{"id":18978,"date":"2019-03-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sugar-land-bible-church.local\/sermon\/revelation-030-a-bitter-sweet-experience\/"},"modified":"2022-01-12T17:15:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T23:15:56","slug":"revelation-030-a-bitter-sweet-experience","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/slbc.org\/es\/sermon\/revelation-030-a-bitter-sweet-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Revelation 030 \u2013 A Bitter-Sweet Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","book":[111],"series_event":[490],"sermon_service_type":[472],"speaker":[6],"class_list":["post-18978","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","hentry","book-revelation","series_event-revelation","sermon_service_type-main-service","speaker-dr-andy-woods","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":{"sermon_title":"Revelation 030 \u2013 A Bitter-Sweet Experience","sermon_date":"20190303","sermon_month":"3","sermon_year":"2019","sermon_notes":19983,"sermon_slides":19984,"sermon_mp3":19985,"sermon_id":"1123212137593087","series_or_event":490,"service_type":[472],"speaker":6,"books_of_the_bible":111,"chapter_and_verse":"10:1-11","sermon_transcript":"Dr. Andy Woods\n\nA Bittersweet Experience \u00a0\u00a0\u00a03-3-19\n\nRevelation 10:1-11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lesson 30\n\nLet\u2019s take our Bibles and open them to the Book of Revelation, chapter 10, continuing on in our study through the Book of Revelation.\u00a0 The title of our message this morning is \u201cA Bittersweet Experience.\u201d\u00a0 We are in that section of the Book of Revelation where the various trumpet judgments are being sounded and every time a trumpet is sounded from heaven by an angel then another judgment comes to the earth.\u00a0 We\u2019ve seen the sounding of the first trumpet involving a third of the earth\u2019s vegetation being destroyed.\u00a0 Trumpet number two was a third of the earth\u2019s ocean is destroyed.\u00a0 Trumpet number three is a third of the earth\u2019s water supply is destroyed.\u00a0 You can see how mad the environmentalists will be when these judgments take place.\u00a0 The fourth trumpet judgment is a third of the luminaries, sun, moon, and stars are darkened.\u00a0 Trumpet number five, demons are released to torment men and humanity for five months.\u00a0 And then we saw last week trumpet number six which involved a giant army from the east and in their route from the east into northern Israel you have a destruction of a third of the earth\u2019s population.\n\nNow one of the things that we taught is that when you get to a number six in a series you should look for something, a pause in the action.\u00a0 There are several times in the Book of Revelation where the chronology stops; it\u2019s a lot like (as we\u2019ve tried to explain it) going on a hike, you\u2019re hiking up a mountain and then you decide to have lunch and so you pick a scenic location where you can sort of see where you\u2019ve been from and where you\u2019re going to and then once lunch is over you get back on the hiking trail and continue. \u00a0That\u2019s sort of what happens in the Book of Revelation, particularly when we hit a six, between a six and a seven.\n\nSo there are five times where the chronology halts and sort of explain something in more detail in terms of what\u2019s going on in the chronology.\u00a0 These are not just random thoughts but these are informational, designed to give fuller meaning to the things that we have just seen and are about to see.\u00a0 We saw a stop in between seal six and seal seven, the manifestation of the hundred and forty-four thousand Jewish evangelists.\u00a0 And now we\u2019re at really a second stop in the action in between trumpet six and trumpet seven.\u00a0 And this particular halt in the action starts in chapter 10, verse 1 and goes all the way through chapter 11 and verse 14.\n\nAnd there\u2019s a lot of\u2026 to be honest with you, fascinating things to think about and talk about in this particular halt in the action.\u00a0 We have chapter 10, the announcement of no more delay, we\u2019ll get into that today.\u00a0 Then you have some information about the Temple Mount and it\u2019s very interesting to me because I was just on the Temple Mount a few weeks ago in Israel, and how this information about that Temple Mount and the final three and a half years of the tribulation period.\u00a0 And then what follows, chapter 11, verses 1 and 2 is verses 3-14 where we have information about these two characters called the two witnesses and their ministry in the midst of this time period.\n\nAnd so we find ourselves this morning moving into chapter 10 which is the announcement of no more delay.\u00a0 Now why would this be brought up at this point?\u00a0 Because this break takes place in between trumpet six and trumpet seven.\u00a0 Once the seventh trumpet is sounded that automatically means the bowl judgments will take place.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe that these judgments are sort of over-lapping, as I tried to explain they pull out like a telescope.\u00a0 Seal seven launched the trumpets; trumpet seven will launch the bowls.\u00a0 The bowls will take you into the second half of the tribulation period right to the second advent of Christ.\u00a0 The reason why there\u2019s information here about no more delay is trumpet seven is about to be sounded.\u00a0 As trumpet seven is sounded then the bowl judgments are all but guaranteed.\n\nSo notice, if you will, Revelation chapter 10, it all seems to revolve around an angel who is sent from heaven to give John this information. We had the angel\u2019s appearance, verse 1 of chapter 10; the angel\u2019s actions, verses 2-7 of chapter 10, and then finally this angel commissions John to do two things, and we find that in verses 8-11.\n\nNotice, if you will, Revelation chapter 1 and verse 1 as this angel is described. \u00a0John, back in the first century on the Island of Patmos as he sees this vision writes these words.\u00a0 \u201cI saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;\u201d he\u2019s giving here a description of this angel.\u00a0 You\u2019ll notice this expression there in chapter 10, verse 1, \u201canother angel.\u201d First of all this angel was called strong, this angel is descending from heaven, and who is this angel?\u00a0 If I had to hazard a guess, the Bible doesn\u2019t tell me, but I would think there are at least two candidates; one would be Michael who according to Jude 9 is called an archangel.\u00a0 [Jude 1:9, \u201cBut Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, \u2018The Lord rebuke you!\u2019\u201d]\u00a0 He would fit the description of a strong angel.\n\nAnother possibility would be Gabriel because Gabriel has a tendency to show up in terms of giving new information and new revelation. It was Gabriel that gave Daniel, in Daniel 9:20-23, the prophecy of the seventy weeks which is an absolutely critical piece of the prophetic jigsaw puzzle.\n\n[Daniel 9:20-23, \u201cNow while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, [21] while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my<\/em> extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. [22] He gave me<\/em> instruction and talked with me and said, \u201cO Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. [23] \u201cAt the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you,<\/em> for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.\u201d]\n\nGabriel is the one that shows up in early Luke to reveal to Jesus\u2019 mother and John the Baptist\u2019s mother what was actually happening in their womb and those that they were carrying in their womb.\u00a0\u00a0 So Gabriel shows up a lot in terms of being dispatched from heaven to give new information.\u00a0 But you know, as I looked at some commentaries this week I was sort of shocked to discover how many people believe that this angel is Jesus.\u00a0 I would encourage you to resist that kind of interpretation and let me give you some reasons why.\n\nYou\u2019ll notice in chapter 10, verse 1 it says, \u201cI saw another strong angel,\u201d now that word \u201canother\u201d in Greek refers to something that\u2019s different but many times of the same species.\u00a0 For example, it\u2019s used to describe another boat in the Gospels, not the same boat but a boat of the same categorization of boats.\u00a0 Another disciple, another Scripture, and basically the way that word is normally used is it\u2019s a different entity but it\u2019s of the same variety, so to speak.\u00a0 And we\u2019ve already run into Revelation 5:2, a strong angel, Revelation 5:2, John wrote back in chapter 5, \u201cAnd I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, \u2018Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?\u2019\u201d So here we have someone, or an entity, an angel that\u2019s different but we should still understand that entity as of the same species, still an angel.\n\nThe Jehovah\u2019s Witness, not if but when they come to your house, will try to convince you that Jesus is actually an angel, a created being. The reality of the situation is Jesus is not an angel.\u00a0 In fact, according to the Book of Hebrews, chapter 1 and verse 6 all the angels worship Jesus.\u00a0 [Hebrews 1:6, \u201cAnd when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, \u2018and let all the angels of God worship him.\u201d]\u00a0 In fact, according to Colossians 1:16 the angels wouldn\u2019t even exist had Jesus not created them.\u00a0 Colossians 1:16, says, \u201cFor by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities---all things have been created through Him and for Him.\u201d\n\nNo, beloved, Jesus is not just another run of the mill angel.\u00a0 He is the One that the angels will worship and are worshipping.\u00a0 He is the One that actually created the angels.\u00a0 Now in the Old Testament there are some things going on there that we might call these names, a theophany or a Christophany.\u00a0 These are basically appearances of Jesus before the manger.\u00a0 Appearances of Jesus before the virgin conception.\u00a0 And many times when that occurs, and there are several of them in the Bible, I believe there is an angel and that angel is Jesus. But you\u2019ll notice that when Jesus is described in such terms in the Old Testament he is never just called an angel; He is called \u201cthe\u201d (definite article) Exodus 3:2, \u201cthe angel of the LORD.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 [Exodus 3:2, \u201cThe angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.\u201d]\n\nAnd so people like to find Christ with all of these angelic appearances, I don\u2019t think Christ is ever described in the New Testament as an angel; He\u2019s completely different as I\u2019ve tried to explain.\u00a0 And so I think a strong angel would not be Jesus, a strong angel would simply be Gabriel or perhaps Michael.\n\nBut notice how this particular angel is described, whoever this angel is.\u00a0 You have a description of the angel\u2019s clothes, he\u2019s clothed with a cloud.\u00a0 By the way, I have a picture of him on the slide, now I know that\u2019s exactly what he looked like because I found it on the internet\u2026 [laughter].\u00a0 He\u2019s clothed with a cloud and it\u2019s very interesting that over his head or upon his head is a rainbow.\u00a0 Now you know all about the rainbow from biblical stories; Genesis 9:11-17 is a visual statement, sort of like communion this morning, a visual statement of what God has done.\n\n[Genesis 9:11-17, \u201c\u201cI establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.\u201d\u00a0[12] God said, \u201cThis is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations;\u00a0[13] I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.\u00a0[14] \u201cIt shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,\u00a0[15] and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.\u00a0[16] \u201cWhen the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.\u201d\u00a0[17] And God said to Noah, \u201cThis is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.\u201d]\n\nGenesis 9:11-17 is a visual statement, sort of like communion this morning, a visual statement of what God has done.\u00a0 The rainbow exists as a testimony to God\u2019s Word and His promise that he would never flood the earth again.\u00a0 And so perhaps that rainbow is there to remind us that God, even in judgment itself, even in these horrific judgments that we\u2019re reading about is still keeping His Word.\u00a0 The flood was a horrific thing, only eight survived.\u00a0 As we\u2019re going to see today God is not eradicating the earth again via water; He is bringing severe judgments but there won\u2019t be eight survivors, there will be many, many survivors.\u00a0 In fact, the nation of Israel, by the time it\u2019s all said and done will be in faith and regenerated.\u00a0 And it\u2019s interesting to me that even in the midst of the severest judgments that we\u2019re reading about here in the Book of Revelation God is always consistent with what He revealed through the covenant that He made with Noah that\u2019s signified by the rainbow, going all the way back to Genesis 9:11-17.\n\nYou\u2019ll notice over the angel\u2019s head (as we mentioned) is a rainbow.\u00a0 You\u2019ll notice the angel\u2019s face.\u00a0 John as he\u2019s describing it says the face was like the sun, in this case not s-o-n, but s-u-n describing the brightness and the illumination of this angel. He goes on he says angel\u2019s legs were like pillars of fire.\u00a0 [Revelation 10:1, \u201csaw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;\u201d]\n\nNow notice the twofold repetition there in verse 10 of \u201clike.\u201d\u00a0 What kind of figure of speech is that?\u00a0 It\u2019s a simile, equating two things with the linking words \u201clike\u201d or \u201cas.\u201d\u00a0 Why does John keep doing that?\u00a0 Well, you have to put yourself in John\u2019s shoes; what is the command that was given to him on the Island of Patmos two thousand years ago?\u00a0 \u201cWrite in a book what you see.\u201d\u00a0 How would you like that description for your job and be given this vision?\u00a0 I mean, John is just doing his best; he is trying to be faithful to what God said, he\u2019s writing it down, he\u2019s seeing things that obviously are beyond his ability to communicate because he only has a first century vocabulary.\u00a0 He\u2019s seeing things that could be 20th<\/sup>, 21st<\/sup> century or later realities, and he just says it\u2019s \u201clike\u201d this, it\u2019s \u201clike\u201d that.\u00a0 That\u2019s why he keeps using these similes over and over and over again.\n\nWe move away from the angel\u2019s appearance and notice the angel\u2019s action.\u00a0 The angel does a few things here. He\u2019s holding something, he does something and then he says something.\u00a0 Notice what he\u2019s holding, this very, very strong angel.\u00a0 Take a look if you could at Revelation 10 and notice verse 2, \u201cand he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; [3] and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.\u201d\n\nWhat is this angel holding?\u00a0 He\u2019s holding something that\u2019s called \u201ca little book.\u201d\u00a0 What is that little book?\u00a0 Well, I think in context, as we\u2019ll see, the little book is a record of what is about to happen. We\u2019re basically halfway through the tribulation period at this point and this would be a record of things that are to come upon the earth as described in Revelation 11-22.\u00a0 Well why is it called \u201ca little book.\u201d\u00a0 Because we\u2019re halfway through it, and half of the events have already taken place; half of these events have already transpired.\u00a0 You\u2019ll notice that this book is opened, this is something that\u2019s going to happen, and they are a description of the remaining judgments, the final forty-two months of the tribulation period.\u00a0 Why is all of this described here?\u00a0 Because the seventh trumpet is about to be sounded and the seventh trumpet will trigger the bowls which will take you right on through the final forty-two months of the tribulation period, right up to the manifestation of Jesus Christ who brings in His kingdom at the end of that time period.\u00a0 John is about to receive information about that second half of the tribulation period.\n\nNotice what the angel does.\u00a0 He\u2019s standing, right foot on the sea, left foot on the land.\u00a0 What is that there for?\u00a0 I think that perhaps is a reminder of the fact that God is in complete and total authority of what is happening here, because who is the one that brought the land and the sea into existence?\u00a0 God did!\u00a0 According to Genesis 1:2 you see God bringing the waters into existence in the creation week.\u00a0 [Genesis 1:2, \u201cThe earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.\u201d]\n\nAccording to Genesis 1:10 you see the Lord bringing forth dry land or earth in the creation week.\u00a0 [Genesis 1:10, \u201cGod called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.\u201d]\u00a0 And so the fact that this angel has one foot on the land, one foot on the sea is a reminder that God has every single right to do what He\u2019s doing since He is the creator.\u00a0 A lot more on God\u2019s role as creator as we move through Revelation 10; constant references to God as the creator which is a reminder of His right to do what He Himself wants to do.\n\nSo, we have this description of what the angel does and notice that the angel actually says something.\u00a0 Revelation 10:3, we read this just a few moments ago but notice again Revelation 10:3, [2] \u201cHe placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; [3] and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.\u201d\u00a0 Now this very strong angel is crying out; he\u2019s crying out with a loud voice.\u00a0 John as he sees this is trying to explain it and he says it\u2019s like a lion roaring.\u00a0 And it\u2019s very interesting to me that as you go through the Bible God\u2019s voice is described that way.\u00a0 I think what\u2019s happening here is God is using this angel to reveal his voice to John, which John has no description for it other than it sounds like a roaring lion.\n\nHosea 11:10 of the Lord\u2019s voice, says, \u201cThey will walk after the LORD, He will roar like a lion; Indeed, He will roar And His sons will come trembling from the west.\u201d\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it interesting how cozy and comfortable we are with God today, for our whole visual picture of Him is Jesus, who is laying in this manger, without a place for the Son of man to lay His head, and we\u2019ve completely lost sight of the fact that the power of God and the holiness of God, and in fact if God were to utter His very voice right now as I\u2019m speaking it would scare the absolute daylights out of us.\u00a0 Amos 3:8 of God\u2019s voice says, \u201cA lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?\u201d\n\nSo you see again the simile \u201cas\u201d verse 3, and when this angel cried out it sounded like a roaring lion.\u00a0 Something happened, \u201cseven peals of thunder\u201d in heaven are sounded.\u00a0 Now the seven peals of thunder, this is not the first time that we\u2019ve run into this.\u00a0 Back in Revelation 4:5 it says, \u201cOut from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.\u201d\u00a0 Revelation 8:5 says, \u201cThen the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.\u201d\n\nSomething very interesting happens in verse 4 which to me is almost inexplicable it\u2019s so out of the norm of the Book of Revelation, because we\u2019re finding information about what the angel says and one of the things he says relates to John and his obligation to not record the thunders, the seven thunders that he just heard.\u00a0 Notice if you will, Revelation 10:4, \u201cWhen the seven peals of thunder had spoken I was about to write,\u201d now why would John be about to write this?\u00a0 Because that\u2019s his job.\u00a0 I mean, he was told that, was he not, back in Revelation 1:11.\u00a0 [Revelation 1:11, \u201cWrite in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.\u201d]\n\nEverything you see, write it down.\u00a0 So, John is being obedient to what God told him to do; he hears these seven thunders and then he hears a heavenly voice saying not to write these things down.\u00a0 Again, chapter 10 verse 4, \u201cWhen the seven peals of thunder had spoken I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, \u2018Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 One of the things to understand about God is He communicates three ways: the first way He communicates is through something called revelation or disclosure.\u00a0 He discloses something to someone and we believe that this happened to the writers of Scripture, all of them had revelations or disclosures from God.\u00a0 But that\u2019s only the beginning of the communication process.\n\nThe second thing God told the biblical writers to do is to write it down.\u00a0 And we believe that the process of writing it down was also inspired by God, that\u2019s called inspiration.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, \u201cAll Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;\u00a0[17] so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.\u201d\u00a0 How could this help us if it\u2019s just a disclosure from God but it\u2019s never written down.\u00a0\u00a0 And we believe that the original manuscripts in which this disclosure was given were without error.\u00a0 We believe that God superintended the entire process.\n\nA wonderful verse on this is 2 Peter 1:20-21, speaking of the inspiration of the Old Testament writers.\u00a0 Peter says, \u201cBut know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation.\u201d\u00a0 The Bible writers are not giving us an editorial column in the newspaper; this is not the opinion section.\u00a0 This is a direct disclosure from God being written down for humanity to understand.\u00a0 2 Peter 1:21, \u201cfor no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.\u201d\u00a0 The word for \u201cmoved\u201d there is the same verb that\u2019s used to describe the wind that propels a boat in the Book of Acts.\u00a0 Just as wind comes upon a boat and fills the sails with wind and the boat is propelled, that is basically and essentially what happened as your Bible was written.\u00a0 It went from revelation to inspiration; it went from disclosure to an actual writing.\n\nAnd then God loves us so much so that we would understand what he said is He provides a third step in the communication process called illumination.\u00a0 If it was just revelation and inspiration that wouldn\u2019t be enough to communicate to us.\u00a0 How does this spiritual truth get communicated to those that are dead in their trespasses and sins?\u00a0 The answer is the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Once a person gets saved the Holy Spirit is inside of them and the Holy Spirit, one of His ministries is to illuminate our minds to biblical truth.\u00a0 And you have to follow the laws of language when you study the Bible because the Holy Spirit works through proper Bible study because the moment God made a decision to record His truth and His Word in linguistic form the laws of language now apply\u2014grammar, syntax, context, etc.\n\nAnd as you apply those diligent Bible study methods which you\u2019ll discover as you come to the Lord with an open heart and read His Word through proper methodology, a proper mind and a proper heart is the Holy Spirit will start to show you things that you\u2019ve never seen before.\u00a0 In fact, I\u2019ve been at this for a little while, I couldn\u2019t believe the things I was seeing in this passage this week as I was trying to study it.\u00a0 I don\u2019t even think I\u2019ve ever really given a lot of attention to this chapter.\u00a0 To my knowledge I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever taught through Revelation chapter 10.\u00a0 I know some different things about other parts of the Book of Revelation but Revelation 10 I have to admit was very new terrain for me.\u00a0 And so I was utterly dependent upon the communication process of God to help me\u00a0 understand what He was saying, so that God may use me to communicate this to His people.\n\n1 John 2:27, \u201cAs for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.\u201d What a promise that is!\u00a0 You mean Lord if I come before You and Your Word with an open heart, using correct methodology involved in the laws of language, that little old me can understand what You\u2019ve disclosed and written and are now seeking to illuminate?\u00a0 And that\u2019s how it works.\n\nBut it\u2019s interesting here in verse 4, you don\u2019t have any inspiration; you\u2019ve just got revelation.\u00a0 I mean, these seven thunders take place and John receives a specific word not to write it down.\u00a0 This has perplexed an awful lot of people, including myself, because it\u2019s out of the pattern of the Book of Revelation.\u00a0 The Book of Revelation is all about disclosure.\u00a0 In fact, that\u2019s what the word \u201crevelation\u201d in the very first verse means, translated apokalypsis<\/em>, the title of the book, A Divine Disclosure.\u00a0 In fact, at the end of the book John is told, \u201cDo not seal up the words of this prophecy, for the time is near.\u201d [Revelation 22:10]\n\nIt\u2019s quite different, you\u2019ll recall, from what we studied in the Book of Daniel, where Daniel back in the sixth century was told to seal up the vision and the book.\u00a0 These words are concealed and sealed up.\u00a0 That would make sense if you wrote that six hundred years before the time of Christ, the time period to understand the prophecies of Daniel had not arrived yet.\u00a0 But Revelation is different.\u00a0 John\u2019s told do not seal it up, \u201cDo not seal up the words of this prophecy.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s interesting as we\u2019ve been teaching through the Book of Revelation, you know the comment that I\u2019ve gotten from more people, whether it\u2019s here or on the internet or e-mail or whatever?\u00a0 We don\u2019t remember when our church taught the Book of Revelation.\u00a0 In fact, my pastor never teaches the Book of Revelation.\u00a0 May God help us to understand that that\u2019s a direct violation of the command of God, \u201cdo not seal up the book.\u201d\u00a0 If you are going to deny God\u2019s people a systematic presentation of the Book of Revelation you just violated what God said to do.\u00a0 In fact, you just violated the very title of the book.\u00a0\u00a0 May God help us to teach this book and to not be intimidated by this book, \u201cfor the time is near.\u201d\n\nBut here something very different happens where we have a revelation, the seven thunders but no inspiration or recording.\u00a0 Why in the world is John told not to write down the seven thunders?\u00a0 Here\u2019s my answer to the question.\u00a0 I don\u2019t really have any idea other than I can make a guess or two.\u00a0 The verse that comes to my mind is Matthew 24:21-22 which says, \u201cFor then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.\u00a0[22] \u201cUnless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.\u201d\n\nGiven the severity of these judgments, given their horrific nature, if suddenly the judgments were expanded to not just seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls, now it\u2019s seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls and what else?\u00a0 Seven thunders.\u00a0 If God were to allow that to happen in any way, shape or form, the human race wouldn\u2019t exist anymore.\u00a0 The nation of Israel would be completely wiped out; humanity would be completely wiped out.\u00a0 No one would be left to fulfill the covenants that God has made to and through the nation of Israel, you couldn\u2019t even have a millennial kingdom.\n\nAnd I think this is part of the reasoning as to why this strong angel has this rainbow on his head or over his head, God cannot wipe the earth out because He\u2019s made a covenantal promise in the Noahic Covenant.\u00a0 John is told to not write these down because they\u2019re not going to be part of the judgment (thank God for that).\u00a0 The judgments are bad enough, if we had another set of seven to deal with we\u2019d have another couple of chapters in the Bible to deal with and no one would survive.\u00a0 That\u2019s my best take at a guess as to why he is told not to write down these judgments.\n\nBut you\u2019ll notice there in chapter 1, verse 4, \u201c\u2026Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them down.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 I find it somewhat comforting, given the magnitude of these things, that God is still in control.\u00a0 It sort of reminds me concerning what He said to Job as he\u2019s talking to Satan, Job 1:12, \u201cThe LORD said to Satan, \u2018Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.\u201d Job 2:6, \u201cSo the LORD said to Satan, \u201cBehold, he is in your power, only spare his life.\u201d\u00a0 I mean even when the judgments happen, even when Satan is allowed to have his heyday, he\u2019s still on a leash.\u00a0 We saw that back in Revelation 9, those horrific scorpions that came forth to sting men for a period of five months.\u00a0 And I say well praise the Lord it wasn\u2019t six months or seven months, because God has a tight rein on things. \u00a0God has not lost control of things.\u00a0 In fact, He is the One where this angel is standing on the land and the sea, something that God created.\n\nAnd I don\u2019t know what valley you\u2019re in right now, we all go through all kinds of valleys in our lives as church age believers and the temptation is to always think that somehow God has lost the reigns of authority.\u00a0 God never loses the reigns of authority.\u00a0 In fact, if He were able to lose the reigns of authority He wouldn\u2019t be God, would He.\u00a0 God knows exactly what you\u2019re going through.\u00a0 He\u2019s even provided grace for you as you walk through it. It\u2019s a reminder of the sovereignty of God.\n\nAnd not only does this very strong angel speak concerning these seven thunders, the angel begins to speak concerning the seventh trumpet yet to come.\u00a0 Notice if you will Revelation 10:5, \u201cThen the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven,\u201d so we have another reference to the land and the sea.\u00a0 That seems to be a dominant theme here.\u00a0 You have this strong angel lifting up not his left hand but his right hand.\u00a0\u00a0 As you go through the Bible what you see is the right hand is the place of honor.\u00a0 In fact, where is Jesus right now?\u00a0 He\u2019s at the right hand of the Father, Ephesians 1:20. [Ephesians 1:20, \u201cwhich He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.\u201d]\u00a0 Jesus actually is holding, according to a verse we studied earlier in the series, Revelation 1:16, the seven stars or the seven pastors in His right hand.\u00a0 [Revelation 1:16, \u201cIn His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.\u201d\n\nSo the angel, like he\u2019s ready to take an oath, lifts his right hand to heaven.\u00a0 Well, what is the content of that oath?\u00a0 Look at what it says there in verse 6, \u201cAnd swore by Him who lives forever and ever.\n\nand swore by Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT,\u201d what\u2019s the content of the oath here\u2026 \u201cthat there will be delay no longer.\u201d\u00a0 No more delay because the seventh trumpet is about to be sounded which will unleash the bowl judgments in telescoping fashion.\n\nAnd notice how serious this oath is, the angel has got his right hand in heaven swearing this and he\u2019s swearing obviously by someone greater than himself, because he\u2019s swearing on the one who lives forever and ever.\u00a0 That\u2019s nobody but God, right?\u00a0 Does God live forever?\u00a0 Psalm 90:2 says, \u201cFrom everlasting to everlasting You are God.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus, born into this world in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2, of that says, \u201cHis goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.\u201d\u00a0 Romans 6:26 talks about the eternal God.\u00a0 [Romans 6:26, \u201cbut now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;\u201d] The God that\u2019s always been, the God that is, and the God that will always be.\n\nWhat is He called in the Bible, in the Book of Revelation, many times?\u00a0 The living God, the God that wants you to communicate with Him via prayer.\u00a0 I mean, who else do you think can help you other than God.\u00a0 I mean, you\u2019ve got the best friend in the world, the one who is, always was and always will be, He\u2019s made provision whereby we as fallen people can have a relationship with Him and this angel swears by that God who lives forever.\u00a0 And the angel goes on and on and he swears by creation itself.\u00a0 He \u201cswore by him who lives forever and ever,\u201d verse 6, \u201cwho created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the things that are in the sea and the things that are in it.\u201d\u00a0 God is the Creator.\u00a0 Do you believe that?\u00a0 We\u2019ve got a whole generation of people today that really don\u2019t believe God is the Creator.\u00a0 They\u2019re being taught all sorts of things, naturalism, Darwinism, things happened accidentally.\u00a0 I can start to see why humanity is so angry at God when these things take place\u2026 how dare you God do this, who do You think You are, the Creator or something?\n\nAnd so we\u2019re reminded that God is the Creator, the heavens and the things in it, that\u2019s day one and day four the creation week, the earth and the things in it, that\u2019s what?\u00a0 Day three.\u00a0 And day six is a creation day, the sea and the things that are in it.\u00a0 Day two and day five of creation week,\u00a0 do we\u00a0 understand that if you don\u2019t believe God is the Creator you don\u2019t understand that He\u2019s got the right to bring judgment.\u00a0 And I think this is one of the reasons why the doctrine of creation is under complete and total assault today.\u00a0 You might remember Revelation 4:11, the heavenly scene, \u201cWorthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;\u201d and why? \u201cfor You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.\u201d\u00a0 I mean, if God spoke this world into existence through a miracle why should I be upset if He\u2019s going to bring the whole thing out of existence through a miracle.\u00a0 It\u2019s the same God!\u00a0 He\u2019s got the right to do it.\n\nIn fact, later on, I think it\u2019s a couple of months down the road, I\u2019m going to be speaking at a conference and I love the title of this conference, it\u2019s called The Alpha and Omega Conference.\u00a0 Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet; Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, the beginning and the end.\u00a0 So who\u2019s going to be there?\u00a0 Well, a bunch of prophecy guys and a bunch of creation guys.\u00a0 I said sign me up, because I love the connection between creation and prophecy.\n\nIn fact, if you were to read this week 2 Peter 3:3-15 you\u2019ll see that the two doctrines are intimately linked with each other.\u00a0 [2 Peter 3:3-15, \u201cKnow this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with\u00a0their<\/em>\u00a0mocking, following after their own lusts,\u00a0[4] and saying, \u201cWhere is the promise of His coming? For\u00a0ever<\/em>\u00a0since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.\u201d\u00a0[5] For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God, the\u00a0\u00a0 heavens existed long ago and\u00a0the<\/em>\u00a0earth was formed out of water and by water,\u00a0[6] through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.\u00a0[7] But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.\u00a0 [8] But do not let this one\u00a0fact<\/em>\u00a0escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.\u00a0[9] The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.\u00a0 [10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.\u00a0 [11] Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,\u00a0[12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!\u00a0[13] \u00a0But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.\u00a0 [14] Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,\u00a0[15] regard the patience of our Lord\u00a0as<\/em>\u00a0salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you.\u201d]\n\nThat\u2019s why I keep saying over and over again in Revelation 10, the role of God as the Creator, this angel with his foot on the land and the other foot on the sea demonstrating the right of God to intervene.\u00a0 I\u2019m very passionate about creation and the end times.\u00a0 I\u2019m just sort of saddened to learn that a lot of my evangelical brethren do not share my enthusiasm with me at all on these things.\u00a0 In fact, I was sitting in a meeting at the school that I went to, and they were sort of communicating to us how you guys need to go out there and get jobs, it\u2019s kind of a practical meaning you know, resume, all this sort of stuff.\u00a0 And this fellow said something, I like the guy that said it but I was just stunned when this rolled off his tongue, it\u2019s bothered me for an awful long time.\u00a0 He said if you want a good job you\u2019ve just got to give up a little bit on creation and you\u2019ve got to give up a little ground on the end times, just see the little territory and stick with the middle of the Bible.\n\nIs that what you\u2019re reading here in Revelation 10?\u00a0\u00a0 I mean, God is an Alpha and an Omega God.\u00a0 The last time I checked I want to stand firm on both.\u00a0 Well, come on, you know, you can fudge a little bit, can\u2019t you, on Genesis 1-11.\u00a0 Look folks, I was doing all that stuff as an unsaved pagan; I believed all of the Darwin and the billions of years and all that stuff; why would I, as a New Testament Christian, a blood-bought saint, want to go back to the way I used to think as a pagan?\u00a0 Why even be a Christian if you\u2019re not going to stand on creation and you\u2019re not going to stand on the end, interpreting both literally the way they\u2019re revealed in Scripture why even get saved?\u00a0 Do you want to compromise with the world?\u00a0 I was already doing that!\u00a0 I didn\u2019t get saved so I could compromise with the world; I got redeemed to be a bondservant of God, where it\u2019s not my will, it\u2019s Thy will.\u00a0 My job is not to compromise with the world; my job is to authoritatively declare what Jesus Himself said.\n\nSo, this angel swears by the creation of God, swears by the God that lives forever, and by the way, that\u2019s a pretty good thing to swear by because God can\u2019t lie.\u00a0 If God says something it has to happen, it\u2019s just a matter of time.\u00a0 Numbers 23:19, \u201cGod is not a man that He should lie.\u201d\u00a0 Titus 1:2, \u201cGod, who cannot lie.\u201d\u00a0 Hebrews 6:18, \u201c\u2026it is impossible for God to lie.\u201d His character would inhibit that. [Titus 1:2, [\u201cin the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,\u201d [Hebrews 6:18, \u201cso that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.\u201d]\n\nAnd if we are really bondservants of the Lord and He is living inside of us via the Holy Spirit, shouldn\u2019t we be people of honesty and truth, and not underhanded or duplicative in how we go about life?\u00a0 I mean, there\u2019s an awful lot in the Bible about being a truth speaker.\u00a0 In fact, the last time I checked one of the Ten Commandments was \u201cthou shalt not\u201d what? \u201cbear false witness.\u201d\u00a0 Why would the Bible say that?\u00a0 Because that\u2019s who God is.\u00a0 God\u2019s character is completely upright.\u00a0 Why would we claim to walk in the light and fudge on that particular issue?\n\nAnd so what does this angel say as he is doing this oath?\u00a0 It\u2019s right there at the end of verse 6, \u201cthere will be delay no longer.\u201d What does that mean?\u00a0 Verse 7, \u201cbut in the days of the voice of the seventh angel,\u201d now who would that seventh angel be?\u00a0 That would be the seventh trumpet yet to be sounded.\u00a0 \u201cBut in the day when the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.\u201d\u00a0 The seventh trumpet is about to sound.\u00a0 Now that\u2019s not going to occur until just a short time later, towards the end of the first half of the tribulation period.\u00a0 But when it sounds the mystery that of all of these prophets have recorded is about to be unfolded.\u00a0 What is a mystery?\u00a0\u00a0 A mystery is a new truth never before revealed.\u00a0 You find that definition in Romans 16:25-26; Colossians 1:26.\n\n[Romans 16:25-26, \u201cNow to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, [26] but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations,\u00a0leading<\/em>\u00a0to obedience of faith;\u201d\u00a0 Colossians 1:26, \u201cthat is,<\/em>\u00a0the mystery which has been hidden from the\u00a0past<\/em>\u00a0ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints.\u201d\n\nAny Greek dictionary will tell you that\u2019s what the mystery is, must\u0113rion, that which being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension could be made known by divine revelation.\u00a0 It\u2019s something that\u2019s been disclosed revelation, it\u2019s something that has been recorded, inspiration, it\u2019s something that God wants understood, illumination; and now God says the whole thing is about to happen with the sounding of this seventh trumpet.\n\nIf the seventh trumpet unleashes the bowl, which I think it does, then that makes a world of sense out of Revelation 16:17.\u00a0 \u00a0Revelation 16:17 of the seventh bowl at the very end of the tribulation period, what does it say at the end of the verse\u2026 \u201cit is done.\u201d\u00a0 Well, wait a minute, I thought it was done with the seventh trumpet; now you\u2019re telling me that it\u2019s not done with the seventh trumpet, it\u2019s done with the seventh bowl.\u00a0 How do you explain the contradiction?\u00a0 Easy if you understand that trumpet seven unleashes the bowl.\u00a0 See that?\u00a0 If the seventh trumpet unleashes the bowl then it\u2019s a done deal already.\u00a0 And that\u2019s why attention is being drawn to this seventh trumpet in this gap between trumpet six and trumpet seven.\n\nAnd what is about to happen here is the cry of the martyrs is about to be answered.\u00a0 Remember their cry when they were executed with seal judgment five.\u00a0 Do you know what they were saying under the altar?\u00a0 How long O Lord, holy and true till you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?\u00a0 Verse 11, Revelation 6, \u201cThere was given to each of them a white robe and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren were about to be killed, even as they had been, would be complete also.\u201d\u00a0 What is God doing here?\u00a0 He\u2019s answering their prayer.\u00a0 \u201cHow long, Lord,\u201d you have the answer here, not long at all because once we have trumpet number seven we\u2019ll have the bowl leading to the second half of the tribulation period, bowl six, to the reality that it is done.\n\nYou\u2019ll notice at the end of the chapter the angel gives a commission to John.\u00a0 Notice, if you will, chapter 10 and verse 8, \u201cThen the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard<\/em> again speaking with me, and saying, \u201cGo, take the book\u201d what book?\u00a0 The little book, that\u2019s a record of the second half of the tribulation period, \u201cGo take the book which is open in the hand of the angel\u201d and look at this, \u201cwho stands on the sea and on the land.\u201d\u00a0 That keeps showing up, doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 John, take the book!\u00a0 John obeys, verse 9, \u201cSo I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book.\u201d\u00a0 And then John is told to do something very, very odd, look at what it says there in verse 9, \u201cAnd he said to me, \u201cTake it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth, \u00a0it will be sweet as honey.\u201d\n\nSo, what does John do, verse 10, he does what he\u2019s told, he eats the book.\u00a0 \u201cI took the little book out of the angel\u2019s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.\u201d\u00a0 Now what is this talking about?\u00a0 We take the Bible literally but I think this is probably metaphorical language because \u201cman does not live by bread alone but by\u201d what? \u201cby every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.\u201d\n\nJob 23:12, Job says, \u201cI treasure His words more than my daily food.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 1 Peter 2:2 says, \u201cAs newborn babes crave pure spiritual milk.\u201d\u00a0 Do you understand that just as your physical body needs physical food to be physically sustained the same is true with the spiritual food God gives.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing to me how we are so conscious about the physical part of it and yet we\u2019re starving to death because we\u2019re not being fed properly concerning the spiritual part of it.\n\nAnd I believe that what is being described here is a season of preparation in John\u2019s life, you\u2019d better absorb the truth of God before you proclaim it.\u00a0 Jot down Ezekiel 2:8-3:3, you\u2019ll see Ezekiel going through the same process, \u201cbefore he speaks,\u201d verse 4, the Word of God. \u00a0I think it was Billy Graham, they asked him prior to his death, if you had it to do all over again how would you do it different?\u00a0 And he said I would speak half as much and study twice as much.\u00a0 The reality of the situation is there\u2019s a lot of people out there that want to be used by God but they have never submitted themselves to the process of study because if you haven\u2019t studied how do you have much of a message?\u00a0 What does 2 Timothy 2:15 says, \u201cBe diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed but accurately handles the Word of truth.\u201d\u00a0 You want to be used by God, pastors, do you want to be used by God, then get out of the board room and stop functioning like a CEO and get into the study of the Word of God.\n\nYou know what\u2019s happening today folks?\u00a0 Pastors are giving messages and they\u2019re about a millimeter deep; they give the same message over and over and over again; they\u2019re not taking the flock of God through God\u2019s word.\u00a0 You know why?\u00a0 They\u2019re not really students of the Bible.\u00a0 Well what are they doing?\u00a0 They\u2019re trying to grow massive churches; they\u2019re giving themselves to philosophies of being a CEO, being a marketer, doing everything but what God told them to do which was to study and prepare yourself so that you can adequately feed the flock of God.\u00a0 \u00a0There\u2019s a lot of energetic people out there, no message because they\u2019ve never done what God said for John to do\u2026to absorb it.\u00a0 And what is this business about it\u2019s sort of sweet to the mouth, bitter to the stomach?\u00a0 Listen, there\u2019s a sweetness in the Book of Revelation because the kingdom is coming?\u00a0 But there\u2019s some bitterness here because there\u2019s a lot of travail this world has got to go through before the kingdom materializes.\n\nNot only is John told to partake, now that he has partaken he\u2019s told to prophesy.\u00a0 Look at verse 11 and with this we\u2019re finished.\n\n\u201cAnd they said to me, You must prophesy again,\u201d now why would it say \u201cagain\u201d?\u00a0 Because now you\u2019ve got to deal with chapters 11-22, seventh trumpet onward because the seventh trumpet will unleash the bowl. \u201cAnd they said to me, You must prophesy again concerning many people and nations and tongues and kings.\u201d\u00a0 Those are global statements when you track that combination as it\u2019s used in the Book of Revelation.\u00a0 These judgments are coming upon the whole world and so John, you need to absorb these judgments; it\u2019s going to taste sweet but it\u2019s bitterness to your stomach and it\u2019s preparation for you to prophesy again about what?\u00a0 About the second half of the tribulation period.\n\nWhy does John have to be told to talk about this?\u00a0 It\u2019s bitter to his stomach, he didn\u2019t want to talk about it.\u00a0 There\u2019s some hesitancy in John that has to be corrected and if you want an application folks, there\u2019s some hesitancy in evangelical Christianity today, particularly from the pulpit, that needs to be corrected because so many places do not want to reveal to you or to disclose to you or to talk you through the difficult things in the Bible.\u00a0 And yet it\u2019s a bittersweet experience because these are real judgments that are going to impact real people.\u00a0 And how can we not somewhat grieve over that but at the same time there\u2019s a necessity for these judgments to come to the earth to be liberated.\n\nDavid Hocking, who I was with in Israel, I was looking at his Revelation commentary this week and he made this statement and it\u2019s so good I wanted to share it with you because it sort of capsulizes everything that this chapter is about.\u00a0 He says, \u201cTo all the preachers of the Word of God, God\u2019s Word must be proclaimed no matter how it upsets or offends people.\u00a0 We should speak God\u2019s truth in love of course, but there is too much compromise in the pulpits of our churches.\u00a0 The Bible\u2019s message about God\u2019s wrath and judgment is rarely heard or even understood by today\u2019s culture.\u00a0 There is no message more important for a world than that which the Book of Revelation clearly presents.\u00a0 May God help us to be faithful and to heed what it says.\u201d\n\nIs that your life?\u00a0 Has God put you in a position, even one on one to share?\u00a0 I mean, are you so familiar with this book that the things should just sort of come out of your mouth or are you one of these sort of shallow message types, or are you one of these types of people that\u2019s in the business of editing God because you don\u2019t want to talk about that part and you don\u2019t to walk about that part.\u00a0 I fear the biggest problem that\u2019s going on out there is preachers are more afraid of their congregations, they\u2019re more afraid of their elder board, they\u2019re more afraid of their church hierarchy than they are of God.\u00a0 God is going to hold people accountable for what they say and what they leave out.\u00a0 And John is told he\u2019s got to do it again once he absorbs this truth.\u00a0 Understand it, there\u2019s bitterness in it, there\u2019s sweetness in it but it\u2019s given to you for a reason, to disclose to others.\n\nDo you understand that sitting under teaching like this makes you accountable to God?\u00a0 \u201cTo whom much is given, much is\u201d what? \u201crequired.\u201d\u00a0 This is not just a Sunday activity that you\u2019re going through.\u00a0 The expectation of God is proclamation, obedience and then proclamation.\u00a0 And if that\u2019s something you\u2019re not interested in then it would be better if you didn\u2019t come at all. So, we will conclude next week moving into Revelation 11, that final part of the insertion here, learning about the times of the Gentiles and the temple mount and then the ministry of the two witnesses.\n\nIt could be possible that you\u2019re here today and you don\u2019t know Christ personally.\u00a0 Our exhortation to you is to believe what we just celebrated at communion, that Jesus did it all in our place and we trust in what He has done.\u00a0 It\u2019s not what we do ourselves, we believe or trust or rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 If it\u2019s something you\u2019ve never done or if you\u2019re listening online and it\u2019s something you\u2019ve never done you can do it right now in the quietness of your own mind and the quietness of your own heart as the Spirit of God places you under conviction.\u00a0 Enter into that relationship with God for the very first time.\u00a0 We would exhort people to do that within the sound of my voice and to do it now because as the Book of Revelation says, the time is drawing near.\u00a0 If it\u2019s something you need more explanation on I\u2019m available after the service to talk.\n\nShall we pray.\u00a0 Father, we\u2019re grateful for the things in the Bible that are both bitter and sweet.\u00a0 Help us to be good stewards of these things, not just in our proclamation but in our personal obedience knowing that we have a higher threshold of accountability.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be careful to give you all the praise and the glory.\u00a0 We ask these things in Jesus\u2019 name, and God\u2019s people said\u2026. Amen!","series_sermon_number":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t