Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

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 ()

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.

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 ()

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 ().

“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 ()

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 ().

3. The Gracious Master ()

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.