The Fat Lady Begins to Sing Revelation 11:15-19 November 5, 2014 Introduction: As we close out chapter 11 of the book of the Revelation, we do so with the sounding of the 7th trumpet judgment. John MacAthur: “The sounding of the seventh trumpet marks a significant milestone in the book of the Revelation. It sets in motion the final events leading up to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the establishment of His earthly millennial kingdom.” As we noted last week, chapters 10 and 11 through verse 14 of the revelation represent a pause (or time of interlude) in between the rapid-fire like judgments Almighty God will send on the world during the time of the tribulation and great tribulation. (7yrs) NOTE: As we have previously noted, the sounding of the 7th trumpet represents the beginning of the end of the Great tribulation! Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. That simply means, that all that God has shared through the prophets (OT), all that God has shared through the Apostles (NT), all that God has shared through the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-36 and the entirety of the gospels, is here! The true countdown to Armageddon, the return of Christ, and the Sovereign rule of The Lord Jesus Christ on this earth has begun! That which during both the OT and NT seemed impossible and limited to some very distant time way out there in the future, had come to be! The wickedness and rebellion of men against God, against His Son “The Lord Jesus Christ”, against His holiness, against His purposes in creation, against His standards, His boundaries, His principles He (Almighty God) has interwoven into His universal creation, that all men at conception are held responsible to uphold, revere, and set in their hearts as a number one priority, for unhindered fellowship and unlimited personal-intimate experience with Almighty God. NOTE: The tribulation is a time of justifiable-unquenchable wrath of Almighty God for the sins of man (down through the ages) that stood against the Sovereign Lordship (authority) and rule of Almighty God over all His creation! STATEMENT WITH EXTRA CLARITY MADE THROUGH-OUT THE BIBLE: The time of the tribulation will be about God giving mortal men their due recompense (reward-in negative) for attempting to bring themselves out from under the authority of Almighty God! From attempting to alienate (dethrone) God from His established rule over His creation! And it will be about the reestablishing of Jesus Christ, to sovereign Lord over all the earth! Question: Well what about those that have different plans? (those that have set their own purposes-plans-priorities-principles-boundaries-standards for governing life here on planet earth? Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambs book of life. Can I remind you that the judgment of Almighty God will be a time of remembrance; the Bible teaches that every sin that men have committed that is not placed under the blood of Jesus Christ, through repentance and faith, God will remember in His day of wrath! Remember what Jesus stated in great commission; Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Remember what God said in His Word about exaclty “WHO” the judge of this world will be; Joh_5:22 (KJV) For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: Act_17:31 (KJV) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Remember what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Jude about how thorough that judgment would be and upon whom that judgment would fall; Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Remember what Jesus said about the determining factor of freedom or condemnation in the day of wrath / judgment; Mat_12:30 (KJV) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Joh_14:24 (KJV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me. Jesus instruction while sharing parables throughout Galilee; Luk 8:20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. Luk 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Joh_8:31 (KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Joh_8:37 (KJV) I know that ye are Abrahams seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. Joh_8:43 (KJV) Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Joh_12:48 (KJV) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Joh_14:24 (KJV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me. Jesus in His vision to the Apostle John on the isle of Patmos (at this time—before the fact), is stating that the sounding of the 7th trumpet “sets in motion the final consummation of God’s redemptive plan for the present universe. During its tenure will come the final fury of the day of the Lord’s judgments (16:1-21); the final harvest of judgment on earth (11:18; 16:19); and the Lamb’s defeat of the kings of the earth (17:12-18); culminating in the final, climatic triumph of Christ at Armageddon (19: 11-21). The sounding of the 7th trumpet signals God’s answer to the prayer: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). That answer sweeps through chapters 12-22 as God finishes His mighty work of reclaiming His creation from the usurper, satan” (JM). Transition: She is singing right before; 1. The Future Reinstating of Christ as Lord 15 Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. NOTE: Verse 15 shares that Almighty God has already predestined-predetermined that Jesus Christ will, in the very near future, enter into Jerusalem, occupy a Sovereign throne, and be gloriously “reinstated” as Reigning Lord over all creation! REINSTATE, v.t. [re and instate.] To place again in possession or in a former state; to restore to a state from which one has been removed; as, to reinstate a king in the possession of the kingdom; to reinstate one in the affections of his family. (WEBSTERS). FACT: Yes, He is presently the Lord and King of Heaven today! And here it is being clearly-confidently-concisely stated that soon He will in fact be the Lord and King of planet earth on which we live! Theological Understanding: At the fall of creation, Adam in rejecting the Lordship of God (breaking commandment), surrendered his God given right to be in perfect fellowship-perfect harmony with the plans-purposes of God, and turned over his allegiance-ability to serve God in context of having the dominion of this world in which we live, over to a usurper-manipulator-cruel dominator referred to in Bible as Satan, or the devil! USURPER, n. One who seizes or occupies the property of another without right; as the usurper of a throne, or of power Joh_12:26 (KJV) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Joh_8:34 (KJV) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Joh_8:44 (KJV) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John MacAthur: “The use of the singular term kingdoms of this world instead of the plural “kingdoms” introduces an important truth. All of the world’s diverse national, political, social, cultural, linguistic, and religious groups are in reality one kingdom under one king. That king is known in Scripture by many names and titles, including the accuser (Rev 12:10), the adversary (1 Pet 5:8), Beelzebul (Matt 12:24), Belial (2 Cor 6:15), the dragon (Rev 12:3,7,9), the evil one (John 17:15), the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), the prince power of the air (Eph 2:2), the roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8), the ruler of demons (Mark 3:22), the ruler of this world (John 12:31), the serpent of old (Rev 12:9; 20:2), the tempter (1 Thess 3:5), and, most commonly, the devil (Matt 4:1) and Satan (1 Tim 5:15). Though God scattered this kingdom at the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), Satan still rules over the pieces of the once united kingdom. While God ordains human governments for the well-being of man (Rom 13:1), those same governments refuse to submit to Him or acknowledge His sovereignty (Acts 4:26). They are essentially part of Satan’s kingdom. MacAthur Continues: Jesus affirmed that Satan, through a usurper and not the rightful king, is the present ruler of the world. As he did at Babel, Satan will rule in the future over a united fallen mankind in one visible kingdom under Antichrist’s (The Beast of 13:1-4) leadership. Satan will not relinquish his kingdom without a struggle. In a desperate and doomed effort to maintain control of the world, God will allow him to overrun it with hordes of demons during the 5th and 6th trumpet judgments (9:1-19). But his efforts will not keep the true King from returning and establishing His earthly kingdom (Rev 19:11-21; 20:1-3,10). Jesus Christ will return to sit on the throne of His father David (2 Sam) and take over the whole world from the satanically controlled people who now possess it. This is really the theme of Revelation—the triumph of God over Satan as evil is purged from the world and Christ becomes its holy ruler.” NOTE: The events recorded in John’s vision confirm this even before the fact of it happening! A. The Great Voices from Heaven 15a NOTE: The (great--loud) voices in heaven, are no doubt the combination of chorus from the saints down through the ages, and the holy angels, shouting in the highest anthems of praise over Jesus (the rightful owner-ruler-Lord and King, dethroning Satan and ultimately demolishing his kingdom forever! B. The Great Favor of Heavens King 15b NOTE: The world fighting against God has its king, and Heaven has Jesus and He will prevail! Rev_5:5 (KJV) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. NOTE: Chapter 12:7-8 remind us that Satan could not prevail in heaven, this passage reminds us that he will not prevail on the earth! Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 1. The reinstating of Jesus Christ as Lord… 2. The Rejoicing of Christ Receivers 16-17 Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. NOTE: They are praising God, because Almighty God is granting them the very desires of their heart! Psa_37:4 (KJV) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. A. The Congregation of Saints 16 NOTE: At the announcement, the church and the OT saints, leave their seats-get on their knees; fell upon their faces—as if the glory had grabbed them cast them down in reverence-awe! And they and worshipped God,--served God, set God apart, God was the center of attention of every thought-word-deed! B. The Compilation of Song (Praise) 17 NOTE: Listen to praise, recorded in the combined effort of all of heaven, in their spontaneous-spirit-led-spontaneous response to the reclaiming of the earth by Almighty God in Jesus Christ! NOTE: They are praising God for being true to His word…for doing what He said He would do!...for begin holy and true! for never changing-compromising-caving in to the immorality-idolatry-of His creation, but staying true to Who He is; what His purposes are; the promises He has made; the actual-literal production of pledge He has made…THIS IS A FINAL REMINDER BEFORE THE FACT, THAT GOD WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL HIS PROMISES-PURPOSES! 3. The Rage of Christ Rejecters 18 Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. NOTE: Even though Heaven is “happy, happy, happy” the lost populous of the world and Satan are hostile and angry that their time of judgment has come! A. The Defining of Christ Rejecters 18a NOTE: Jesus, throughout the word of God has very clearly-concisely drawn a distinct-defining line between those who receive Jesus Christ and those who reject Jesus Christ! FACT: The line He has drawn is the VERY WORD OF GOD! Joh_6:63 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Joh_12:48 (KJV) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Joh_8:37 (KJV) I know that ye are Abrahams seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. NOTE: Today there is in the entire world an attempt to discredit / dismantle the authority of the very word of God through a satanic led agenda to escape the moral standards contained in / throughout the word of God! 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Christ-rejecters are simply defined in Bible as those who set their standards against-above the word of Almighty God! Luk_9:26 (KJV) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, in his Fathers and of the holy angels B. The Doom of Christ Rejecters 18b Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. NOTE: This is not speaking to those who use of fossil fuel, burning gas in cars, refusing to stop progress of jobs-industrialization for the sake of snail-darters, hoot owls, prairie-dogs…but to those who have polluted the world with flagrant, willful, intentional, sinful rejection of God and His holy standards of morality! (PROMOTION OF SIN / SINFUL BEHAVIOUR / SINFUL BELIEFS THAT SEND MEN’S SOULS TO HELL, AND BRINGS THE UNDESIREABLE, UNQUENCHABLE WRATH OF GOD ON THE INHABITANTS OF PLANET EARTH! Overall Biblical explanation for God’s day of wrath: God created man in His image and entrusted to him the stewardship and dominion over the earth. In his rebellion mankind has turned from God-His purposes-plans-standards and throughout history has continually corrupted the earth through sin. When the sinning against God reaches its apex (tribulation-day leading up to it) God will destroy the entire earth (every Christ rejecter) and create a new earth that will be one that is governed by those who repented of their sin and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour! The Apostle Peter reminds us that it is according to the purpose-promise of Almighty God; 2Pe_3:13 (KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. The Apostle John, reveals in the revelation that God will soon produce that promise; Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 4. The Future Reward of Christ Followers 19 Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. NOTE: This day is a day of hope, happiness, and a day of experiencing times and things that the mind cant even comprehend! 1Co_2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. A. The Opening of Heaven 19a B. The Offer of Holy Communion 19b QUESTION: Have you made preparation for this soon coming day? Heb_11:7 (KJV) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. INVITATION: COME TO GOD BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AMEN.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:01:37 +0000
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