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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 75

TITLE: THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD

TEXT: REVELATION 19:17-21

INTRODUCTION: (1) SUPPERTIME IS SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US LOOK FORWARD TO.

* THE REASON BEING THE MAJORITY OF US ENJOY FOOD, FOR THE CREATOR HAS GIVEN US TASTE BUDS SO WE CAN ENJOY THE FLAVORS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOODS AND USE THOSE FOODS AS FUEL FOR OUR BODIES TO FUNCTION FOR HIS GLORY.

** AND EATING IN MODERATION IS SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US AS A GOOD PLEASURE THAT IS TO BE RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO GIVES US FOOD TO EAT, TO ENJOY AND FUEL OUR BODIES.

*** AND IN I TIMOTHY 4:3-5 WE SEE THAT FOOD IS SOMETHING TO BE RECEIVED WITH GRATITUDE FOR IT SAYS: (READ THEM).

**** SO AS WE EAT, GIVE THANKS AND EAT FOR GOD’S GLORY SO THAT OUR BODIES CAN BE USED FOR HIM. FOOD IS A GIFT FROM THE HAND OF GOD.

(2) MY POINT BEING, SUPPERTIME IS A TIME WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN ENJOYING THE BLESSING OF EATING.

* BUT ALSO SUPPERTIME IS SOMETHING WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY FAMILY AND FELLOWSHIP.

** I MEAN WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A FAMILY DINNER AND TALK TOGETHER AND GET CAUGHT UP.

*** AND WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING TO HAVE DINNER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS AND TALK ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD AND FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.

**** YET IN CONTRAST, FOR OTHERS, SUPPERTIME BRINGS A LOT OF BAD MEMORIES AS FIGHTING AND HOSTILITY ARE EXPRESSED AT THE TABLE AND OUTBREAKS OF ANGER, A TIME OF BICKERING AND FIGHTING.

**** AND MY POINT IS, MOST OF THE TIME, SUPPERTIME IS A BLESSING, BUT FOR OTHERS, THERE ARE NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS OF IT, THAT IT CAN BE A TERRIBLE TIME OF NEGATIVE CONFLICT.

(3) WELL IN REVELATION 19, WE HAVE BOTH KINDS OF SUPPERS.

* FOR IN REVELATION 19:9 WE READ OF THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.

** AND THAT SUPPER IS A SUPPER OF CELEBRATION AS THE BRIDEGROOM CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE AND THE INVITED GUESTS COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THEIR ETERNAL MARRIAGE WITH A GRAND SUPPER.

*** BUT IN OUR TEXT TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER SUPPER THAT IS IN ABSOLUTE CONTRAST TO ONE OF JOY, IT IS A RADICAL CONTRAST TO THE WEDDING SUPPER.

**** FOR IT IS A SUPPER OF JUDGMENT. A FEAST THAT IS REPULSIVE, A SLAUGHTER, A HORRIBLE MASSACRE, A FEAST OF FLESH OF DEAD PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE ANTI-CHRIST AND RECEIVED HIS MARK, AND THIS SUPPER WILL BE EATEN BY SCAVENGER BIRDS.

(4) AND THE IMAGERY FOR THIS SUPPER IS GRAPHIC AS BIRDS WILL GORGE ON THE FLESH OF PEOPLE THAT FOLLOWED THE BEAST AND RECEIVED HIS MARK.

* AND I AM NOT THE ORIGINATOR OR SOURCE OF THIS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE. JOHN IS INSPIRED IN OUR TEXT TODAY TO USE THE PHRASE, “THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD,” THE WORD FLESH IS USED 6 TIMES TO TALK ABOUT HUMAN FLESH EATEN BY BIRDS, AS BIRDS ARE FILLED WITH THEIR FLESH.

** AND THE CARNAGE HERE COMES AS A RESULT OF DEFYING, RESISTING, BLASPHEMING, AND SINNING AGAINST THE HOLY CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, WHICH REMINDS US IT’S NOT A LIGHT MATTER TO SIN.

*** AND AS JESUS RETURNS TO EARTH TO REIGN, THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON TAKES PLACE AS THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE SEIZED BY CHRIST AND THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE, AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT FOLLOWS THEM ARE DESTROYED BY THE SWORD OF CHRIST’S MOUTH.

**** SO WE HAVE TWO SUPPERS IN REVELATION 19. AND THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST WILL SHARE IN THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB AND THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE BEAST WILL BE ON THE MENU FOR THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD.

(5) IN LIGHT OF THAT, I’VE TITLED OUR STUDY TODAY, “THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD.”

* AND UNDER THAT THEME WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS AS I TRY TO UNPACK REVELATION 19:17-21.

** NO. 1 THE SUMMONS BY AN ANGELS TO THIS GREAT SUPPER TO THE BIRDS, VV. 17-19; NO. 2 THE SEIZURE OF ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET BY CHRIST AS THEY ARE THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE, V. 20; AND NO. 3 THE SLAUGHTER OF THE FOLLOWERS OF THE BEAST BY CHRIST, V. 21.

**** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR GUIDE TO OUR STUDY, LOOK AT V. 17 WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE SUMMONS. LOOK AT REVELATION 19:7 PLEASE.

I. THE SUMMONS, (READ V. 17)

A. NOW THE SUMMONS TO ASSEMBLE FOR THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD IS GIVEN BY AN ANGEL THAT IS NOT IDENTIFIED BY A NAME OR RANK.

* BUT THIS ANGEL IS SEEN STANDING IN THE SUN WHICH MOST LIKELY MEANS THAT HE IS IN PROXIMITY OF THE SUN, POSSIBLY THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE SKY AT 12 O’CLOCK.

** AND IN THAT POSITION AND LOOKING AT HIM AT THAT VANTAGE POINT, HIS APPEARANCE IS BRIGHT, SHINING WITH GREAT BRILLIANCE, POSSIBLY ECLIPSING THE SUN.

*** AND FROM THAT POSITION HE CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, AN AUTHORITATIVE VOICE FOR HIS SUMMONS TO COME AND ASSEMBLE OR GATHER – TWO VERBS, ARE BOTH IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD, THIS IS A COMMAND.

**** AND THIS COMMAND IS GIVEN TO ALL THE BIRDS WHICH FLY IN MED-HEAVEN, THOSE WHO FLY IN THE MIDAIR, IN THE MIDST OF THE SKY, WHO FLY OVERHEAD.

1. NOW AS WE GO BACK TO THE WORDS OF OUR SAVIOR GOING BACK TO THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, THESE FLYING BIRDS ARE IDENTIFIED AS VULTURES, BIRDS THAT ARE SCAVENGERS, BIRDS OF PREY, BIRDS THAT EAT DEAD CARCASSES.

* FOR IN MATTHEW 24:27&28 JESUS SAID:

V. 27 – FOR JUST AS THE LIGHTNING COMES FROM THE EAST AND FLASHES EVEN TO THE WEST, SO WILL THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE.

V. 28 – WHEREVER THE CORPSE IS, THERE THE VULTURES WILL GATHER.

** AND THEN IN LUKE 17:37, JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HIS 2’D COMING AND THE DISCIPLES ASK HIM A QUESTION WHICH HE ANSWERS, IT SAYS: AND ANSWERING THEY SAID TO HIM, “WHERE, LORD?” AND HE SAID TO THEM, “WHERE THE BODY IS, THERE ALSO THE VULTURES WILL BE GATHERED.”

*** NOW MY POINT FROM THESE VERSES IS, THE BIRDS THAT ARE SUMMONED IN REVELATION 19:17 ARE BIRDS OF PREY THAT EAT DEAD MEAT.

**** AND I’M NOT TRYING TO GROSS YOU OUT, BUT THE BIRDS OF PREY LIKE VULTURES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE CREATOR TO CONSUME CARCASSES AND THUS REMOVE DEAD CARCASSES AND IN TURN DREADFUL SMELLS.

2. AND HERE IS REVELATION 19:17 THEY ARE SUMMONED AS THE CLEAN-UP CREW FOR THE SLAUGHTER THAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.

* AND YES THIS IS GORY, BUT THESE BIRDS WILL GORGE ON THE FLESH OF THE FOLLOWERS OF THE BEAST. THIS IS A GRIM PICTURE OF JUDGMENT AND CONTRAST TO THE FOLLOWERS OF THE LAMB WHO ARE CLOTHED IN BRIGHT AND CLEAN FINE LINEN WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER.

** BUT IN A DRASTIC EXTREME CONTRAST, THESE BIRDS ARE CALLED TO ASSEMBLE FOR THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD!

*** AND JOHN WILL MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT IS ON THE MENU FOR THIS GREAT SUPPER OF GOD IN V. 18. LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 18. NOW THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUPPER IS SO THAT, IN ORDER THAT, THAT YOU, THE BIRDS, MAY EAT THE FLESH OF PEOPLE AND HORSES.

* NOW THIS IS GORY AND GRUESOME, A HORRIBLE SCENE, FOR THE WINEPRESS OF GOD’S WRATH WILL PRODUCE A RIVER OF BLOOD THAT WILL FLOW ABOUT 200 MILES IN ISRAEL.

** FOR IN TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BATTLE BACK IN REVELATION 14:18-20 SAYS:

V. 18 – THEN ANOTHER ANGEL, THE ONE WHO HAS POWER OVER FIRE, CAME OUT FROM THE ALTAR; AND HE CALLED WITH A LOUD VOICE TO HIM WHO HAD THE SHARP SICKLE, SAYING, “PUT IN YOUR SHARP SICKLE AND GATHER THE CLUSTERS FROM THE VINE OF THE EARTH, BECAUSE HER GRAPES ARE RIPE.”

V. 19 – SO THE ANGEL SWUNG HIS SICKLE TO THE EARTH AND GATHERED THE CLUSTERS FROM THE VINE OF THE EARTH, AND THREW THEM INTO THE GREAT WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.

V. 20 – AND THE WINE PRESS WAS TRODDEN OUTSIDE THE CITY, AND BLOOD CAME OUT FROM THE WINE PRESS, UP TO THE HORSES’ BRIDLES, FOR A DISTANCE OF TWO HUNDRED MILES.

*** AND THEN IN REVELATION 16:12-16 JOHN SAID IN TALKING ABOUT THIS FUTURE BATTLE CALLED ARMAGEDDON –

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.

**** NOW THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN REVELATION 19:17-21 AS JESUS RETURNS TO DESTROY HIS ENEMIES AND SET UP HIS KINGDOM.

1. AND IN REALITY THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS REALLY NOT EVEN A BATTLE, FOR THE BATTLE IS OVER BEFORE IT BEGINS.

* AND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IS MORE AN ANTICLIMAX THAN A CLIMAX, POOF! IT’S OVER.

** FOR THE WAR NEVER REALLY MATERIALIZES, THERE IS NOT BATTLE, ONLY AN OUTCOME.

*** AND WHAT IS THE OUTCOME? THE ANSWER IS CARNAGE, FOR THE BIRDS ARE CALLED TO “EAT THE FLESH OF KINGS AND THE FLESH OF COMMANDERS (OR CAPTAINS), AND THE FLESH OF MIGHTY MEN AND THE FLESH OF HORSES AND OF THOSE WHO SIT ON THEM AND THE FLESH OF ALL MEN, BOTH FREE MEN AND SLAVES AND SMALL AND GREAT.”

**** AND THE WORD FLESH IS USED 5 TIMES HERE IN V. 18 WHICH COMMUNICATED THE CARNAGE FROM THIS SO CALLED BATTLE.

2. AND PEOPLE FROM EVERY STRATUM AND CLASS, FROM EVERY SOCIAL LEVEL AND FREE PEOPLE AND SLAVES ARE DOOMED AND KILLED AT THE COMING OF CHRIST.

* AND IT APPEARS THE CASUALTIES OF THIS BATTLE WILL BE WORLDWIDE, BEYOND MEGIDDO, FOR IT SAYS THE FLESH OF ALL MEN, ALL MANKIND ARE INVOLVED HERE.

** FOR WE DON’T HAVE A LOCATION UNTIL V. 19, WHEN THE ARMIES ARE ASSEMBLED.

*** AND SO. V. 18 GIVES US AN ALL-INCLUSIVE STATEMENT THAT REVEALS THE WORLDWIDE EXTENT OF THE SLAUGHTER.

**** AND THE ONLY SURVIVORS OF THIS AWFUL CONFRONTATION WILL BE THOSE LOYAL TO CHRIST, FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WHO HAVE NOT DIED OR SUFFERED MARTYRDOM, AND THEY WILL GO INTO THE KINGDOM BODILY AND REPOPULATE THE EARTH DURING THE 1,000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST.

3. FOR REMEMBER THOSE COMING BACK WITH CHRIST, HIS ARMY, CONSISTS OF ALL BELIEVERS WHO HAVE DIED AND ARE WITH CHRIST AND THEY COME BACK WITH NEW BODIES, JUST LIKE CHRIST, INCORRUPTIBLE BODIES.

* WITH THAT SAID AS WE GO BACK TO V. 18, ALL WE SEE HERE IS DEAD BODIES, THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ANTICHRIST WILL BE JUDGED.

** AND TO HAVE ONE’S UNBURIED BODY LEFT AS FOOD FOR BIRDS IS THE ULTIMATE INDIGNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR PROUD KINGS AND MIGHTY MILITARY COMMANDERS.

*** BUT THERE IS AN INDIGNITY GREATER THAN THAT, BLASPHEMING GOD, REJECTING CHRIST, AND SINNING AGAINST A HOLY GOD AND FOLLOWING A FALSE CHRIST WHICH WILL PRODUCE THIS HORRIBLE OUTCOME OF JUDGMENT.

**** AND IF YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS THAT GOD IS WARM AND FUZZY, A SANTA CLAUS GOD, A GENIE IN A BOTTLE, THE GREAT GRANDFATHER AND SPIRIT IN THE SKY WHO OVERLOOKS OUR SIN, BE CORRECTED, FOR GOD IS PRESENTED HERE AS A HOLY GOD OF WRATH AND VENGEANCE AND HIS PATIENCE AND MERCY HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION AND HE JUDGES AND MAKES WAR AGAINST HIS ENEMIES.

4. AND IT APPEARS TO ME THE SCENE CHANGES FROM A WORLDWIDE SCOPE IN V. 18 TO THE MIDDLE-EAST IN V. 19, SPECIFICALLY ISRAEL, GOD’S TIME CLOCK OF PROPHECY.

* AND IN V. 19, THE SUMMONS CONTINUES, ONLY IT IS A SUMMONS TO GATHER FOR WAR. LOOK AT V. 19 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 19. NOW V. 19 BEGINS WITH A SECOND “I SAW” IN OUR TEXT TODAY AND THE 3’D ONE IN REVELATION 19.

* AND AGAIN IT APPEARS TO ME, WE HAVE A SCENE CHANGE HERE FOR AS THE NEXT STAGE IN JOHN’S INCREDIBLE VISION UNFOLDS, JOHN SEES THE BEAST WHICH IS ANTICHRIST.

** AND WITH THE BEAST AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH WHICH ARE PROBABLY THE 10 KINGS WHO ARE FOLLOWING HIM GOING BACK TO REVELATION 17:12-14.

*** FOR REVELATION 17:12-14 SAYS:

V. 12 – THE TEN HORNS WHICH YOU SAW ARE TEN KINGS WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A KINGDOM, BUT THEY RECEIVE AUTHORITY AS KINGS WITH THE BEAST FOR ONE HOUR.

V. 13 – THESE HAVE ONE PURPOSE, AND THEY GIVE THEIR POWER AND AUTHORITY TO THE BEAST.

V. 14 – THESE WILL WAGE WAR AGAINST THE LAMB, AND THE LAMB WILL OVERCOME THEM, BECAUSE HE IS LORD OF LORDS AND KINGS OF KINGS, AND THOSE WHO ARE WITH HIM ARE THE CALLED AND CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL.

**** NOW THESE 10 KINGS AND THE BEAST – ANTICHRIST, THE POLITICAL LEADER OF THE WORLD DURING THE TRIBULATION ASSEMBLE THEIR ARMIES TO MAKE WAR AGAINST HIM WHO SAT ON THE HORSE WHICH IS CHRIST GOING BACK TO V. 11 OF THIS CHAPTER.

1. BUT NOT ONLY ARE THEY READY TO MAKE WAR AGAINST CHRIST, BUT HIS ARMY FOLLOWING HIM IN V. 14 OF THIS CHAPTER, WHAT WE STUDIED LAST WEEK.

* SO THIS FORMIDABLE ARMY, WHAT MIGHT BE AN INVINCIBLE ARMY IN THEIR MINDS WITH ALL IT’S FIREPOWER ARE ASSEMBLED TO DO BATTLE.

** AND THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS REALLY STUPID, IT’S PRETTY DUMB, FOR WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD THINK THEY COULD DEFEAT THE CREATOR AND KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS?

*** BUT REMEMBER THESE KINGS AND THEIR ARMIES HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY DEMONS FROM THE SATANIC TRINITY GOING BACK TO REVELATION 16:13&14, WHERE DEMONS ARE USED TO DECEIVE THESE KINGS AND ARMIES TO GATHER THEM AT ARMAGEDDON.

*** AND SATAN AND THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE DERANGED, FILLED WITH RAGE AND ANGER AND THROUGH THEIR BLINDNESS, THINK THEY HAVE A CHANCE.

*** WHICH REMINDS ME IN APPLICATION, SIN IS NOT LOGICAL, IT IS NOT RATIONAL, IT IS EMOTIONAL AND IRRATIONAL THAT COMES FROM NOT THINKING OF TRUTH AND WORKS THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF LUST.

2. I MEAN THINK ABOUT ANGER AND BLOWING UP AND IT’S RESULTS, HOW MANY OF US WANT TO TAKE BACK WORDS AND WISH WE COULD RE-DO OUR ACTIONS?

* THINK ABOUT IMMORALITY AND HOW FOR A SHORT TIME OF PLEASURE, MARRIAGES, RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILIES AND CHURCHES ARE SHATTERED.

** THINK ABOUT GLUTTONY AND HOW THROUGH YIELDING TO OVER-EATING WE HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL, HEART DISEASE, STROKES, AND INABILITY TO MOVE AND FUNCTION PROPERLY, IS IT WORTH IT? NO.

*** OR OVERSPENDING OR SLEEPING TOO MUCH OR ANY OVERINDULGENCE, IT’S NEVER WORTH IT. SO SIN IS EMOTIONAL AND IS NOT RATIONAL, IT’S YIELDING TO THE IMPULSE APPETITES OF THE FLESH, THE WRONG DESIRES OF THE FLESH.

**** AND AS THE FLESHLY ENTICEMENT COMES, WE MUST THINK OF THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD AND NOT THE LIE AND DECEPTION OF TEMPORARY PLEASURE IN FULFILLING THE LUST OR DESIRE OF THE FLESH, AND AS WE THINK OF TRUTH, WE YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GALATIANS 5:16 SAYS: (READ IT AND ROMANS 8:13).

3. NOW AS WE GO BACK TO REVELATION 19:19, WE SEE THE ALL TIME ACT OF STUPIDITY, THINKING THAT THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD CAN OVERCOME THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD. BUT THAT’S WHY THEY GATHER.

* BUT IT WILL ALL BE OVER IN A FLASH, AS CHRIST TAKES OUT THEIR LEADERS FIRST OF ALL.

** LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE SEIZURE.

II. THE SEIZURE, (READ V. 20)

A. NOW THE BATTLE NEVER REALLY MATERIALIZES AND THE OUTCOME IS NEVER IN DOUBT.

* FOR APPARENTLY CHRIST IN THE FLOW OF THIS CONTEXT MAKES THIS FIRST STRATEGIC STRIKE AND TAKES OUT THE TWO LEADERS OF THIS ARMY THAT IS ASSEMBLED.

** I MEAN THE ARMIES WILL LOSE THEIR KINGPINS RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

*** FOR THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE SEIZED, CAPTURED, TAKEN, APPREHENDED AND ARE IMPRISONED, AND BECOME ETERNAL PRISONERS OF WAR.

**** BUT BEFORE I GO INTO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE OF THEIR INCARCERATION AND PLACE OF PUNISHMENT, NOTICE THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN ABOUT THE FALSE PROPHET – THE FALSE RELIGIOUS LEADER OF THE WORLD IN THE TRIBULATION.

1. FOR IT SAYS, THE FALSE PROPHET, WHO PERFORMED SIGNS IN HIS PRESENCE, MEANING THE BEAST OR ANTICHRIST’S PRESENCE.

* AND AS WE STUDIED EARLIER IN REVELATION, THE FALSE PROPHET ENERGIZED BY THE DRAGON WILL BE A SIGNS AND WONDERS MAN.

** FOR IN REVELATION 13:11-18, THE FALSE PROPHET IS CALLED THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH, WHEREAS ANTICHRIST IS THE BEAST FROM THE SEA IN REVELATION 13:1-10.

*** AND WHAT IS DECLARED HERE IN THIS TEXT GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN OF THE FALSE PROPHET HERE IN REVELATION 19:20.

**** FOR NOT ONLY DOES HE PERFORM SIGNS IN REVELATION 19:20, BUT DECEIVES THOSE WHO HAVE THE NAME OF THE BEAST, THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST.

2. AND THIS IS CLEARLY BROUGHT FORTH IN REVELATION 13:11-18 WHICH I’LL COVER TO BRING SOME OF YOU UP TO SPEED WHO WERE NOT HERE FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

* IT SAYS:

V. 11 – THEN I SAW ANOTHER BEAST COMING UP OUT OF THE EARTH; AND HE HAD TWO HORNS LIKE A LAMB AND HE SPOKE AS A DRAGON.

V. 12 – HE EXERCISES ALL THE AUTHORITY OF THE FIRST BEAST IN HIS PRESENCE. AND HE MAKES THE EARTH AND THOSE WHO DWELL IN IT TO WORSHIP THE FIRST BEAST, WHOSE FATAL WOUND WAS HEALED.

V. 13 – HE PERFORMS GREAT SIGNS, SO THAT HE EVEN MAKES FIRE COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN TO THE EARTH IN THE PRESENCE OF MEN.

V. 14 – AND HE DECEIVES THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH BECAUSE OF THE SIGNS WHICH IT WAS GIVEN HIM TO PERFORM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE BEAST, TELLING THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH TO MAKE AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST WHO HAD THE WOUND OF THE SWORD AND HAS COME TO LIFE.

V. 15 – AND IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM TO GIVE BREATH TO THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST, SO THAT THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST WOULD EVEN SPEAK AND CAUSE AS MANY AS DO NOT WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST TO BE KILLED.

V. 16 – AND HE CAUSES ALL, THE SMALL AND THE GREAT, AND THE RICH AND THE POOR, AND THE FREE MEN AND THE SLAVES, TO BE GIVEN A MARK ON THEIR RIGHT HAND OR ON THEIR FOREHEAD,

V. 17 – AND HE PROVIDES THAT NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO BUY OR TO SELL, EXCEPT THE ONE WHO HAS THE MARK, EITHER THE NAME OF THE BEAST OR THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME.

V. 18 – HERE IS WISDOM. LET HIM WHO HAS UNDERSTANDING CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST, FOR THE NUMBER IS THAT OF A MAN; AND HIS NUMBER IS SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX.

** NOW WITH THE VERSES IN MIND, WE SEE CLEARLY WHO THE FALSE PROPHET IS HERE IN REVELATION 19:20 AND HIS DESCRIPTION HERE THEN MAKES SENSE WITH EARLIER SCRIPTURE BEFORE US.

*** NOW THIS FALSE PROPHET AND THE BEAST, ANTICHRIST ARE “THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE WHICH BURNS WITH BRIMSTONE.”

**** IN OTHER WORDS, THESE TWO DEMONICALLY EMPOWERED HUMAN BEINGS, WHO ARE THE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE WORLD ARE NOT KILLED AT ARMAGEDDON, THEY ARE TAKEN ALIVE AND THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE, WHICH INCREASES THE HORROR OF THIS PICTURE.

3. AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF 5 REFERENCES TO THE LAKE OF FIRE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND IS THE FIRST TIME THE PHRASE LAKE OF FIRE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

* NOW UNDERSTAND THE LAKE OF FIRE IS THE FINAL HELL, THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION OF SATAN, HIS ANGELS ARE UNSAVED PEOPLE, FOR MATTHEW 25:41 SAYS: (READ IT). ALSO READ MATTHEW 25:46.

** NOW HELL IS FOREVER, IT IS ETERNAL, AND IT IS A PLACE OF FIRE, FOR MATTHEW 13:50 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** AND THIS REALITY OF FIRE THAT IS NOT CONSUMED AND SOULS THAT ARE NOT CONSUMED IS A PICTURE JESUS GIVES US IN A WARNING IN MARK 9:43-48.

**** AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN IS THE ISSUE AND DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH IT, JESUS SAID IN MARK 9:43-48 (READ THEM).

4. NOW AS WE PUT ALL THOSE SCRIPTURES TOGETHER, THE LAKE OF FIRE, FINAL HELL, IS A LAKE THAT IS ON FIRE, IN FACT IT SAYS HERE IN REVELATION 19:20 IT BURNS WITH BRIMSTONE. AND REVELATION 20:10 AND 21:8 SAYS THE SAME THING (READ THEM).

* AND BRIMSTONE BURNS WITH THE INTENSE BLUE FLAME OF BURNING SULFUR.

** BRIMSTONE IS A YELLOW SULFUROUS MATERIAL THAT IS COMBUSTIBLE.

*** SO THIS BURNING LAKE IS THE IMAGERY THAT GOD SETS FORTH FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHETS GO.

**** AND THEY ARE ITS FIRST OCCUPANTS. FOR SATAN IS NOT CAST THERE UNTIL REVELATION 20:10 AND UNSAVED PEOPLE ARE NOT CAST INTO THIS BURNING LAKE UNTIL THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT IN REVELATION 20:14 &15, WHICH SAYS: (READ THEM).

5. NOW NOTE THAT DEATH AND HELL ARE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE IN V. 14, AND THE WORD HELL IS TRANSLATED HADES WHICH IS THE TEMPORARY PLACE OF JUDGMENT WHERE UNSAVED PEOPLE GO AT DEATH NOW.

* AND THIS PLACE IS TALKED ABOUT IN LUKE 16:22-31 AND LUKE 16:22-25 SAYS (READ THEM).

** NOW THIS PLACE OF FIERY TORMENT CAN BE COMPARED TO THE COUNTY JAIL, THE HOLDING PLACE UNTIL LAWBREAKERS ARE ARRAIGNED AND HAVE THEIR TRIAL, AND WHEN FOUND GUILTY ARE PUT IN A MORE PERMANENT PLACE OF PUNISHMENT, A PRISON OR A PENITENTIARY.

*** AND HADES-HELL IS THE COUNTY JAIL AND THE GREAT WHITE THRONE IS THE ARRAIGNMENT AND TRIAL, AND THEN UNSAVED PEOPLE ARE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE, FINAL HELL.

**** AND THE FIRST OCCUPANTS OF THE LAKE OF FIRE ARE THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET. AS THE LORD GOD QUICKLY STRIKES FIRST AND THE RING LEADERS ARE SEIZED AND JUDGED. WHAT A FIRST STRIKE!

6. SO IN ONE DRAMATIC MOMENT THE WORLD’S ARMIES ARE LEADERLESS AND THE BATTLE WILL BE OVER QUICKLY, LOOK AT V. 21 AS WE WILL LOOK AT OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE SLAUGHTER. LOOK AT V. 21 PLEASE.

III. THE SLAUGHTER, (READ V. 21)

A. NOW ONCE THE WORLD’S LEADERS, ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE SEIZED AND REMOVED, CHRIST DEALS WITH THE REST, THE ARMIES THAT ARE ASSEMBLED TO FIGHT AGAINST HIM.

* AND WITH A QUICK LIGHTENING STRIKE, THE REST OF THE ARMIES ARE KILLED WITH THE SWORD OF CHRIST’S MOUTH WHO IS COMING BACK ON HIS WHITE HORSE.

** AND UNLIKE THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET, THESE ENEMIES OF CHRIST ARE KILLED AND WILL GO TO HADES UNTIL THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNJUST AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE WHERE THEY WILL BE FINALLY AND ETERNALLY JUDGED IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.

*** AND NOTICE HOW THEY ARE KILLED, FROM THE SWORD THAT CAME OUT OF CHRIST’S MOUTH.

**** CHRIST SPEAKS AND THEY ARE DEAD. AND JUST AS HE SPOKE THE WORLD INTO EXISTENCE, HIS VERBAL POWER SLAUGHTERS HIS ENEMIES, HE SPEAKS AND IT IS DONE, THE SWORD OF DEATH GOES OUT AND SLAUGHTERS ALL OF HIS ENEMIES.

1. AND THE FINAL WORDS OF V. 21 ARE, AND ALL THE BIRDS WERE FILLED WITH THEIR FLESH. WHAT WAS FORETOLD IN V. 17&18 IS FULFILLED IN V. 21, AS THIS GREAT SLAUGHTER TAKES PLACE AND THESE BIRDS OF PREY EAT THE FLESH OF THESE DEAD PEOPLE AS THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD AND THE TRIBULATION IS OVER.

* AND WE WILL SEE, LORD WILLING NEXT SUNDAY, SATAN IS THE LAST ENEMY TAKEN CARE OF WHEN HE IS INCARCERATED FOR 1,000 YEARS, AND AFTER THAT TIME PERIOD, HE WILL BE THROWN IN THE LAKE OF FIRE WHERE THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET ARE, STILL BURNING, A THOUSAND YEARS LATER.

IN WRAP UP: (1) THE SCENE BEFORE US TODAY IS GORY, A HORRIBLE SCENE, AND THAT HORRIBLE SCENE LEADS TO SOMETHING THAT IS FAR WORSE – THE LAKE OF FIRE.

* AND IN ESSENCE WE HAVE STUDIED IN REVELATION 6-18, 7 YEARS OF GOD POURING OUT HIS JUDGMENT ON THE WORLD, AND THAT JUDGMENT ON THE WORLD ENDS WITH V. 21 OF OUR TEXT TODAY.

** BUT ETERNAL JUDGMENT NEVER ENDS, IT NEVER STOPS, IT NEVER CEASES, IT NEVER RESTS, IT IS FOREVER.

*** AND FOR US TO SEE THE GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD SQUEEZED AND CARRIED OUT IS DAUNTING, IT IS OVERWHELMING, IT IS SHOCKING, IT IS INTIMIDATING, IT IS FEARFUL.

**** I MEAN WE START TO GET A GLIMPSE OF HOW PURE, HOW RIGHTEOUS, HOW HOLY, HOW GOD ABHORS SIN AND REBELLION AGAINST HIS HOLY WILL.

(2) AND SIN MUST BE MUCH MORE HEINOUS, UTTERLY REPREHENSIBLE, ODIOUS, AND MORE ABOMINABLE THAN ANY OF CAN IMAGINE.

* FOR ONE SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD, FOR ACCORDING TO HABAKKUK 1:13A, HIS “EYES ARE TOO PURE TO APPROVE EVIL, AND YOU CAN NOT LOOK ON WICKEDNESS WITH FAVOR.”

** AND OF COURSE OUR STANDARD AND MEASURING STICK IS TOO LOW AND WE RATIONALIZE SIN AND PROUDLY COMPARE OURSELVES TO MURDERERS AND RAPISTS AND TERRORISTS AND WE SAY WE ARE BETTER THAN THEM.

*** BUT IN REALITY WE ARE SPIRITUAL TERRORISTS ATTACKING THE RIGHT OF GOD TO JUDGE SIN TOTALLY, PURELY AND RIGHTEOUSLY.

**** AND OF COURSE OUR HOLY GOD JUDGED SIN ON THE CROSS WHERE HIS HOLY SON BECAME SIN FOR SINNERS.

(3) THE HOLY SON BORE SIN FOR SINNERS ON THE CROSS. HE DIED FOR THESE HEINOUS REBELLIOUS ACTS, ON CALVARY’S TREE, READ II CORINTHIANS 5:21, I PETER 2:24, EPHESIANS 1:7 AND ROMANS 5:8&9 AS PAUL WRITES TO BELIEVERS IN ALL THESE PASSAGES.

* SO HERE’S HOW WE CAN BOIL IT ALL DOWN TODAY. EITHER YOU ARE IN SIN OR THE SON. AND IF YOU ARE IN THE SON, YOUR SIN DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY HIS SACRIFICIAL DEATH, AND THAT PURCHASE OR RANSOM IS APPLIED TO OUR ACCOUNT AS WE TURN FROM OUR SIN IN REPENTANT FAITH TO CHRIST AND WE ARE FLAT OUT FREELY FULLY FORGIVEN.

** BUT IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE SON TODAY, YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR OWN SINS IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER.

*** AND WHAT AN AMAZING ACT OF LOVE AND MERCY, THAT A HOLY GOD WOULD SAVE SOME SINNERS.

**** IF YOU ARE NOT IN CHRIST, TURN TO HIM TODAY. IF YOU ARE, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP AND SERVE HIM FOR HIS GREAT WORK OF MERCY IN YOUR LIFE.