The Great Tribulation Part 2

 THE GREAT TRIBULATION—PART 2 Spring Valley Mennonite; March 17, 2019; Revelation 9:1-21; 10:1-11 A popular bit of wisdom states that often we cannot see the forest for the trees. Our study of Revelation relates strongly to that idea, for it is easy for us to get lost in the details of seals, trumpets, and bowls, angelic announcements, judgments, meteors crashing to earth, locusts and horses with heads like lions—and lose sight of the main themes of this revelation to mankind. And while it is interesting—even fascinating—to study the details of the Last Days, we cannot lose sight of what God would have us retain from the study. What is the “Big Idea” of this Revelation? What practical lessons or principles can we find which transcend all the details? Now, don’t get me wrong, the details are important, and the Holy Spirit didn’t inspire John to record his vision in all its details for no reason, but what is the Big Picture of the Book? These are some major themes I see: 1) God is firmly in control of the future. He has a plan and is working His plan. We need have no anxiety over the future. 2) God has withheld His judgment for millennia, but in the Day of the Lord, His holy wrath will be unleashed against evil. 3) God wants us to be informed about His plan, or He wouldn’t have given it to us. 4) There is a great conflict between God and Satan, good and evil, which has continued throughout human history, and while the final result is never in doubt, Revelation gives the details of how God wins in the end. Satan will be gone forever! 5) God fulfills every promise He makes, including all those made to Israel. 6) We have a glorious future ahead of us, more glorious than we could ever imagine! 7) While our future as believers is secure, if one goes into the Tribulation Period without Christ, it will be very difficult to believe, and with all the natural disasters that will occur, life will be very uncertain. Now is the day of salvation; we need to warn those without Christ of judgment that will come. Now, back to more details! We are continuing our examination of the seven trumpet judgments that were begun last week. Remember that the Lord Jesus is unsealing the scroll which tells of His future Kingdom. This scroll has seven seals of judgment; the seventh seal contains the seven trumpet judgments; the seventh trumpet judgment has the final seven bowl judgments on Satan and the wicked. The first four trumpet judgments were visited upon the earth itself, with giant meteors falling on land and sea, with terrible consequences upon mankind. The final three trumpet judgments are called the “Three Woes” as they are directed toward mankind itself, with dreadful effects upon the human population. These “woes” are directed against those “who dwell upon the earth”. These judgments fall within the last three-and-one-half of the Tribulation Period and are the expression of God’s Vengeance on sinful mankind and upon the author of sin, Satan. The prayers of the martyrs of “How long before our blood is avenged” is now answered. The wickedness of the earth is full, and the time of reaping has come. Justice for evil is being handed out upon a depraved and wicked world. Evil must be purged from the earth before the righteous future can come about. Remember that these trumpet judgments are part of the seventh seal on the scroll that the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus is opening. These judgments must take place before God’s glorious earthly Kingdom can be established. While the forces of evil, led by Satan’s pawns the Antichrist and the False Prophet, are working to establish Satan’s counterfeit Kingdom on earth, God is systematically destroying the physical and human resources of that kingdom. In the next trumpet judgments, God uses the very forces of Satan to accomplish His purposes. The terrible judgments of the Lamb are destroying cities, agriculture, commerce, animals, and mankind. The 5th Trumpet Judgment falls upon those who have taken the Mark of the Beast. If you have your Bibles, turn to Revelation 9 which speaks of: I. THE PLAGUE FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT Read Revelation 9:1-6. The star which has fallen from heaven best describes Satan, who has been consigned to earth in the great cosmic battle, described in chapter 12, where the Holy angel Michael triumphs and Satan and his angels are thrown down to earth. With great wrath Satan begins to afflict mankind, in step with his nature as the “destroyer”. God gives Satan the key to the “abyss”, or bottomless pit where great numbers of demons are confined. Recall how in Luke 8 Jesus came upon a demon possessed man, supernaturally strong, dwelling among the graves. The demons spoke and said their name was “Legion” for they were many. They begged Jesus to not send them into the abyss. Apparently, some demons are free, and some are confined. Revelation 20 tells us that this abyss will be where Satan will be chained during the Millennial Kingdom. The fifth Trumpet judgment enables Satan to open the abyss and set loose its captive demons. A great cloud of smoke ascends, like as from a great furnace, darkening the sky. Out of this smoke emerge demonic hoards, like a great locust swarm. John is using an example of the most dreaded trials on earth, a locust plague which consume everything. These creatures are different from regular locusts in that they don’t touch any vegetation but have the sole purpose of tormenting people. They are clearly not insects, but fearsome demonic creatures who sting like scorpions. They only attack the followers of Antichrist who have taken the mark of the beast. Their power is limited, for they cannot cause death; but the intense pain caused by these creatures drive people mad, making them desire to kill themselves. But death is denied them! Can we imagine people trying to kill themselves by all types of methods, but nothing works?! John has trouble describing these creatures, for they are unlike anything he has ever seen! Read vv. 7-12. They are like war horses in that they are eager for battle, warlike and defiant. They wear the victor’s crown speaking of their invincibility; they are unstoppable and nothing can destroy them. They have faces like men, speaking of intelligence and rationality: they can scheme and plan attacks. They have hair like women; some have thought this means they can seductively lure people into traps. Their breastplates of iron speak again of how they are invulnerable. They have wings with which to move freely. There is no escape from their attack, which goes on for 5 months. These demonic creatures are the worst of nightmares! The worst of horror movies cannot match this reality which will come! For five months the unbelievers suffer under this terrible judgment. Their sole mission is to hurt people, driving them to the edge of insanity. This judgment of the Lord involves His lifting His hand of grace which presently restrains evil. In our present age, God extends what we call “common grace” which restrains evil and allows good things to fall upon all men, believers or not. This “common grace” will be missing during this time, and evil will be allowed full reign on earth. Satan’s evil character is shown clearly in his leadership (verse 11) over these horrible creatures. His nature is to destroy and oppose anything good. This is the first WOE; two more, even more dreadful, are coming. II. THE SECOND WOE; THE SIXTH TRUMPET: DEATH OF 1/3 OF ALL HUMANS Read vv. 13-16. Whereas death was denied under the fifth trumpet judgment, now death stalks the earth. These judgments are intensifying, as a demonic army of 200 million warriors are unleashed on the earth. To put this number into perspective, all the combined armies of WW II only numbered 70 million. This number is so great that John emphasizes “I heard the number of them”. The logistics to support an army so large lends to the idea that these armies are demonic, or perhaps demon-possessed men. They are divided into four divisions, each led by a powerful demonic leader. We know these are not holy angels, as they are never said to be bound or released. They have a single mission: to kill humans. Read vv. 17-19. Some have theorized that the horses shooting fire and brimstone out their mouths and tails describe modern tank warfare. But this description reminds me of the scorpion/locust creatures which were like nothing John had ever seen. It is speculation to try and define what these creatures are. Suffice it to say that there will be 200 million organized “killing machines” which kill by three weapons: fire, smoke, and brimstone. The slaughter is beyond imagination. By this time in the Tribulation, over half of the population of the earth have died. That’s over 3 ½ billion people! Read vv. 20-21. What was the purpose of these judgments? Apparently, it was to give opportunity to turn to God and believe, but that wasn’t the result. God is still extending His grace, but it is rejected. These judgments only resulted in strengthening their demonically inspired worship of Antichrist and his golden image. We have a description of the prevalent culture at this point: common decency is absent, it is every man for themselves. Their wicked lifestyle is characterized by murder, sorceries (which has the root from which we get the word pharmacy, meaning a rampant drug culture, immorality and thefts, where private property means nothing. This reminds us of how present- day urban gangs and their lifestyle could be described; think of such violent gangs running wild. The seventh woe follows. It’s sounding marks the Beginning of the end. III. THE BEGINNING OF THE END: THE SEVENTH TRUMPET ANNOUNCED Read chapter 10 vv. 1-4. While this angel has characteristics which resemble the Lord Jesus, he most likely is still an angel, although obviously very special. His voice is as loud as a lion’s roar, which is said to be the loudest sound in the animal kingdom. What the angel cries out, as well as the message in the seven thunders, remains a mystery; John begins to record them, but is told to keep them a secret. It reminds me of the things Paul heard when he was caught up into heaven, “inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak”. For all the detail given in the Revelation, much remains a mystery. Read vv. 5-7. The angel has an exciting message: He states with an oath on the Creator God Himself, “There shall be delay no longer!” It is time for the consummation of all things. The final judgment is upon us; no more delays! The mystery of God is finished; all the predictions of judgment, all the predictions of blessing for the righteous, both to the church and to Israel are now to be fulfilled. The seventh trumpet judgment which consists of the seven bowl judgments is now to be blown! The end is near. IV. THE BITTER-SWEET NATURE OF THE FINAL JUDGMENT Read vv. 8-11. The final words of judgment were bittersweet as John followed the command to “eat” the little book held by the angel. It was sweet as honey in the mouth, but bitter in the stomach. These prophesies of the end times are both exciting and dreadful. They excite us because we see our faith and beliefs vindicated. All the opposition and persecution of believers, all the traps and wiles of the devil will be past, Satan and his demons are completely defeated, a Kingdom of blessing and righteousness beyond our wildest and most hopeful dreams is coming! Yet at the same time, our hearts are sorrowful about all those who will die and go into eternal torment of a Christless eternity. Terrible suffering, pain and death await those who reject the grace and love of the Lord Jesus, Who died for them! What a waste! What sorrow for the lost! We live in the days BEFORE these final judgments. We must be convinced that if one does not repent and accept Christ, they will suffer eternally. We must warn them! We must persuade men that Judgment Day is coming! Today is the day of salvation. But the unimaginable reality of eternal paradise awaits those who accept the free gift of salvation. This is the Word of the Lord.