SM120722/The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse/

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A Revelation chapter 6 and also first Thessalonians chapter 5 in the title of my message is the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Let's pray together now. Father as we come to this intense material in the book of Revelation is a look at the future of the world as spoken by you to John on the island of Patmos. We pray that as we read often in this book he that has ears to hear, let him hear. Lord help us to wake up to the soonest of your return and help us Lord to live lives that are pleasing to you as we await your return. So, we commit the time a Bible study to you now in Jesus name, amen. A man walks into a crowded midnight showing of the new Batman film dark night rises of the dark Knight rises and opens fire.

12 people are killed 58 people are wounded 11 critically.

It's one of the most deadliest shootings in US history.

He is alleged to have said that he was quote the Joker and all of the talking heads on television searching for answers and asking the question, how could such a thing happen was a political motivation. Maybe it was a psychiatric disturbance.

Maybe it was up sociological pressure we want some kind of explanation that will assure us, to give you the explanation in some won't like it. This happened because this man was evil and their sin in the world in the hearts is not basically good.

It's basically bad and I wish to get Xavier. This is an aberration.

I will never see anything like this again, but should we be all that surprised.

I mean after all, we teach our children from their earliest years in school that they're just highly evolved animals. Why should we be shocked when they behave like one interesting in the aftermath of this great tragedy there having a prayer vigil in Colorado there and that's a wonderful thing and I know there are strong evangelical churches that will be there to minister to the people who lost loved ones, but I just wonder where the prayer vigil before these things happen. Why is it that all you can pray here or you can put the 10 Commandments there. You can't ever read the Bible we don't want God only tragedy gets, let's have a prayer vigil right now.

I wish I could tell you things are going to get better, but according to the Bible and especially the book of Revelation. Things are going to get worse. In fact, the worst is yet to come. The Bible mentions terms that we care a lot antichrist Armageddon, the great tribulation, the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. One of these germs even me type in the word Apocalypse in Google and you'll get 20 million pages of response here known Revelation working up, find out what it means ever get to see how close we are to these events playing out in real time. At present, the Middle East is an absolute powder Without turmoil in Syria right now. In a recent attack against Israeli civilians on vacation. You can see things are super tense over there a showdown between Israel and Iran seems to be inevitable.

The product that present conflict alone could bring about the scenario we read about and 37 Ezekiel 37 and 38 without large forest to the north of Israel to God marches on her and one of her allies is Persia. Also known as I ran yet. It's all happening right before our very eyes. And Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen. Look up for your redemption is drawing near. Years ago Billy Graham wrote a book called approaching hoofbeats, the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the introduction of that book.

Billy wrote my quote some theologian number of theologians and Bible scholars about these scenes as described by the apostle John R description of past events.

However, most evangelical scholars interpret them as having to do with the future as to why my view, the shadows of all four Horsemen can already be seen galloping to the world at this moment. Therefore, I want not only to apply these four symbols of the beds are yet to come, but also to put our ears Lord of the ground and here there hoofbeats growing louder by the day. Billy concludes I can hear the hoofbeats of these horses much louder than when I first began writing this book."

The book was written in 1983. It's been almost 30 years now and the approaching hoofbeats have now become thundering club be you don't even have to put your ear to the ground. It's getting close anything about what is happened the last 29 years since Billy Graham wrote those words. Computer age is done with global access. People get information on demand everywhere now militant Islam is a merge of the world's most dangerous force is the two-goal floors have been taught as well as Afghanistan.

We have the continuing escalating violence in the Middle East and the increasing isolation of Israel. We have the overthrow of Libya, Egypt and now maybe Syria all becoming decidedly more anti-Israel as the Bible said things would be in the end times. We have also all of the other conflicts. Outbreaks of violence, etc. and without question.

The world is a much more dangerous place, and it is ever been. It's even more dangerous in the times of what we call the Cold War, I will.

We had a face-off with the former Soviet union and it all unfolds before us here in Revelation, you might say that the real action of this book now begins Revelation 6 to 19 is the heart of this book. These chapters contain 21 judgments that will be released on the world during the seven year great tribulation.

In the book of Revelation we have three distinct series of future judgments, we have seven seals. We have seven trumpets and we have seven bowls. Each series of seven describe unique event that will take place in the tribulation. The first of these four seal judgments.

As the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse now remember our last message we were looking at Revelation 5, which is sort of a glimpse into heaven. By the way, on next time were going to look a little more inhabitants. We read of these people were martyred on earth are are in heaven and were getting answer the question, how much to people in heaven know about things that are happening on earth. I think you will be surprised by the answer, but out there in Revelation 5.

Remember that a scroll is produced a seven sealed scroll and we believe that to be the title deed of the year and there is great weeping in heaven because no one is from worthy to take the scroll and open it seals until one emerges was like a lamb who has been slain his Jesus and he's opening the scroll again. The title deed of the earth, were about to read reveals what happens. As he opened the scroll and read possesses that which is rightfully here. So let's read now with the Bible says about the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Revelation 6. Starting in verse one. Now I some of the Lamb open one of the seals and occurred one of the four living creatures saying with the boys like thunder. Come and see me hold.

I looked in there was a white horse and he that sat on them had a bow and a crown was given to him if he went out conquering and to conquer what he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, come and see another horse, fiery red went out and was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another and it was given to him a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature safe, and see and I look to behold a black horse. And he that sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand and I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying a quart of wheat for a denarius and three quarters of barley earth records of barley for a denarius do not harm the oil and the wine. When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the four living creatures saying come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse. And the name on him that Saturn was death, and Hades followed with them the power was given to them over 1/4 of the earth, to kill the sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the year. There so here we are, the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the tribulation. Fertilizer seven years begins with the writer on a white horse, who is this masked man know normally when we see a guy in a white words, we expect them to have a white hat. That's because using a lot of Western dry and the wine guy in the white words of the Whitehead. It's either good guy or the bad guy is the good guy because a bad guy. He rides a black horse and is a black cat writes well in this particular case the writer and the white words is not a good guy and all affect Jesus super bad guy. He's the baddest of all, guys. The writer of the whiteboards is none other than the antichrist.

Now, because there is also a white words mentioned in Revelation 19 is clearly speaking of Christ something. This is related to that, somehow, and in a way it is.

But there are two completely different people. Revelation 19 verse 11 we read, I saw heaven standing open and there was a white horse is rider is called faithful and true what justice he judges and makes war and on his head are many crowns that Jesus Christ the rider on the first source of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is antichrist. He's masquerading as the Messiah. Thus he wears a crown singular while the writer of the white horse. Revelation 19 wears many crowns Revelation 6 parallels Matthew 24. Revelation 6 is like the Birdseye view of of the whole tribulation.

It felt like it was a movie we pull the camera back now ever getting the big picture and then as we go further into the book we gone for close-up shots at different events that are happening so here were seeing the big picture. Matthew 24 is also the big picture.

It was there, the disciples came to Jesus and the amount of all of us and said master tell us what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world and he went and gave to them in chronological order, the events will take place either first thing he said, many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ. How does Revelation 6 began, which is also an overview of end times events. We have the antichrist emerging on the scene. Now it's important in choosing that the more than we clear her throat their ego.

It's important that we understand what the prefix anti-me and tying does mean against, but it also means instead up so is the antichrist against Christ Dorothy there instead of Christ or the answer is both.

He offers himself as an alternative to Christ are in the minds of some Christ himself that they're not discerning and die. He certainly as opposed to the Lord contrasts the writer of Revelation 6 to the writer of Revelation 19, the antichrist and Revelation 6 verse two has a bow, but interestingly nowhere. The rider on the whiteboards Revelation 19 Jesus Christ wields a mighty sword antichrist where the victors crown, the kind that would be one in an athletic competition while Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19 wears many crowns. Antichrist initiates war Jesus Christ comes back with his armies to put an end to war. Antichrist initiates the great tribulation. Jesus Christ ends the great tribulation.

Now the antichrist has many aliases is called the man of sin, the son of perdition. The little horn, the wicked one, the Prince it is to come.

The one who makes desolate, and of course the beast, but most of them simply no is antichrist. Now if he were appear. I don't think he would be. Who would you it you would expect he will be dressed head to toe in black with sinister sunglasses and was steam rising off of him. Now this guy is going to be charismatic.

He's going to be intelligent. He's going to be suave is going to be magnetic and it's really a mask he's hiding behind because he is the most evil man who will ever live. If Satan never had a son. This is him the only man probably you would even come close to human wickedness would be Judith Scarry. There are over 100 passages in the Bible that detail the origin, nationality, career, character kingdom and final doom of the antichrist. So in fact, the Bible has a lot to say about him and you might be surprised to know that many Americans believe there is an antichrist opposed taking among the readers of UST was enrolled report and 49% of the readers believe there will be an antichrist sometime in the future at surprising almost half of Americans believe there will be an antichrist in the Newsweek goal. 19% of Americans said they believe antichrist is on earth right now and in the same ball nearly half of those who accept Bible prophecy believe antichrist is alive right now. So the question arises is the antichrist alive at this moment will no one can answer that authority. Let me just say this.

I think it is highly probable that he actually is alive even at this time and he will rise to power this coming world leader. The antichrist will come in economically difficult times. He will be able to do what no Pres., Prime Minister King or world leader is ever done to bring about global economic stability and worldwide is what everyone wants right now we we want to solution all these global issues were facing like the economic problem, and certainly the cry of so many is peace or the antichrist will do that. In fact, he will be healed as the greatest peacemaker that ever live the probably won the Nobel Peace Prize. But in effect, he is a satanic Superman but he will deceive through peace. The very thing people desire he will bring any will use that piece as a weapon. John MacArthur wrote of the antichrist quote the world's desperate desire for international peace will service be for the satanic track" is a that doesn't make any sense to me.

Listen, this PC brings is a pseudo-peace and it's a temporary peace to get himself in position to get his foot in the door, but then he will show his true colors because the Bible actually says he's he will deceive many. Daniel 825 yet he's gonna be a master of deception Daniel eight says will be a master of deception will become arrogant and destroy many without warning he will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken. Listen antichrist will be able to do something that no one is ever pulled off before he will actually bring peace in the Middle East. Most likely he will bring an end to global terrorism but somehow he brokers a deal with the Muslim nations and the Jewish people. One way we know that you know when the heart of the Jewish people, at least some of them is to help them rebuild their temple and only look at the skyline of Jerusalem today. You don't see the top. In fact, you might see a building with a large gold dome on it.

That is the dome of the rock. It's holy site to Islamic people around the world and one day according to Scripture, the temple is going to be rebuilt. Remember the original temple built by Solomon later destroy our later beautified and rebuilt by King Herod and then ultimately destroyed by Titus in the Roman legions in 70 A.D. and it is not been rebuilt since then but antichrist is going to do what no one is ever unable to do.

He will rebuild the temple or the Jews again and that is why many will heal him as the leader back after he gets his foot in the door. You become the supreme leader but then he didn't show his true colors now where does he get the ability to do these things.

The Bible tells us to come from the devil himself. Revelation 13.

Zeus is a Dragon which is interpreted as Satan in Revelation gives him the antichrist's power is thrown in is great authority.

Now, having said all these things unwanted P2 bleak of a scenario because it can almost appear as though Don is not involved in any of this and evil is just taking over. But know this, despite the fact that antichrist is coming on the scene, God is still in control vectors or go back to the first chapter of Revelation. Remember Revelation means the unveiling right.

What is it the unveiling will it's the unveiling of our future. The book of Revelation we find out what is yet to come. But it is also the unveiling of the church and we looked at what Jesus thinks of the church is limited to seven churches there in a Revelation 2 and three.

But finally it is the revelation of the unveiling of God himself. And remember, we saw the Lord in glory on his throne in control sovereign over all things that happen God is even sovereign.

At this time.

Verse two says antichrist had a bow and a crown was given to him and he went out conquering and to conquer. Notice the crown is given who gives it to him or permits him to have his reign will the Lord Dot's because Satan can do nothing without the express permission of God.

Member the story of Job and how the devil came of this onslaught against the servant of the Lord.

But first he had to ask permission which was granted so antichrist comes with his agenda which is allowed for a time, and emerges on is the great peacemaker, the man of benevolence the men with solutions and then it is revealed who we really is. This is called the abomination of desolation. Jesus mentions that in Matthew 24.

When you see the abomination of desolation crisis. Let the reader understand, but how many people know what it is swell. Here's the answer. The abomination of desolation is when antichrist rebuild the temple for the Jews. There's 3 1/2 years of global peace, economic stability, but then he shows his true colors and we read about it in second Thessalonians 2 dome people by what they say when they were, they will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed, that's antichrist water brings instruction, listen he will exalt himself in the by every God tear down every object of adoration and worship. It will position himself in the temple of God, blaming that he himself is God and this is really how dictators take control.

You know, they come in with acts of benevolence and then them when they get what they want. The rest comes like when Rome first came in the power.

The Caesars did not originally demand worship, Rome was ruled by Caesar, but also by the Roman Senate, but of course, as time passed, the Caesars began to deify themselves in the a demanded worship from the people and declare themselves to be God's. And that is why many Christians lost their lives in the early days of the church because they would not simply say Caesar is Lord. You see, Hitler was similar. You know he came to Germany there were an economic hardship in communism was running rampant in the spoke of returning the Fatherland to their roots in the glories to come for the nation of Germany, a people of destiny and any told him that that he would bring it about NNC emergent power. He did help the economy of Germany initially, but then he began to show his true colors and soon the faith of the people of Germany was replaced by Nazi-ism, which was updated in the and of itself, and then Hitler of course began to enact what was described as the final solution which was his desire to wipe out the Jewish people up. The base of the earth, but my point is, these guys never come on the scene. Initially showing what they want to do and that's how the antichrist will do these others are just a prototypes of what is to come. Antichrist will of his own false religion, and a hell of a religious leader working alongside of him called the false prophet. Revelation 1920 says the beast was captured with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who receive the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. They were cast alive in a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Just as surely as there is a holy Trinity of father son and Holy Spirit. We have this unholy Trinity. If you will of the antichrist masquerading as Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit being replaced by the false prophet and then the devil himself wanting to be in the place of God. The devil always one of the top job right now. He thinks he's bringing it about. In this day, this religion of the antichrist.

It seems to me will be a combination of many belief systems intertwined with occultism. That's why any move toward a one world religion always concerns me.

You know people say let's have interfaith prayer services and you can of the Christian praying than the Muslim prayer and then the Buddhist prayer than the Hindu prayer is the beautiful were all talking to the same God bless and I don't know what God you're talking to you not talking to my God, the Bible says the Lord our God is one God, there's only one God and the God of Islam is not the God of the Bible, the God of the Bible is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He's a God that loved us so much. He said his son Jesus Christ. These are not different names for God. These are different God there's only one true God and he is the one that is revealed in the pages of the Bible verse nowadays people say things like, why not into organized religion. I consider myself a spiritual person right now many of you heard that before. I knew the spirituality which really means I make it up as I go right.

I think a little of this, I think a little about whatever suits me and my lifestyle that's my date, and that seems to be what will be the religion of the end time to get some out you have to people of different creeds and faith buying into this, so I'll probably be a combination of a lot of things. I think the only thing that will not be tolerated is a person who believes that the Bible is the word of God because it will be a great persecution against Christians. That is why we need to guard against this even in the church today because one of the signs of the times. According to first Timothy four is there will be an apostasy or a falling away. It says it certainly teaches that no later times latter time. Some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. Paul addresses the same in second Timothy four, 3 to 4 people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, they will suit their own desires and they'll gather around them a number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. This is what we see happening in parts of the church today. Give me Christianity that caters to me though performing with Bible doctrine. Keep it lively. Keep it interesting.

Keep it exciting. Keep it motivating.

Don't judge me. Don't tell me to change my lifestyle. That's the kind of faith. I want that's why Paul says the antidote to that is preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season. That's were going to do here at arbors really keep preaching the word of God. Our goal is not to be the biggest church. We want to be a strong church and, more importantly, we want to be a biblical church that honors God and so we have to be on guard because we see this move toward a one world religion or setting aside things that people say the by this and we shouldn't let get in the way of unity of these are four shots of the antichrist.

Jesus said when the Son of Man comes back, will he find faith on linear and a better translation of that would be the thing.

In other words, when Christ comes back.

Will he find faith on the earth, will he find Orthodox Christianity.

Well, I think you'll find it somewhere not as much as he ought to and so that is what we need to hold to the word of God so the white horse comes the writer is wicked, he appears to be a good guy.

In reality, he's a bad guy disarming might seem like Messiah but he's the false Messiah. No, it's not Jesus Christ it's antichrist is followed by the red horse we could call him the warhorse look at verse three of Revelation 6. He opened the second seal heard the second living creature think come and see another horse I reread when out it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another. There was given him a great sword normal. Reread fiery red remind us of the description of the devil. In Revelation 12 three you is a great, fiery red Dragon. Satan is the one behind the wars and the struggles on this planet. Jesus said of Satan. In John 1010 the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Notice interpreted to Jesus Christ and antichrist at the coming of Jesus Christ we have peace on earth at the coming of antichrist, we have peace taken from the year it says a great sword is given to the writer of the red horse in the Greek word here for sword speaks of the short staffing sword, a Roman soldier used enclosed combat. That's interesting.

You know the Roman soldiers and an amazing Army and then a lot of brilliant strategies and tactics they use to subdue their enemies and, of course, we've seen the depicted in films like gladiator and others are where the soldiers are marching in the battle and and they would have those big shields are like the size of the door.

Basically and their long spears, and they would march in unison and then if there was a barrage of arrows they would pull together pull those fields on the side pull them up of the time they were like a box that was impenetrable, and then as I got in the close combat they would cast a large shield aside, it was far too cumbersome to carry that a short smaller round shield and then they had a short sword when you got up close and personal with your opponent.

This is the same condenser that would be used by an assassin may be hidden in a row bales ago on teach like that. That's the sort of the antichrist of the writer of the red horse, which means that he comes up one way and then shows himself to be something else.

He seems like a friend and then he pulled out the sword stacks and its reward and we seen some horrible wars in art history in World War II more than to the World War I more than 10 million people lost their lives. It was so horrific that it was described as the war to end all wars. But, of course, is only 20 years until another war came, it was far more terrible World War II 15 million people die, but these wars is awful as they were are nothing compared to the scale of war that will be released by the devil during the tribulation. Now, as we read about the mass destruction is going to take place to get out but in one of two ways are maybe both legs. One is cataclysmic were sort of like a Mount Saint Helens comes out the earthquakes and things of that nature. What we often call natural disaster. But then, it can also be God allowing mankind to unleash his nuclear arsenals. You know we all remember that we dropped the atom bomb in World War II on Japan because they would not surrender those bombs were dropped in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It's estimated that 200,000 people die but yet 67 years later one nuclear submarine carries enough explosive firepower in its warhead that are equal to 40 times every bomb done World War II put together so we have so much nuclear capability now. It's been estimated in these numbers very at there are 23,000 nuclear weapons on the base of your today we don't need 23,000. We don't need 12,000 we don't need 5000. We just need a few and there would be global destruction help for years we lived by what was called the MADD theory that was an acronym MADD for mutually assured destruction. So basically, with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. We said you nuke us will nuclear you got that we had our missiles pointed at each other and things can go ahead and recall of your quite old in the Cuban missile crisis, but we we saw, you know, this is how it works but no were in a different world.

It's not just about the so-called superpowers like Russia and the United States and China and others not only of rogue nation like North Korea and Iran and Iran is in the process of developing a nuclear weapon. There's no question about that and they said once it's developed.

Here's their goal to wipe Israel off the face of the map that seems pretty clear to me what their agenda is.

And by the way, they've also threatened to use it against the United States and so will any of this happen willingly of these weapons be relief when no one can say with certainty. Pres. Ronald Reagan said years ago we never how he would often start we is that I will do it in his voice now but some man is used every weapon he is ever devised.

It takes no crystal ball of birdseed that a nuclear war is likely, and in the nuclear war all mankind would lose." It's true. Here's an interesting thing. The red horse of war is followed by the next wars called the penal horse for six.

The name of him that Sen. was called debt media followed with them power was given him over 1/4 of your to give a sword with Underwood debt and the beasts of the earth. The word for pale is a Greek word chloro's we get our word chlorine from it to be this horse was sort of the shade of yellowish green not unattractive, usually the color of sickness, even death. So in the wake of the red so there comes a whiteboard so-called good guy who really is a bad guy followed by the red horse bringing war, followed by all of this famine and then ultimately by the black course with disease and all the rest of it its own parallels what experts call a nuclear winter is an article in the LA Times that said, a nuclear winter would kill more people than the atomic blast. The articles is quote the most detailed public study yet of nuclear winter, an international team of scientists theorize that a nuclear war would result in a worldwide famine that would kill billions of far more than even the casualties of the initial blast fires and radiations. Scientists estimated through those several hundred million would die as a result of the direct effects of nuclear war.

The indirect effect potentially would lead the dents in the range of 1 to 4 million. And yet we read the one following the red works of war takes one quarter of the human population. That's a lot of people so this is all unfolding before we say no.

Why would God allow this. Why would God permit this because God is a God of justice. He's gonna let evil run its course then he's going to establish his kingdom.

But I want you to know some even during the tribulation. The Lord is extending opportunity after opportunity for people to believe. For starters, we have angels flying to the heavens, preaching the everlasting gospel that sort of like an angelic mop up operation and it sort of addresses that question that is often what about the person who's never heard the gospel in the middle of the jungle were always in the middle of the jungle.

Col. why guess what the person is in the middle of the jungle forever that they'll hear the message of the angel preaching the everlasting gospel in the Bible tells us God will raise up to miracle working witnesses that will have the world as her audience. Everyone will see what they're doing and ultimately the antichrist has them put to death, and God brings him back to life in the ascending heaven and the Bible says all the world watches it no wonder that it happened except in recent history.

We have information on the minute we can all view an event in real time as it's happening, so there's the two witnesses is the angel and then there's 144,000 Jews running around the planet preaching the gospel and the protected by God. No, they're not Jehovah's Witnesses or Jews who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Take 144,000. Marty gets is running around telling people to believe in Christ. So you see, there will be the testimony that will be prevalent in the last day, but yet we will discover so many will reject so I know this is kind of oblique scenario, but I hate war reading two chapters of the Bible you come across to come across and you let the chips fall where they will but let me say this antichrist is close he could be alive today. But the Bible does not tell us look for antichrist that tells us that we are to look for Jesus by. That's a key event to the point I don't even think we will see antichrist be revealed. So don't waste your time trying to figure out new year because the Bible actually tells us in the book of Thessalonians 2nd Thessalonians 2, the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way and then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming. Right now the restraining force in the world is the Holy Spirit working through the trip but once the church is removed in the rapture starters when antichrist can be revealed okay so we think are what am I supposed to do, how my supposed to live and glad you asked Doug over the first Thessalonians chapter 5 will read that other passage for this is what we would call a parallel passage that goes right along with what we just read in light of what we've seen here is how we are to live as Christians waiting for the Lord to return first Thessalonians 5 when they sell say, peace and safety, sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman so everyone say in all matters. Please on the are all Leon saying he is giving up easily chickening out. Everyone says it's global harmony at the harmonic convergence that's all cool man. Yeah then I cry says yeah.

So I really am abomination of desolation persecution against the Jews persecution against the Christian war, famine, and pestilence all the rest of it when they say, peace and safety, sudden destruction will come upon his later labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. Okay, one of my supposed to do lesson for support, but you brother's are not in darkness so that they would overtake you as a deep you are the sons of life and the sons of the day.

We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as others do. Let us want to be sober for those who sleep, sleep at night, those who get drunk are drunk at nine let those of us were of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and is at home with the hope of salvation for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ great works very clear know you're not appointed to wrath in the tribulation. God's wrath is going to be poured out you're not appointed to that God can remove you as a Christian. Before this happened before antichrist is revealed. So how should I live in light of that three things I'm told to do number one. Wake up verse six let us not sleep as others do know there are people in the church today who consciously they're not watching the signs of the times. There's a lethargy there's a passive best even a laziness.

There seems to be a disconnect between the so-called spiritual life and their real life. Instead of walking in the spirit as the Bible says they should do their sleep walking. Have you ever gone sleepwalking, scary, really so intelligent.

What you did. The next day what I did what and so the Bible is a need to wake up to the urgency of the time you need to wake up to the soonest of the Lord's return to number one. Wake up number to sober up verse 2 to 3 verse eight. Those who are of the day should be sober. Now listen, I spent the first 17 years of my life around drunk people so I feel I can speak somewhat affordably to this my mom is a raging alcoholic and I spent a lot of time in bars waiting for my mom to get done drinking here was a cycle of my life pretty much every day of my childhood when I lived with my mom. She would, you know have some cocktails before dinner, she would go out. She would come home raging drunk scream and yell throw things and then pass out and that you did the same thing the next day that was pretty much a story of her life, so I've been around all kinds of drunk to notice different kinds of people who, in the different ways you react to alcohol.

Sometimes people are what we call happy drunks there really stupid drums, but we happy you know they're just I love you so 00 new and he said in excitement when you said you love me know what you know but there there just their sloppy either silly. They laugh at anything and then summoned us to tell them the next day. What a fool.

They made out of themselves. But in the moment.

They thought they were so clever with others, mean drunks. People are drinking to get angry and they throw things in the hidden commit acts of violence and so the different ways you react to the influence of alcohol.

But the Bible is simply saying sober up. Not only do interpreters. I think we interpreted literally and figuratively simple interpretation. Don't get drunk.

This comes as a relation as a whole. What you mean don't get drunk don't get drunk.

Here's a thought. If you don't drink you'll never get drunk. If you do drink you could come under the influence, although I get all my leisure. Can you you want to run that risk is and I don't want to be under the influence of anyone or anything. But Jesus writes exit don't be filled with this spirits be filled with the Holy Spirit.

That's what the Bible says so that's the obvious interpretation but then I think sometimes we can be intoxicated with the other thing you know Jesus and Jesus said in Luke 2130 work to keep yourselves less sure. Partly way down with carousing and drunkenness and the cares of this life that they come upon you unexpectedly expanded translation from the Greek says don't let your heart be way dumber than giving this headache and nausea of self indulgent, interesting you know it's not just that I'm not to be literally drunk. That's a no-brainer, but I can even be intoxicated with other things that are not the main thing. There's nothing wrong with concerning yourself with what you can even what you can aware of where you live as our normal human concerns providing for your family but don't let that become your preoccupation. Don't make your life all about the pursuit of staff or other things that cause you to not be ready when the Lord comes. So what am I to do. I am to wake up. Number two I am to sober up and finally I am to suit up verse a put on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation. You know Paul a lot of time to research a Roman armor reason BP was chained to Roman guards and hang running start talking so what your name so tell me about your armor, you know, tell me about all this stuff works out. Some police officers who are friends and they were there. Sam Brown, which is their utility belt in New Orleans and tell me about all these things are looking at what he did with the thing. What is this thing you're the holder for a donut where's I go to say that took topics anyway tell you how their equipment were. So here's my gone here.

You know you're my hand because it here's my pepper spray.

Here's my baton or whatever. You know the different devices different tools to do their job. Same with our soldier. You know all of the equipment they wear.

So Paul is it all right suit up, put on the armor of God, why is folks, life is not a playground it's a battleground and as a Christian, you're in the battle.

If you like it or not, you might say will listen and I am like a spiritual pacifist. Okay, okay, then you to be defeated. You better put your armor on better youth learn how to use your sword and marched forward, wake up sober up pseudo-here's one final passage. Romans 13. This is from the Phillips translation don't turn good. I just read the present time is of the highest important, it's time to wake up to reality every day brings God's salvation nearer the night is nearly over the day his almost on. Let us therefore fling away the things that men do in the dark. Let us arm ourselves of the fight of the day. Let us look cleanly as in the daylight, not in getting drunk or playing with sex nor in quarreling, or jealousies, let us be Christ men from head to foot and give no chances to the flash to have its point Greek translation. That's what God says to you, to me this is how I am deliberately close by asking, are you ready for the Lord's return. Listen the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse there, the antichrist, he's coming the tribulation. It too is coming. That's the bad news. The good news is before all of this is unleashed crisis coming for his people for his teeth and then at the end of the tribulation. Christ returns with his people's enemies were caught up to meet the Lord in the air and we come back with him again at the end were in those armies that march with them see what goes up must come down or coming back, but here's a question Jesus came back today. Would you be ready or are you doing some of the things the Bible says you should not be doing.

Are you literally out getting drunk, are you preoccupied with the things of this life. Are you living in a compromise relationship are you playing with sex as the Bible says you should not be doing are you doing things you know are not right things you would be ashamed to be doing. If Christ were to return.

I have a suggestion.

Stop doing that stuff get right with God. Folks, this is your wake up call sleep through this. If you need to get right with God and to give you an opportunity to do it right now the moment were going to pray and I'm in give you an opportunity to put your faith in Jesus Christ.

And if you are living a compromise life and need to make a recommitment. You can respond to this as well. Let's all pray father, thank you for your word to us and I pray that you will speak to these that do not yet know you and help them to get right with you this moment we as no other heads of God, your eyes are closed. If you would like Jesus Christ to come in your life if you would like your sins are forgiven. If you want to be ready for the Lord's return.

If you want your guild taken away if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life wherever you're sitting much of the stand your feet nominally join a prayer to stand up wherever you are, stand up, up in the balcony and harvest orange crest harvest orange county outside in the amphitheater up in the court building here in the same trait stand your feet nominally join a prayer you want to get right with God to stand up.

That's right, publish, set up and stay standing if you would stand up bless you wherever you are, stand up and nominally join a prayer of commitment to Christ, you stand maybe you need to make this recommitment to Jesus you been living compromise life and you know you need to make a change you standards. Well, let me pray for anybody else to know God bless you stand up, stand accomplishing this. A few more of you that need to stand.

Do it now stand now and only join a prayer of bless each one of you standing bless you guys. Anybody else stand now you know you need to get right with God.

One final moment numbered in the pray anybody else stand them a bus. Bless you. God bless all of you that are standing.

Stand now. All right all of you that are sending nominally join a simple prayer, as you would pray this prayer out loud after me. This is where you're asking God to forgive you of your sin and your committing your life to Jesus Christ. Again, as I pray pray this out loud after me. Okay, pray this after me now Lord Jesus I know in the center which you died on the cross and shed your blood for every sin I've ever committed.

I'm sorry for that sin. I turn from it now. I choose to follow you from this moment forward make me ready for your return. Help me to wake up in the sober up in the pseudo-thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen and amen.

God bless each one of you guys are