“How Long, O Lord?” | Revelation 6:9–17 (ESV)

Well, good morning, everyone. How are we doing this morning? We all awake? Oh, that's good.

Today, we are continuing our sermon series through the book of Revelation.

And I got to tell you, this has been by far the most challenging, but the most rewarding sermon series that I've ever done.

I've read Revelation many times, and I got to tell you, it is a lot, right?

How many of you have read Revelation, and you're like, I don't know what in the world's going on.

And then there's different sides and different opinions arguing to and fro about this book.

And what's really unfortunate is that how Revelation is viewed upon as such a scary book.

But in reality, Revelation is a book about hope. It is a book about God making all things new.

Yes, there's the final judgment. There are so many apocalyptic language that's being used in this text.

But through the end comes the beginning. Through death and destruction and judgment comes new life.

And it's so interesting how when we talk about things such as heaven, in Revelation, we have the new heaven and the new earth.

We have this kind of language that is so connected within the Old Testament.

And it's really remarkable the more that we begin to read and study together this fascinating book.

It can be confusing, and it certainly can be heavy.

But Lord willing, we're going to open the text together, and we're just going to go through it.

This last week, we began in Revelation chapter 6.

Revelation 6 · chapter mention

If you guys want to get ahead and go ahead and turn there, that's fine.

And Revelation chapter 6 has been a very heavy and very difficult passage where we have this judgment kind of language.

Revelation 6 · chapter mention

The seven seals, right? And the seals are being opened.

But as we're turning there, I want us to keep in mind something.

As we've been going through Revelation, there are certain key points for us to remember.

The first is that God is in control. Amen?

That is the most important thing.

We don't need to fear the four horsemen.

We need to be in relationship with the Lamb.

Just like when we sing the song,

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

Very powerful lyric, right?

We sing that in many worship songs, many songs that's out there.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, that is worthy to open the scroll, right?

The scroll that is found through Daniel.

The scroll that is prophesied about.

And now we have this scene where it is the opening of the scroll, the breaking of the seven seals.

When we think about it, this last week it was the four horsemen.

And that very metal kind of imagery, right?

How many of you have gone on Google or you've seen an image of the four horsemen and it's the most, let's be honest, kind of dark and scary kind of image, right?

And it's a very powerful image at that.

Don't get me wrong.

But for some people, they're like, I don't know about that.

At the other, got the other side of the coin where it's like, yeah, that's awesome, man.

There's got some judgment going on here.

With all of that, it's important for us to recognize we need to know the Lord.

And we don't need to fear the final judgment.

You have to know Jesus Christ being the way, the truth, and the life.

You know, life is beautiful.

From the time that we are born into this earth, holding a newborn baby is something that is remarkable.

Some of you parents, you remember when you held a newborn child.

And some of you grandparents, you may remember your son or your daughter or your grandchildren, right?

And how precious that life is.

And it's so incredible when Scripture talks about how God knew us before we were born.

How God knit us together.

And how, well, essentially, when we are born into this earth, we have a certain number of days.

Our entire life, Scripture talks about that we are amidst.

Amist.

And yet, in all of that, every day, every breath is a gift from God.

Not only this, our gifts and our abilities, our potential, all comes from the Lord.

And we have to think of how God gives each and every one of us, every single day, an opportunity for us to know Jesus Christ.

An opportunity for us to go from darkness into light.

I love how throughout Scripture, how many of you guys have been boating, whether it's on the ocean or on the lake, right?

And we know how windy and how stormy waters can be, right?

When you're getting tossed to and fro in the boat.

Do you realize that the sea is a representation throughout Scripture as chaos and sin and disorder and dysfunctionality?

Just like how Christ, when He goes out into the boat and He says,

Peace, be still.

Showing not only that Christ controls the water, but He will bring calm to the chaos.

It's such a powerful kind of imagery that we think about.

And so, in all of this, for many of us, we come from this chaotic world.

Where we are in the sea, as it were, right?

Getting tossed to and fro in the boat.

Wondering what in the world.

When is this storm going to be over?

And it's a call for all of us to know Jesus Christ who can bring peace to our life.

Give us calm.

Give us clarity.

Give us consistency.

Give us truth.

Especially in the world that we live in.

Don't we live in the kind of world where people say there is no such thing as truth?

Don't we live in a world where people say darkness is light?

What are you talking about?

We know, we should know, Jesus Christ being the way, the truth, and the life.

The light for all of us to come to.

It's important for us to recognize that from the time that we are born,

God calls all of us into relationship by extending grace before us.

It is this invitation for us to respond.

And we are given time, but not forever.

How many of you have been invited to a birthday party or a wedding invitation, right?

We all know that you got to RSVP within 30 days.

You got to RSVP within two weeks.

I mean, depending upon the organization of the person putting together the party,

you've got to respond.

You've got to RSVP.

And in the same way, that's how it works with God inviting you into salvation.

Will you respond with a resounding yes or no?

We are given time, but not forever.

That's like how it is in any birthday party, right?

My birthday is in 10 days.

Are you going to come to the party or not, right?

Not on the 12th day.

My birthday has already passed, right?

You think of these kind of things and how God gives us this invitation.

And to know God is to respond to him.

It is to say yes to Jesus Christ.

And it is also recognizing that God is going to transform your life.

He is going to change the very fabric of who you are, being born again, becoming a new creation.

And as we're going to go over in the text, being given these white robes.

I'm not saying my jacket is white robes in any sense here.

But to be given new clothing, right?

Not only are we a new creation when we are saved by grace through faith,

but in this revelation kind of language, we'll see this type of new clothing

and how God cares for those that love him.

When we think of us coming to know Jesus Christ,

how wonderful is it that we can come together,

that we can worship Jesus Christ,

that we can sing these songs.

And I love how the scripture says, make a joyful noise.

It doesn't say make a joyful production.

Thank God, right?

We sing songs.

We praise the living God.

And look, you can be out of tune.

That's all right.

You don't have to sing.

But as long as you're worshiping God, that is what matters, right?

And the fact that we can come together,

we can open the word of God

when there are other places in the world that do not have access to scripture.

There are other places in the world that cannot sing songs to worship the Lord.

Some of us may know about the persecuted church,

the global church, and how Christianity is outlawed,

how it is difficult.

Now, granted, we may say it's difficult to be a Christian in America.

I understand that.

But it's very different when you look around the world.

And so important for us that throughout scripture,

throughout the history of Christianity,

we have found that there have been people

that have been persecuted for their faith.

There have been people that have been martyred for their faith.

And I got to tell you, as we're going into the text today,

this is going to speak to those who have died.

Those who have been martyred.

It's some easy reading, isn't it?

It's going to be some very more heavy language in here.

And so to know God is to respond to him.

To know him is to be held and care for

and provided for and given everlasting life.

And it's important for us to know that as we live here on the earth,

when we are saved by grace through faith,

we are in preparation for the new heaven and the new earth.

For us to dwell in the presence of the Lord.

What happens, unfortunately,

is many times there are Christians who are persecuted for their faith.

There are those that die for the word,

those that die for the cause of Christ.

And these people are remembered.

Let's turn there.

I want us to go into the text here.

My slides are out of order, and that's okay.

It is...

It's going to be on page 1,222 in your ESVP Bibles.

It's Revelation 6, verses 9 through 17.

Revelation 6:9–17

And let's read it together, church.

Are we all there?

Feel free to read along out loud or listen,

or even in your own Bible of choice.

We do use the ESVP Bible.

It's those blue Bibles in here.

So it says in verse 9,

When he opened the fifth seal,

I saw under the altar the what?

The souls of those who had been what?

Slain for the word of God.

And for the witness they bore.

They cried out with the loud voice.

Let's say it together.

O sovereign Lord, holy and true,

how long before you judge

and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

What a question, right?

Verse 11,

Then they were each given what?

A white robe,

and told to rest how long?

A little longer,

until the number of their fellow servants

and their brothers should be complete,

who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

That is not an easy thing to read, right?

Let's be honest here.

Verse 12,

When he opened the sixth seal,

I looked,

and behold,

there was what?

A great earthquake.

And the sun became black as sackcloth,

and the full moon became like blood.

And the stars of the sky fell to the earth

as the,

this is interesting,

as the fig tree

sheds its winter fruit

when shaken by a gale.

Verse 14,

The sky vanished like a scroll

that is being rolled up,

and every mountain and island

was removed from its place.

Then the kings of the earth,

and the great ones,

and the generals,

and the rich,

and the powerful,

and everyone.

Okay,

so it's listing those that were in power,

and then everybody,

slave and free.

What did they do?

They hid themselves in the caves,

and among the rocks of the mountains.

Calling to the mountains and rocks,

what did they say?

Fall on us.

Fall on us,

and hide us from the face of him

who is seated on the throne,

and from the wrath of the Lamb.

For the great day of their wrath has come,

who can stand?

Whoa.

What is going on here, right?

So the main thing that we have to take away from here

is that the martyrs are crying,

and God answers.

That is very important for us.

Throughout Scripture,

there's a question that gets asked all the time,

and people in the everyday world ask this question.

Why does it seem like evil people do well?

Right?

It's a fundamental question that gets asked all the time.

I see those rich and these wicked people.

They seem to have everything together.

Right?

It's a question that's asked in Psalms.

It's a question that's asked throughout so much of Scripture.

In other words,

you may be familiar with the saying,

why do the wicked prosper?

Right?

As some mentions in Psalms here.

And in that,

we find those that are following the Lord,

those that are following God and His path and His ways,

and they may find,

you may even find,

that there's struggles that happen within life.

And you turn and you think,

these bad people appear to be doing good,

but yet I'm following the Lord,

and there's these struggles.

And it's important for us,

and this is not just in Revelation,

but throughout all of Scripture,

that wicked evildoers,

it appears that they're doing well.

But on the inside,

they're not.

On the inside,

they may have

this sense of emptiness,

a hole or a void that they cannot fill.

I mentioned it before,

and I'll mention it again.

And when you search the things of this world,

there's many things that the world has to offer.

Fame, notoriety, right?

There's casinos everywhere.

There's all kinds of things that the world has to offer.

And when you pursue those things,

do you find a life of fulfillment and happiness?

A life where you can say,

you know, I've gambled all my life,

and I have everything I could have ever wanted.

I don't think that's a statement that's,

I don't know anyone that has gambled

and has said that, right?

In fact, my father would tell me a story

about someone that he knew very dearly

who was an alcoholic

and would tell me that

the very look,

the very taste on his tongue,

every time he smelt alcohol,

it would give him this high, so to speak.

And how sad that happens,

that there comes a point

when you think of addiction and whatnot,

it's not the person drinking the bottle,

it's the bottle drinking the person,

getting used and consumed.

And it's very unfortunate

when these things kind of happen.

And so in this,

we have to realize and to recognize here,

there are struggles that happen in the earth.

The people that are wicked and evildoers,

it looks like they're doing well,

but yet there's a sense of emptiness,

a hole and a void they cannot fill on their own.

And then you have the good that are struggling.

Those that know the Lord, right?

I'm following the ways in the Lord,

and yet I'm struggling.

I don't understand why.

And then to top it off,

you have people that are killed,

those that are martyred.

You have people that are crying out,

why, God?

Why are you letting this injustice happen?

And it's important for us to recognize

that God works in his own timing.

When we think of God and his mind,

his ways being higher than our own,

we have our own human understanding, right?

And I gotta tell you,

I'm glad I am not a judge.

I'm glad I'm not a lawyer.

Because I am a human being,

and I am imperfect

when it comes to these kind of things.

I have my own human tendencies

and my own human biases.

But when it comes to God,

whose ways that are higher than ours,

his justice, his timing,

is certainly beyond our understanding.

And that's very difficult.

That is not an easy thing to talk about.

That is not an easy thing to preach on.

That is why it's so important for us

to wait upon the Lord

for his divine timing

and understand that he will have the final say.

And so in this, right,

the martyrs are crying.

God answers by providing them a white robe.

What beautiful language.

That even when wicked people

think they have the final say,

they certainly do not.

It is God who has the final say.

It is God who makes all things new.

It is God who restores the broken.

It is God who does the healing and transformation.

That is very comforting.

Now, sometimes it's hard for us

to see it like that

because we see only a portion,

a piece of what is happening here on the earth.

But let us recognize,

when we talk about this judgment kind of language,

a day that no one can stand,

it's showing the power and the glory of God

being so powerful that no one can stand it, right?

It's being in the sense of an awe

and of wonder in this.

And it's interesting that it is connected here

and this is some harder language.

In Psalm 79, verses 10 through 13,

Psalms 79:10–13

let the avenging of the outpoured blood

of your servants be known among the nations.

There have been people that have died

for the cause of Christ

and God recognizes that, right?

The cries of the saints

has been across the centuries

and it's the same cry that we see beneath the altar.

If you notice,

when it says in the text,

in verse 9,

opening the fifth seal,

I saw under the altar

the souls of those

who had been slain for the word of God.

So it's saying here in this kind of language

that the souls are under the altar, right?

Now, when we're looking at this apocalyptic type of language,

it's very similar to what you find

in the old Jewish temples, right?

The old sacrificial system.

There's a lot of connections within there.

We had talked about previously in Revelation,

the golden bowls,

our prayers being offered as incense.

And here we're seeing this scene

where the souls under the altar

is a representation of the protection

and the provision of God.

that not only are you protected and provided for,

but God is going to restore you

and make all things new.

That language of receiving a white robe then

is knowing it's a place of reward

and it's a place of honor.

You think about that.

Well,

to know that I'm going to be protected by the Lord

is a remarkable thing.

And for those that have perished,

those that have passed away,

that know the Lord and have been martyred,

it's very, very beautiful language.

And it is hard for us to understand.

I can understand that.

And so I mentioned about the prayers of the saints

rising as incense from the golden bowls,

the souls of the martyrs resting beneath the altars.

And it's interesting,

in Leviticus 7,

the priest would place in the sacrificial system

the blood, right?

The blood of the horns of the incense altar,

it was poured at the base of the altar

as part of a sacrifice.

And so in the same way,

it's kind of difficult for us

because we're not partaking in the sacrificial system.

But it's blood that is spilt out.

It's not being,

you're not bleeding in vain, so to speak.

It's you're being regarded.

Even though evil has happened,

you are being taken care of.

You're being revered by the Lord.

And so in this,

what can we observe in here, right?

The souls under the altar.

The second thing is that creation shakes here.

Oh, one second.

The souls under the altar,

another thing that's very interesting,

is the martyrs.

Martyrs, the language in that,

talks about those that witnessed.

Witnesses, or those that gave testimony.

That's actually, it comes from

martyria, if I pronounce that correctly.

That's where we get the word martyr from.

It is those who testified with their words,

the testimony,

with their blood.

So that's kind of interesting.

That's where we get the word martyr from.

And so,

them crying out,

how long?

It's connected with,

and I've mentioned this parable quite a few times,

is the parable of the persistent widow.

I've told you about the judge,

the wicked judge who didn't fear God,

nor respected man.

I don't want to know a judge like that, right?

And this widow is crying out for justice.

And eventually the judge gives justice.

And the whole point of that parable

is when Jesus says,

how much more will God give justice

to the ones that he love,

as opposed to a human

who doesn't revere God

and doesn't respect man.

It's going to show that God's justice

is far greater than humans in that.

And so,

the cry of,

how long, O Lord?

It's something that has been

throughout Scripture,

Psalm 13,

Psalm 79,

Habakkuk 1.

If you've ever read Habakkuk,

that's a pretty good book in the Bible

I should read.

The saints have always cried that question,

but it's waiting upon the Lord

for his divine timing.

And so,

creation shakes.

There's a great earthquake that happens,

right?

The shaking up that happens.

The sun becoming black as sathcloth,

and the full moon becoming like blood.

I don't want to see that.

Right?

What kind of scary imagery

we can think of

when we think about that

and the stars falling to earth.

every mountain and island

being removed in here.

It's actually connected

with the prophet Joel,

where it says,

the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the great and awesome day

of the Lord comes.

It's talking about

what will happen

before the final judgment.

So,

that kind of language

has been shown

in Scripture before.

We also know that

in Exodus,

when God moved against Pharaoh,

the sun was darkened,

right?

That's another very similar language

about judgment.

And so,

there's,

and even the fig tree.

When Jesus said,

fun fact,

in Luke 21,

when Jesus says,

when these things begin

to take place,

straighten up

and raise your heads

because your redemption

is drawing near.

That's very important,

is that despite all of this

apocalyptic

and scary kind of language,

we don't need to be afraid

of that.

it's going to show

how powerful God is

in His divine works

that,

let's be honest,

we don't fully understand.

And that's okay.

It's just like how we hear

that God works

in mysterious ways.

We don't understand

all of the complexities

of God.

God works in such

incredible ways

that's like,

whoa,

okay,

the sky turning black

and the great earthquakes

and people running

and hiding in caves

is very difficult

for us to comprehend.

And again,

that is okay though.

It's going to show

that God is powerful

and no one can stand

the awe,

the power,

and the glory

of God.

And so in that,

the imagery

that we have here

is of God's judgment

showing the power

of God.

It's important

for us to recognize.

When you hear

and read this kind

of language,

who's really in control?

Is it the wicked

or is it God?

So it's here,

it's God showing

you wicked evildoers

do not have

the final say.

It is God that does.

Because the ability

to shake up

all of creation

and everyone

being afraid

of the presence

of the Lord

in that respect

is,

well,

I don't have

the final say.

It is God

that has the final say.

It's going to show

his power

and his authority.

And then finally,

the third thing

is that all flesh

hides, right?

And so in this,

it's interesting.

It talks about

the kings of the earth,

the great ones,

the generals,

the rich and powerful.

You kind of wish

you would just stop there,

right?

No, it extends

to everyone, right?

Everyone in this place,

slave and free,

they hide themselves

in the caves

and among the rocks

of the mountains.

And you have to think

how powerful

a presence

it must be,

especially if you're wicked,

to call upon the mountains

and the rocks

to fall on them.

When is the last time

you've ever called

for a mountain

to fall down on you?

I mean,

I hope that's none of us

here in this room, right?

But to think for a moment

that the face of God,

right?

And we'll go into

what that means.

It's kind of an interesting one.

The presence of God

being so powerful

that it's so convicting

to you that you cannot stand

being in the presence

of the Lord.

Isn't that interesting?

That these people

would rather flee away

in darkness

and rather

have mountains

fall on them

than to deal

with the Lord.

That's powerful.

I mean,

that is

something that's remarkable.

And it's also

a fulfillment

of the prophet Isaiah

when he says,

men shall enter

the caves of the rocks

and the holes

of the ground

from before

the terror

of the Lord.

Talking about

God's judgment,

His presence,

and His wrath.

We have to think

when we read

these kind of things

that

you know,

you have

God's love

and His mercy,

but you also have

God's truth

and God's wrath.

Now,

a lot of us

love God

on this side,

right?

We love the love

of God

and the mercy

that He has for us,

but there's also

this sense of

truth,

justice,

the wrath of God.

We have to think

that

when God offers

all of us

a choice,

we have to

essentially decide,

are we going

to receive the love

and salvation

or are we not?

It's so simple,

but yet,

there's so much

consequence

that comes

to that.

And so,

in this,

it's the wrath

of the Lamb,

and it's the same

Lamb who opens

the scroll.

It's the one

the wicked

cannot bear.

Now,

if you think

about it,

this shows

the power of God,

the fulfillment

of prophecy,

and it's when,

and I want to make

this very clear,

this is when evil

is held accountable

by God.

Okay?

I want to make

that extremely

clear to you.

That this sense

of,

I want mountains

to fall on me,

it is this sense

of the wrath

of God

and that they

are being held

accountable.

How many of you

have ever felt

convicted before?

Yeah?

I know I have.

There have been times

where this stirring

in my heart,

and I've got,

I've got to do

something now.

I've got to make

a phone call,

and that kind of,

it's this,

like,

stirring,

as it were,

to act,

and it bothers you.

For some people,

you may lose sleep

over such a conviction,

right?

I've got to call

and make amends

with so-and-so,

or I've got to,

I've got to do this,

I've got to talk

to so-and-so,

this just didn't sit

right.

And God works

in that kind of,

really remarkable

kind of way,

stirring in your heart.

Well,

imagine the kind

of conviction

for an unrepentant

soul.

Or imagine

the kind of conviction

of all evil,

all evil people,

in that sense.

Very harsh language,

indeed,

but,

it goes to show

that God

cannot stand

for evil.

And when

the wicked

do evil things

to God's people,

that's not a good thing.

How many of you

are

protective of your

own children?

You wouldn't want

anything to happen

to them,

correct?

I hope everyone

says yes in that,

right?

Protective of your

children,

protective of your

spouse,

right?

Protected of

family members

and even your

friends at times.

So,

if we're so quick

to want to

protect those

that are our own,

why is it such

a big deal

for us to

understand that

God wants to

protect his own?

We have to,

and I know

it's,

obviously it's

different human

relations compared

to the Lord

and us,

but it's a

similar concept

here when we

think about this.

And so,

in our

interpretation,

what does all

of this mean?

The first one

is that God

is not late,

he works in

his own

timing.

Right?

Now,

for some of us,

this is very

hard to read.

Even for a

person like me,

it can be hard

to read because

I want God

to intervene

now,

right?

How many of

us,

we wanted God

to respond

immediately?

And we're

like,

God,

come on.

Now,

maybe a few

minutes ago,

right?

We have those

kind of moments

that happen,

but it's

important for us

to know God

works in his

own timing.

He's not a

genie in the

bottle,

right?

Although some

of us may

view God

as that.

It's

inaccurate.

But God

is completing

something.

If you notice

in the text

when it says

until the

number of

their fellow

servants

should be

complete,

God is

not behind

schedule.

It is

waiting for

the proper

time for

all of

his own

to be

gathered

together.

Okay?

And I

want you to

consider the

persecuted church,

those that have

gone before

you.

Those lives

that have

been persecuted,

they're not

forgotten.

They are

remembered.

They are

held.

You even

think of

even in the

early days

of

Christianity

spreading.

The wars

that happened.

Ever heard

of Emperor

Nero?

Right?

That's a

good example,

right?

In that

kind of

apocalyptic

language.

Persecution

of the

Christians.

And in

that,

to face

that kind

of fear

and trembling,

it's relying

on God

knowing that

look,

God has

the power

over

death

itself.

So these

wicked people

that think

they're going

to take

your life,

they're not

going to

have the

final say.

It is

God who

controls

life itself.

So although

people may

do wicked

things,

and they

may do

evil things,

God gives

them the

choice to

make on

what they're

going to

do.

It's the

same kind

of choices

we have

to make.

Are we

going to

come to

know the

Lord?

Are we

going to

let God

transform us

and do

good in

his name?

Or are we

going to

be like

the wicked?

It's

unfortunate

when in

my own

personal life

there have

been people

I've met

who blatantly

not just

reject God

but go

against God

in the

process.

If you

want to

talk about

a tragedy,

it's the

hardened

hearts of

people.

And it's

very interesting

to talk

about how

God renews

our spirit,

how God

transforms

our mind,

changes the

very fabric

of who we

are.

It's very

unfortunate if

you ever

know somebody

that has

departed,

as it were.

And so

the persecuted

church today,

it stands at

the same

altar as

Stephen,

Polycarp,

and those

that have

been martyred.

I mean,

who can

count the

amount of

lives that

have been

lost?

It's a

really,

it's a very

heavy thing

for us to

think about,

right?

It's very

difficult to

talk about

the persecuted

church,

but at the

same time,

knowing that

they will be

remembered,

to be given

that new

robe,

and they'll

dwell in the

presence of

the Lord

forever,

that's a

remarkable

thing.

And so

in that,

there's a

question that's

asked in

Luke 18,

will not

God give

justice to

his own,

who cry to

him day

and night?

I tell you,

he will give

justice to

them.

That's right

after the,

that's in that

connection with

the parable of

the persistent

widow,

showing the

same kind of

connection.

And this is

part of the

remarkability,

the significance

of scripture,

is how connected

it is with the

Old Testament

and with the

parables of

Christ,

these kind of

things.

And this is

connected,

right,

with the second

one,

the martyrs

are not

forgotten.

They wear

white in

anticipation.

What beautiful

language in

that.

The white

robe is God

making everything

new.

Everyone will

be restored

unto him.

It's as though

you received a

royal garment

given by God

himself,

or like the

guests at the

great banquet

who wait in

anticipation for

better days to

come.

It's kind of,

you think about

it,

we can think

about this in

common terms.

You're waiting

for the

wedding feast,

a great banquet

as it were,

and you're

waiting for

everyone to

arrive in

their proper

attire.

That's such

simple language,

but that's

very similar

to what the

Lord is

doing.

And so

God honors

those who

gave their

lives for

the cause

of Christ,

for the

witness of

Christ.

They're not

forgotten,

and their

lives are not

wasted.

They are

counted.

It's just

like how

the Apostle

Paul wrote

in Philippians,

for to me

to live,

for to me

to live

is Christ

and to

die

is gain.

It's

such a,

almost

confusing

when you

read it

at first,

right?

But it's

connected in

here,

that death

is not

the end.

And for

the saint,

death is

the moment

where the

white robe

is going

to be

placed,

given to

you.

Because God

makes

everything

new.

So we

don't need

to fear

the apocalyptic

language of

revelation.

We don't

need to

fear

evildoers.

We trust

in the

living God

who will

sustain us

and hold

us.

And so,

finally,

you have

the two

kinds of

hiding,

the two

kinds of

face I

put on

here.

You can

hide in

the protection

of the

Lord,

right?

to be

hidden

away.

There's

language

talking about

the shadow

of the

wings,

right?

To be

protected

as a

bird

protects

its own,

right?

You think

of that

kind of

beautiful

language,

how God

protects

his own.

So you

can hide

in the

Lord,

as it

were,

and the

protection

in the

cover,

to be

hidden

in the

lamb.

Or you

can hide

away from

the face

of God.

Just as it

mentions that

the king's

hide from

the face

of God

and begging

the mountains

to cover

them.

It's going

to show

that in

that sense

of power

of God,

what are you

going to

hide in?

Are you

going to

flee to

the mountains

or are you

going to

flee to

God and

be hidden

in him

as it

were?

And it's

interesting

that to

flee to

the mountains

would be

against the

very notion

of what,

when we go

over our

benediction

here at

church.

The Lord

make his

face shine

upon you

and be

gracious to

you.

The Lord

lift up his

countenance

upon you

and give

you peace.

You think

for a moment,

well, if you're

fleeing away

from the

Lord, it's

the opposite

of that.

Really think

about that.

And so,

let us,

as we read

that, as we

think of

this, may

you hide

in the

protection of

the Lord.

This leads

us then to

how should

we live?

The first

one I put

is to cry

out to

the Lord.

Pray to

the Lord.

Be in

connection

with him.

That's

something

that's very

important.

The persistent

widow did

not stop

asking for

justice,

and the

souls beneath

the altar

did not

stop crying.

It's a

call for

us to

pray without

ceasing.

for us to

continue to

remain in

the Lord.

It's okay to

cry out to

the Lord for

justice, for

healing, for

the prodigal, for

the persecuted

church.

God hears our

prayers.

God will

answer in

his time.

And let's

not forget

when we

think of

praying to

the Lord,

be specific

in your

prayers.

Pray for

your city.

Pray for

your leaders.

prayers.

Pray for

your family.

Pray for

that prodigal

family member.

Think of

people, and

maybe take

some time

this week

to think

of who

specifically

you can

pray for.

The second

thing then

is to

endure,

that God

restores

his own.

So much

in Scripture

when it

says to

hold fast

until the

end and

to remain

in him

until the

end is

recognizing

this is

the other

side,

that God

will restore

you.

No matter

what the

world does

to you,

how the

world may

attack or

even persecute

you,

God will

protect you.

God will

be there

with you,

and he

will restore

you.

That should

give us

comfort.

That should

give us

a really

good

understanding.

For many

of us,

we may be

worn down

in doing

good.

For many

of us,

we may

even be

suffering in

some

capacity.

Just

know,

let this

be a

call for

you to

remain in

the Lord

and to

know that

you'll be

restored in

him and

to be

that God

will make

all things

new.

The family

is almost

complete.

In other

words,

it's like the

family reunion

coming together

despite this

incredible kind

of language.

God honors

his own.

The grave

does not

have the

last word.

It is the

Lamb of

God who

does.

Let us

remember

that.

And finally,

the third

thing is to

proclaim,

to share

the gospel

whatever the

cost.

It is

recognizing

that,

look,

the martyrs

were slain

for the

word of

God and

the witness

that they

bore.

Their

testimony is

why they

rest beneath

the altar.

And so,

let this be a

call for you

to share in

your faith,

in the words

that you

speak,

in how

you conduct

your life.

Plant seeds

and recognize

some people

will choose

Christ,

some will

not.

Some will

respond to

that invitation,

some will

not.

Our job is

to continue

in the

Great Commission,

to tell the

world about

Jesus Christ.

Our job is

to witness.

And it's

important for us

to recognize

there are

churches in

the world

today where

their Bibles

are hidden,

where pastors

are imprisoned,

and where

believers are

martyred for

the name of

Christ.

We remember

those lives.

The Lord

remembers them.

And we pray

for those

that are

persecuted.

We proclaim

and we thank

God for the

blessings that

he has given

us.

And so,

in conclusion,

the Lamb who

was slain,

he holds the

scroll.

The blood of

the martyrs

is at the

base of the

altar,

representing that

they are not

forgotten,

that they are

held,

that they are

remembered.

And the

prayers of the

saints,

they rise as

incense,

that beautiful

language,

to know that

God does

have the

final say.

No one can

stand against

the power of

God.

And remember

that in your

life,

you all have a

decision to

make.

Whether to

receive salvation

through faith

or to not.

And in

receiving salvation,

know that there

is a call for

you to be

transformed,

for you to

grow in the

Lord,

and to

proclaim the

good news of

the gospel to

others.

And how

wonderful is it

to know that

in knowing the

Lord,

no matter what

evil does,

it cannot stand

against the

power of God.

God, no

matter what

evil thinks

that they have

the final say,

they certainly

don't.

It is God

who has the

final say.

And so,

in all of

this, let us

cry out to the

Lord, let us

remain in him,

and proclaim the

name of Jesus.

Let's pray

together.

And Father God,

we thank you for

this passage.

We know this is a

very difficult

passage.

A lot of

language of

the sky

vanishing like

a scroll,

the stars

falling to

earth,

showing the

power of

who you

are.

And we

just pray

that may

we all come

to know who

you are.

You call each

and every one

of us,

may we respond

accordingly.

May we not

be afraid of

judgment.

May we not

be afraid of

you.

Rather, may

we come to

you and

respond to

you.

May we be

in that sense

of, just as

scripture talks

about, the

fear of the

Lord, being

in the sense

of awe and

wonder of

who you

are.

May we

boldly come

before you

and respond

to you.

May we be

transformed in

our understanding

and may we

recognize that

there are some

things that we

are just not

going to

understand and

that's okay.

What matters

is that we

believe in you

and that we

grow and we

continue in

the mission.

Father, we're

grateful for the

grace that you've

set before us

and how when we

receive this

salvation, we

certainly are a

work in progress.

May we be

molded.

May we be

confident in

you.

May we live

in love like

your son,

Jesus Christ,

the way, the

truth, and the

life.

May we wait

upon you and

trust in your

divine timing.

It is in the

name of Jesus

that we pray

and we all

say together,

Amen, church.

Amen.