04/22/26 Pastor Doug Daniels

(MUSIC)

GOOD EVENING, LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH. LET'S DO SOMETHING A

LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAY YOU

HAD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE JUST COMING FROM WORK OR YOU'RE

COMING FROM HOME, BUT LET'S REPOSITION OUR HEARTS RIGHT NOW

AND JUST EXALT THE LORD. FATHER, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. WE GIVE YOU

GLORY. YOU ARE THE KING OF KINGS. YOU ARE THE LORD OF

LORDS. I EXALT YOU ABOVE MY FEELINGS. I EXALT YOU ABOVE THE

KIND OF DAY I HAD. I EXALT YOU ABOVE MY NEEDS AND WANTS.

AND I WELCOME YOU TO HAVE YOUR WAY TONIGHT.

IN JESUS' NAME. LET'S RAISE IT UP, COME ON.

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, GOD IS TAKING YOUR FAITH,

YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR PRESS, YOUR "NEVER QUIT" ATTITUDE, AND HE

IS WORKING IT FOR YOUR GOD. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TONIGHT?

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

COME ON, PROPHESY OVER YOUR SITUATION.

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

(WORSHIP MUSIC)

HALLELUJAH. FATHER, WE THANK YOU TONIGHT THAT YOUR GLORY IS

PRESENT WITH US. WE THANK YOU TONIGHT THAT YOU'RE TOUCHING

LIVES IN THIS PLACE, JUST AS WE SANG. YOU'RE TOUCHING LIVES

AROUND THE WORLD, NOT ONLY IN THIS PLACE, BUT AROUND THE

WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANOINTING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

POWER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS. THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU GIVE

US BREATH AND LIFE. WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT.

YOU'RE WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE AND GLORY, AND WE GIVE YOU HONOR.

OH, MAGNIFICENT, AWESOME GOD, WE PRAISE YOU IN THIS HOUSE

TONIGHT. WE THANK YOU. WE HUMBLY THANK YOU FOR GIVING US INSIGHT

AND WISDOM. YOU TELL US IF ANY OF US LACK WISDOM WE CAN CALL ON

YOU AND YOU WILL PROVIDE IT. HMM WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN

WISDOM? IF WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING. OH THANK YOU JESUS

FOR WISDOM. WE RECEIVE IT NOW. JUST SAY THIS WITH ME, I RECEIVE

GOD'S WISDOM IN MY LIFE. AMEN. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU JESUS.

PRAISE GOD. THE LORD KIND OF GAVE ME TWO WORDS HERE TONIGHT

TOGETHER AND IT WAS TRANSITION AND DIVERSIFICATION. IS THERE

SOMEONE HERE AND YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOME TRANSITION IN YOUR

LIFE? IT MIGHT BE TRANSITION WITH YOUR BUSINESS, IT MIGHT BE

TRANSITION IN YOUR EMPLOYMENT, IT MIGHT BE TRANSITION IN WHERE

YOU'RE LIVING, BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOME TYPE OF

TRANSITION. COME UP HERE QUICKLY. THE LORD WANTS TO

MINISTER TO YOU TONIGHT. ISAIAH CHAPTER 43:19 SAYS, "BEHOLD, I

DO A NEW THING." AND SO TRANSITION IS GOOD. IT CAN BE A

GOOD THING. WHO HERE IS INVOLVED IN SPECIFICALLY TRANSITION FOR

YOUR BUSINESS VENTURE? YOU HAVE A BUSINESS VENTURE. I FELT THE

DIVERSIFICATION ISSUE SPECIFICALLY IN MY HEART AND YOU

TOO, BUSINESS. DIVERSIFICATION CAME TO ME IN ECCLESIASTES 11, I

BELIEVE IT'S VERSE 2 TELLS US, AND MOST OF US LOOK AT IT AS

INVESTMENT ADVICE, BUT IT SAYS DIVIDE A PORTION, THERE IT IS,

GOOD, GIVE A PORTION TO SEVEN AND ALSO TO EIGHT. AND ANOTHER

VERSION SAYS INVEST A PORTION TO SEVEN AND ALSO TO EIGHT. IT

DOESN'T JUST MEAN, IT CAN APPLY TO YOUR INVESTMENTS, LIKE

SPREADING OUT, IT'S WISDOM IF YOU'RE INVESTING YOUR RESOURCES

TO BE A GOOD STEWARD, TO NOT HAVE EVERYTHING IN ONE SPOT. IN

OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'VE GOT SOME CASH, YOU HAVE IT IN THE BANK,

MAYBE YOU ALSO HAVE SOME REAL ESTATE, MAYBE YOU ALSO HAVE SOME

MONEY IN A 401K OR OTHER INVESTMENTS, MAYBE YOU OWN SOME

PRECIOUS METALS, WHATEVER IT IS, DIVERSIFICATION IS GOOD, BECAUSE

THAT MEANS IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN, PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE

YOU OWN IS GOING TO GO UP AND YOU WOULDN'T LOSE IT ALL IF

THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. SO THAT'S GOOD, BUT IT

ALSO WOULD APPLY INVESTING YOUR TIME AND YOUR TALENTS. DON'T

JUST FOCUS ON THE ONE THING THAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR BUSINESS. I

BELIEVE THE LORD'S SAYING, "LOOK AT SOME DIVERSIFICATION." WHAT

ELSE CAN YOU DO, WHAT CAN YOU ASK GOD THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH

YOUR BUSINESS BUT WOULD DIVERSIFY IT? AND WHAT THAT

ALLOWS THE SAME THING TO BE TRUE AS YOUR PERSONAL INVESTMENTS,

WHEN YOU DIVERSIFY IN YOUR BUSINESS. IN FACT, I WAS TALKING

TO SOMEONE YESTERDAY THAT HAD A CLOTHING STORE AND THEY SAID

THEY DECIDED TO ADD JEWELRY LINE TO IT SO THAT THEY COULD SELL

TWO THINGS IN THE SAME LOCATION. NOW, THAT'S A SIMPLE EXAMPLE,

BUT I'M JUST GIVING YOU THAT TO HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M

TRYING TO SAY. DIVERSIFICATION IS IMPORTANT. SO IS PASTOR

ANTHONY HERE? CAN YOU COME DOWN HERE, PASTOR ANTHONY? I THINK

YOU HAVE THE ANOINTING ON THIS TONIGHT. I WANT YOU TO PRAY FOR

EACH OF THESE HERE TONIGHT. I'M GONNA PRAY FOR THOSE ONLINE,

THAT THEY HAVE THE WISDOM THEY NEED FOR THIS TRANSITION TIME IN

THEIR LIFE, AND ALSO IF THEY NEED DIVERSIFICATION. YOU LAY

HANDS ON THEM IF YOU WOULD. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ONLINE

THAT YOU MAY BE FEELING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE DEALING

WITH. FATHER, WE LIFT UP THOSE ONLINE THAT ARE WATCHING AROUND

THE WORLD TONIGHT, AND I THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU GIVE THEM

WISDOM. HELP THEM, LORD, TO UNDERSTAND THE NEXT STEPS. LORD,

THE WORD SAYS THAT THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN OR WOMAN ARE ORDERED

BY YOU. SO WE BELIEVE, LORD, THAT YOU'RE ORDERING THEIR STEPS

DURING THESE TRANSITION TIMES. GIVE THEM FAVOR. GIVE THEM

FINANCIAL BLESSING AS THEY MOVE FORWARD. I THANK YOU, LORD, THAT

YOU GIVE THEM INSPIRATION, DIVINE INSPIRATION, IF THEY NEED

TO DIVERSIFY IN SOME AREA OF THEIR LIFE. I THANK YOU, LORD,

THAT THEY HAVE THE ANOINTING OF GOD AND THEY MOVE FORTH IN MIGHT

AND POWER TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THAT YOU'VE CALLED THEM TO DO IN THE

MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AND I THANK YOU FOR IT. HALLELUJAH.

AND WE'LL PUT UP THE LET'S PUT UP THE PRAYER LINE NUMBER REAL

QUICK. AND IF YOU'RE AT HOME OR WHEREVER YOU'RE AT AND YOU NEED

PRAYER SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT WE PRAYED FOR TONIGHT, YOU CAN CALL

THAT NUMBER. AND OUR PRAYER TEAM IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY TO

MINISTER TO YOU IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA. ONE OTHER THING, AND THIS

IS A LITTLE ODD, I FELT THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOW ME A PICTURE. HOW

MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE PLASTIC SCALE MODEL, LIKE YOU COULD BUY

CARS OR AIRPLANES OR TRUCKS IN A LITTLE BOX, AND THEN YOU GLUE

THEM TOGETHER AND THEN YOU COULD PAINT THEM? DOES ANYONE RELATE

TO THAT? THAT THEY HAVE, OKAY. IS THERE SOMEONE HERE THAT USED

TO REALLY ENJOY DOING THAT OR THAT WAS YOUR HOBBY OR MAYBE YOU

STILL DO? I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF PEOPLE STILL DO THAT. IS THERE

SOMEONE HERE? OH, COME ON UP HERE, PAUL.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

I USED TO DO THAT. I THINK I STARTED DOING THAT WHEN I WAS 10

OR SOMETHING AND THEN THERE WAS A SPECIAL GLUE THAT YOU HAD TO

USE ON THOSE PIECES AND IT WOULD AFFECT, I WAS ALLERGIC TO IT OR

SOMETHING, IT WOULD AFFECT MY EYES AND I GOT SOME KIND OF A

RED EYE AND I WENT TO THE EYE DOCTOR AND HE SAID, "WELL, YOU

CAN'T USE THAT GLUE." SO I HAD TO QUIT DOING THAT. BUT I ALWAYS

THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO PUT THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND

SEE THEM COME TO LIFE. AND HERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE LORD

IS SAYING TO YOU, PAUL. THERE'S BEEN SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE

THAT HAVE BEEN PIECEWORK OR PIECES, AND GOD'S GONNA WORK

THROUGH YOU AND YOUR SKILLFULNESS TO MAKE SOMETHING

BEAUTIFUL OUT OF THAT, WHATEVER THAT IS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF

THAT RELATES TO YOU OR IF YOU KNOW, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, GOD IS

RESTORING THAT. YOU HAVE A GIFT TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER, AND YOU

HAVE A WAY TO TAKE A PILE OF WRECKAGE AND PUT IT INTO

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. AND GOD'S USING YOU IN THAT IN EVEN A NEW

WAY. AND IF THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING BROKEN IN YOUR LIFE,

IT'S GONNA BE RESTORED BACK TO YOU, RENEWED AND BETTER THAN

EVER IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN, SO RECEIVE THAT

NOW. AND THEN IF THERE'S SOMEONE WATCHING ONLINE AND THAT'S FOR

YOU, AGAIN, YOU CAN CALL THE PRAYER LINE NUMBER AND RECEIVE

THE PRAYER OF AGREEMENT FOR GOD TO DO THE SAME THING IN YOUR

LIFE BECAUSE HE'S NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS. IF HE'LL DO IT FOR

PAUL, HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU. SO, PRAISE GOD. HALLELUJAH. THANK

YOU, JESUS. WELL, I THINK I'M DONE. IS PASTOR KEITH HERE? I'LL

TELL YOU WHAT. DO THIS. SHAKE HANDS AND TELL PEOPLE IT'S GOOD

TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THEN

PASTOR KEITH WILL BE UP HERE TO RECEIVE OUR OFFERING.

(MUSIC)

HALLELUJAH. WELL, IF YOU NEED A ENVELOPE TO GIVE WITH, YOU CAN

RAISE YOUR HAND AND USHERS WILL GIVE YOU ONE. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU

A SIMPLE WORD. DON'T BE A THIEF. CAN I TELL YOU AGAIN? IT'S A

SIMPLE WORD. DON'T BE A THIEF. NOW, I WANNA EXPLAIN THAT,

BECAUSE YOU COULD SAY, "WELL, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TELLS ME

THAT. I KNOW THAT." BUT YOU KNOW, JESUS EXPANDED THE TEN

COMMANDMENTS. SO THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS EXPANDING THE TEN

COMMANDMENTS. 'CAUSE HE SAID, YOU KNOW, DON'T COMMIT ADULTERY.

AND THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY, DON'T LET IT, RESIDENT, COME

INTO YOUR MIND AND BECOME A REALITY THERE. SO I TOOK THAT

THOUGHT AND I FOUND A WORD FROM GOD A LONG TIME AGO THAT KIND OF

MADE ME THINK ABOUT THAT VERY CONCEPT. IN THE BOOK OF

EPHESIANS, THE FOURTH CHAPTER, AND YOU CAN STUDY IT FOR

YOURSELF, IN VERSE 28, HE SAYS, "LET HIM WHO STOLE, STEAL NO

LONGER." DON'T BE A THIEF. DON'T BE A THIEF. NOW, LET'S EXPAND

UPON THAT. "BUT LET HIM, RATHER LET HIM LABOR, WORKING WITH HIS

HANDS WHAT IS GOOD, THAT HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE HIM WHO

HAS NEED." THE EXPANSION IS THIS. EVERY PERSON AS A BELIEVER

WHO ISN'T PURPOSEFULLY PLANNING, PREPARING, WORKING TOWARDS,

SETTING A GOAL OF ACHIEVING, GIVING, IS A THIEF. THAT STRUCK

ME. THE PURPOSE IS PART OF THE PROCESS. SO IT'S NOT JUST GOING

TO YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND TAKING HIS GOODS. IT'S ALSO NOT

PREPARING, PLANNING, AND BEING READY TO GIVE. BECAUSE THE

SCRIPTURES ALSO TELL US IN 2 CORINTHIANS THAT HE HAS GIVEN US

GRACE TO HAVE THE ABUNDANCE TO GIVE. SO WHEN WE DON'T APPLY

OURSELVES TO THAT PURPOSE, WE ARE STEALING FROM GOD AND FROM

OTHERS. AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE THIEVES. SAY, I'M NOT A THIEF. I

PURPOSE, I PLAN ON, I PREPARE FOR MY GIVING. SO YOU'RE READY

TO GIVE? YOU CAN PUT THE GIVING INFORMATION UP. AND OUT THERE

ONLINE, YOU CAN GIVE AS WELL. DON'T PURPOSE TO BE A THIEF.

PURPOSE TO BE A GIVER, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE BLESSED

FROM, FROM YOUR GIVING AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. IF YOU

GOT YOUR GIVING READY, STAND UP WITH ME. LET'S DECLARE A

BLESSING OVER IT. FATHER, I DECREE IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON,

JESUS CHRIST, THAT THE RELEASE OF YOUR ANOINTING ON EVERY GIFT

GOES FORTH TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR WILL, AS THEY PURPOSE IN THEIR

HEART TO BE CHEERFUL GIVERS, AND TO GIVE OUT OF THE POWER OF YOUR

HAND WORKING THROUGH THEM AND IN THEM, THAT THEY WILL BE RELEASED

TO ACCOMPLISH GOOD ON YOUR BEHALF IN EVERY WAY. AND I

DECLARE IT IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. YOU CAN GIVE AS PASTOR DOUG

COMES. AMEN, THANK YOU, PASTOR KEITH FOR THAT. LET ME JUST DO

ONE THING HERE. I JUST REMEMBERED THAT MY WIFE, EILEEN,

MENTIONED, AND I BETTER DO IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I MIGHT

FORGET, I GET SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

TONIGHT, I MIGHT FORGET THIS, BUT THE CORE YOUTH BAKE SALE IS

THIS SUNDAY AFTER SERVICE, AND I ASSUME THAT'LL BE IN THE CHAPEL

OR CONNECT CENTER. IN THE CONNECT CENTER, CORE YOUTH BAKE

SALE. AND THEY'RE RAISING FUNDS FOR YOUTH CAMP. SO DON'T GO OUT

TO THE STORE AND BUY YOUR PIES AND CAKES ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY,

WAIT AND GET THEM SUNDAY HERE. AND THEN YOU CAN BLESS CORE

YOUTH AND STILL TAKE SOMETHING HOME SWEET TO EAT. AND EVEN IF

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT SWEETS, LIKE I'M IN THAT

CATEGORY, THEN I'LL JUST BUY SOMETHING AND GIVE IT TO MY

NEIGHBOR AND THEN I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CALORIES, BUT I

STILL BLESS THE YOUTH AND BLESS SOMEONE ELSE AND PLANT A SEED,

SO I'M GETTING A LOT OF BLESSING THAT WAY. SO, YOU KNOW, BLESS MY

BODY WITH NO SUGAR, BLESS MY NEIGHBOR WITH A GIFT, AND BLESS

CORE YOUTH WITH, YOUTH, I MEAN, IT'S A THREE-WAY BLESSING, SO,

YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA REMEMBER TO DO THAT, EILEEN. SO, OKAY, SHE

SAYS OKAY. IF SHE SAYS OKAY, THEN WE CAN DO IT. OH,

HALLELUJAH. WELL, TONIGHT, OH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO

MENTION THAT IS TOMORROW NIGHT IS OUR FIRST CLASS OF NEW LIFE,

NOW WHAT? AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TOO 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA

BE EVERY FOURTH THURSDAY AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT GET

NEWLY SAVED, EVERY FOURTH THURSDAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS

CLASS AND IT'LL GIVE THEM A PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET

STARTED, HOW TO READ THE BIBLE, HOW TO LEARN TO PRAY, HOW TO

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN CHURCH ON

A REGULAR BASIS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE COVERED BECAUSE

TOO MANY TIMES, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO GET SAVED AND

MAKE A DECISION HERE AND THEN THEY WANDER AND DON'T KNOW WHAT

TO DO. SO, BUT EVEN IF YOU FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO JUST BE

INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO LEARN MORE, OR BE A

SUPPORT TO KEVIN AND CANDY JONES WHO ARE LEADING THAT CLASS ON

THOSE THURSDAY NIGHTS. YOU CAN SHOW UP 6:30 AT THE LOH CHAPEL.

AND SO THEY'D APPRECIATE A SIGN UP, BUT IF YOU JUST WANT TO SHOW

UP, THAT'S FINE WITH THEM TOO. THERE'S PLENTY OF SEATING THERE.

SO JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. WELL, WE'RE ON THE BOOK OF

REVELATION AGAIN TONIGHT. AND I THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD DO THIS IN

ONE MESSAGE, AND THEN I DECIDED IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST TWO

MESSAGES. SO TONIGHT'S PART ONE, NEXT WEDNESDAY WILL BE PART TWO.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION, IT'S A BOOK OF FUTURE PROPHECY BUT IT'S

REALLY MUCH MORE THAN THAT. AND THE WORD REVELATION MEANS

UNVEILING OR DISCLOSURE. LET'S PRAY, FATHER I THANK YOU THAT

TONIGHT AS WE LOOK AT THE BOOK OF REVELATION, LORD, THAT'S THE

ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE THAT'S PROMISED A BLESSING IF WE READ

IT AND OBEY IT AND WE RECEIVE THAT TONIGHT. LORD, HELP US TO

RECEIVE WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE THE UNVEILED CHRIST IN THIS BOOK AND

HELP US, LORD, TO RECEIVE THE DISCLOSURE OR THE REVELATION OF

THE BOOK AND WHAT IT MEANS IN OUR LIVES AND HOW WE CAN LEARN

ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOUR PLAN IS FOR THE FUTURE AND HOW IT

INVOLVES US. AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF

JESUS. SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD TO UNVEIL OR

DISCLOSE TRUTH TO US. AMEN. AND IT MIGHT BE REVEALING SOMETHING

NEW THAT YOU'VE NEVER HEARD, OR IT MIGHT BE JUST REPETITION OR

REVIEW OF SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG

TIME. BUT TRUTH IS GOOD EITHER WAY, RIGHT, WHETHER IT'S NEW OR

OLD. LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE CONCLUDED A TEACHING ON

THE SEVEN BLESSINGS FOUND IN REVELATION. BUT TONIGHT I WANT

TO START A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE WHOLE BOOK. AND SO WE'RE GOING

TO TRY AND GET PARTWAY THROUGH REVELATION TONIGHT AND THEN

FINISH NEXT WEEK IF WE CAN. IF NOT, WE'LL MAYBE GO TO THREE

MESSAGES, WE'LL SEE. IT'S A LOT TO COVER. BUT WE DID DISCUSS THE

FACT THAT REVELATION IS THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. AND

IT'S THE ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE, AS I MENTIONED, THAT PROMISES A

BLESSING TO THOSE THAT READ AND OBEY IT. SO I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT

THIS EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT REVELATION. THE BLESSINGS FOUND

IN REVELATION 1:3, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE THAT

Revelation 1:3

MISSED OUR PREVIOUS TIMES TOGETHER. REVELATION 1:3 SAYS,

Revelation 1:3

"BLESSED IS HE WHO READS "AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THE

PROPHECY "AND KEEP THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN IT, "FOR

THE TIME IS NEAR." SO YOU HAVE A THREEFOLD BLESSING IN THIS

SCRIPTURE. READS, THOSE WHO READ, THOSE WHO HEAR, AND THEN

FINALLY THOSE WHO KEEP THE WORDS. IN OTHER WORDS, OBEY WHAT

WE FIND OUT AND WHAT IS DISCLOSED TO US. SO AS WE TALKED

ABOUT BEFORE, THE APOSTLE JOHN WAS EXILED TO THE GREEK ISLAND

OF PATMOS WHERE HE RECEIVED AND WROTE DOWN THE SERIES OF VISIONS

THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. ROMAN AUTHORITIES

USED THIS ISLAND TO DEPORT POLITICAL PRISONERS AND

CRIMINALS SO THEY NO LONGER REALLY HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM IF

THEY SENT THEM OFF TO PATMOS. IT'S SIMILAR TO OUR GITMO, WHICH

IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE MILITARY PRISON ON GUANTANAMO

BAY IN THE NAVAL BASE AT CUBA. SINCE 2002, THE US HAS USED

GITMO OR GUANTANAMO BAY AS A PLACE TO HOLD PRISONERS THAT

THEY DON'T WANT ON OUR SOIL. PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE

WAR ON TERROR THAT WERE CONVICTED OR WHATEVER ARE SENT

TO GITMO. SO YOU NEVER WANT TO GO TO GITMO. AND HEY, EILEEN,

CAN I TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR CUBA PROPHECY? IS THAT OKAY? OKAY. SO

YEARS AGO, EILEEN HAD A MINISTER PROPHESY TO HER THAT SHE WOULD

GO TO CUBA SOMEDAY AND EVANGELIZE. SO I ALWAYS THINK

ABOUT THAT. SHE WON'T WANT TO GO TO GITMO AND EVANGELIZE THOUGH.

THAT COULD BE A TOUGH PLACE TO EVANGELIZE. BUT THE THING IS,

SHE SAYS, UNLESS THE LORD SHOWS ME, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO CUBA.

BUT I TELL HER, YOU GOT TO LET THAT PROPHECY BREATHE. IT MIGHT

BE FOR A LATER TIME. SHE SAID, OH, SHE'S BEEN TO HAITI, AND

THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR HER. BUT MAYBE CUBA WILL BECOME A US

TERRITORY, AND IT'LL BE OPENED AND EASIER TO GO THERE. YOU

NEVER KNOW THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. SO THERE HAS BEEN TALK

ABOUT THAT. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S NOT MY SUBJECT TONIGHT. BUT SOME

HISTORIANS SAY JOHN WAS EXILED TO PATMOS BY ROMAN AUTHORITIES

FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL. WE BELIEVE THAT'S HOW HE GOT THERE.

AND THEY TRIED TO BOIL HIM IN OIL, COULDN'T KILL HIM, AND SO

THEY SENT HIM OFF TO PATMOS. SO GOD HAD A PURPOSE FOR HIM EVEN

IN PATMOS, WHERE THE OTHER CRIMINALS MIGHT HAVE BEEN. HE

DID A GREAT THING THERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE PENNED THE BOOK

OF REVELATION. SO, YOU KNOW, AND SOME CHRISTIANS AVOID STUDYING

REVELATION BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT'S TOO HARD TO COMPREHEND. BUT

JESUS HAS ACTUALLY GIVEN US A GOLDEN KEY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND

THE BOOK. AND THIS GOLDEN KEY IS HANGING ON THE FRONT DOOR OF THE

1ST CHAPTER OF REVELATION. AND IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT

THERE ARE REALLY THREE DIVISIONS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. AND

WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE THREE DIVISIONS ARE, IT HELPS US

UNDERSTAND HOW THE BOOK IS LAID OUT. SO REVELATION NOT ONLY

COMES WITH THAT BUILTIN BLESSING FOR READING IT, BUT IT ALSO

COMES WITH A BUILT-IN OUTLINE. AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT

TONIGHT. REVELATION 1:19 SAYS, "WRITE THE THINGS WHICH YOU'VE

Revelation 1:19

SEEN AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE AND THE THINGS WHICH WILL TAKE

PLACE AFTER THIS." SO THE THINGS YOU HAVE SEEN, THE THINGS WHICH

ARE, AND THE THINGS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE. THREE THINGS THERE.

LET'S LOOK AT THIS ON A CHART TONIGHT. I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS.

IF YOU PUT THAT ON THE BACK WALL. SO, THE THREE THINGS,

THREE DIVISIONS, THE PAST, THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN. THIS

IS THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST IN HIS GLORY THAT IS IN

REVELATION CHAPTER 1. THAT'S THE PAST. THEN THE PRESENT, WHICH IS

Revelation 1 · chapter mention

THE AGE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THE THINGS WHICH ARE. AND THAT'S

REVELATIONS 2 AND 3, WHICH REPRESENT THE LETTERS TO THE

SEVEN CHURCHES AND REPRESENTS THE CHURCH AGE. SO, WE'RE PART

OF THIS AGE RIGHT NOW. AND THEN, THE THINGS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE

AFTER THESE THINGS, THAT'S THE FUTURE. THE THINGS THAT WILL

TAKE PLACE AFTER THESE THINGS, REVELATIONS 4 THROUGH 22 TALKS

ABOUT THOSE FUTURE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE TRIBULATION, THE

MILLENNIAL REIGN, THE ETERNAL ORDER OF THINGS, AND WE'LL GET

INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE. BUT I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT

THREE-POINT OUTLINE THERE, BECAUSE IT KIND OF HELPS YOU TO

UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT TONIGHT AND HOW THAT FITS IN

A TIMELINE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION. AGAIN, JUST TO BE

CLEAR, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THAT MIDDLE CATEGORY CALLED "THE

THINGS WHICH ARE." BUT RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE IN CHAPTER 1, JESUS

BEGINS TO REVEAL HIMSELF. REMEMBER, REVELATION IS NOT JUST

ABOUT THE FUTURE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE UNVEILING OF THE

EXALTED CHRIST. GOD IS SAYING, "I WANT YOU TO SEE WHO I AM IN

THIS BOOK." SO THE BOOK IS BOTH A REVELATION FROM JESUS, BUT

IT'S ALSO A REVELATION OF JESUS. SAY THAT WITH ME. THIS BOOK IS A

REVELATION FROM JESUS, BUT IT'S ALSO A REVELATION OF JESUS.

AMEN, SO REGARDING REVELATION FROM JESUS, THE BOOK WAS GIVEN

BY GOD TO JESUS AND THEN TRANSMITTED BY AN ANGEL TO GOD.

AND YOU CAN PUT THAT UP SO THAT WE REMEMBER WHERE WE'RE AT. IT'S

A REVELATION FROM JESUS CHRIST THAT GOD GAVE HIM, AMEN. IT

EMPOWERS THE BELIEVERS TO OVERCOME. IT CALLS US AS

CHRISTIANS TO BE OVERCOMERS IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE. I THINK

PASTOR BRENDA DID A GREAT JOB ON HER MESSAGE FRIDAY NIGHT. SHE

TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE, AND YOU MEN THAT ARE HERE, GO BACK

AND WATCH THAT IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT. FRIDAY NIGHT'S MESSAGE FROM

PASTOR BRENDA WAS EXCELLENT ON HOW TO OVERCOME. WE ALL HAVE

THINGS THAT COME AGAINST US IN THIS LIFE. AND SHE TALKED ABOUT

BEING ABLE TO STAND UP AND OVERCOME. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE

CALLED TO DO, AMEN? AND LIVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS ONGOING

VICTORY. JESUS GAVE US REVELATION TO HELP US ALSO

UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN. SO THAT WAS THE REVELATION FROM JESUS

CHRIST. IT ALSO SERVES AS A ROADMAP TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S

ULTIMATE PURPOSE IN THE PLAN FOR MANKIND AND GIVES US INSIGHT

INTO THE FUTURE AND WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THOSE THAT CHOOSE CHRIST AND

ALSO WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THOSE THAT REFUSE TO CHOOSE HIM. AND THEN

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, IF YOU'LL PUT THAT ONE UP, THERE

WE GO, GOOD JOB. THIS BOOK ALSO IS A REVELATION OF JESUS. IT

MEANS THE BOOK UNVEILS AND REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE OF

CHRIST. IT SHOWCASES JESUS AS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. HE'S

THE LIVING ONE THAT HOLDS THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HELL.

REVELATION GIVES US A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS. HE'S

FULL OF LOVE, BUT HE'S FULL OF POWER, AND HE'S FULL OF

AUTHORITY. THE TRUTH PROVIDES US WITH THIS HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT,

AND A PICTURE THAT JESUS WILL HAVE FINAL VICTORY OVER EVIL.

WHO'S A BETTER SOURCE ON JESUS THAN JESUS? NOBODY. LET'S LOOK

AT REVELATION 1, VERSES 1 AND 2. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST,

Revelation 1:1

WHICH GOD GAVE HIM TO SHOW HIS SERVANTS, THINGS WHICH MUST

SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. AND HE SENT AND SIGNIFIED IT BY HIS ANGEL TO

HIS SERVANT JOHN, WHO BORE THE WITNESS TO THE WORD OF GOD AND

TO THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST TO ALL THINGS THAT HE SAW. SO

IT'S A REVELATION OF THE IMMINENT SOON COMING EVENTS. THE

WORD SAID THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. AND

THIS VERSE ALSO EXPLAINS THAT REVELATION IS AN ACCURATE

TESTIMONY OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.

IN VERSE FIVE, WE SEE JESUS IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS. AND FROM

JESUS CHRIST, HE IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS TO SEE THESE THINGS, TO

THE FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD AND THE RULER OF ALL THE KINGS

OF THE WORLD. ALL GLORY TO HIM WHO LOVES US AND HAS FREED US

FROM OUR SINS BY SHEDDING HIS BLOOD FOR US. YOU KNOW, IT CAN

BE HARD TO FIND A FAITHFUL WITNESS TODAY,

SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T SPIN THE TRUTH. WHEN

JESUS SPEAKS, HE'S THE FAITHFUL WITNESS. HE SPEAKS TRUTH, AND HE

SPEAKS TRUTH IN LOVE. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THE TRUTH,

BUT THEY USE IT AS A WEAPON TO DESTROY RATHER THAN A TOOL TO

BUILD. THESE PEOPLE CAN EVEN BE TECHNICALLY OR THEOLOGICALLY

CORRECT IN THEIR POSITION, BUT THEY HURT PEOPLE IN THE WAY THAT

THEY PRESENT THE TRUTH. WE SHOULD ALWAYS SHARE TRUTH IN

LOVE. IN FACT, NOTICE THE LAST SENTENCE OF REVELATION 1:5. IT

Revelation 1:5

SAYS, "ALL GLORY TO HIM WHO LOVES US AND HAS FREED US FROM

OUR SINS BY SHEDDING HIS BLOOD FOR US." WHAT A DECLARATION.

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM JESUS, BUT HE LOVES US. SAY THIS WITH ME,

"JESUS LOVES ME." AMEN. IT'S A DECLARATION. I MEAN, THIS BOOK

IS FULL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE ON EVIL. BUT HE STARTS

OUT IN THE FIRST CHAPTER JUST REMINDING US HOW MUCH HE LOVES

US. WHAT A DECLARATION. THE WORDS ARE FROM A SOVEREIGN,

POWERFUL GOD IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. HE COULD STOMP US

ALL OUT TONIGHT IF HE WANTED TO. BUT HE ENDS THE VERSE

PROCLAIMING HIS LOVE FOR US. NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MISSED OUR

LAST TEACHING ON REVELATION, I WANNA GO BACK AND REVIEW OUR

TIMELINE CHART HERE JUST FOR A MOMENT, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN

UPDATE ON KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW THE BOOK IS LAID OUT. SO

FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH THREE OF REVELATION

HERE. THIS IS THE CHURCH AGE. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW. WE

TALKED ABOUT CHAPTER ONE BEING THE EXPOSITION OF THE GLORY OF

JESUS CHRIST, AND THEN CHAPTERS TWO AND THREE TALKING ABOUT THE

SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. SO THAT'S THE AGE WE

ARE IN NOW. AND THEN AS WE MOVE TO REVELATION 4 AND 5, HERE WE

HAVE THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH EXPLAINED IN A GREAT WAY THERE.

SO THAT'S REVELATION 4 AND 5. AND THEN AS WE MOVE ON TO

REVELATION 6 THROUGH 18, BY THE WAY, THANK YOU SAMUEL HERE

TODAY. YEAH, SAMUEL, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CORRECTION. WE

FOUND AN ERROR IN THIS CHART AND HE CORRECTED IT FOR ME. IT'S

REVELATION 6 THROUGH 18 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SEVEN YEAR

TRIBULATION. AND WE'RE GONNA GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT

AND HOW THAT TRIBULATION PERIOD OCCURS. AND THEN REVELATION 19

IS THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS. AND WE'RE GONNA EXPLAIN AGAIN

TONIGHT, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, THERE IS A

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH AND THE SECOND

COMING. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN IT MOVES

INTO REVELATION 20, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE THOUSAND YEAR

MILLENNIAL REIGN. THAT'S WHEN WE COME BACK AS THE CHURCH, RIDING

ON HORSES ALONG WITH JESUS. HE'S LEADING THE WAY ON A WHITE

HORSE, AND WE'LL BE RULING AND REIGNING WITH HIM A THOUSAND

YEARS ON EARTH DURING THE MILLENNIAL REIGN. IT'S A

MONARCHY. JESUS IS IN CONTROL. HE'S RULING AND REIGNING FROM

THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. AND THEN ALSO IN REVELATION 20, IT MOVES

INTO JUDGMENT, THE LAKE OF FIRE, FINALLY TO THE GREAT WHITE

THRONE OF JUDGMENT. AND THEN IN REVELATIONS 20 THROUGH 22, IT

WINDS UP WITH THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH. SO THAT'S KIND OF

THE LAYOUT ON REVELATION THAT'LL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE

BIT AS WE GO THROUGH IT TONIGHT. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE

THE PICTURE. SEVERAL PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY ENJOYED SEEING THE

PICTURES OF THAT JUST TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW THE BOOK IS LAID

OUT. IN THAT, IT'S INTERESTING, CHAPTER 19 TALKS MORE ABOUT

JESUS AND IT EXPLAINS THE FACT THAT HE'S THE ONE CALLED

FAITHFUL AND TRUE. HE'S CALLED THE WORD OF GOD. HE'S DESCRIBED

AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. AND HE'S DEPICTED AS THE

VICTORIOUS WARRIOR, THE ULTIMATE TRUTH, AND THE SUPREME RULER

RETURNING TO JUDGE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. SO, WE'LL TALK A

LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GET THROUGH THE END OF THE BOOK.

CHAPTER 1, REVELATION, JOHN'S WRITING EVERYTHING THAT JESUS IS

SHOWING HIM IN THIS MAGNIFICENT REVELATION OF CHRIST. LET'S LOOK

AT REVELATION 1:11. IT SAYS, "WRITE IN A BOOK EVERYTHING YOU

Revelation 1:11

SEE "AND SEND IT TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES "IN THE CITIES OF

EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMON, THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA,

AND LAODICEA." THESE WERE LITERAL CHURCHES. PASTOR BRENDA

PREACHED ON THOSE LAST NOVEMBER. YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT

IF YOU WANT TO, AND SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB GOING THROUGH

THOSE SEVEN CHURCHES. BUT THE WORDS OF JESUS WERE EXPLAINED TO

THOSE ACTUAL CHURCHES IN EXISTENCE. AND THEY APPLY TO US

TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S CHURCHES THAT FIT INTO THOSE CATEGORIES

TODAY. THE WORDS OF JESUS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES SPEAK

PROPHETICALLY. IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN OVERVIEW OF CHURCH HISTORY.

AND INSTEAD OF THE CHURCH GROWING STRONGER AS THOSE SEVEN

LETTERS PROGRESS, WE FIND IT GROWING WEAKER. THE FIRST

CHURCH, THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS, IS A GROUP OF BELIEVERS THAT ARE

BEGINNING TO LOSE THEIR PASSION, AND THEY'RE IN DANGER OF LEAVING

THEIR FIRST LOVE, ACCORDING TO JESUS, WHEN HE TALKS TO EPHESUS.

AND THEN THE LETTERS END WITH THE SEVENTH LETTER TO THE CHURCH

OF LAODICEA. AND THAT CHURCH HAS BECOME SO CORRUPTED THAT JESUS

CALLS IT A LUKEWARM CHURCH. AND HE SAYS, "BECAUSE YOU'RE

LUKEWARM "AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I VOMIT YOU OUT OF MY

MOUTH." NOW, THAT'S A PRETTY STRONG STATEMENT. BUT IN

REVELATION CHAPTER 3, VERSES 19 AND 20, AS WE END THAT SEVENTH

Revelation 3:19

LETTER, WE ACTUALLY SEE JESUS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH OF

LAODICEA. HE'S KNOCKING AND TRYING TO GET BACK IN. IT'S

AMAZING. THIS CHURCH IS SO CORRUPT THAT HE SAYS, "YOU MAKE

ME SICK. I WANNA JUST VOMIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH." AND YET RIGHT

AFTER THAT, WE SEE JESUS KNOCKING, TRYING TO GET BACK IN.

LET'S READ THAT, REVELATION 3:19-20. IT SAYS, "AS MANY AS I

Revelation 3:19–20

LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN. THEREFORE BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT.

BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE

AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME INTO HIM AND DINE WITH HIM AND

HE WITH ME. SO HERE WE HAVE JESUS TELLING THE CHURCH, YOU

MAKE ME SICK, YOU'VE BECOME SO ROTTEN TO THE CORE. AND YET HE

FOLLOWS IT UP WITH ANOTHER PLAN OF REDEMPTION. IF THEY'LL ONLY

OPEN THE DOOR, LET HIM IN, HE'LL SAVE THEM AND ALLOW THEM TO COME

RIGHT BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP, AMAZING. THAT'S OUR GOD,

HALLELUJAH. SO IN REVELATION CHAPTER 4, WE HAVE A CHANGE

Revelation 4 · chapter mention

THERE. WE LOOK UPWARD AT THIS POINT AND WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT'S

GOING ON IN HEAVEN. THE CHURCH IS REMOVED IN THE RAPTURE, WE'RE

SAFE AND SECURE IN GOD'S ARMS, BUT LET'S READ REVELATION 4,

Revelation 4:1–5

VERSES 1 THROUGH 5. IT SAYS, "THEN AS I LOOKED, "I SAW A DOOR

STANDING OPEN IN HEAVEN. "AND THE SAME VOICE I HAD HEARD

BEFORE SPOKE TO ME LIKE A TRUMPET BLAST. THE VOICE SAID,

'COME UP HERE, AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT MUST HAPPEN AFTER

THIS.'" SO AS WE LOOK AT THAT PASSAGE, WE SEE IN VERSE ONE,

JOHN WRITES, "COME UP HERE, AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT MUST HAPPEN

AFTER THIS." HE'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE RAPTURE BECAUSE THIS

CHURCH AGE HAS ENDED AT THE END OF CHAPTER THREE AND THOSE SEVEN

LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. NOW WE MOVE INTO CHAPTER 4, AND

JESUS SAYS, "COME UP HERE, JOHN. "I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT MUST

HAPPEN AFTER THIS." JESUS HAS JUST CONCLUDED THE MESSAGES, AND

HE'S GONNA SHOW US WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AFTER THE CHURCH AGE ON

EARTH. BEFORE THE TRIBULATION BEGINS, THE CHURCH IS GOING TO

BE REMOVED. WE DISCUSSED THIS IN DETAIL EARLIER. IF YOU WANNA

LOOK BACK AND UNDERSTAND THIS IN FULLER DIMENSION, I CAN'T GO

OVER EVERYTHING EVERY TIME, BUT FEBRUARY 4TH AND MARCH 25TH, IF

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE ARCHIVES, FEBRUARY 4TH, MARCH

25TH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SEVEN BLESSINGS OF REVELATION, WE

COVERED SOME OF THESE POINTS. BUT I WANT TO MENTION AGAIN,

THERE'S SOMETIMES CONFUSION CONCERNING THE RAPTURE AND THE

SECOND COMING. THEY ARE TWO DISTINCT EVENTS. AND I WANT TO

PUT A SCREEN UP HERE JUST TO HELP YOU SEE THAT AGAIN. IF YOU

WOULD PLEASE PUT THAT ON THE BACK WALL FOR ME. SO, THE

RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING. SO, THE CHURCH IS RAPTURED AT

THE END OF CHAPTER 3 THERE AND THEN WE MOVE INTO A TIME THE

BIBLE CALLS A SEVEN YEARS OF TRIBULATION. AND AT THE RAPTURE,

CHRIST RETURNS FOR THE CHURCH. WE'RE GONNA READ THAT OUT OF 1

THESSALONIANS. BUT WHEN HE COMES FOR THE CHURCH, HE DOESN'T COME

TO THE EARTH, HE COMES IN THE AIR. AND HE BASICALLY DOES A

U-TURN, HE CATCHES US UP. THE BIBLE SAYS WE'RE GONNA READ THAT

SCRIPTURE. THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL ARISE FIRST, AND THEN

THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH

HIM. SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. JESUS COMES DOWN, CATCHES UP HIS

BRIDE, WE GO BACK TO HEAVEN AT THIS POINT. AND THERE'S THINGS

THAT HAPPEN IN HEAVEN THAT AREN'T ON THIS CHART, BUT WE GO

TO THE JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS AT THAT POINT IN TIME. WE'RE JUDGED

FOR OUR WORKS ON THE EARTH, NOT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE SAVED.

WE'RE ALREADY SAVED OR WE WOULDN'T GO IN THE RAPTURE. SO

WHEN WE GO IN THE RAPTURE, THEN THE JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS WHERE

WE GET REWARDED FOR THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE ON THIS EARTH.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT OUR

FUTURE IS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO PUT OUR HAND TO THE PLOW AND

OCCUPY UNTIL HE COMES. AMEN? OKAY. SO THE RAPTURE HAPPENS

HERE. THEN WE GO INTO THE FIRST THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF THE

TRIBULATION PERIOD. AND THAT'S A TIME OF PEACE AND SAFETY WE'LL

LOOK AT A LITTLE MORE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS TONIGHT. BUT THEN

THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS IS CALLED THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

THAT'S WHERE THE JUDGMENTS HAPPEN, BASICALLY STARTING WITH

THE SEAL JUDGMENTS ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THAT SEVEN YEARS. IT'S A

THREE AND A HALF YEAR POINT. THE GREAT TRIBULATION BEGINS. AND

THEN AT THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS THE SECOND COMING

OF CHRIST. AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS SO MANY TIMES PEOPLE IN

THE CHURCH TALK ABOUT THE SECOND COMING AND WE AUTOMATICALLY

THINK ABOUT THE RAPTURE. THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE DISTINCT EVENTS.

DON'T THINK OF IT THAT WAY. THINK OF THE RAPTURE, THE

CATCHING AWAY. THE RAPTURE IS THE GREEK WORD HARPAZO. IT MEANS

CATCHING UP OR THE CATCHING AWAY, THE SNATCHING UP OF THE

BRIDE OF CHRIST. AND THAT'S WHAT THE RAPTURE IS. THE SECOND

COMING IS WHEN CHRIST RETURNS WITH THE CHURCH. WE WILL BE

FOLLOWING HIM, RIDING HORSES, COMING BACK AS HE LEADS THE WAY

ON HIS WHITE HORSE TO DEFEAT THE DEVIL AND SATAN FOREVER. AND SO

THAT'S AN EXCITING TIME WHEN WE ACTUALLY COME BACK. HIS FEET HIT

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES AT THAT TIME AND SPLITS THAT MOUNTAIN IN TWO

AND THERE'S A GREAT VALLEY IN THE MIDST OF THAT AFTER THAT

MOUNTAIN IS SPLIT. SO WE'LL LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE MORE IN DETAIL.

BUT THAT'S WHEN WE COME BACK WITH CHRIST AND THEN WE GO INTO

THAT THOUSAND YEAR MILLENNIAL REIGN DURING THAT PERIOD THAT

ISN'T SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. BUT THAT KIND OF HELPED TO JUST SEE

THAT AGAIN, AMEN. OKAY. LET'S JUST LOOK AT 1 THESSALONIANS

1 Thessalonians 4:15–17

4:15-17 JUST BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GREAT DESCRIPTION OF THE RAPTURE

OF THE CHURCH. AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS VERSE. IT'S AN

IMPORTANT ONE. MOST OF YOU ALREADY HAVE HEARD IT MANY

TIMES. FOR THIS WE SAY TO YOU BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT WE

WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD WILL BY

NO MEANS PRECEDE THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP. FOR THE LORD HIMSELF

WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF AN

ARCHANGEL AND WITH THE TRUMPET OF GOD, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST

WILL RISE FIRST. THEN WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT

UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE

AIR, AND THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. THAT IS THE

SCRIPTURE, AND THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER REFERENCES IN THE NEW

TESTAMENT CONCERNING THE RAPTURE. YOU DON'T MAKE A

DOCTRINE OUT OF ONE SCRIPTURE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT.

AND WE TALKED LAST TIME ABOUT SEVERAL REASONS WHY I BELIEVE

AND THIS CHURCH BELIEVES IN A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE. ONE OF

THE VERSES OUT OF THE SAME BOOK OF 1 THESSALONIANS 5, VERSE 9

1 Thessalonians 5:9

SAYS, "FOR GOD HAS NOT APPOINTED US UNTO WRATH, "BUT TO OBTAIN

SALVATION BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." HE DIDN'T BRING THE

CHURCH THIS FAR AND FORGIVE US TO THROW US INTO A TIME OF

JUDGMENT AND WRATH. IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT

THE TIMELINE AND THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S A

GOOD SCRIPTURE. BUT AS FAR AS OTHER SCRIPTURES THAT VERIFY OR

TALK ABOUT THE SNATCHING AWAY, THE CATCHING UP, THE WORD

RAPTURE ITSELF IS NOT USED IN THE BIBLE. IT WASN'T TRANSLATED

THAT WAY, BUT THE MEANING IS THERE. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-55,

1 Corinthians 15:50–55

IF YOU'RE TAKING NOTES, IT TALKS ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS

TRANSFORMATION OF BELIEVERS, BOTH THE LIVING AND THE DEAD,

TRANSFORMED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, IT SAYS. AND THEN JOHN

John 14:1–3

14:1-3, JOHN 14:1-3, JESUS SAYS HE'S COMING BACK TO TAKE US TO

John 14:1–3

BE WITH HIM. AND THEN TITUS 2:13 TALKS ABOUT THE BLESSED HOPE,

Titus 2:13

THE APPEARING OF JESUS. PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3, VERSES 20

Philippians 3:20

AND 21, TALK ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR BODIES.

JESUS WILL TAKE OUR WEAK MORTAL BODIES AND CHANGE THEM INTO

GLORIOUS BODIES LIKE HIS OWN. IT'LL HAPPEN IN A MOMENT, IN THE

TWINKLING OF AN EYE, THE BIBLE SAYS. SO THE CHURCH IS NOW IN

HEAVEN, ENJOYING THE GLORY OF GOD. AND REVELATION HAS A LOT TO

SAY ABOUT HEAVEN. CHAPTERS 4 AND 5 DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE

GLORIES OF HEAVEN. JOHN'S PEERING INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF

HEAVEN IN CHAPTER 4 OF REVELATION. AND AS WE READ

REVELATION CHAPTER 4 VERSES 2 THROUGH 5, WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT

Revelation 4:2–5

THE THRONE IS ESTABLISHED IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, AND GOD IS

SEATED RIGHT THERE ON THE THRONE. THE THRONE OF GOD IS THE

FOCUS. I WANT YOU JUST TO CLOSE YOUR EYES IF YOU WOULD RIGHT

NOW, AND I WANT YOU TO PAINT AN IMAGE IN YOUR MIND OF WHAT'S

GOING ON IN HEAVEN AS I READ THIS. REVELATION 4, VERSES 2

Revelation 4:2–5

THROUGH 5. "AND INSTANTLY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT, AND I SAW A

THRONE IN HEAVEN AND SOMEONE SITTING ON IT. THE ONE SITTING

ON THE THRONE WAS AS BRILLIANT AS GEMSTONES, LIKE JASPER AND

CARNELIAN. AND THE GLOW OF AN EMERALD CIRCLED HIS THRONE LIKE

A RAINBOW. 24 THRONES SURROUNDED HIM, AND 24 ELDERS SAT ON THEM.

THEY WERE ALL CLOTHED IN WHITE, AND THEY HAD GOLD CROWNS ON

THEIR HEADS. FROM THE THRONE CAME FLASHES OF LIGHTNING AND

THE RUMBLE OF THUNDER. AND IN FRONT OF THE THRONE WERE SEVEN

TORCHES WITH BURNING FLAMES. THIS IS THE SEVEN-FOLD SPIRIT OF

GOD. OKAY, YOU CAN OPEN YOUR EYES NOW. WE'VE GOT A PICTURE

HERE OF GOD'S THRONE. YOU KNOW, NOTHING CAN DO JUSTICE TO WHAT

IS IN THE WORD OF GOD WHEN YOU TRY AND PAINT A PICTURE LIKE

THAT, BUT IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA A LITTLE BIT OF THE THRONE OF GOD.

VIVID COLORS ARE USED TO DESCRIBE THE THRONE ROOM AND THE

ONE THAT SITS ON THE THRONE. GOD IS PICTURED HAVING THE

APPEARANCE OF JASPER AND CARNELIAN. JASPER HAS

CHARACTERISTICS AND COLORS SIMILAR TO A DIAMOND OR A

CRYSTAL. IN REVELATION 21, THE JASPER STONE IS DESCRIBED AS

BEING CLEAR AS CRYSTAL. YOU CAN VISUALIZE SOMETHING LIKE THE

GLEAM OF A DIAMOND WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT. THE COLOR

CARNELIAN WAS A FIERY RED STONE. AROUND THE THRONE IS A RAINBOW

THAT HAS A SHINE OR A GLIMMER OF DEEP GREEN, LIKE AN EMERALD. THE

RAINBOW IMAGE IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN CHAPTER 10 OF REVELATION, AND

THE RAINBOW IS A REMINDER OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS

COVENANT, JUST AS IT MEANT TO NOAH AFTER THE FLOOD. NOT ONLY

IS A RAINBOW AROUND THE THRONE, BUT THERE ARE 24 THRONES AROUND

THE THRONE. AND SEATED ON THOSE 24 THRONES ARE 24 ELDERS WHO ARE

CLOTHED IN WHITE GARMENTS, AND THEY HAVE GOLD CROWNS ON THEIR

HEADS. YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER WE WERE MARRIED, MY WIFE,

EILEEN, AND I—SOME OF YOU GET THAT MESSAGE—TOOK A TRIP

OVERSEAS. AND WE VISITED SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. I'D NEVER

RECOMMEND ANYONE TO DO THIS. IT WAS LIKE 10 COUNTRIES IN 10

DAYS, AND IT WAS JUST A WHIRLWIND. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU

TRAVEL ALL DAY, AND THE BUS LOOK AT ONE OR TWO SITES, AND THEN

YOU'RE PACKING, GO TO THE HOTEL, PACK UP, AND THEY'RE KNOCKING ON

YOUR DOOR AT SIX IN THE MORNING TO GET YOU LOADED AND HEAD OUT

AGAIN IN THE NEXT PLACE. AND IT WAS A MARATHON. BUT FROM THAT

ASPECT, IT WAS FUN, BECAUSE WE GOT TO SEE WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO

SEE AGAIN, I GUESS. IT GAVE US AN OVERVIEW OF EUROPE, YOU KNOW.

NOW I REALLY DON'T DESIRE TO GO BACK TO EUROPE, BUT. BUT MY

FAVORITE PART OF THE TRIP WAS VISITING GERMANY, AUSTRIA, AND

SWITZERLAND. WE HIT ALL THREE OF THOSE COUNTRIES TOO. AND WE WERE

MESMERIZED BY THE BEAUTY AND MAJESTY OF BAVARIA AND THE ALPS.

IN FACT, SWITZERLAND IS PROBABLY THE MOST AWESOME SCENERY THAT

I'VE EVER WITNESSED. IN FACT, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF IT UP THERE.

AND IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL. AND OF COURSE, BEFORE WE TOOK THIS

TRIP, WE READ SOME BOOKS AND WATCHED A TRAVEL MOVIE ABOUT

THOSE PLACES, BUT NOTHING REALLY PREPARED US FOR WHAT WE

EXPERIENCED. AND IN THE SAME WAY I'M THINKING ABOUT HEAVEN, WE

CANNOT EXPRESS OR PUT INTO WORDS WHAT HEAVEN'S GONNA BE LIKE,

WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US. YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE A PICTURE,

BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME. I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT PICTURE OF

SWITZERLAND, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME, PASTOR ANTHONY, AS IF

YOU'RE STANDING THERE WATCHING IT. IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME. WE

SAW THINGS THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN IN A PICTURE. CAN YOU

IMAGINE HOW MUCH MORE GRANDIOSE, FANTASTIC AND AWESOME, I DON'T

EVEN KNOW WHAT WORDS TO USE TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT RUDY, CAN YOU

IMAGINE WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN SOMEDAY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE,

WHAT GOD'S PREPARED FOR US, THE MANSION THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE,

CAN I COME VISIT YOU SOMEDAY IN YOUR MANSION? I'D LOVE TO DO

THAT. I WANNA SEE PASTOR HANK'S TOO BECAUSE HE SAYS PASTOR

BRENDA'S GONNA BE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO HIM, SO WE'LL SEE.

THAT'S WHAT HE BELIEVES. I DON'T KNOW, HE HAS FAVOR WITH GOD, SO

MAYBE HE WILL. HALLELUJAH. BUT IT'S GONNA BE ON WHAT WE COULD

THINK OR ASK. YEAH, IN FACT, 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 SAYS, "NO EYE

1 Corinthians 2:9

HAS SEEN, NO EAR HAS HEARD, "AND NO MIND HAS IMAGINED WHAT GOD

HAS PREPARED "FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." IF YOU LOVE HIM, YOU

QUALIFY FOR THAT, AMEN? AMEN. A LITTLE GIRL WAS TAKING AN

EVENING WALK WITH HER FATHER AND WITH A LOOK OF AMAZEMENT ON HER

FACE, SHE LOOKED UP AT THE STARS AND SHE EXCLAIMED, "DADDY, IF

THE WRONG SIDE OF HEAVEN IS SO BEAUTIFUL, "WHAT DO YOU THINK

THE RIGHT SIDE OF HEAVEN WILL LOOK LIKE?" YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO

HEARD COMMENTS FROM CHRISTIANS THAT SAY, "YOU KNOW, YOU CAN

BECOME SO HEAVENLY-MINDED THAT YOU'RE NO EARTHLY GOOD." HOW

MANY OF YOU EVER HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT BEFORE, TALKING ABOUT

CHRISTIANS? ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS TALK ABOUT HEAVEN. WELL, THAT

MIGHT BE TRUE TO SOME EXTENT, BUT THE OPPOSITE IS ALSO TRUE.

IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR FUTURE, WHAT'S IN STORE FOR US

THROUGH ETERNITY? WHAT GOD'S PLAN IS FOR THIS CREATION HE

CALLS MANKIND. IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RAPTURE OF THE

CHURCH, THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD TO THE EARTH, WE DON'T

UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF HEAVEN. WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB OR EVEN THE WRATH THAT

COMES DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION, OR WHAT'S THE

COMING JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVERS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AFTER WE'RE

RAPTURED, WHERE WE RECEIVE REWARDS. IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

THE NEW JERUSALEM AND WHAT OUR ETERNAL FUTURE IS REGARDING

THAT, AND I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON THROUGH THE BOOK OF

REVELATION AND LISTING THINGS, BUT IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THOSE

THINGS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD EVANGELISTS ON THIS

EARTH TO HELP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A HEAVEN

AND A HELL? THERE IS ETERNITY COMING THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE

FOR AND THAT WE NEED TO USE OUR TIME ON THIS EARTH AND OCCUPY

AND GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED FOR CHRIST BECAUSE WE HAVE A NARROW,

NARROW PERIOD OF TIME CALLED LIFE ON THIS EARTH THAT WE HAVE

TO GET THINGS DONE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL BEFORE ALL THIS

HAPPENS. AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE 10 YEARS OLD. THAT TIME

GOES QUICKLY. SOME OF US HERE, YOU KNOW, I USED TO THINK 40 WAS

OLD. HOW MANY OF YOU THINK 40 IS OLD? YEAH, SOME OF YOU DO. YOU

DO? BOAZ DOES. YEAH, WHEN YOU'RE 20, 40 LOOKS REALLY OLD. I DID.

YOU DID THINK THAT? OKAY. BUT NOW YOU'RE 70, I KNOW. AND IT

GOES SO FAST. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY, YOU LOOK BACK AT THE

YEARS AND YOU THINK, HOW COULD THEY GO THIS FAST? AND YOU START

LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN, AND THEN YOU CALCULATE YOUR AGE

FROM THAT, AND YOU SAY, IF I'M LIVING AVERAGE

LIFE, GOD BELIEVES THAT MAYBE YOU'LL BE

LIKE RUDY AND LIVE TO 110, I DON'T KNOW.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

BUT, AND HE'S NOT THERE YET. ARE YOU GETTING CLOSE, RIGHT? JUST

JOKING. HE KNOWS I'M JOKING. BUT YOU START SUBTRACTING YOUR

CURRENT AGE FROM WHAT AN AVERAGE LIFESPAN IS, YOU KNOW, JUST A

NORMAL LIFESPAN. BELIEVE IN GOD, YOU'RE GONNA OUTLIVE THAT. BUT

YOU REALIZE THE CRACK OF TIME THAT YOU HAVE GOES REALLY FAST.

SO LET'S GET BUSY FOR GOD. LET'S DON'T TAKE THESE THINGS FOR

GRANTED. THESE THINGS ARE ALL HAPPENING. THEY'RE ALL

HAPPENING. AND WE DON'T KNOW, WE'RE NOT SETTING ANY DATES, BUT

HERE'S THE DEAL. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DATE THE RAPTURE

HAPPENS, WE'VE STILL GOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS

EARTH. BECAUSE WE'RE EITHER GOING TO GO THROUGH DEATH OR THE

RAPTURE. SO YOU HAVE TO USE THE TIME THAT YOU'RE ALLOTTED TO DO

SOMETHING FOR GOD. IF INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THESE ETERNAL

THINGS WILL MOTIVATE US TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR REMAINING

TIME ON EARTH, LET'S DO IT. C.S. LEWIS MADE A PROFOUND STATEMENT.

I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT YEAR HE HAD PROCLAIMED THIS, BUT THIS

WAS REALLY GOOD, I THINK, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN.

HE SAID, "IF YOU READ HISTORY, YOU'LL FIND THAT THE CHRISTIANS

WHO DID THE MOST FOR THE PRESENT WORLD WERE PRECISELY THOSE WHO

THOUGHT THE MOST OF THE NEXT. IT IS SINCE CHRISTIANS HAVE LARGELY

CEASED TO THINK OF THE OTHER WORLD THAT THEY HAVE BECOME SO

INEFFECTIVE IN THIS WORLD." IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S TELLING US

THAT BECAUSE CHRISTIANS OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE

IN HEAVEN AND ETERNITY AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE

WORLD, THEY BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN THIS WORLD. BECAUSE THE BIBLE

SAYS WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE CARES OF LIFE. JUST MAKING A

LIVING, EATING, I DON'T WANT TO SAY DRINKING BECAUSE WE DON'T DO

THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE EATING, DRINKING, BEING MARRIED,

ALL THE THINGS, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? GETTING MARRIED AND

HOPEFULLY NOT GETTING DIVORCED, BUT YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS

THAT PEOPLE DO IN LIFE. WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE CARES OF LIFE,

DON'T WE? AND THEN WE FORGET ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE

GONNA HAPPEN AND THEY'RE HAPPENING QUICKLY. WELL, LET'S

MOVE ON TO HEAVEN. IN HEAVEN, THERE'S A LOT OF WORSHIPING. AT

THE SCENE, WE SEE, AND WHAT WE JUST READ, THERE ARE ELDERS,

THERE'S ANGELS, AND THERE'S REDEEMED. THEY'RE SINGING,

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY." REVELATION 4:8-11,

Revelation 4:8–11

DEPICTS CONTINUOUS HEAVENLY WORSHIP. THE FOUR LIVING

CREATURES AND THE 24 ELDERS BOW BEFORE THE THRONE DAY AND NIGHT,

PRAISING GOD'S ETERNAL NATURE, HOLINESS, AND SOVEREIGNTY. YOU

KNOW WHAT? IN HEAVEN, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN AWARENESS OF

WHAT'S GOING ON IN EARTH. IN REVELATION 6, VERSE 10, WE SEE A

Revelation 6:10

PICTURE OF THE MARTYRED SAINTS IN HEAVEN. AND THEY'RE AWARE OF

THE TIMING OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THOSE WHO TOOK THEIR LIFE ON

EARTH. SO THEY KNEW WHEN THEY WERE IN HEAVEN, WHAT WAS

HAPPENING DOWN ON EARTH. AND IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11, WE SEE THE

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

HALL OF FAITH LISTING THOSE THAT OVERCAME TRIALS OF LIFE. AND

THEN IN HEBREWS 12:1, WE READ THIS, LET'S PUT THIS UP.

Hebrews 12:1

THEREFORE, WE ALSO, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD

OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT AND THE SIN WHICH

SO EASILY ENSNARES US AND LET US RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT

IS SET BEFORE US. SO THAT SAYS FROM THE BOOK OF HEBREWS THAT

LIFE IS LIKE A GREAT ARENA WITH THOSE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US.

THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, THEY'RE CHEERING US ON AS WE

ENGAGE ON OUR EARTHLY ASSIGNMENTS. THAT'S EXCITING. WE

GOT PEOPLE CHEERING US ON. MATTHEW, YOU GOT PEOPLE CHEERING

YOU ON. PEOPLE THAT WENT AHEAD OF YOU. THEY KNOW YOUR NAME AND

THEY'RE CHEERING YOU ON AS YOU ACCOMPLISH THINGS FOR GOD. AS

YOU'RE AT SOMEONE THAT'S BESIDE YOU. THEY'RE CHEERING YOU ON AND

SAY, PLANT A SEED IN THAT PERSON'S LIFE. AS YOU'RE OUT

DOING YOUR YARD WORK AND YOUR NEIGHBOR COMES OVER AND ASKS

WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE SHARING SOMETHING ABOUT CHRIST

AND PLANTING A SEED. PEOPLE ARE CHEERING YOU ON IN HEAVEN FOR

THAT. WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CHRIST AND

ETERNITY IN THE FUTURE. BUT PASTOR DOUG, DOES THIS MEAN THAT

PEOPLE IN HEAVEN COULD BE SAD WHEN THEY SEE EVIL TAKING PLACE

ON THE EARTH? WHAT ABOUT THAT? THOSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING DOWN

AND THEY'RE SEEING SOME BAD THINGS HAPPEN DOWN HERE BECAUSE

THERE ARE TRIALS DOWN HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T THINK

THERE'LL BE ANY SADNESS IN HEAVEN. REMEMBER THIS, THOSE IN

HEAVEN ARE NOT LIKE WE WHO ARE NOW ON THIS EARTH. THEY SEE THE

WHOLE PICTURE. THEY KNOW THAT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF EARTHLY

CHALLENGES AND HEARTACHES AND TRIALS, GOD IS STILL WORKING

BEHIND THE SCENES. THEY SEE THAT FULL PICTURE. THEY KNOW THAT

SATAN'S A DEFEATED FOE. THEY KNOW WHAT HIS END IS AND THAT

SOMEDAY ALL EVIL WILL BE DESTROYED. AND THEY UNDERSTAND

THAT CHRIST WILL RULE AND REIGN IN PERFECT PEACE AND JUSTICE.

REVELATION 5:8 TELLS US THAT THE PRAYERS OF SAINTS ARE HELD IN

Revelation 5:8

GOLDEN BOWLS IN HEAVEN. THESE REPRESENT ACCUMULATED PRAYERS

THAT ARE STORED TO BE ANSWERED IN GOD'S PERFECT TIMING. THESE

PRAYERS ARE PRECIOUS TO GOD AND THEY ARE MIXED WITH INCENSE. AND

EVEN DELAYED ANSWERS ARE REMEMBERED AND NOT LOST.

REVELATION CHAPTER 6 GIVES US A VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON

Revelation 6 · chapter mention

THE EARTH. IN THE BEGINNING, THERE'LL BE A TIME OF PEACE AND

SAFETY, AND THEN TERRIBLE JUDGMENTS WILL COME AFTER THAT.

SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE, AND WE CAN SEE DIFFERENT ASPECTS

OF THIS SAME TRUTH WITHOUT ANY DISAGREEMENT AS WE STUDY THE

ENTIRE WORD OF GOD. THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IN

REFERENCING A PROPHETIC VISION FROM DANIEL CHAPTER 9, AND

Daniel 9 · chapter mention

THEN LOOKING AT WHAT REVELATION CHAPTER 6 SAYS. LET'S GO BACK

Revelation 6 · chapter mention

BEFORE WE READ DANIEL 9 AND LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT ON THIS

TIMELINE QUICKLY, IF YOU WOULD, JUST PUT THE TIMELINE UP. RIGHT

NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REVELATION CHAPTER 6, WE'RE IN

Revelation 6 · chapter mention

THE PERIOD AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, THE SEVEN YEAR

TRIBULATION PERIOD. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO KIND OF HAVE THAT POINT OF REFERENCE

QUICKLY. BUT LET'S LOOK AT DANIEL CHAPTER 9 AFTER THE

Daniel 9 · chapter mention

RAPTURE, REVELATION 6 THROUGH 18 COVERS THAT SEVEN YEAR

TRIBULATION PERIOD, AND THEN IT ENDS WITH THE SECOND COMING OF

JESUS IN CHAPTER REVELATION 19. DANIEL CHAPTER 9 TELLS US THAT

Daniel 9 · chapter mention

THE ANGEL GABRIEL DELIVERED A PROPHECY THAT COVERED A 490 YEAR

PERIOD TO THE PROPHET DANIEL. AND AT THE END OF THE PROPHETIC

VISION, THE LAST WEEK OF THAT VISION, WHICH IS THE LAST SEVEN

YEARS OF THE VISION, IS THIS SEVEN-YEAR TRIBULATION THAT

WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW. SO DANIEL 9:27, I'M GONNA READ OUT OF THE

Daniel 9:27

LIVING BIBLE, WHICH I NORMALLY DON'T USE, BUT JUST TO MAKE THIS

REALLY CLEAR, I WANTED YOU TO SEE THIS, AND IT SEEMS

SCRIPTURALLY ACCURATE. IT SAYS, "THE KING WILL MAKE A SEVEN-YEAR

TREATY "WITH THE PEOPLE. BUT AFTER HALF THAT TIME, HE WILL

BREAK HIS PLEDGE AND STOP THE JEWS FROM ALL THEIR SACRIFICES

AND THEIR OFFERINGS. THEN AS A CLIMAX TO ALL HIS TERRIBLE

DEEDS, THE ENEMY SHALL UTTERLY DEFILE THE SANCTUARY OF GOD. BUT

IN GOD'S TIME AND PLAN, HIS JUDGMENT WILL BE POURED OUT UPON

THE EVIL ONE." SO THE SCRIPTURE DESCRIBES A POINT IN TIME WHEN

WE SEE THE ANTICHRIST FORMING A SEVEN-YEAR PEACE TREATY WITH THE

NATION OF ISRAEL. THIS IS AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH. THE

ANTICHRIST COMES ON THE SCENE, IS REVEALED, AND HE GOES TO THE

JEWISH NATION, AND HE MAKES A SEVEN-YEAR PEACE TREATY WITH

THEM. BUT THE PEACE TREATY IS BROKEN HALFWAY THROUGH. IN OTHER

WORDS, AFTER THE FIRST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, THIS SATANIC

CREATURE DESECRATES THE TEMPLE. HE BUILT A TEMPLE FOR THE JEWS,

BUT HE DESECRATES IT. AND THIS IS THE FINAL AND LAST TIME WE

SEE A DESECRATION OF THE JEWISH TEMPLE. BUT THE ANTICHRIST WILL

CONTINUE IN HIS WICKED PLAN UNTIL THE TIME OF HIS JUDGMENT,

COMING A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THIS SCENARIO. BUT THE SCRIPTURE

PORTION FROM DANIEL ALIGNS WITH WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN REVELATION

6 THROUGH 18, THAT PERIOD THAT WE CALL THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.

AND WE SPECIFICALLY SEE IN REVELATION 12 AND 13 THAT THE

ANTICHRIST IS REVEALED, AND THERE HE IS CALLED THE BEAST,

THE BEAST OF REVELATION. THAT'S ANOTHER NAME FOR THE ANTICHRIST.

LET'S LOOK AT THIS TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE RAPTURE,

JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR AGAIN. I'M KIND OF KEEPING THIS SIMPLE, BUT

I JUST WANT YOU TO FOLLOW ME HERE. SO HERE WE HAVE THE

RAPTURE HAPPENING, AND THEN WE HAVE THIS THREE AND A HALF YEAR

PERIOD, THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION, WHERE IT'S PEACE

AND SAFETY. THE ANTICHRIST IS ON THE SCENE. HE MAKES THIS

AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL, AND THEY HAVE A TIME OF PEACE. AND THEN

HE BUILDS A TEMPLE. AND THEN HE DECIDES TO DESECRATE THE TEMPLE.

AND HE BETRAYS THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND WALKS AWAY FROM HIS

SEVEN-YEAR TREATY. AND SO THE SECOND HALF OF THE TRIBULATION,

THIS LAST FINAL THREE AND A HALF YEARS, IS WHERE THE DESTRUCTION

COMES. THAT'S WHERE THE SEALS, TRUMPETS, AND THE BULLS'

JUDGMENTS BEGIN. SO WE ARE AT THE SECOND HALF OF THE

TRIBULATION, THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS AT THIS POINT. SO

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHAPTER 6, BEGINS

THE OPENING OF THE SEVEN SEALS. IT'S AN EVENT THAT INITIATES THE

JUDGMENT OF GOD ON THE EARTH. LET'S PUT UP THE PICTURE OF THE

SEVEN SEALS OF REVELATION. I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS. THOSE

SEALS ARE JUDGMENTS THAT BEGIN, THE FIRST JUDGMENTS THAT ARE

UNLEASHED ON THE EARTH. AND THEY'RE SIGNIFIED, FIRST OF ALL,

BY THE WHITE HORSE, WHICH IS CONQUEST, THE RED HORSE, WHICH

STANDS FOR WAR, THE BLACK HORSE, WHICH REPRESENTS FAMINE, THE

PALE HORSE REPRESENTS DEATH. AND THEN WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE

FIFTH SEAL, WHICH IS SOULS CRYING OUT. THE SIXTH SEAL IS

COSMIC DISTURBANCES, A GREAT EARTHQUAKE. SUN, MOON, AND STARS

ARE ALL INVOLVED IN THAT. AND THEN THE FINAL SEAL IS SILENCE

IN HEAVEN FOR 30 MINUTES. I WANTED YOU TO SEE THOSE IN A

DESCRIPTIVE PICTURE. SO THE SIXTH SEAL, WHICH IS THOSE

COSMIC DISTURBANCES, INCLUDE THIS MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE, THE SUN

TURNS BLACK, THE MOON TURNS BLOOD RED, STARS ARE FALLING

UPON THE EARTH, THE SKY IS RECEDING LIKE A SCROLL, THE

BIBLE SAYS, AND AT THAT POINT, ALL OF HUMANITY ARE HIDING IN

TERROR BECAUSE OF THE JUDGMENTS THAT ARE COMING ON THE EARTH.

THE SEVENTH SEAL, FOUND IN REVELATION 8:1, IS THE FINAL

Revelation 8:1

SEAL JUDGMENT, WHICH MEANS PROFOUND SILENCE IN HEAVEN. IT'S

ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR. THIS SILENCE SIGNALS THE PAUSE BEFORE

THOSE FINAL JUDGMENTS, WHICH ARE THE TRUMPETS AND THE BOWLS THAT

BEGIN TO FALL ON THE EARTH. SO AND AS I STUDIED REVELATION 6, I

COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK HOW FAST THESE CHAIN OF EVENTS PROGRESS,

WHERE THESE JUDGMENTS START PROGRESSIVE AND GETTING WORSE AS

TIME GOES ON. HAVE YOU EVER LINED UP DOMINOES AND WATCHED

THEM FALL? YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO ACCURATELY PLAY

THE GAME OF DOMINOES. I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW YOU DO THAT. BUT

FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN, FINN AND MAISIE, I'VE STACKED UP DOMINOES

CLOSE TOGETHER, AND THEN THEY PRESS ON THE FIRST ONE, AND

THEY'LL ALL START FALLING. THEY WON'T EVEN LET GRANDPA GET THE

WHOLE THING SET UP BEFORE THEY WANT TO PRESS IT AND SEE THEM

FALL, YOU KNOW? SO, BUT THEY ALL SEQUENTIALLY FALL QUICKLY. THE

SAME COULD BE SAID OF THE EVENTS THAT WE READ ABOUT HERE. ONCE

THE CHURCH IS RAPTURED OFF THE EARTH, THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE

REVEALED, AND THEN THE OTHER EVENTS HAPPEN, AND THEY COME

TOGETHER JUST LIKE DOMINOES, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, JUST QUICKLY.

OKAY, BACK FROM DOMINOES TO THE FIRST FOUR SEAL JUDGMENTS. I HAD

TO GET YOU TO LAUGH FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE DOMINOES, 'CAUSE WE'RE

IN A SERIOUS TIME HERE. SO, THE FIRST ONE THAT WE SAW WAS THE

WHITE HORSE, AND HE'S DESCRIBED AS CONQUEST. THE WRITER CARRIES

A BOW AND HE'S GIVEN A CROWN. LET'S LOOK AT REVELATION 6

Revelation 6:1–2

VERSES 1 THROUGH 2. AND IT SAYS, "AS I WATCHED, THE LAMB BROKE

THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN SEALS ON THE SCROLL. THEN I HEARD ONE OF

THE FOUR LIVING BEINGS SAY WITH A VOICE LIKE THUNDER, 'COME.' I

LOOKED UP AND I SAW A WHITE HORSE STANDING THERE. ITS RIDER

CARRIED A BOW AND A CROWN WAS PLACED ON HIS HEAD. HE RODE OUT

TO WIN MANY BATTLES AND GAIN THE VICTORY. SO WHEN YOU FIRST READ

THIS VERSE, YOU CAN INITIALLY MISTAKE THIS FOR BEING JESUS

CHRIST. HE'S RIDING A WHITE HORSE. AND PEOPLE SOMETIMES DO

THAT. BUT REVELATION 6, ONE IS NOT SPEAKING OF JESUS. IT'S

SPEAKING OF THE ANTICHRIST. BUT PASTOR DOUG, WHY WOULD THE

ANTICHRIST BE RIDING ON A WHITE HORSE LIKE JESUS DOES? BECAUSE

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE ANTICHRIST IS. HE'S A PRETENDER.

HE'S AN IMITATOR. THE PREFIX ANTI NOT ONLY MEANS AGAINST, BUT

IT MEANS INSTEAD OF. WHEN THE ANTI EMERGES ON THE SCENE, HE'S

NOT GONNA BE DRESSED HEAD TO TOE IN BLACK. BACK IN 2006, I KNOW,

BOAZ, YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T EVEN ALIVE IN 2006, WERE YOU? WERE

YOU? IT WAS WHAT? 2007, OH, YOU WERE PARTIALLY ALIVE THEN. I

MEAN, YOU WERE ALIVE, BUT YOU JUST WEREN'T BREATHING AIR

OUTSIDE. OKAY, GOT TO SAY THAT RIGHT. BUT ANYWAY, IN 2006,

BEFORE YOUR TIME, BOAZ, YOUR MOM MIGHT'VE WATCHED THIS MOVIE, BUT

THERE WAS A MOVIE CALLED "THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA." AND IT WAS

ABOUT A DEMANDING, EVIL FASHION MAGAZINE EDITOR. SHE'S A WICKED

BOSS THAT WAS CONSUMED WITH PERSONAL AMBITION AND SHE

TREATED HER STAFF LIKE THE DEVIL WOULD. AND SHE DRESSED IN

STYLISH BRANDS OF LUXURY CLOTHING, BUT SHE MADE HER

SUBORDINATES FEEL LIKE THEY WERE LIVING IN HELL. HAVE ANY

OF YOU EVER HAD A BOSS LIKE THAT BEFORE?

(LAUGHING)

DAN SAYS, SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT SINCE YOU'VE BEEN AT LORD OF

HOSTS YOU'RE FEELING THAT? OH NO, I WOULD HOPE NOT, OKAY. BUT

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THOSE BOSSES IN THE WORLD ARE TOUGH. BUT THE

ANTICHRIST IS NOT GONNA HAVE STEAM RISING OFF HIM AND HAVE A

DARTH VADER THEME SONG PLAYING BEHIND HIM WHEREVER HE GOES.

HE'S GONNA COME OFF LIKE A MAN OF PEACE. HE'S THE OPPOSITE OF

CHRIST, BUT HE'S A PRETENDER, HE'S AN IMITATOR. IN FACT, AS WE

MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN HE INITIALLY EMERGES ON THE SCENE,

HE ESTABLISHES A PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL. WE'RE TOLD IN

DANIEL 8:25 THAT THROUGH PEACE, HE WILL DECEIVE MANY. IT SAYS IN

Daniel 8:25

THE NEW LIVING VERSION, HE WILL BE A MASTER OF DECEPTION AND

WILL BECOME ARROGANT. HE WILL DESTROY MANY WITHOUT WARNING. HE

WILL EVEN TAKE ON THE PRINCE OF PRINCES IN BATTLE, BUT HE WILL

BE BROKEN, THOUGH NOT BY HUMAN POWER. HALLELUJAH, HE'LL BE

BROKEN, SO THAT'S VICTORY, IT'S COMING. BUT THE ANTICHRIST WILL

BE ABLE TO DO WHAT NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO. HE WILL

TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PUZZLE AND RID THE

WORLD OF TERRORISM. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING HIS BEST TO DO

THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF.

MAYBE HE WILL, I DON'T KNOW. ANTICHRIST WILL ACCOMPLISH PEACE

FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS, WE DO KNOW THAT. WHATEVER IS GOING

ON AT THAT TRIBULATION TIME, HE'S GONNA COME AND BE THE MAN

OF PEACE, THE PRINCE OF PEACE IN HIS OWN WAY AS IMITATING CHRIST.

HE EVEN MANAGES TO DECEIVE THE HEARTS OF MANY JEWISH PEOPLE

BECAUSE HE REBUILDS THEIR LONG-AWAITED TEMPLE. AND IT'S

ALL PART OF HIS WICKED PLAN. YOU KNOW, OUR MODERN WORLD AND THE

MODERN CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT A GOD OF LOVE, WHICH IS

VERY TRUE. ARE YOU GUYS OKAY ON TIME WITH ME? ARE YOU FOLLOWING

ME? CAN I GO FIVE MORE MINUTES? MAYBE FIVE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

I SHOULD BE DONE. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT GOD IS LOVE. BUT THE MODERN

CHURCH, MANY TIMES, DOESN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE

OF GOD. THEY DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT HIS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 TELLS US, "IF YOU BELONG TO CHRIST AND YOU'RE

2 Corinthians 5:17

FOLLOWING HIM, "OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND ALL THINGS

BECOME NEW." THEN YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF JUDGMENT. YOU'VE

ACCEPTED CHRIST, YOU'VE REPENTED OF YOUR SIN. YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE

SAYS IF WE JUDGE OURSELVES, WE DON'T HAVE TO BE JUDGED. SO WE

CONTINUALLY NEED TO JUDGE OURSELVES. AND IF WE FIND

SOMETHING WRONG, HOLY SPIRIT SHOWS US SOMETHING, WE REPENT

AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, AMEN? IS THAT RIGHT, KATE AND

PASTOR MARK? AMEN. I'M ON TRACK, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING WRONG YET?

OKAY, GOOD, THEY GIVE ME A THUMBS UP THERE. THE MODERN

CHURCH DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH A GOD OF JUSTICE AND WRATH.

MOST HAVE TRIED, MANY CHURCHES ANYWAY, HAVE TRIED TO PURGE

GOD'S REPUTATION OF ANY JUDGMENT AND THE REALITY OF FUTURE WRATH.

AND THEY'RE ONLY DOING PEOPLE A DISSERVICE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT

GETTING THE FULL TRUTH. WE NEED TO KNOW ALL THE TRUTH OF GOD'S

WORD. THERE'S SOME THINGS WHERE GOD HAS TO DEAL WITH EVIL, AND

I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. WE CAN'T JUST LET EVIL RUN RAMPANT. MANY

MODERN DENOMINATIONS WON'T EVEN MENTION THE WORD HELL. THEY

DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT HELL BECAUSE IT MIGHT OFFEND

SOMEONE, OR THEY MIGHT LEAVE THE CHURCH IF YOU START TALKING

ABOUT HELL. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THIS. AND THIS IS

FROM THE WEBSITE OF A LOCAL DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH. IT'S

RIGHT HERE IN OMAHA. IT'S A LARGE CHURCH. I WON'T NAME THE

CHURCH, BUT IT'S PART OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. AND

THEY PUT THEIR DOCTRINE OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE. SO I'M NOT SAYING

ANYTHING THAT IS NOT TRUE. I'M NOT TRYING TO BRING

DISPARAGEMENT, OTHER THAN TO SAY, I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT

SOME OF THE MODERN CHURCHES ARE ACTUALLY BELIEVING NOW AND

TEACHING THEIR PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. AND

WE LOVE THOSE PEOPLE. BUT WHEN THEY'RE TAUGHT, I MEAN, GO BACK

TO THE SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN THE BOOK OF

REVELATION, AND A MAJORITY OF IT WAS WRONG TEACHING THAT CAME

INTO THOSE CHURCHES THAT THEY GOT OFF, WRONG DOCTRINE. THEY

LET WOLVES ENTER IN AND THEY ALLOWED WRONG DOCTRINE TO BE

TAUGHT AND THE PEOPLE GOT OFF AND THEN THEY FELL AWAY FROM

GOD. SO, IN THIS ONE UNITED METHODIST POSTING, THEY LIST

THEIR EIGHT POINTS OF PROGRESSIVE THEOLOGY. I WANT TO

TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THOSE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW YOU THREE

OF THEM. I COULD GO INTO MORE OF THEM. THERE'S EIGHT POINTS TO

THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU THREE TONIGHT. NUMBER TWO IN

THEIR LISTING OF EIGHT POINTS OF PROGRESSIVE THEOLOGY, IT SAYS,

"WE RECOGNIZE THE FAITHFULNESS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE OTHER

NAMES FOR THE WAY TO GOD'S REALM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR WAYS

ARE TRUE FOR THEM AS OUR WAYS ARE TRUE FOR US." CAN YOU SEE

THE DECEPTION IN THAT? JUST WHATEVER PEOPLE BELIEVE OR WANT

TO BELIEVE, WE JUST KIND OF ACCEPT. YOU KNOW, IF IT'S TRUE

FOR YOU, KAMALA, THAT'S FINE. IT MAY NOT BE TRUE FOR ME, BUT

THERE'S REALLY NO ULTIMATE TRUTH. IT'S JUST WHATEVER YOU

KIND OF WANT IT TO BE. LET'S LOOK AT POINT FOUR IN THE EIGHT

POINTS. WE INVITE ALL PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND

WORSHIP LIFE WITHOUT INSISTING THEY BECOME LIKE US IN ORDER TO

BE ACCEPTABLE. AND THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. I MEAN, YOU KNOW,

WE DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE TO DRESS LIKE I DO, OR WE DON'T

EXPECT EVERYONE TO DRESS LIKE JANET DOES. WE DON'T EXPECT

EVERYONE TO ACT THE SAME. BUT LOOK AT THAT. WE ALLOW THEM TO

COME IN. THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE IS BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE

SAYING. WELL, WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME IN, BUT THERE IS TRUTH

THAT WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO. AND WHEN YOU BECOME A BELIEVER,

THERE'S A SET OF STANDARDS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW TO BE RIGHTEOUS.

AND WE CAN'T JUST ALLOW EVERYONE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING AND ACT

ANY WAY THEY WANT AND THINK THEY'RE ALL GONNA GO TO HEAVEN,

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER BECAUSE GOD IS FULL OF MERCY AND GRACE

AND HE DOESN'T, HE'LL JUST LOOK PAST ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LINE UP WITH THE WORD OF GOD. IT'S IMPORTANT

TO KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND YOU CAN JUST LIVE ANY WAY YOU

WANT AND YOU'RE FINE. NOW LET'S LOOK AT POINT SIX. FIND MORE

GRACE IN THE SEARCH FOR MEANING THAN IN THE ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY

AND FIND MORE VALUE IN ASKING QUESTIONS THAN HEARING ANSWERS.

WHATEVER THAT MEANS. THERE'S MORE GRACE IN YOUR SEARCH FOR

MEANING, PASTOR ANTHONY, THAN IN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY. WE DON'T

HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY. THERE'S NOTHING IN

THE BIBLE THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OR ABSOLUTELY TRUE. WE

CAN JUST LIVE ACCORDING TO WHAT WE MAKE UP AS WE GO. THAT'S WHAT

IT SAYS TO ME. MAYBE I'M MISINTERPRETING IT. IF I AM,

LORD FORGIVE ME. BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME. AND THEY

PUT THAT ON THEIR WEBSITE TO TALK ABOUT BEING ALL INCLUSIVE

IN BELIEFS. AND LIKE I SAID, WE WELCOME EVERYONE IN THIS PLACE.

WE NEED TO WELCOME THEM. BUT WHEN THEY MAKE A DECISION TO

SERVE CHRIST, THEN CHANGE NEEDS TO START TO HAPPEN. AND IT MAY

NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE GRACE. GOD GIVES US

GRACE. GIVE US ROOM. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES. WE MAKE

MISTAKES NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST. BUT WE ALSO

HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE BOOK IS TRUE AND FOLLOW TO THE BEST THAT

WE CAN GOD'S TRUTH FOR OUR LIVES. WE HAVE TO LINE IT UP,

AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS GRACE, AND THERE'S

MERCY, BUT THERE'S ALSO BALANCE. THERE IS JUDGMENT. WE GO DOWN

THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BELIEVING IN GRACE, AND MERCY, AND LOVE,

BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S JUDGMENT

AND A RIGHTEOUS GOD THAT WE SERVE. 2 TIMOTHY 4:3 IN THE

2 Timothy 4:3

AMPLIFIED SAYS, "WANTING TO HAVE THEIR EARS TICKLED WITH

SOMETHING PLEASING, THEY WILL ACCUMULATE FOR THEMSELVES MANY

TEACHERS, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, CHOSEN TO SATISFY THEIR OWN

DESIRES." AND THAT'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE MODERN CHURCH.

THANK GOD FOR PASTORS THAT STAND ON THE TRUTH, STAND FOR THE

BIBLE, AND DON'T BACK DOWN. I'M SO THANKFUL. I COULDN'T BE HERE

IF PASTOR HANK AND BRENDA JUST SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'LL

JUST BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE, AND SOME OF THE BIBLE'S

TRUE, AND SOMETIMES WE CAN TEAR OUT A PAGE IF WE DON'T BELIEVE

IT. THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. JUST TEAR OUT

WHAT YOU DON'T WANT AND LIVE BY THE THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY

READING. OH, BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, THERE'S A NEW

MOVIE THAT CAME OUT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. IT'S CALLED

THE GREAT AWAKENING. AND IT TELLS THE STORY OF THE FIRST

GREAT AWAKENING IN THE 13 COLONIES THROUGH THE LENS OF

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BECOMES GOOD FRIENDS

WITH AN EVANGELIST BY THE NAME OF GEORGE WHITFIELD. GEORGE

WHITFIELD WAS SAVED AND TRAINED IN ENGLAND. HE STARTED PREACHING

THE GOSPEL AND THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND BASICALLY KICKED HIM OUT

BECAUSE HE WAS JUST PROCLAIMING TRUTH AND SALVATION. AND SO HE

GOT ON THE BOAT, CAME ACROSS TO THE NEW COLONIES, AMERICA, AND

STARTED EVANGELIZING. AND THE MOVIE PROCLAIMS IT. DID YOU SEE

IT, JANET? IT PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL SO CLEAR. I MEAN, SO MANY

MOVIES THAT YOU SAY A CHRISTIAN MOVIE, YOU DON'T REALLY HEAR THE

GOSPEL MESSAGE. THEY REFERENCE IT, BUT AN UNBELIEVER WOULD

NEVER GET IT. BUT THIS MOVIE, YOU HEAR IT OVER AND OVER. IT'S

SO GOOD. DID YOU KNOW THAT 80% OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN AMERICAN

COLONIES HEARD GEORGE WHITEFIELD PREACH IN PERSON AT SOME POINT

IN THEIR LIVES? HE MADE THAT MUCH OF AN IMPACT. AND HE DID IT

WITHOUT AMPLIFICATION. HE WAS TRAINED IN HOW TO RAISE HIS

VOICE AND I HAVE TO HAVE AMPLIFICATION. I CAN'T DO IT

WITHOUT THAT. BUT HE SPOKE TO THOUSANDS. SOMETIMES THERE WERE

30,000 PEOPLE LISTENING TO HIM AND HE WAS DOING IT JUST OUT OF

THE POWER OF HIS VOICE. BUT ANYWAY, THAT MOVIE, I DON'T KNOW

HOW LONG IT'LL BE ON, BUT IT'S WORTH IT. WE NEED TO SUPPORT

MOVIES LIKE THAT 'CAUSE IT WAS SO GOOD. SO IT'LL BUILD YOUR

FAITH. I DIDN'T HAVE THAT AS PART OF MY MESSAGE, BUT I WAS

JUST THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MODERN

CHURCH AND I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT GEORGE WHITEFIELD AND THE

AMAZING IMPACT THAT HE HAD. AND IF YOU PROCLAIM THE TRUTH, WE'LL

STAND BEFORE GOD SOMEDAY. PASTORS HANK AND BRENDA, THEY'LL

STAND BEFORE GOD SOMEDAY AND GOD WILL SAY, "WELL DONE, THOU GOOD

AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS, ENTER IN." BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO

PROCLAIM THE TRUTH THE BEST THAT THEY KNOW. THE TRUTH OF GOD'S

RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF EVIL, IF THERE'S NO REPENTANCE, PERMEATES

THE BIBLE. BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY CLEAR IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

REVELATION INVITES US TO SING ALONG WITH THE SAINTS OF HEAVEN,

A SONG THAT CELEBRATES THE WRATH OF GOD. ACTUALLY, WE'LL BE IN

HEAVEN SINGING, CELEBRATING THE WRATH OF GOD AS A DEMONSTRATION

OF HIS PERFECT JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. REVELATION SHOWS

US THAT THE WRATH OF GOD WILL FALL ON THE EARTH TO CLEANSE AND

PURIFY IT. FINALLY, EVIL WILL BE DESTROYED. REVELATION PROVIDES

US WITH A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION, "WHY DOESN'T GOD DO

SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THE EVIL AND THE SUFFERING IN THE WORLD?"

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ANYONE ASK THAT QUESTION? THE ANSWER IS

THIS, "BE PATIENT. EVIL'S DAY OF DOOM IS SURELY COMING." AMEN?

ALL THE WHILE, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEE

THAT GOD'S MERCY IS CONTINUALLY EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE GREAT

TRIBULATION. I'M SO EXCITED. NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO TALK

ABOUT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN UNPRECEDENTED REVIVAL DURING THE

END TIMES, DURING THIS TRIBULATION PERIOD. DESPITE THE

DARKNESS, A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE DURING THE TRIBULATION,

PEOPLE THAT MISSED THE RAPTURE, ARE GOING TO BE SAVED. GOD'S

MERCY JUST IS SO ABUNDANT, EVEN IN THAT TIME. HE RESURRECTS TWO

WITNESSES THAT WILL GO AROUND THE WORLD PROCLAIMING CHRIST.

ALSO, HE RAISES UP 144,000 JEWISH EVANGELISTS, JEWS THAT

GET SAVED AND THEY TURN TO HIM. THEY'RE YOUNG CELIBATE MEN THAT

GO FORTH ACROSS THE WORLD AND PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL, 144,000

OF THEM. THAT'S GOD'S MERCY FOR REDEMPTION OF MANKIND. AND THEN

IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE HAS AN ANGEL THAT'S GONNA BLANKET THE

EARTH WITH THE GOSPEL, PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL TO THE

EARTH. AN ANGEL WILL FLY ACROSS THIS EARTH, PROCLAIMING THE

GOSPEL. WHAT ELSE COULD GOD DO? YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU'RE IN THE

TRIBULATION PERIOD AND YOU MISS THE RAPTURE, YOU STILL HAVE A

SECOND CHANCE, PASTOR MARK. YOU STILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. IT'S

NOT FUNNY, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, I'M JUST JOKING BECAUSE

I'VE USED PASTOR MARK AT THAT EXAMPLE. HE'S GOING IN THE

RAPTURE, BY THE WAY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SHOWING YOU

GOD'S MERCY, WILLIE. PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND, THEY MISS IT,

THE HARD-HEARTED, YOU KNOW. AND WHAT WAS IT PASTOR HANK WAS

TALKING ABOUT? THE GNASHING OF TEETH, OR WHAT WAS THE OTHER?

THE WEEPING? WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH. SO THERE'LL

BE SOME THAT'LL JUST SHAKE THEIR FIST AT GOD DURING THE

TRIBULATION, AND EVEN WHEN THEY HEAR THE GOSPEL AGAIN, THEY JUST

ARE HARD-HEARTED AND THEY'LL REFUSE. BUT THERE'LL BE SOME

THAT WILL WEEP AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. THEY MIGHT HAVE TO

GIVE THEIR LIFE, BUT THEY'LL GO TO HEAVEN. AND GOD GIVES THEM

THAT CHANCE DURING THIS TIME OF TRIBULATION. THE HOLY SPIRIT

WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON THE EARTH, ENABLING PEOPLE TO BE

SAVED, EVEN DURING THIS TIME OF INTENSE TRIBULATION. PEOPLE

CAN'T BE SAVED WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. SO THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL

NOT BE GONE. HE'LL BE ON THE EARTH DOING HIS WORK. HE WON'T

BE HOLDING BACK THE EVIL BECAUSE GOD'S ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN.

BUT HE WILL BE WORKING IN MAN'S HEARTS. THE TRIBULATION IS

DESIGNED TO BRING PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE, INCLUDING LEADING

ISRAEL TO NATIONAL CONVERSION RATHER THAN MERE DESTRUCTION.

AND THE OTHER GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS GOD FINALLY LIMITS THE

DURATION OF THE EVIL. JESUS STATES THAT IF THE DAYS WERE NOT

SHORTENED, NO FLESH WOULD SURVIVE. SO GOD PUTS A LIMIT TO

HOW MUCH EVIL CAN HAPPEN DURING THAT DESTRUCTION DURING THE

TRIBULATION. SO, WELL, THAT'S ALL WE'RE, I'M SORRY, IT'S 8:30,

SO WE'LL DO PART TWO NEXT TIME. AS WE CLOSE TONIGHT, WHY DON'T

YOU JUST STAND WITH ME AND WE'RE GONNA PRAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU

FOR WHAT YOU'VE SHOWN US AND DISCLOSED TO US IN THE BOOK OF

REVELATION. WHAT A MAGNIFICENT BOOK, LORD. WE'RE SO THANKFUL

FOR IT. AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

UNDERSTAND YOUR PLAN FOR MANKIND. NOT ONLY WHILE WE'RE ON

THIS EARTH, BUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. WE'RE

THANKFUL FOR THAT, LORD. YOU'VE REVEALED TO US, SOME PEOPLE ASK

QUESTIONS AND SAY, WHY NOT THIS AND WHY NOT THAT? AND HOW DO I

KNOW THIS? AND IS THERE GONNA BE JELL-O IN HEAVEN? AND ALL THOSE

TYPES OF THINGS. I DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T MAKE A DOCTRINE OUT OF

THAT. MAYBE THERE WILL BE JELL-O IN HEAVEN. BUT GOD'S GIVEN US

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW. HE'S GIVEN US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO

KNOW TO MAKE IT THERE. THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. AND WE'LL FIND

OUT WHEN WE GET THERE, JANET, IF WE CAN EAT JELL-O. AND MAYBE

IT'LL BE RED JELL-O, AND MAYBE IT'LL BE GREEN JELL-O. I DON'T

KNOW. MAYBE WE'LL SEE MICHAEL JACKSON IN HEAVEN. THERE MIGHT

BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT OPEN OUR EYES AND SURPRISE US. AND ONLY

GOD KNOWS THAT. WE DON'T HAVE TO KNOW ALL THAT. BUT BE THANKFUL

FOR WHAT YOU DO KNOW AND WHAT YOU CAN GLEAN WHILE YOU'RE ON

THIS EARTH. AND THINK ABOUT ETERNITY AND SOULS AND WHAT CAN

WE DO TO REACH PEOPLE. AND IF YOU NEED TO LINE YOUR LIFE UP TO

BE MORE PRODUCTIVE IN WHAT GOD'S CALLED YOU TO DO, THEN DO IT.

LET'S DO IT. LET'S REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST. LET'S USE OUR TIME

TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND GET INVOLVED IN OTHER PEOPLE'S

LIVES. YOU KNOW, THIS LIFE THAT WE HAVE TODAY, I BELIEVE SOCIAL

MEDIA AND TV AND INTERNET AND ALL THOSE THINGS, AS GOOD AS

THEY ARE, CAN ALSO BE A CURSE IN SOME WAYS, BECAUSE WE ISOLATE

OURSELVES. WE DON'T HAVE RELATIONSHIPS. WE DON'T TALK TO

PEOPLE ANYMORE. IT'S ALL PEOPLE DON'T EVEN TALK TO PEOPLE

ANYMORE WHEN THEY ASK FOR A DATE. THEY JUST GOT TO FIND THEM

ONLINE AND WHATEVER. I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY DO THAT

ANYMORE, PASTOR ANTHONY, BUT THEY FIND THEIR WAY SOME WAY.

YOU CAN'T EVEN ASK SOMEONE FOR A DATE ANYMORE. YOU JUST GOT TO DO

IT ONLINE. AND AS GOOD AS WE'LL USE IT TO REACH PEOPLE WITH THE

GOSPEL. BUT DON'T BE ISOLATED. TALK TO PEOPLE. BUILD

RELATIONSHIPS. AND LET'S TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN WHEN IT'S

TIME FOR THE RAPTURE. AMEN? AMEN. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU. THANK

YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD SUNDAY.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AMEN.

AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AND

WE'LL GO THROUGH PART TWO. AMEN. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE)