Sermon Tone Analysis

We have gone through the whole timetable of the tribulation period of 7 years which are covered in Matthew 24 and in Revelation 6-18.

We are now beyond this time and we find that the trouble is not over.

Straight afterwards the universe suffers a cataclysmic disaster for everything gets shaken, the moon is no longer reflecting the sun’s light, the sun itself is dark, the stars no longer are in place where they had been, it would seem that the whole earth is off its axis and orbit, and the oceans are coming ashore beyond their boundaries and people all over the place are having heart attacks as a result.

There is no safe place to be.

Indeed, time made it impossible this morning to mention the Old Testament prophets talking of these things but let us hear some of them telling us how it is going to be:

The sixth seal seems to happen in conjunction with the seventh bowl.

Some of the things happening are going to happen together making an even larger impact upon those on the earth.

Isaiah tells us of this time:

And we could continue in this chapter for Isaiah talks about the fact that everyone will return to their own country and there will be murderers and rapists at large.

This is a volatile time and indeed the number of people alive now are few.

Two of the plagues killed off over half the world’s population but due to all these other disasters it has decimated many others so that people are now rare compared to the billions alive today.

Isaiah continues later in his book:

And here we have the battle of Armageddon.

This is a study for another time for it covers verses from Daniel, Zechariah and several chapters from Revelation.

It is a battle, or rather a number of them, that are in Israel and the Middle East.

The last battle will not really be a battle at all but Christ will end it by the angel putting in his sickle and killing everyone involved.

We’ve seen such an angel before in the time of King David when he numbered the people in 2 Samuel 24 and the angel killed 70,000.

But when this happens the blood flow will be over 200 miles long and over 4ft high.

That is enough to cover the the deep south where Edom is to the north of Israel and beyond into Lebanon.

That’s a lot of blood for going up against God.

Then in verse 30 we have the sign of the Son of Man.

Now there has been some confusion over this and it started because of a guy called Chrysostom in the 4th Century who imagined the sign to be a flaming cross in the sky.

Well, to be honest, if you were thinking of a sign representing Jesus there is no better one than the cross - it seems very plausible.

After all, the cross is everything for without it there is no salvation, no escape from the wrath of God to come.

But having said that, the Scriptures give no indication that the sign of the Son of Man is a cross, let alone a flaming one.

No, this is simply misunderstood.

No, the sign of the Son of Man is the Son of Man.

It is Jesus Himself.

It’s a matter of semantics and how we say the sentence.

The sign of the Son of Man is Jesus.

It is going to be His revealed glory just as He was revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration.

And people will know who it is and He will come on the clouds as confirmation that He will return the same way as He went and

He will come in His full glory and it will be unmistakable.

Everyone will see Him.

And people will mourn.

The root of the word ‘mourn’ means to beat their chests.

What is it they are mourning?

Well, most do not want Him to come at all and they went to battle to prevent His return but they lost in a big way.

They are mourning because now they know there is no escape from His wrath and they are very afraid.

Remember when all this happens it will be in darkness for there is no sun or moon or stars and anything solar powered will cease to work.

And then there suddenly will be light.

Jesus is the light of the world.

No need for the sun.

Indeed, we are told of the New Jerusalem, aren’t we, where there will be no sun.

Indeed if there was a sun then life couldn’t really be eternal for the sun, as we know, will eventually peter out but God will not, for He is eternal.

Those scoffers who said where is the promise of His coming will no longer speak for Jesus will have turned up with great power with His angels and His saints and sit to reign in Jerusalem as we are told in

This is a Day when you want to be on the right side of God for there is no escape from this moment for it is a day of Great Wrath or Great Anger of God against those who wicked.

We’re about to get to a judgement scene in chapter 25 for whilst judgement in this world could mean the death of you it is not the last destiny but hell and the lake of fire for eternity.

No wonder there is mourning and sorrow.

Indeed even when seeing all that is happening repentance is far from their hearts and minds - all they want to do is rebel and curse God.

It is the book of Revelation that tells us four times that they still did not repent.

How mystifying!

But the protected Israelites will also mourn but not in the same way.

They will recognise the Messiah and in the next chapter we are told

And all Israel will be saved as we are told in Romans 9-11.

And in verse 31 we find the angels doing their part in gathering the chosen ones, those who are His from all over the world, those who survived the persecution, those who are hiding, those who are far from others, those who may be imprisoned.

They will be gathered together to go into the new kingdom that Jesus establishes on earth for the next thousand years.

It is another sermon to talk about what will happen during the 1000 years but let me give a brief review of the timetable from the present time until the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth:

Rapture of the Church which can happen at any time

The leader of the Revived Roman Empire, the ten European nations will make a 7 year peace treaty with Israel

This starts the Seal Judgements of Revelation 6 - at least 20% of living people will die.

Half-way through the leader, who is actually the Antichrist, will break the agreement and will set himself up as God in the Temple causing the ‘Abomination that causes Desolation’ and the whole world will worship him

The Jews run for their lives and 2/3rds die.

The other 1/3rd are sealed and protected in the desert.

This starts the Trumpet and Bowl judgements of Revelation 8 and Revelation 16 - by this time over 50% who were alive at the beginning of the 7 years are now dead

The nations will gather to fight Israel but their ultimate aim is to fight Christ in the so-called Battle of Armageddon - but for they do they are destroyed by an angel

Jesus returns to earth at the Mount of Olives, all opponents are destroyed, the Jews receive Him, and He starts His 1000 year reign on the earth in Jerusalem.

That is a potted history of the future.

Daniel concludes his book like this:

So Daniel speaks of a further 75 day period beyond the 3.5 years left of the broken peace treaty which includes a further 30 day tribulation period and then a 45 day period that we are not told about - except that the universe goes to pot and terror falls upon what’s left of humankind.

At some point after this Jesus returns at a day and hour unknown.

Let me be clear - Jesus will not return until after the Tribulation and this has not happened yet.

Our Lord has told us beforehand many things and along with passages from the Old Testament, the New Testament letters and Revelation we can ascertain many things.

Some of the smaller detail may not be agreed upon and we need to be humble learners and students of the Word of God.

He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple.

It came true word-for-word.

Then we can trust that what He says of other future events will also be word-for-word.

He is in control and He is the ultimate champion.

With Him we are overcomers, indeed more than overcomers according to

Our future is secure but in the light of Who He is and what He has done let us so live for Him to be unashamed at His coming and warn people with boldness.

Benediction

Bibliography

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Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol.

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Geisler, N. L. (2005).

Systematic theology, volume four: church, last things.

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