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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 48

TITLE: CLEAR CONTRASTS

TEXT: REVELATION 11:18-19

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE WRATH OF MANKIND IS IMPOTENT, THE WRATH OF GOD IS OMNIPOTENT.

* THE WRATH OF MANKIND IS WICKED, UNHOLY. THE WRATH OF GOD IS HOLY.

** THE WRATH OF MANKIND IS IRRATIONAL. THE WRATH OF GOD IS RATIONAL.

*** THE WRATH OF MANKIND IS A REACTION. THE WRATH OF GOD IS A RESPONSE.

(2) MY POINT BEING THERE ARE CLEAR CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE WRATH AND ANGER OF MANKIND COMPARED TO THE WRATH OF GOD.

* FOR GOD’S ANGER IS NOT AN OUTBURST OF TEMPER, IT IS HOLY INDIGNATION AGAINST SIN.

** YET GOD’S ANGER IS NOT DISPASSIONATE, IT IS NOT DEVOID OF HIS HOLY HATRED OF SIN AND HIS ONE HOLY PASSION FOR PURITY.

*** GOD LOVES JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ABHORS EVIL. AND SO HIS ANGER IS A HOLY RESPONSE TO SIN AND EVIL.

**** HIS WRATH IS NOT TEMPERAMENTAL OR UNPREDICTABLE. HIS WRATH IS ALWAYS A HOLY CONTROLLED RATIONAL RESPONSE.

(3) NOW THOSE THOUGHTS LEAD US TO OUR PASSAGE THAT WE ARE GOING TO STUDY TODAY.

* FOR THE WRATH OF MAN AND THE WRATH OF GOD ARE TALKED ABOUT IN V. 18 OF OUR TEXT.

** FOR THE WORD ENRAGED OR ANGRY SPEAKING OF THE NATION’S REACTION TO THE KINGDOM OF THE WORLD BECOMING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST UNDER THE SEVENTH SEAL IS THE VERB FORM OF THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED WRATH, SPEAKING OF GOD’S WRATH IN V. 18.

*** FOR THE WORD TRANSLATED ENRAGED OR ANGRY IS THE GREEK WORD OR-GID-ZO-MY, AND THIS GREEK WORD IS FROM THE GREEK WORD OR-GAY, THE WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED WRATH IN SPEAKING OF GOD’S WRATH IN THE SAME VERSE.

**** AND WHAT A CONTRAST – MAN’S WRATH AND GOD’S WRATH.

(4) AND MAN’S WRATH AND GOD’S WRATH ARE LIGHT YEARS APART, THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT RESPONSES, THEY ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED FROM TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS.

* AND MAN’S WRATH IS A SINFUL REACTION AND GOD’S WRATH IS A HOLY RESPONSE, THE PUNISHMENT ALWAYS FITS THE CRIME.

** WELL, IT’S INTERESTING TO ME THAT MAN’S WRATH AND GOD’S WRATH ARE WHAT WE ARE INTRODUCED TO TODAY IN V. 18.

*** BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED OUR MESSAGE “CLEAR CONTRASTS.”

**** AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 4 POINTS IN REVELATION 11:18&19.

(5) NO. 1 THE RAGE OF MEN AND GOD, V. 18A; NO. 2 THE REWARD THAT GOD GIVES TO HIS OWN, V. 18B; NO. 3 THE RETRIBUTION OF GOD TO THOSE WHO DESTROY THE EARTH, V. 18C; AND NO. 4 THE REMINDER WE RECEIVE FROM OUR HOLY GOD IN V. 19.

* SO WE’LL LOOK AT THE RAGE, THE REWARD, THE RETRIBUTION AND THE REMINDER UNDER THE THEME OF CLEAR CONTRASTS.

** AND WITH THAT PATH TO FOLLOW, LOOK AT V. 18A PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE RAGE. LOOK AT REVELATION 11:18A PLEASE.

I. THE RAGE, (READ V. 18A)

A. NOW IF YOU RECALL FROM LAST WEEK, THE BLOWING OF THE 7TH TRUMPET SETS IN MOTION THE FINAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO THE EARTH.

* WHICH LEADS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS RULE AND AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS CALLED THE MILLENNIUM, WHICH LEADS TO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD WHEN CHRIST HANDS THE KINGDOM OVER TO HIS FATHER AND THERE IS A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH AND A NEW JERUSALEM, THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD.

** NOW OUT OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET, THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS COME FORTH, THEY ROLL OUT, THEY UNFOLD.

*** AND THOSE JUDGMENTS FINISH GOD’S WRATH. REVELATION 10:7, REVELATION 15:1, REVELATION 16:1, VERSES WE LOOKED AT LAST WEEK.

**** IN OTHER WORDS, AS WE PUT THE VERSES TOGETHER I JUST MENTIONED, WE SEE THAT BOTH THE SEVENTH TRUMPET AND THE 7 BOWLS FINISH GOD’S WRATH.

1. AND THE BLOWING OF THE 7TH TRUMPET PROJECTS US FORWARD TO THE END, WHICH IS 3 ½ YEARS OR LESS AT THIS STAGE OF REVELATION, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COMMUNICATED AS AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT, A REALITY BECAUSE IT IS CERTAIN, IT WILL HAPPEN.

* OUR LORD AND GOD WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER. THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD HAS BECOME THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST.

** AND THE VERB “HAS BECOME” IS A PROLEPTIC AORIST IN THE GREEK WHICH DESCRIBES A FUTURE EVENT THAT IS SO CERTAIN THAT IT CAN BE SPOKEN AS IF IT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.

*** A PROLEPTIC AORIST IS ANTICIPATORY, THE EVENT OF THE KINGDOM BECOMING CHRIST’S IS FUTURE.

**** BUT THIS VERB VIEWS IT AS AN ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED FACT, AND SO IS TRANSLATED IN THE PAST TENSE, AS A FACT IN OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE HERE.

2. NOW WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND, THE INSTITUTION OF THE HATED KINGDOM OF GOD PROVOKES A DEFIANT RAGE FROM THE NATIONS.

* BELOVED, THE VISION OF THE 7TH TRUMPET REVEALS THAT THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WERE DEFIANT AND ENRAGED AT THE PROSPECT OF GOD’S KINGDOM BEING ESTABLISHED OVER THE WHOLE EARTH.

** AND THE VERB TRANSLATED “WERE ENRAGED” WHICH I TALKED ABOUT IN MY INTRODUCTION SUGGESTS A SETTLED BURNING RESENTMENT AGAINST GOD.

*** AND AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION IT WILL LEAD THE NATIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE BEAST – THE ANTICHRIST TO FIGHT GOD.

**** AND THE UNBELIEVING NATIONS WILL APPARENTLY REACH THAT POINT AT THE FINAL OUTPOURING OF GOD’S WRATH DURING THE EVENTS OF THE 7TH TRUMPET WHICH ROLLS OUT THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS.

3. FOR UNDER THE 5TH AND 6TH BOWL JUDGMENTS WE HAVE THIS RECORDED IN REVELATION 16:10-16 –

V. 10 – THEN THE FIFTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL ON THE THRONE OF THE BEAST, AND HIS KINGDOM BECAME DARKENED; AND THEY GNAWED THEIR TONGUES BECAUSE OF PAIN,

V. 11 – AND THEY BLASPHEMED THE GOD OF HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THEIR PAINS AND THEIR SORES; AND THEY DID NOT REPENT OF THEIR DEEDS.

V. 12 – THE SIXTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL ON THE GREAT RIVER, THE EUPHRATES; AND ITS WATER WAS DRIED UP, SO THAT THE WAY WOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE KINGS FROM THE EAST.

V. 13 – 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;

V. 14 – FOR 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.

V. 15 – (“BEHOLD, I AM COMING LIKE A THIEF. 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.”)

V. 16 – AND THEY GATHERED THEM TOGETHER TO THE PLACE WHICH IN HEBREW IS CALLED HAR-MAGEDON.

* AND THEN WE SEE THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE IN REVELATION 19:19-21 WHERE IT SAYS:

V. 19 – 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.

V. 20 – AND 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.

V. 21 – AND 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.

** SO THE WRATH OF THE NATIONS, THE RAGE OF NATIONS WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD THEM TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD, WHICH SHOWS US THIS KIND OF RAGE IS IRRATIONAL.

*** AND SOME MIGHT THINK, THIS IS REALLY DUMB AND IT IS, BUT RAGE LEADS TO DUMB ACTIONS EVERYDAY ON THE EARTH – RIGHT?

**** PEOPLE DO STUPID THINGS OUT OF ANGER AND IT WILL BE NO DIFFERENT AT THIS POINT OF HISTORY, ONLY MORE INTENSE.

4. NOW IN CONTRAST GOD’S WRATH IS NOT IRRATIONAL, IT IS CONTROLLED BY HIS HOLY CHARACTER AND HE NEVER DOLES OUT MORE THAN IS DESERVED.

* AND MAN’S WRATH IS ANSWERED BY HEAVEN’S WRATH, GOD’S WRATH HERE IN V. 18.

** AND CHRIST’S WRATH WHICH IS COMING TO CONFRONT THE ANGRY NATIONS GATHERED AROUND JERUSALEM IS DESCRIBED IN HIS 2’D COMING TO EARTH TO JUDGE THE NATIONS AND THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET IN REVELATION 19:11-16.

*** AND REVELATION 19:11-16 SAYS:

V. 11 – AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED, AND BEHOLD, A WHITE HORSE, AND HE WHO SAT ON IT IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE JUDGES AND WAGES WAR.

V. 12 – HIS EYES ARE A FLAME OF FIRE, AND ON HIS HEAD ARE MANY DIADEMS; AND HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN ON HIM WHICH NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT HIMSELF.

V. 13 – HE IS CLOTHED WITH A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD, AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD.

V. 14 – AND THE ARMIES WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN, WERE FOLLOWING HIM ON WHITE HORSES.

V. 15 – 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.

V. 16 – AND ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

**** NOW I WANT TO REMIND YOU, ALL OF THIS ROLLS OUT OF THE 7TH TRUMPET JUDGMENT.

5. GOD’S WRATH WILL BE POURED OUT IN THE REMAINING JUDGMENTS AND ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THE COMING OF CHRIST TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM.

* AND AS WE GO BACK TO REVELATION 11:18, THE COMING OF GOD’S WRATH, LIKE THE COMING OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM WHICH I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IS SO SURE, IT’S A FACT THAT IT WILL HAPPEN, IT’S RECORDED AS IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

** FOR THE VERB TRANSLATED “CAME”, “YOUR WRATH CAME” SPEAKING OF GOD’S WRATH, THIS VERB IS ANOTHER PROLEPTIC AORIST WHICH DESCRIBES A FUTURE EVENT AS AN ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED FACT.

*** AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT A QUOTE “LOVING GOD” WILL NOT POUR OUT HIS WRATH ON THEM ARE CLINGING TO A FALSE AND DANGEROUS HOPE.

**** FOR GOD WILL JUDGE PEOPLE BOTH ON EARTH AND ETERNALLY. AND THERE WILL BE REWARD AND RETRIBUTION. AND FIRST OF ALL REWARD, OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, LOOK BACK TO V. 18 PLEASE.

II. THE REWARD, (READ V. 18A&B)

A. NOW NOT ONLY WILL THE BLOWING OF THE 7TH TRUMPET SIGNAL THE OUTPOURING OF GOD’S WRATH ON OUR PLANET, BUT WILL ALSO INDICATE THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE DEAD TO BE JUDGED.

* AND THE GREEK WORD FOR TIME HERE IS A WORD THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A SEASON, AN ERA, AN OCCASION OR AN EVENT.

** AND IT APPEARS TO ME, THAT AT THE ESTABLISHING OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM WILL BE A FITTING TIME FOR THE DEAD TO BE JUDGED.

*** NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, I BELIEVE THE CHURCH HAS ALREADY BEEN JUDGED, THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AT THE BEMA, THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

**** FOR THE BRIDE OF CHRIST – THE CHURCH APPEARS TO HAVE ALREADY BEEN JUDGED BEFORE CHRIST RETURNS.

1. FOR REVELATION 19:7-9 SAYS:

V. 7 – LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD AND GIVE THE GLORY TO HIM, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME AND HIS BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.

V. 8 – IT WAS GIVEN TO HER TO CLOTHE HERSELF IN FINE LINEN, BRIGHT AND CLEAN; FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.

V. 9 – THEN HE SAID TO ME, “WRITE, ‘BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.’” AND HE SAID TO ME, “THESE ARE TRUE WORDS OF GOD.”

* NOW THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB TAKES PLACE AS THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM COME TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION, WHAT TIME OF JUDGMENT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE?

** WELL, IT APPEARS TO ME AND I AM NOT BEING DOGMATIC, IT APPEARS THAT THE JUDGMENTS OF THE NATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE TALKED ABOUT IN MATTHEW 25:31-46 AND THE JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS SAVED AND MARTYRED DURING THE TRIBULATION WILL TAKE PLACE.

*** AND THEY WILL BE REWARDED AS GOD’S BONDSERVANTS, THE PROPHETS, POSSIBLY THE TWO WITNESSES WHO WERE PROPHESYING AND THE SAINTS, THOSE WHO FEAR YOUR NAME, THOSE AGAIN MARTYRED FOR THEIR FAITH.

**** OTHERS SUGGEST THIS JUDGMENT WILL INCLUDE THE O.T. PROPHETS AND SAINTS WHO WERE NOT JUDGED AT THE BEMA JUDGMENT.

2. STILL OTHERS SUGGEST IT IS BEST TO SEE THE REFERENCE TO JUDGMENT HERE AS A GENERAL REFERENCE TO ALL FUTURE JUDGMENTS, THE BEMA, THE NATIONS, THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.

* AND TO BE TRANSPARENT, I’M REALLY NOT SURE. BUT THE MAIN TRUTH IS THERE WILL BE FUTURE JUDGMENT AND REWARD FOR GOD’S BONDSERVANTS, THE PROPHETS AND SAINTS WHO FEAR GOD.

** AND THAT IS A FACT, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS ANTICIPATORY, IT WILL HAPPEN.

*** AND BEYOND REWARD FOR THE SAINTS, THERE WILL BE RETRIBUTION FOR THE LOST. LOOK BACK AT V. 18 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 3’D POINT, THE RETRIBUTION.

III. THE RETRIBUTION, (READ V. 18)

A. NOW FUTURE JUDGMENT WILL BRING GOD’S WRATH AND DESTRUCTION TO THOSE WHO DESTROY THE EARTH.

* AND THOSE WHO DESTROY THE EARTH IS NOT A REFERENCE TO THOSE WHO POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT BUT THOSE WHO POLLUTE THE EARTH WITH THEIR SIN AND REBELLION AGAINST GOD.

** AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BRINGING UTTER CORRUPTION TO THE EARTH, THEY DESTROY THE VERY FABRIC OF SOCIETY MORALLY, SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY.

*** AND NO DOUBT THEIR CORRUPTION WILL EXTEND TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL, SINCE PEOPLE WILL REFUSE TO SEE GOD AS THE CREATOR OF THE EARTH AND WILL NOT BE STEWARDS OF HIS EARTH.

**** AND GOD WILL DESTROY – JUDGE THOSE WHO CORRUPT BOTH THE VERY FABRIC OF SOCIETY AND THE FABRIC OF HIS WORLD.

1. THERE WILL BE RETRIBUTION FROM A HOLY GOD AND DO YOU REALIZE THAT THOSE WHO REFUSE TO COMMUNICATE THE WRATH OF GOD AND TALK ABOUT SIN CANNOT PREACH THIS TRUTH TODAY.

* DO YOU REALIZE THAT THOSE WHO GLORY IN ONLY PREACHING POSITIVE THINGS CANNOT PREACH THIS PASSAGE TODAY AND MANY PASSAGES OF THE WORD OF GOD AND ARE GUILTY OF NOT PREACHING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.

** AND THIS STRATEGY OF ONLY PREACHING POSITIVE THINGS, NOT TALKING ABOUT SIN AND QUOTE NOT PREACHING JUDGMENT IS A STRATEGY OF MANY POST-MODERN SPEAKERS FOR I CANNOT CALL THEM PREACHERS OF GOD’S WORD OR GOD’S PROPHETS.

*** AND YOU MAY THINK OR SAY, WELL THAT’S OK, THEY ARE REACHING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR MESSAGE.

**** AND THAT’S TRUE, BUT THEIR MESSAGE IS NOT GOD’S MESSAGE AND IS NOT THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL.

2. FOR THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS REPENT. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS YOU MUST TURN TO THE SAVIOR FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

* AND IF YOU QUOTE ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR AND DO NOT TURN TO JESUS FOR SALVATION FROM SIN, HE IS NOT YOUR SAVIOR. YOU ARE NOT QUOTE ACCEPTING HIM OUT OF NEED, BUT WANT FOR A BETTER LIFE NOW.

** JESUS CAN MAKE MY LIFE BETTER, AND YES, I’VE SINNED SOME, BUT I’M REALLY NOT THAT BAD, AND THAT KIND OF PROFESSION DOES NOT SAVE, BUT GIVES ASSURANCE OF SALVATION TO SELF-RIGHTEOUS MATERIALISTS WHO JUST WANT A FIRE ESCAPE AND A BETTER LIFE NOW.

*** WELL, AS WE GO BACK TO OUR TEXT IN V. 18, WE SEE THE RAGE OF MAN AND GOD’S WRATH, WE SEE JUDGMENT, WE SEE REWARD AND RETRIBUTION, READ JOHN 3:36 AND JOHN 5:24.

**** AND THESE ARE COMMON THEMES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS AND SHOULD NOT BE BY-PASSED TO QUOTE GROW A CHURCH AND HAVE A BIGGER MARKET AND SELL BOOKS.

3. WELL THOSE CONVICTIONS LEAD ME TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY FOUND IN V. 19, THE REMINDER. LOOK AT V. 19 PLEASE.

IV. THE REMINDER, (READ V. 19)

A. NOW REVELATION 11:1&2 OPENS WITH A TEMPLE ON EARTH IN JERUSALEM, NOW IT ENDS WITH A TEMPLE OF GOD IN HEAVEN THAT IS OPENED.

* AND HERE V. 19 IS A TRANSITION VERSE HAVING A CONNECTION WITH WHAT PRECEDES AND WITH WHAT FOLLOWS.

** VERSE 19 IN A SENSE IS A RESPONSE, A REMINDER OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE AND WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE.

*** THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS OPEN FOR HIS PEOPLE AND THE JUDGMENT OF GOD FOLLOWS WITH FLASHING OF LIGHTNING, SOUNDS AND PEALS OF THUNDER, AN EARTHQUAKE AND A GREAT HAILSTORM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT HIS PEOPLE.

**** SO FROM HEAVEN THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS OPEN. ON EARTH, THE STORM OF GOD’S JUDGMENT WILL CONTINUE AND WE HAVE A HOLY REMINDER OF THIS.

1. NOW SPECIFICALLY THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS OPEN IN HEAVEN AND THE ARK OF GOD’S COVENANT APPEARS IN THE TEMPLE.

* AND NOTE THAT THE TEMPLE OF GOD IN HEAVEN IS GOD’S SANCTUARY IN HEAVEN, THE PLACE WHERE HE DWELLS.

** FOR IN THE O.T. THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WAS THE VERY SYMBOL OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND THE PLACE OF ATONEMENT.

*** AND FOR THE MIDST OF GOD’S JUDGMENT ON UNBELIEVERS, GOD AS IT WERE THROWS OPEN THE HOLY OF HOLIES IN HEAVEN WHERE THE ARK WAS LOCATED IN THE O.T. AND DRAWS BELIEVERS INTO HIS PRESENCE.

**** BELOVED, THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHERE GOD DWELLS IS OPENED, WHEREAS IN THE O.T. IT WAS CLOSED AND ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST COULD ENTER IT ONCE A YEAR ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT.

2. BUT THE PICTURE HERE APPEARS TO COMMUNICATE AND REMIND GOD’S PEOPLE OF HIS PRESENCE AND HIS COVENANT, HIS PROMISES TO HIS PEOPLE.

* BELOVED, THROUGH CHRIST, THE CURTAIN IS TORN IN TWO FROM TOP TO BOTTOM REMINDS US TO ENTER IN TO HIS PRESENCE AND FORGIVENESS THROUGH CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.

** AND IT APPEARS TO ME WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A GRACIOUS REMINDER THAT GOD WILL FAITHFULLY CARRY OUT HIS COVENANT PROMISES AND DESTROY THE ENEMIES OF HIS PEOPLE.

*** THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ALSO COMMUNICATED GOD’S COMMUNION WITH HIS PEOPLE BECAUSE IT WAS THERE THAT BLOOD SACRIFICES WERE OFFERED TO ATONE FOR SINS.

**** AND THE ARK WAS A CHEST, MAKE OF ACACIA WOOD OVERLAID WITH GOD. IT HAD 4 GOLDEN RINGS, AND EACH ONE ATTACHED TO A CORNER.

3. NOW THESE RINGS PROVIDED A MEANS TO CARRY THE ARK BY INSERTING TWO WOODEN BARS, ALSO OVERLAID WITH GOLD.

* NOW ATOP THE ARK WERE TWO GOLDEN CHERUBIM SPREADING THEIR WINGS OVER THE COVER ALSO KNOWN AS THE MERCY SEAT.

** INSIDE THE ARK WERE THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ON THE TABLES OF THE COVENANT, AARON’S ROD AND A GOLDEN JAR HOLDING MANNA.

**** AND THOSE THINGS WERE REMINDERS THAT GOD WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE, WAS SOVEREIGN OVER HIS PEOPLE, GAVE HIS LAW TO HIS PEOPLE AND FORGAVE PEOPLE THROUGH BLOOD SACRIFICE.

4. SO THIS PART OF THE TEMPLE CLOSED ON EARTH IS OPENED IN HEAVEN TO REMIND OF GOD’S PRESENCE, PROMISES AND GOD’S FORGIVENESS.

* AND THOSE PROMISES ARE TO HIS PEOPLE HE SAVES BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN HIS SON.

** BUT FOR THOSE WHO REJECT HIM, STORMS ARE AHEAD, AND SPECIFICALLY ON EARTH, THE STORM OF THE 7TH TRUMPET WILL ROLLOUT AS GOD POURS HIS WRATH ON THE EARTH SHOWN TO US BY LIGHTNING, THUNDER, AN EARTHQUAKE AND A GREAT HAILSTORM.

*** IT WILL NOT BE A GOOD TIME TO BE ALIVE AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME.

IN WRAP UP: (1) I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE MERCY OF GOD.

* AND BELIEVER I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF GOD’S GREAT MERCY AND LOVE IN RESCUING US FROM HIS HOLY WRATH AND JUDGMENT.

** I MEAN WE DESERVE WRATH. BUT GOD, THROUGH AN ACT OF GRACE, CALLED US TO HIMSELF AND COVERED US WITH HIS MERCY, MAKING US RIGHTEOUS THROUGH THE ATONING SACRIFICE OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

*** AND I REMIND YOU THAT GOD’S MERCY IN SCRIPTURE IS SET BEFORE US TO REMIND US OF SEVERAL THINGS.

**** NO. 1 TO REMIND OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS, READ LAMENTATIONS 3:22&23.

(2) NO. 2 TO REMIND US TO BE LIVING HOLY SACRIFICES, READ ROMANS 12:1&2.

* NO. 3 THE MERCY OF GOD IS SET BEFORE US TO MOTIVATE US TO NOT FAINT, OR QUIT, TO GIVE UP, READ II CORINTHIANS 4:1.

** AND NO. 4 AND LAST OF ALL OF WHAT I WANT TO COMMUNICATE TODAY, THE MERCY OF GOD SHOULD BE A MOTIVATION FOR HUMILITY AND PROPER PERSPECTIVE, READ EPHESIANS 2:4&5 AND TITUS 3:5 (WE WERE NOT SAVED BY ANYTHING WE COULD DO.)

*** SO IN THE END, WHAT SEPARATES US FROM THE LOST? THE ANSWER IS MERCY.

**** LET US THAT EXPERIENCED GOD’S MERCY BE REMINDED OF MERCY AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP OUR GREAT GOD THAT HE HAS RESCUED US FROM HIS WRATH. LET US SING AND CELEBRATE AND LIVE FOR HIM.