation 6 begins the time of God’s judgment on rebellion.

  • Revelation 6:1-11
    • The first five seals
      • 1st seal – White Horse = Antichrist
        • Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19 (who the devil is)
        • The devil is a counterfeiter of the things of God. Just as the Father sent His Son, the devil will send his son – the Antichrist, the False Messiah
      • 2nd seal – Red Horse = Worldwide War
      • 3rd seal – Black Horse = famine
        • famine/scarcity always comes on the heels of warfare
      • 4th seal – Pale Horse = Death & Hades
        • 1/4 of the world’s population will die during the first 4 seals (That’s around 2 billion people!)
      • 5th seal – the martyrs
  • Revelation 6:12-17
    • The 6th seal – judgment against creation
      • v. 12
        • super powerful earthquake
        • sun darkened
        • moon turned to blood-red
      • v. 13
        • stars fall to the earth
      • v. 14
        • sky/atmosphere rolled back like a scroll
        • mountains & islands moved
        • CATACLYSMIC event
      • v. 15 – reaction of all the remaining people on earth
        • the great men
        • commanders
        • rich
        • strong
        • slaves
        • free men
        • all categories of people
          • all hide themselves in caves and among rocks
      • v. 16 – tremendous fear
        • They are not crying out for salvation/help.
        • They are desiring death.
        • Want to hide from the face of the Lord & the wrath of the Lamb
          • They aren’t bewildered – they know exactly why these cataclysmic events are happening
          • They don’t want to repent of their sin – prefer the fires of hell to the wrath of the Lamb
      • v. 17 – the great day of God’s wrath is come
        • Who can stand?
  • Revelation 7
    • Answers the question in Revelation 6:17
      • v. 1 – John saw 4 angels
        • tasked with holding back the winds
        • the winds are a judgment to come on the land, sea, and trees
      • v. 2 – John saw another angel
        • angels carry out the will of God
        • this angel has the seal of the living God
      • v.3 – What the angel says
        • tells the 1st 4 angels to hold their judgment
          • don’t harm the earth, sea, or trees
        • until God’s people have been sealed
          • they will be supernaturally protected in the midst of His judgment
            • just like Noah’s family during the flood
            • just like the Hebrew people during the Egyptian plagues
            • just like Rahab & her family in the destruction of Jericho
        • This answers the question of Rev. 6:17
          • Who is able to stand?
          • Those sealed by God.
      • v. 4 – the remnant of Israel
        • 144,000 sealed
      • v. 5-8 – 12,000 from each tribe
      • v. 9 – John saw a great multitude
        • A number impossible to count of people who come to believe during the Tribulation & are then martyred, from all:
          • nations
          • tribe
          • peoples
          • tonuges
        • Standing before the throne – resurrected
          • clothed in white (righteousness)
          • waving palm branches (victory)
      • v. 10 – Praising God & the Lamb
      • v. 11 – Another worship service begins
        • This is what God desires: to know, love, and worship Him
        • Those who fall down in awe & begin to praise
          • the innumerable angels around the throne
          • the 24 elders
          • the 4 living creatures
      • v. 12 – Praise
        • Amen
        • blessing
        • glory
        • wisdom
        • thanksgiving
        • honor
        • power
        • might
        • all to God
        • for eternity
      • v. 13 – one of the elders speaks to John
        • Who are these in white?
      • v. 14 – John gives the best answer & the elder speaks again
        • John turns the question back to the elder:
          • “My lord, you know.”
        • The elder explains:
          • These are the martyrs
      • v. 15-17 – the continued explanation
        • their martyrdom is why they get to be before the throne
        • they serve Him
        • they will have no more:
          • hunger
          • thirst
          • heat from the sun beating on them
        • the Lamb is their shepherd
          • will guide them to living water
        • God will wipe every tear from their eyes
          • not that they won’t cry, but that they will be comforted
      • Amen!