Bible Teaching

Yet we saw there’s the great danger, so much in this world, that is drawing on us, trying to distract us from that momentary preparation that we have to guard against our hearts, because the Scripture says if the times aren’t shortened, even the very elect wouldn’t be able to stand. So the bad news for us this morning is this: if you were finding some things tough, it’s going to get worse. It’s going to intensify. The enemy’s deceits, the powers of darkness and their delusion and seductions, are going to get worse because the Bible says that in the last days iniquity is going to abound and the love of many is going to wax cold. Now, think about that statement for just a second. It’s not talking about people who are already God haters. It doesn’t mean the world is necessarily going to love Him less than they do today, because they already hate him. The love of many¾ those who love Him today are going to experience a waxing cold. Now it doesn’t just take coldness. We understand that lukewarmness will cause us to be spewed from His mouth. Amen? So we have to ask ourselves a question: How much HOT is being added to my life?

Have you ever taken a bath—I’m not a real bath person, but we have this gigantic bath tub. The kids love it. The babies go over there: Elysia, Hope and Hailey. They like to play in our bath tub. That is one of their favorite places to play. They get in the bath tub, and it’s good because we have them corralled. It’s pretty deep. It’s about this deep and they get in there and Hope can just barely see out of the thing. It’s a round thing. So they get to go in there and take toys and they play and run around and it’s kind of cool. The only problem is, we only have a 55-gallon hot water heater. So, when you start filling this tub up, it takes all of the hot water; and then you decide that this is too hot so you cool it down a little bit and you get a little too much cold and there’s nothing there left in the hot water heater to heat it up. A cold Jacuzzi is just not that enjoyable. How much COLD is being added to your HOT? How much do you allow to dilute and then too much is applied can you change it? What do you have in reserve to change it?

That is just an illustration, I think, of where we are in our daily walk and the need to have reserve. To know that the Spirit of God dwells in us and that we can encourage ourselves praying in the Holy Ghost. That is, the Scripture says, the refreshing. How full are you of the Spirit of God this morning to deal with the lukewarmness, the coldness, that is sweeping over the Church. We have a hope that others don’t have.

In Titus, chapter 2—let’s go ahead and start this morning out of Titus. In Titus chapter 2, of course, the words that are just really the culmination of this hope and the excitement of the hour that we’re living in based upon the grace of God; because in our own strength we’re going to fail. In our own imaginations we’re not able to see what’s going on in our midst. We’re, in the natural, hindered; but the Scripture says that we’re not blind and that day will not over take us unawares. We have spiritual eyes, those of those who are walking in the Spirit, to see in this hour what really going on behind the scenes. Are you aware of what’s happening around you? Are you aware that sometimes all of those great benefits may be Satan’s delusion to destroy you? Do you realize that that person who apparently the Lord brought into your life is actually somebody who is drawing you away from the fire that once burned in your heart? We can say, "Well, God, the Lord, said that it’s not good for man to be alone so He provided spouses." We stand for that principle. What I’m trying to point out to you is this: that many times what we think is a blessing—these things that God has spoken that are lawful for us, God is not the source if it is diluting your heart. So we need to ask: Is this person enhancing my life? I’m talking to some of you young adults right now, some of you singles. You know, not is it lawful, are they a believer? That is not the issue. They can be a believer; but are they a believer whose going to cause you to pursue more the kingdom of God, or are they someone who is going to want more attention drawn to them that will dilute your pursuit? These are all things that you have to deal with. Very real questions as to where we live. Because, primarily, God sends things into our lives to sanctify us and to refresh us and to strengthen us. That is why is not good for us to be alone. Two is better than one if it’s two with the same zeal, fervency, in their hearts. I wasn’t planning to go there—that’s for one of you young adults. I don’t know who it is.

Chapter 2, verse 11. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men," So here we’re talking about the grace, the unmerited favor of God, that that we can’t do in our own strength, and it appears to all of us who are believers "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"

We taught over the years a lot on sanctification, and we can judge our sanctification by how much am I in prayer, how much am I studying, how involved am I in evangelism? Am I abstaining from the things that used to really hinder my life, the weights and the sins that did so easily beset me, and am I free know from some of those questionable activities that drew strength from my life? Those are all good ways to analyze whether we’re living lives that are sanctified; but look at the context of Titus, where is says that grace is in our lives and is instructing us that we’re to deny ungodliness. How do I know if I am denying ungodliness? How do I know if I’m free from worldly lusts? How do I know if I’m living soberly and righteously and godly in this present world, because everything is bombarding me on a daily basis. One of the greatest ways to know whether you’re living a sanctified life is by this 13^th verse. Are you looking for that blessed hope? The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ? One of the greatest ways of knowing whether your sanctified or not is where your treasure is. Where is your focus? What are you excited about today? Is it the return of the Lord? Can you say you're one of those people that loves His appearing; or as the Scripture goes on and says that we realize that we are looking for Him. Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 28 says, "...and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Are you looking for Him?

I shared with some of the young people as we were leaving the O'Connor's Friday night. How many of you saw the beautiful full moon behind those dark clouds. Wasn't it a beautiful night, and all of those black clouds because of the storms that were through; but that full moon set out behind there. What a gorgeous, gorgeous thing as we walked out of the house, and I was just enjoying it. We had another beautiful moon out the other night; and as I was walking out the driveway, heading towards the car, I shared with some of the young guys that were out there playing basketball and I said, "Did you guys see those clouds up there? Look at that beautiful, beautiful. There is nothing that says He's not coming at night!" Amen? If we can see the clouds—praise God. What a gorgeous—that would have been a good time for the Lord to have appeared. I just started jumping a little bit as I was heading toward the car. "Okay Lord, I'm ready. Come quickly!" Aren't you ready to get out of here? Aren't you home sick for the presence of the Lord, being able to embrace that presence that you know the Scripture’s saying, "…and so shall we ever be with the Lord"? (1Thes. 4:17) Talking about, not now, by faith just knowing that He's present because He is ever present and He said He would never leave us or forsake us. But seeking Him as He is and being like Him, and being with Him—and so shall we ever be with Lord. Never again separated from the awareness of His majesty and His love. There is nothing here worth holding on to. There's nothing here. Of all the shadows of the blessings of God, of which marriage is a shadow. I thank God for my wife and my family and the time that we have. Thank God for friends and all of the things the Lord has allowed us to see and do and enjoy. All of nature's blessings.

I was talking with Dan Konczal as he was flying out, I guess yesterday, to the west coast. I was sharing with him-you can't describe what to expect when you go into the Yosemite Valley. Gorgeous to see El Capitan and Half Dome. Some of the greatest handiwork of God that you could ever imagine there in the Yosemite Valley. To leave from there and go up into King's Canyon and Sequoia National Park and see the giant sequoias. The General Sherman tree that is as big around as this platform. Bigger! Twenty-four feet in diameter. Twenty-four feet across. The first limb is over 100 feet in the air. It's 12 feet in diameter. They don't have trees here that big. You stand and behold the glory and the majesty of God. I shared with him as he gets into San Francisco and takes Highway 1 down through Pacific, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, into that area, and see some of the majesty. If you want a taste of it, just turn on the U. S. Open Golf Tournament and see some of the shots of Pebble Beach, the Monterrey Bay area. The gorgeous area.

One of my favorite Bible teachers of all time, a pastor who had as much influence on my life as anybody, Kenny Schmidt, one of the great teachers on prophecy and pastor of one of the first super churches in the nation. What a blessing to sit at his feet and learn and beat him at golf. He would speak of that area and say, "This is God's handiwork, where the mountains kiss the sea and we're in the middle of the big smack." Gorgeous! But it's all a shadow. The beauty is all a shadow of being able to look on His face. The greatest sunset, the greatest peaks, the beauty of the desert if you’ve ever able to see the full desert in bloom, as you head out toward that part of the country. To be able to go into Yellowstone and see the Grand Tetons. The majesty of the Great Lakes. It's His handiwork! His glory so far exceeds the shadow, so everything that is here is precious, it's a shadow; it doesn't even begin to express what you are going to begin to feel when you look on Him. Put it all together, put a whole lifetime of experience of these blessings together and it won't even take a moment. It can't even begin to have the effect that one glance of his eyes, and one glimpse of his face can do to our hearts. Come quickly Lord Jesus. The blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. We'll bill you for that tour after the service. Got me ready for vacation.

So, everything is going on in our lives is preparatory for this one moment. It says that the sanctified life is going to be evidence in the intensity of our looking for that blessed hope. Do you really believe that He is coming back?

Look over at the I John passage that we've quoted so often. This being so much a part of our life, that if you go into the Conference Room in the back you'll find a page out of the 1611 printing of the King James version. We were able to acquire this page—I can't remember, I think it cost us a couple of thousand dollars for this one page of the Bible. There were only a few left, and when I looked at what was available and saw¾ a few pages of the whole Bible, they had sold this thing off by the page; and guess what one of the passages of the few that were left. I John 3:1, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.... [Verses 2-3,] ...and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." How many of you knew I had to have that?

How many times, over the years, have you heard that passage quoted; and this is something that just burns in my heart and as a reality to us in understanding the love of God. What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God? How can we be sons and not long for His appearing. How can we be sons and not want to be by Dad and be acceptable in His sight? How can we be sons of God and having experienced the love of God, when we can't look on Him and say, "You know, I want to be like Him." There is nothing greater than to have a son say, "I want to be like my Dad." I want to be bald just like him. It has nothing to do with the natural; and for those of us who are believers, it has nothing to do with any temporal acquisitions. It has nothing to do with ideology; and we all pass that on because of children being raised in the environment. The ideology is something that is transferred. But we as believers have one desire, don't we? That we could be an example. That we could turn to our children and say, "Follow me, as I follow Christ;" and if you're comfortable with your pursuit of God, to be able to hear a son say, I want to be like Dad. I want to be able to pursue God. I want to know that Jesus is the preeminent factor in my life. Not in verbiage, but in proper time. I'm not talking about adolescence. I'm talking about when children are old enough to understand. It was made very clear to our children that they were not number one in our life. My children are not number one in my life. My wife is not number one, and it is clearly understood; nor am I number one in their lives. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us..." Only then are you free to love freely when Jesus is Lord and everything else is in proper order. To hear a son say, "I want to be like Dad and make Jesus number one." There is nothing more rewarding than that. That is what this passage is all about. Do you love His appearing and looking for that visitation? It is the hope of the Church, and so, because that we can be assured that one of these days we're going to hear the trumpet of God sound and hear those words: "Come up hither!"

I don't know how the trumpet is going to sound. I don't think it's going to be a trumpet, per se. We know that this again is symbolic. When God spoke on Sinai—the voice of the Lord spoke, what did they hear? Those who were down off the mountain what did they hear? It was like a trumpet blast, wasn't it? So, as you study the Scriptures, you'll find the voice of God, many times, is heard as a great trumpet sounding. There was no other way for them to express the magnitude of that voice. I'm not talking about the old Charlie Brown cartoons. Remember he would go "wah, wah, wah, wah." You all remember when the teacher was talking? You know, that is how students hear their teachers. You all remember that? I can't remember the teacher's name, but it would be almost that muted trumpet sound. "wah, wah, wah, wah," they would talk. The voice of God is going to be with such power or magnitude that it sounds like that trumpet sounding. Do you remember how the children of Israel were set in route, and the armies were moved to know whether it was a marching order or a battle order. How was that done? By the sound of what? A trumpet. Early on, on rams horn, later a trumpet that was made. Trumpets were there for the fact of giving orders.

The trump of God is going to be an order to evacuate, to come up hither. It could sound like a trumpet or it could be an audible voice that we understand. The thing that we know from reading in the book of Acts—we understood that when God spoke on numerous occasions, that the voice of God can also sound like thunder. When the Lord spoke, some heard clearly His voice and the admonition, and others thought that it thundered. So, we don't know what's going to be heard. We do know that those of us who are loving His appearing—that are looking for Him—that have hearts to hear—His voice will come into our hearts. It may not be audible to others, but it will be a shout to us, praise God; and we'll hear very clearly, "Come up hither!" We'll be changed the Scripture says in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. So this is an exciting thing, what we are preparing ourselves for. Turn over to Thessalonians and lets look at this for a second.

In I Thessalonians, chapter 4 some really neat stuff. Look down at verse 16. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God...." The marching orders, the direction—the trumpet sounding the victory that has been won; and the assembling under the Banner. Now the one thing that we know is this: When that trumpet sounds, there is going to be a sequence of events that takes place. The first thing that is going to happen is "...the dead in Christ shall rise first:" Do you have loved ones? When I think about the dead in Christ, my mind immediately goes to Alvis and Freda, Janet's parents, people who loved God and people who were faithful to the kingdom.

I shared before, Janet being raised in this home, and shared early on with our kids, "You have to understand something. We don't go to church everyday because your Dad's a preacher. We go because we're Christian. My Dad wasn't a preacher and we were in church every time the doors were open," Janet told them. Her mother was raised by a Pentecostal mother seeking God—the kingdom first. Generations of obedience and service to the kingdom. You'd be there if your dad wasn't the preacher. It's who we are, it's our life. I think back of the influence those two, how they are just waiting, at this moment, for their reward. We know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. It's not a sleep that they're in to where they are unconscious of the hour. They are present with the Lord. There are no more tears, there is no more sorrow. Things that has transpired since their departure, things that have taken place, they don't experience that; they are free from it, praise God. They're in that realm of absolute peace and reward, knowing his presence. Yet, God is so important, as we shared in one of our teachings. The body is so important; and there has to be a bodily resurrection and the resuming of the whole man and the corruption taking on incorruption, and morality immortality. So there is going to be this bodily resurrection that the Scripture speaks of. The dead are going to rise first.

We might talk a little bit more sequentially on this. What resurrection—there are some questions that was asked. What resurrection are the Old Testament saints going to be in? What about those who are martyred in the tribulation for Christ? Is there a resurrection for them? When is this going to be experienced? How does that relate to this sounding of the trumpet? I believe that there is going to be the first resurrection, which is inclusive of all the believers. The resurrection that others experience will be the resurrection to judgement and death. We'll talk about that, probably this evening, a little bit. But, in this particular resurrection, the dead in Christ are going to rise. Does this include the Old Testament saints? I believe so. If not at this juncture, it will at least be at the resurrection of the martyrs of the Tribulation. So where ever you want to place them, it doesn't matter because it's not clear. But we know that the trumpet is going to cause those who are dead in Christ at this moment to emerge victorious. Then what about you and I? Something very interesting in verse 17, a word that we read so often but we really don't catch the magnitude of it. Listen to what the apostle says, Then you which are alive—what did he say? We. Paul thought he was going to see the coming of the Lord. There was no question in Paul's mind that Jesus was coming back in his lifetime. You have to understand, this was a guy that was caught up in the Third Heaven. This was a man who talked face-to-face with the resurrected Jesus on two occasions: when he was smitten to the ground in his conversion, and when he was taught by Jesus in the wilderness. Yet in all of that the Lord never disclosed the hour of his coming, because no man knows the day or the hour. We live imminently expecting the return of the Lord; and that belief is what will keep your life sanctified. It is what will cause you to make the right decisions at every moment if you believe Jesus can come now! But he didn't come then, he could come now! But he didn't come then, he could come now! Once you begin to live a life of that expectation of the blessed hope, it's what going to feed into that sanctified living, a godly lifestyle, in this ungodly world. Get it real clear, folks. This is the thing that causes a pursuit of sanctified living. The blessed hope, the expectation f the Lord's coming momentarily.

Verse 17, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds...." They're first; but we'll catch them, praise God. I think they're a little stiff from being in the grave, so we're going to catch up with them. We'll be caught up and be with them in the clouds. That word "caught" is a very interesting word. Harpazo, it's really about a resistless force. I really like that. It's an interesting, interesting word: a forceful seizure.

There was an old song, "Can't keep this body down." It was kind of a country-sounding song. It talked about no power can hold this body in the grave. It will come to me here in a moment. If I had a piece of straw I could come up with it. "Ain't No Grave" That's what it was. Thanks, Larry. I should have known. Really a good song. Do you know that song? Yeah! You’ve sung it here, I think. Once? That's a good song. How many of you want Larry to sing it for us? It's good. It's a powerful song. It talks about the fact that death is overpowered by the victorious work of Jesus. When you stop and think about that, there is nothing here: sin can't, death can't, people hanging on to your legs: "Don't go." Nothing going to hold you back, praise God.

Do you remember, even Jesus in the garden, they were clinging to Him. Jesus said, "Don't touch me. I haven't descended to my Father." That word, "touch", is an interesting word. It didn't mean don't touch me or don't defile me. That word touch if you study it out means don't try to detain me. Don't try to hold me back here. There are more important things to be done. You're trying to hold me back to yourself, but you have to understand that I have to ascend to the Father, and then I'm going to come and dwell in you by the Spirit. It's better for you if I go. There is no power here going to be able to hold us back. It's going to be a forceful seizure. It's going to be the power of God in the midst of all of this sin. In the midst of all of the weights and sins that each one of us has to deal with on a daily basis, on the fact that our imperfection, inability to please God, the weakness of our flesh. None of that is going to keep you back, praise God. Isn't that good news? With all the limitations we have, all of our weaknesses, all of our failures and frailties, when God says it's time, it's done, the finished work in the beloved is going to be experienced, He's going to reach down here, beloved. We're going to be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. Caught up from sin. Caught up from the cares of this world. Changed into his likeness. I'm ready for that, praise God. I'm so tired of all the world throws at us and all the contentions of the flesh. Just like you are. But His grace is sufficient. He's never going to let us be overcome. He'll keep that which we committed to Him, the Scripture says, against that day. The Scripture makes it very clear that we're not to be weary in well doing. For in due season we will reap, if we don't faint. So, here we are just plodding along, and the Lord is going to evacuate us. Caught up, "...caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: [And then these words, beloved. I trust they have the same effect on your heart.] and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

What does His presence mean to you? Can you think back in your life of times when you felt separated from the Lord? After being a Christian, have you ever experienced that feeling of being separated? That emptiness, the hopelessness, the fear; and He tells us that we will ever be with him. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." This is an admonition! What are we doing as a fellowship to encourage one another and say, "Man, I see you struggling; but let me tell you something: Don't faint! Don't quit! The trumpet can sound! You're going to be free, praise God. Ultimately, those things that you are battling, those things that seem to hold you down and in power, they're going to be stripped off of you in a moment, and you're going to see Him and you're going to be like Him, praise God; but don't quit!" Comfort one another with those words. Without that in this hour that we are coming in if the days were not shortened—what does the Scripture say, even the elect can be overcome, and think: I can't finish this course. There is no way that I can live pleasing to the Lord. What is pleasing to the Lord is that you believe the Lord has finished this work and will keep that which you have committed to Him.

Chapter 5, verses 1-4, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." So the Scripture speaks to us and it says, he doesn't need to write to us. Nobody needs to talk to us about, "you better look and see what's happening right now. Check out what's going on in the Middle East. Let's try to get our finger on the pulse so we can know exactly what is taking place." You don't need to look at worldly events to know that the Lord's coming is imminent. How many times have things seemed to fall into place, the pieces, when the Lord could come and His mercy extends for another period of time? How many men have been named Antichrist from Nero to Mussolini to Hitler to Kissinger? So, people are always wanting to identify these personalities; and it's not up to us to identify the personality of the Antichrist. I would use my time more wisely and try to identify myself. What is my heart condition? Who am I, as it pertains to the kingdom of God?

Do you want an idea of the hour that we are in? He makes it clear. He said to look around and look for the cry "Peace and safety." Now, that is not just talking about political situations, you know, the end of the Cold War. Now we can say we're at peace right now. There is no real world danger. The world is a more dangerous place now than it was when the evil empire was intact. Of course, the evil empire depends upon what side of the pond you're standing on when you make the statement. Because we're the bad guys, these vile capitalists, promoting lust and discontentment around the world. It's whatever ideology you have. The Scripture makes it very clear to us that the peace and safety that is being spoken of is an individual deception of how someone would relate to God. Those who have talked themselves into believing that there is no God, those who have made a deist approach, those who have come and impersonalized God to the point of making Him a force or an entity, those who believe that God is the big Santa Claus grandfather that will eventually accept everyone into his presence, and there are those who believe that there are many paths that lead to God, it doesn't matter weather it's Buddha, or Allah. It doesn't matter what name or title you put, it's just if you believe it in your heart. That's the environment that is in the world today. Look at the environment that is setting up the "peace and safety" as it pertains to God into the acceptance and the embracing of humanity worldwide to where the greatest thing that is being promoted today is "acceptance of one another's beliefs." That will make us at peace and safety. The world is finally coming into unity and harmony because we are realizing the worth of man. We're not in any way judging others for what they believe. God forbid that someone would stand and say: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one can come to the Father but by me." "You mean to tell me I can't get there through Islam or through Buddhism or Shintoism? You mean to tell me that you're so narrow-minded that unless I become a born-again Christian, I'm going to a devil's hell. Who do you think you are?" No, but peace and safety, people are being freed from that kind of thought process. All of man's ideologies are being embraced, and we're coming to great harmony and unity. I'm not talking about a military peace and safety; it's talking about the peace and safety that I have in my own beliefs.

When you look at that in contrast of what the Scripture says is going to take place in the last days, the rise of the False Prophet and the apostate religious system, which is going to be the force that sets the Antichrist in place, you can see why this peace and safety is so important. Why this embracing of a worldwide religion so important. That is the peace and safety. As you see this thing being promoted, beloved, travail is going to come as this false religion is birthed, and this false prophet rises to power and begins to move, this great man of sin, into positions of prominence. When all of the economic problems arise and the world economy begins to crash and the weeping takes place in the hearts of merchants, and this man rises to power and solves this great problem, they will then erect an image of him and declare that he will be worshipped. In the embracing of all these religions, Judaism will be given its place and they will be able to start their sacrifices again. But in a period of three and one-half years this man of sin will cause that to cease and the abomination of desolation will take place three and one-half years into the tribulation. He will demand that he is worshiped as God, the Scripture says. How does this fit into the Mosque of Omar and what is taking place at the Temple sight? No telling how it's going to work itself out. I don't believe that this is an issue to us. I believe that we're going to be gone.

One of the greatest positions held now in fundamental Christendom is a mid-tribulation rapture; and there is evidence that could point to that. The post-tribulationists don't have a strong argument at all. Mid-trib has a pretty good argument. I personally believe that the Church is going to be caught out prior to the tribulation. We're going to look at the Book of Revelation and see some of the judgements that are going to come upon the world. In fact, turn over there real quickly. We have a little bit of time.

(side 2)…but in the Book of Revelation, as you look and see the judgments of God in Chapter 6 of Revelation, you begin to see the seals that are going to be opened. As the Lamb opens these seals, the Scripture says in verse 2 that there will be a white horse "...and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." The Scripture says, then, the next seal would be opened in the midst of this conquering and this red horse would come forth; and he was given the power to take peace from the earth, that men would kill one another. He was given military power, a great sword. And then, as Zechariah 6 speaks, the third seal will be opened, the black horse that will emerge with balances in his hand. The Scripture says a measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny. I wish we would have all been ready the old Jesus movement said, when a loaf of bread will buy a bag of gold. Then this famine that comes upon the earth. The Scripture says that the fourth seal of death is opened, the pale horse emerges and upon him is Death and Hell. Power is given unto them over a fourth part of the earth. Look at this! One fourth of the population of the earth dies by sword or famine. Billions die, unable to be buried. The stench that is going to be experienced, beyond imagination. The fifth seal open and the souls of them that were slain for the word of God are viewed and for the testimony which they held to. They cry out, "How long until we’re avenged?" A people in white robes waiting the mercy and justice of God. The sixth seal is opened, and a great earthquake, and the sun becomes black, stars of the heaven fall to the earth, verse 13. The heavens part as a scroll and every mountain and island moved out of their place.

As you look and begin to put these in chronological order and try to understand this Book of Revelation of Christ, you understand that it's not written in chronological order. As you look at this passage and try to study it out—one of the best ways to look at this¾ and it will be a concise understanding if you read the first three chapters. The first three chapters still is the Church be dealt with, and the preparation of the hearts of the Church. Contemporary, the changes they needed to make, then, as it was written. The statement is made to the universal church that we still need to apply 2,000 years after it was written until the Lord comes. Showing the stages of Christian growth and church growth that are applicable until the Lord appears.

The fourth chapter then—chapters 4 through 11 really are emphasizing, it's not exclusive, but the emphasizing the events, the happenings, of the 70th week, and somewhat into the final judgment of God. Reference is made into the final judgment.

Chapters 12 through 20 goes back to that same time. See, you have to go back because it's not chronological. You have to go back to chapter 12, to where you started in chapter 4 or thereabouts, and realize that now what is being emphasized is the characters, the players, during this and how they are going to be working the will of God. So, when you read this and it looks like it has two endings¾ if you're trying to put it in a chronological order¾ it can be confusing. It's confusing anyway. But this will give you a little better idea as to who to overlap these and lay these sections over each other and put the characters in the events, and you can get a little better feel for what's taking place.

But the end of this sixth chapter of Revelation, there is an interesting thing said about this period of time in verses 16 and 17. It says that as this judgment is manifesting¾ the sun becoming black, the stars falling to the earth¾ it says that the inhabitants , verse 16, are going to cry out to the mountains and the rocks "...Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:" Now, look at the distinction that is being made here. The face of Jesus causes these people torment. They would rather have the mountains fall on them than have the face of Jesus look at them; and what are we desiring? To have Him look on us, amen? To have Him look into our face.

This name of Jesus, the person of Christ in us torments the unregenerate. Most of them are civilized enough that they don't totally go ballistic on us. With some of our friends, I hate to use the term "Postal," because we have a number of Post Office workers, we all know that phrase: They go Postal on you. It's the restraints of our society at this time; but in reality, beloved, there are a whole lot more people out there than you can imagine that would like to kill you because you're a Christian and the message you bring; and they would do it if they could get away with it. They will be able to legally hunt us soon. Now this is realizing the day that we're in. The one that we love, they hate. The one we cherish and long for to see, they fear. As they look at his face they say, cause the mountains to fall on us, to hide us from the face of him. Then there is a very interesting statement that is going to help you understand why we believe we're going to be caught out prior to the tribulation period. This is an important issue. In some peoples' minds it’s, "What the big deal. It's going to happen when it happens." True! Should be go mid-tribulation or post-tribulation, God's grace is sufficient. No man can pluck us from His hand. Amen? There is nothing, height, depth, principalities, powers—nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

I believe what is at stake here is the purity of the message that we're bringing of the finished work of Jesus Christ and who we are as the church. This period is called, look at the end of verse 16, "...the wrath of the Lamb". The real question is: Are we going to be put into the wrath of the Lamb? The Lamb who bled for us, died for us, was the substitutionary sacrifice for us. The one who declared that you and I are not appointed unto wrath; are we in fact going to experience his wrath? I think not! For the times we’re looking at here, we use this passage that I just read through as proof. Do you know that there are people, right now, who say that we're in the tribulation? How many of you know that there are Christians that believe that we're in the tribulation? If you talk to them, they'll say we're in the tribulation, right now. This isn’t the tribulation! Some have changed their doctrine a little bit because times have been a little better recently. But if you look back over the last couple of—even decades at different points, people have said we're in the tribulation now, and their trying to hold to a mid-trib. Look what is going on around us. The conflicts in Israel and all of these different things. There is nothing that resembles what we just read here, that we have experienced.

The Bible calls the wrath of the Lamb, verse 17 "...the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Who’s the wrath of God for, anyway? Well, look back at I Thessalonians, chapter 1, verse 9. "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven...." Here he comes; Jesus is coming. We're turned from idols, dead, dumb idols of stone and wood to serve a living God who is coming back for us. We're waiting for his specific, personal, literal return "...to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from [What? Say it.] the wrath to come." Jesus' whole death, resurrection, and the redemptive work was to deliver us from the wrath to come. The judgment of God. Not just hell! God being your enemy. Being held responsible for the defection of humanity, personally. This is what this judgment is all about. Choosing idols over Him and His mercy and love. So, Revelation tells us that this time of tribulation that we just read about, these seals as they begin to be opened and introduce this 70th week of Daniel, the time of Jacob's trouble, the great tribulation. It's opened up by these seals, by this white horse that begins to emerge; and beloved, this is the hour of God's wrath, and we're not appointed to that.

Now, all we have to do is to look around and see how imminent these times are that we're living in. How so quickly these events can manifest. Overnight! Do you want to see how quickly things can change? Just stop and think in your own mind how quickly things can happen. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall. The world changed! The demise of communism under the Gorbachev regime. The world changed overnight. How quickly this world can change. Beloved, focus on, for just a second¾ We'll show it to you in the Scriptures here; but focus on for just a moment—try to imagine that you go to sleep tonight and while we're sleeping the economic collapse begins in Europe and Asia. We awake to the collapse of our own economy and in 24 hours we would have a different world, wouldn't we? What do you have your hope in this morning? What is real to you? What is the foundation that your life is built upon?

Look at the 5th chapter of Thessalonians. Verse 8 says, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, [What does that seem to be making reference to? The dead in Christ will do what? Rise first.] we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." Now, you have to remember to who this book was written. The Thessalonians was written to a Church that was being severely persecuted. They were told that they were in the tribulation. Paul is writing and saying, "I don't need to write to you about this. This isn't tribulation. Stand faithful and comfort one another with these words and don't worry about the fact that you’ve missed the rapture of the Church and you're in the tribulation. Don't you understand that the dead in Christ have to rise first? We will then be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." We are not appointed to wrath, beloved, is what Paul is telling this Church in Thessalonica who’s experiencing great persecution.

Over the years the Church in China, the Church in Uganda, thought that they were in the tribulation. These were some of the birth pangs, preliminary birth pangs, of the day that we're in that were being experienced. But until these things manifest, we're still in the hour of grace to where the Church is the preeminent power on the planet.

Go back to Thessalonians, we're going to end with this for this morning. You have to understand, beloved, the position of the Church—II Thessalonians 2—has to be identified. Who we are today and why the preparation of our lives personally is so important. We're not talking about you living a sanctified life just so you can get some extra points with God. We're not talking about living a sanctified life so you can be at peace in your own mind that you're doing a good job for Jesus. We're talking about the fact that there is a role that you and I are performing, right now, that has been determined by the determinate counsel of God from before the foundations of the world.

The 2nd chapter of Thessalonians says, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him," Now the coming of the Lord, there are a lot of people who believe in this second coming that don't believe in a rapture. We believe in the second coming in two phases: the rapture of the Church, the literal appearance of the Lord as he sets his feet on the Mount of Olives. We believe we're going to be caught up with him in the air; and we believe that we're going to return with him to rule and reign during the tribulation.

We'll look at some of those Scriptures. We're going to talk a little bit about the marriage supper of the Lamb and where it's placed. Chronologically, it's placed way back in chapter 19 in Revelation. In reality, its place is through the seven year period of the tribulation; so you could actually move it up chronologically as far as chapter 4 in the book of Revelation. It's reference, though, shows that the second coming is inclusive of that whole period of the rapture through the literal return of the Lord, with the saints, to rule. You'll see that in that period of seven years there is going to be the two visitations: the rapture of the Church and also the resurrection of those who were martyrs of the tribulation will be raised to join with us to partake of desert in the last supper, as we're finishing up the judgments and rewards; and then we will return with Him.

It's necessitated, the marriage supper, to last that whole period because of the raptured saints versus the martyred saints of the tribulation. It has to be inclusive of all of these, so it fills that whole period. It's referred to in 19, because literally we're able to see the martyred saints—the rapture is still a mystery. No where can you find it, because nobody knows the day or the hour. So it's important, then, that we understand the second coming in these two phases.

Let me make reference to this and we'll close for this morning. II Thessalonians 2, verse 1, "Now we beseech you, brethren, [Those of you being persecuted, wondering if you're in the tribulation. Those of you have been told that you’ve missed the rapture.] by the coming of our Lord [It's a sure thing that He's coming.] Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." You are not in the day of Christ. You are not in the day of the Lord. You're not under the judgment of God or the wrath of God. Don't let anyone fool you. I don't care about those people who have stood up in the congregation and prophesied. I don't care if an angel appeared. I don't care how many letters or epistles you received, I'm telling you, Paul says, the day of Christ is not upon you. Verse 3, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" Okay? The day of the Lord, the hour of wrath cannot come without the person of Antichrist. What you're going to see in this epistle is this: there has to be a falling away first, a revealing of the man of sin, and all of that has to be preceded by the removing of a force that restrains all of that.

Look down at verse 7, "For the mystery of iniquity [or the secret power of lawlessness] doth already work: only he [they, it] who now letteth...." The word, "letteth", is an old English term for restrains or holds back. He that restrains or holds back that force, which force? Verse 4, He "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God...shewing himself that he is God." There is a force restraining that man from doing that and he must first, verse 7, be taken out of the way, and then can the wicked one be revealed. Okay? So what we have here is a force restraining the man of sin. What is that force? It's the Holy Spirit in the Church. The "it" is the Church, the "he" is the Holy Spirit, so as He restrains, He the Holy Spirit through the Church restraining the power of Antichrist, we must be removed before he immerges. It's clear in the Scriptures. Why do people miss this?

How could we miss something that appears to be so clear? In many ways it has to do with the reference "He" and the misapplication of that to the Spirit abiding in the church, to a preconceived notion that the Antichrist is going to move into power because of an emaciated, weak church. There is nothing here that indicates a weak Church—just the contrary. A strong, refined church; because what has to happen is this can't happen unless there is an apostatizing first. The great apostasy that is taking place in the church today is for the purification of the Church. People are setting up new doctrines and departing from the old paths because of the tickling of their ears. They are raising teachers unto themselves. The apostate religious system is being set in place that the false prophet is going to oversee; but at the same time the real church, now, being visibly weak—when we are weak, what does the Scripture say happens? Then we are what? Strong! You see, God is able to start working purely in our midst and sustain us supernaturally and empower us with signs and wonders. So while the Antichrist comes after we've been raptured and emulates all of these signs and wonders, the Church is going to see that as a seal of approval. We're going to see it as God's provision for preservation.

Now we'll end with this one. Once we're taken out of the way, the Church, verse 8, "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." Why are men perishing in our generation? Because they prefer to believe a lie. They receive not the truth. You go to people who call themselves Christians and encounter them on a daily basis at work. You say, "You're a Christian, but you're doing this. How do you reconcile this?" "Who are you to judge me? Who do you guys think you are? You think your better than we are. You think your better than we are because you study you Bibles all the time and pray, and love one another. You put God first and serve the body of Christ and serve the kingdom first. You think you're any better than we are because we're always out partying and playing. We love Jesus." "We're just trying to tell you that in the last days the love of many is going to wax cold. Jesus said, you just can't stand and say, Lord, Lord. He said that it's those who love me, that keep my commandments, that are not grievous to them. How come you're not obeying the word. How come you're not doing the word." "I love Jesus. Who are you to judge me?" Because they received not the truth. This is talking about the professed Church that is going to die in their sins and end up in a devil's hell because of their unrighteous living, because of the deception of Satan that has come upon them as they receive not the love of the truth. It's the love of the truth that makes you saved. When you know the truth, it makes you free indeed. It's not just naming the name of Jesus, saying I believe that God raised him from the dead. Then you will say, Lord, Lord, and he will say, I never knew you.

Now, what is interesting here is this: Many have said over the years if I happen to miss the rapture and yet I see all of these sign beginning to come and the Antichrist rise up into power; and I can then identify the Scriptures-once this happens beloved, you can go to the Book of Revelation, and the Book of Daniel and pinpoint where everything is. You can tell to the day—the Scripture tells us to the exact day that Antichrist is going to commit the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem. You can pinpoint the day. You can sit there with your Bible and say, Today it's going to happen, and I know it's going to happen. But do you know what the Scripture says? If you're there with that kind of knowledge, verse 11 says, And for that cause and you rejected the truth when it was presented to you and you chose to serve your own flesh: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." You can have all the knowledge you want of what's going on and you will not be able to accept Jesus Christ if you miss the opportunity of the rapture of the church. There will be no repentance for those who have a knowledge of the truth today and don't love it and don't choose it.

Some of you who are reading all those popular books today better make sure that this is part of that theology. I don't know what the name of those books are. I have not read them, but don't miss this part of it. I don't know if this is part of the theology in those or not, but it has to be—it's right here. There are no second chances. It's not, "I missed it. I was a believer, but I tread the blood of Jesus beneath my feet, counting it an unholy thing. Served my flesh rather than Him, but I'll be able to repent in the tribulation." No you won't! As you read Revelation, chapters 7 and 11, you will find out who it is that is going to be saved during the tribulation. It's not going to be people who knew Him and rejected Him prior to the rapture of the Church. Those will receive strong delusion and they'll receive the judgment of God. So, it's something that's very important, beloved, to understand the necessity of preparation now.

Father, make it real in our lives and cause your return to become the force in our lives of ordering steps and making decisions based upon the fact that life, as we know it, is a vapor; it's here today and gone tomorrow—whether we die accidentally, or live the 80 or 90 years. It's just over in a moment. Appointed to die, and then the judgment. Our hope is to see Your face. Our hope is to take our last breath in prayer, in praise for Your great mercy and great gift to us. Make us a people that are ready Father, in Jesus’ name. Let's stand before the Lord.

As we take a moment and Danny plays for us, we'll just meditate upon the goodness of the Lord and the hour that is at hand. Do you understand who you are? You are the restraining force of the man of sin. What are we doing to contribute to the restraining? Then what are we doing to contribute to the apostasy, the reveling, the party spirit, in your own heart this morning. Let's not be ignorant of the hour. What is most important at this moment? Some of you kids are sitting out there right now and you're thinking about basketball camp. If, after hearing this message, that's what’s going through your mind at this moment, you better re-evaluate your heart. There is nothing wrong with basketball camp. But, you see, you really don't know your own heart. That's exciting. You're going to leave in the next couple of hours. Maybe! If you don't go to camp expecting, not to come home, but expecting to be caught up to meet Him, then you're not going in the right preparation; and it's surely you won't honor Him up there. You will be there for yourself. I'm just using that to communicate. We have a few kids going up that I have been made aware of. By referring to that, it something that each one of you can apply to the job tomorrow.

We're here for a reason. We're restraining. We're a restraining force. Our numbers are getting smaller and smaller as iniquity is abounding and the love of many is waxing cold. Apostasy is one of the things that must happen first, there must be a falling away. The Church must get smaller. People have got to reject this holiness gospel, and then the wicked one will come. Lord, let Your grace be sufficient in our lives. Who are we, Lord? We're no better than anybody else. Who are we, that You would put us in this role? Thank You. Thank You. I'm not able, Lord, but thank You. It's scary, but thank You. I don't see how I'm going to make it, Lord, but thank You. I believe that You're going to keep what I have committed to You. I believe that no power can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. I believe that You're finishing a work in me that going to be done by grace. Come quickly. Come quickly, Lord. Not because I think I'm going to fail. I just want to see You now. Make it real, Father, and we will give You the praise, in Jesus’ name.

Before we go this morning, I would like to say Happy Father's Day to all of you men. What a blessing. What a blessing to see men of God taking the priestly role in their homes. I was so blessed at graduation as we saw the fruit of those who have taken responsibility and sown into lives, and it's an exciting thing. Men, your role is so important, so we just want to congratulate you on a job well done in anticipation of better things to come, praise God.

Before you go, look at somebody next to you and say, "Look up, your redemption is drawing nigh," praise God. Go in peace, God's love go with you.

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