|
Wrapping Things Up |
|
Paul declared in Philippians 2:9-11, "9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Oh, what a day that will be when the whole earth will acknowledge, accept and acclaim that Jesus is Lord. Every nation, leader and person on the earth with confess that Jesus is Lord. Isaiah described that day in Isaiah 54:5: “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Today, the Lord Jesus is often rejected and reproached by this world. He is often the object of scorn and ridicule, but you just wait, for there is coming the day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is indeed Lord! During one of the Crusades, Philip Auguste, King of France, before he went into one of his battles, removed his royal crown from his head and, setting it on a table with the inscription, "To the most worthy," he made his oration, as was the custom in those days. He asked his nobles, knights, and men to forget that he was their king and commander, and to consider that the crown which he had laid aside for the battle would be the prize of the one who carried himself most worthily and bravely and contributed most to their victory. They entered the battle and returned victorious. All gathered round the table on which the crown had been placed. One of the nobles, stepping forward, took the crown and, advancing toward the monarch, placed it on his head, saying "Thou, O king, art the most worthy." He may be rejected and ridiculed now, but one day the whole world will say, “Thou, O king, art the most worthy.” As we come to Revelation 16:10-21 we see God wrapping things up for that great and glorious moment to become a reality. In verses 10-21 we see the last of seven bowls of wrath poured out on the earth. In our last study we looked at bowls 1-4. Now, let’s consider the last three. As we do so we see that God is wrapping things up for the end to be brought. Let's consider this wrapping of things by first noticing: 1. THE WORLD THAT IS CONFRONTED In verses 10-11 we see the fifth bowl being poured out, "10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." The fifth bowl is poured out upon “the seat of the beast.” The seat or throne of the beast refers to the antichrist’s kingdom on the earth. As we have seen in past studies the antichrist will set up a one-world government and through a series of events cause the whole world to worship him. We saw in Revelation 13:11-12, "11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." We saw that the kingdom of the antichrist will be a kingdom created by deception. We read in Revelation 13:13-14, "13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." In Revelation 16 we see that the kingdom of the antichrist is not only a kingdom created by deception, but also a kingdom characterized by darkness. The kingdom of the antichrist is described by John in verse 10 as “full of darkness.” His kingdom will be one of moral, intellectual, emotional and spiritual darkness. Now we see that his kingdom is the object of God’s wrath. In essence, the world that has rejected the true Christ and bowed to the antichrist is being confronted for their rejection. As the fifth bowl of wrath is poured out on them we see: A) The Consequences of Their Rejection There are some who translate the statement “his kingdom was full of darkness” as “his kingdom became full of darkness.” The word “was” is often translated “come to pass” in the scriptures. The prophet Joel prophesied: “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations" (Joel 2:2). It will be a kingdom that will be overshadowed by darkness literally and figuratively. You will note in verse 10 that John describes that this bowl of wrath will bring upon the kingdom of the antichrist, upon all who follow and worship him, such pain and misery that they will gnaw “their tongues for pain.” The pain they experience and endure will result from the cumulative effect of the painful sores, fouled oceans, lack of drinking water, intense heat, all engulfed in thick blackness, will bring unbearable misery. As we have seen in past studies, God’s wrath is now being poured out undiluted. The inhabitants of the world are now feeling the full weight of God’s wrath and it is so intense, men will chew their tongues because of the intensity of the pain they feel. Our world today goes on their merry way as if they have nothing to worry about and all the warnings of the Bible are nothing more than old wives tales. Yet, the Bible is true and there will come a day when God will judge this world without mercy. The return of the Lord Jesus, in my opinion, is much closer than any of us realize, and the events of Revelation will be set in operation shortly after His return. If the Lord Jesus returned this day, the events of chapter 16 would be only seven short years away. In light of the certainty of the future, this world rushes blindly on to its date with a holy God, spurning His offer of salvation. Even more tragic is their attitude that will be manifested in the hour of God’s wrath. This we see in: B) The Confirmation of Their Rejection In verse 11 John says they “blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and repented not of their deeds.” With the same tongues they gnaw because of their pain they blaspheme the God of heaven and refuse to repent of their deeds. It is an act of defiance by a people and society that has been deceived by the antichrist. Their hearts are so full of hatred it spews out of their mouth. Their very actions is a confirmation of their rejection. There is one reason and one reason only why people go to hell. That reason is a rejection of the Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” In Revelation 16 we see God’s wrath that will be poured out on those who are living during the end of the Tribulation Period. Again, God’s Word is true, and one day, He will confront the world that has rejected Him. Secondly, notice: 2. THE WAY THAT IS CLEARED There is coming a day when the world’s greatest battle will be fought. It is the battle that we call Armageddon. The word “Armageddon” is not a strange word in our vocabulary. It has been the title of sci-fi movies and novels. The world is not without a sense that there is going to be the battle of all battles, the beginning of the end. In my opinion, the world has never been closer to such a battle than it is right now. The stage is being set for the battle and the table prepared for it to happen. The main players in this future battle are the nation of Israel and the Muslim nations that surround it. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar or an international affairs expert to realize that the stage is quickly being set for such a battle. There is one important and key player that is missing that will set in the motion the final event’s that will bring this battle to pass and that is the antichrist. The stage is presently being set and the table prepared and all that is waiting is the emergence of this satanic one-world leader. When the 6th angel pours out his bowl of wrath some final details are taken care of so this battle can be set into motion. The way is cleared for the battle of all battles. First: A) The Land Is Prepared We read in Revelation 16:12, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." As we saw, the 3rd bowl of wrath was poured out on the rivers of the world. As we look at the 6th bowl, we that it is specifically poured out on “the great river Euphrates.” We first read of this river in the sounding of the 6th trumpet where the voice from the four horns of the golden altar said to the 6th angels, “Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates” (9:14). The Euphrates is called “great” because it is the longest and most significant river in the Middle East. Its source is in the snowfields and ice cap high on the slopes of Mount Ararat (located in modern Turkey), from which it flows some eighteen hundred miles before emptying into the Persian Gulf. In ancient times the Garden of Eden was located in the vicinity of the Euphrates. The Euphrates also formed the eastern boundary of the land God gave to Israel. Along with the nearby Tigris, the Euphrates is still the lifeblood of the Fertile Crescent. When the 6th angel pours out his bowl the Euphrates is dried up. The reason is to prepare the way for the kings of the east to be able to cross the Euphrates and invade the land of Israel. When the 4th bowl was poured out the earth was scorched with intense heat. No doubt, the blazing heat from the sun associated with the fourth bowl will melt the snow and the ice cap on Mount Ararat. That will vastly increase the volume of water in the Euphrates, causing massive damage and flooding along its course. The bridges spanning the river will surely be destroyed. Thus, the reason for the sixth bowl becomes apparent. As for the identity of the kings of the east, which is literally, “kings of the rising sun”, many have suggested that it is China. If you recall, in the first reference to the river Euphrates in chapter 9, there followed an army of 200 million. China now has the largest army in the world at the present and many believe that if necessary it could eventually field such an army. As for me, it is my conviction that these kings of the east are the Muslim nations of the world. The Muslim nations of the world hate the nation of Israel and vehemently deny that they have any right to exist as a nation. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict today has its roots in the Isaac-Ishmael division, but it goes beyond that. After World War II, when the United Nations gave a portion of the land of Israel to the Jewish people, the land was at that time primarily inhabited by Arabs. Arabs protested vehemently against the nation of Israel occupying that land. Arab nations united and attacked Israel in an attempt to wipe them out of the land - but they were utterly defeated by Israel. Ever since, there has been great hostility between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Contrary to all the efforts that go on to paint Islam as a peace loving religion, Islam calls for the death of all Jews and Christians. To Islam, a Jew or Christian is an infidel and all infidels must either convert or die. Listen to some of the following quotes from the Qur'an: Qur'an 59:14 “The Jews are devoid of sense. There is a grievous punishment awaiting them. Satan tells them not to believe so they will end up in Hell.” Qur’an 4:55 “Sufficient for the Jew is the Flaming Fire!” Qur’an 88:1 “Has the narration reached you of the overwhelming (calamity)? Some faces (all disbelievers, Jews and Christians) that Day, will be humiliated, downcast, scorched by the burning fire, while they are made to drink from a boiling hot spring.” In my opinion, it is this hatred of the Jews and the nation of Israel will play a major role in the battle of Armageddon. I agree with what Dr. Ed Hinson: “The kings of the east may simply refer to the Muslim nations of the east; Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the former nations of the Soviet Republic all of which are under the sword of Islam. We cannot underestimate the vast Islamic world which hates Israel and wishes her annihilated. She may well be the enemy who comes in one last Jihad against Jerusalem from the north, the south, and the east.” Regardless of who the kings of the east may be, the 6th bowl prepares the Euphrates for crossing and clears the way for the armies of the kings of the east to approach Jerusalem. We also see that: B) The Leaders Are Prepared These kings of the east are a part of a world-wide army that is gathered to wage war against Israel. When the 6th bowl was poured out John saw in Revelation 16:13-14, "13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." John saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and the beast (antichrist) and the false prophet three unclean (foul) spirits. The mouth is symbolic of the source of influence. These spirits of devils (demons) are symbolized by frogs which in the Bible is considered an unclean animal. These demonic emissaries are evil and vile. Verse 14 says they work miracles to influence the kings of the earth and the whole world to draw them into a coalition to attack Israel. In chapter 13 we saw the antichrist performing miracles to deceive men, now we see his agents doing the same to influence the nations of the world. By their influence, they form a coalition of the world’s armies to what John described as “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” It is showdown time. It is the OK Corral of the Bible and history. We read in verse 16 where this coalition of the world’s armies is assembled: "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Armageddon is probably a reference to the Plain of Megiddo, some sixty miles north of Jerusalem. More than two hundred battles have been fought in that region, including Barak's defeat of the Canaanites, Gideon's victory over the Midianites, and Josiah's defeat at the hands of Pharaoh Neco. Napoleon once said that this area was the world’s most natural battlefield. It is in this plain that the greatest battle the world has ever known will be fought. We will see later in our studies that even though the armies of the world are amassed, the battle will be over as soon as it gets started. We read in Zechariah 14:1-3, "1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city." 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle." The battle is lost before it is ever fought. The outcome is certain. Lastly, notice: 3. THE WRATH THAT IS CONCLUDED In verses 17-21 we read of the 7th bowl that is poured out and with the pouring out of the 7th bowl, God’s wrath upon the earth comes to a conclusion. We see: A) The Finality Of God’s Wrath Is Proclaimed In 15:1 these seven bowls are called the “seven last plagues.” In verse 17 we see the last of the last: “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” Notice the statement, “It is done.” A voice from heaven, no doubt the voice of God, proclaims that it is all now wrapping up. This is now the end of the Tribulation Period and God’s wrath upon the world, its Christ rejecting nations and people. When the Lord Jesus died upon Calvary, He cried, “It is finished.” That was the voice of redemption. Now, we hear Him cry, “It is done.” It is the voice of retribution. It is over. The Lord Jesus is ready to take back what belongs to Him. The hour has arrived when He will take His rightful place upon the earth. The next event; Jesus will come back and set up His millennial kingdom upon the earth. It started in chapter six and it is now done. We also see: B) The Finality of God’s Wrath Is Punctuated With the final pouring out of God’s wrath there is a great punctuation of God’s fury. Wave after wave and expression after expression of God’s wrath has been dispensed upon the earth, but now, in one final act, God’s punctuates it all with a heaven shaking and earth shattering blow. The last calamity will be the worst the world has ever known, the most complete and devastating catastrophe the earth will ever experience. We read in verse 18: “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” It is poured out with the imagery of a severe thunderstorm, “thunders and lightnings.” Then the earth will be shaken with the worst earthquake it has ever known. It will be so severe that it will completely alter the landscape of the earth. Today, earthquakes are measured by the Richter Scale, developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935. According to the Richter Scale earthquakes that register:
The earthquake and tsunami that hit Seward, Alaska in 1964 was so massive it deposited a cargo ship on the top of a mountain several thousand feet inland. Fourth Avenue, the main street in Anchorage at the time, dropped 15 feet, swallowing whole cars into a crevasse. The entire Anchorage neighborhood of Turnagain slid into the Cook Arm of Prince William Sound.
I recently watched a show on the
Discovery Channel that described predictions by certain ones of a
mega-tsunami that is poised to hit the eastern coast of the U.S. I’m not sure if it is the quake or tsunami that Simon Day is talking about, but I do say that it’s not a question of if, only when. It is not science fiction but a Biblical prediction. It will happen. The results of this earthquake are devastating. We read in verse 19: “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” First, John tells us that “the great city” will be “divided into three parts.” The great city is no doubt a reference to Jerusalem. The massive earthquake will split Jerusalem into three parts, beginning a series of geophysical alterations to the city and its surrounding region. The Bible describes how the Mount of Olives will split in two, and a new valley running east and west will be created. A spring of water will flow year-round from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean and Dead Seas, causing the desert to blossom like a rose. Jerusalem will be elevated, and the surrounding region flattened into a plain. We read also that the “cites of the nations” will fall. Cities all across the earth will be devastated by this earthquake. Specifically singled out is “great Babylon” which “came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of His fierceness of His wrath.” As the capital city of Antichrist's empire, Babylon especially will be made to drink the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. In verse 20 we read: “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” The final effect of the earthquake will prepare the earth for the millennial rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. To that end, the earth's topography will be drastically altered; “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Islands, which are undersea mountains, will disappear and the mountains on land will be flattened. Isaiah prophesied: Isaiah 40:4 “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain" (Isa 40:4). Henry Morris wrote in The Revelation Record: "The gentle rolling topography of the world as originally created will be restored. No more will there be great inaccessible, uninhabitable mountain ranges or deserts or ice caps. The physical environment of the millennium will be, in large measure, a restoration of the antediluvian [pre-Flood] environment." As well, the earth will be pelted with gigantic hailstones. We read in verse 21: “And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” These hailstones are described as weighing that of a talent. The phrase “weight of a talent” is a Greek term speaking of approximately 100 pounds. It was descriptive of the weight that a normal man could carry, 90 to 135 pounds. The heaviest hailstones ever recorded weighed about 2 pounds. These hailstones will be fifty times heavier. In a final expression of defiance, John describes how men continue to blaspheme God, not knowing they are just hours, perhaps minutes away from being hurled into an eternal hell. The world may mock and reject Him now, but one day He will take back what belongs to Him. Just as it is predicted and described, God will wrap things up and His voice will be heard sounding from heaven, “IT IS DONE.” Notice verse 15: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” The image is of soldiers alert and on duty. He is awake, clothed and at his post. What shame it would be for a soldier to be undressed, in bed, and sleeping when the enemy approached. The Lord’s words are a call for men to be ready. Thank God I am ready! How about you? |
_files/image001.gif){kind=small}
According
to one British geologist, a giant tidal wave could ravage the East
Coast the next time a volcano erupts in the Canary Islands,
according to a British geologist. Simon Day, of University College,
London, says the whole side of the Cumbre Vieja volcano - a rock
slab about the size of Manhattan - has begun to separate and is
poised to plunge into the Atlantic sometime in the next few hundred
thousand years. The resulting waves would dwarf an ordinary tsunami.
Day predicts a "mega-tsunami," - a series of waves 60 to 100 feet
high slamming into the entire coast from Miami to Boston. Day said,
"It's not a question of if, only when," he said. "It's not a science
fiction exercise - this is going to happen."