We have been looking at what the culture around us would look like, and the events that will take place as we approach of coming of Christ for His Bride!
God in His patience has been slow to bring judgment, waiting for the last person to receive Christ!
This is what most call The Rapture!
You will hear regularly on social media, that the word Rapture isn’t in the Bible, they are right!
The term "rapture" comes from the Latin word rapturo, meaning to seize or carry off, which is used to translate the Greek word harpazo in the biblical passages describing the event, “Caught Up”
People will fall from the truth during these perilous times and as a result, mockers will rise and moral corruption will increase having their conscious seared, loving only themselves!
In this state they will receive the Anti-Christ with open arms thinking he is the solution to the problems!
In desperate times, people will believe anything!
Today I want to look at events leading to the end of the 7 year tribulation. Seals, Trumpets, Vials: These are the progressions of the Judgements during the tribulation period.
Rev 16:1-15 16 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. KJV
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. KJV
4 things to look at in verse 15
1. "I come as a thief": This metaphor, used in the New Testament (Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10),
These passages foretell the coming judgement and remind us that the time of Christ's coming is unknown and will catch the unprepared by surprise.
Mockers denying the Coming of Christ!
2. "Blessed is he that watcheth": This calls for spiritual alertness and readiness.
Watcheth: a mindfulness of threatening dangers which, with conscious earnestness and an alert mind, keeps it from all drowsiness and all slackening in the energy of faith and conduct
3. "Keepeth his garments": In biblical symbolism, garments often represent character or righteousness.
Keeping one's garments means maintaining a life of moral and spiritual purity, clothed in Christ's righteousness.
Does your character mean more to you than the fleeting pleasure of this culture!
Living out what God has put in!
4. "Lest he walk naked, and they see his shame": Nakedness symbolizes vulnerability, sin, and spiritual unpreparedness.
The warning indicates the potential disgrace of being found spiritually unready when Christ returns, an exposure of one's true, unrepentant state.
They go to church, pay their tithes and wears the shirt, but are not saved!
Damon’s Translation Judgment is coming when we are least expecting it, so we must always be alert, living out the righteousness that God has worked in us. Because many will look ready but are spiritually unprepared!
Matt 7:21-23 21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' NLT
Rev 16:9-11 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
1. Notice the progressive Judgments does not soften the hard hearts of the wicked. 2. Instead of turning to God in repentance, they blaspheme God.
3. They recognize He has the power to send the Judgments but curse Him for sending them.
They refuse to humble themselves.
4. They refuse to repent and ascribe glory to Him.
Rev 1:5-7 5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. True and righteous are your judgments
Every book in the bible says something about the judgment of God!
Gen 18:23-25 23 Abraham approached him and said, "Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" NLT
Imagine God’s willingness to save Sodom, if there were 50 righteous people, even 10!
Rev 16:12-15 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. KJV
