Sr. Pastor Darrell G
Vaughn Text: Matt 24:11-31 (King James Version) When Saul
became Paul "Father, I am your servant, willing and desiring
to be
used to
bless your
people."
The Fields are white and the laborers are
few!
Overview
of 1 and 2 The Book of Revelations contains several prophecies that
integrate into one big story. Some prophecies in Revelation have been underway
for centuries and others are about to begin. The book of Revelation describes the seven trumpets and
the seven bowls as the seven first
plagues and the seven last plagues .
14 events So far, we have studied the full cup principle and the
first four trumpet judgments. We have learned that when God's patience with the
people of Earth reaches its limit, he sends warnings. Bible history indicates Gods most effective warnings are
those that include BOTH destruction and a message. (IE) If there is just a message as in the days of Noah,
very few believe. On the other hand if there is just destruction very few
understand. Therefore the Great tribulation contains both Message and
destruction! Jesus told his disciples "I have told you before it
happens, so that when it does happen you will believe." (John 14:20) Because the bible gives the order of
coming events in 14 steps, it is possible to identify and anticipate each phase
of the great tribulation. If knowing the order of these horrific are important
then knowing the purpose of these are even more important. Each person needs to know that god has
deliberately and purposefully
designed the Great Tribulation to accomplish several strategic objectives. The
Bible indicates that God initiates, God controls and God terminates the Great
Tribulation. God has three types of wrath, Redemptive, Destructive, and
Annihilation. According to the bible, God will use redemptive and destructive
wrath before Jesus appears at the second coming. The seven first judgments (seven trumpets) are
redemptive in nature. The idea is simple: God mixes mercy with his judgments so
that, if possible, many people will choose salvation and be redeemed. God will
use redemptive judgments to open the minds and the ears of billions of people to
consider a Gospel of Grace and not of works upon acceptance. He will use the 144
thousand anointed with the Holy spirit power to preach this everlasting Gospel
and millions of people will indeed receive Jesus Christ as their personal
savior. Unfortunately an even larger number of people will reject the gospel and
rebel against the authority of the coming King of Kings and after 1,260 days,
God will terminate his offer of salvation and God will implement a second type
of wrath called "destructive wrath" God will
use this type of wrath during the last seven plagues or bowls. Rev 15:1 The
third type of Gods wrath is Eternal Annihilation. God has never implemented this
type of wrath on the earth before. The first seven plagues are called "seven Trumpets" because they serve the
purpose if warning or awakening the people of Earth to the Glorious arrival of
Jesus Christ. The Last seven
plagues are called the seven bowls because they represent seven full cups of
Gods vengeance that he will pour out upon his enemies. The Great Tribulation will begin suddenly. It will begin
with a Global Earthquake that effectively disrupts the activities of the whole
world. The World has never witnessed anything like the coming
judgments of God, nor could it sustain more than one
visitation. Now that we have had a brief overview of what God is
about to do, we need further examine what God is about to do During the great
tribulation! many
survivors will refuse
to understand Gods actions because they have hearts like Pharaoh. Even after God
sent ten plagues upon Egypt Pharaoh refused to submit to Gods
authority. Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall
rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the
end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come. Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy
place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea
flee into the mountains: Matthew 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop
not come down to take any thing out of his house: Matthew 24:18 Neither let him which is in the
field return back to take his clothes. Matthew 24:19 And woe unto them that are with
child, and to them that give suck in those days! Matthew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be
not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: Matthew 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. Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened. Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto
you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch
that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect. Matthew 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Matthew 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto
you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret
chambers; believe it not. Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of
the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is,
there will the eagles be gathered together. Matthew 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: Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of
the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory. Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with
a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Let's pray. Father, Open my eyes so I can see Your truth.
Open my ears so I can hear Your voice. God's judgments serve as a catalyst to achieve the human
response that God desires! His show of force will either harden peoples hearts as
in Pharaoh or open their minds.
Fortunately for the sake of humanity through these two phases of Gods
wrath redemptive and destructive it also includes the human response.
Global Ruin God Uses the trumpet judgments to WARN the world that he
is Terminating this age of SIN. Gods spokespersons, the 144,000.00 Jews will
tell the surprised world that he is about to establish His kingdom of
righteousness. They will call on everyone to worship God and to reject
the claims of Babylon. Of course here everyone who refuse to obey the laws of
Babylon will suffer the consequences.
Up to this point we have only begun to scratch the surface of all the
Book of revelation has to say. In order to further develop the prophetic story,
consider the following scenario. It describes mans desperate situation shortly after the
Great Tribulation begins The great earthquake that marked the beginning of the
great tibulation will have ripped up thousands of miles of highways, collapsed
overpasses and bridges and stopped most transportation. The fiery meteor shall that follows will set wildfires
that rage out of control for several months. Men will not be able to contain the
fires because of the transportation disruption. Because of 1.3 of the oxygen producing trees are burned
up in the first judgment respiratory ailments will become a problem for almost
everyone. When the damage caused by the raging fires is compounded
by two mega asteroids impacts , any optimist would seriously doubt survival on
Earth. Scientist have rightly called these large asteroid
impacts "Civilization Threatening impacts" With megatons of ash from the fires
and debris from the asteroid impact now circulating in the atmosphere, the added
darkness caused by numerous volcano eruptions will make life on earth a short term
situation at best. Furthermore thousands, perhaps millions of people will die drinking contaminated
water. This means that typhus and other plagues will be
rampant. God carefully designed the first four judgments of the great
tribulation to SHOW the survivors that PLANET EARTH is NOW
DOOMED! He wants the world to understand the seriousness and the
curse of SIN. God is trying to get the surviving people to now realize
that their planet is fatally wounded to the point that they will consider their
desperate need of a savior. Famine Even if the food crops survive the wildfires, asteroid
impacts and volcano eruptions, few crops will ever reach maturity after the
fourth judgment occurs because sunshine will no be able to penetrate the
enormous clouds of ash and soot. Crops will wither and die, especially crops like corn
which requires 100+ days of sunlight between the last frost and time of
maturity.. Within a few months food will be as scarce as gold and
much more valuable. At the beginning of 2002, experts calculate the worlds
stockpile of food can last about 45 days. In additions to the great famine there will be no rain
in most parts of the world rev 11:6 Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven,
that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to
turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they
will. To make matters worse scientist claim that rain
occurring after a major asteroid impact will become so acidic that it will be
lethal to plant and animal life. Obviously it does not take a rocket scientist
to see and understand that Planet Earth will be damaged beyond recovery. God
wants it this way. God is deliberate and purposeful in everything he does and he
inflicts a mortal blow to the earth because he wants to send a STRONG message to
the survivors. From Mans point of view, desperate times call for
desperate measures. To stabilize their situation, governments will respond.
First they will put emergency constitutions in place. They will declare martial
law to prevent anarchy and a complete breakdown of orderly conduct. Stringent
laws and curfews will be implemented and people will have no choice but to
comply. Many individual freedoms and rights will now be suspended. The price of
Sin is and has always been great!! Even on the innocent. To prevent looting and gouging the nations of the world
will implement rationing. People full of fear, will do anything to obtain food,
water and medicine. Governments will control the buying and selling of all
commodities. This will be necessary because every survivor needs a basic number
of items to sustain life itself Who can argue with these drastic methods if it means
survival? As days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months,
millions of people will give in to depression and despair. All hope for recovery will now be very dim. All [arts of the world ill have smoldering
destruction and suffering beyond description. The nations of the Earth will be in a state of horrific
shock. People who are alive will now envy the dead. Jesus saw the travail oif the human race during the
great and dreadful tribulation. He said in Matthew 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. Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened. The Most important questions. This is terrible to say, but it is true. When humanity
if force to feel Gods wrath, it begins to consider the presence and the reality
of God. When times are good God is forgotten! Gods great love and patience with
sinners . They only think they are getting always with it because
God has not judged it already! Therefore ( Gods Silence) is grossly
misinterpreted. But when God does initiate global suffering, suddenly
the questions are going to arise! WHY did God do this? What does God want?
Overnight, a great awakening will occur.
At the present day and age we live in Christians talk
about Gods love, the idea of a pre tribulation rapture and Gods wonderful
salvation and forgiveness, but they don't like and seldom talk about the things that make him angry. Some
Christians even go as far as denying Gods Wrath! Consequently, His judgments will confound many
professing Christians. They will be unable to reconcile the acts of God with
their assumed knowledge of God. Their faith will disappear when they actually
experience Gods wrath and terror will overwhelm them. It is really not difficult for God to frighten people.
All he need to do is tamper with the things that make us feel
secure. With so many millions of people dead and the scale of
destruction beyond anything measurable, survivors will be forced to acknowledge
they really do not understand God or Have a relationship with the
Almighty. On Sept 11 2001 did you notice a knee jerk phenomenon
after the terrorist attack on the USA. Did you know that Church attendance popped up 300% for
almost six weeks. So Like Israel of Old nations will tremble with fear
before the All mighty God during The time of his visitation. Ex
20:18 Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise
of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they
removed, and stood afar off. Exodus 20:19
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let
not God speak with us, lest we die. Exodus 20:20
And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you,
and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin
not. Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick
darkness where God was. The Solution to pleasing or appeasing this Holy and
Offended God so that his destruction of Earth will stop will appear simple on
the surface. Religious leaders will DEMAND, WE must submit to the authority of
God. But Howdoes a person worship and Honor the God of Heaven so that his
righteous wrath will cease? Religious Revolution Leaders from all religious systems will unite and with
one voice they will offer a straight forward explanation of Gods judgments. They will adjust their prophetic interpretations to fit
an unfolding situation.. They will say, these Acts of GOD have came upon us because we have
forgotten our creator. In a sense
this is True! All around the world , religious leaders of all faiths
will agree with one another saying, We must repent of our great sins and appease
God or we will be completely destroyed. For authority reason, Catholic and protestant leaders
will turn to the Bible, Moslems will appeal to the Koran, Jews will appeal to
the Talmud and Hindus and Buddhist will use their own
writings. The Point
is that every nation will discover its guilt before God and the accuser will be
each nations religion. As people begin to link the devastations caused by the
four trumpets to the idea that God really is displeased with the entire human
race, One question will form on everyone's mind. What must we do to appease God
before hi kills the rest of Us? Even though different solutions sill be offered in
different nations, a common theme will develop around the world. In Fact Revelation
predicts there will be a sudden but powerful movement to appease God. This
movement will have great authority and power. :Like religious powers of ages past, it
will persecute ever one who refuses to cooperate with it. This Movement is called Babylon in
revelation because it will be full of confusion. This may seem like a fairy tale but when you think about
it, all prophecy seems strange until the time fulfillment
arrives. Currently In the USA, less than 33% of the population
attends church regulary. I believe this will more than double when Gods wrath is
revealed Number One Question These Coalition of world religion leaders will discover
a big problem. There are several different religious systems on the
earth and each group worships God or Some Deity in a different way. Is there
only one right way to worship GOD? The Moslems believe that God is pleased when people obey
the teaching of Mohammed and regard Friday as a holy day. Jews read the Torah and regard Saturday as a holy day.
Hiindus, Buddhist and other religious groups have different ideas about what
pleases God. Does God really care about the way we worship him? This question regarding worship will be the
subject of much debate. In our day
this question has no solid
footing. At best it remains one mans opinion against another's. However, when
1.5 billion people lie dead among the smoldering ruins that burn the nostrils
and the eyes of the survivors, How God wants to be worshipped will become the
QUESTION to answer. Sin Less Laws We all know
that desperate circumstances can unite a diverse group of people when
they all share in common suffering. During the Great Tribulation, most people will regard
God as a Holy Terror. Religious leaders will easily motivate their frightened
government leaders to quickly enact laws that require all citizens to honor and
worship God. At first the laws will be oriented as Sin Less Laws, but
eventually more laws will be implemented in every nation demanding that everyone
respect God or suffer the penalty. This will be a time of great confusion.
Catholics and protestants will seek laws that agree with their doctrines,
Moslems will want laws that respect their belief in Allah and other groups will
do the same. How can diverse
religions on one planet appease one God? Is he the God of many
religions? One World - One God - Many
Religions There is one organization on earth that stands head and
shoulders above all others in terms of diplomatic ties with religious and
political leaders all over the world. It is the Papacy. The Roman Catholic Church has steadily secured
diplomatic connections with almost every segment of earths population since John
Paul II became Pope in 1978. His legacy to the church of Rome will be a world
wide pursuit of formal relationships with many countries, which now numbers over
170 nations. The Pope in
office will move quickly to convene a WORLD COUNCIL of religious and political
leaders. This council will form a powerful coalition that is called Babylon in
in the book of Revelation. \Perhaps the United Nations will be used to expedite
this organization. However, the Glue that will bond the leaders of the
world together will not be politics. Instead it will be immediate concerns about
Gods anger and his overwhelming destruction. Overnight a new reality will settle in on humanity. The
old paradigms are out, and new ones will form! In an effort to appease God on a global scale, religious
leaders will struggle to find a global solution to appease this holy God but
will be un able to find one. Thus a
reign of confusion has now begun. Eventually the devil himself will appear on
earth during the fifth trumpet, masquerading as God himself. He will solve the
solve the solution to earths
diversity by declaring all of the worlds religions are
void! In there place the devil will offer his new one world
religion and the worlds religious leaders will zealously participate! After all they will think this glorious
being is none other than God himself! What does God actually WANT? God wants the Human race to worship him. Our Worship is
the ONLY thing in the whole universe that GOD does not
OWN! God does not need our adulation. Instead he has given
human beings the power of choice and he wants us to choose to worship him. God
wants us to Love adore and worship him because we become what we
imitate. God Sends his servants the 144.000.00 throughout the
earth to present his message and purpose. During the 1,260 days of seven
trumpets, God will send three messages throughout the whole Earth. The first
message will be by the 144.000.00
FEAR GOD and Give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has Co.
Worship him who made the heavens, the Earth, the Sea and the springs of water.
Rev 14:7 Notice the sentence FEAR GOD. This will be easy after
experiencing some of his power. Notice the second sentence WORSHIP HIM This will
be difficult because worshiping God will be contrary to the laws of Babylon.
Also notice the how the last sentence itemizes the four elements that God has
afflicted with the first four trumpets! Religious people world wide will quickly
agree why the judgments of God are falling. Remember the 144k will be telling the people how to
worship but the leaders of Babylon will also be telling the people.. Now we have
TWO HOW TO'S and these will be in direct conflict. It is indeed going to get
confusing Only his
Servants the 144k will explain what God wants. Everyone will hear the
Truth on this matter. This is why Jesus said the Gospel must go to every nation and to every person as a
testimony to all nations before the end comes. Matt 24:14 The 144 will stand in direct opposition to what the
leaders of Babylon wants to do.
Babylon will enact laws contrary to God will and regrettably. MOST of the
World will submit to the laws of man rather than the law of God. John
Wrote\ Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him, "The Beast" whose names are not written in the book of life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Next the devil appears in Person
Faithfulness - A Key Step to Happiness
Jan 15,
2012
"Understanding your
surroundings!"
Sun PM Worship Just
may save your SOUL!
C.H. Spurgeon said, "If God does not save a man by truth he certainly
will not save them by lies, and if the old gospel is not competent to work a
revival, then we will do without the revival;"
Open my mind
so I can understand Your Word.
And open my heart so I may receive all that
You want me to receive. AMEN