America & Armageddon: Persecuted for Our Faith

Eli, listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners for more ways to deepen and challenge your spiritual walk and roll and pastor breaks free online courses sign@harvest.org today. Mr. Greg Laurie sometimes will face hostility because of our faith, but we need to check our show and make sure it is Jesus and Moses are those who are persecuted for righteousness… We all persecuted for being overly harsh righteousness because you're living a godly party but even more so we done nothing wrong today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie brings a fresh perspective we face, especially would be persecuted for faith and trust our persecution with the devilish song during the great tribulation goes right after the rapture.

The Bible records their suffering about an airplane that was dear engine trouble.

So the pilot contacted the nearest control tower gave this message. Piloted tower piloted tower were 400 miles from land and 800 feet above water.

Please advise.

Please advise a message came back from the control tower tower to pilot tower to pilot. Repeat the following our father who art in heaven, here come a moment in life when that is actually what you should do, you should turn to God and here in Revelation were coming effectively to the end. The grand finale. When the final blows are going to come against planets. Earth, it's literally trying to say our father, but by and large, people will not say that the pretty much die as they have live hardened against God, and no judgment is coming on the earth, described as bowls of judgment you've heard of the Super Bowl. These are like the super Bowls of judgment coming upon mankind. Jeremiah 30 verse seven. This day is so great, there is none like it understand God's given warning after warning for people in beer at the turn to him.

Don't forget he raises up the hundred and 44,000 messianic believers combing the planet proclaiming the gospel. I've described them as kosher Billy Graham telling people to believe in many do, but not all do. God sends an angel flying to the heavens, preaching the everlasting gospel. It's sort of like an angelic mop up operation in case someone missed it because people often question what about the person was never heard the gospel. How good God of love, send them to help everyone will hear the gospel.

The Bible says the whole world will hear the gospel them will be on, if this is not enough. God raises up these two witnesses. Remember we look at them in Revelation 11 and they speak to the people. But no, there are so many that still do not believe so now judgment is finally coming. Let's understand what we are here in Revelation 15 were in heaven and were viewing what is coming to the earth from a heavenly perspective, and we get a better handle on the wine of judgment. Let's read Revelation 15 starting in verse one John writes in I saw another sign, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete and I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass playing harps of God. They sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty just and true are your ways old King of the saints who shall not fear you will Lord, and glorify your name for you alone are holy and all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been manifested will stop there.

So who are these people singing the song.

These are believers who have come through the tribulation.

They been martyred for their faith and their before a sea of glass mingled with fire. Now that either symbolizes the fiery trials they went through on the planet, or the fact that they were martyred for this may be referencing the fact with this water and fire mingled together that judgment is about to come on the earth. Perhaps it's referring to both reminding us that God takes it personally when his followers are attacked. Remember Saul of Tarsus. This was a religious dude who thought he was doing the will of God by hunting down followers of Jesus. He presided over the death of the first martyr of the church. The courageous young man named Stephen but the reality is a Saul of Tarsus was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Lord was calling him and he was fighting with God and one day as he was on the Damascus Road on his way to arrest more Christians.

The Lord spoke to him and his statement was Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me interesting why you persecuting me. The reality is, Saul was persecuting God's followers. Christians.

But Jesus took it personally. Hey man your persecuting me. Then the Lord says it's hard for you to kick against the goats.

What is that even mean while goat was a sharp instead. So back in those days before they had extra horsepower. If you wanted your horse to move you poke him with the stick and they would move faster. The idea God is saying is I'm trying to get your attention, your kicking against it. Why you doing that. And of course always converted that day and became the great apostle Paul. But God doesn't like it when his people are persecuted.

So here we have this fiery lake. This sea of glass, God's people will stand in a sea of glass and nonbelievers will stand in the lake of fire. 90 when you mention the fact that there is a lake of fire or a place called hell. Her final judgment that in the minds of some seems unfair, but is it I love this statement from JI Packer who writes and I quote Scripture sees hell is so chosen colored peers is God's gesture of respect for human choice. All received what they actually choose either being with God forever worshiping him or without God forever worshiping themselves."

CS Lewis made this statement along the same lines. Quote there are only two kinds of people in the end those who say to God, thy will be done in those to whom God says, thy will be done all wore and held choose it without that self choice there could be no help soap you wind up in this lake of fire that's on you. I'm sorry it's on you because you've rejected God's offer of forgiveness you projected his salvation, and you've effectively sealed your own fate.

As I've often said God doesn't send people to hell.

They send themselves there. Don't be that person. Now as we come back to our account. We find that these believers have prevailed over the antichrist. Verse two how by not taking his mark in holding onto the very end lesson. It is my firm conviction that Christians will not go through the great tribulation.

I don't think will go through any of it I think will be removed before the tribulation begins. Why the Bible says God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Think about it. Will God said judgment during the days of Noah first got Noah and his family safe in the art and the door was shut.

And as the water came down the ark went up, but Noah and his family were delivered from the judgment that came upon the earth. Take the story of Lot and his wife God. God Lot and his family safely out of Sodom before the judgment felt the tribulation period, is God's judgment coming on the earth. God does not pour his judgment on his people as he, and so we will not be here for this tribulation. Having said that Christians will go through tribulation, not the seven year.

But will go through hardship working to go through trials I Jesus said in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And not only will we have tribulation will be persecuted just like these folks work, maybe not to the extreme. They were persecuted, but we will face persecution. Second Timothy 312.

Of course reminds us that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution and we need to like these believers must press on and not be discouraged, but instead be encouraged. We hope you're enjoying this series were doing on the book of Revelation, and I'm very excited to tell you about a brand-new book that we have just released simply called Revelation, a book of promises I want to tell you how to get your own copy at the end of the program, but if you can wait just go to harvest.org to find out more about getting your copy of this brand-new book.

This commentary on the book of Revelation called Revelation, a book of promises and no backdoor study. I love the statements of Jesus on what we call the Beatitudes. This was the beginning of his message that we know as the sermon on the Mount. He starts with the word blessed and the word blessed can also be translated happy so he said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, or did translated differently happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Read Joyce and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven noticed Jesus is that they say all kinds of evil against you falsely. Just make sure you're being persecuted for righteousness sake, let's be honest, sometimes Christians are persecuted for being jerks for being mean overly judgmental condemning harsh that's not for righteousness sake. Note let that persecution come because your a representative of Jesus Christ B because you're living a godly life infected people want to find something they don't like about you.

Let it be because you live a godly life.

They have to attack you for that member. The story of Daniel.

He had people that hated him. He was very influential in his role advising the King and so they were looking for something to nail him on. And the problem was there were no skeletons in Daniel's closet fact, he prayed in his closet and open the windows of his house and prayed and they said the only where were going to nail this guy is that we find something regarding him and his God, and of course he got the kingdom unwittingly signed a decree that no one could prayed when he God but him and die. But you know that story ended up in the lion's den. He was delivered by the Lord, and so forth. But he lived such a godly life that they had to make stuff up about him yes. Happy are those who are persecuted member when Paul and Silas were arrested for preaching the gospel. They were put into a Roman dungeon and at midnight we pray at 16 verse 25.

Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Listen to this one. A believer can praise God during times of difficulty all lost world pays attention. What are we going to be singing and heaven. Revelation 53 gives the answer.

We have two hit songs in heaven will sing again and again they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the land.

These are two songs the song of Moses and the song of the land, sing great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty just and true are your ways a king of the saints. The song of Moses is basically declaring how the Lord delivered Israel from the Pharaoh. The song of Moses, as you may remember, was sung at the Red Sea, the song of the Lamb is sung at the crystal see the song of Moses is a song of triumph over the Pharaoh. The song of the Lamb is a song about triumph over antichrist.

The song of Moses is about how God brought his people out of Egypt.

The song of the Lamb is about how God brought his people into heaven, the song of Moses is the first song in Scripture. The song of the Lamb is the last. These people have died for their faith, but the rejoicing in heaven. You know sometimes people say when I get to heaven. I have a lot of questions for God. Okay, go for.

I suggest you when you get the heaven near standing there and you see God in his glory, you see Jesus at the right hand of the father you see your loved ones and have died before you, that you're reunited with and you're in this place of complete paradise. They are going to say praise you Lord.

I think of just join the chorus of worshipers. I don't think you're going to barrage God with a bunch of questions because I think when you see him in his glory. Everything's going to make sense and in the same way sometimes in life it will just get our eyes off of our problems and off of our circumstances. A look at the Lord. Everything can come into focus as we remind ourselves. God is in control. God is not forgotten about me. Even when hardship comes, we can still rejoice know the Bible says in everything with prayer and supplication and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus never knows ever since everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to weaving Thanksgiving comes after the prayer is answered after God hopefully says yes, but no, Paul is saying awkward Thanksgiving before you have the answer thanksgiving for the fact that God is on the throne in these pain attention look at Job look at all the horrible things that happened to him. It all started when God was bragging on Job in heaven. And the Angels of the Lord were there and Lucifer a fallen angel was there as well. God said, have you considered my servant Job, a perfect and upright man, one that fears God and shuns evil, Satan, the loosely paraphrased and don't keep me a break. Job praises you because you bless him, because you've given up so much cool stuff let me have some time with Joe Pelosi wood is really made up no. When I look at what happened to Job after that, it makes me say Lord of your ever for a fleeting moment, feeling a little proud of me. Please don't brag on me, especially if Lucifer is around four Job had never read the book of Jehovah even know how the story ended. He did know about some cosmic conversation between God and Satan. All he knew was one day things are going well and the next day everything fell apart. But through all of this, we read Job worship the Lord. He worship the Lord and that's what these believers are doing in heaven there worshiping God and it's happening in heaven look at Revelation 16 one. I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on earth.

Listen, there is a temple in heaven heaven is a real place for real people.

And sometimes we forget that. See, there was a temple built in Jerusalem, but it was a copy of the genuine article affecting Hebrews 85 it says they serve in a place of worship. That's only a copy of the shadow of the real one in heaven.

I bring this up because we have these weird views of heaven that's been reinforced by Hollywood and songs and even cartoon people laying around in clouds plucking harps little baby fat angels hovering around.

I don't know where those even came from and you think, well, what a boring place heaven must be done is not biblical. Heaven that's imaginary heaven or a caricature if you will of heaven heaven is a real place for real people. We will do real things in the stuff earth offers his appeal, imitation of heaven, it's a lesser version.

It's a shadow of things to come, see if Lewis made this statement and I love it. All the things that ever deeply possessed your soul have been, but hints of heaven.

Tantalizing glimpses promises never quite fulfilled echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. Lewis concludes if I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy but to arouse it. To suggest the real thing." He just kneeled with. He saying basically the best experiences of earth will be better in heaven what you love about her.

Well, maybe you love beautiful sunsets while you can see a lot of those in heaven under the sun set to get to see God's glory on display. Maybe a fine meal with your friends. All you're going to have the finest meals you ever had because the Bible promises the wedding feast and times that we will lead together with the great men and women of God. All I like to be with my family. Will you will be reunited with your family will believe in heaven see the thing is is on earth. Things can fall apart families can have dysfunction in conflict and friends that you we with Ken one day no longer be your friend, sometimes even turn into your enemy and eating well, that just produces weight gain. It seems like all the food I like is threatening. Why could I not like kale more. Why can I not like these things that are healthier, more weed some vegetables. I don't want to vegetables. I want to eat pizza. I want to eat Mexican food.

I want to eat Italian food and pasta and meatballs and all that stuff when that's not good for you will in heaven whatever were eating.

It's going to be awesome and I don't think were going to get fat eating and if we do and that is the new glorified body lobby back together but anyway the real thing is heaven. This temple is in heaven. And this is where the judgment emanating from Greg Lord good insight on what's coming in our future. Good encouragement today, especially for our times of trial. Glad you joined us here on a new beginning. Let me ask Pastor Greg what are some things that might surprise people in a study of Revelation. One thing that occurred to me as you know we think of eternity as being timeless but part of God's plan is a timed event, the millennium is a thousand years. So I guess will track time in some form in my long will I think that's accurate because the word millennium actually means a thousand. If the 1000 year reign of Christ, but we are aware of the passing of time.

When we enter into eternity. The book of Revelation we read about those who were put to death for their faith and they know that was an unjust thing and they say to God, how long will Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth, so they're aware of the passing of time. They're aware of the injustice of what happened to them on planet Earth in their praying and asking God to intervene there aware of what has happened and will happen on planet Earth as well.

And there's a lot of surprises in the book of Revelation that shatter stereotypical ideas that have been passed on from generation to generation. That, quite honestly, are simply not biblical but I think the more we learn about heaven. The better we will be enabled to live here on earth you don't was CS Lewis who said lose paraphrase those who think the most of the next world to the most in this one. And so Revelation is where the apostle John is found banished on the island of Patmos. He had faithfully preached the gospel. He was the last of the apostles and people and probably never thought they would hear from John again but is he sitting on this island. Jesus Christ comes to him and takes him into what we might describe as a spiritual time machine if you will. I don't think it was a DeLorean but John is suddenly hurtled into the future any seeing what is going to come. He's given an overview of the history of the church. He's taken into the presence of God in heaven.

He's taken over to the great white throne judgment. He's taken back to earth during the millennial reign of Christ.

He gives us a front row seat at the battle of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ, and much much more. The word Revelation means unveiling and so this is an unveiling a revealing of things that aren't to come, God wants us to understand these things general Paul when he was talking about the rapture of the church in first Thessalonians, he says brothers I don't want you to be ignorant. Why would he say that because there's a lot of ignorance about Bible prophecy. Supposing you need to understand these things because it will affect you in the way that you live so were teaching on the book of Revelation here in a new beginning but I'm very excited to tell you that we have a brand-new resource, a beautiful hardcover book commentary on the book of Revelation that I just wrote and simply called Revelation subtitled a book of promises I want to send you this book.

Part of the press. This will be a resource that you will use in the years to come that you can go to again and again as you study this great book and let it have its impact on your life. By the way, there's a special promise in Revelation for the person who reads and hears and keeps the words found in this book.

So get a copy of this new book Revelation, a book of promises that will help you understand this very important book of the Bible, the book of Revelation and we will send this put to you for your gift of any size.

Now, some can only give a little will send you a copy. Some can give a little bit more. Of course, will send you a copy. Whatever you can do don't hesitate.

I really want you to have this book because I think it's going to be a blessing to you. The book of Revelation, a book of promises available from harvest ministries right now.

Yeah that's right. And we should point out where including a custom bookmark that shows the timeline of last days events so you can see what comes first. What comes next and so on is laid out very clearly the bookmark is included when we send you this significant book hardcover more than 400 pages called Revelation, a book of promises.

So send your donation today to a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call Harvest at Home is worship the message of the word of God. You can watch it with your family and your front room. You can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer. Take it with you think the word of God with you. Join us for Harvest at Home Harvest when next I Pastor Greg addresses the question head-on. Why don't we see America clearly portrayed in the prophecies of the end times, good insight coming next time. Join us to run a new beginning*Bible teacher Greg Moore will buy harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to do, harvest partner, sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org