So we go back to the truth being so important. And churches that Sidestep preaching on heaven and hell. are doing the lost No good service. The world does not need us to line up with them. We need them as individuals to line up with Christ, and the only way to do that is through Scripture.
The very thing that the world wants to say is not true.
Well, that won't make it so. Yeah. This is Cross Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Ricky is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the last book of the Bible, Revelation.
Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. But for now, let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Revelation chapter 14 with today's edition of Cross-Reference Radio. Hell is permanent, that's the title. And I think that there are a lot of pastors and churches. That won't go near the word.
Well, they're not doing unbelievers any favor by avoiding the reality Hell is permanent. That's the title of the sermon. Which is why we True believers makes such a big deal about saving souls. About people getting to heaven, which is. the primary purpose of life.
It is to go to heaven. Jesus said there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Well, hell is opposing that, of course. And as eager as we are to save souls, let's not be eager in our thinking to damn them. We look for opportunities To bring the light. We're the salt of the earth, the light of the world.
Well, you cannot do those things if you suppress the truth, because it's unpleasant to those who hear it. There can come a time when a soul makes itself nothing to God. What a terrifying thought Otherwise, how would God condemn the wicked? Truths Opponents always find truth harsh, And that's unfortunate, you know.
Somebody who wants to Come to Christ, but doesn't want to hear the entire truth that Christ has given to us.
Well, that's not going to help them. What will help them is the truth. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
So to die willfully rejecting Christ is to accept the consequence of one's own choice. And we who believe are part of that process to help people make the right choice. Not through hysteria or theatrics, but not even through uh strong on arm tactics, but Truth. And to do that you yourself have to believe in the truth. And that belief should create a passion.
and that passion creates an excitement, And that excitement is attractive to those who don't have it. whom the Holy Spirit is drawing to the cross of Christ.
Now there is, of course, as we know a the false theory of evolution. There is no false theory of hell. And the world loves its false theories. It's their way of following the light and Then the end of at the end of the tunnel. But it doesn't work well.
What works well is what we have in the scripture. And so, with that introduction, let's see where it came from. That introduction.
Well, it comes out of our Consideration this morning, verse 6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those. who dwell on earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.
Well, the another angel that John mentions is in addition to the angel that blew the seventh trumpet. That announced the coming of seven more judgments to be poured out. on humanity. And so John in this vision understands that, and he puts it in here for us. Thus, another angel.
There are six of them from this sixth verse to the end of the chapter. We won't get to the end of the chapter this morning, but six angels show up. We have three of them here. And we also have an appearance in this paragraph of the Holy Spirit, and in the next paragraph with the other three angels, we have an appearance of Christ. These things.
Uh is our To me, they're marvelous how they all fit together. And that they're not written by men, just written down by men.
So the unfallen angels are now seen exercising remarkable ministry on earth. We don't see that now.
Now we're the ones that are preaching the gospel. But here is an exception. and it's on behalf of people. It's on behalf of people who have not received Christ as their Savior in the midst of the world's most horrific time ever. and John did not live to see these things come to pass.
But as say Isaiah and Ezekiel, he and Daniel, he preached them. as though there were no doubt That's the kind of faith in God's Word we want. In the midst of the most horrific time, The earth has ever known God is not done saving souls. He's still at it. It's like it's something he wants to do.
I say that with a Touch of Satire Not on God. But on humanity, It is as though God were bending over backwards. to save people. I mean, this should trigger in us the thought that, well, this is what he wants from me. Also.
They have the passion for the lost. That my build up on the scriptures is not so that I can out argue another Christian. Or show off and strut around my theology. It's so that my faith can get bigger and I can be more useful to Christ. It's sort of loading up with ammunition.
Because without the ammunition, Whatever you have is not going to be effective against the wiles of hell. And so God is bending over backwards, in a sense, while there is still time. And he continues in verse 6, That saying that the angel flying in the midst of heaven.
Well, destination earth. He origin heaven. This is coming from God. Angels came from heaven before many times in Scripture. One of the most notable is when he.
Came to Mary and then Joseph about the coming of Jesus. When they proclaim to the shepherds in the field, the peace and the good will of God towards men? Having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth.
Well, that says it right there. There should be no debate about it, but there is.
So this first angel proclaims Christ. The second one will report ahead of time. The fall of apocalyptic Babylon And then the third one flies forth. And Offers a serious ultimatum to those still living.
Now again, John is seeing things in the symbolic form, but the realities are bigger than the symbols. These things will be happening. The stakes are very high. Jesus said, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations. nations and then the end will come.
Well, we're seeing that fit right in together with what's going on here. In case the Christians didn't get to everybody, the angels will supplement the ministry.
Now some deny it is the gospel that the angel is preaching. And some good commentators, men that I admire and have learned much from, not a lot of them, but some. There are others that see it differently, as do I. I mean, what angel will omit The gospel. When they were so much a part of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.
Remember, Christ prayed in the garden, and the angels ministered to him. After his prayer was so intense, They couldn't wait to sit on that tomb and announce he's not here, he is risen.
So, yeah, the angels are going to preach, and they're going to preach the same gospel we understand. They're not some creation. Limited view, and that's the alternative view that some hold.
Well, they're preaching that God is the creator.
Well, listen. He, the creator of my salvation. is more important to me Than the creator of the universe. That's not blasphemy. Of course, God is the creator of the universe.
But if if that's all I've got, I'm doomed. That doesn't tell me about God's love for me personally. As unworthy as I know I am. I know. That might make some of you faint.
But it's true of us all, and we know it. Christ crucified, risen and returning. That has so much baked inside of that, so much is in that. You can spend a Your whole lifetime preaching it. There is no alternative to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Satan hates that, and his response is to make converts to himself.
And he can do that. Without making them acknowledge him as the enemy of God, but just denying. The truth of God. And so we go back to the truth being so important. And churches that Sidestep preaching on heaven and hell Are doing the lost No Good service.
The world does not need us to line up with them. We need them as individuals to line up with Christ, and the only way to do that is through Scripture. The very thing that the world wants to say is not true.
Well, that won't make it so. And so, this gospel that Satan hates is also known as the gospel of God, the gospel of grace, the gospel of Christ, the gospel. of the kingdom, the glorious gospel This is the good news that I don't have to go to this place called hell. And even again, at this late stage of God's judgment on the earth, because that's what it is, that we're in the tribulation period, when these events are taking place on earth. Has not yet happened.
It will happen. And it is the time of Jacob's trouble when Israel will suffer unlike she's ever suffered, and that's a statement all by itself. But so will the Gentile world suffer as never before. And in the midst of these things God is down to business. There will be tribulation survivors.
There will be tribulation messianic Jews, that is, Jews converting to Christ at the end of tribulation. Paul and Zachariah clearly state Paul said all Israel is going to get saved. But a great portion of them will not first before the rest get saved. There will be tribulation Gentile converts. There will be tribulation wicked people surviving the Great Tribulation period, entering into the Great Millennial Age.
But not very far. They will be judged and dealt with. Then there will be other tribulation survivors. who didn't even know they were helping Christ. when they were helping Christians who were being persecuted in that age.
And again, that's Matthew 25, which I will reference a few times this morning. Because Get I think it's an overlooked facet of what's going to be happened then. and at this time that we are now considering.
So without the church, things Are so ugly that angels have to supplement the preaching of the gospel. Which is another indication that the church, the organized church, is no longer here. The apostate church is still here. She's allowed to continue for a while. Because she's acknowledging the sin of Antichrist in all the cultures of the world.
We're seeing this today with churches flying the wrong flag and still insisting that their churches.
Well, they they will be left behind. But the true church will not be here, will not be allowed to assemble. There will be true converts, but they will not be allowed to assemble nor preach publicly without great consequence, consequence of their lives. And so, God is going to supplement the preaching of the gospel, and that's why this angel is dispatched. He may represent multiple angels.
He says here Uh my so what I'm going, you know, you get those theologians that comment on the chapters of Revelation as though the Church is still here and it makes no sense. It's always bothered me. I'm glad they all are not like that. And and so we continue to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, Well, God cares for souls, as miserable as your life might be at times. This is not all there is.
Don't let the clutter of a messed up life under the curse Separate you from God. And faith. I don't like bad news any any more than you do. And sometimes I I just get My my first reaction is being annoyed with God for allowing for not doing more. I understand that's the flash.
I understand that's wrong. And I Take Countermeasures. to counterattack. My own thoughts That don't line up. With my faith.
And that is called Christian or spiritual war. And if you do it Don't be so hard on others. who are struggling. To be like Christ, the operative word is struggling. in the context that I'm using it.
So, every nation, tribe, tongue, this is said four times in Revelation, again, as though God is bending over backwards at this point in history. I'll skip over the reading of the verses, but I'll give you the verses. I want to read them. What time. is always an Something we have to be mindful of.
Revelation 5.9. Revelation 7, 9. In Revelation thirteen seven plus here in fourteen six, This rep repetitive Signal from the throne of heaven through the prophet John. I'm out. to save em from hell because hell is permanent.
There there is The teaching that there is a purgatory is not out of Scripture. It is against scripture, and we're going to come to that. And that's what makes it heresy. A teaching that contradicts the Bible In the name of the Bible, Is a heresy. It is a false teaching.
And people don't like to hear that. They want to think we're all going to hold hands and just, you know, skip across the field and, you know, sing kumbai. Yah, yay, I never get that one right. Not enough campfires, holding hands. Anyway.
Yeah. I've been around a lot of campfires, but not holding hands. Not once. Anyway, One of the things I had to learn to do as a pastor that proof that God called me to the pastorate was to let people hug me. Like, get away, what is that?
Anyhow. God has not forgotten the huddled masses of the earth. And you would think that the people watching the church being persecuted, when Antichrist finally flips that way, he's going to persecute the church from the beginning. But he's not going to persecute Israel from the beginning. But you'd think that when he starts persecuting the church, they're going to think something's not right with this guy.
And then when he goes after Israel, you know, hopefully many will be putting it together. He's persecuting the Christians and he's persecuting the Jews. Why? They're not invading anyone's country, they're not stealing from anyone.
Well, that would mean s they were rational, that they had common sense. which we're watching these demonstrations at these indoctrination centers of Satan, these universities. We're watching um People wet. Protest don't even know what they're protesting. That doesn't stop them from being violent and disruptive.
And that's just going to be heightened during this period of time. But you'd think it would make it clear. that the current world leader Is the beast?
Well, some will get close enough to that understanding.
Well, let's continue opening it up. Verse 7: saying with a loud voice, this is what the angel was saying in his message: fear God and give glory to him. For the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth. the sea, and the springs of water.
Now that does not give us a right to say, okay, that's all he said. I mean, there's it's never all we say when we share the gospel. If you share the gospel with someone over a period of time, every time it's something new you're bringing out. In fact, Jesus said every scribe instructed is like, or every servant instructed is like a scribe. Let me get that right.
Every scribe instructed is like a householder that brings from his treasure things new and things old. And I like the sequence because we're always excited to bring out the latest thing that we've been considering, maybe something in our morning devotions. But once we've spent The conversation on that, then we go back to old things that we've learned, and they're just as exciting. And that's how the gospel is shared.
Well, this is a counter message. and countermeasures to combat Satan's delusion, that is spreading throughout the earth? This is a call to admit that God is who He says He is. He is the Maker and He is the Savior. urging people to change their allegiance from the beast To the lamb.
Jesus will take back his planet, That's what they're going to tell people. And then he's going to judge the wicked that have been the cause of so much suffering. Untold suffering. For the hour of his judgment has come. That's a reality.
Psalm 37, verse 38: The transgressors shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off And so we say Maranatha Even so, Lord, come. But God says, no, there's work to be done. There's work to be done in the midst of your cluttered life I still expect you to serve in an uncluttered way That's the perseverance of the saints. That's going to take More than courage.
It's going to take faith that builds that type of courage.
Well, he continues, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and the springs of water. That's creation theology. And it's repeated in Revelations. I think no less than seven times. An idol is something that is created by a created being.
That's not worthy of being. bow down to. When Jonah, Jonah, Jonah, when he's running from God, he's boasting, I am a God of the Hebrews. Yeah, well, then why are you running from him, Jonah?
Well, we won't want to get into that, but he boasts about this part of his God. to these Gentiles. He says, the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. Jonah was about to get an experience with the sea that he normally would not see. Ajonah went to CCC to see who he could see.
Verse 8. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen that great city, because she has made all nations drink. of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. That's God's way of having his angels saying, We're going to judge them because they're disgusting. And they have no reason to be disgusting.
But they were anyway. It's like mean people. And you teams, listen up, because at your age it's very easy to be mean to one another, to pick out the one who has some perceived weakness or something. You do not have the right to pick on people and be mean. You don't like it when it's done to you, don't do it when it's done to others.
And for the adults who are hearing that, you have to take a quick check. Am I that way? Do I? unnecessarily hurt people. I mean, I've heard people But it was necessary.
You're stepping in front of my truck. And you see the said science says don't walk. It's a consequence. Anyway. I have not run over anybody and I I d I don't want to unless I get to pick who.
Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, this proclamation about Babylon falling, it anticipates what's coming in chapter 18. And so you get sort of the coming attractions. They call them trailers now.
I don't know why, I don't get that. If you're part of a new movie coming out and they show you the trailer, what does that mean? It's not a hitch involved. I I don't understand that language. Anyway.
Babylon is first mentioned here in Revelation, and we're going to spend a little time on it. It is the personified world system Of Antichrist. It's not just his. I mean, he's got a tremendous amount of support. There is an Antichrist support group.
And it is global. There are going to be billions Who loved this guy? And they're going to be loyal to him. to their judgment. to that hell that ain't going away.
Well, there so there is Apocalyptic Babylon. It's political, it's commercial, it's global, it's spiritual. It becomes the focus of God's judgment. From here on. Windows Well, particularly in chapter 18.
But What does the Bible say about Babylon? How do we get to this?
Well, there are two Babylons in Scripture. The first one is literal Babylon, ancient Babylon. It had a king, it had an economy, it had a religion. But it was not global. But there was no, it was a superpower of the world.
There was nobody that could take them out. In fact, God used them to take down Jerusalem and take Judah captive to Babylon. And there they were for 70 years. before the next empire released them. Then there is apocalyptic Babylon has two elements of mysticism that belong to it.
There's so I'm going to say it's apocalyptic mystical Babylon. It also has a king on economy. and religion. It is the embodiment of the world's corrupt power and the attitude that goes with it. It is a satanic attitude.
It is deliberate against God.
Now, I mentioned the universities that have become these indoctrination centers. Not to suggest all the professors there or faculty are antichrist, but a great many of them are. And in microcosm, that's what's coming to the world. Their Mushmain students are going to become influences in the world. They're going to be elected, they're going to make laws.
These are the people that. are going to be harvested by hell. Uh Um This has been Cross Reference Radio with Pastor Rick Gaston. This program is a radio outreach of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick has been teaching through the book of Revelation, but if you're interested in learning about a different book of the Bible, we have hundreds of past episodes available to listen to on demand.
Just visit us online at crossreference radio.com and you'll find an archive of Pastor Rick's past teachings. While you're there, you can also find links to follow our program on your favorite podcast app, as well as links to get connected with us on Facebook and YouTube. There's also an interviews tab where you can learn more about Pastor Rick's heart for ministry.
Well, we hope you'll join us next time here on Cross Reference Radio. Hello.
