Seven Bowl Judgments - Part 3

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The window of the Bible. Now, in honor of the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob left join Wayne see Thomas for today's message. Welcome to the program. We are this week going to resume our series in the book of Revelation.

Looking at the seven bowl judgments of Revelation chapter 16 was get right to the word of God the father, we thank you for this time together. We thank you Lord for your word.

It is my prayer, Lord, that all things are spoken there to be nothing but sound doctrine, and may you be honored and glorified in all things in your name Jesus we pray. Amen.

Revelation chapter 16 we are resuming with verse 10 the word of God tells us then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast and his kingdom became full of darkness. And they know their tongues because of the pain to recall from the last message in this series, we found that when the bowl judgment is poured out upon the sun you will bring about a scorching heat. Bible says it will scorch the inhabitants of the earth. And so what we find now is there is this darkness and pain that is coming with the fifth bowl in this darkness is actually going to bring some relief.

It seems from this scorching heat that is been just burning the flesh of those upon the earth and what we find.

It is interesting is that this judgment is reserved for the headquarters of antichrist, and many believe this will be in Babylon is very similar to when you look back in the book of Exodus. Remember we talked about the parallels between some of the plagues that God poured out upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians as Pharaoh read refused to let the Israelites go and so God poured out plagues upon them as as judgment for their disobedience to the word of God. And so what we find. Here is the Egyptian plague number nine in which darkness came upon the land of Egypt. This was from the book of Exodus chapter 10 and I will not read through it all, but just make a note of it. Exodus chapter 10 verses 21 through 20 mind. Again, this is Egyptian plague number nine and we see that played out in similar fashion. Here during the bowl judgments that are coming in the seven year tribulation and what I find interesting is that again this is displayed is reserved for the headquarters of antichrist. So this darkness is going to come upon the headquarters of antichrist that many believe will be in Babylon and again is like in Egypt and we saw that the darkness came upon the land of Egypt, but there was sunlight in Goshen where the Hebrews will we serve a mighty powerful God, a God who controls the lights he causes it to signs where he may cause it to not sign where he made our Lord has all power in his hands and we will see that on full display during this time of tribulation now want to point out to you that there are two things that indicate this darkness will last for some time on the earth. 1 is the prediction of the prophets and then secondly we see the effects on humans. I want you to turn to the book of Amos chapter 5, and let's look at verse 18 the word that tells us woe to you who desire the day of the Lord for what good is the day of the Lord to you. It will be darkness and not light. Now go to the book of Nahum chapter 1 verse six who can stand before his indignation and who can endure the fierceness of his anger is furious.

Poured out like fire and the rocks thrown down by him.

They moved down a couple verses to verse eight of Nahum chapter 1, but with an overflowing flood. He will make an outer end of its place and darkness will pursue his enemies now go over to the book of Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 15 again we are looking at these verses that a foretelling of this darkness that is going to come that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, and finally the book of Mark chapter 13 verse 24 but in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light again all passages that are pointing to this event as God pours out his wrath upon the unbelieving world, and in particular his focus in this fifth bowl judgment is this darkness in this painting that will come upon the headquarters of antichrist. So again it it seems as though that's there will be some relief from the heat that was poured out in the prior judgment but now we see this relief from the heat. It is becoming made a frustrating darkness as the Bible says they will know their tongues because of the pain and amaze me think back to my my basketball player days in which I was out playing one day and I suffered a knee injury in which I blew out my knee and I recall when that happened I was lying there in the court and I blacked out from the pain. The pain was so intense that it was just dark I couldn't see anything.

I could hear the guys around me and they were talking to me and asked me if I was okay in telling me to stay down to take the time but the pain was so intense that that I was just blacked out in darkness and when we look at this judgment, it again brings about a darkness that will be so intense that the people will feel it's this is unheard of in human history. But again we see God's wrath being poured out for those who have rejected his son, Jesus Christ, and in particular with this judgment, the headquarters of antichrist. And I think about the times in which nothing we all can relate to.

Waking up during the night and you you need to go to the bathroom and this is dark in the house and you're trying to to make your way without turning on the lights because you don't want to wake up your spouse or someone else in the house and what happens is you you accidentally stop.

You told the bedposts you feel that intense crusading pain and you grab your food and you squeezing it and you don't want to holler out because you don't want to wake up everyone in the house and so you're gritting your teeth with that intense pain that your enduring but again, as bad as that is, it does not cause you to know your tongue is what we are going to see during this bowl judgment or maybe for those who are the handyman in an and I've experience when I'm out hammering something and I miss the head of the meal and accidentally hit my thumb and that excruciating pain it causes you to grit your teeth. But again, it does not compare to what we want to see here with a darkness that is so intense.

Again, the people will know all their tongues in pain and the look at how the people respond in verse 11 of Revelation 16 says that they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. So it appears that during this time the people will still be suffering from the sores of prior judgments from God and once again the people will curse the God of heaven and refuse to repent.

It blows your mind that the idea that people know they will know that this judgment is coming from God and instead of turning to him and calling out for mercy for the one who has control over these things. Instead, they will curse God they will refuse to repent. Folks, this is the ultimate hardness of heart that is on display here because when we look at life people on the earth. They do not reject our Lord because of philosophical doubts or or unanswered questions. He is old. Instead, it is due to hardness of heart and a love for seeing that is why we look around in our society and we see people who are are protesting right now for what they deem as the, the right to take the life of a baby in its mother's womb because of their love for seeing because they want to not obey the word of God which says that physical sexual intimacy is to come only between a man and a woman within marriage which is the way God designed it. Instead, they want to be able to do these acts with whoever wherever whenever they want and do not face the good, the outcome, which in some cases ends up being a pregnancy and so therefore we've seen the slaughter of millions of unborn children throughout our nation and throughout the world because of the hardness of heart and the love for seeing the God is going to judge it during the seven year tribulation for those who do not repent then in verse 12 of Revelation 16 as we go a little further then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared so we look at the six bowl judgment.

This is actually a two-part judgment. Here we see the first part in that the Euphrates River is dried in preparation for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

The Euphrates is one of the most prominent rivers in the Bible is a natural barrier between East and West. It is approximately 1800 miles long and so large that it forms a natural barrier against armies Euphrates was the eastern border of the Roman Empire and it originates in Turkey and flows into Syria and Iraq with the early reference of this river in the book of Genesis chapter 15 verse 18 on the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying to your descendents I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. Now I want you to take note that the literal rendering of kings from the East that we see here in Revelation chapter 16 verse 12. The literal rendering of that is kings from the sun rising in many believe this is a reference to the Oriental nations that would look at the nation of China with a population of more than 1 1/2 billion.

It is one of the nations in the world. One of the few really there's only two nations that has the population to field an army of 200 million in the Bible tells us in Revelation chapter 9 verse 16 we looked at in previous weeks, that there will be an army of 200 million men that will come to this battle on the great day of God Almighty. So this river is want to be dried so the troops can cross it. It is like damming a river today and or or if you divert a river. The river becomes dried and so this is going to take place as God again pours out his wrath is judgment. During this time of seven year tribulation. So were going to Paul's for a brief announcement, but please don't go away. Want to come back on the other side to continue to look at these bowl judgments again, in which God is judging the unbelieving world for rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ overweight you are tuned into the God first program you're listening to Brian.more crying, please visit God.org around the library.

There you will find articles and messages available and downloads on various topics such as salvation, Bible marriage lesson is just to name a few. Also, sign up for our monthly newsletter and visit our web store visits God as we continue to make our way through the seven bowl judgments, we come to chapter 16 verse 13 of the book of Revelation and I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. So now we see the second part of this six bowl judgment and what we find here is that these will be demonic spirits that will bring rebellious armies of the world to the Valley of Megiddo to oppose our Lord and what we find here in this verse is that we see the unholy Trinity. At work, because the Scripture tells us that it is coming out of the mouth of the Dragon, the beast and the false prophet. So this is out of the mouth of Satan out of the mouth of antichrist and out of the mouth of of the false prophet and what we talked about in prior weeks.

Is that Satan has always since his rebellion tried to take the place of God is what he desires in you cannot do so he doesn't have the power to do so. So instead he tries to mimic God. He plays copycat with God and we know that God exists in three persons, God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit, the holy Trinity was see we find here that the unholy Trinity will be at work again, Satan, Antichrist and false prophet. Satan tries to mimic our Almighty God. Verse 14 Revelation 16 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

One thing we must acknowledge is that we are in a spiritual battle folks, the Bible tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood against spiritual principalities. That is what the battle is about.

And when we look at things that are taking place in our society as we see these mass shootings that are taken place and people will start to talk about mental illness. Now I am not dismissing mental illness as being a real thing because I do believe that it is a real thing but I think we often make the mistake of categorizing what is really demonic influence, and in some cases demonic possession that is just happening throughout our world.

We instead make the mistake of categorizing it as mental illness, we see that taken place and we must acknowledge it for what it is that it is evil.

These are demon forces that are throughout the world already influencing people to do wicked and evil things and we are going to see that come to full fruition during the seven year tribulation as it tells us that these are spirits of demons, poor performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth into the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. So what will happen is that these four old light spirits.

These unclean spirits would trick the kings of the earth into coming to the battle on the great day of God Almighty. They would trick them and this will take place in the very last days of the tribulation. Now think it is likely that the kings from the East are coming to oppose antichrist, but these lying spirits want to bring them across the Euphrates and I believe convince them to take sides with antichrist and again I can't stress enough that these unclean lying spirits are already seducing leaders in our world today. When we look at our nation, the United States of America, and you have people who are in leadership.

Now leaders are supposed to be people who are there for the purpose of maintaining peace when you see rising when you see people fighting and when you see violence and things happening where there's this again is uprising and intentions flattering leaders should be peacemakers but what we find here in we've seen it play out in our nations that leaders instead see looting of businesses that have absolutely nothing to do with the issue at hand. And rather than condemning it rather than sin began forces to try to bring it to a stop. Instead, they say, stand back in the wink at it because they are encouraging this behavior. We have leaders who are saying we must defund the police as crying soars throughout these major cities and in even in what we call minor cities. The smaller population there is any review we see it everywhere that these this violence, murder rates are going up in FF sin in road rage we see people right now just being so worked up and what is happening is they're being influenced by demonic spirits and then the leaders who should be again. The peacemakers, to want to bring stability and order law in order to these events that are taking place. Instead, they say, we need to defund the police.

The Bible says that the spirit of antichrist is the spirit of lawlessness. We see it playing out throughout our nation.

We see it playing out throughout the world and in there is this encouragement of lawlessness you sell.

Maxine Waters a couple years ago she was telling people to foot. For those of you see someone who was a supporter of Donald Trump to to get in their face confront them and then we found where other high ranking members of our government and in and they set up bill funds for people who were out again looting in destroying properties of of people who had nothing to do with the issue at hand, had nothing to do with what some were deeming as as police brutality and resell that narrative being played out and we find people who are in again. Leadership positions that are encouraging people to go out and commit these acts of violence, lying and seducing spirits, already at work in our society today, and they're going to continue as we see these spirits increase during the seven year tribulation as they come out of the mouth of the, the, the, the antichrist and in the false prophet in Satan. During this time. Verse 15 of Revelation 16 behold I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garment, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. What we find. Here's another warning from our Lord that he is soon returning we see that throughout the Scriptures our God in his great love and compassion. He warns the people that he is coming again folks, this is this another display of God's grace because he doesn't have to tell us that he's coming he could just say no. People just need to do right and when I come, I come, but he know he gives warnings through his grace through his mercy and crisis challenging the saints living in the close of the tribulation to be faithful until the end. Remember the church is gone.

During this time the church is been taken away in the rapture prior to the tribulation. But after the rapture, that will be many who will see what is happening and they will think back to a sermon that they heard from the past or a message that their grandmother their grandfather or their their parents that were telling them about this event in which the Christians will be taken away. And so they will come to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But I want to encourage you, do not play the game and say well I'll just wait until that time comes in and get ready because the Bible also says that God is going to turn some over to a strong delusion, and those of the people who will not be able to decipher truth anymore.

They are going to believe the lie of the antichrist in the eternally committed to the liquefied or so. Don't play that game. We don't know who's that who those people will be. You may be rare will be the one to constantly repeatedly heard the gospel throughout the lysing and in willfully chose to ignore it and enjoy their sin and God is going to say okay you don't have any more chances is when you give them over to a strong delusion, so don't play that game, because even if you were to live to the or or even if the this time comes you could make that decision is no guarantee that you will live to that point we can all die at any moment. Don't play the game. Always be ready and give your heart to our Lord Jesus Christ, so we, the people who were living during this time the tribulation when they see the Euphrates dry Europe they should recall this passage is a red flag that signifies the soon coming of Jesus Christ. Again, God is showing his grace and his should provide hope for the tribulation saints.

During this time. Verse 16 of Revelation chapter 16 and they gather them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. The battle of Armageddon is often the expression used for the battle of the great day of God Almighty Armageddon means the Valley of Megiddo. This Valley is located near the center of Israel and there is historical accounts that, upon first seeing this valley Napoleon Bonaparte stated quote.

This is the ideal battleground for all the armies of the world" them.

Sure Bonaparte did not know what he was speaking was prophetic as what is going to occur in the last days of the tribulation timeframe when the world comes together to battle against our Lord Almighty and we seen through the Scriptures that this valley was the battleground for many biblical wars we find that Barack defeated the Canaanites there in the book of Judges chapter 4 verse 15 we find that Gideon defeated the Midianites in Judges chapter 7 Saul and Joe Sawyer died there.

We find those accounts in first Samuel chapter 31 and second Kings chapter 23. These lying fraud like spirits are going to draw all the forces to this valley and they're going to come in what is going to be the battle of the ages of coming to battle against our great Lord put you know and actuality folks are going to see this in the weeks to come is really not going to be about we call it the battle of all ages because of what is taken place in that they are going against our Lord but is going to be. The Bible says our Lord is going to speak a word and when he speaks a word the battle would then come to any is going to be all over and I have a friend of mine who sort of. He says he kinda got a little bothered when he found out about this because he said he was looking for to mixing it up with antichrist, you know, he said he he wanted to get some some uppercuts and some jabs and on, but he finds that the Scripture says that we will return with our Lord, we begin our fine white linen going to come to battle in fine white linen. We will have to worry about getting dirty didn't blooding because there will be no fights, our Lord is going to speak a word and when he speaks a word he is going to bring an end to this battle, and that is why that we as believers in Jesus Christ, we need not worry about things that are taking place in our world today and know we look around and we see the wickedness in and we see the things that are taken place. It can be disheartening.

It can be discouraging, but folks we know the end of the story and that is why I teach on the book of Revelation. That is why I encourage other church leaders and and preachers and pastors to also to teach on the book of Revelation because we know that in the story and then again we win.

And so we need not fret. We need not worry about the things that are taken place in the world because these things must come to pass, but be encouraged be strengthened by our Almighty Lord as we close today. Let us have a word of prayer is as encouragement for the things that are coming upon the earth.

Heavenly father we come to you today just thank you Lord for your word.

We come to you Lord just just ask you Lord that you would be with those who have have have died. The families of those who have have family members who who died in these mass shootings that we've seen in our world lately. Lord and and just all the turmoil that we see happening. Lord we just pray father that you would strengthen them and encourage them and let them know Lord that you are the way the truth and the life. And if they would keep their hands in your hands, that they will have a peace that surpasses all understanding, and so Lord, we just thank you for this timing and we just look forward to. To this day, Lord Jesus, when you were going to come back and you will bring an end to all evil and we just declare Lord and may be again for your honor and for your glory. We look forward to that time, we will gather with you and calm as you come to proclaim your earthly kingdom. We thank you for Lord, we give you the honor we give you the glory we give you the praise. So as we leave here today. Lord we remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, bless God's great nation of Israel, and so the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen. You can think of the Bible blame God for Ryan and I first was a right protected under our copyright is available@ourwebsite.org until next time great nation of Israel first