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September 28th, 2013

9/28/2013

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15:1-8
Chapter fifteen stands out for many things:
Shortest chapter in Revelation – last series of 7 plagues – God’s wrath completes with 7 bowl judgment – The beginning of the end.
Our God was patient and merciful during all these years of human history.
Dr. Richison says that “God’s wrath has been building for centuries”.
We have seen the glimpses of God’s wrath when HE destroyed whole world with water.
We have seen Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire because of human wickedness. 

LORD is about to draw the curtain on the world history – means almost the end point of tribulation period.
Apostle John sees third and final sign in heaven – Rev 12 records the first and the second.
The seven last plagues complete God’s wrath
In second verse John looks at a sea of glass with fire and saints standing beside it.
This group of people is different from 7th chapter converts as result of 144000 kosher evangelists’ ministry.
15th chapter group is from the second part of tribulation.
They were victorious over the beast – its image – the number 666
They refused to worship the image of the beast set up by the false prophet
They refused to take the mark - went without food, clothing and shelter
They faced certain death in the hands of Satan and his devils
They realized that their heavenly destination was very close.
They are holding harps in hand given by God.
In Old Testament harp is the musical instrument used to play and sing for God’s glory.
They have harps in their hand to play and sing a worship song
They chose to sing two songs one from the Old Testament and the other from Lord Jesus.
Both are songs of worship and praise.
Song of Moses in Exodus 15 was the first song recorded in the Scripture.
Song of the Lamb was the last recoded song.
Third verse talks about God’s character – HIS works – HIS truth – HIS justice – HIS sovereignty over earthly kings
Fear of the LORD leads to worship
These people witnessed the wrath of God in many forms during tribulation.
They feared God more than the Antichrist who killed them eventually.
Today we know that many people blame God for their situations or circumstances in life.
I am sure many will not experience what these singers experienced in life.
Yet they just sang a worship song of God’s holiness, power and HIS works.
They knew in their hearts that the Lamb laid down HIS life for them and provided the hope of eternity in the hearts.
John sees the Holy of Holies in heaven where seven angels emerge from the Temple with seven plagues
One author says that the wrath of God is as pure as the holiness of God.
God used every possible means to reach people for Christ but they rejected Him. 
The angels came from the presence of God authorized to execute the final judgment.
One of the living creatures close to the throne of God commissions the seven bowl-carrying angels.
These bowls are up to the brim with the Living God’s wrath.
In the Old Testament smoke often represents the presence of God.
 God temporarily shuts the doors of the heavenly temple declaring that HE cannot be approached till bowl judgment is finished. 
All activity ceases until the wrath of God poured on earth executing HIS judgment.
There is every possibility that many people will cry out to the Lord for mercy during 7 bowl judgment as wrath of God literally swept through the whole globe.
Nothing will be heard by God since HE shuts the temple for a brief moment.
No repentance is possible for them as they crossed the point of no return.
There is no intercession at this point and there is no appeal possible.
Not even Lord Jesus can enter the temple to make the appeal.
God literally turns HIS back on the people of the earth during the 7 bowl judgment.

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September 22nd, 2013

9/22/2013

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Rev 14:11-20
Three angels deployed to announce Eternal Salvation, consequences of trusting Antichrist and false religious system and the ultimate destiny of people who took the mark of the beast.
11 & 12 verses are also part of third angel’s declaration and warning to the people.
Today many people talk light of hell or use it as a cuss word. “Go to hell”
Scripture talks about hell very seriously.
As a matter of fact hell is designed by God for Satan and his devils.
God never wanted any of his human creation should go to that horrible hell hole.
The humans choose to go there because God gave them free will to choose.
Eleventh verse puts a spot light on hell clearly making it visible in all clarity.
Eternity is eternal for both believers as well as unbelievers in Christ.
Eternity is a timeless existence where unsaved people will face punishment in the lake of fire. 
Third angel is addressing those people who are still without the mark of the beast.
The angel is warning them that the eternal punishment await them if they take the mark and worship the image.
Today, God is giving repeated opportunities to people to repent and accept the Gospel.
Even in the tribulation period HE is providing that opportunity through angels.
Our world system is becoming so demonic day by day compelling people to adopt lifestyles which are so contrary to biblical truths and principles.
Today many are worshiping the beast in many forms.
During tribulation period many Christians will be persecuted and killed.
Thirteenth verse is such an encouraging to those who die in the Lord are called blessed.
In the fourteenth verse, we see our Lord Jesus Christ is ready for HIS 2nd coming.
We are going to see three more angels in verses 15-19.
Fourth angel comes out of temple and tells the Lord Jesus that harvest of the earth is ripe.
This angels saw what is happening in the temple where the Antichrist abolishes temple worship and sacrifices.
Matt 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation' spoken through prophet Daniel - let the reader understand"
I think that he is talking about the harvest of ripe grain which dry like wheat.
He is asking the Lord to remove the righteous from the earth before HIS return.
So the Lord reaps the harvest of the believers fulfilling the first part of Joel’s prophecy.
Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the wine-press is full and the vats overflow so great is their wickedness!”
The fifth angel is also ready with a sickle to judge the world.
The sixth angel, who is in charge of fire, gives the fifth angel the green signal to gather the ripe grapes and throw them into wine press of God’s wrath.
This fulfills the second part of Joel’s prophecy.
These are the people with the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.
Symbolically the sixth angel will gather all unsaved and cast into God’s great wine-press which is the final judgment – White Throne judgment
This judgment will take place outside of Jerusalem city
The massive killing that takes place before Lord touches down on Mount Olives – the blood that flows as result of this killing to 185 miles distance.
It is great slaughter of human being at one place – Valley of Megiddo
From this chapter we understand the certainty of God’s salvation and HIS judgment.
Gospel is preached even during the tribulation period.
Divine judgment is certain for those who rejecte, ridiculed, and neglect HIS saving grace.
“It is not justice that brings the person to heaven; it is God’s grace and mercy.”
God’s justice that sends a person to hell - People end up in hell get what they deserve. 
Matthew 13:39-43 – “The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.  As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

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September 15th, 2013

9/15/2013

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Rev 14:1-10
First three verses focus on God’s salivation of the 144000 Jews during tribulation period.
These people are standing with Lamb, Lord Jesus, on the heavenly Mount Zion.
We come across them in 7th chapter where they got a seal on the foreheads with the seal of the Living God.
No details were given about the details of the seal.
In 14th chapter we understand that they got two seals, one is with their own name and the other the name of God.
They are now with the Lord Jesus in heaven confirming their death as martyrs.
This exclusive choir 144000 sang a new song which nobody can learn.
Some very interesting data is given about these men chosen from the twelve tribes.
They were chosen by God before they had any relationship with women and they remained as virgins throughout their service to the Lord God.
Secondly, they obeyed the Lord to go anywhere in the world to preach the Gospel in the absence of the church.
Thirdly, they trusted and accepted the Lord Jesus as Messiah and were redeemed by HIS blood.
Because of their ministry many were got convinced and accepted the Lord as their Savior and faced the ultimate sacrifice of their life.
These 144000 kosher evangelists message was so powerful that some peoples heart was transformed in the midst of severe persecution by the Anti-Christ army.
These men were honest, trustworthy and blameless.
Three angels were introduced to announce very serious and important messages from heaven.
The first angel proclaimed the eternal Gospel to all people on the globe.
This Gospel is not of grace but of God’s judgment.
There is not much time left for God to give one last chance to the people on earth to repent and fear HIM.
In tribulation we learn that people are terrorized and forced to worship the Anti-Christ.
Every person in the world is subjected to Satan and his agents to torment people who do not worship him.
God has to send HIS angel to proclaim this message
The angel is simply saying that do not fear the one who can only kill your body but fear the ONE who can kill your soul subjecting it to eternal lake of fire.
The second angel said that do not put your trust in a political or religious system that is already fallen.
The third angel with a loud voice warns the people on the earth about God’s fury and judgment if they followed the beast, the Anti-Christ and worship his image.
To take the mark of the beast is to cross the point of no return.
Such people will be the recipient of God’s wrath in full strength.
The ultimate punishment will be the burning hell.
Today we are sure that we are not in the tribulation period.
Because tribulation period begins soon after the rapture of the believers in the Lord Jesus
For sure we are in grace period where God gives us plenty of opportunities to accept the Gospel message of salvation from sin thru our Lord Jesus Christ.
But many reject the Gospel message – ridicule the message – neglect the message
Many continue to live their lives without the fear of God and indulge in the momentary pleasures of this world.
Many don’t even believe in hell or heaven
We who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are assured that we will arrive safely in heaven when the time comes.
When we accept the Lord Jesus into our hearts, we are sealed and separated for HIM.
So we are warned today that we should not live like those who have no hope of eternity.
Let us live our lives with a focus on the eternity.

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September 01st, 2013

9/1/2013

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Rev 13:11-18
The first beast the Anti-Christ is a powerful political and a military leader
The second beast is the religious leader working directly under the first.
The first beast was compared to a lion and the second one to a lamb
The second beast is the third person of the unholy trinity.
False Prophet along with Anti-Christ, the first beast and Dragon or Satan completes the unholy trinity.
The second beast is called the False Prophet - the head of worldwide religion.
His main purpose is to promote the Anti-Christ, the dictator of Revived Roman Empire and force people to worship his image.
The second beast has some characteristics
1st characteristic feature – Out of the earth
2nd characteristic feature- Like a lamb with two horns 
3rd characteristic feature – Spoke like dragon
4th characteristic of the second beast   Exercises authority on behalf of the first beast 
5th characteristic of the second beast - to worship the first beast
6th characteristic of the second beast—performs great signs – impressive miracles
He causes fire to come down from heaven in the full view of the people-24/7 TV
His ability to call down fire from heaven indicates his demonic powers.
The purpose of these signs is to authenticate the authority of the first beast.
Verse 14 tells us that the second beast deceives the people with is miracle working powers.
The first deception –To setup an image of the first beast
He convinces the people to honor and revere the Anti-Christ the first beast because of his extraordinary false resurrection after wounded severely by the sword.
Satan’s greatest deception is to make the people believe that the first beast was dead and has been raised from the dead.
The problem here is that Satan has no power to raise anyone from dead.
The second deception-to give breath to the image so that it can speak
The idol began to speak telling the followers to kill those who refuse to worship him.
This image symbolizes the religious authority of the first beast and is the force behind his worldwide power. 
This image had the power to convince people to kill those who did not worship the first beast.
The second beast will require everyone to wear the mark of the first beast. 
Verse 16 explains that the false prophet or the second beast forces everyone to wear the mark of the first beast on their foreheads or on their right hands.
In verse 17 explains the reason for the mark of the beast to buy or sell in the market.
Without this mark, no one could buy or sell even the necessities of life. 

The second beast restructures the world economy. 
Only believers in the Lord Jesus will face extreme hardships because of this mandate.
Christians will reject the mark of the beast and face all struggles of life.
Verse 18 is the difficult to interpret as many scholars have no agreement on this verse.
The number 666 is the mark of a man who is the Anti-Christ.

We will never know who that could be because we will not see this day.
The believers in the Lord Jesus Christ either die before that day or raptured when the trumpet sounds.
Christianity will always remain as great threat to world religious system because of its exclusive message of salvation through Lord Jesus only.
Last three and half years of world history, Satan with his two other persons of the unholy trinity will succeed in bringing one world religion, one world economy and one world government.
Under the umbrella of one world religion, all people of the world will worship Satan.
The third person of the unholy trinity, the false prophet succeeds in achieving that for Satan.

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    Author

    Pastor John Sesham
    Abundant Grace Community Church, Hayward.

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