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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 63

TITLE: THE WORK OF AN UNHOLY TRINITY

TEXT: REVELATION 16:12-16

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS ONE OF THE GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND DISTINGUISHES CHRISTIANITY FROM ALL THE OTHER FALSE RELIGIONS IN OUR WORLD.

* NOW IT IS A GREAT DOCTRINE BECAUSE IT COMMUNICATES HOW GREAT GOD IS AND AFFORDS US A GLIMPSE INTO THE WONDERFUL BEING OF GOD.

** THE DOCTRINE IS GREAT BECAUSE IT COMMUNICATES THE TRANSCENDENCE OF GOD, THAT HE IS SUPERIOR OR SUPREME UNLIKE ANY OTHER BEING OR PERSON. HE SURPASSES HUMAN REASON.

*** FOR YOU SEE THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY PROCLAIMS THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF FULLY COMPREHENDING GOD.

**** IT’S A STUMBLING BLOCK TO HUMAN RATIONALISM AND THUS A SAFEGUARD TO INTELLECTUAL PRIDE.

(2) FOR WHO CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND IT OR EXPLAIN IT. FOR IT IS ABOVE REASON ACCEPTED BY FAITH AND FACE VALUE OF WHAT THE SCRIPTURES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS.

* NOW DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME, THE DOCTRINE IS NOT OPPOSED TO REASON, IT IS SIMPLY ABOVE REASON AND HAS TO DO WITH THE INCOMPREHENDIBILITY OF GOD.

** FOR THE TRUTH THE SCRIPTURES COMMUNICATE IS THE UNITY OF 3 PERSONS IN ONE GOD.

*** THAT THERE IS ONE DIVINE NATURE OR BEING IN THE ONE GOD.

****AND THIS ONE DIVINE BEING IS TRIPERSONAL INVOLVING THE DISTINCTIONS, THE PERSONS OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(3) FURTHERMORE THESE 3 PERSONS ARE JOINT PARTAKERS OF THE SAME NATURE AND MAJESTY OF GOD.

* IN OTHER WORDS THE FATHER IS GOD, JESUS IS GOD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD, BUT NOT 3 GODS, ONE GOD – THREE PERSONS – THE GODHEAD THREE IN ONE.

** NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL A REVEALED MYSTERY

*** IT’S A MYSTERY TO FINITE BEINGS, BUT REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE BY AN INFINITE GOD.

**** SO THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT GOD IS ONE, HE EXITS IN THREE PERSONS CALLED THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(4) AND IN THE OUTWORKINGS OF THE GODHEAD, THE FATHER SENDS THE SON INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS THROUGH HIS SACRIFICIAL DEATH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS PEOPLE OF SIN, CONVINCES PEOPLE THAT CHRIST IS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD, GOD THE SON, AND CONVERTS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE PLAN.

* THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS, CONVINCES AND CONVERTS.

** AND I COULD SUM UP THE INTERWORKINGS OF THE GODHEAD THREE IN ONE BY SAYING IN GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION, THE FATHER PLANNED IT AND SENT HIS SON, THE SON CARRIED OUT THE PLAN AND THE HOLY SPIRIT APPLIES IT.

*** NOW SCRIPTURALLY WE SEE THAT GOD IS ONE, THAT HE IS THEY, AS EARLY AS GENESIS 1:26 WHERE IT SAYS:

“THEN GOD SAID, “LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS; AND LET THEM RULE OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA AND OVER THE BIRDS OF THE SKY AND OVER THE CATTLE AND OVER ALL THE EARTH, AND OVER EVERY CREEPING THING THAT CREEPS ON THE EARTH.”

**** ALSO READ GENESIS 11:7

(5) THEN ONE OF THE NAMES OF GOD, ELOHIM, IS IN THE PLURAL FORM, AND ITS FIRST USE IS FOUND IN GENESIS 1:1

* FURTHERMORE, IN ISAIAH 6:3 GOD IS THE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD OF HOSTS, HOLY FATHER, HOLY SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.

** AND BASICALLY IN THE O.T. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS IMPLICIT RATHER THAT EXPLICIT.

*** BUT IN THE N.T., THE N.T. UNFOLDS AND REVEALS THE O.T., THE TEACHING OF THE TRINITY IS EXPLICIT, CLEARLY EXPRESSED, CLEARLY DEVELOPED.

****IN THE GREAT COMMISSION WE SEE THE TRINITY CLEARLY. READ MATTHEW 28:19. ALSO READ JOHN 14:16, AND II CORINTHIANS 13:14

(6) THEN WE SEE THE 3 PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD WORKING IN I CORINTHIANS 12:4-6 IN THE EXERCISE AND GIVING OUT OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

*AND THE GODHEAD AS 3 IS ALSO COMMUNICATED IN EPHESIANS 4:4-6, I PETER 1:2, AND REVELATION 1:4-6.

** BEYOND THAT IN JOHN 1:1-3 AND V. 14 THAT JESUS IS GOD AND IN ACTS 5:1-4 THAT LYING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LYING TO GOD.

***NOW ONE LAST THING BEFORE I TRY TO CONNECT THIS DOCTRINE TO OUR TEXT TODAY.

**** AND THAT IS AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE WORD TRINITY ITSELF IS NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE.

(7) THE WORD TRINITY IS A COINED TERM WE USE TO IDENTIFY THE GODHEAD FOR THE TRUTH OF THE TRINITY IS CLEAR.

* SO JUST BECAUSE THE WORD TRINITY IS NOT USED DOES NOT COMMUNICATE THAT THE CLEAR TEACHING OF THE DOCTRINE IS NOT IN THE BIBLE.

** NOW WITH THAT SAID, UNDERSTAND THAT SATAN TRIES TO COUNTERFEIT MANY OF THE WORKS OF GOD AND TRUTHS ABOUT GOD.

*** FOR EXAMPLE, SATAN HAS A COUNTERFEIT SALVATION – WORKS. HE HAS COUNTERFEIT GIFTS, SIGNS AND WONDERS AND EVEN COUNTERFEIT SPIRITUALITY AND REVIVAL.

**** BUT HERE IS THE KICKER, IN HIS DESIRE TO BE WORSHIPPED AS GOD, HE HAS A COUNTERFEIT TRINITY.

(8) AND IN THAT COUNTERFEIT TRINITY, SATAN AS THE DRAGON IS THE FATHER, THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA IS ANTICHRIST, - THE COUNTERFEIT SON, AND THE FALSE PROPHET – THE RELIGIOUS LEADER OF THE WORLD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

* NOW THIS COUNTERFEIT TRINITY IS CLEARLY REVEALED IN OUR TEXT TODAY. UNDER THE SIXTH BOWL JUDGMENT.

** FOR IN REVELATION 16:13-14 IT SAYS:

“AND I SAW COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE DRAGON AND OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST AND OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE FALSE PROPHET, THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS LIKE FROGS; 14FOR THEY ARE SPIRITS OF DEMONS, PERFORMING SIGNS, WHICH GO OUT TO THE KINGS OF THE WHOLE WORLD TO GATHER THEM TOGETHER FOR THE WAR OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY.”

***NOW WHAT WE WILL SEE UNFOLD IN OUR STUDY IS THIS SATANIC UNHOLY TRINTY WILL BE INVOLVED USING DEMONS TO DECEIVE THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD TO SEND THEIR ARMIES TO ISRAEL FOR THE WAR OF ALL WARS, THE WAR OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD THE ALMIGHTY CALLED ARMAGEDDON.

*** AND THAT WILL BE THEIR UNHOLY WORK. THUS THE TITLE OF THE SERMON TODAY, “THE WORK OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY.”

**** AND UNDER THAT TITLE AND THEME WE’LL LOOK AT 4 POINTS AS WE STUDY THE 6TH BOWL.

(9) NO. 1 THE PURPOSE OF THE BOWL, V.12. NO. 2 THE PLAN OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY, VV. 13&14, NO. 3 THE PROMISE OF GOD TO TRIBULATION SAINTS, V. 15 AND NO. 4 THE PLACE WHERE THIS FUTURE WAR WILL TAKE PLACE, V. 16.

* AND WITHOUT ANY MORE INTRODUCTION, LET’S JUMP INTO OUR STUDY BY LOOKING AT THE PURPOSE OF BOWL #6, LOOK AT V. 12 PLEASE.

I. THE PURPOSE, (READ V. 12)

A. NOW THE PURPOSE OF THE 6TH BOWL IS TO DRY UP THE GREAT RIVER EUPHRATES SO THE KINGS FROM THE EAST WILL BE MOVED TO ENTER PALESTINE AND COME UP ON JERUSALEM.

* AND BEFORE I UNPACK THAT TRUTH, UNDERSTAND THAT UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS BOWL JUDGMENTS, THE SIXTH BOWL HAS NO SPECIFIC JUDGMENT ON THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS AT THIS TIME, LIKE THE FIRST 5 BOWLS.

** THERE WILL BE JUDGMENT FROM THIS, BUT IT WILL COME AT THE WAR OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.

*** SO IN ESSENCE THIS BOWL PREPARES FOR WHAT IS TO COME, ARMAGEDDON THAT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE IN REV. 19, REMINDING US THAT THE BOWL JUDGMENTS TAKE US TO THE END OF THE TRIBULATION.

****NOW SPECIFICALLY AS THE SIXTH ANGEL POURS OUT HIS BOWL, HE POURS IT OUT ON THE GREAT RIVER, THE EUPHRATES.

1. AND THE EUPHRATES IS CALLED GREAT BECAUSE IT IS THE LARGEST RIVER IN WESTERN ASIA.

* AND IT IS RICH OR GREAT IN HISTORY. FOR THIS RIVER RUNS THROUGH THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION. AND WHERE SOME BELIEVE THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS LOCATED, FOR IN GENESIS 2:10-14 THE EUPHRATES IS LINKED TO THE RIVER THAT FLOWED OUT OF EDEN AND DIVIDED AND BECAME FOUR RIVERS, ONE BEING THE EUPHRATES.

** AND THIS AREA IS A HOTBED OF UNREST, VIOLENCE, TERRORISM AND WAR TODAY.

*** FOR THE EUPHRATES PASSES THROUGH TURKEY, SYRIA, AND IRAQ, BEGINNING IN TURKEY AND EMPTYING INTO THE PERSIAN GULF AND IS APPROXIMATELY 1800 MILES LONG. (GO TO THE MAP AND TRACE IT OUT AND SHOW WHERE BAGHDAD IS AT)

**** NOW BEYOND THE AREA BEING A HOTBED OF UNREST, HISTORICALLY THE EUPHRATES RIVER WAS A BOUNDARY FOR THE WESTWARD EXPANSION OF THE ASSYRIAN ARMY AND SERVED AS A LINE DRAWN BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE INVADING NATIONS OF THE EAST.

2. THIS WAS ALSO ITS FUNCTION IN THE TIMES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND IT MARKED THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THAT EMPIRE.

* AND FINALLY, HISTORICALLY, THE EUPHRATES FORMED THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE PROMISED LAND THAT GOD GAVE TO ISRAEL AND ALSO THE CITY OF BABYLON BESIDE THIS RIVER.

** IT WAS A NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY BETWEEN NATIONS.

*** WELL, GOD IS GOING TO SUPERNATURALLY DRY UP THIS RIVER WHICH AFTER THE THIRD BOWL WOULD BE BLOOD AND AFTER THE INTENSE HEAT OF BOWL #5 MIGHT CAUSE IT TO PARTIALLY EVAPORATE.

**** NOW THE SUPERNATURAL DRYING UP OF THE RIVER EUPHRATES WILL OPEN UP THE DOOR, IT WILL OPEN THE WAY, IT WILL PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE KINGS FROM THE EAST TO INVADE ISRAEL.

3. NOW THE KINGS FROM THE EAST MOST LIKELY ARE KINGS FROM THE RISING SUN, THE LITERAL MEANING OF THE EAST WHERE THE SUN RISES FROM.

* AND THESE NATIONS EAST OF THE EUPHRATES WOULD INCLUDE CHINA, AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE THAT PRODUCES GREAT TOOTHPASTE, TOYS, DOG TREATS, AND FISH PRODUCTS.

** AND CERTAINLY THEIR MILITARY MIGHT IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

*** OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD INCLUDE INDIA AND JAPAN AND ALSO LESSER NATIONS.

**** AND THE POPULATION OF THIS AREA HAS EXPLODED WITH INDIA AND CHINA HAVING OVER A BILLION PEOPLE IN EACH COUNTRY.

4. AND CERTAINLY THEY COULD PUT TOGETHER AN ARMY OF 200 MILLION TALKED ABOUT IN REV. 9:16.

* AND IT MAY BE THEY WILL HAVE TO CROSS THIS RIVER BY CONVENTIONAL MEANS FROM THE DEVASTATION OF ALL THE JUDGMENTS UP TO THIS POINT.

** OR IT MAY BE THEY IN THEIR FALSE RELIGIONS INTERPRET THIS MIRACLE AS A SIGN OF SUPERNATURAL APPROVAL TO INVADE ISRAEL.

*** BUT REGARDLESS, THE EVAPORATION OF THIS EUPHRATES WILL LEAD THEM TO THEIR DOOM, JUST AS THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY.

**** AND WHY THEY MAKE THIS JOURNEY TO THEIR DOOM IS GIVEN IN VV. 13 & 14, WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE PLAN OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY. LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE.

II. THE PLAN (READ V. 13)

A. NOW WHATEVER THE HUMAN MOTIVE FOR THE COMING INVASION TO ISRAEL, WHETHER IT BE ANTI-SEMITISM OR POLITICAL REBELLION, THE REAL REASON IS THIS IS THE PLAN AND WORK OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY.

* FOR JOHN IN HIS NEXT VISION INTRODUCED BY THE WORDS “I SAW” SEES 3 UNCLEAN SPIRITS LIKE FROGS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE DRAGON WHICH IS SATAN, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST WHICH IS ANTI-CHRIST AND OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE FALSE PROPHET WHICH IS ANT-CHRIST’S RIGHT HAND MAN, THE RELIGIOUS LEADER OF THE WORLD AT THAT TIME.

** AND NOTICE THAT THESE DEMONS LOOK LIKE FROGS BUT ARE NOT LITERAL FROGS, THE WORD LIKE POINTS US TO FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN JOHN’S VISION. PLUS THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS UNCLEAN SPIRITS, LITERAL DEMONS.

*** AND BY THE WAY, FROGS WERE UNCLEAN ANIMALS IN LEVITICUS 11:10 AND A PICTURE OF THE SLIMY LOATHSOME, COLD BLOODED DEMONS THAT WILL DO A WORK OF THIS INFERNAL TRIO, THE TRINITY OF EVIL.

**** AND NOTICE BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO V. 14 THAT THESE DEMONS COME OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THIS UNHOLY TRINITY.

1. AND WHAT COMES OUT OF OUR MOUTHS ARE WORDS, SPEECH, UTTERANCES.

* AND WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THIS UNHOLY TRINITY ARE LYING DEMONS, USING PROPAGANDA AND PERSUASIVE WORDS THAT WILL TRICK AND DECEIVE THE KINGS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

** BUT NOT ONLY THROUGH LYING WORDS, BUT THROUGH LYING WONDERS WILL THESE LEADERS BE DECEIVED TO COME UP AGAINST ISRAEL. LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 14, NOW AS A PART OF THEIR DECEPTION THESE DEMONS WILL PERFORM SUPERNATURAL SIGNS, MIRACULOUS SIGNS.

* AND THE TEXT DOESN’T COMMUNICATE WHAT THE SIGNS ARE, SO I AM NOT GOING TO SPECULATE BUT JUST SAY THEY ARE CONVINCING, FOR THE SIGNS WILL WORK, FOR IN V. 16 WE’LL SEE THAT THESE SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS WILL BE USED TO GATHER THE KINGS OF THE WHOLE WORLD AT HAR-MAGEDON.

** AND MOST LIKELY THE KINGS (THE LEADERS) OF THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL JOIN THE KINGS OF THE EAST TO CONVERGE ON JERUSALEM.

*** FOR THE PLAN OF THE DEMONS THAT ARE SERVING THE UNHOLY TRINITY IS TO GATHER NOT JUST THE EASTERN POWERS, BUT ALL OF THE WORLD RULERS AND ARMIES TO JOIN THE FORCES FROM THE EAST “FOR THE WAR OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY.”

**** AND THIS WAR WILL TAKE PLACE IN REV. 19:11-21, AND IT WILL BE OVER QUICKLY AS JESUS RETURNS TO THE EARTH.

1. AND IN REALITY IT WILL NOT BE MUCH OF A WAR BUT A SLAUGHTER OF THE ENEMIES OF GOD BY CHRIST.

* AND THIS GATHERING OF THE NATIONS FOR THE WAR IS TALKED ABOUT IN THE OT.

** FOR EXAMPLE, ZECHARIAH THE PROPHET SAID THIS IN ZECHARIAH 14:2&3:

“FOR I WILL GATHER ALL THE NATIONS AGAINST JERUSALEM TO BATTLE, AND THE CITY WILL BE CAPTURED, THE HOUSES PLUNDERED, THE WOMEN RAVISHED AND HALF OF THE CITY EXILED, BUT THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF FROM THE CITY. 3THEN THE LORD WILL GO FORTH AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE NATIONS, AS WHEN HE FIGHTS ON A DAY OF BATTLE.”

*** THEN JOEL PROPHESIED OF THIS TIME IN JOEL 3:2, 9-13

“I WILL GATHER ALL THE NATIONS AND BRING THEM DOWN TO THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT. THEN I WILL ENTER INTO JUDGMENT WITH THEM THERE ON BEHALF OF MY PEOPLE AND MY INHERITANCE, ISRAEL, WHOM THEY HAVE SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS; AND THEY HAVE DIVIDED UP MY LAND. 9PROCLAIM THIS AMONG THE NATIONS: PREPARE A WAR; ROUSE THE MIGHTY MEN! LET ALL THE SOLDIERS DRAW NEAR, LET THEM COME UP! 10BEAT YOUR PLOWSHARES INTO SWORDS AND YOUR PRUNING HOOKS INTO SPEARS; LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM A MIGHTY MAN.” 11HASTEN AND COME, ALL YOU SURROUNDING NATIONS, AND GATHER YOURSELVES THERE. BRING DOWN, O LORD, YOUR MIGHTY ONES. 12LET THE NATIONS BE AROUSED AND COME UP TO THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, FOR THERE I WILL SIT TO JUDGE ALL THE SURROUNDING NATIONS. 13PUT IN THE SICKLE, FOR THE HARVEST IS RIPE. COME, TREAD, FOR THE WINE PRESS IS FULL; THE VATS OVERFLOW FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS IS GREAT.”

**** NOW THE WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD WILL BE POURED OUT AT THIS TIME AS THIS GREAT SLAUGHTER CALLED ARMAGEDDON TAKES PLACE.

2. AND WE CLEARLY SEE THIS IN REVELATION 19: 15&16 AND REVELATION 19:19-21, WHICH SAYS:

REVELATION 19:15-16

“FROM HIS MOUTH COMES A SHARP SWORD SO THAT WITH IT HE MAY STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS, AND HE WILL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; AND HE TREADS THE WINE PRESS OF THE FIERCE WRATH OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY. 16AND ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

REVELATION 19:19-21

“AND I SAW THE BEAST AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH AND THEIR ARMIES ASSEMBLED TO MAKE WAR AGAINST HIM WHO SAT ON THE HORSE AND AGAINST HIS ARMY. 20AND THE BEAST WAS SEIZED, AND WITH HIM THE FALSE PROPHET WHO PERFORMED THE SIGNS IN HIS PRESENCE, BY WHICH HE DECEIVED THOSE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND THOSE WHO WORSHIPED HIS IMAGE; THESE TWO WERE THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE WHICH BURNS WITH BRIMSTONE. 21AND THE REST WERE KILLED WITH THE SWORD WHICH CAME FROM THE MOUTH OF HIM WHO SAT ON THE HORSE, AND ALL THE BIRDS WERE FILLED WITH THEIR FLESH.

*NOW WE SEE THE ARMIES ASSEMBLED TO MAKE WAR HERE IN REV. 19, AND THE SCHEME THAT BRINGS THEM THERE IS UNFOLDING FOR US UNDER THE SIXTH BOWL.

** AND THIS SCHEME COMES FROM THE PLAN OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY IN REV. 16:13&14.

*** BUT AFTER THIS UNHOLY PLAN IS REVEALED WE SEE A PRECIOUS PROMISE TO BELIEVERS IN V. 15, SO LOOK AT V. 15 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR THIRD POINT, THE PROMISE.

III. THE PROMISE (READ V. 15)

A. NOW V. 15 IS A ONE VERSE PARENTHESIS THAT IS GIVEN TO ENCOURAGE TRIBULATION SAINTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN MARTYRED BY THE UNHOLY TRINITY.

* FOR JESUS IS GOING TO COME BACK IN REVELATION 19, AND HE IS GOING TO COME BACK AS A THIEF!

** AND THESE ARE THE DIRECT WORDS OF CHRIST FOR IT SAYS: “I AM COMING LIKE A THIEF.” SO THESE ARE THE WORDS OF CHRIST TO HIS PEOPLE TO BE READY WHEN HE RETURNS.

*** FOR COMING AS A THIEF POINTS TO JESUS COMING QUICKLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, AND AS ONE WHO COMES TO TAKE THE SPOILS, TO TAKE BACK HIS POSSESSION, NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S POSSESSIONS – THE EARTH.

****AND CHRIST IS SAYING TO HIS PEOPLE, I AM COMING, HANG IN THERE, DON’T GIVE UP IN THE MIDST OF ALL YOU’RE GOING THROUGH IN RUNNING AWAY AND BEING PERSECUTED BY THE UNHOLY TRINITY.

1. AND CHRIST WILL TAKE THE BEAST WORSHIPPERS BY SURPRISE, BUT HIS OWN SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED BUT ARE PROMISED A BLESSING, THE 3RD BEATITUDE OF 7 IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

* AND THE BLESSING IS “BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO STAYS AWAKE AND KEEPS HIS CLOTHES, SO THAT HE WILL NOT WALK ABOUT NAKED AND MEN WILL NOT SEE HIS SHAME.”

** NOW THE BLESSING IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED FOR HIS ARRIVAL.

*** AND THE PICTURE, THE IMAGERY HERE APPEARS TO BE A SOLDIER WHO IS ALERT AND ON DUTY.

****FOR ONLY A SOLDIER WHO STAYS AWAKE AND KEEPS HIS CLOTHES ON IS READY FOR COMBAT.

2. FOR THOSE CAUGHT UNPREPARED, TO USE THE EXPRESSION WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN, WILL WALK ABOUT NAKED AND MEN WILL SEE THEIR SHAME, THE SHAME OF A SOLDIER DERELICT IN HIS DUTY.

* FOR A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE IS ALWAYS ON DUTY, ALWAYS ON CALL, AND EVEN WHEN HE RESTS, IT’S WITH HIS CLOTHES ON, HE DOESN’T CHANGE INTO PAJAMAS ON THE BATTLE FIELD.

** HE KEEPS HIS CLOTHES ON AND IS READY. AND THAT IS THE PICTURE HERE. FOR THIS ONE WHO IS READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN AND LOOKS FORWARD TO IT AND IS FILLED WITH HOPE BECAUSE OF IT, IS BLESSED!

*** SO V. 15 IS A PROMISE OF BLESSING TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING NOT TO GIVE UP, BUT BE WATCHING AND WAITING IN HOPE AND PREPAREDNESS, FOR THE LORD IS COMING BACK. WHAT A BLESSING FOR THOSE BELIEVERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING.

**** AND THAT PROMISE LEADS US TO THE PLACE WHERE THE FINAL BATTLE WILL OCCUR. LOOK AT V. 16 PLEASE.

IV. THE PLACE (READ V. 16)

A. NOW V. 16 BEGINS WITH “THEY” GATHERED THEM TOGETHER. AND ONLY THE KJV SAYS “HE” GATHERED THEM TOGETHER.

* FOR THE RSV, THE NAS, THE NIV, AND THE NKJV, ALL SAY THEY WHICH IS THE BETTER TRANSLATION IN THIS CONTEXT, FOR IN V. 14 IT IS THE 3 DEMONS THAT GATHER TOGETHER THE KINGS OF THE WORLD.

** AND THE CONJUNCTION KAI TRANSLATED AND, THE FIRST WORD IN V. 16 RESUMES THE PREVIOUS FLOW OF THOUGHT AFTER THE BRIEF PARENTHESIS OF V. 15.

*** AND THE 3 DEMONS THAT PROCEED OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY AND USED TO GATHER THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD AT A PLACE CALLED IN HEBREW HAR-MAGEDON.

**** AND HAR-MAGEDON LITERALLY MEANS MOUNT MEGIDDO. AND SINCE THERE IS NO SPECIFIC MOUNTAIN BY THAT NAME, AND HAR CAN REFER TO HILL ALSO, HAR-MAGEDON IS PROBABLY REFERRING TO THE HILL COUNTRY OR SURROUNDING THE PLAIN OF MEGIDDO WHICH IS NORTH OF JERUSALEM.

1. AND HAR-MAGEDON LITERALLY ARMAGEDDON IS A PLAIN OF MEGIDDO AND THE NEARBY PLAIN OF ESDRAELON AND THE VALLEY OF JEZREEL WILL BE THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON CALLED IN OUR TEXT, “THE WAR OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.”

* AND IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT MORE THAN 200 BATTLES HAVE BEEN FOUGHT IN THIS REGION OVER THE CENTURIES, SOME NAMED IN SCRIPTURE.

** AND SEVERAL COMMENTATORS COMMUNICATED THAT NAPOLEON SAID AFTER SEEING THIS GREAT VALLEY, THAT IT WAS THE IDEAL BATTLE GROUND FOR ALL THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD.

*** AND LITTLE DID HE KNOW, ALL THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD WILL BE GATHERED AT THIS PLACE SOMEDAY.

IN WRAP UP: (1) IN APPLICATION, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE TODAY, “THE WORK OF THE UNHOLY TRINITY.”

* AND THE WORK OF THIS UNHOLY TRINITY IN THIS CONTEXT IS DONE BY 3 DEMONS WHO USE LYING WORDS AND LYING WONDERS TO DECEIVE PEOPLE.

** AND THEIR WORK TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT WITH FALSE TEACHERS. FOR I TIMOTHY 4:1&2 SAYS (READ THIS).

*** NOW APOSTATES, FALSE TEACHERS TODAY ARE VICTIMS OF DEMONIC SPIRITS USING LIES TO PEDDLE THEIR DOCTRINE, DOCTRINES OF DEMONS.

**** AND THEY USE LYING WORDS AND EVEN LYING WONDERS AT TIMES, FOR II THESSALONIANS 2:3-10 SAYS: (READ THIS)

(2) NOW CLEARLY THERE ARE SOME FALSE TEACHERS TODAY THAT USE AND TALK ABOUT SIGNS AND WONDERS AS THE BASIS OF THEIR MINISTRY, WHICH THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES CRIED OUT FOR IN MATTHEW 12:38-39. (READ THIS)

* NOW THE BASIS OF GENUINE BIBLICAL MINISTRY IS TRUTH, SOUND DOCTRINE, DELINEATED IN THE WORD OF GOD, NOT SIGNS AND WONDERS AND PEOPLE WAITING TO SEE THEM TO BELIEVE.

** AND IF EVER WE NEEDED DOCTRINAL PRECISION, DOCTRINAL CLARITY AND DOCTRINAL UNDERSTANDING, IT IS IN OUR DAY.

*** BUT THAT’S NOT THE NORM AS PEOPLE WANT TO TURN OFF THEIR MINDS AND TURN OFF THEIR EMOTIONS WHEN THEY GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD TODAY.

**** WHICH IS NOT TRUE WORSHIP BECAUSE WE MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN WHAT? TRUTH.

(3) SO THE DOCTRINE I STARTED OFF WITH TODAY IN MY INTRODUCTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. AND IT SHOULD NOT BE BORING OR QUOTE “HEADY” BUT A PART OF SOUND BELIEF AS A BELIEVER.

* AND IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS DOCTRINE YOU CAN BE MISLEAD BY ELOQUENT PEOPLE LIKE T.D. JAKES WHO ESSENTIALLY DENIES THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY AND BELIEVES IN THE ANCIENT HERESY OF MODALISM OR SABELLIANISM CLAIMING THAT GOD HAS 3 DIFFERENT MODES OF EXPRESSION, THAT GOD EXISTS IN 3 MANIFESTATIONS.

** SO THE PERSONS OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD NEVER ACTUALLY EXIST SIMULTANEOUSLY AS DISTINGUISHABLE YET COETERNAL DIVINE PERSONS.

*** BELOVED, T.D. JAKES COMMUNICATES HERESY WHEN IT COMES TO THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.

**** NOW AGAIN MY POINT IS DEMONS USE HUMAN VESSELS TO DECEIVE. THEY SPEAK LIES. THEY USE LYING WORDS AND LYING WONDERS.

(4) SO THE ADMONITION IS STUDY DOCTRINE AND AS YOU COME TO KNOW GOD IN A GREATER WAY IN THE TRUTH THAT HE HAS GIVEN IN HIS WORD, GLORIFY HIM IN HIS PERFECTIONS AND ATTRIBUTES, AND DOCTRINES.

* KNOW HIM TO GLORIFY HIM AND GLORIFY HIM BY LIVING FOR HIM AND MAKING HIM KNOWN. STUDY TO KNOW GOD AND MAKE HIM KNOWN.

** THE ANTIDOTE FOR LIES AND ERROR IS ALWAYS THE TRUTH. I CLOSE WITH II TIMOTHY 4:2-4. (READ THEM AND PRAY)