1 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:12,040 Please open your Bibles to the Book of Revelation chapter 8 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:26,560 chapter 8. 13 verses that tell quite a story. 3 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:34,920 Revelation 4 John Revelation 1 John is on the Isle of Patmos. 4 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,320 He's exiled there by the Roman government. 5 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:43,520 He's alone, he's in his late 90s and he has a vision, and the 6 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,520 vision is the Book of Revelation. 7 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,080 And he sees Jesus. He sees Jesus in all his glory. 8 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:59,400 Chapter 1 Chapters 2 and 3 John writes down the Church age and 9 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,400 he discovers and there's 7 letters that Jesus gives to 10 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,240 seven churches which cover the history of the church even up 11 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:10,160 till today. Chapter 4 John has taken up, 12 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,280 caught up into heaven, sees the throne of God like the rapture 13 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:20,240 of the church. Chapter 5 John sees the Father 14 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,560 on the throne holding a scroll which is the title deed of earth 15 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,720 sealed with 7 seals. John begins to weep because no 16 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,720 one is worthy who is worthy to take the scroll until an elder 17 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,360 touches him on the shoulder and says look John, there's a lamb, 18 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,720 Lamb as it had been slain, Lamb as it has been. 19 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,840 Remember butchered, slaughtered is the term Jesus takes the 20 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,360 scroll and he begins to break the seals. 21 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:51,600 And from the chapter 6 on to 19, we see these events come to 22 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,840 pass. The church has been wrapped in 23 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:59,000 it's in heaven and now we see a heavenly vantage point of all 24 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,000 the events that are happening upon the earth. 25 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:09,800 So we pick it up Now in chapter 8, it says in verse one when he 26 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,480 opened the 7th seal, there was silence in heaven for about half 27 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,400 an hour. Now heaven is out of time when 28 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,720 eternity has no time. There's no like a day here and a 29 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,400 day there. The Bible speaks of time, it 30 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,880 speaks of hours and in this passage here it speaks of 1/2 an 31 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,120 hour. John, however, still has time. 32 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,480 So he's he's measuring this period himself in some way. 33 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,000 The fact of the matter is we're not concerned about the time 34 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,160 half hour. What does it mean? 35 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,880 What we really need to look at is that there was silence in 36 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:57,000 heaven for a period. In our journey through the 37 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,920 previous chapters of Revelation, we have learnt that heaven is 38 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:06,400 not a silent place. In chapter 4, as John saw the 39 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,120 throne of God, what came from the throne of God? 40 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,480 We read there. Lightning and Thunder resonated 41 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:18,960 from the throne of God. Also around the throne of God 42 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:26,080 were four living creatures, cherubim angels, who did not 43 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:30,680 rest day or night to cry out Holy, holy, holy Lord God 44 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,080 Almighty, who was and is and is to come. 45 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:37,640 That was perpetual. And each time they did that, 46 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:44,520 there was something else, a chain reaction We saw then #24 47 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:51,200 elders representing the Old Testament, 12 tribes of Israel 48 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,280 government, 12 is the number of government, and then 12. 49 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,080 The apostles representing the church, the Old Testament, the 50 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,440 New Testament, gathered around the throne. 51 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,680 And as the four cherubim cried out, holy, holy, holy, it says 52 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,040 the elders fell to the ground and cast their crowns before the 53 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,360 Lord. And they cried out, You're 54 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,399 worthy of Lord to receive glory and honour and power and and on 55 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:17,320 and on. And they went. 56 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:23,080 And then in chapter 5, with all these events happening, we see 57 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,840 the greatest choir, the greatest worship service ever recorded. 58 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:32,720 We're part of it. The angels are to a side, So 59 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,520 many angels you can't number them. 60 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:40,880 And there the choir begins singing, and we've sing a song, 61 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,760 a new song. You are worthy to take the 62 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,600 scroll. And then we're joined by the 63 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,760 voices of the angels saying, and the living creatures, and then 64 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,520 and the elders and a number of others. 65 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:59,040 Impossible to calculate in chapter 4, sorry in verse 14 of 66 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,920 chapter 5, but then it says, and every creature joined in every 67 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,080 creature saying blessing and honour. 68 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:12,240 So heaven's not a quiet place. If you don't like noise, there's 69 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:21,080 going to be an adjustment. Singing, praising is going to be 70 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:29,120 perpetual. But now, Revelation 8, this 71 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,760 catches our attention. John tells us there is absolute 72 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:42,640 silence, a complete hush for half an hour. 73 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,520 What a seismic shift in events. Why? 74 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:52,040 Because as John writes this, the events that are happening, 75 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,320 there's this silence because it catches our complete attention. 76 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,600 It's going, oh, there's a there's a shift. 77 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:07,080 Something's about to change. We're not told specifically why 78 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:13,560 silence, but what is about to unfold with the seven trumpets 79 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:19,560 on a fallen world, things that are going to fall from heaven, 80 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:26,080 is so startling, so impactful in nature, so powerful in their 81 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:30,200 effects, so dramatic. It is, though, one that this 82 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,960 dramatic moment has finally arrived in the part of God's 83 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:35,760 plan. It's kind of like we said, and 84 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,760 when I was working with the police, we had what's called a 85 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,680 running sheep. The events that occurred, this 86 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,800 was to happen, this to happen, and then this was to happen a 87 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,800 certain time. And so at this time in God's 88 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:50,240 plan, on God's running sheet, it says half an hour silence. 89 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:56,560 Eric, why? We're ready for the next phase. 90 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,960 Are you ready? And everyone knows what's going 91 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,360 on. The angels are ready. 92 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,120 They know it's the it's the silence. 93 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,360 This is what's happening next. They're aware. 94 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:15,560 And all of heaven held its breath for this moment, for what 95 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:20,840 is about to unfold. 7 trumpets are about to sound. 96 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,920 And yet at this moment you could hear a pin drop. 97 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,000 Verse 2 And I saw the seven angels. 98 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:35,000 Now the word the, and I'm emphasising it is emphatic in 99 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,600 the Greek. It means that these, the seven 100 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,000 angels, they're a select 7 angels. 101 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,600 It's not like we saw the saw 7 angels. 102 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,640 It doesn't say we saw 7 angels. It says the seven angels. 103 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:54,240 These are specific angels of a specific rank who have a 104 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:59,000 specific responsibility. We're about to see and I saw the 105 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,640 seven angels who stand before God. 106 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:04,640 So we get the picture. There's God on the throne. 107 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,960 The angels, these 7 angels now stand. 108 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,240 They take this position during this silent period. 109 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:18,000 They come, they take the position and to them, so they 110 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,480 don't have the trumpets already. Notice it says and to them were 111 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:27,040 given 7 trumpets. OK guys, you're here, here you 112 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:32,640 are. It's time they're given each a 113 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:41,120 trumpet, then another Angel, so another specific Angel rank, 114 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:48,120 this one has a golden sensor, came and stood at the altar. 115 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,200 Now when we read about the altar, we have the menorah here. 116 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,400 We don't have the table of showbread or anything else. 117 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,760 But when you study the Old Testament and you look at the 118 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:01,600 temple, the Temple that was built, designed by Moses first 119 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,360 of all, the tent of meeting and then Solomon and then Herod 120 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,360 later on. And in the temple there are 121 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:15,360 specific items of furniture and they are the temple is a copy of 122 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,560 the actual temple that exists in heaven. 123 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:24,240 So in heaven there is this altar that is before the throne of God 124 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:30,520 as it was before the vile and the holy of Holies in the temple 125 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,200 Tabernacle. So another Angel having a 126 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:38,440 golden, since it came and stood at the altar, he was given much 127 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,680 incense, a lot that he should offer it. 128 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:47,160 Now here's the key part. It says with the prayers of all 129 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:53,040 the Saints, that's you, that's me or every believer, save 130 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:58,800 during time upon the golden altar which was before the 131 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:06,840 throne, and the smoke of the incense mixed with your prayers, 132 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,640 our prayers, the prayers of the Saints. 133 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:15,760 It then ascended. The smoke ascended from God, 134 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,520 from the angels hand. Then the Angel grabs this 135 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:26,040 sensor, filled it with fire. So he goes to the older, grabs 136 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,840 his holy fire, puts it in the sensor which contains the 137 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,360 prayers of the Saints and hurls it to the earth. 138 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,760 And there were noises. So now the silence is broken. 139 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:50,600 There were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 140 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,600 Earthquake can only be on earth. So at this time an earthquake 141 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:00,560 hits the earth. So the seven angels who had the 142 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:05,280 seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound and they 143 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:10,440 were going to sound in order, specific events, what each one 144 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:15,520 was to do as they blow the trumpet, what significant events 145 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,320 were to occur from heaven to go to earth? 146 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,520 So that's the pause. And now we come to the prayers 147 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,680 because I, as we're going through revelation, I'm 148 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:30,880 staggered that our prayers are mentioned during the time of 149 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:35,000 tribulation. Prayers are mentioned. 150 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:40,240 Yet we, the church taken up into heaven Chapter 4, we're singing 151 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,720 in Chapter 5. And yet our prayers that you and 152 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,760 I are, are praying now we'll be praying again on Wednesday. 153 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,600 We'll be loading up that, that sensor again with more prayers. 154 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,240 When you go home tonight and you pray and you're praying and, 155 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,880 and, and praying tomorrow morning, praying during the day. 156 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,600 All that's loading up the sensor. 157 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:07,480 We're connected to this somehow. I find that fascinating. 158 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,640 This group of angels are a distinct group with a special 159 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:17,200 mission. Who are they? 160 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:23,400 They are of a high rank, possibly most Bible commentators 161 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,800 say archangels, which would include Gabriel and and Michael. 162 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:34,040 So verse 3, we read about him taking the sensor and casting it 163 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:38,000 to the earth. And so this Angel steps into a 164 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,800 position, there's the seven angels, and this other Angel 165 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:45,840 comes in, hurls this golden sensor, and the scene now takes 166 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:50,080 on epic proportions. It's building and building to a 167 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:55,520 crescendo, especially as he cast this sensor, which contains 168 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,520 incense and our prayers to the earth. 169 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:04,600 Your prayers are involved in what is about to happen for the 170 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:10,720 rest of Chapter 8 on In the Old Testament, the priests and the 171 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,480 burning of the incense in the temple was carried out by the 172 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:19,640 priests every morning and evening, morning and evening. 173 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:26,240 It's interesting as I read this because as we read about the 174 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,560 sensor, it's connected to prayer. 175 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,320 It's a shadow, it's a type, it shows, it's a picture of our 176 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,560 prayers. When you pray, your prayers 177 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:37,920 don't go up and just disappear into the ether. 178 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,680 They rise. And if you're praying according 179 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:44,080 to God's will and you're praying with the right heart and right 180 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:50,280 attitude in Jesus name, your prayers are ascending up and God 181 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,680 is receiving them and they're being filled. 182 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:59,120 He's hearing them and they're filling up the sensor morning 183 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,400 and evening. What does that tell us? 184 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:08,040 If the sensor was lit morning and evening, it's a good sign 185 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,880 for you and I to here's an example of how to get a good 186 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,880 habit of prayer. You should pray before you start 187 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:19,600 the day and when you finish your day, that's a good thing to do. 188 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,360 You start the day and say, God guide me, lead me, give me 189 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,960 wisdom, protect me, cover me. And at the end of the day, you 190 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,760 say the Lord thank you for watching over me and helping me. 191 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,840 Forgive me for the things that I did do and I should have done, I 192 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:42,400 didn't do. And so in Daniel chapter 6, 193 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,800 Daniel is this awesome guy. He's one of my mentors. 194 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,560 I love reading his his book Daniel has a prayer clock. 195 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:58,880 Many of you have a clock of some sort you operate by, oh, I need 196 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,360 coffee at such such a time. Oh, I've got to have my coffee 197 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,960 or I've got to go for a run or I've got to have a shower or 198 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,320 I've got to do this. I've got I've got to have the 199 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,440 dishes done. I've got to have the meal prep. 200 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,120 I've got to have the kids lunches prepared. 201 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,240 And you have all these clocks. You don't know about them, but 202 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,000 you do. We're going for a surf. 203 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,360 So we've got to have that ready, that ready, this done, that 204 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:20,800 ready. Got to get there by this time 205 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,920 playing golf, got to have that all that. 206 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,160 So and we, we operate very much by clockwork. 207 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:31,840 Well, Daniel is someone that men, especially you and I, men 208 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:36,440 we need to follow. We need to learn from Daniel 209 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:45,280 chapter 6, prayer to God was outlawed, specifically made 210 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:49,320 outlawed because they knew Daniel, who all the other guys 211 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:53,840 and in the government at the time in Babylon hated Daniel. 212 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,960 So they said the only way we can get Daniel is to have a law 213 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:02,960 that's against the law of his God. 214 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:08,840 And Daniel chapter 6, verse 10, Daniel hears about the law. 215 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:11,480 He didn't go protest, doesn't protest. 216 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:13,400 This is unfair. This is unfair. 217 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,760 What does he do? Something for us to learn about 218 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,280 too. We're not into politics. 219 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:24,320 We are into pray. So Daniel, he hears the law, he 220 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:25,760 knows what's going to happen to it. 221 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:31,160 It's by death. So when Daniel knew that the 222 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:36,200 writing was signed, he went home in his upper room at his bedroom 223 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,880 with his windows open. He faced always and prayed 224 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:45,200 towards Jerusalem. He knelt down on his knees three 225 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,560 times a day. So Daniel adds another thing for 226 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:54,560 you and I to do three times a day at least, and prayed. 227 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,880 How did he pray? He prayed and gave thanks before 228 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:04,319 his God. And there it says this, as was 229 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,240 his custom since early days, he prayed. 230 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,240 And you know, the guys who made the law in the Medo Persian 231 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,960 government, it's written out. They knew he was going to do 232 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:15,800 this. So where are they? 233 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:21,400 They're outside Daniel's bedroom, windows open. 234 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,160 There he goes. We knew this is what he does. 235 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:37,400 And they book him. You want to build a good godly 236 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,640 habit in your life, just follow Daniel. 237 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,360 You don't have to be Einstein to learn how to have good habits. 238 00:17:47,120 --> 00:17:49,200 You develop bad habits very easily. 239 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,920 How do you develop good habits? Look at someone that has good 240 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:58,000 habits and follow them and your life then will start to be like 241 00:17:58,200 --> 00:17:59,880 Daniel. We read about Daniel and go, oh, 242 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,920 how wonderful it would he's just an ordinary person like you and 243 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:09,040 I. But Daniel lived in Babylon away 244 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:14,080 from Jerusalem, away from all the help in an ungodly 245 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,400 environment. Daniel lived a godly life. 246 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:24,440 The purpose of the burning of the incense in the temple I was 247 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:29,560 it was an offering to the Lord, be it symbolise the prayers of 248 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,680 God's people. That's what it represented in 249 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,520 Psalm 141. King David wrote, I Lord, cry 250 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,760 out to you, make haste to me, give ear to my voice. 251 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:46,680 When I cry out to you, let my prayer be set before you as 252 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:53,080 incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 253 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,080 I want to touch on this with some of you guys and I'm going 254 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,360 to put you on the spot because I know the Australian culture is 255 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:01,600 not this. It's it's not, it's not this, 256 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:06,120 it's, it's this. Well, I'm not putting my hands 257 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:08,000 up so well, I'm doing that. Come on. 258 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,040 And I want to ask you, I want your, your children, if your 259 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,160 children are with you, ask your dad, why don't you lift your 260 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,760 hands up when we worship award. And then I want you to come up 261 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,840 with a good and godly answer why you don't? 262 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:28,560 Because there is not one. I'll just park that. 263 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,560 And so David gives us instructions on what a godly man 264 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,680 looks like. We see here the incense is mixed 265 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,880 and infused with the prayers of the Saints in the temple. 266 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,480 The altar of incense was always positioned before the throne of 267 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,360 God. As the smoke rose, it had as its 268 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:51,800 backdrop the picture of the prayers of the people. 269 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,320 And what has Jesus told us to pray? 270 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,560 Pray. In this manner He gave us the 271 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:02,160 moral what to follow Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 272 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:03,600 thy name. What do we say? 273 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:08,400 Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in 274 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,280 heaven. We used to pray that, didn't we? 275 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:14,280 In Australia every Friday at the school assembly and we used to 276 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,720 sing God Save the Queen. Raise the flag. 277 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:29,600 What a nation we were. Yes, we'll leave it for another 278 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:35,000 time. We learn from this passage of 279 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:41,120 scripture that we are to one. Never, never underestimate the 280 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:46,480 power of your prayers when prayed in the will of God and 281 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,440 with the heart of worship and faith, believing in Him, 282 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,320 answering them. It says in James, when you pray, 283 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:57,280 we're not to be people of doubt, you know, tossed to or fro, that 284 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,280 when you pray, you believe that what I'm asking God's going to 285 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,920 deliver When you pray, do you do that? 286 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,000 I can tell you if you're not praying, it's because you don't 287 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,040 believe God can answer prayer. Because if you believe that God 288 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,160 will answer prayer, you're a praying person. 289 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:16,680 It's as simple as that. Notice our prayers are brought 290 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,360 before the very throne of God. Not yet. 291 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:22,320 When you're praying, we think, oh is anybody listening? 292 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:27,720 Hey God is he hears every prayer prayed in Jesus name. 293 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:36,400 The purpose of your prayers is something again is to get our 294 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:42,800 will in line with God's will. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be 295 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,720 done on earth as it is in heaven when Jesus prayed in the garden. 296 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:49,480 Father, you will be done, not mine. 297 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,760 Father, you will be done, not mine. 298 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,040 Is that how you are praying today? 299 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:57,840 Are you praying again? Well, I've been praying man. 300 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,400 He hasn't changed my husband. He's still there. 301 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,120 I've been praying for my wife. She's not interested in the 302 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:07,480 things of God. Been praying for our kids man 303 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,600 and man. What's going on with our kids? 304 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:22,160 Purpose of your prayer is to get you to pray according to God's 305 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:27,440 will and for you to come to him and say, Lord, I bring my wife, 306 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,160 I bring my husband, my son. I'm desperate. 307 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:37,720 Lord, have your way with him. Have your way with her. 308 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,840 Don't go telling God what to do. You don't even know what you're 309 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:47,000 doing anyway. I don't have your way, Lord, 310 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:51,080 Your will be done to my son, God. 311 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,200 I bring my marriage to you. Lord, have your way in our 312 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,120 marriage. And as you do that, God's going, 313 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:01,200 OK, You're not telling me and directing me because you don't 314 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,200 know what you're doing anyway. I, I can answer that prayer. 315 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,960 You're asking God, Lord, you do what you want to do. 316 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:14,960 So each time you pray with your heart to God, your life and it's 317 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,040 direction is pulled toward God. Well, I've been praying to God 318 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,200 and he hasn't answered the man. No, no, no. 319 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,760 James says you pray usually and not asking, getting your prayers 320 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:29,960 answered because you ask a miss that is you're, you're throwing 321 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:31,880 it all over the way. You're telling God what to do. 322 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:37,000 And usually James also says your prayers aren't being answered 323 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,160 because you're selfish. You're just praying about 324 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,640 yourself. You see, as you become a person 325 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,880 of prayer, you'll find that your prayers are less about what you 326 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:57,080 want because you shift. You shift and your world changes 327 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,840 and you move to your God. Lord, I really, I just want you 328 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:05,000 to direct me all over these plans and things. 329 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,040 But God, I need your word to speak to me. 330 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:10,880 You guide me, You, you direct me. 331 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:15,640 It's like an anchor. When you pray in God's will, 332 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:19,040 throw the anchor out of the boat. 333 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,640 The boat, the anchor hits on the ground and the boat swings and 334 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,160 it always faces God's direction. If you pull on that rope, God's 335 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,160 the anchor. Your will moves towards where 336 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:37,320 the anchor is. Many of us are just drifting 337 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,640 because we're not praying in God's will. 338 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:47,360 Hannah is an example. One Samuel chapter one, verse 9. 339 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:49,360 You know the story about Hannah. She's barren. 340 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:59,200 She has a marriage or two, Elkanar I think it is, and her 341 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,320 Allah, he has another wife. She's mocking Hannah because 342 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:05,520 she's barren. Being barren in those days was 343 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:10,240 seen to be cursed by God. So what does Hannah do? 344 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,320 She that says got up and went to pray. 345 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,760 Ladies, problem. When you have a problem, you 346 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,520 should be in church praying. That's where you go. 347 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,760 Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the 348 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,480 entrance of the Tabernacle. Chapter verse 9, Chapter one, 349 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,680 verse 9. And it says, and here's here, 350 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,120 here. How old this woman prays. 351 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:43,520 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to 352 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:50,600 the Lord, and she made this vow. O Lord of Heaven's armies, if 353 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:55,760 you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a 354 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,760 son, I will give him back to you. 355 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,520 He will be yours for his entire lifetime. 356 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:07,560 Parents, that's, that's our prayer for all of our all of our 357 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:11,280 kids. They're gods for their entire 358 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,520 lifetime. And as a sign that he has been 359 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,920 dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut. 360 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,440 God couldn't get hold of a man in Israel at that time. 361 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:27,840 So he got hold of a woman and he got hold of the woman who would 362 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:31,920 then pray according to his will so he can get hold of his man. 363 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,760 And he got a Samuel, Samuel the prophet. 364 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,840 When Peter was locked up in prison awaiting execution by 365 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:44,040 Herod in Acts chapter 12, you remember the church gathered to 366 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,440 pray for Peter. Well, Lord, we got to get Peter 367 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:48,320 out of gaol. Herod's going to kill him. 368 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:52,280 Acts chapter 12, verse 5. But while Peter was in prison, 369 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,680 the church prayed very earnest for him. 370 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,720 They were king, praying for him. Well, you know the story. 371 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:00,680 An Angel came to the prison. Peter's asleep. 372 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,240 The angel's got to kick him to wake him up because he just 373 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,360 thinks he's dreaming. Kicks him again, wakes him up. 374 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,240 All the doors open. Peter just walks, outcomes out 375 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,080 to the house where the church is praying, knocks on the door. 376 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:17,560 Hello. Young cool girl called Rhoda 377 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:18,920 comes to open the door. Oh, shoot. 378 00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:23,440 Peter rushes off. Hey, Peter's here, everybody. 379 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:24,440 Peter's here. We're praying. 380 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:26,760 Go away. You haven't seen a vision. 381 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,120 Lord, we pray for Peter to be released. 382 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:34,000 Oh, God, I believe he's. You've seen. 383 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:36,960 Lord, we're deep. Oh, royal release. 384 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:44,600 Peter continues to pray. They said to her, you're out of 385 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,440 your mind. When she insisted, they decided, 386 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,640 well, it must be his Angel. Meanwhile, Peter continued 387 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,320 knocking. When they finally opened the 388 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:56,160 door and saw him, They're amazed. 389 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:58,360 That tells us something. I love this. 390 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:02,400 How often have you been praying? They got to got to answer that 391 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:03,920 prayer. That's us. 392 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,840 It's so it shows you how how bad we are. 393 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,840 We think we have to be, you know, just absolutely solid and 394 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,160 everything. No, God knows. 395 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:14,480 I'll, I'll answer this. You don't got to believe it. 396 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,800 How often, how often has that happened? 397 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,040 I know I said that to Helen. Helen would say something about, 398 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,280 you know, you need to pray. Well, let's just pray about it. 399 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:25,960 And I go, look, you don't understand. 400 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:31,440 Because men, men we understand mechanics of things that this 401 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,280 doesn't work that way. It doesn't work that way, Helen. 402 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:36,720 Well, we pray. So we pray. 403 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,760 Next minute, let's happen. Yeah, you're right. 404 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:48,680 It says they're amazed. Never underestimate the power of 405 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:50,480 your praying before Almighty God. 406 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:55,720 In Ephesians chapter 3, verse 20, it says now to him Speaking 407 00:28:55,720 --> 00:29:03,040 of the Lord, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above 408 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,920 here all those adverbs or adjectives, whichever they are, 409 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:14,600 all that we ask or think beyond according to the power that 410 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:16,560 works in US. What is that power? 411 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,880 The power in Ephesians tells us it's the very power that rose 412 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,360 Jesus from the dead. It's the power of God. 413 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,280 So we can never underestimate the power of prayer. 414 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,880 Secondly, God's timing is not always our timing. 415 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,120 I'm so thankful that God did not answer so many of my prayers and 416 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,080 my time as I look back, oh man, I was an idiot. 417 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,040 Oh God, I need this job, I need this job. 418 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:42,320 I need that. I need this God. 419 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,520 You're going to answer this prayer doesn't happen because 420 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:49,640 God knows better. Back in Revelation 6, the martyr 421 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,040 believers who died for their faith in the tribulation period 422 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,760 and who did not take the mark of the beast cried out to God for 423 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,920 vengeance in those for those who had killed them, murdered them. 424 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,400 Verse 10 And they cried with a loud voice saying, How long, O 425 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:10,360 Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on 426 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:13,160 those who dwell on the earth. There's that phrase. 427 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:19,880 God's response was in verse 11. Then a white robe was given to 428 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,440 each of them and it was said to them that they should rest a 429 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:28,160 little while longer until both the number of their fellow 430 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:32,720 servants and their brethren who would be killed not hadn't died 431 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:40,280 yet as they were was completed. God's response was not a no, but 432 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:43,240 a wait. Gee, Campbell Morgan says our 433 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:48,640 prayer requests are often times in line with God's will, but we 434 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:54,120 must wait on his timing. So never underestimate the power 435 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:58,320 of prayer. God's timing is not always our 436 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:01,840 timing. And thirdly, God's will shall be 437 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:06,240 done no matter what in chapter 20, God's Kingdom has come. 438 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,880 His will has been done during the thousand year reign, the 439 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:15,600 millennial reign here on earth. So for your prayers to be 440 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:22,200 powerful, it requires patience, wait, and secondly, 441 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:24,360 perseverance. Don't stop. 442 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:31,120 A wonderful gift is given to every believer who prays in 443 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:35,880 faith this way, trusting in God's will, waiting on God's 444 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:40,280 timing to answer their prayers. That is, after you have prayed, 445 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:44,400 what happens to you? You receive the peace of God and 446 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,600 it will settle in your heart. How's that? 447 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:52,120 How's that happen? Easy, because you prayed. 448 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,040 You believe God, you pray in faith, you prayed in Jesus name. 449 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,040 You know that God can answer your prayer. 450 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:01,600 You've persevered. You now believe as you get up 451 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,800 from prayer that God will answer. 452 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:10,880 He has heard and you've cast all your cares on him, so you walk 453 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:13,160 away from him. Now from that time of prayer 454 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:17,320 going, it's with the Lord, and God gives you peace. 455 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:19,720 If you pray and get up. Still worried about the same 456 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:21,520 thing. You haven't given it to me. 457 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:25,920 Yeah. Lord, I pray for my husband. 458 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:27,880 Oh, man, if I get him, man, I get him. 459 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:30,320 No, no. Have you given? 460 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:32,880 Is there a peace after you've prayed? 461 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,440 Have you actually really given it to the Lord? 462 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,880 Peter says cast all your cares on him. 463 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:39,880 Why? For he cares for you. 464 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,040 You know by reading of God's Word that God's will will be 465 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:48,440 done. Psalm 24714 says wait on the 466 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:52,840 Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart. 467 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:58,840 Wait, I say on the Lord, Wait here means patience and eager 468 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:03,480 expectation and also expect God to answer your prayer. 469 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:06,800 Expect God to answer your prayer. 470 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,920 Verse 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared 471 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,760 themselves to sound the first trumpet. 472 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:22,400 Sounds sounded. Hail and fire followed, mingle 473 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,240 with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. 474 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:27,720 And the third of the trees were burned up. 475 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:33,120 A third of the trees and all green grass was burned up the 476 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:36,200 second trumpet. Then the second Angel sounded in 477 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:41,040 something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown 478 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:45,800 into the ocean, and a third of the sea became blood, and a 479 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:50,480 third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the 480 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:54,560 ships were destroyed. Then the Angel, third Angel 481 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,560 sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a 482 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:02,400 torch, and it fell on 1/3 of the rivers and on the springs of 483 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:05,360 water. The name of that star is 484 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,719 Wormwood, and a third of the waters became Wormwood, and many 485 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:15,560 men died from the water because it was made bitter or poisonous. 486 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:22,159 The 4th Angel sounded and a third of the sun was struck, 1/3 487 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:26,840 of the moon and a third of the stars so that a third of them 488 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:32,800 were darkened. 1/3 of the day did not shine and likewise the 489 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:38,520 night. So now judgement begins, the 490 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:42,639 first trumpet has sounded and an unnatural storm is unleashed 491 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:46,000 upon the planet. The 1st 4 trumpet judgments are 492 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:50,000 directed by God at the environment and I feel feel 493 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,719 really sorry for the climate change people at this time 494 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:58,120 destroying the earth's ecology, just like the plagues that 495 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:02,000 struck Egypt. The next three trumpets fall 496 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:07,880 more directly on humanity. And the 7th trumpet introduces 497 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,800 the final seven bowl judgments and the outpouring of God's 498 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:13,040 wrath. God's wrath. 499 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,920 Let's quickly go at these trumpets and the judgments. 500 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:20,840 The first one, desolation on earth, hail, fire, mingle with 501 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:24,240 blood. It reminds us exactly of the 7th 502 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:27,480 plague that God sent against the Egyptians. 503 00:35:27,720 --> 00:35:34,120 Exodus Chapter 9, also predicted by Joel the prophet Joel chapter 504 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:38,240 2 verse 30, that there would be blood and fire in the last days. 505 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:42,800 1/3 of the trees are burned up, all green grass scorched. 506 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,920 So what's happening here? We take a step back, impact. 507 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:49,640 Some of you are farmers. The world's food supply is 508 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:53,400 upset. No pasture from meat, no milk, 509 00:35:54,240 --> 00:35:57,520 nothing can be produced. The second trumpet, the 510 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:01,800 desolation of the Seas reminds us of the first plague God sent 511 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:03,600 to Egypt. Exodus 7. 512 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:08,840 Something like a great mountain plunges into the sea. 1/3 of the 513 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:13,080 sea became blood. A third of all living sea 514 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:17,280 creatures destroyed, a third of all shipping sunken. 515 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:24,000 Now as of today, between 50 to 70,000 commercial licences are 516 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,200 available for ships around the world. 517 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:32,080 So from 50 to 70,000. That means roughly 20,000 ships 518 00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:38,720 sink at this moment. Don't book a cruise. 3rd Trumpet 519 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:42,000 Desolation of the world's freshwater supply. 520 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:46,960 A great star like a meteorite or an asteroid falls and as it hits 521 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:50,680 the Earth's atmosphere it explodes and goes into millions 522 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:56,280 of pieces and hurdles to the earth, and as a result a third 523 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,880 of all the rivers and springs are poisoned. 524 00:36:59,240 --> 00:37:03,000 Many people perish from the poisoned water because it is 525 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:06,840 made bitter. Wormwood is mentioned, meaning 526 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,760 undrinkable. Wormwood is where we get it's 527 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:14,000 it's absent. I think it's how you pronounce 528 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:18,440 it absent A liqueur. It's made from the oil of 529 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:21,040 Wormwood and it is banned in many countries. 530 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:27,960 Proverbs 5 Three the writer says, for the lips of a strange 531 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:33,280 woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil, 532 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:38,880 but her end is as bitter as Wormwood, sharp as A2 edged 533 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:42,240 sword. So we get this many people 534 00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:46,840 dying, the waters are poisoned, the 4th trumpet desolation in 535 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,440 the heavens. This judgement affects the 536 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:53,400 entire world, this one, because it gets to the very source of 537 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:57,400 Earth's life. What is that light, life and 538 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:00,880 energy? It parallels the 9th plague that 539 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:04,720 fell upon Egypt when darkness fell upon the land for three 540 00:38:04,720 --> 00:38:07,840 days. A third of the sun is darkened, 541 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:12,680 1/3 of the moon is darkened, 1/3 of the stars are darkened, and 542 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:19,200 the world became like night. Imagine you're living, pray you 543 00:38:19,240 --> 00:38:22,960 aren't on the planet at this time, Earth dwellers, and these 544 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:25,880 events are happening. There's nowhere to run, nowhere 545 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,240 to hide, and you must say you must be singing. 546 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,120 Why, why, why aren't people turning to the Lord? 547 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:38,600 Verse 13 and I looked and heard an Angel, now another Angel 548 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:42,880 separate, not the trumpets, not the other Angel with the 549 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:45,480 incense. This is a different one, an 550 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:49,400 Angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud 551 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:55,240 voice going around the world, woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants 552 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:57,240 of the earth. Why? 553 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:02,240 Because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three 554 00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:06,800 angels who are yet to sound. That's God's warning. 555 00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:14,160 What's coming is far worse already. 556 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:18,720 Think of the damage and the fright and the deaths and horror 557 00:39:18,720 --> 00:39:20,160 that's on the earth at this moment. 558 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:26,760 Now, at this point, as I said, a remarkable messenger appears in 559 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:31,280 the sky proclaiming to the inhabitants of the earth with a 560 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:34,560 dire warning. It is, though, the messenger 561 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:36,520 cried. If you think this has been 562 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:39,880 terrible, just wait. Way worse is yet to come. 563 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:44,680 But everyone hears that. Why would God do that? 564 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:51,200 Why would God send that out? The phrase inhabitants of the 565 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:56,600 earth is found 12 times in the Book of Revelation, and it means 566 00:39:56,600 --> 00:40:00,320 more than simply people living on the earth at this time. 567 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:06,960 It refers to a kind of people, those who live for the earth and 568 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:11,120 the things of the earth. Just the opposite to the citizen 569 00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,320 of heavens. These are those who, no matter 570 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:16,400 what God sends, no matter what happens around them. 571 00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:20,200 No matter what the warning that is coming, I don't want anything 572 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:24,680 to do with God because this is going to occur all the way 573 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:28,040 through and you can give your heart to Christ throughout 574 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:32,240 Revelation as we see we've read many millions have already done. 575 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:37,960 They are earth dwellers. They are non believers who don't 576 00:40:37,960 --> 00:40:44,160 want God. God always gives a warning 577 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:49,800 before He brings judgement. In Genesis chapter 2 verse 16, 578 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:53,480 God said to Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve, beautiful garden here, 579 00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:56,320 it's all for you. Of every tree in the garden, you 580 00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:57,760 can eat. Oh, no problems. 581 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:00,680 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not 582 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:01,920 eat. Here's the warning. 583 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:05,280 If you eat of it, you'll die. That's the warning. 584 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:10,160 I went ahead against it in Genesis chapter 6. 585 00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:13,200 The world is so violent. God says I've got to, I've got 586 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:17,400 to judge the world. And God says to Noah, the end of 587 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:20,040 all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with 588 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:23,800 violence through them. And behold, I will destroy them 589 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:25,920 with the earth. Here's what you're going to do 590 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:28,360 now. Build yourself an ark of goat 591 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:33,320 wood, making it rooms. Cover it inside and outside with 592 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:35,880 pitch. What did Noah do when he heard 593 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:39,640 God's warning? Gotcha boys. 594 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:44,800 Building an ark lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. 595 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:49,320 The angels turn up and the judgement doesn't happen 596 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:52,160 immediately, does it? They turn up and they say block. 597 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:54,440 Well, you know, we're going to we're going to sleep in the 598 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:56,840 village square and lots is all. You can't sleep in the village 599 00:41:56,840 --> 00:41:59,040 square because it's such a simple no, no, you got to come. 600 00:41:59,720 --> 00:42:04,000 So people had the opportunity when the angels of the Lord and 601 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:07,120 the Lord came to Sodom and Gomorrah to say, yeah, we've 602 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:10,080 we've been living terribly immorally. 603 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:12,240 No, no. What did they try to do? 604 00:42:12,680 --> 00:42:16,680 They but tried to bust down the door of Lot's house that night 605 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:20,240 to get to the angels of the Lord. 606 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:24,600 God warned Nebuchadnezzar through the prophet Daniel. 607 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,440 Nebuchadnezzar was mouthing off about man, his Kingdom. 608 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:30,840 Oh man, look at this Kingdom. But I built. 609 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:34,080 Daniel says, don't say that. There's a warning. 610 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:38,000 And he gave him a vision. And then Nebuchadnezzar didn't 611 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:40,320 worry about the warning. So he's walking around the 612 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:43,280 temple. Look at this great empire that 613 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:45,440 I've built. Next minute he's down on all 614 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:48,600 fours. His fingernails are growing the 615 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:53,320 hairs, the body hair has grown, and he lives for seven seasons 616 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:57,560 as an animal eating grass. Didn't heed the warning. 617 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:04,320 Jonah goes to the Ninevites. God could have just wiped out 618 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:06,640 the Ninevites. No, he sends Jonah. 619 00:43:06,720 --> 00:43:10,600 What does Jonah say yet? 40 days and Nineveh shall be 620 00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:12,600 overthrown. What do the Ninevites do? 621 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:15,800 Get lost? No, they repented. 622 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:20,480 They even put sackcloth upon all their animals and they repented 623 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:24,760 as a entire people. They heeded the warning, God 624 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:27,920 gave the warning and God gives you an eye a warning today. 625 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:34,440 In Galatians chapter 6 verse 7, Paul writes, do not be deceived. 626 00:43:35,240 --> 00:43:41,680 God is not mocked for whatever a man sows that he will also reap. 627 00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:47,920 How you live will direct your eternal eternity, both in 628 00:43:48,240 --> 00:43:55,040 judgement and life. For he who sews to his flesh, 629 00:43:55,680 --> 00:44:02,080 earth dwellers will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sews 630 00:44:02,080 --> 00:44:07,640 to the Spirit, you live. For God will of the Spirit reap 631 00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:11,480 everlasting life. That's the warning. 632 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:14,200 You're here today. You think you just come to 633 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,000 church for a sunny church. I just come to church. 634 00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:18,680 No, we're living in the last days. 635 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:20,640 The events of the water are happening. 636 00:44:20,840 --> 00:44:25,200 And God says to you, because he doesn't want any of you, any of 637 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:29,960 you to experience the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, the 638 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:33,280 judgement, the four horsemen, He doesn't want you to see the 639 00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:35,440 Antichrist, to know the Antichrist. 640 00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:40,520 He wants to call you up and take you and rapture you the moment 641 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:47,600 he comes for his own. And so this morning, God gives 642 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:53,000 you time to repent and turn to him and be saved. 643 00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:58,040 This morning as we study the Book of Revelation, the 644 00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:02,760 magnitude of destruction and mayhem that will come upon this 645 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:05,960 world is a warning. Jesus said this world has never 646 00:45:05,960 --> 00:45:09,800 experienced it. It's a warning to some of you 647 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:15,920 today, this morning, either here or online for today, you need to 648 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:17,680 repent. You're living immorally. 649 00:45:18,040 --> 00:45:21,440 You're living outside the will of God, you're playing church, 650 00:45:21,440 --> 00:45:25,560 you're playing a religious game, you're pretending and your your 651 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:28,960 life is just like your next door neighbour, a person across the 652 00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:30,720 street are the kids in the school. 653 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:34,080 You're no different. And God says I don't want that. 654 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:38,000 You can't live that way because if you do, you will go into the 655 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:42,840 tribulation period. God as will as that none should 656 00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:46,960 perish. It doesn't matter how you might 657 00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:50,200 feel about hearing of these terrifying judgments of 658 00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:54,360 Revelation 8. You might say, well, I don't 659 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:58,360 accept all this. That you're telling me I don't 660 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:05,280 agree with what happens here doesn't seem right to me that 661 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:07,640 God of love could do this. Hang on, hang on. 662 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:14,160 Check the cross. He is a God of love, for God so 663 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:16,840 loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that 664 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:19,160 whosoever believes in Him shall not perish. 665 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:26,440 You have a choice. You can reject His love, or you 666 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:33,800 can dismiss Him. It doesn't matter how you might 667 00:46:33,800 --> 00:46:36,760 feel about hearing of these terrifying judgments. 668 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:42,880 These things will happen. When Jesus died on the cross, he 669 00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:45,600 told them. Three days later, I'll be back. 670 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:55,160 None of them believed. 3 days later that same Jesus, the only 671 00:46:55,160 --> 00:46:58,440 man. That's the sign, the only man 672 00:46:58,440 --> 00:47:04,120 who died and rose from the dead. That is the sign for you and I 673 00:47:04,120 --> 00:47:08,320 today to know that what is written in this last passage 674 00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:13,240 that we've been reading is definitely going to happen. 675 00:47:19,920 --> 00:47:23,240 They're going to happen whether you like it or not, whether you 676 00:47:23,240 --> 00:47:25,760 agree or not. The other thing is too, besides 677 00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:33,960 this and I dealt with a in my work time with police, I dealt 678 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:38,200 with a lot of death. I was at the morgue all the 679 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:41,960 time. Anytime I the police, you get 680 00:47:41,960 --> 00:47:43,560 called a chaplain. If someone's dead. 681 00:47:44,560 --> 00:47:46,600 My job was to go to the house, knock on the door. 682 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:50,440 As soon as they saw me, they knew whoever wasn't home isn't 683 00:47:50,440 --> 00:47:53,680 coming home. They would begin screaming as I 684 00:47:53,680 --> 00:47:57,720 walked towards the door. They knew the chaplain's coming. 685 00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:00,160 He's not going to wish me happy birthday. 686 00:48:04,120 --> 00:48:07,160 And The thing is, each and every one of us, we know this. 687 00:48:08,680 --> 00:48:11,640 We are all going to perish. We're all going to die. 688 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:16,280 So what happens? Where do you go when you die? 689 00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:21,080 And I've spoken to so many in their Hospice bed in their last 690 00:48:21,080 --> 00:48:25,560 moments. And some people, the real 691 00:48:25,720 --> 00:48:28,560 they're terrified because they're dying. 692 00:48:31,640 --> 00:48:33,920 Where do you go when you die? What happens when you die? 693 00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:42,800 You see, I can be sure of what's going to happen because someone 694 00:48:42,800 --> 00:48:48,320 died and came back. He conquered death for those 695 00:48:48,320 --> 00:48:52,440 that would believe in him. So it's not only about the 696 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:57,840 rapture, it's not only about the tribulation, it's about your 697 00:48:57,840 --> 00:49:01,840 very life. There are 40 people living in WA 698 00:49:01,840 --> 00:49:09,280 today who tomorrow will be in the morgue. 40 Some they know 699 00:49:09,280 --> 00:49:13,040 they're dying in hospital, others they haven't got a clue. 700 00:49:14,840 --> 00:49:22,600 But 40 are going to be there. And God's message for you and I 701 00:49:22,600 --> 00:49:27,480 today is that death wasn't in the original plan. 702 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:31,840 Adam and Eve were to live forever and they dissipate. 703 00:49:32,880 --> 00:49:38,440 So God had to send his son to re gear the whole thing. 704 00:49:39,520 --> 00:49:45,760 A second Adam, it's called, he's going to change and bring a new 705 00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:50,160 heaven and a new earth. And you can be involved in that 706 00:49:50,600 --> 00:49:53,760 or you can dismiss it. And if you dismiss it, the 707 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:56,720 people who dismiss it. So I don't want anything to do 708 00:49:56,720 --> 00:49:59,160 with him. God says OK, and you'll be 709 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:02,840 alone. The Bible says alone with 710 00:50:02,840 --> 00:50:06,880 yourself in darkness, because God is light. 711 00:50:07,320 --> 00:50:12,680 No love, wailing and gnashing of teeth for eternity, Because when 712 00:50:12,680 --> 00:50:15,280 you die, you're not annihilated. You live on. 713 00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:18,880 Because each and every one of us, when we go to a funeral, 714 00:50:18,880 --> 00:50:20,160 where do we go? We don't go. 715 00:50:20,160 --> 00:50:25,240 Well, old Jack, he's just, he just disappeared, gone. 716 00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:28,760 This. What do we all, what do we all 717 00:50:28,760 --> 00:50:30,360 do? Even though we're not 718 00:50:30,360 --> 00:50:35,120 Christians? They're up there and we say 719 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:37,520 they're with so and so and so and so. 720 00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:43,320 Who's all died before? Funny that you don't go to 721 00:50:43,320 --> 00:50:45,800 heaven by default. You go to heaven by the cross of 722 00:50:45,800 --> 00:50:48,600 Christ, the death of resurrection. 723 00:50:48,760 --> 00:50:53,280 Otherwise, why did he die this morning? 724 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:58,760 I pray for you to heed God's warning, to turn to him now and 725 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:04,440 to be saved to repent for the time is at hand. 726 00:51:04,680 --> 00:51:09,000 The Bible says today is the day of salvation and never says 727 00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:10,720 tomorrow is the day of salvation. 728 00:51:10,720 --> 00:51:12,920 You know why? Because we don't live in a 729 00:51:12,920 --> 00:51:15,520 tomorrow. We live always in the moment. 730 00:51:15,680 --> 00:51:24,560 Today, turn from your ways where you're walking away from God and 731 00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:26,760 turn to God. Repent.