The Struggle for Souls

Introduction:

Revelation 6:15–7:17 KJV 1900

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? 1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Rev. 6:15-7:17

Quotes -

Hell -DISBELIEF OF 1

No human ministry ever gave such graphic and harrowing descriptions of hell as Christ has given. You say you believe the words of Jesus; you do not suspect a loving Saviour of exaggeration. Oh, my hearers, I ask you now in the name of God, if it be true, why do ye not believe it? You do not believe it; that is clear enough. Would you sit quietly in your seat this morning, young man, if you really believed that in one instant you may be in hell? Old man, old in years and old in sin, would you be as quiet in your soul to-day as you are if you knew and believed that there is but a step between you and the flames? 492.66

I do not wonder that ingenious persons have invented theories which aim at mitigating the terrors of the world to come to the impenitent. It is natural they should do so, for the facts are so alarming as they are truthfully given us in God’s word, that if we desire to preach comfortable doctrine and such as will quiet the consciences of idle professors, we must dilute the awful truth. 974.77

Diminish your idea of the wrath of God and the terrors of hell, and in that proportion you will diminish the results of your work. 1282.143

In some professed Christians their pity for the criminal has overcome their horror at the crime. Eternal punishment is denied, not because the scriptures are not plain enough on that point, but because man has become the god of man, and everything must be toned down to suit the tender feelings of an age which excuses sin but denounces its penalties, which has no condemnation for the offence, but spends its denunciations upon the Judge and his righteous sentence. By all means have sympathies manward, but at the same time show some tenderness towards the dishonoured law and the insulted Lord. 1403.149

The doctrine of no punishment for any man is popular at this day, and threatens to have even greater sway in the future. 1917.471

Believe me, dear friends, the words of God about the doom of sinners are very dreadful. Hence, there are some that try to pare them down, and cut the solemn meaning out of them; and then they say, “I could not rest comfortable if I believed the orthodox doctrine about the ruin of man.” Most true, but what right have we to rest comfortable? 2071.104

[Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Exploring the Mind and Heart of the Prince of Preachers: Five-Thousand Illustrations Selected from the Works of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (Oswego, IL: Fox River Press, 2005), 223–224.]

Main Thought: What has God been “Holding” back so that you might be spared from the “Hurt” to come? Escape the coming judgment by fleeing to God while there’s time.

Sub-intro:

Describe briefly that there is a Great Contrast seen here at the close of chapter six with those described in chapter seven.

Also describe the interlude in the progression of John’s Revelation of Jesus.

Body:

I. The People of the World ().

Living in Fear

a

1989 The Eye In Prison’s Hole

Lafayette tells us that he was once shut up in a little room in a gloomy prison for a great while. In the door of his little cell was a very small hole cut. At that hole, a soldier was placed day and night to watch him. All he could see was the soldier’s eye; but that eye was always there. Day and night, every moment when he looked up he always saw that eye. Oh, he said, it was dreadful! There was no escape, no hiding; when he lay down and when he rose up, that eye was watching him. How dreadful will the eye of God be upon the sinner!

—J. H. Bomberger [Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 505.]

Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 505.]

They’d rather have the rocks fall on them and grind them to powder than fly to the Rock of Refuge and Salvation!

II. The Principalities & Powers of God ().

“Holding Back” for Salvation through the Ages - The “Lull” in the Storm

A. God’s Mercy Suppressing ()

Revelation 7:1 KJV 1900

1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

These “Fight” on behalf of God’s People.

1. Past Mercies:

Adam - the devil’s forces were held back from destroying the “way of the tree of life” by those cherubs with “flaming swords” ().

Noah - God held back the floods of His judgment until Noah and all with him were safe in the Ark ().

Lot - the fires of God’s judgment were held back until Lot could escape to Zoar ().

Moses - the waters of the Red Sea were held back until Israel was safe on the other side before the judgment of Jehovah God fell on the armies of Egypt.

Genesis 19:26 KJV 1900

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

2. Present Mercies:

Present Mercies:

The Holy Spirit indwelling Believers is holding back the world, the flesh and the devil through yielded saints who are the salt of the earth and light of the world.

3. Future Mercies:

God’s angles here () are holding back the four winds of God’s wrath until His servants can be sealed.

B. God’s Mercy Separating ()

Revelation 7:2–3 KJV 1900

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

All of this “Holding Back” is so that God can give a space of grace for those who will call on His name to be saved from the second death.

III. People of God ().

Living By Faith

These ministers of God are fighting to deliver the truth of the Gospel to the lost souls of men and women

A. Sealed to Serve Him - The Jews Restored ().

Revelation 7:4–8 KJV 1900

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

“Holding Forth” for Salvation the Word of Life

B. Saved to Serve Him - The Gentiles Redeemed ().

“Holding Up” praises for God’s Salvation

1. The Great Multitude ()

Revelation 7:9–12 KJV 1900

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

a. The People (9a)

b. Their Place (9b)

c. Their Purity (9c, 14)

d. Their Protection (16)

e. Their Praises (10-12)

2. Their Great Emancipation ().

Revelation 7:13–15 KJV 1900

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

3. The Gracious Master ()

Revelation 7:16–17 KJV 1900

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 16:6–9 KJV 1900

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Rev. 16:6-9

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

God’s word has clearly shown mankind from the very beginning that judgment is sure to come because of the wickedness and sin of mankind. When the floods and fires of God’s righteous judgment fall, friend, there will be hardened, unrepentant, stiff-necked sinners who get burned. That needn’t not be any soul here under the sound of my voice. God ALWAYS has made a way for the sinner, who will humbly acknowledge his or her helpless condition, and call upon the name of the Lord by faith to find salvation.

Sinner here today, won’t you flee the wrath to come and fly to the bosom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and wash those filthy, sinful garments white in the blood of the Lamb of God so you can be saved?

Christian, how will sinners ever hear God’s plea with you remaining silent throughout the day? How many tens, and even hundreds passed by you this week, on their way to hell, and you just let them pass right on by, and never even prayed for them, let alone tried to share the hope you have in Jesus with them? I want to challenge you, go out this week, and have compassion. Make a difference in someone’s eternal destiny.