1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:10,680 It is said that 1.8 to two people die every second 2 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:22,520 worldwide, 106 people every minute, 6392 every hour, and 3 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:28,200 just over 150,000 people every single day. 4 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,960 The Bible, however, predicts something remarkable. 5 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,840 It predicts a period in the future when these predictable 6 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,880 statistics will come to a mysterious halt. 7 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,360 The Scripture foretells a moment in history that is 8 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,680 unprecedented. Death will be withheld from the 9 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:57,280 world as the globe will be tormented by demonic spirits for 10 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:02,200 a total of five months, and this will be by divine sanction. 11 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:07,200 This will be permitted by God as a way to jolt the wicked in 12 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,800 order to repent before it is too late. 13 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,520 And this is what John saw when he had a vision of an Angel 14 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,440 blowing the fifth of seven trumpets which have been 15 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:25,560 appointed by God to declare the escalating acts of his wrath 16 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,960 just before the return of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 17 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,960 But that is not the only thing that John witnessed as an 18 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:38,960 unusual phenomenon in this Tribulation era. 19 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,800 There is something else that will happen. 20 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,800 And after John finished explaining the events under the 21 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,080 5th trumpet, he says the following. 22 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:56,200 In Revelation 9 verse 12, the first woe has passed. 23 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:03,960 Behold 2 woes are still to come. As if to say, as bad as this 24 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,560 was, it's only going to get worse. 25 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:15,320 Now what can be more terrifying than the release of innumerable 26 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,840 amount of demons who have been chained in the abyss for 27 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:24,920 thousands of years to inflict unspeakable pain upon every 28 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:27,520 person who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads? 29 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,320 What we're about to be told, we're about to see exactly what 30 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:38,560 will transpire because we still have 3 trumpets, one that we 31 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:43,040 covered last week, 2 left, and each of them have been ascribed 32 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,680 A woe. And we will look at now the 6th 33 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:51,120 trumpet as we read Revelation 9, verse 13 down to verse 15. 34 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,640 Let's turn there together. Then the 6th Angel blew his 35 00:02:56,640 --> 00:03:00,440 trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the 36 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,160 golden altar before God, saying to the 6th Angel who had the 37 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:08,000 trumpet release the four angels who were bound at the great 38 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,280 river Euphrates. So the four angels who had been 39 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:17,200 prepared for the hour, the day, the month and the year were 40 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:27,320 released to kill 1/3 of mankind. Let's pray, Lord, we ask, as we 41 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:33,640 always do, humbly with Your word before us, that You would lead 42 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:38,640 us through it, that we would hear Your voice, that it would 43 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:43,240 swallow up any other voices that contradict Your will, Your 44 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:48,800 wisdom, Your mind, Your heart. We, we want to be engulfed by 45 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:54,360 the revelation of who You are and so Lord apprehend us and 46 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,120 take us deeper and draw us closer into your bosom that we 47 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,760 may leave here knowing you more. This is our desire as a church. 48 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,840 In Jesus name we pray, Amen and Amen. 49 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:13,080 So the 5th trumpet was blown, and what happened there was the 50 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,399 unleashing of demons who were given authority to torment but 51 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:21,360 not to kill. Now we come to the 6th trumpet, 52 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,680 and there was also demons who were released, but this time 53 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,600 they've been called to execute in a staggering way. 54 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,760 John tells us that after five months of no death, no matter 55 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,320 how many attempts to commit suicide, no matter how many 56 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:48,440 attempts to try to kill somebody else, at the end of almost half 57 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:53,520 a year, there will be the unleashing of mass casualties, 58 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,200 1/3 of mankind in that future generation. 59 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,280 Here's we have to remember when we looked at the seal judgments, 60 00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:05,040 the first set of judgments, we're now in the second with the 61 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:06,840 trumpet, we have the bulls to come. 62 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:11,840 In that first set with the seals, we learned that 1/4 of 63 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:16,760 mankind had already died through wars and famines and all these 64 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,840 different issues, and now we learn 1/3 on top of it. 65 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,400 So we have at least 1/2 of the world's population that have 66 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,160 already perished. This is unthinkable. 67 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,200 This is hard to imagine. But this is the reality of that 68 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,600 future tribulation period. And this is essentially the 69 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,480 summary of the 6th trumpet, that 1/3 of mankind will be dead. 70 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,800 But is that all the Lord intended to teach us through it? 71 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,600 Most definitely not. We just read the first few 72 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,640 verses about the six trumpet. We still have the rest of the 73 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,200 chapter. And if you look at the the 74 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:59,920 entirety of this section, you'll actually notice three groups of 75 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:05,240 persons, three groups, and each of them have something to offer 76 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,760 us in terms of our spiritual maturity. 77 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,120 And so this is just a helpful way to organize our thoughts. 78 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,920 But we read the first few verses and that actually shows us the 79 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,520 first group in focus under the 6th trumpet. 80 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,440 What's highlighted immediately are the Saints. 81 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,080 The Saints. How do believers fit in this 82 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:27,600 picture? Look back at verse one. 83 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,280 Excuse me, verse 13. Then the 6th Angel blew his 84 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:36,840 trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the 85 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:43,040 golden altar before God. So this trumpet blast, it's 86 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,200 sounded, it's alarmed. And right after John hears a 87 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,200 voice. But we're not given the identity 88 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,960 of the commander. Is this voice Christ? 89 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,000 Is this voice an Angel? It's unclear, but what is made 90 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,880 known to us is the location of the voice. 91 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,880 This command came from the four horns of the golden altar before 92 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:09,680 God, and this is an object that you and I have seen before in 93 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,000 Revelation not too far back. Look back at Revelation 8 very 94 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,440 quickly and look at verse 3. John says here in Revelation 8, 95 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:22,800 verse 3. And another Angel came and stood 96 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,960 at the altar with a golden censor, and he was given much 97 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:32,320 incense to offer with the prayers of all the Saints on the 98 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:37,240 golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense 99 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,320 with the prayers of the Saints rose before God from the hand of 100 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:45,520 the Angel. This golden altar that was 101 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,280 placed before the throne of God in heaven is intimately 102 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,080 connected with the intercessions and the prayers of God's people. 103 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:59,680 And this instrument reflects the very same altar that was located 104 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,200 right before the veil in the temple. 105 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,040 And this is a symbol of God treasuring and honoring our 106 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,960 prayers. And it wasn't just true in that 107 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,200 temple. It's true to this day because he 108 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:16,520 has his own heavenly altar that holds our cries and our 109 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:22,080 requests. So we can't say this, though, 110 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,640 that the voice that John heard from the four corners of that 111 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,120 altar are the combined voices of believers telling an Angel what 112 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:31,440 to do. That's not what's happening 113 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,159 here. What is happening here is that 114 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:38,600 the Holy Spirit wants us to see how the intercessions and the 115 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,200 supplications of the Saints throughout the ages plays a 116 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,640 major role in the unfolding of these events in the last days. 117 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,600 That's the heart of the matter. Or else why mention the golden 118 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,640 altar, right? It's as though the Lord wants to 119 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:04,680 tell us through this vision that all the cries in the longings of 120 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:09,920 his people over the centuries for true justice for the return 121 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:12,080 of His Son are now being answered. 122 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,560 And we've been given this vision ahead of time to realize that 123 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:19,200 God will indeed answer those prayers one day. 124 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:21,680 But let's think about this more deeply. 125 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,960 Isn't it profound to witness in our Bibles how there is a 126 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:32,680 connection between the prayers of God's people and events that 127 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:39,360 can affect the world, that can make history, that can transform 128 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:43,680 nations? This is remarkable that the 129 00:09:43,680 --> 00:09:48,280 children of God's prayers being given to him are taken into 130 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:53,680 consideration to actually intervene in our world in ways 131 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:58,280 that we've never seen before. Prayer is a mystery for many 132 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:03,680 reasons, yet Scripture makes this thing unclear that it has 133 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:09,200 the ability to Pierce into the spiritual realm and influence 134 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,920 things. And I can't think of a stronger 135 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,560 example than this and of this then with Daniel and Daniel, 136 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:19,600 chapter 10, you remember Daniel, a man of great prayer. 137 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,320 Now, for those who come here every single week on Friday 138 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,360 nights, we're studying Ezra. Do you remember what year it was 139 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:30,160 under Cyrus King of Persia that he released the Jews to return 140 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,880 back to their homeland? It was the first year in the 141 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:35,680 first year of Cyrus King of Persia. 142 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,960 But in the beginning of Daniel 10, we're given another ten time 143 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,760 stamp. In the third year of Cyrus King 144 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,120 of Persia. Daniel made this decision. 145 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,520 I'm going to mourn and I'm going to pray for three weeks now. 146 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,760 The question is why? Why did Daniel decide to 147 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:54,800 consecrate himself in this manner? 148 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,480 What took place for him to make this decision? 149 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,960 We're not told in Daniel Chapter 10, but we can speculate. 150 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,520 Daniel was a high official in the government, was he not? 151 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,400 And the people had already been released a few years prior. 152 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,800 His own people. He chose to remain back. 153 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,080 We're going to study some of the reasons why on our Friday 154 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,240 nights. Why did Daniel stay back when 155 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,120 there was an open door for all the remnant to return? 156 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,040 Is that interesting? Well, he chose to remain, and as 157 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,560 a high official, it's very likely that he received updates 158 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:29,280 of what took place in Jerusalem in the attempt of the people of 159 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,160 God to rebuild the temple. You have to remember that there 160 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,800 were great obstacles, a lot of opposition, a lot of 161 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:40,280 persecution, to the point where the project was put on pause. 162 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,240 And it could be that Daniel learn about this update and it 163 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,640 troubled him deeply because he read in the Scriptures that the 164 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,320 people of God would be recovered, restored, and that 165 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,600 they would move on. 70 years had passed, the Exiles finished. 166 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:59,040 Why are things not moving ahead? And I'm persuaded that this 167 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:03,520 disturbed Daniel so much that he chose to fast and he began to 168 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,640 pray and inquire of God. Lord, what is happening here? 169 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:13,200 What's going on? And as he decided to set apart 170 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,480 that time and his energy, something astounding took place. 171 00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:21,560 A heavenly messenger appears before Daniel a few days after 172 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:23,720 that three-week time of consecrated prayer. 173 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,520 And he gives him one of the most profound and detailed prophecies 174 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,040 in all of Scripture. We can't get into into detail 175 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,880 now, but what I want to bring to your attention is what this 176 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,440 heavenly messenger said to Daniel initially. 177 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:40,840 So go to Daniel 10 and look here with me in verse 11, Daniel 10, 178 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:47,360 verse 11. And he said to me, Oh Daniel, 179 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:52,760 man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, 180 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,520 and stand upright, for now I've been sent to you. 181 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,520 And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 182 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:05,440 Then he said to me, Fear not Daniel, for from the first day 183 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,080 that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself 184 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:12,000 before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come 185 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,920 because of your words. Now, many who teach on prayer 186 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,760 love to come to this passage, yet they tend to rush past the 187 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:24,960 opening words of it. Before Daniel was given any kind 188 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,600 of explanation of what was going to take place with the people of 189 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:37,760 Israel, what was he told? Oh, Daniel man greatly loved the 190 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,240 Lord, saw it necessary that Daniel would be reminded of the 191 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,120 great affection that he had for him. 192 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,760 Why? I think there's a clue in the 193 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,560 context right before this Daniel fainted at the sight of this 194 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:51,800 heavenly being. He collapsed. 195 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,200 And it could be that the Lord right away wanted to reassure 196 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,840 the prophet, wanted to strengthen him by doing what? 197 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,840 Setting before his eyes the great love that this great God 198 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,840 had for him. And I think even in that we have 199 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:10,720 a lesson for each of us, all the people that I've met over the 200 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:15,080 years before ministry and especially in ministry, who 201 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:21,320 doubt God's love for them, who whose hearts race at the thought 202 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,920 of one day standing before them, even though they proclaim him to 203 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,440 be, to, to be their Savior and, and, and they're delivering the 204 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,000 Redeemer. How do I know if I'm doing 205 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,800 enough to please him? Is my status truly set? 206 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,280 Is it sealed that I'm forgiven? I am his own. 207 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,800 The the troubles and the weakness that brings. 208 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,680 Ioffer this truth to you in the same way that it was prescribed 209 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,960 to Daniel. You must set before your heart 210 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,960 the love of God until you're able to be confident in your 211 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,560 stance. And this truth even applies to 212 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:01,200 those who are weak in their faith, who are weary in this 213 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,320 journey. Do you see the remedy here? 214 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:12,880 Understand and meditate on the strong, consistent, steadfast 215 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:18,120 love that God has for you and I. On a personal level, this is 216 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,520 what this man heard and what's so remarkable to me. 217 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,560 It's not the first time Daniel heard it. 218 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,880 In Daniel 9, when another heavenly being appeared before 219 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,120 him, he was also told the same thing. 220 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,880 Man greatly love, beloved of God. 221 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,480 And at this point in the section of Daniel, he's quite old. 222 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,640 He's an elderly man. And even as an elderly man, a 223 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,440 seasoned St. He needed to be reminded of 224 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:49,280 God's love. This mighty prophet, this holy 225 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:54,440 man, this individual who's who's impacted an entire empire, more 226 00:15:54,440 --> 00:16:01,040 than one empire, needed to rehearse God's love, not just 227 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,760 for Israel, not just for his house, not just for his own 228 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:11,160 name, but for Daniel. And that is a resounding 229 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,560 exhortation in your New Testament of mine. 230 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:17,360 Do you remember what John wrote in first John 31? 231 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:22,400 See what kind of love the Father has given us. 232 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,040 That's the first part of that verse. 233 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,800 See what kind of love the Father has given us. 234 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:33,080 Other translations say behold what manner of love the Father 235 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,000 has given. That first word is so important. 236 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,880 See it, behold it. Pay close attention to it. 237 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,360 Don't just let it skip over you. God loves me, OK? 238 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,520 No, no, no, sit there. What do you mean this God loves 239 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,720 me? Does he actually have feelings? 240 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,840 Did he actually have emotions? Or is it this stoic, loyal, 241 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,240 covenantal love? I made a promise and I'm going 242 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,840 to love you. Or is actually heart behind it? 243 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:04,880 What do you know about this love? 244 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,640 And understand this? It will be your fuel. 245 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,839 It will be your source of energy. 246 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,800 In this walk, Daniel needed to stand upright. 247 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:21,520 You're going to need it as well. And so does the preacher. 248 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,720 Look at this love. This is the first thing that 249 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,280 Daniel learned about or was reminded of at least. 250 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,400 But it's not the only thing. Look at the end of verse 12. 251 00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:34,600 This heavenly messenger tells Daniel that his powerful arrival 252 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,640 was what? Because of his words? 253 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,840 I have now come because of your words, Daniel. 254 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,520 Implying what? Implying this? 255 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,800 That if Daniel had never opened his mouth, this heavenly 256 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,120 messenger would never have arrived and open his mouth. 257 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,200 And so Daniel prays for three weeks and it was delayed for 258 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,000 longer. The answer did not come until 259 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,000 after a few days beyond that time. 260 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,480 But what does this Angel teach him and teach us? 261 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:11,320 The moment you set your heart to see God about this matter, God 262 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,760 heard you. God heard you, And not only did 263 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:18,600 He hear you, there is a delay because there is this invisible 264 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,600 war taking place, but your prayers. 265 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,840 Look at this. Put angels to work. 266 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:28,720 I wonder how many angels are not working because we're not 267 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,680 praying. And we see the same thing in 268 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,560 Revelation 9, do we? Not that it was something about 269 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,160 that golden altar, though. The voice we can't mark out. 270 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,240 We can't say clearly what that voice was. 271 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:45,320 That altar that symbolizes our prayers made that Angel do 272 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:50,480 something on the earth. And Daniel didn't just receive 273 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,880 an answer to his prayers. He received insight that there 274 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,800 was an all out scrimmage. There was an all out fierce 275 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,760 battle among angelic beings in the heavenlies. 276 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,120 And we may not have the detailed explanation of how prayer 277 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:09,560 intersects with the spiritual realm or how invisible 278 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,920 dimensions intervene in our material world. 279 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,640 But you know what? The Bible does make clear that 280 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:21,120 prayer is not merely A psychological exercise or some 281 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:24,920 form of self help therapy. Prayer has power. 282 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,720 Prayer has the ability to change things. 283 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:34,000 Prayer can move principalities. Prayer can push back the forces 284 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,480 of evil. Prayer invites God's grace into 285 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,120 our homes, into our churches, into the streets of our 286 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:46,960 neighborhoods, into our nation. Prayer has power, and Daniel was 287 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:50,320 told this and it's been left in our Bibles for us to see it. 288 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,280 And this is a consistent testimony throughout Scripture 289 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,080 of how much God honors the prayers of His people, even the 290 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:01,760 weakest in the church, even some of the most inconsistent in the 291 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:06,480 church, if they have the faith to pray, oh, the things that God 292 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,200 will do with those prayers. You know, with all that's going 293 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,080 on in our own nation, one of the scriptures that keep coming to 294 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,920 mind is what Jeremiah. We've learned this on Fridays 295 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,400 not too long ago, what Jeremiah told the Exiles while they were 296 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,280 in Babylon. Can I remind you what he said in 297 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,920 Jeremiah 29, verse 7? But seek the welfare of the city 298 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,120 where I've sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its 299 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:30,960 behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 300 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:36,040 What a profound verse. Imagine this. 301 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:42,400 Jeremiah is calling the Exiles in Babylon to do what? 302 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:47,080 Pray. They're at their lowest in terms 303 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,280 of their spiritual stature. They are at their lowest in 304 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:56,040 terms of their testimony. They have been removed from the 305 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:59,640 Promised Land. How much more of a rejection do 306 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,280 you want than that? And yet God says, if you choose 307 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,200 to pray, I'll still listen to you. 308 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:11,440 Paul asked the Corinthians to pray for him. 309 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:16,200 The Corinthians, if I had a choice of which church in the 310 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,320 New Testament letters, I would have pray for me. 311 00:21:18,360 --> 00:21:19,960 The Corinthians would be near the last. 312 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,240 And yet Paul says, if you pray, I believe that God will hear 313 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,240 you. What kind of grace is that? 314 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,000 Pray. And when you pray for the city, 315 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,200 the city that is holding you captive, the city that's 316 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,480 oppressing you, it's going to benefit you. 317 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,920 So pray. So the first thing that we see 318 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:46,160 with the Saints in Revelation 9 is that God takes our, our 319 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:49,040 prayers seriously. And the question we have to ask 320 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,840 is this, do we? Do we? 321 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,520 Oh, there's so much more to say, but we have two groups left to 322 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,600 look at. We looked at the Saints in this 323 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:02,120 vision of the 6th trumpet. But now let's look again at the 324 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:06,600 demons. Come back to Revelation 9 and 325 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:11,600 we'll read down from verse 15 to verse 19. 326 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,120 So the four angels who had been prepared for the hour, the day, 327 00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:19,640 the month, and the year were released to kill 1/3 of mankind. 328 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,080 Pause. I have to just say this for 329 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,120 those who don't believe in the futurist interpretation. 330 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:28,640 How do you spiritualize this one 1/3 of mankind? 331 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:31,320 Did they die in 70 AD? How do you prove that 332 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,840 historically? Just have to get that out there. 333 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,720 Verse 16. The number of mounted troops was 334 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:46,320 twice 10,000 * 10,000. I heard their number, and this 335 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,400 is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them. 336 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,120 They wore breastplates the color fire and of sapphire and of 337 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:56,640 sulphur, and the heads of the horses were like lion's heads, 338 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,120 and fire and smoke and sulphur came out of their mouths. 339 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,640 By these 3 plagues 1/3 of mankind was killed by the fire 340 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,360 and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 341 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,680 For the power of the horses in was in their mouths and in their 342 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,880 tails, For their tails are like serpents with heads, and by 343 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:20,720 means of them they wound. So like the 5th trumpet, the 6th 344 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,520 calls for the liberation of demonic beings, 4 of them to be 345 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:29,280 exact, and they seem to be like 4 high-ranking fallen angels. 346 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,880 And we know that these are fallen angels because verse 14 347 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,160 tells us that they are bound. You don't bind holy angels. 348 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,800 These are vicious evil spirits. And unlike the angels that we 349 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:44,400 looked at last week, these shackled spirits are not bound 350 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,960 in what the abyss that that's what we would anticipate. 351 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,480 We looked at the bottomless pit and how that is something that 352 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:52,960 we find throughout the scriptures, the the holding 353 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,480 place of the worst of the worst demons. 354 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,160 But now when we come to the 6th trumpet, unlike the 5th, these 355 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:01,720 demons are not found in the abyss. 356 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,120 They're actually located and confined at the great river 357 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:09,160 Euphrates. Huh. 358 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:16,200 Now, the Euphrates River is, is one of the most important rivers 359 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,520 in the Middle East historically and even agriculturally. 360 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,960 It begins there near the eastern mountains of Turkey, and it 361 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,560 flows through Syria and it touches Iraq and it comes and 362 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,160 joins the Tigris River before emptying into the Persian Gulf. 363 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:36,880 And this is a 1700 mile kind of body of water. 364 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,520 And it's been crucial to the rise and development of many 365 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:40,920 civilizations throughout history. 366 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:43,560 But we have to ask this question, what relevance does it 367 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:47,520 have in our biblical worldview? What, what does what does it 368 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,760 have to offer us in terms especially of understanding 369 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,280 prophecy? Because the the the river 370 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,040 Euphrates appears a different different amount of times in the 371 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,040 Old Testament, but only twice in the new and both times. 372 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,920 Guess which book? Revelation. 373 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,360 Well, I want to give you a few reasons why I believe 374 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:08,880 understanding the great river Euphrates is important #1 The 375 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:13,400 Euphrates River marked the eastern boundary of the land 376 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,040 that was promised to Abraham and his descendants. 377 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:21,120 So if you read Genesis 1518 more carefully, you'll realize that 378 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:24,640 the eastern boundary is marked by the Euphrates River. 379 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,600 And throughout the Old Testament, what you find is that 380 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:32,400 some of Israel's most fiercest enemies had to cross the 381 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,640 Euphrates River in order to conquer the people of God. 382 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,560 So there is a consistent testimony of the Euphrates River 383 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:45,560 in the Old Testament being a symbol of enemy invasion, and 384 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,040 that's what John seems to be doing here. 385 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,320 By the help obviously, and inspiration of the Spirit, 386 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,840 there's this anticipation of an enemy invasion. 387 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,320 We find it here in Revelation 9. But look at Revelation 1612, the 388 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:03,400 only other time Euphrates is mentioned in the New Testament. 389 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:09,560 Look at this, in Revelation 16 verse 12, the 6th Angel poured 390 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:14,920 out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and it's water was 391 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,520 dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 392 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,920 So again, remember the Book of Revelation is dripping with Old 393 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,240 Testament allusions and references. 394 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,080 So we've been looking at the Old Testament, Euphrates, Euphrates, 395 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,760 Euphrates and now we come to the new and we realize, uh oh, there 396 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,320 must be an enemy evasion coming and there is. 397 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,480 And it's going to be one of the greatest ones against the people 398 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,160 of Israel, which will set the stage for the intervention of 399 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,960 Christ to defend them and establishes millennial reign. 400 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,400 This is one of the reasons. But we have a second reason why 401 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,160 I understand the Euphrates River is helpful. 402 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,320 It reminds us that biblical prophecy centers around a 403 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,960 particular part of the world, namely the Middle East. 404 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:04,440 There are many prophecy enthusiasts who try to 405 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:10,520 forcefully place current regimes and politicians and governments 406 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:16,240 and movements into biblical prophecy, failing to realize 407 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,240 that the Scriptures and the author of the Scriptures is not 408 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:24,800 interested in trying to place or code things about modern 409 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,640 realities. Prophecy in the Bible centers 410 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,600 around Israel and her neighboring nations. 411 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,000 So be careful of prophecy teachers who say, I found the 412 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:40,120 United States in the Book of Revelation, and this is the role 413 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,000 that the United States, a symbol of the eagle, and this is what's 414 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,440 going to happen. And this is how they're going to 415 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,520 integrate with the Bible. Doesn't go there. 416 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,720 The Holy Spirit doesn't go there, and we shouldn't go there 417 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:54,160 either. But with that understanding, 418 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,000 there's another warning. And it is this to become overly 419 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,640 sensational and fixated on current events in the Middle 420 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,400 East. And there are other people who 421 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:09,680 are in that camp, pastors in fact, who consistently and 422 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,240 constantly interrupt their sermon series because of the 423 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,880 newest headline of what's happening over there in the 424 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:20,360 Middle East, who constantly put things together at pieces to try 425 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:24,120 to say here's a fulfillment instead of putting that energy 426 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:28,040 and that focus on what Christ has revealed clearly and what he 427 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:32,440 demands from us now. So beware, although Israel is 428 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:37,360 much in focus, especially in prophecy, don't become overly 429 00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:40,440 fanatic with what's happening in current day events. 430 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:44,440 Here's the last thought to consider about the Euphrates 431 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:49,960 River. It reminds us also that there 432 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:56,680 are fallen angels and there are principalities who assign and 433 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,480 are occupied by operating in certain regions of the world. 434 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,800 We didn't explore this in Daniel 10, but when we continue from 435 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:09,120 this heavenly messenger appearing before Daniel, he goes 436 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:15,200 on to explain that his message to the prophet was resisted by 437 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,200 one of the leaders. That the Prince of the Kingdom 438 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,960 of Persia and that even Michael the Archangel had to now 439 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:26,160 intervene and help overcome this king in order for this prophecy 440 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,400 to be brought be brought forth before this man of God. 441 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,560 Now, there is no way that you can interpret this as actual 442 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,680 kings of our own realm fighting against each other. 443 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,320 It's clear that we're talking about spiritual rulers. 444 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,680 And you find this in Ezekiel, You find this in Daniel. 445 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,760 You even find it in the the Book of Revelation where you have 446 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:52,760 demonic beings who actually hold different positions and ranks 447 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,840 and even are designated different parts of the world to 448 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,880 do certain things. Do you remember when we studied 449 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,680 the seven churches and what Jesus actually said to one of 450 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:07,720 them in Revelation 2 when he said that the throne of Satan is 451 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:12,160 in your midst? So at that point Satan's 452 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,480 headquarters was in a certain city, an Asia Minor of John's 453 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,520 day. And that's what you see here. 454 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,320 You see that there are these 4 angels who are in a specific 455 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:26,120 location on the earth. Not more is given to us, but it 456 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:30,640 is a reminder of how the things that are going on in our world. 457 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,560 Behind our entertainment, behind our politics, behind different 458 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:40,200 elements, there is a very real evil presence at play. 459 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,400 And that's important to understand so that we know what 460 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:48,680 our battle is really up against. Not flesh and blood, but 461 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:53,040 invisible forces who are very organized, very sophisticated, 462 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,640 very vicious. But with this awareness, listen, 463 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:00,160 you can't, you can't be too, too, too caught up with the evil 464 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:02,880 that's going around. Because in the very same passage 465 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,760 that we just read about these demonic beings, it doesn't take 466 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,080 much time before we are reminded strongly about God's 467 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,280 sovereignty. Look again at verse 15 of 468 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:17,080 Revelation 9. So the four angels who had been 469 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:20,440 prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year were 470 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:24,520 released to kill 1/3 of mankind. Released by who? 471 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:30,000 Not by Satan. God's sovereignty presides over 472 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,600 all things, including these powerful forces. 473 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:36,440 And let's not limit His incomparable knowledge and power 474 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,960 to demons. Understand, this is what I take 475 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:41,920 from this verse. You and I worship a God who is 476 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:47,640 fully aware of every second, every hour, every day, every 477 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:53,920 week, every month, every year that is lived by every person on 478 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:56,360 every side and every corner of this planet. 479 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,640 From this day until the end. He knows everything. 480 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:06,800 And this truth is not merely meant to impress you, It's meant 481 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:10,400 to inspire you. It's meant to grant you this 482 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:13,080 unshakable confidence. It means that nothing that 483 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:17,040 surprises me in a single hour, nothing that takes place in an 484 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:21,920 ordinary day, nothing that piles up in a very busy month of the 485 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:25,200 year. There's not one thing that seems 486 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,640 to be delayed in terms of my desires that span over years 487 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:33,240 that escapes the compassionate knowledge of God or His schedule 488 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,720 for that matter. Do you see how I mean? 489 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,240 How much more specific can this verse be? 490 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,520 The day, the hour, the month, the year? 491 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,480 God had that planned long ago when these four specific angels 492 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:48,640 would be released to do His bidding. 493 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:53,640 Does he not give you and I more careful attention? 494 00:32:54,360 --> 00:33:00,000 He does and he is more aware and he is more mindful of the things 495 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:05,120 that you take for granted. What a comforting truth from a 496 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:06,640 very unlikely place in the Bible. 497 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:09,400 But there's more comforting truths from it. 498 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,400 Look again at the detailed description of these terrifying 499 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:15,000 beings, these 4 fallen angels that were released. 500 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,920 They again seem to be high-ranking demons, but they're 501 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:24,240 portrayed as soldiers riding on horses, and they're arrayed with 502 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:31,000 colours and symbols that are hellish, sulfur and red, and all 503 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,120 these things are meant to describe destruction and 504 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:38,520 judgement. And we even told the way that 505 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:40,400 they will eliminate 1/3 of mankind. 506 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:45,280 Look again at verse 18. By these 3 plagues, 1/3 of 507 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:50,320 mankind was killed. They will bring disease, it will 508 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:56,000 bring viruses, they'll bring different forms of corruption 509 00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,080 that will erode the population in such a alarming rate. 510 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,120 And you might be wondering what's encouraging about this. 511 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:06,760 Here's what's encouraging. Remember the last thing that was 512 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:11,560 numbered on the earth in terms of persons before this text I 513 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:17,280 told you that other translations read 200,000,200 million of 514 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:21,960 these demons will be let go and loosen upon the earth. 515 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:26,520 And I thought I've read a big numbers before in this context. 516 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:31,280 And the last time persons are numbered were the 144,000 517 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:33,679 servants from the tribes of Israel. 518 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:40,080 You remember them? A 144,000 who are still on the 519 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,600 earth at this time, even under the 6th trumpet. 520 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,239 Are they outnumbered, do you think? 521 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,199 Yeah, they are. In fact, they don't stand a 522 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:54,360 chance. That's the point they actually 523 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:58,800 overcome. Even with all of hell belching 524 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:05,080 out its forces, these 144 servants will still be effective 525 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:08,320 in their ministry, will still be able to testify. 526 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:11,880 The gospel will still be flickers of light sprinkled 527 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:14,720 across the globe. And the point that you and I are 528 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:17,440 supposed to take from this is that the Lord does not need much 529 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:20,640 to accomplish his will, does he? He doesn't. 530 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:25,160 And He always works through a remnant, and He performs His 531 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:29,560 greatest works against all odds. And that was helpful to me 532 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:33,520 because I don't know about you. I feel the darkness surrounding 533 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:37,600 me growing, and I feel more and more, especially if you look at 534 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,800 what's happening in churches in America and leadership and 535 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,960 movements and agendas and all these heresies, old heresies 536 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:45,600 coming back, new ideas coming back. 537 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:53,320 I mean, we're losing guys here. At the same time, in the future, 538 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:59,440 in the worst moments of history, when really the people of God 539 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:01,760 will be the most outnumbered, they will succeed. 540 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:06,240 They will be untouchable, they will perform God's will and 541 00:36:06,240 --> 00:36:08,560 Satan and all his army can't do anything about it. 542 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:13,400 I'm encouraged by this. God will always protect and He 543 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:17,240 always will use a faithful remnant to advance His purposes. 544 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:19,800 This is what we learn about the demons. 545 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:23,120 But we come to the last group of Revelation 9 under the 6th 546 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:26,960 trumpet, and that is the wicked. We didn't read these verses from 547 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:32,680 verse 20 down to verse 21. The rest of mankind who are not 548 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:36,280 killed by these plagues did not repent of the work of their 549 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:41,240 hands, nor give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and 550 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:45,160 silver and bronze and stone and wood which cannot see or hear or 551 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:47,800 walk. Nor do they repent of their 552 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:53,760 murders of their sorceries, or their sexual immorality or their 553 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:57,160 thefts. I argue that what we just read 554 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,960 in those verses is scarier than the description of the demons 555 00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:01,400 and the devastation they will cause. 556 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:05,360 What we just read to me is more terrifying. 557 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,520 What am I referring to? The white knuckled commitment to 558 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:13,360 sin, even though God is judging you for it in this way. 559 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:21,480 Staggering, striking. You know what disturbed me? 560 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:28,000 That the rest of mankind who weren't slain, we're still 561 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:31,080 choosing to worship the very things that were killing them. 562 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:36,520 Did you see it? In this list of vices are 563 00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:41,320 included what? The devotion to demons, idols 564 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:46,280 which are impersonated by demons, and sorceries. 565 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:49,280 We'll get to this at another point in Revelation. 566 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:51,200 The word sorceries, by the way, is where we get the word 567 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:54,520 pharmacy, pharmakeia. We'll get to that in a few 568 00:37:54,520 --> 00:38:00,080 weeks, but this is a vivid display of the insanity of the 569 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:07,040 depraved heart, people refusing to let go of the very practices 570 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:11,560 that are destined to destroy them or are already killing them 571 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:16,400 slowly. And before we assume that this 572 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:20,400 is a future defiance, this is one kind of kind of like the end 573 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:22,680 time characteristics. Remember, it's very much a 574 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:27,320 reality today that there are those, maybe even in this room 575 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:34,000 listening to this message, who show a terrifying loyalty to 576 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:40,400 something or some things that are killing you and you can't 577 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:45,560 seem to shake free from it. And it may disturb your 578 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:49,400 conscience from time to time, but it still clutches. 579 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:54,680 It has a grip on you. And here's the thing that I want 580 00:38:54,680 --> 00:39:00,560 to say as lovingly as possible. What will it take for you to do 581 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:03,760 everything in your power with the truths that are at your 582 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:08,920 disposal in the Word of God, to put to death the thing that is 583 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:16,240 trying to strangle your soul? It's searing your conscience. 584 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:22,120 Do you realize that it's ruining your marriage? 585 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:26,040 It may have generational consequences. 586 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:29,920 You think it's just affecting you and not knowing that there 587 00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:33,080 is a spiritual law in your home. You are the head of your house 588 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:36,480 and your children are watching you and they need you more than 589 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:38,240 ever. And you're willing to let that 590 00:39:38,240 --> 00:39:43,920 thing eat up your life, not ever taking into consideration that 591 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:46,760 it will come perhaps for those that you love the most. 592 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:57,160 It's robbing you of testimonies. It's it's taking away your joy. 593 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,960 It's displacing you from the rightful dew of God from 594 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:05,360 actually being able to use you the way He's called you to be 595 00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:11,560 used. And yet here you are, sitting in 596 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:15,360 another service, under another message, knowing full well that 597 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:18,480 you're going to go out these doors and go back to the very 598 00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:23,760 same things. That are eating up your soul 599 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:32,360 like a cancer. How senseless and my question is 600 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:36,600 what will it take how much erosion needs to take place 601 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:40,880 become you've become fully invested to eliminate that 602 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:45,160 thing. Let him who has an ear hear what 603 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:47,560 the Spirit says through his word. 604 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:52,720 I got to admit, though, looking at this is disturbing, right? 605 00:40:52,720 --> 00:40:55,960 I mean, you have these, these people, these men and women who 606 00:40:55,960 --> 00:40:58,800 will not repent. I mean, there's going to be no 607 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,440 denying that. What what happened in these 608 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:04,520 series of events, five months of no death and then 1/3 of mankind 609 00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:06,400 being slain. This is spiritual. 610 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,960 This is not normal. And they'll go right back to 611 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:13,600 their demons, and they'll go right back to their witchcraft, 612 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:16,720 and they'll go right back to their sexual sin, and they'll go 613 00:41:16,720 --> 00:41:19,280 right back to killing people and stealing from people. 614 00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:21,960 How, how, how, how it's disturbing. 615 00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:25,160 And we can apply it spiritually to our own war against sin. 616 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:29,600 But I'm impressed. I got to admit. 617 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:35,040 I'm impressed. This is impressive because 618 00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:40,920 again, you're being afflicted, you're being tormented, you're 619 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:47,640 being threatened, and you still choose to worship the very 620 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:49,040 things that are doing this to you. 621 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:57,040 You know what came to my mind? How dare we then, if God, in His 622 00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:02,880 perfect wisdom and love should afflict us, ever entertain the 623 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:06,600 thought that we will walk away from Him for whatever pain that 624 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:16,760 He is allowed in our lives? This is Satan tormenting his own 625 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,560 followers, and they don't walk away from Him. 626 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,280 But then where's when there's some tribulation, when there's a 627 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:29,760 delay to months, maybe years of prayer, when there's something 628 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:31,920 that doesn't make sense to you because you've been serving God 629 00:42:32,240 --> 00:42:35,440 and the thought comes to mind? Just give it all up, it's not 630 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:38,520 really worth it. How dare we even think for a 631 00:42:38,520 --> 00:42:41,520 moment maybe that is the best option. 632 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:49,560 In my response to what God has permitted in my life, I remember 633 00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:54,760 Job when everything happened to him in a matter of minutes. 634 00:42:56,480 --> 00:42:59,400 Satan had the right to take everything away from Job. 635 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:02,840 Everything. But you know what's so striking? 636 00:43:03,560 --> 00:43:09,400 Satan left his wife and this woman, he lost all his kids, he 637 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:13,320 lost his business, but Satan left his wife. 638 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:15,680 And you realize early on in the book of Job, why? 639 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:18,840 Because she looks at Job and says, are you still holding fast 640 00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:23,760 to your integrity? Curse God and die some helpmate. 641 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:28,960 And Job says this in chapter 2, verse 10. 642 00:43:28,960 --> 00:43:31,280 You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. 643 00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:35,680 Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? 644 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:42,760 Now this man, Job has been given to us, according to James, as an 645 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,360 example of how to patiently endure suffering. 646 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:49,080 Read that in James 5. But you know who really does not 647 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:54,640 like Job? Prosperity preachers because 648 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:57,880 they can't really reconcile Job's story and what they claim 649 00:43:57,880 --> 00:43:59,920 to be the will of God for every single Christian. 650 00:43:59,920 --> 00:44:02,800 If you confess enough and say enough, you'll be healthy 651 00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:04,200 continually. You'll be rich continually. 652 00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:06,480 In fact, you'll grow, grow, grow, grow, grow in these areas. 653 00:44:07,560 --> 00:44:09,480 And if you don't, it's because you have the lack of faith. 654 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:13,320 So how do you deal with Job? Well, they say the reason why 655 00:44:13,320 --> 00:44:15,640 Job this is real. I've heard it with my own ears 656 00:44:15,640 --> 00:44:19,080 with my jaw dropped. The reason why Job experienced 657 00:44:19,080 --> 00:44:25,000 all of this is because Job made negative confessions and he 658 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:29,760 wrongfully blamed God for the atrocities that he experienced. 659 00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:33,640 To which I respond did you finish Job 210? 660 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,480 Because after he said to his wife shall we receive only good 661 00:44:36,480 --> 00:44:39,800 from God and not receive evil. The Holy Spirit leaves this 662 00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:43,200 commentary. And all this Job did not send 663 00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:47,680 with his lips. He wasn't wrong in his 664 00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:50,400 assessment. He didn't send. 665 00:44:50,720 --> 00:44:55,160 This is a negative confession. This is faithful understanding 666 00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:02,000 that sometimes God does allow adversity and he does allow 667 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:04,080 things to happen that don't make sense to us. 668 00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:12,440 All the Puritans, they're good friends of mine, John Flavel 669 00:45:12,440 --> 00:45:16,600 said. This affliction is a pill, being 670 00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:19,800 wrapped up in patience and quiet. 671 00:45:19,840 --> 00:45:28,080 Submission may be easily swallowed, but discontent choose 672 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:31,560 the pill, and so embitters the soul. 673 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:36,480 Profound. When God places the pill of 674 00:45:36,480 --> 00:45:40,560 affliction in our mouths, what you do with it will determine 675 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:44,080 your experience. Here's what I want to say in 676 00:45:44,080 --> 00:45:46,200 light of that. One of the secrets of enduring 677 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:53,640 suffering is not focusing so much on the why of the pain, but 678 00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:59,560 on The Who who permits it. It was a psalmist who said in 679 00:45:59,560 --> 00:46:03,800 Psalm 119, verse 75, I know, O Lord, that your rules are 680 00:46:03,800 --> 00:46:05,680 righteous. So what is he addressing? 681 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:08,480 The the character of God. Your rules, O Lord, are 682 00:46:08,480 --> 00:46:10,240 righteous. And then he finishes the thought 683 00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:14,280 in the following way, and that in faithfulness you have 684 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:20,120 afflicted me. So how is he translating the 685 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:23,600 affliction, the righteousness of God? 686 00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:28,080 He's good. He it's impossible for him to do 687 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:31,000 wrong. It's impossible for him to 688 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:33,560 perform evil. It's impossible for him to do 689 00:46:33,640 --> 00:46:38,080 anything and allow anything in my life for my hurt, for my 690 00:46:39,160 --> 00:46:42,600 pain. There's always something 691 00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:44,960 redemptive that God has in mind, even in this. 692 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:47,840 And so David could say if he wrote Psalm 119, in 693 00:46:47,840 --> 00:46:52,560 faithfulness, you afflicted me. So let me tell you how I 694 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:54,440 finished studying the 6th trumpet. 695 00:46:54,440 --> 00:46:57,400 When I looked at what the rest of mankind did, I said, if this 696 00:46:57,400 --> 00:47:00,480 is how sinners will be devoted to their sin, God by Your grace 697 00:47:00,480 --> 00:47:06,320 make me devoted to you in all things, no matter what comes my 698 00:47:06,320 --> 00:47:09,720 way. And though you slay me, I will 699 00:47:09,720 --> 00:47:13,040 hope in you, as Job said. And that's the thought that I 700 00:47:13,040 --> 00:47:15,040 want to leave with you. Remember, what we're doing here 701 00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:16,880 in Revelation is not just looking at future events. 702 00:47:17,120 --> 00:47:19,600 All Scriptures breathe out by God, and it is profitable for 703 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:23,040 our development now. So when we look at the Saints, 704 00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:25,080 what do we learn? Oh, prayer has power. 705 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:27,320 When we look at demons, what do we realize? 706 00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:32,920 Well, all of them can line up against 144,000 and God's 707 00:47:32,920 --> 00:47:36,280 purposes will still prevail. So what does it matter whoever 708 00:47:36,280 --> 00:47:38,280 is elected mayor of this city or this president? 709 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:46,320 OK, one with God is majority. And lastly with the wicked. 710 00:47:48,120 --> 00:47:51,440 I refuse by the grace of God to allow the wicked to outperform 711 00:47:51,720 --> 00:47:55,200 and out serve and out love their sin in comparison to my Savior. 712 00:47:55,760 --> 00:47:59,040 By His grace, I want to cling to Him and stay close to Him no 713 00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:02,360 matter what, because in faithfulness He afflicts us. 714 00:48:03,400 --> 00:48:05,640 Maybe that's a word for some here who who walked into this 715 00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:08,240 place bruised and wounded, not knowing what to make of it. 716 00:48:09,160 --> 00:48:13,600 Here's what you make of it. You were greatly loved, as 717 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:17,680 Daniel was, and there's not one thing God permits outside of His 718 00:48:17,680 --> 00:48:21,320 compassionate knowledge and schedule for the purposes He has 719 00:48:21,320 --> 00:48:23,320 for our lives. Lord, we thank You for Your 720 00:48:23,320 --> 00:48:28,560 word, and we ask that You would help us write these truths on 721 00:48:28,560 --> 00:48:32,920 the tablet of our hearts and as the book of Proverbs says, 722 00:48:32,920 --> 00:48:37,480 treasure up my commandments. Lord, help us to take these 723 00:48:37,480 --> 00:48:41,400 jewels and to put them in the depths of who we are and to lock 724 00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:46,840 it in that treasure chest and to never fail to revisit them when 725 00:48:46,840 --> 00:48:51,200 we need to. We bless you, Lord, for the 726 00:48:51,200 --> 00:48:54,480 service. We thank you how you have 727 00:48:54,480 --> 00:48:57,480 graciously LED us all the way to this point in Revelation. 728 00:48:57,480 --> 00:49:00,520 We trust you have so much more in store for us. 729 00:49:00,560 --> 00:49:05,000 For now, Lord, we meditate and we rejoice and we give you glory 730 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:07,520 and response in song. In Jesus name we pray. 731 00:49:07,960 --> 00:49:09,800 Amen. Why don't we stand and worship 732 00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:10,520 the Lord together?