9:30am English - 20 November 2022

Thank you. Why was I open Revelation 8 and 9 will look a little bit at 10 and 11 as well. Does a sermon outline in your service. Sheets meet follow along. I'm going to pray before we get into it. Thank you for your word. Thank you that you brought this Vision to John, to bring to the seven churches and just as it was vital for them and their time, it is vital for us to help us to understand what these strange images. I mean, for us today, as we seek to live for you in this age before your son, Jesus returns, real this in Jesus name, I'm in

My eyes open, I am in bed, not quite dark enough to be the middle of the night. So I rollover check the clock to see what the damage is. It is 6:50 and my alarm is going off at 6:30. I don't have many things, I don't know what I'm going to wear yet. I don't know what the traffic's like I don't know what sort of day my kids. I have I have 15 minutes until my alarm goes off and I need to make a choice.

I have 15 minutes where I could I could get off early. I could get ready.

I could take those 15 minutes and have a substandard 15-minute snooze until the properly the time and wake up time and deal with the consequences for that light off. And I 6:30 is coming, and I need to make a choice. Half of the people that John was writing to in Revelation, they were faced with a lot of things. A lot of uncertainty. They were living on the persecution from the Jews from the Romans from the emperor, domitian this self-proclaimed God ruler of the Roman Empire. They would dealing with false teaching within the church and I'm faithful Witnesses. They are leaving nearly 60 years after the time when Jesus rose back to life and has gone back to heaven, and they are still awaiting, the day of his return. That would have been much for them. That is unknown much, that is uncertain.

but in this Vision that John receive God wants to make certain to them, once them to know, one thing for sure, in this time of uncertainty, God, Day of Victory is coming. That is such and that is definite. It isn't here yet but it is coming very soon. As I got two, people are faced with a choice to make. So I know the day is coming, then I was getting closer, they have a choice to make. Now last week in our Series in Revelation we saw the lamb Jesus, open the Seven Seals. This was a picture of Jesus accomplishing God's will for the well is playing with Injustice war and that's people from every nation in the midst of that are sealed by God. I will see a picture of a great multitude. Getting praise to their great, God and savior. Today the vision shifts and seven, angels prepare to sounds that trumpets, not as we move through these middle chapters of Revelation, it's important to remember that these pictures. They don't telling a chronological night. If it's not for us to get the Seven Seals and then you get the seven trumpets and then you get the 7 next things to come. These are images of them together like a threat, it is past present, and future colliding together, in one big picture of what God's kingdom is like now. And in the past in the future to come. Now trumpets bring to mind. A lot of things are a cold to wake up a call to action, a call to get ready, but he is more than anything else. They are a call.

Take a little guy, haven't played 17 years to me, this brings to mind back in the Old Testament when God's people under the command of Joshua marching around Jericho blowing, their trumpets, one after the other fees trumpets being blind. And then, on the 7th Day, 7, Trumpets, the walls of Jericho.

Yeah, this is God's Victory lap and it smelled the walls of Jericho falling. It is going to Kingdom emerging Victorious. God's Day of Victory is coming, but it is not until all seven trumpets alone.

So, as this Victory Day, unfolded is comfortable. And we see a reflection of the world that we live in. We see the past, the present, and the future, and the first for trumpet, we say this pitch off of creation unraveling, this is what these Victory crumpets are announcing that it is an undoing of God's good work that we first read about in the Bible in Genesis when God created all that we say. So from 6 to 12, we see these companies announcing, this is Seven Trees and grass. I found out by Ayo & Fire, mix their blood ate a third of the oceans and the things in the oceans are destroyed by huge mountain on 5 and thrown into the verse 10 through 11, episode of the rivers and the Springs. I made bitter because of a full and stuff. And then invest 12 a third of the sun, moon, and stars ass truck. The side of them, I doc. In the beginning, God created the land and sea Waters and the lights in the sky. And now in Revelation, we see a third of those progressively. I struck down. Why the sudden I wanted to say some more a bit must not all of what I think it's so that we understand there's something very important I think if you lose a third of something you've lost enough to notice it, but potentially you still have enough left to keep on going with some difficulty or Saturday? Imagine you have three scoops of ice cream and you lose one. You don't have it anymore.

If you had a Jamba and you lost a set of your slave, you just be a little bit colder than you would be otherwise if I lost a third of my bike, which I wrote on my way to church this morning, I would never lose a wheel or the seat.

Dial comfortable ride either way if I said of creation is struck a third of that goodness of creation is lost, it's going to be it's going to be noticed. It is decidedly not as good as it should be or could be. And this is the world that we live in weiner creation is an all that it could be, this would have rung. So, true for the people in John's time. I think when he wrote about that Vision, he's over by Mountain on fire by being thrown into the sea. For the people back in there, would have been thinking about Mount Vesuvius, erupting and a whole island being destroyed. It's in the back of my mind creation for them, the world, as I knew it was unraveling, it was not as it should be. And we know this to We see the way I'll weld is broken. We see the natural disasters, that occurred, the floods, the fire, the pandemic, it's not right, we know that it's not right, we know there is some good in the world, but we also know things aren't the way they should be.

God's Day of Victory is coming and it is a day that is desperately needed for those in a creation that is unraveling Before the 5th trumpets. Are we have this interlude from a naval investigative team. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in mid, a call out in a loud voice. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa. To the inhabitants of the Earth because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels. as bad as these initial images saying the company, the first four trumpets, The vision test. That's nothing. The next few trumpets are a warning glass of things to come as well as they's. In a sense of God's Victory to come in chapter 9. We see the fifth trumpet is blind and invest when we see a star full to the F1 small, but this opens the abyss and sends forth Locust with this task. As from best for, they were told not to harm the grass of the Earth or any plant or tree. But only those people who did not have the Seal of God on that full heads. They are not allowed to kill them, but I need to talk to them for five months and the agonies I suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days, people will seek death but will not find it, they will long to die but death will elude them. Those who are not sealed by God. Those were not counted. Among the multitude who we saw. Praising God's name they faced torment. They say suffering. they will long to Dime, and I will long for that pain to end but it will not This is a picture of Hell, the certain judgment coming for those who are not followers of Jesus.

God's Victory is coming and we've that comes hell for those who have not turned to Jesus, for those who have not washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. This is only the first while the second is Yet to Come, As we go further on in 19:13, the sixth Angel, sounded his trumpet. And I had a voice coming from the full Hollens of the golden altar. At that is before God. It said to the sixth Angel who had the trumpet release, the Four Angels, who are bound at the great river, Euphrates and the full Angels, who have been kept ready for. This is Ariella and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. Death is coming. That is already here. It's a part of a reality, but on the final day when judgment comes to the world, there will be no escaping it. The wages of sin is death and so death does indeed. Come for all, who continue to live in sin for all who continued in that Rebellion against God, for all who don't recognize Jesus as King. This is what is coming. God's Day of Victory is coming. And with it comes a certainty of judgment against those who stand against him.

The second word is passed below happen with the final trumpet call of victory. The last trumpet is in Revelation 11 so do slicker than your bottles. I'm going to be waiting from Revelation, 11 verse 15 should be just over one page. This is what we read in verse 15. The seventh angel sounded his trumpet and they were loud voices in heaven, which said the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah and he will reign forever and ever.

When the seventh trumpet blows, it is all over. This is the third word, God's victory has arrived and it is a woe for the kingdom of the weld because it has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah Jesus. And his victory will be a tunnel. Unlike other powers which rise and fall God's Victory. Last forever. And when God's Victory arrives, the time for making choices has ended. This is what the eldest I following on. Invest 17 to 18, we give thanks to you, Lord. God Almighty, the one who is, and who was because you have taken your great power and have begun to rain, the nations were angry and you'll Ross has come The time has come for judging the dead and for awarding your servants, the prophets and your people who review your name, both great and small and for destroying those who destroy the Earth.

When that trumpet blows. It's The End. Just the final chapter full this age before the Eternal one to come. God will take power. God will reign despite the Rage of the Nations. None of them will stand, not even the mighty to Mission, not even the full weight and angle of the Roman Empire can stand against God's kingdom, to come. The final judgment will arrive. We have Justice delivered to those who stood against God and eternal joy and hope to those who reveal God's name. God's Victory is coming. Judgment is coming. God's rain is coming.

John wants us to know. God wants us to know that this is a fact, this is definite, we don't know a lot of things we don't know when it will come. We don't know whether we'll still be alive on that day when Jesus returns. But we do know that the Victory Day is coming.

It is a day that Christians followers of Jesus look forward to a day of Celebration standing with their King Victorious. But I think it's one that we also look forward to with a degree of mixed emotions as well. Yes, we are celebrating that God's kingdom will be fully realize will see God face to face. Jesus will be fully sane as king all these things that we long for an end to sin, an end to pain and into something. All of this will be celebrated in the New Kingdom to come. But that could also be a scientist for you as you reflect on that in this age. God's Victory is coming. But I know someone who don't stand on the side of the king.

I know some who are facing those pictures of a tunnel and awful suffering that we read about in the trumpets 5 and 6.

What do we do with this truth? Which brings us such Joy but also bring us anxiety and Lori and deep distress for those. We love and care about who don't know Jesus yet.

In Revelation 10, John is presented with a scroll by an Angel. And this is what we read about took back to Revelation, 10 reading from verse 9.

So I went to the angel and ask him to give me the little scroll. He said to me take it and eat it, it would turn your stomach salad but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey. I took the little scroll from the Angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had a tenant my stomach turned salla, then I was told you must prophesy again about many peoples Nations languages and kings.

I think this sour but sweet, scroll is a picture of the Gospel, the announcement of God's victory over sin and his eternal Kingdom raining victoriously. It is sweet because God's kingdom coming main so much joy for those who were part of that Kingdom today.

But the sound that comes with sitting in the truth that we love people who will not be joyously bringing Jesus price on that day. We love people who will be bending the knee because they have no other choice but to acknowledge that the reality that Jesus is King and I've been living against him. We love people who are facing judgment while facing hell. The Victory Day is coming and that is such sweet news for those who love and serve the Lord Jesus. But it is Asal a truce to swallow as well because we nine people who are not part of God's family.

What do we choose to do then? Is 6:15 alarm is going off at 6:30. It is not yet, God's Victory day but it is coming soon. We know this. So do you just snooze and wait for it to come? How do you get up an ex, while there's still time?

I think it's time to get up. Don't snooze until Jesus returns. Just run out the clock, get ready for God's Victory Day to come. What do you need to do to be ready for that day? Maybe you need to remind yourself that this age is not the endgame Revelations, Spa change. The Starcatchers that this age is creation is missing a third of everything that makes it good. So, don't put all your effort into making out for that. Lost thud It's hard. The world is tempting. I know this. It looks great. It's so easy to put your hope in that, but we can't make our Paradise on us. You cannot cry Paradise in your own life. Instead of building up Treasures for yourself in this life which will ultimately fade and Destroy. Let's commit to being ready for the Victory Day by building up a tunnel Treasures in that Kingdom to come. Commit yourself to the things that will last, not the things that are already on raveling around you.

Look forward to that day but also look out for those who don't know. Jesus yet. If the gospel is this sweet-and-sour truth that we are approaching Victory and but judgment is coming as well. Let's be ready for that day, that's approaching and that's never give up on praying for and seeking opportunities. With stars, we love and care about who don't know, Jesus. You don't know when the victory day will be. Oh, you do know is that you want that person that you love and care about to be standing and victory of Jesus. The price on them. Pray that God would open every Open Door of opportunity into that person's hot so that you and all the Christians in their lives can prophesy to them, can be a witness to Jesus and to the gospel.

the next time you wake up before your alarm, do a little frat. God help me be ready for your day. It's not too complicated. You can probably do it before even at 6:15 and your alarms going off at 6. I pray that you'll be ready for that day. Pray for the people that you love who don't know that, you'll be ready for that Victory to come. How can you take? Hold of that sweet and sandwich. Truth of the Gospel. Be a light for the kingdom. In this time. I'm going to pray for us.

Dillard's, thank you. That we know you'll Victory is coming.

We know that one day Jesus will return and your kingdom will be here. You will rain and we will stand with you and victory. We pray that you will help us to be ready for that day. Help us. You're not fine. I'll hope and this creation which is unraveling but instead to look forward to your tunnel Kingdom Help us to earnestly. Pray for those we know who don't love you and who won't be standing in Victory with you and help us to be bold and seeking opportunities with them to share the gospel. Help us hold on to the sweet and sandwich roof that we can be a light to the nation's. In this time we pray all of this in Jesus name I meant