1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,119 This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Clark 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:12,240 Wofford, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland, 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,400 County of Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Clark as he 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,720 continues teaching through God's Word. 5 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,160 When we skip into Revelation now and we start reading about 6 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,880 what's happening in Chapter 9, sometimes you might be here or 7 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,600 you might be in a church and you're saying. 8 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,360 Man, this God sounds so terrible and so angry and so impatient, 9 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,320 so unloving. Why would anybody want to know 10 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,680 him? Let's catch up in time. 11 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,240 This is. Around the corner I. 12 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,640 Believe, but there's been 2000 years of God's patience before 13 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,040 these things begin to be poured out in the human race. 14 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,840 A quick read of the Book of Revelation might give you the 15 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,400 wrong idea of the God that we serve. 16 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,600 In fact, many people have called him cruel and vindictive. 17 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,440 As we just heard from Pastor Clark, that's the farthest thing 18 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,800 from the truth. First, the events in Revelation 19 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,600 haven't happened yet. And second, God has provided 20 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,120 over 2000 years for people to respond. 21 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:34,280 So while the end times will be a horrific time here on earth, we 22 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:39,800 know that God has extended His love, grace, and mercy for those 23 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,120 who wish to receive it now. Here's Pastor Clark in 24 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,080 Revelation Chapter 9 with today's edition of Living Waters 25 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,320 of Grace. As we study this Book of 26 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,800 Revelation, I don't know about you, but as a pastor, I'm 27 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,200 responsible to be in the Word all the time when we all are. 28 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,360 We all are responsible to be in the Word all the time. 29 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,080 But I knew when I wasn't a pastor, I wasn't in the word as 30 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:09,000 much as I am, that I am a pastor because of the busyness of life. 31 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,200 And, and I was thinking this morning as I got up that 32 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,840 whenever we teach these things, I'm coming at them from maybe a 33 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,400 different perspective than you, because you've been busy all 34 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:20,840 week. You've been thinking about a lot 35 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,000 of things. And and here I come at times 36 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,840 with such. Intensity or passion? 37 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,160 About what the Bible's teaching or what? 38 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:28,960 It's saying because I've had to pray. 39 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,520 About it all week I've had to think about it it's in my heart 40 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,360 it's in my conscience and you guys might be at times like whoa 41 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,200 like back up a little bit you know, why are you so excited 42 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,440 about this or why is why are you so passionate about this but. 43 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,240 The Lord is serious about His word. 44 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,200 And everything it says. Is a for every one of us, for 45 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:47,080 the whole human. Race. 46 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,960 And whenever we think about the judgments of God in the. 47 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,760 Book of Revelation. They can seem very harsh if 48 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,920 you're not thinking about it. Why would God be so angry with 49 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:02,280 the human race? Why is God so patient with the 50 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,200 human race? Why is he so loving and so 51 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,840 merciful and at the same time angry at times and so? 52 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,640 I'd like to sort of think about that for a minute. 53 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,800 This is a precursor before the study and if you want. 54 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,960 You can flip over in your Bible, just hold where you are in. 55 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,320 Revelation go to Romans. Chapter 1 for a minute. 56 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:24,960 Romans chapter one, verse 18 Well, Paul starts out in. 16 He 57 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,680 says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the 58 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,120 power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the 59 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,200 Jew 1st and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of 60 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:39,280 God is revealed from faith to face as it is written, the just 61 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,520 shall live by faith. Now this is where. 62 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,320 It gets intense. For the wrath. 63 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:49,320 Of God meaning the anger of God. Is revealed from heaven against 64 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,360 all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who 65 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:56,080 suppress the truth and unrighteousness, because what 66 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,600 may be known of God is manifested in them, for God has 67 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,360 shown it to them. For since the creation of the 68 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,960 world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being 69 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,560 understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power 70 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,120 and Godhead, so they are without. 71 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,760 Excuse. So the whole human race, 72 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,920 everybody, you know, they can tell you they don't believe or 73 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,200 they don't think there's a God. They can give you all kind of 74 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,600 smoke and mirror type answers, but every one of them know in 75 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,080 their conscience that there is a God that they're accountable to. 76 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,720 When you were an unbeliever, and I was an unbeliever, I had 77 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,640 conscience and conviction and guilt for the way I lived. 78 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:37,440 I knew that I was a Sinner, but I didn't want to have to deal 79 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,000 with the consequences of that. I tried to stuff that, push it 80 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,880 out of my mind so I could continually do things that I 81 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:49,160 knew I shouldn't do. And that's what compels God. 82 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,400 For this. Kind of heart. 83 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:53,960 He's so broken. He's given everybody the 84 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,640 opportunity. To understand that he exists and 85 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,800 He wants us all to come to Him. He's not willing that any should 86 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,240 perish, but that all should come to repentance. 87 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,280 But so few come to repentance. The Bible says the road is 88 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:10,120 narrow that leads to life, right Broad is a road that leads to 89 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,400 destruction. So there are few interested in 90 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,360 repenting and responding to his. Grace and His love. 91 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:21,440 And so because although they knew God in verse 21, they did 92 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:22,880 not. Glorify him as God. 93 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,360 Nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and 94 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,080 their foolish hearts were darkened. 95 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,880 Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the 96 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,960 glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like 97 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,840 corruptible man and birds, and four footed animals and creeping 98 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:42,680 things idolatry. Therefore, God also gave them up 99 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,520 to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts to dishonor their 100 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:46,960 bodies. Among themselves. 101 00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:50,480 Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and 102 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,560 served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed 103 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:54,520 forever. Amen. 104 00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:57,920 For this reason God gave them up to vow passions. 105 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,880 For even their women exchanged the natural use for which for 106 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,000 what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving 107 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,160 the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one 108 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,440 another. Men with men committing, 109 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,840 committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves a 110 00:06:13,840 --> 00:06:17,920 penalty of their error which was due, And even as they did not 111 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,160 like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to 112 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:24,120 a debase mind to do the things which are not fitting. 113 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,880 Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual 114 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,280 immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, 115 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,680 full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness, They 116 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,360 are whispers back brighters, haters of God, violent, proud 117 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,560 boasters, inventors of evil things. 118 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,880 Disobedient to parents. Undiscerning. 119 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,760 Untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who 120 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,240 knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice. 121 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,840 Such things are deserving. Of death not only do the same, 122 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,440 but also approve of those who practice. 123 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,440 Them. So you have the whole human race 124 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,640 in cosmic treason against the God of the universe. 125 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,360 God shows his love. He manifests His patience, his 126 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,880 mercy to every human being, the whole human race. 127 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,320 And we're like this, shaking our fists at Him. 128 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,360 We don't want you to reign over us. 129 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,200 We don't want you to roll over us. 130 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,680 We don't want to hear what you have to say. 131 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,320 A matter of fact, 2000 years ago, the majority of people had 132 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,720 a plan to crucify him, which they did. 133 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,480 They figured if we could kill Jesus and get rid of him, we 134 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,920 never have to hear what he has to say again. 135 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,320 Can't kill God, can you? Jesus rises from raises from the 136 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:38,000 dead three days later, proclaiming the message to his 137 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,120 witnesses, his disciples as apostles. 138 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,520 That's us telling us to continually go out and tell the 139 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,240 world. And preach the gospel to every 140 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:46,080 living creature. So. 141 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:47,920 The message we have? When we go through. 142 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,720 Revelation, we don't sit. Here like self-righteous people 143 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,280 and say these people, they, they deserve it. 144 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,200 Lord, come and get them. You know they're no good and 145 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,480 they're this and that. By the grace of God, that's us, 146 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,560 right? It's only his mercy. 147 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:03,680 So what we do now, we want to go and tell people, as Paul said in 148 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,520 Corinthians, that God is not angry right now in the sense of 149 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,480 pouring out his wrath at this moment. 150 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,400 But there's a time period of his patience and his mercy. 151 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,680 And Paul says he begged people to be reconciled to God today. 152 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:22,760 Let God show you his love, let him bring you back into right 153 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,160 relationship with him and be forgiven. 154 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,160 This is good news. This is a good news of gospel. 155 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:29,560 So we can go out and and you know, most people are used to 156 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,640 hearing people saying. Hey, God's really angry at. 157 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,559 You and you better repent, turn or burn, all that kind of stuff. 158 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:38,000 And an aspect of element of truth, those things are real. 159 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,159 But the hope we have right now is that for God so loved this 160 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:44,159 world right now that he gave his only Son. 161 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:47,080 So there's mercy and grace so we can go to people and say we have 162 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,680 good news. God isn't angry with you. 163 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,600 Because most people think God hates them and that's why they 164 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:54,840 don't want to have anything to do with them. 165 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,760 They got a twisted mind. The devil tells them about a God 166 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,400 who doesn't exist, a God in the figment of people's minds. 167 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,760 And so we go and tell people there's good news. 168 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,520 God loves you and he's not angry with you. 169 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:09,280 That's a good way to start a witness, right? 170 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,400 Lots of times we don't think about that right away. 171 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,600 We're on their case. You realize you're a Sinner and 172 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,960 they're thinking like, well, they mustn't think they're 173 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:18,640 sinners. They're telling me they're 174 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,440 Sinner. We're sinners, but they think 175 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,840 they're holy rollers, right? I mean, that's how people think. 176 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,360 We were out in the neighborhood. This week using the all the 177 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,000 tracks on the table back there from the. 178 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,600 Agents for Christ who were here. And this is $1,000,000 question. 179 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,000 You know, it's, it looks like real money. 180 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,560 People get excited when you give it to them. 181 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,840 And then you read it and it says like, you know, if you would die 182 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,520 today, where would you go? Would you go to be with God or 183 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,240 not? And most people say, well, 184 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,640 that's $1,000,000 question. I, you know, I guess only God 185 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:46,880 knows that, you know, well, how would you like to know that you 186 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,920 can know where you're going? And then you start in with the 187 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,600 mercy of God, the fact that God's forgiving, that we're all 188 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,320 sinners. And you include yourself in that 189 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,160 when you're talking to the people, when we. 190 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,880 Skip into Revelation. Now we start reading about 191 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,520 what's happening in Chapter 9. Sometimes you might be here, or 192 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:04,360 you. Might be in a. 193 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,520 Church and you're saying? Man, this God sounds so terrible 194 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,440 and so angry and so impatient, so unloving. 195 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:11,920 Why would anybody want to know him? 196 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:16,480 Let's catch up in time. This is around the corner, I 197 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,200 believe. But there's been 2000 years of 198 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,280 God's patience before these things begin to be poured out in 199 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:26,240 the human race. That's a God of incredible love 200 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,360 and patience. We wouldn't have that kind of 201 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,000 patience with people. As soon as someone cuts us off 202 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,960 in traffic, we're shaking at them, you know, and shaking our 203 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,000 fists and using sign language sometimes that we shouldn't be 204 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,480 using and you know. And we're we're. 205 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,720 Unmerciful we're. Not patient. 206 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:42,840 We're not gracious. Right. 207 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,240 Someone does something to us to to embetter us right away. 208 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,480 We cop an attitude and have a wall up and don't want to have 209 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,560 anything to do with certain. People the rest of our life. 210 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:53,200 Because of some miniscule thing they've done to. 211 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,960 Us, and here we are, like these. People in Romans. 212 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,480 All the things that Paul declared that the. 213 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,360 Human heart was like. I know exists in me and exists 214 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,160 in you because we're human. Beings and so now. 215 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,440 We we catch up with these judgments in Revelation Chapter 216 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,440 9 and I'm just going to read this chapter and then we'll 217 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,040 catch up in 13 where we left off last week. 218 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,880 Verse one. Then the 5th Angel sounded, and 219 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,560 this is the trumpet. Judgments coming now the. 7 seal 220 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:23,280 judgments have already transpired. 221 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,400 We're into the trumpet judgments now. 222 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,360 The next. Judgments will be the bowls of 223 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:28,240 wrath. The. 224 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,840 Judgments are getting increasingly. 225 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,400 More intense and more violent. In the sense of trying to get 226 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,480 the human race to still repent, there's still time, even in the 227 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,200 midst of the tribulation, the people who are left. 228 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,280 Here on earth during the tribulation, God is still 229 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,240 working these things out in order for them to finally look 230 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,200 up and say I give up, I know I need you Lord. 231 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:52,080 And he says, I saw a star fall from heaven and the earth to him 232 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,240 was given the key to the bottomless pit. 233 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,760 And he opened the bottomless pit and smoke rose out of the pit 234 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,560 like the smoke of a great furnace. 235 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:01,840 So in the. Core of the earth somewhere. 236 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,920 All the demons that fell, all the angels that fell from the 237 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,320 throne and the Kingdom prior to creation. 238 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,240 Are in a holding. Pattern they're locked up until 239 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,520 this day of judgment. They can't wait to get out and 240 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:16,760 and raise literal. Hell in the face. 241 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,560 Of the Earth havoc. And so this person who is given 242 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,960 the key to open this pit and keep in mind that God has the 243 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,080 whole universe under control it. Isn't that the devil's winning 244 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:28,720 today and God might win? Tomorrow. 245 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,360 And there's this. Tension back and forth. 246 00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:33,160 God is sovereign. He's already accomplished. 247 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,160 His purpose When Christ said it is finished, it is finished. 248 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,480 The Bible says in Colossians that the power of Satan was 249 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,680 deactivated. In the sense of what? 250 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:43,080 Christ did at the. Cross. 251 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,520 But the enemy. Still has capabilities. 252 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,240 That's why it tells us in Ephesians we're not wrestling 253 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,280 against flesh and blood, but against principalities and. 254 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,960 Powers the rulers of darkness. The angelic demonic beings who 255 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:56,920 aren't in the. Abyss who are out. 256 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,240 Flying around trying to. Create havoc in the. 257 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,040 World the demonic activity that is going on. 258 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,240 Principalities and powers. The rulers of darkness and that 259 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:06,880 dimension. That we can't see, but it's 260 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,720 real. But then he's going to let these 261 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,000 other ones out of this pit. Some people wonder what who is 262 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,960 this? A fallen Angel is a Satan 263 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,800 certainly isn't the emissary of the the Most High God. 264 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,720 God you know allows the evil ones that do their work. 265 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,800 He doesn't sanction. It but he allows it. 266 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,040 He doesn't create it. He doesn't start it. 267 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,880 But you know, the mystery of life is that we have a free 268 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,680 will. Some people say why didn't God 269 00:13:30,680 --> 00:13:33,240 just create us perfect? Well, in a way he did. 270 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:34,720 Before the fall, he. Created this. 271 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,440 Immortal with a nature. That was pure and. 272 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:42,520 We were creating the likeness and image of God, but God. 273 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,160 Didn't create robots. He wanted to create people who 274 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,720 would truly love him and want to follow him for who he is. 275 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,960 That's the mystery. And so Adam and Eve decide to 276 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:54,280 make the wrong choice. And because of that, the whole. 277 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:58,680 Human race has fallen into the condition that it is today, and 278 00:13:58,680 --> 00:14:02,400 yet God in His mercy had. Planned even before the earth 279 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:05,320 was created, knowing that we were going to do that, that he 280 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:09,440 would send Jesus to die for us, to restore us back to the place 281 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:15,400 that we were before the fall. And you might say, well, why did 282 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:20,680 he create Satan or why is there a choice? 283 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,240 I don't know about you, but I'm glad that God has given me a 284 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,560 will and a choice because. Every day I make. 285 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,280 Decisions. I'm glad that I chose Cindy 286 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,880 Alexander 39 years ago to be my wife. 287 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:39,480 I'm glad that I had a free will to find the woman that God had 288 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,560 for me in this life and the special No one other. 289 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:48,440 No other woman but her for me, and me for her choosing where I 290 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:49,760 want to live. Where I want to. 291 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,040 Worship choosing what I want to do with my resources, choosing 292 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,360 what type of work I want to have a choosing how I want to spend 293 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,520 my days with my kids and my grandkids. 294 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,280 I mean, when you think about the privilege, think if you had none 295 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,880 of that and every day you just got up and. 296 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,920 You heard this voice. You're going to do this whether 297 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,480 you like it or not. I mean, what kind of life would 298 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,000 that be? That would be a bondage. 299 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,640 It would be a horrible existence. 300 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,160 But to have the. Freedom that God has given us to 301 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,600 choose. And yet in this situation here, 302 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,480 these demons are going to come out and it's going to be so 303 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,360 horrendous. If you remember in the Old 304 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,920 Testament the judgments during the time of Moses delivering the 305 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,760 children of Israel out of bondage to Pharaoh, the locusts 306 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,280 were so numerous. That people couldn't, actually. 307 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,040 See where they were. Gone and they. 308 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,680 Completely ate all the vegetation and this situation is 309 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,280 going to be different to them as given the power as a scorpions 310 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,280 of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm 311 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,560 the grass or the earth or any green thing or any tree, but 312 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,440 only those men who do not have the seal of God on their 313 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,200 foreheads. Now we studied several weeks ago 314 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:59,400 about the 144,000 the special chosen people of God during that 315 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,960 tribulation. Born again Jews who are. 316 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:06,320 On fire for the Lord like 144,000 Billy grams. 317 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,040 Going all. Over the earth to witness and to 318 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,120 tell people you still can repent. 319 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,280 God's mercy is still available. You can still be forgiven of 320 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,560 your sin, and God will. Be gracious to you and that's 321 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,080 their job. Well, they're not going to be 322 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,680 touched by these scorpion like locust creatures. 323 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:27,280 They were not given authority to kill them but to torment them 324 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,080 for five months. So anyone who doesn't have this 325 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,520 seal on their forehead is fair game to these demonic beings. 326 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,280 So that means all the unbelievers on the face of the 327 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:37,840 earth at. This time and. 328 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,920 This isn't God doing this to the. 329 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:44,320 People, this is Satan and his demonic crew going out to create 330 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,640 torment and havoc on the face of the earth to all those who don't 331 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,880 know Christ. Some people say, Oh well, 332 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,880 whenever I die, I'm going to be done in the hell with my buddies 333 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,000 and and Satan and everybody. We're just going to have a good 334 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,320 time and party forever. It's not going to be that way. 335 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,680 Satan hates our guts, the Bible says. 336 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,240 He's come to rob, to steal, to kill. 337 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:09,480 And to destroy it says their torment was like the torment of 338 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,319 a scorpion when it strikes a man. 339 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,599 In those days, men will seek death and will not find it. 340 00:17:14,839 --> 00:17:17,079 They will desire to die and death will flee from them. 341 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,240 It sounds like in this case it's even. 342 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,119 Going to be impossible to take your life. 343 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,079 It's going to be so. Horrible at this time when 344 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:25,319 you're on the earth. If you're an unbeliever, you 345 00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:26,800 can't get away. From these scorpions. 346 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,160 You think, well, I'm going to stay inside all day and and wait 347 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:31,840 this out for to five months. They won't get me. 348 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,280 Somehow they're going to be able to get in the windows, under the 349 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,320 doorway, whatever. So no matter. 350 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,280 Where you are. You're going to get stung. 351 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,360 And tortured by these things. Just not. 352 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:42,400 Once you get stung once and that's it's. 353 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,240 Going to be a continual horrible torment. 354 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,280 To drive you. To your knees, but the enemy 355 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:50,840 wants to destroy you, but he can't, and you can't even find 356 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,360 death at this time. It says the shape of the locust 357 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,320 was like horses prepared for battle. 358 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,360 On their heads were crowned something like gold, and their 359 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:00,280 faces were like the faces of men. 360 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,080 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like a 361 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,640 lion's teeth. And they had breastplates like 362 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,440 breastplates of iron. And the sound of their wings was 363 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,600 like the sound of Chariots, with many horses running into battle. 364 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,000 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their 365 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,120 tails. Their power was to hurt men. 366 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:20,000 Five months and they had his king over them. 367 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,360 The Angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, 368 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,000 and in Greek his name is Apollyon. 369 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:32,680 That name means the Destroyer. Literally the destroyer. 370 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,960 The New Testament Greek word Apollyon is the one who is 371 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,040 destroying and again. That ties with what Jesus said 372 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,880 about the devil. He comes to steal and to kill 373 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,000 and to rob. And to destroy and. 374 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,160 I'll tell you he's trying to destroy. 375 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,920 Our lives every day. He's trying to destroy the 376 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,160 Church of Jesus Christ, and I'm so thankful it's not. 377 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,440 My job or your? Job to build the Church of 378 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,640 Christ, Jesus said I will build my church and the gates of hell. 379 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:06,360 Hades will not prevail against it in verse 12 one woe is past 380 00:19:06,360 --> 00:19:09,600 so you we think that's bad. This situation with these 381 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,920 scorpion like creatures in the description John says the 382 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,080 apostle that they are like this in other words. 383 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,240 He's seeing something that he's never seen. 384 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,880 Before in his life, he's trying to use descriptive words to give 385 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,120 us some kind of insight what these creatures are like. 386 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,880 Because. Again, it's like nothing he's 387 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,680 ever seen before. Some people believe that these 388 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,800 will be. Fallen demonic beings that. 389 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,720 Are inhabiting whether it's an animal like creature or a human. 390 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:40,000 Creature Some people commentators describe it as as 391 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:45,560 perhaps men in certain types of. Suits with gas masks and the the 392 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,480 stinging aspect of this scorpion like creature is really a 393 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,720 chemical. Warfare, you know, that's coming 394 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:53,320 upon people. I mean, none of us are going to 395 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,120 know these things until they occur Her. 396 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,720 But these are descriptive terms that will one day come to pass. 397 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:02,480 And so John's saying this one was past. 398 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,360 Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. 399 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,240 This is where we'll pick up where we left off the last time 400 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,080 we were in this book. Then the six angels sounded, and 401 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,480 I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which 402 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:19,120 is before the throne of God. This altar and a wonderful 403 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,600 picture again of the throne room of Heaven. 404 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:25,720 The 6th Angel sounds and I hear a voice from the four horns of 405 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,600 the golden golden altar, which is before God, saying to the 6th 406 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,360 Angel who had the trumpet, release the four angels who are 407 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:34,560 bound at the great river Euphrates. 408 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,760 So this altar is the altar. Of incense. 409 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:41,640 It stands before the throne of God and the incense, as I 410 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,280 mentioned, about a month. Ago is the. 411 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,200 Representation of the. Prayers of the Saints Incense 412 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:52,160 will be prevalent in the Kingdom of Heaven, the early Church. 413 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,640 Use incense. All the time. 414 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,160 Someone asked me why we don't use incense. 415 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:57,760 I don't know. I don't know who said not. 416 00:20:57,760 --> 00:20:58,920 Use it or who? Said you know some. 417 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,840 People use it, think it's magic, and you know, other people use 418 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,120 it as. A understanding that represents 419 00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:06,960 the prayers of the Saints. But it really does. 420 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:11,160 In God's Kingdom, in his worship setting. 421 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,360 Within the throne of. God, there's incense, and every 422 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:15,200 time the incense is sense before. 423 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,600 The throne of God. It represents the prayers. 424 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,120 Of the. Saints being lifted up to the 425 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:22,200 throne of God. Matt Redmond had a neat song. 426 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,080 Let the prayers of the Saints be like sweet smelling incense. 427 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:26,320 To your heart. Remember that song? 428 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,080 Beautiful. Song, and so it represents that 429 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:30,480 to. God, but the four horns 430 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,280 represent the place where the blood was applied on the Day of 431 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,240 Atonement for the sake of the the nation of Israel. 432 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,320 And so a very clear picture again of the things that are 433 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,720 lost in our time that will be again prevalent in the in the 434 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,840 Kingdom when we get there. And so he's telling this Angel 435 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,920 to release these angels to release what is bound at the 436 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,960 great river Euphrates. So the four angels and 15 who 437 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,080 have been prepared for the hour and day and month, and these are 438 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:04,000 evil angels by the way, and year were released to kill 1/3 of 439 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,720 mankind. Now the number of the army, the 440 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:11,600 horseman, was 200 million. I heard the number of them, and 441 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,240 thus I saw the horses in the vision, those who sat on them in 442 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,400 breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur 443 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,360 yellow. And the heads of the horses were 444 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:23,320 like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, 445 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,680 smoke, and brimstone. By these 3 plagues 1/3 of 446 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,960 mankind was killed by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone 447 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,320 which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their 448 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,360 mouth and in their tails. For their tails are like 449 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:42,120 serpents having heads and with them that do harm. 450 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:47,960 So we we see the intensity of of this battle and what's going to 451 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,160 come upon the face of the earth 1/3. 452 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:55,640 I can't imagine that. Some commentators, they they 453 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,120 look at China and the East. And. 454 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,480 The river Euphrates throughout. Biblical history was. 455 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:07,120 Always recognized as a. Central place of of God's wrath, 456 00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:10,440 and also of of. Of miraculous occurrences and 457 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:16,000 Israel you know the the borders of the Holy Land, Euphrates 458 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,480 flows near and you have the original Babylonian. 459 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,000 Empire that was very. Significant with the the river 460 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:27,200 Euphrates and we see in Revelation 1612 that this river 461 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,680 will actually be dried up. Why is it going to be dried up? 462 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,600 The capacity to actually travel. By tank or. 463 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,320 By some kind of vehicle or horses or whatever the potential 464 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,440 of 200 million. And there's no other nation that 465 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,160 could have the size of an army except that nation in the east 466 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,240 wiping out 1/3 of the human race. 467 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,000 In the Book of Revelation, Pastor Clark is taking us 468 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,840 through all kinds of events and happenings that are predicted 469 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,520 for the future. But for those who believe and 470 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:02,480 follow Jesus, there's much to look forward to in heaven with 471 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,480 Jesus. However, for those who are here 472 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,720 on earth during the Tribulation, there's all kinds of chaos that 473 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:12,720 will unfold. The Bible talks about an 474 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:18,040 Antichrist, a false prophet, and of course that evil enemy Satan. 475 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,840 You see how there are such clever attempts for the enemy to 476 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:26,720 disguise himself as God and even the Trinity, the true Savior of 477 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,000 the world is God and how he comes to rescue through his 478 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:35,920 triune nature, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and God the Holy 479 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,120 Spirit. Just like Satan tried to take 480 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:43,680 over for God in heaven was cast out, Satan will try to convince 481 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,600 people on earth that he is the triune God to be worshipped 482 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,280 instead of the legitimate God in heaven. 483 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:54,440 It's an attempt, and although he will capture plenty in his 484 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:59,400 schemes, he will not win. The true God wins, and 485 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:03,200 Revelation unpacks how that will all happen in detail. 486 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,640 Be encouraged because there's a way out for all of this madness 487 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,320 that will ensue on this earth. But you don't want to wait 488 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,600 indefinitely to make that decision about Jesus. 489 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,880 We don't know when the church will be raptured, and you want 490 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,960 to be ready to be with Jesus. To learn more about this, head 491 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:28,200 over to calvarychapelonline.com. We're so glad you've been with 492 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,320 us today. And if you'd like to connect 493 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,600 further with this ministry, find us on Facebook or YouTube. 494 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,800 You can also download our mobile app at calvarychapelonline.com. 495 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:44,440 Be sure to join us for weekly services at 400 E Pittsburgh St. 496 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:53,000 Ste. 6B in Greensburg, PA 15601. This has been living waters of 497 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:53,560 grace.