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June 20, 2016 7:00 pm
Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions were to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Father, we ask for your blessing now because you told us in Scripture that as we study this book if we would read it if we would understand it and if we would keep the words that are found in it. It can affect our lives, there will be a blessing. So Lord we want the blessing we want all the blessing you have to give. So speak to us from Scripture we ask in Jesus name, amen.
Okay question. Have you ever been. Maybe in a restaurant you know when you're seated next to someone and they're having a conversation you do over here people's conversations in restaurants, not intentionally but some people are louder than other people and maybe you're sitting next to another table and one person says to another. Okay I wanted tell you a secret, and I don't want you to share this with anyone is my question. Are you going to tune out our two men. Even if you don't know these people from Adam South got and I got Adam I doubt Adam had a house But if he did, even though you don't know them were interested. What we like to know secrets we like to know inside information, and we want to get that scoop well here's the good news. God has given us a scoop if you will. What is going on in the world around us.
Some 2514 says this secret of the Lord is with those that fear. I bring this up because there's so much craziness in the world right now. Starting with terrorist attacks that are happening all around the globe. Just recently, of course, in Orlando, Florida and you see all the talking heads all the pundits pining away. Many of them asking the question, why is this happening.
What motivates these people as though they are clueless to the fact that a there's evil in the world. These there is a devil behind this and see we are living in the last days we are seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes. We know that. Why do we know that because we read the Bible and the secret of the Lord is at those that fear of annexing for us.
It's not a secret as at all because God has told us all about it herein. Revelation and other books of the Bible. It's worth noting that the Bible is the one book to predict the future. Not once, not twice, but hundreds of times with 100% accuracy. It's also worth noting that two thirds of the Bible is prophecy and also one half of those prophecies have already taken place. So with 20/20 hindsight we can look back at prophecies and spoke of the coming Messiah Hollywood, where he would come and so forth and see how accurate those prophecies were therefore, we can safely conclude that those other prophecies were fulfilled perfectly so will the ones that are still in our future be fulfilled.
There's actually a lot of advantages to studying Bible prophecy and the book of Revelation and I bring this up because some people say all you can understand it well. There's real advantages when we give a few of them to you if you're taking notes number one studying Bible prophecy will help you unlock the mystery of history. Again, I will help you unlock the mystery of history and Eastern religions history basically goes in a cycle. That's why adherents of these religions believe in reincarnation. They believe they're going to come back again and again and again until they get it right. The Bible is different.
The Bible is not cyclical.
It's linear, Christians are moving toward a goal for like when you play checkers, move your man into Kings Row and then you say, crown him.
That's what God is doing, he'll move his son Jesus Christ into Kings Row and say, crown him. Revelation 11 five says the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah and he will reign forever and ever. Number two studying Bible prophecy will bring sins to our suffering will bring sins to our suffering me what you say to someone who is critically ill what you say to someone that is had to go through life with a disability or to some of the just lost a loved one hears what we say this is not God's final plan of there's going to be answers in the afterlife. Revelation 21 forces the wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will exist no longer grieve crying pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Read about a man that loved to study the book of Revelation we was being ridiculed by others who thought of themselves as wiser theologians and they said no one can understand the book of Revelation. It's an enigma. It's a puzzle. No one can figure it out, and the guy said while I understand it may still give me a break. Okay, tell me what the book of Revelation means that he said it means we win, that's right. Revelation says, in a nutshell, we win in the end. Number three studying Bible prophecy in the book of Revelation should cause us to live more godly lives. See if you really believe Jesus is coming back at any time, it will cause you to be more prayerful. First Peter 47 says no the end about things is near. Therefore be clearheaded and discipline for prayer if you really believe Christ could come back at any time. It will help you persevere through trial, James 58 says you must also appear severe and be patient. Strengthen your heart, because the Lord's coming is near.
You know, we go through hardships in life that make absolutely no sense. And sometimes we may even feel like giving up, but instead we need to look up because Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen. Look up for your redemption is drawing near.
Also I would add, if you believe in Bible prophecy, you will want to live a more pure life because first John three says all that have this confidence in Christ is returning. Keep themselves pure as Christ is pure and foreign. Lastly, studying Bible prophecy shows us there will be justice in the world.
One day will be justice in the world one day because right now we see evil people do evil things, and they seemingly get away with it. But the book of Revelation tells us there's going to be a reckoning, and unfortunately before that reckoning it's going to get worse before it gets better. So let's pick up where we last left off were in this prophetic puzzle here in Revelation 9 this point in our study were smack dab in the middle of the tribulation. Witnessing some of the worst things this planet will ever experience of this coming time. Jesus said in Mark 13 will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world and I will never be so great again. In fact, unless the Lord shortens the time of calamity is not a single person will survive over the sink of the chosen ones you shortened those days.
But listen, God takes no delight in this in our last message we pointed out the fact that God does not want to judge, but because John God is righteous and holy.
He must judge and be just and so the Lord said, taking pleasure in this, but he is going to do it.
But even in the tribulation.
There still glimpses of hope because people are coming to Christ. I remember we talked about those hundred and 44,000 messianic Jews who are combing the earth preaching the gospel in their under God's protection and we know from reading other parts of Revelation that millions are going to come to Christ.
During this time and we can also look at these two witnesses you probably heard about them. People wonder who they are, will offer some opinions on that. But at the same time, God generated two powerful witnesses in the last days that will give the word of God as well. But here's what we also know the devil is really at work in the tribulation. And you know he's trying to wreck as much havoc as he can. Why, because he knows his days are numbered know some people and they know their days are numbered. If they been told by a doctor. You have a month to live again to get their house in order. They're going to try to get things resolved of the conflict still give people of the try to make peace with people. The devil just the opposite. He's so evil, you know, knowing his days are numbered wants to do as much damage as he can until Christ comes back. Revelation 1212 says the devil has gone down to you. He's filled with fury wife because he knows his time is short. See, believe it or not, Satan believes the Bible.
He knows it's true, and he knows his days are numbered. So he is just mad as a hornet and wants to create so much misery for so many people so this is what were looking at now and at this point in the tribulation.
God is basically giving the mankind what he is always long for pure evil, nor become eternal people are pushing the boundaries.
What we don't like this definition of the family. We want to redefine it.
We don't like this rule, we don't like this a lot we don't like these restraints, we want to do what we want to do with only want to do it when we want to do it. Finally got says okay go for it man.
The restraints are gone. The restraining force in the world, the church, the followers of Christ will no longer be there stopping it or speaking out against it. All hell is literally going to break loose minds is little time of a little bit of the time of Pharaoh in Egypt to remember that Moses demanded the release of the Jews and Pharaoh basically said no way, and outsourcers up like skin in each one of these plagues that God brought upon Egypt was leveled against one of the gods of Egypt see the Egyptians worshiped so many gods they worshiped the sky they worshiped the Nile River. They worshiped frogs and worship all kinds of things you got says okay you like to worshiped frogs. Here you go up like a frogs more God then you can shake a stick at frogs on the floor frogs in the bed frogs in the oven frogs in the bath everywhere.
So the Lord here and effectively effectively in Revelation is a you wanted, you got it and let you get what you've always longed for no CS Lewis made the statement and I quote there are only two kinds of people in the end, those who see the God of thy will be done in those to whom God says in the end provide will be done all that are in the held choose it without that self choice, there would be no hell." So God's effectively saving humanity.
All right.
Is this what you want, thy will be done, and given it to you. So now we see God allowing Satan they have his heyday with circuit Revelation 9 starting in verse one, then the fifth angel sounded nice star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit, and he open the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the son of the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit and out of the smoke locusts came on the earth, and of them was given power as a scorpion see of the earth have power. They were commanded to not harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were given of the other were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man in those days, and they will seek death and not find it. The desire to die, and death will flee from them. The shape of the locust was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold in on their faces. They were like the faces of men.
They had hair like women's hair, their teeth were like lions teeth.
They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots and many horses running into battle they had tails like scorpions and they were like stingers in their tails and they had power to hurt men five months and they had as a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name is Hebrew is about. But in Greek is the name of Paglia. Now we've all heard stories of the great singers and actors who were at the top of their profession and then as they had a measure of success, they started using drugs or drinking heavily and so many of them die of drug overdoses, sore, or some other incident related to it and so will refer to that person maybe is a fallen star we hear we have a different kind of fallen star. It's Lucifer, Satan is a fallen angel or a star because in Revelation that the WordStar is used to describe angels.
He's a star who fell from his position of influence in Isaiah 1412 the Scripture says how you are fallen from heaven. Oh, shining stars, son of the morning you been thrown to the earth. You've destroyed the nations of the world and Ezekiel. The devil is described as being the model of perfection until wickedness was found in him and he lost his exalted position so remember the devil wasn't always the devil as we know now this addresses the question, why would a God of love create some someone as wicked as the devil enter the God of love did not create the devil as we know him.
God created a beautiful, magnificent powerful angel known as Lucifer, which means son of the morning. He had access to the throne of God. He seemed to be on a high level up there maybe even with the Michael and Gabriel, but Lucifer exercises free will and he rebelled against God. So Lucifer becomes Satan when he rebelled against God. A look at this God gives to Satan. The key of the abyss or the bottomless pit. In verse one. What is the bottomless pit.
It's a prison somewhere in the underworld where the demons are kept. The Bible speaks of angels who rebelled were imprisoned by the way a demon is a fallen angel by June 1 six is I want to remind you of the angels that did not stay within the limits of authority. God gave them over the place and that's where they been Securely chained in the presence of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. So therein. Some place in the underworld called the bottomless pit member that story of the demon possessed man who is bound in chains and in Jesus as the demons to identify themselves and they said Legion, for we are many. And then Jesus cast the demon's member into the pigs and the pigs committed mass Sue we decide member that story but you remember what the demon said before they were cast into the pigs. They said that Jesus don't send us to the bottomless pit.
Not all demons are there now but some are so this be described in Revelation is that pit that is been opened up. Let me illustrate. Imagine if every prison on the face of the earth including prisons that held terrorists were opened up and all the prisoners were released from custody and then imagine if all of them were deputized and armed to the teeth to harm people with that be a bad thing. Yes, it would. And so this is what's happening on a larger scale as the demons are being released sort of a glimpse of hell out of this pit come these hellish creatures.
Verse three there called locust, but I went to the notice go back over this versus notice how many times the word like his use.
They were like this. They were like that Islam get teenager speaking where they say you know I'm alike and he's all like and she's all like like like like I like that it's more like will charting first century languages trying to describe what he see what kind of sounds like a chariot, and the hair looks sort of like the hair of a woman and it's like this and that's like that so he can't totally put into words what he saying seasonings and Greg to be on the six week he kinda creatures like attacking the year of no not at all. They're not like insect creatures. Here's what they are. These are supernatural soldiers from the kingdom of darkness.
This is an invasion of demons in the last days that are very aggressive. The symbolic descriptions that John used are there to describe aggression and force as well as power, intelligence and ferocity, and they have a leader is called upon you and or a bad about it and by the way he is one bad dude.
It's pretty close.
A bad attitude. He's a destroyer and this may be a reference to Satan himself, or maybe a reference to a high ranking demon under the command of state is just as God has his supernatural army of angels would with Michael pretty much at the top of the heat because he's the Archangel and there's Gabriel. So the devil has his rank-and-file angels so Abaddon or a bad dude if you will or Apollyon is either a description of Satan himself for a high ranking demon under his command.
So Satan is whipping up this frenzy and all restraints are listed and you see how bad it can actually get during the tribulation. Now here's some points that we want to take away from this number one about these demons, they are real and aggressive.
The real and aggressive not are all confined to the abyss. They roam freely in their search and destroy mission.
You might say there looking for trouble mother with the devil is always looking for trouble member. The book of Job, when the Angels of the Lord came to present them selves before God and Satan was among them.
And so the devil or God says to Satan, so will you come from devil such as going back and forth across the earth watching everything that's going on. That's pretty much the devil he's just checking things out just really creepy of what can I make trouble, I can exploit this. Can I take advantage of that is always looking for something to wreck havoc with the Bible describes him as a lion seeking a prey first Peter 58 says be careful. Watch out for the attacks from the W great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for some victim to devour. By the way, I'm not saying this to freak you out but to inform you to keep up your spiritual guard CS Lewis in his excellent book the Screwtape letters, which basically is a work of fiction that Lewis wrote, trying to almost get into the head of the demon if you will, and sort of their strategies and tactics in undermining Christiansen so he has these characters in this book indict key has a statement and it and he says and I quote there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devil and demons. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe in the appeal and excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors in hail a materialist or a magician the same with the same delight." And so the basic idea. Lewis is saying you know some evil so there are no demons. It's all a bunch of baloney and other people are like they want to know everything about demons and talk about demons and no note Lewis as these are both extremes that we must avoid. We need to be educated but I want to sit around all day and talk about what the devil is doing. I want to talk about what Jesus Christ is doing and the only reason I bring these things up is to show you how to overcome the devil which brings me to point number two, though powerful demons have clear limitations. Let me tell you something. Satan does not want you to know what you like to know what Satan does not want you to know what you hear this. These people are rehearsing them want to know more than you in a way that it here it is his power, though considerable, is still limited. He would like you to think that he can do anything that God can do. You know, sort of the idea that there's God and the devil there. There are likely getting in the game. Both are just as powerful or or the dark side of the force, Luke, that's not what it is at all let's think biblically. Now, no one is equal to God. God is all-powerful God is all-knowing, there's no one that is equal to God, the devil is powerful, though not nearly God's equal and his power is clearly limited.
Okay so understanding that we know that the devil can tempt us. He can harass as he can hassle us. But if you're a Christian, you come under divine protection your protected by God, not you're not a Christian you have no divine protection. If you're not a Christian you have no way to effectively resist the devil, but if you're a believer. God will never give you more than you can handle but will with the temptation make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. This is illustrated in the story of Jesus talking to Peter one day and he said he Simon Simon, a Satan's vinegars asking excessively that you would be taken out of the care and protection of God in a war that freak you out. If Jesus said that to you is hanging around Jesus great day sends out. By the way, Greg Greg yet? Yes, the devil spent asking for you by name. What yeah he's been asking for you by name.
What is the one he's been asking that you would be taken out of the care and protection of God.
Then Jesus said this, but I pray for you that your faithful not fail you know, yeah, but I know I'm in your corner, I'm there for you, so don't worry so when the devil comes knocking. I always like to ask Jesus to answer the door right but apparently Peter was such a big fish or fishermen if you will, the devil and set his sights on him so I want him so he was going to God think I want him. Jesus is not. He belongs to me Caesar, the devil comes in.
I want you want you. Jesus is that's that one belongs to me.
So you see your under divine protection of that doesn't mean the Lord will not allow you to be tempted.
That doesn't mean the Lord will not allow the enemy to hassle you, but you'll never have more as I said already, then you can handle these demonic creatures in Revelation 9 versus 5 to 4 have power to sting, but not to kill to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power, but the way the word power means authority or permission.
So it seems like a swarm out of control, but they do have limitations placed on them. The demons are told hands-off, the ones who have been sealed to verse four they were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. The ones who are sealed on their foreheads are those will come to Christ in the tribulation. So there's two kinds of marks in a tribulation. There's a mark of Christ.
And there's a mark of Antichrist doesn't mean you have some visible mark on your head. In either case, by the way, I will get to this later, but we don't know what the mark of the beast is don't freak out when you go to Disneyland and they stamp your right hand. Did I just take the mark of the beast know you just can go back into Disneyland again. Now that's all. But sometimes Christians will overreact reactive. These things are and so we don't really know. I think you probably will use some of the technology we have today are given few illustrations of what could be, but we don't really know but then God puts his mark on us as well. And so for those that come to Christ in the tribulation.
They have the mark in a good way of a the ID tag.
Maybe that's a better way to put the ID tag of Christ on them. And so the devil releasing this hordes of demonic creatures cannot touch these people there's another point. Demons flee at the name of Jesus Christ demons flee at the name of Jesus Christ coming back to those demons who begged him not because some of the bottomless pit. Jesus had power over them, and they knew it notice a had asked him permission he could do whatever he wants James to 19 scissors one God.
Even the demons believe in Trumbull and demons also fear and doubt to the power of the name of Jesus, because Philippians 2 says that the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of things in heaven things in the earth.
Things under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father so now these demons to torment nonbelievers see that they are pretty much cut loose in this case a look at verse six here and it explains it. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion in those days men will seek death and they'll not find it. The desire to die, and death will flee from them. This is so scary. It's so bad. People want to die. He will not be able to die.
This really shows Satan's agenda's plan. Jesus summed it up so clearly when he said in John 1010 the thief speaking of Satan comes only to steal, kill and destroy you with the devil smart right.
He knows how to market his staff.
He knows how to make bad stuff look good in poisonous things look appealing to me. Just go back to the forbidden fruit in the garden. The Bible says it was pleasant to look upon.
So temptation is appealing because it's from Satan, and he wanted to tamp but he never shows you his endgame so you take that first by or you have their first experience or you cross that first line or do whatever whatever it is you're doing and then all of a sudden it becomes this horrible thing we lose control and and now you're going down the tubes in that's out works and so here we see his endgame.
He wants to destroy people. He wants to wipe them out. The lure you. And then when he has his hooks on you. He wants to destroy and torment you send bind you to think sin blind to the bind you, then it grinds you first sin blind you know you're blind you're you're caught up in the excitement of something then the Bible says the God of this world is blind in the eyes of the those that don't believe.
And then sin finds you in you face the repercussions of your sin.
The Bible says your sin will find you out and then sin grinds you the perfect example is Samson you know. First he played was sin and then sin got hold of him and in the end.
His eyes were gouged out and he was grinding mill for this enemy the Midianites and so this is how it works out. I want to just give you a warning right now. I know temptation is tempting. And I know it looks like a lot of fun and I know it looks exciting. You know when you go to that website and and and you know all you have to do is click in your you're in the vortex. Now of whatever it is you're looking at or you know you have that relationship just crosses line in your inner you try that drug for the first time or whatever it is you do.
I know it's kind of exciting and appealing and pin your heart is beating really fast but I'm just telling you.
It'll be fun at first sometimes sometimes it's not even fun at first but sometimes it is for a moment, fleeting pleasures and then all the ramifications and ugliness of sin come down on you like a ton of bricks. So here's a solution don't go there. Don't cross that line stay as far away from it as you can. I'm always concerned when Christians come up to me and asked me questions like this. Can you do this, fill in blank here, and still be a Christian. Is it okay for a Christian to do thus and so to me it's like instead of asking that and said ask questions like what can I do to become a stronger Christian.
What can I do to grow in my faith and be more godly. Not as paraphrased, how much can I get away with and still technically get to heaven because when you're skating that close to the edge. It's not going to end well for you and so let this be a warning. Some of you may be that her plane was sin right now. Stop because you know what sin blind you and then sin's gonna find you another words can catch up with you. So turn from it.
Now if you're in that pattern of life. That's the devil's plan you want to steal, kill and destroy. Here's Christ's plan. He says right after that. But I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly. Hey, the devil wants to wipe you out. I want to give you life and lots of it, not just life beyond the grave life during life. I want to give you a full life and meaningful life. A satisfying life by happy life, the devil, he wants to just wreck havoc in your life and ultimately drag you to hell now shift gears herein we see the big sins of the tribulation. Five are identified, you might write them down. I'll identify them for you if you don't see a revelation 920 but the rest of mankind were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear or walk.
They did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. The five big prominent sins of the tribulation.
Number one idol worship there worshiping these false gods. Remember God gave to us 10 Commandments right the first to deal with the worship of false gods.
The first commandment. The Lord says have no other gods before me. And then commandment number two says have no graven images as it will never bow down before Nile.
What is an idol skin real and idle or a god with a small G is any one or anything that takes the place of the real Lord God in your life, your God, is what you are passionate about what you're committed to talk to someone about a myriad of subjects then you get to the subject are really passionate about.
For some people it's politics. They come alive when the subject of politics comes up for another Ritz surfing for another Ritz golfing for someone else's who knows electric trains. I don't know people get excited about all kinds of things someone else since the new Star Wars movie someone else's videogame somebody else's.
This show on TV there so into it.
I mean, the just sort of reacting with you on the other side okay there's something wrong with some of those things. But the point is, these things can become a God in your life. Sometimes we wear our God close.
Sometimes we drive our God cars. Sometimes we live in our God houses. Sometimes our God is our own physique. It's our own body. There were some of the cells obsessed with sometimes our God is some other thing and and sometimes you just make up your own God like you know you'll say things like this.
My God would never judge someone or send them to help my God is loving and forgiving my can interrupt you for a moment, your God is a figment of your imagination. You can see my God is so you can edit God. Well I like this part about God in the Bible, but only because of the barbecue find at the moment you start editing is no longer the God of the Bible. Now, he's your fictional God in your head and guess what, that God will not save you on the final day that God that you dreamed up cannot forgive you of your sin. Read an interesting article it mentioned this before, and USA Today on the on the largest and fastest growing spiritual group in America today. The article says for decades if not centuries, America's top religious management Protestants no more of the largest Protestant denomination, Southern Baptists are no longer the largest now the biggest religious group are called the non-Anno in the ES nonsense. Who are they there just people that believe in spirituality there people that maybe were once following Christ. Or maybe never were or had some religious background just kinda are making it up as they go and not say what they are there, worshiping false gods. Okay, so that's sin number one because that's a slippery slope that leads to idolatry, which is something that is put in the place of God. GK Chesterton said and I quote when a man stops believing in God he doesn't then believe in nothing, he believes in anything." That is very true. See when you don't have God in your life you don't have absolute truth in your life and chaos is going to inevitably follow number two second prominent sin of the tribulation. Murder, murder without verse we see this in our culture right now. Violence is just insane. Not just the murder rate, not just the crime rate in America another countries, but now with global terrorism and groups like ISIS who are taking terrorism to a whole another level in and despite all of our efforts. We don't see them diminished. In fact, if anything, they seem to be growing in strength and in striking and places we never expected them to strike a very sophisticated using technology using the Internet to great effect to enlist people into this group and so forth. And you know when we see these horrific acts that are posted on online know of things they do. The people beheading people crucifying people setting people on fire and so forth in these terror acts.
Every time he turned around. There's a new one that was France followed by San Bernardino then followed by Brussels, now Orlando, Inc. and you think of all of these things these people do is going to get worse in the tribulation. Number three sorceries, sorceries word. Sorceries is from the Greek word Pharma Kia, a literal translation of it would be shrugging its drug now in ancient as well as modern times, sorcery and witchcraft are always connected to drug use.
It's no coincidence that so many in the drug culture of the 60s turn to Eastern mysticism and occultism in the wake of their drug use and I think the steps that were taken out to legalize marijuana are such a massive mistake because to me it's like opening up the Pandora's box and one thing leads to another and die, and these things are interconnected and so this is something the Bible says will be prominent in the last time drug gangs and I think it may be to large degree of people turning to drugs to escape the horror of what is happening in the world around them.
The be ingesting drugs by the handful in a vain attempt to escape the severe realities of the tribulation.
Number four sexual immorality. This comes from the Greek word Cornelia Borneo week. Of course get her English were pornographic from it pornography and not with the church gone rapture and no longer that having that preserving effect on the world. Men, people pretty much do whatever they want to do and so we see this is going to be prominent and out of control knows standards. Finally there is thievery. Thievery of a depleted food and water supplies. People will exploit and begin eluding notes often. Whenever there is an earthquake or hurricane of the disaster that the call in the National Guard to stop people from losing right people are just waiting salute waiting for an excuse to go in and said that Starr and Barbara after we get all the good stuff out of the course and this is going to be even worse in the tribulation.
You would think with this outbreak of pure evil that people would be turning to God to look at Revelation 928 says, but the rest of mankind were not killed by these plagues, did not repentance of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons a modern paraphrase of Revelation 920 to 21 goes as follows. The remaining men and women who were killed by these weapons went on their merry way. They didn't change their where way of life didn't stop worshiping demons, they didn't quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver, and brass, and hunks of stone and wood that they could not see or hear. There wasn't a sign of a change of heart. They plunged right on in their murderous occult promiscuous and thieving ways. While said that just shows the hardening power of sin.
I mention Pharaoh saw plague after playing the God warned him of and when we read the Pharaoh's heart got harder. The Pharaoh's heart got harder. The Pharaoh's heart got harder. And then we read God hardened Pharaoh's heart. So some people read answers it was going on.
Did Pharaoh hardened his heart to God hardened his heart answer. Both first Pharaoh hardened his heart and the word user to describe God hardening Pharaoh's heart to be translated strength in tone effect.
God strengthen Pharaoh in the hardening of his heart that is still true today.
You harden your heart harden your heart continue to harden your heart, I will point out sick if that's what you want to do, go for it will strengthen you in that position. If you will. You will not overcome your free will. The positive side, if you soften your heart and open your heart and follow Christ will strengthen you and that as well not want us to shifter one little quick glimpse of chapter 10, before we close because John sees a mighty angel who will hold a mysterious little book and the angel spoke to John and told him to ask the angel for the book, and John did just that, asking the angel to give me the little book in Revelation 10 verse nine and he said, taking needed and will make your stomach better, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth and I took the little book out of the angel's and I ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth and when I eat that my stomach became bitter and he said to me, prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and case. Let me ask your question. Have you ever eaten something that was sweet going down. Then it made you sick. Let me restate the question. Have you ever gone the Krispy Kreme donuts and eaten eight hot glazed donuts in a row. How many of you have done that raising I've done it now. Let's be fair that the donuts and Krispy Kreme are slightly smaller than normal. Not all that much, or they go to fast so don't they. When the hot I went there with a friend the other day and we rode our Harleys over there were sitting there, wait, and there were there were no fresh ones and the guys above a lot for excellence in 30 minutes were like okay will way we want them. My philosophy is I'm at it take to get this going to be good okay right so in there so good going down another gray with cold milk, then writing back and going into a diabetic coma. My motorcycle is just crazy.
Well here's the thing. The Bible is described as food for our soul right.
David said how sweet are your words to my taste sweeter than honey in my mouth. Jesus said men shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God so you know when you read the word of God and you're a Christian it's sweet is in it, it's Brad. It's food its nourishment. It strengthens you and build you up, but if you don't believe what it says better. See, it's bittersweet. Depending on how you view and for the Christian. It's the word of God, beloved for the non-Christian, they kinda hated that you even if you even pull out a Bible date visibly recoiled from it or pull a Bible on a public like maybe on an airplane. People in your right and left below Bible on a regular like you pull out a rattler or something scare the word of God the Word of God is a sweet and bitter flavor to those who believe it sweet to those that donuts better.
A second Corinthians 216 says to the one where the smell of death to the other with the fragrance of life. For some it's a comment I love what you're saying and that's great. I believe in its fragrance of height for another tech that stinks. I heat your words are so intolerant and hateful just just said Jesus loves you it's hateful okay whatever sort like people that work alone.
I used to work alone when I was in high school I wore JD's and high karate. I remember them still know a lot and I now when I work alone. I have an allergic reaction to it. I like to work alone.
Others that know me would probably like me to work as well, but I whenever I wear it I start sneezing. You see, so when I get around some of melodic alone.
I react to it.
So the payment to give you a hug jerk and then 10 minutes later when you're the colognes on you because so for some it smells sweet. They love the smell of their cologne. For me it's not so sweet. That's the word of God. So when we do as we look at all the stuff they would just let that sweet flavor that sweet scent come out of our life as we follow Christ.
Some will react in the right way. Some will not react in the right way. Pray for them.
But don't stop sharing the gospel. What if you're not sure if you're a believer when we come back to a word we looked at the word repent. Revelation 920 says they did not repent, repent means to have a change of heart, resulting in a change of life. Listen if you want to be forgiven by God, you need to repent of your sin. The Bible says repent and be converted in times of refreshment will come from God's press. I love that repent and be converted, and you'll be refreshed. So you have to see these things that you may be doing our sin out. Let's go back to the sins of the tribulation because of their sins and are very popular today. Let's start with idolatry. Anything that takes the place of God is or something or someone you're more passionate about than God himself. Let me ask you this. What about poor neo-sexual sin and morality are you having sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend hooking up with people thinking it's okay with God, or maybe an affair and extramarital sexual relationship or your checking out porn all the time and you think that's okay. The Dukes know that's a sin that separates you from God.
You see, then there's thievery are you ripping people off.
Are you stealing from people and there's all these things that we can be caught up in right now even murders of Ira murdered anybody yet but Jesus said if you have hatred in your heart toward someone. It's like you're a murderer position when you're heating right now will greatly done horrible things we maybe they have but seek that hate that you have can be a sense there's a lot of things that can separate us from God. A lot of things and what we need to do. We need to admit it. To send stop making excuses for it and realize that 2000 years ago Jesus Christ died on the cross so we could be forgiven of that sin.
He satisfied God's righteous demands at Calvary at the cross so I can have all those things that I've done wrong removed from the record, God not only forgives my sin, he forgets my sin and I can put it behind, maybe coming here today would just a lot of sin and and you don't know how to get rid of you don't how to get rid of your guilt. You don't how to get rid of your past. Okay, you just dump it at the foot of the cross and say Lord help. Jesus said come to me all of you that are laboring and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I'm of the day accepted Christ in my life. I had the distinct feeling of a burden being lifted and I didn't understand why felt that because I did not think of myself at that time is really a sinner. I thought it was a pretty good guy but see what I've been carrying around for the first 17 years of my life with all my sin and all the guilt that went with it and I later read that Jesus said to give my burdens to him, and cast them on him and I realize I was my sin.
God was forgiving. Maybe you've got this big burden you've carried and you can leave it and you don't have to take it home with you.
Leave it at the foot of the cross of Jesus and be forgiven. Right now, but you must ask God for his forgiveness so close in prayer this anybody here that needs to asked Jesus Christ to forgive them of their sin. Anyone here who was not sure that they will go to heaven when they die for anyone here who is made a commitment to follow Christ, but maybe you're involved in some of the things that we've talked about in and you need to turn from those things and make a recommitment to Christ do that right now. Here's why you need to do it right now. Whenever you hear God's word is reported tonight's are not Greg's words. These are God's words. Whenever you hear God's word and you don't respond appropriately to it. Your heart can get hard and then it gets harder then it gets even harder and listen to this there can come up why we are hard. Is your rep terribly hard. Yes, there's a point of no return.
You want to go there.
The Bible says don't harden your heart if you can hear his voice so God speaking to you the man I get it. I need to do this, don't do it next week I'll do it next month I'll do it. The harvesters attempted replaced it not only to do it right here right now right here right.
Let's pray father is anybody here anybody watching anyone listening needs to get right with you. We pray that your Holy Spirit will convict and convince them of their sin and bring them to you. Help the Lord to turn from their sin and receive the forgiveness only you can get, we commit them to you now, Lord, help them to come to Jesus or heads of God. Her eyes are closing were praying together.
How many of you would say that I Greg I'm not sure if I will go to heaven when I die, but I want to be sure. I'm not sure right now my sin is forgiven, but I wanted forgiven. I'm not sure of Jesus is living inside of me, but I want him to. So pray for me if you want Jesus to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die wherever you are, would you just lift your hand up and let me pray for you to have a pregnancy and got bless God bless you. Anybody else raise your hand. Apply, please, bless you, she was well you want is forgiveness.
God bless you. Anybody else raise your hand above. Pray for you, bless you as well.
One is forgiveness. He offers it to you freely. It's a gift that God wants to give you but you must ask for.
He won't force it in your life. God bless you as well. Anybody else you want Christ to come in your life. God bless you to raise your hand up when we pray for you. I win another moment got bless you and you anybody else bless you too and you got bless all of you.
Anybody else if you lifted your hand yet lifted. Now let me pray for you tonight. You can ask Christ to come in your life, bless you what has are still valid.
Maybe some of you would say you know what I've been doing things I shouldn't be doing as a follower of Jesus, and I know I need to turn from it.
Now I need to repent and I'm ready to do it if that's you've got smoke in your heart, raise your hand up and let me pray for you now need to make that recommitment to Christ, bless you.
Anybody else raise your hand. Bless Thomas each one father think enough of these. We pray you give him the strength to stand up and follow you from this moment forward, we commit them to you now in Jesus name, amen