things which must shortly come to pass

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FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 12

THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS A STUDY OF REVELATION—PART 12 In this chapter the final seal is broken. In succession the judgment of God with rapidity falls on planet Earth.

I.

THE SEVEN SEALS COME IN REVIEW A. The Kinsman Redeemer begins opening the seven seals. 1. 1st seal—White horse rider—Anti-Christ; peaceful conquest. 2. 2nd seal—Red horse rider—Representing blood out of civil unrest. 3. 3rd seal—Black horse rider—Civil unrest leads to famine in the land. 4. 4th seal—Pale horse rider—Results of war and famine leads to death. 5. 5th seal—Martyrs in Heaven out of the Tribulation are seen. 6. 6th seal—Day of God’s Wrath is poured out on earth. 7. 7th seal—Silence in Heaven. B. Remember the Kinsman Redeemer opening the seals is our Lord Jesus Christ.

II.

THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL BRINGS SILENCE IN HEAVEN (REVELATION 8:1) A. Until now Heaven has been a place of joy and rejoicing. B. We have been introduced to those praising God in Heaven. 1. Tribulation saints (Revelation 7:9, 10) 2. Angels: innumerable (Revelation 5:11; 7:11) 3. Elders (Revelation 7:11) 4. Four Beasts (Revelation 7:11) C. When the future judgment becomes visible: 1. The redeemed become silent about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1) 2. Angels become silent about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1) 3. All participants in Heaven become silent about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1) D. This is a silence of: 1. Mystery 2. Suspense 3. Awe 4. Solemnity E. This silence is like the silence: 1. In the courtroom before the foreman of a jury returns a verdict. 2. Of someone waiting by the telephone for pertinent news to arrive. 3. Of the eye of a hurricane before the thrust of the storm.

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 12

III.

TRUMPETS ARE PREPARED TO BE BLOWN (REVELATION 8:2-6) A. Trumpets were familiar in Israel. (Numbers 10) B. Trumpets were used on at least three occasions in Israel. 1. Trumpets were used to call people together. (Numbers 10:1-8) 2. Trumpets were used to prepare for war. (Numbers 10:9) 3. Trumpets were used to announce feasts and festivals. (Numbers 10:10) C. The prophet Joel prophesied of trumpets in the tribulation: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” (Joel 2:1) D. The seven trumpets are announcing war from Heaven on the earth.

IV.

ANGELS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN REVELATION 8 (REVELATION 8:1-13) A. Angels are mentioned in ten out of thirteen verses in this chapter. B. Angels are mentioned in Revelation more often than in any other book of the Bible. 1. An Angel was used in conveying Revelation to John. (Revelation 1:1) 2. An Angel asked the question about the worthiness of one to open the seven sealed scroll Revelation 5:2 3. Numberless Angels praise Christ as the Slain Lamb 5:11-12 4. Angels held back God’s wrath on the earth 7:1 5. Angels sealed the true servants of God 7:2-3 6. Each of the 12 trumpets have their own angels Revelation 8

V.

THE DIVINE ALTAR IS SEEN (REVELATION 8:3-5) A. This picture is a depiction of the Old Testament worship. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The High Priest would take coals off the brazen altar in the outer court. He would put the coals in a censer. He would carry the coals in the censer into the Holy Place. The altar of incense was in the Holy Place. The priest would take the coals from the censer and place them on the Altar of Incense. 6. The priest would then pour incense on the hot coals as the people outside the Tabernacle prayed. 7. The incense over the hot coals would send a smoke upward. 8. The incense represented the prayers of the people ascending up to God. B. An angel now stands before the golden altar in Heaven (altar of incense). 1. The prayers of the Tribulation saints are about to be answered: “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10) 2. The prayers of “all saints” are being offered. (Revelation 8:3) 3. The saints in Revelation 6:10 asked “How long?” 4. The answer is given in Revelation 8:5: a. The angel filled his censer with the fire off of the altar. (8:5)

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 12

b. The angel “cast it into the earth”. (8:5) C. The real purpose of prayer: 1. Is not to get man’s will done in Heaven. 2. Is to get God’s will done on earth. D. The silence in Heaven is replaced with a storm of far-reaching consequences. E. A Divine firestorm bursts upon the earth. (Revelation 8:5) 1. The prayers of God’s people have gone up. (Revelation 8:4) 2. In answer to the prayers of saints, God’s Judgment has come down. (8:5) 3. The earth is effected by: a. Thunderings—Peals of thunder on the earth. (8:5) b. Lightnings—Illuminating the earth. (8:5) c. Earthquake—Shaking the earth. (8:5)

VI.

THE FIRST TRUMPET JUDGMENT IS SEEN (REVELATION 8:7) A. These judgments reveal that no nation, no dictator, no tyrant has ever defied God and lived. B. Similar events happened in Israel: “And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.” (Exodus 9:23, 24) C. Peter spoke of this day in Acts 2 as he quoted the Prophet Joel: “And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke.” (Acts 2:19) D. Two truths to note: 1. The plagues in Egypt were to save Israel. 2. The plagues in the Tribulation are to trouble Israel. E. The action of the trumpet is seen. (Revelation 8:7) 1. Hail is cast upon the earth. (8:7) a. We have experienced hail storms before. b. The storms we experienced were local. c. Hail will be cast upon the entire earth. 2. Fire is cast upon the earth. (8:7) 3. Blood is cast upon the earth. (8:7) a. Blood is seen in judgment many times in Revelation. b. Those in the Tribulation will be reminded of the rejected blood of the Lamb of God. F. The results of the action of the first trumpet: (8:7) 1. One-third of all trees are burned. (8:7) a. Recently, we have seen the devastation of forest fires in other states. b. A universal scene of destruction is seen. c. We must consider the smoke which will cover the world. 2. All the green grass will be burned up. (8:7) a. They that look out the windows will see the fields burning.

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 12

b. People flying in airplanes gazing out the windows will believe the entire world is on fire.

VII.

THE SECOND TRUMPET JUDGMENT IS SEEN (Revelation 8:8, 9) A. The action of the trumpet is seen: (8:8) 1. A great mountain burning with fire came out of the heavens and was cast into the sea. 2. Please note “as it were” (8:8) 3. The only way the mass could be described was to identify it as if it was a mountain of fire. B. The results of the action of the second trumpet: (8:8, 9) 1. One-third of the sea became blood. (8:8) a. Again, we see the blood as a reminder of the Judgment of God. b. Waters in Egypt were also turned into blood: “And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants: and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.” (Exodus 7:20) 2. One-third of the sea creatures died. (8:9) a. Sea animals will be seen floating on the seas of the world. b. The stench of death will hit the air streams of the world. c. Exodus describes the condition of that day: “And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 7:21) 3. One-third of the ships of the seas will be destroyed. (8:9) a. Huge waves will probably cause much of the destruction of the ships. b. Large vessels will probably be capsized. c. Ports around the world will probably be swamped. d. The economic toll will be beyond description. e. The naval fleets of every major country will be crippled. f. Seafood will be rationed. C. Notice God’s judgment is dealing in thirds: a. God could judge all of the world at once if He chose to do so. b. The partial judgment is to get the attention of the world in view of repentance. c. Seventy-five percent of the world’s surface is water, therefore consider the impact.

VIII.

THE THIRD TRUMPET JUDGMENT IS SEEN (Revelation 8:10, 11) A. The action of the trumpet is seen. (8:10) 1. A star from heaven now affects the fresh water supply. a. It affects the rivers. (8:10)

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 12

b. It affects the fountains of waters. (8:10) c. This star is called “wormwood”, which means “bitter”. (8:11) 2. When the faucet is turned on, bitter water comes out. B. The results of the action of the third trumpet: (8:11) 1. The waters of the rivers became bitter. (8:10, 11) a. National Geographic lists about 100 principal rivers in the world. b. The Amazon itself is 4,000 miles long. c. This judgment will be catastrophic. 2. The waters of the fountains became bitter. (8:10, 11) C. When Jesus hung of the cross, He was given vinegar mingled with gall to drink. (Matthew 27:34) 1. Let the world know what they inflicted upon the Son of God. 2. Let the world now experience to a degree what they inflicted the Son of God with. 3. Jesus died for sin, but millions will die in their sins when this judgment takes place. 8:11

IX.

THE FOURTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT IS SEEN (Revelation 8:12, 13) A. Whereas previously the earth was affected, now the heavens are affected. B. Jesus predicted this time: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:25, 26) C. The action of the trumpet is seen. (8:12) 1. One-third part of the sun was smitten. (8:12) 2. One-third part of the moon was smitten. (8:12) 3. One-third part of the stars was smitten. (8:12) D. The results of the action of the fourth trumpet are seen. (8:12, 13) 1. One-third of the daylight is affected. (8:12) 2. One-third of the nighttime light is affected. (8:12) E. Our Lord created the celestial bodies on the fourth day of creation. 1. Under the fourth seal, He will withdraw the light He created. 2. This will seriously affect the health and well-being of earth dwellers. F. Each of these bodies has been worshipped by pagans around the world for centuries. 1. This was true with the judgments upon Egypt, as each judgment was a blow against the gods of Egypt. 2. Now as God touches the celestial lights of the heavens, He reminds the pagans that He alone is worthy of worship. G. We hear much today about climate change: 1. Al Gore has become wealthy pumping the climate-change philosophy. 2. A climate change is coming, but only on God’s schedule will it arrive.

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND A 52-Week Study of the Book of Revelation

DR. RON BAITY Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 12

X.

YOU “AIN’T” HEARD OR SEEN ANYTHING YET (REVELATION 8:13) A. As bad as the previous judgments are, they are yet to worsen. B. Anytime one “woe” is mentioned, tragedy is ahead, but here we have three. C. This Angel is announcing that things will get worse. D. Two truths to acknowledge as we close our lesson: 1. “Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:26) 2. Even though God rains judgment upon this earth, multitudes still refuse to repent: “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18)