Nowhere to Run
Notes
Transcript
v.12:
The effects of the first five seals were the result of the actions of people, specifically the antichrist.
With those, God allowed men to bring about their own ruin.
The first five seals are precursors to the full fury of the Day of the Lord, which begins with the sixth seal.
This is where we begin to see more direct intervention by God, as He directs the forces of nature against the wicked world.
These are natural disasters, that pale only in comparison to the great flood.
The sixth and seventh seals bring severe judgments, the culmination of which will be the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The sixth and seventh seals bring severe judgments, the culmination of which will be the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Luke 21:25-28
Luke 21:25-28
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
First up is a great earthquake. There will have been many earthquakes prior to this (Matthew 24:7), but none on a global scale.
It will be a cataclysmic, global earthquake. We can be sure of this, because of the global nature of all of the judgments we will see in Revelation.
There will not be even one localized act of judgment during the tribulation. What happens will affect the entire earth.
Just as God's flood judgment was global, so will be the seven seals.
One can only imagine as all the earth’s faults begin to fracture simultaneously, resulting in a cataclysmic, global earthquake.
Accompanying the earthquake will be global volcanic eruptions; and large amounts of ash and debris will be blown into the earth’s atmosphere, blackening the sun and giving the moon a blood-red hue.
Speaking of the blood moon, it is mentioned two other times in Scripture.
This blood moon is mentioned two other times in scripture
This blood moon is mentioned two other times in scripture
Joel 2:31-3:2
Joel 2:31-3:2
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls. “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
Acts 2:20
Acts 2:20
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
Both of these scriptures refer to this sixth seal event.
Unlike the blood moon prophecies that have been put forth in recent years by John Hagee and Mark Blitz, Scripture speaks of only one blood moon event.
The only blood moon event which Scripture is concerned with, is this one which will happen during the tribulation.
As far as Scripture is concerned this is a one time event, not recurring prophetic events throughout history (as Hagee and Blitz would have you believe).
This is the same event which is also spoken of by Isaiah.
Isaiah also mentions this event, but doesn’t call it a blood moon
Isaiah also mentions this event, but doesn’t call it a blood moon
Isaiah 13:9-10
Isaiah 13:9-10
Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.
This massive tribulation event will give way to even more disaster.
v.13:
The word "stars", here, can actually refer to any celestial body. It is not limited to our normal english usage.
Most likely a great and devastating meteor shower.
Could this be the event which triggers the massive earthquake, or is it a subsequent event?
Either way we can be sure that celestial objects falling to the earth like figs, will be incredibly devastating.
Winter figs that grow without the protection of leaves and are easily blown from the tree.
Likewise, the earth and its inhabitants, without God's protection, will find itself in a pitiful, and helpless state.
v.14:
Isaiah prophesied the falling stars, as well
Isaiah prophesied the falling stars, as well
Isaiah 34:4
Isaiah 34:4
All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree.
Something drastic will happen to the earth's atmosphere.
Perhaps, due to volcanic ash and debris from massive earthquakes, the sky will no longer be visible.
This would certainly cause many problems. Not the least of which would be a true global climate change.
Perhaps we are barking up the wrong tree with global warming.
This also gives us a clue as to just how massive and devastating the earthquake will be.
The earthquake is such that the mountains will be shifted and moved.
The entire crust of the earth will shift. It wouldn't be surprising if entire continents were realigned.
We have no way to comprehend such a thing, because such a continental shift hasn't occurred since Noah's flood. It's doubtful that any of us remember that.
vv.15-16:
The practical effect of the judgment is fear in unbelievers from all walks of life.
Since all kinds of people are included, we cannot say that God's wrath is directed only at the powerful, at the rich, or at false Christians.
His judgment will fall on all who refuse to repent. All who have rejected Christ.
For those who reject the Son, their end is already certain.
We are seeing God’s wrath on those who have rejected Him
We are seeing God’s wrath on those who have rejected Him
John 3:18
John 3:18
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
They will call on the mountains and the rocks to fall on them and to hide them from God's wrath.
Their fear will be so great they would rather be killed by a falling mountain than to face the wrath of the Lamb.
The problem with that, is that death is not an escape from God's wrath. They will still face judgment.
People will beg for death, but death is no escape from God’s wrath
People will beg for death, but death is no escape from God’s wrath
Hebrews 9:27
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
With all this, they reject the Rock of Ages, and pray to the rocks! What a twisted, upside-down world we live in!
People don't want to acknowledge God's judgment, especially on a global scale.
That's because global judgments include everyone! No one can escape it.
No one likes to pronounce judgment on themselves, so many simply refuse to acknowledge it.
People today wilfully refuse to acknowledge a global flood, just as God said they would.
Refusal to acknowledge God’s judgment is nothing new
Refusal to acknowledge God’s judgment is nothing new
2 Peter 3:5-7
2 Peter 3:5-7
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
In the same way, people in the tribulation will refuse to acknowledge God's judgment, even as its destroying them!
v.17:
The contents of chapter 6 should put to rest the false teachings that God, being a God of love, could not judge a wicked world.
It also raises the important question "Who is able to stand?"
Who is able to stand against God
Who is able to stand against God
Nahum 1:6
Nahum 1:6
Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him.
Malachi 3:2
Malachi 3:2
“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.
No excuse will matter. No amount of strength, money, power, prestige or good works will bolster you before the Lord.
The wrath of God is more than anyone can bear.
No one who has rejected God can survive the day of his wrath, but those who belong to Christ will receive a reward rather than punishment.
Do you belong to Christ? If so, you need not fear these final days.
There has never been a better time to make that commitment than today.
For believers, we need to make sure that the non-believers have that opportunity.
It is far better to kneel before God than to stand against Him.
With the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has taken away every excuse.
With the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has taken away every excuse.
Romans 10:9
Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For those who reject Him, the future is grim
For those who reject Him, the future is grim
Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.