John Brown :: Revelation 6:1-2

There is a story told of a man who died after having led a thoroughly selfish, immoral life. Moments later, he found himself in a world of bright sunlight, soft music, and figures all dressed in white. "Boy, I never expected this," he said to himself. "I guess God has a soft spot in His heart for a clever rascal like me." He turned to a figure in a white robe and said, "Buddy, I've got something to celebrate. Can I buy you a drink?" The figure answered, "If you mean alcoholic beverages, we don't have any of that around here." "No booze, huh? Well then, what about a game of cards? Pinochle, draw poker, you name it." "I'm sorry but we don't gamble here either." "Well, what do you do all day?" the man asked. "We read the psalms a lot. There is a Bible class every morning and a prayer circle in the afternoon." "Psalms! Bible study all day long! Boy, I'll tell you--heaven isn't what it's cracked up to be." At which point the figure in white smiled and said, "I see that you don't understand. We're in heaven; you're in hell."

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Luke 21:25-27 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (NKJV)

1. Last study we found Jesus Christ to be the only One with the right and the authority to open the scroll and loosen it's seals.

2. We also determined that this scroll is representative of the title deed to the earth!

a) Here in chapter 6, begins the opening of the seven seals that have kept the scroll bound until it's righful owner returned.

b) It is here that the judgment of the earth begins!

(1) The judgment does not fully end until chaper 19.

(2) The judgment of the earth is executed in three different series.

(a) The seals, the trumpets, and the vials.

(b) This has been illustrated with a telescope made up of three sections, the outer section containing the inner two.

(c) Out of the larger outer section (the seals) comes the second section (the trumpets), and out of the second comes the last section (the vials).

(d) It is important that we understand that the time frame this chapter represents: THESE EVENTS HAVE NOT YET TAKEN PLACE!

(e) They are yet future, though no doubt, many persecuted peoples have experienced similar "hololcosts".

(i) But, all of the world's tragedies and injustices combined will not compare with what is about to unfold before us in chapter 6.

3. For us to really understand the events of chapter 6 we must first take a look at the book of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. (TURN AND READ TEXT!)

a) These events are the immediate background of chapter 6.

b) At some point in these events the Lord will return and gather His church.

(1) It is impossible to know whether it will take place before or after the Russian invasion of Israel!

(2) But we do know that here in chapter 6, the saints are already before the throne. Representative of the 24 "crowned" elders before the throne worshiping the Lord!

c) The threat of Russia's global conquest will have been removed!

d) Many other nations will seek to fill the vacuum left by Russia and her allies and a "ten nation" organization will unite to "manage the world! (By the way, scripture tells us the these ten nations will have cultural and legal ties to ancient, and most probably, current Rome!) Revelation 17:12-13 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (NKJV)

(1) In one of these nations, a brilliant charismatic leader will emerge with tremendous solutions to many of the world's global problems.

(2) He will be adored and gain tremendous power.

(3) He will also enter into a 7 year treaty with Israel which he will break after 3 1/2 years.

(a) It will be during this first 3 1/2 years that the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt and the sacrifices reinstituted.

(b) At this mid-point, this brilliant, charismatic, Antichrist will exalt himself as the one to be worshiped.

(i) 2 Thessalonians 2:3-6 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. (NKJV)

(4) But the first 2 or 3 years the people of the earth will experience peace and safety and prosperity like they have never experienced!

(a) You see the threat of war seems over, those "Christians" are out of the way and are not keeping the world from "evolving".

(b) Finaly, "mother earth" is becoming one!

(c) It is from this background, we begin our study!

II. TEXT

A. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, (NKJV)

B. Revelation 13:13-14 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (NKJV)

C. Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. (NKJV)

D. Revelation 17:17 "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. (NKJV)

In a cartoon by Charles Schultz Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "You reap what you sow! You get out of life exactly what you put into it. No more and no less!!" Snoopy, overhearing this statement, reflects, "I'd like to see a little more margin for error!" (Christians have it, unbelievers don't!)

On a crowded street in one of our large cities, a young man was snatched from the path of a speeding truck, his life saved by a stately looking man. Still breathless from fright, the youth thanked the man for saving his life, and soon the man was lost in the crowd.

Two weeks later in a crowded courtroom, an anxious young man stood before the bench to be sentenced for murder. The Judge asked, "Young man, have you anything to say before the sentence of death is passed upon you?"

"Why, Yes! Yes, Judge," the youth responded, "You know me!"

A silence moved like a shock wave over the court room.

"I'm sorry, I cannot place you," said the Judge.

But the boy persisted, "You remember two weeks ago. At 7th Ave. and Camelback, you saved my life. Surely, Judge, you can do something to save me now."

The Judge said, "Young man, I do now remember you. But that day I was your savior. Today I am your judge."