2023 Oct 1st, Sunday Morning Service

Good morning.

Coming to Revelations. Chapter 7 is somewhat of a significant milestone in this book. It means that the foundational six seals are behind us which we lay out. Really, the Judgment of God over the. Of time called the tribulation And 7 is sort of slid, right? In between the 6 and the seventh. Seal, if you look at 8:1 when the lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. So we're taking a bit of respite here in the fury of The Sixth Seal before. The 7th and final seal is broken after all of the devastating Judgment of the first six seals, this chapter offers a moment of calm, of promise of hope. To borrow the words of an Old Testament. Prophet in the midst of Rap. God remembers Mercy. The house we've been learning the future of our world will bring a time of unbelievable Terror of horror and of Slaughter. It'll come from the hand of the very one who made the world, who entered the world, as a baby who was crucified and rose again. Jesus Christ, he is the one who was unrolling, the seven sealed, scroll taking charge of his Universe. He along with the one who sits on the throne, God, Almighty are affecting these powerful judgments on the Earth. As we went through the six seals, we saw how the. Of Wrath to come as described in six different phases. First, there's false peace. Then wore them famine and pestilence and death, then Vengeance and then fear as the final day of the Lord comes crashing in in The Sixth Seal. We also saw that the Sixth Seal described in chapter 6 is what triggers the day of the Lord. Although what has come before as the work of God and the wrath of God, it was preliminary to the final great day of Wrath, as it is called in verse 17, which we could call the day of the Lord. And that's typically what God does, there are preliminary judgments that act as a warning and then the final day of the Lord comes the world up to this time has not been willing to acknowledge God. Believers in the Girls have been giving testimony to the word of God and telling people that this judgment is of God, but they are not believed. Ultimately, they are persecuted and killed if possible in an attempt to silence them. Finally, when The Sixth Seal hits, however, the world cannot Escape that this is God. They know it, and in verse 16, they said to the mountains in the Rocks, fall on us and hide us from the side of him who sits on the throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb. When the culminating Fury comes they know it's God and they are as we noted last time, scared to death, they're going to cry for the rocks to crush their life out rather than have to face God and Christ live thinking perhaps that way. They'll Escape. What they say at the very end of her, 17 is very important for understanding the next chapter. Because they asked the question, who is able to stand? And that question, is, impart answered in chapter 7, who will survive the anger and wrath of God, who will survive the collapsing universe? And the worst is yet to come trumpet judgments in chapter 8 and 9 Bowl, judgments as they're called in chapter 16 who can survive it? When you look at the Sixth Seal and the Seven trumpets and the Seven Bowl judgments and you add the cumulative effect together. The question is a very good question. Who can survive? First of all, let me quickly say that the ungodly can't survive. They will not survive 2nd Thessalonians 1 7 through 9. It says, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. These people will pay the penalty of Eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord, in from the glory of his power. There is nothing in that passage that gives a glimmer of hope to any unbeliever that he or she might survive, the wrath of God, the day of the Lord. In terms of its effects on, the ungodly, seems to be pretty plain and simple. The ungodly will not survive, but there are some people who will survive the Holocaust of God's Wrath. They will live through the 6, cyl the live through the trumpet and the bowl judgments and they will actually go into the millennial Kingdom alive. All of the judgement theory of God, will miss them all. The Holocaust that are going to be go on in the natural world around them will not touch them. They will also be protected from the murderous efforts of the Antichrist and the rest of the world that aligns with him, to wipe out the Jews and Christians, they'll survive at all and they'll go right into the kingdom. Who are these people? That will survive. Let's meet them one group. One group of them in chapter 7, verses 1 through 8, After this, I saw four Angels standing at the Four Corners of the Earth holding back the Four Winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea run any tree. And I saw another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun holding the Seal of the Living God, and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted, the harm, the earth, and the Sea saying do not harm the Earth, or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond Servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 seal from every tribe of the sons of Israel from the tribe of Judah. 12,000 were sealed from the tribe of Reuben 12,000 from the tribe of GAD 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of naphtali 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh. 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon. 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of issachar 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulon. 12000 from the tribe of Joseph 12,000. In from The Tribe of Benjamin. 12,000 were sealed. This is a fascinating group. It's obvious, The Logical answer to the question at the end of chapter 6. In the midst of judgment, there is to be Mercy Malachi talks about the day of the Lord and 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord, spoke to one another and the Lord listen to tentatively and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the lord and esteem his name. What were they talking about their speaking to each other? Because they were hearing the prophecy about the day of the Lord, and they were saying to each other, I wonder what'll happen to us in the prophet says the Lord knows about them and the Lord has a book and in that book, written the names of those who fear the lord. And when the day of his Fury hits, verses 17 and 18 says, and they will be mine, says the Lord of armies on the day that I prepare my own possession. And I will have compassion for them just as a man has compassion for his own son, who serves him. So you will again, distinguish between the righteous and the wicked between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. Going to Chapter 4 verses 1 and 2. For behold the day is coming burning like a furnace and all the Arrogant every evildoer will be chaff and the day that is coming, will set them Ablaze as Lord of armies so that it will leave them need a route or branches. But for you who fear my name, the son of righteousness will rise with healing its way and you will go forth and Frolic like Calves from the stall.

I think what he's saying as he looks at the day of the Lord is that God will protect the righteous and they will enter into his kingdom. Where has he will? Destroy all of the wicked. We see a glimpse of that right here in this text. God knows who belongs to him and God knows how he chooses to protect them in the destruction that he brought in the flood. He knew how to protect the eight people that he wanted to protect in the destruction, that came in the city of Jericho. He knew how to protect the one woman. He wanted to protect in the destruction that came to Sodom and Gomorrah which was massive and wholesale, he knew how to protect the family. He wanted to protect And when he said about to devastate destroy and Slaughter in the land of Egypt, he knew how to protect those, he wanted to protect their as well. God knows we wants to protect the Wrath will come and the Wrath belongs to those who do not know God and do not obey this Gospel of our Lord Jesus. I want the full Fury of that rap hits. It's going to consume the ungodly. It's some of the Godly Will Survive and one of the group's it will survive is identified as he's hundred and forty-four thousand. Twelve thousand out of each of the tribes of Israel. We look at the. Of the seven-year tribulation at the time of judgment and the deed it is and it unfolds in the Seven Seals it is a time of judgement as a trumpets and Bulls will affirm. It is also a time of redemption and we need to remember that that same seven-year. Period is a time of Salvation. God will judge Satan, and demons and sinners, but God will also redeem. We meet the redeemed out of this time. In chapter 7, verses 9 and 10. After these things I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could count from every nation and all the tribes peoples languages standing Before the Throne before the lamb clothed in white, robes, and palm branches were in their hands and they crowd out with cried out with a loud voice saying, salvation Belongs To Our God, who sits on the throne and to the lamb. And verse 14, says these are the ones who come out of the Great Tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. There will be people redeemed during that time. Some will die and go to heaven. Some will live to enter the kingdom. Many Believers will die from the persecution. Some of them surely will die from the physical factors of earthquakes and famines pestilences, the chaos in the universe but some of them will survive and go into the kingdom. True Christians may die in the persecution but that's not God's Wrath. That's God's grace, because when they die, they leave all the persecution and her into the glory of the presence of the Lord. And certainly the suffering of this world. As Paul said, in Romans 8 isn't worthy to be compared with Glory, which belongs to those who know him, the persecution isn't God's graph on them and neither is a judgment that falls of the world may cause their death. That's simply another way for them to be ushered into God's presence. Also, But there will be many believers who will not die, they will survive to populate the kingdom. There going to be nations of the world in the Kingdom, as well as the nation of Israel. Which means some of them have to survive into the kingdom. The only ones that will survive, will be Believers. Jesus made this very clear in Matthew chapter, 25 verses 32 and 33 when he said all the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate them from one. Another, just as a set Shepherd, separates the sheep from the goats, he will put the sheep on his right and put the goats on his left. The goats represent the ungodly who are cast into outer Darkness, the Sheep represent the Christians who go into the kingdom. The Thousand-Year kingdom is populated only by Believers that God, allows to survive the persecution and survive, all the Holocaust of the world. And they become the populist starts out the millennial Kingdom and they begin to reproduce and populate the world during that thousand year, reign of Christ. And now among those who will survive, is this very unique group, we do know that the Lord is going to save Israel. During this time is prophets call this the time of Jacob's trouble, but it is also the time of Jacob's conversion. It is a time when Zechariah speaks very directly to the Salvation of the nation of Israel. Listen to what he says in 12:10. And I will pour out on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of Grace, and a pleading, so that they will look at me when they pierced and they will mourn for him. Like, one morning for an only son and they will weep bitterly over him like the bitter weeping over a first born, they're going to see Christ for who he was and he goes on to talk about that morning and chapter 13 1. On that day of Fountain will be open for the House of David. And for the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin. And for defilement, there's going to be salvation down and verse 90 says, and I will bring the third part through the fire. We find them as silver is refined the test them. As gold as tested. They will call in my name and I will answer them. I will say they are my people and they will say, the Lord is my God. Looking at the coming of Christ of the eyes of Zechariah, he sees it as a time of Israel's conversion and a time when all the nations are called together to be judged as to be whether or not they enter his kingdom. So there will be then at the end of this time. Or protection of certain people from the Nations and ascertain from Israel who have come to faith in Christ and they will go into the kingdom. As I said, many of the believing people will be killed but not all of them. This is a time of which Paul spoke when he said, all Israel will be saved. God, Purge is out the Rebels. The rest, see their Messiah believe and are redeemed. And when we don't know how many, but obviously a large number will survive all of this and enter into the kingdom. Now, among these people who survived, is this group and Revelation, 7, let's go back and look at them. And I need to give you that context. So you'd understand that they're not the only survivors but they are a very unique group and their survival is crucial for the rest of the survivors and I'll show you why. These folks have been saved earlier. It isn't telling us that at the time, the 6, cyl hits 144,000, people become converted, I think before this, they have become converted before this. They have looked on him when they have pierced and mourned for him as an only son, they have understood the saving message of the gospel of Christ. We have heard the testimony of the word and believe they have been preserved up till now. And now as the final Fury hits, they will be singled out for special service and special protection. They don't experience, temporal wrath or Eternal wrath. Other believers will experience the temporal and not the Eternal one as they may die in the persecution or in the whole Acosta takes place this Vision on Fulton, three perspectives. Let's look at the first one. Let's call it wrath. Restrained. Verse one after this. I hate to stop after two words, but have to after this is a very important phrase. You see, it numerous times in the Book of Revelation, whenever you see it introduces a new vision. We saw back in 4:1 where he came to that vision of heaven. We see it again in chapter 7 and its signals. John's New Vision, this seems to fit right in after the Sixth Seal is opened before the trumpets and before the Bulls are poured out the scene shifts from judgment to another Vision, it's the vision not of the Judgment of the young Godly with a vision of a special protection on The Godly. He says in this Vision I first of all, soft for Angels for powerful angels of judgement and these agents of judgment or carrying out God's will in this great time of the wrath of God verse 1. After this, I saw four Angels standing at the Four Corners of the Earth, holding back the Four Winds of the earth, so that no wind blew it. Blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. Do you have four Angels who can hold back when they work, the elements of nature there standing at the Four Corners of the earth? And you know, the Skeptics always say this was obviously written before people knew the world was round because the world doesn't have four corners. well, let me answer that by saying this, there are four points on a compass north, south east and west and those four places on the compass are the four points from which wind originates. We always say comes from the North or the South, or the east or the west, but everything can figures around those four Compass points. So it is accurate, describe it in that way. It also tells us that this basically means the wind is not blowing quite an interesting phenomenon for whatever. Of time. This little interlude takes place, wind does not blow in wanting to kind of understand this from a scientific standpoint. I looked up some material by dr. Henry Morris, who was a well-known creation scientists and I listened to what he wrote. In terms of modern technology, it is essentially equivalent to what a mariner or a geologist would call the four quadrants of the compass or the four directions. This is evident also from The Mention Of The Four Winds which in common usage would be. Of course, the North West South and East Winds, parenthetically accurate, modern geodetic, measurements. In recent years have proved that the Earth is actually does have four corners. There are four protuberance is standing out from the basic geode. That is the basic spherical shape of the earth. The earth is not a really a perfect sphere. It is slightly flattened at the poles. It's equatorial bulge is presumably caused by the Earth's axial, rotation, and it's four corners protrude from that. The meaning here is undoubtedly that the Angels located in four different key positions on the earth. Perhaps one of each pole and two at the opposite ends of the Strategic equatorial diameter. Are able to control the great atmosphere circulation, which governs the Winds of the Earth. When John first saw these four angels in particular, they were already engaged in the remarkable labor of restraining, the great wind systems of the Earth, keeping the winds from blowing on either land or sea. The circulation of the atmosphere is a mighty engine driven by energy from the Sun. And from the Earth's rotation, the tremendous Powers involved in this operation become especially obvious when they are displayed in the form of great hurricanes, blizzards and tornadoes these Winds of the Earth, make life possible on Earth. Through the hydrological cycle, transporting water inland from the ocean with which to water the Earth yet the Angels, only four of them have turned off this gigantic machine and quote, No wind, no Breeze, no rustling of leaves, no waves breaking on the shore. Everything is definitely still no clouds, moving there, holding it back. When those angels, let go, the wind will do it to judgment damage that introduces us. Also to another component in the day of the Lord, we talked about the breakup of the universe and the Stars falling and other astral bodies falling. We talked about earthquakes and the shaking of the whole universe, add to that than all this chaos going on. The wind is going to be magnified and accelerated so that there will be hurricane type effects on this globe, but not yet, God is associated with the wind, God Moves In The Fury of the wind. And frankly, the next phase of God's judgment involves this. What it said back in first one was hold back the wind so that it doesn't harm the Earth. It doesn't harm the sea and it doesn't harm any trees. The wind is roaring but restrained, when it breaks loose it's going to become the agency which terrorizes the Earth. So that a third of the earth and the third of the sea and a third of the living plants and ultimately a third of humanity to massacred but not yet. Wrath restrained. Second Point Saints are sealed. Why is this rat being restrained for a moment? Why is there a moment of calm in the midst of the storm in all the fury that's been going on? When all of a sudden it comes to a stop. The world will wonder what's happening. And versus two and three says and I saw another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun holding the Seal of the Living God and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted harm, the Earth in the sea saying do not harm the Earth, or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond Servants of our God on their foreheads. So this is another of these powerful angels who speaks to these four fellow angels and notice where he comes from Does the angel ascends from the Rising Sun? That's simply a way of saying the East, the sun, always rises in the East the angel ascend from the East. Now, John, when he was experiencing all of this and writing, it was on the Isle of Patmos in the Mediterranean towards the West. So the East would be the land of Israel, the land of Messiah, the land of the 144,000, the 12 tribes. So John sees this coming from the holy land. And there is this Angel. And he descends, and he has the Seal of the Living God. And what is this? You remember how they would melt wax and then stamp into the wax to seal marking the ownership, authenticity and security. This is mine. This is a 42. This can't be opened opened because it's my possession, only by those who are authorized. So here comes as Angel and he's got the seal, not the Seal of some Earthly Monarch with the Seal of the Living God Antichrist. Makes everybody take the mark in the forehead or on the back of a hand. and if they don't if they will not publicly identify with him as their God and take his Mark they will die. So here comes the Eternal God and he's got his own Mark in his own seal. And this angel carrying the Seal of the Living God Yelling to the other angels to hold back the wind. So it doesn't harm the Earth or the sea until we have sealed the bond Servants of God on their foreheads and I Christ did it on his and we're going to do it on God. God says, I'm coming in judgment. I'm going to spare the people that are marked. Revelation 9 for the fifth. Angel sounds in the opening of chapter 9, the bottomless pit, open smoke comes, billowing out and out of the smoke locusts and as they become belching, out of the pit of Hell verse. For says, they were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing nor any tree. But only the people who don't do not have the Seal of God, on their foreheads, the Seal of God was a protection. It made these people Invincible against the judgments anyone could die in the Judgment except those people marked out. So the angel says, in chapter 7, don't let the wind go. Don't let the devastation carry-on. Don't blow the trumpets yet until we seal the bond Servants of our God on their foreheads, do not harm the Earth. Inverse three indicates. This is a judgment wind and the result would be devastating, but it's got to wait. We need to seal them. These are the redeem people that are to be protected. Now, would you please notice? They already belong to the Lord I believe they are people who have lived Faithfully powerfully, effectively preaching, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. They have not died as Martyrs, they're still alive and they are to be protected 14:1. Then I looked and behold the lamb was standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000 who had his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads. The lamb is back. He is returned. He's on the mount and with him are the 144,000? Yes? What? They made it through. They were sealed and they were preserved, and they had the mark, they had his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads. These are the Jews who have come to Christ juice who have been redeemed and been obedient to the lamb. They had integrity and they were without any blame the most faithful loyal diligent. Holy Servants of the Lord. During this time they are the cream of the crop. They stood for Christ against everything. While the world send in the world, blaspheming of the world locked in the world cursed, they were pure and godly believers who serve the Lord. And I personally believe, they must have been very instrumental in the conversion of other Jews and Gentiles as well. They are really a missionary core and I think they're sealing in some ways is a reward. They have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and the lamb first fruits of a new redeemed Israel. I believe these hundred and forty-four thousand Have Been instrumental in the salvation of other people in their own Nation, as well as other nations of the world. I believe they are probably very much a part of what is said, in Matthew 24:14, where we are reminded the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to All Nations, then the end will come I believe they have been part of that great missionary Force. Imagine 144000 totally sold out Jews, who understand their masu their Messiah is who are devoted to him who are holy Godly and pure. And if you have been instrumental in the salvation of mini, that's this group, they have preached judgment. They have warned about the impending day of the Lord. They have called people to repentance right through the tribulation time. And now they're going to be delivered and they're going to go right on into the kingdom and they're going to keep on preaching in the kingdom and to the people that are being born in the Kingdom, who will be born, of course, still in sin because you'll be bored by human parents. Even though their parents are Christians. Many of them will be bail and they will preach to them and call for repentance. I Believe by their service. All Israel will be saved. The final Point wrath, restrained Saint sealed. Israel, identified, who are they? It should be pretty clear. Since it tells us there were a hundred and forty-four thousand from every tribe of the sons of Israel. Now, how hard is that? Figure out? God knows the number he wants and he knows the number he wants from every tribe. Here, will come these powerful Godly Jews. I think the Lord is going to convince their hearts and they will be converted, and redeem and they will start witnessing. And then the Lord will take the best of them twelve thousand out of every tribe and he'll seal them. So that they can't be touched and I'll go right on through the judgment and right on into the kingdom to be his special evangelist. Do the Jews know what tribes are part of? No, no Juno's. The records have all been lost and destroyed in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD but God knows. And isn't it amazing? How pure the Jewish people have remained? They still have a tribal Heritage. They just don't know what it is, but God does. And there are still going to be 12000 out of every tribe. And now I'm closing. God has a great purpose for the Jews. God is not finished with Israel. History has brought been unable to blot out. The Jew genocide has failed to removing why? Because God wants them around the tribes aren't lost. God knows where they are and God is going to redeem Israel and he's going to choose 12,000 from every tribe to be his witness Nation. That's a good thing. Because the first time around Israel, blew it. Next time they want they'll see their Messiah and they will become the witness Nation. God is always intended them to be. That's why he called them in the first place. You didn't call them to be an end. He called them to be. A means to the end. He called them to be a witness nation, and they failed, but the time will come when his Wonderful Grace and his Everlasting and unbreakable Covenant will come back to Israel and he will redeem Israel, he will put them in the place of being his witness Nation, the greatest force of missionaries that the world has ever known and the result of their effort redeemed, Israel. And a redeemed Humanity, that is in numerable. What does that tell me about God? But tell me tells me that God is faithful, no matter how complex or difficult it is with all the grief that Israel has caused him. It will not violate his ultimate purpose with that Nation. We have a faithful God and that moves right down to his relationship to those of us who are his children, Osprey.

Father. Thank you for your time and your word. We look forward to the day when all Israel will be saved. And World Wide Revival. Like this world has never known will take place. From the greatest missionary Force That Ever Walked the globe and we thank you that whatever you plan, you will bring the pass. May we be faithful chrissake. Thank you and you are dismissed. Yes.