Dedicated To The Men of God
Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
THE RETURN OF CHRIST- Study #2
Jesus talked about Tribulation which would come to His people: (John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.) Paul said the same: (Acts 14:22 - Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.) However our Saviour speaks of a specific time of Tribulation: (Matt. 24:21 - For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.) (Daniel 12:1 -And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.)
I. THE CHURCH AND THE TRIBULATION
A. The book of Revelation is dealing with end time events and the Church is not mentioned beyond Chapter 4. (The divine outline is Rev. 1:19 - Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;)
B. The Judgment falls upon a Godless world, therefore the church cannot be judged because it is in His presence having already been judged in the person of Christ.
1. Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
3. I Thes. 5:9 - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. In the Old Testament when God got ready to send Judgment He got his own out first.
1. Noah
2. Lot
D. Paul said the mystery of iniquity would be revealed when the Holy Spirit is taken out. (II Thes. 2:7&8 -For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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:)
II. OUR LORD WILL REDEEM EARTH'S MORTGAGE
A. The Apostle John knew that before Christ could reign, the world would have to be rid of the curse of sin. He wept because no one could be found worthy to lift earth's mortgage. (Rev. 5:4 - And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.)
B. However we note Jesus has prevailed to lift the curse. (Rev. 5:5 - And one of the saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.)
C. Earth's mortgage will be redeemed through the SEAL--TRUMPET--and VIAL JUDGMENTS.
III THE FIRST JUDGMENT: WHITE HORSE RIDER (Revelation 6)
A. This rider has a bow but no arrow, which is symbolic of a peaceful maneuver. He will produce a false peace.
B. This anti-christ will be a person who has lived before. (Rev. 17:8 - The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names where not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.)
C. Judas and anti-christ are called sons of perdition:
1. John 17:12 - While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and one of them is lost, but THE SON OF PERDITION; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
2.11 Thes. 2:3 - 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;
D. Judas is the only person Jesus called a devil. (John 6:70 - Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a DEVIL?)
E. He went to his own place at death. (Acts 1:25 - That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might GO TO HIS OWN PLACE.0
F. All the world will wonder at him; and worship him. (Rev. 13:3&4 - And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?)
G. Those that rejected Christ will accept him. (John 5:43 - I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.)
IV. THE SECOND SEAL - RED HORSE RIDER (Revelation 6)
A. After 3 1/2 years this false peace is ended. (Daniel 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consumation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.)
e B. Jesus said this is the point of GREAT TRIBULATION. (Matt. 24:1 5& 16 - When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, [who so readeth, let him understand:] Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:)
C. This rider has a sword (Greek machaira) a weapon that can be hidden. Civil strife, murder and blood shed are everywhere. (Matt. 24:7 - For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diver places.)
D. NOTE: "THAT THEY SHOULD KILL ONE ANOTHER"
V. THE THIRD SEAL -- BLACK HORSE (Revelation 6)
A. Famine follows warfare.
B. The penny represented a day's wages. One man could feed himself for a day's wages but the rest of his family would have to suffer.
C. Unless a person submits to the mark of the beast they cannot buy or sell. (Rev. 13:17 - And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.)
VI. THE FOURTH SEAL--PALE HORSE (Revelation 6)
A. The sword of the red horse rider and the hunger of the black horse rider are combined with the BEAST OF THE EARTH TO KILL 1/4 of the population. (Rev. 6:8 - And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.)
B. Death kills and Hell immediately receives the soul. (Rev. 6:8 - And I looked and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.)
VII. THE FIFTH SEAL--THE MARTYRED SAINTS (Revelation 6)
A. At this point we see those who have died embracing Christ under the first four seals. (Rev. 6:9 - And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:)
B. Their Faith in Christ assured their Death.
C. They recognized the Judgments were of God and preached the same and were killed.
1. Rev. 6:9 - And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for THE WORD OF GOD, AND FOR THE TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HELD.
2. Rev. 12:11 - And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
D. Because of a different dispensation they were not praying Father forgive them, but HOW LONG 0 LORD? (Rev. 6:10 - And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?)
E. Our Lord informed them there were still others yet to be killed. It's wonderful to think He knows and cares for His own.
F. Jesus prophesied of this event. (Matt. 24:9 - Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated ofall nations for my name's sake.)
VIII. THE SIXTH SEAL--WORLD'S GREATEST PRAYER MEETING (Revelation 6)
A. The earth is affected, it staggers like a drunk man. (Rev. 6: 4 - And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.)
B. The Sun is affected: It has been affected in Egypt and at Calvary and once again darkness will be felt.
C. The Moon is affected: (Matt. 24:29 - Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:)
D. The stars are affected: The universe is being shaken by the power of God. (Rev. 6:13 - And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she shaken of a mighty wind.)
E. Earth dwellers are affected. All classes now recognize that God is supreme. (Rev. 6:15 - And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains:)
F. If a person is not covered by the Blood they cannot be covered from God by the rocks. (Rev. 6:16 - And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:)
G. A great question: This is the question we are confronted with today. WHO CAN STAND? (Rev. 6:17 -For the great day of his wrath is come; and who SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?)
ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME
LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE.
SERMON BY DR. RON BAITY--PASTOR BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH- WINSTON-SALEM, NC- USA
