Unfinished Business
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Wednesday night we dug into Romans 8:18-25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
The text states that we and all of creation are groaning for the adoption, the redemption of our body. That is a way of saying that we are awaiting our future glorification. When all that was lost through sin is restored.
Bodies that age, breakdown and die are replaced by bodies that never grow old, weak, or frail, and death is destroyed.
The earth that quakes under the weight of sin and produces storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, and typhoons, is restored to a tranquil place of safety and beauty.
Every terrible thing that sin has caused will be reversed. We will enjoy the glory and eternal life of God.
We groan for, long for, desire, and await this day, but first there is unfinished business.
The scroll in Revelation 5 is the deed to restored creation. The seals, however; are they conditions or consequences that must transpire before. You see God’s holiness requires justice. Read Isaiah 34:1-5 when you have a chance. Before the world is restored, the world will be judged.
The seals are a thumbnail of what will intensify in the trumpets, and bowls. What begins as judgment will end in wrath.
I think now would be a good time to remind us of the positive and negative consequences of the Gospel. Romans 1:16-18
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
The Gospel has the power to save anyone.
It reveals the righteousness of God.
But, it also reveals the wrath of God.
Let’s look at Revelation 6:1-8 at the conditions of a world under God’s judgment.
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
Today we will do a broad swath of the condition during the great tribulation and we will see them later in more detail and intensity.
Traits of the Tribulation
Traits of the Tribulation
Counterfeit Heroes.
The first seal unleashes a rider on a white horse. A horse is a symbol of speed and strength. These first four seals will come suddenly and no one will be able to stop them.
For a frame of reference read over the description of the Babylonian army in Jeremiah. It speaks of the hoofs of the horses, their strength, and the breath of their nostrils.
This conqueror a the white horse will be able to rule (crown) and bring peace through war.
But, he is not the prince of peace. He is a counterfeit. Notice that he is given power, but Christ in chapter 19 has power. Peace is not this counterfeit’s goal, but war, destruction, and death.
War and Violence
Under the reign of this conqueror peace will be removed and war will ensue.
This horse is red with blood. Listen to Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 24:4-8
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Just a personal note here: we have been in one war after another, in the middle east since I graduated high school 36 years ago. We were in Vietnam until I was 5 years old, so that was only 12 years of relative peace.
The world’s thirst for war will only intensify.
Systematic Famine and Hunger.
I phrase it this way because I want you to notice the work of the rider of the black horse.
He has unequal scales, and he controls the food and the costs of food.
The poor person will spend what he makes a day to eat, but the wealthy will have their oil and wine.
It is a have and have not society. We aren’t far from this now, and our world is poised for this.
Disease and Death.
The rider of the pale horse will kill 1/4 of earth’s population with war, hunger, and disease.
The bottom line is this counterfeit hero will control who lives and who dies.
Now, these four horsemen are a thumbnail of what life will be like here on earth during the tribulation period. There are three more seals, two with clear consequences and one which overlaps the sounding of the trumpets.
The Fifth seal indicates the widespread persecution of Christians.
Martyrs of old are crying out for justice, given a white robe, and then told to wait for the others who will die for their faith.
The sixth seal is unusual natural phenomenons.
Earthquakes
Eclipses
Meteor showers
Tsunamis
Incredible winds and atmospheric shifts.
Steps of the Saints
Steps of the Saints
Where does this leave us? How should we respond to this information?
One, we as Christians should not be consumed by fear. Remember these things were written to comfort and encourage the church.
Does that mean we won’t be effected by these things? Well, I think its too late all of us already have been just not in this intensity.
The point is as we see these things intensifying we know that the time is drawing near.
We shouldn’t fear over that but rejoice that the day of our Lord is coming.
Two, we should make use of the time we have.
I think often about the fact that we have an eternity to sit before Jesus’ feet and worship Him, but we only have this lifetime to join Him in His work.
His work is a rescue mission to inhabitants of earth.
We engage with Jesus in His work when we engage our society with the Gospel message.
Now, I know at times we grow weary, and the Bible accounts for that possibility because it say “don’t grow weary of well doing.”
We must never stop looking for ways to share the Gospel with those who may not have heard.
Three, if you haven’t considered the Gospel or been open to faith in Christ. You must realize that He is the only shelter from judgment. Listen to Revelation 6:15-17
And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Money, position, and power seem to bring shelter now, but all those things will vanish away and the only thing that will protect from the judgment and wrath of God is being found in Christ.
Invitation:
Invitation:
As we stand and prepare to respond to this message I want you to consider a few things.
One, Am I ready?
Are you pleased with your service to the Lord?
Are you concerned about the spiritual condition of your fellow man?
Are you certain that all your hope is in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Two, do I have the help, support, encouragement, and accountability I need to not grow weary in the work of the Lord?
If not you need a church family that will aid you in serving the Lord.
There are many good church families in E-town. If God has led you here we would love to know.
