I sure like that. Open with me
to Revelation chapter 6. Well, I have endeavored to set
before you in several messages that the book in the very hand
of God, back in the fifth chapter, that book sealed with seven seals,
that's all the purpose of God. I'm so thankful God's the God
of purpose. All things happen in His word
and His command. I'm thankful God's ordained all
things that shall ever be. I'm thankful that there is nothing
left for us to decide, for us to do, that God has already fully
determined everything that shall ever be. This is our God. All things great and all things
small. All things significant and all
things insignificant. All things major and all things
minor. God, in his infinite wisdom,
he has designed everything and in his infinite power He's bringing
all things to fulfillment. This book that John saw in the
right hand of God is the very purpose of God. Everything that
God is destined to happen, especially, I think this is especially so
during this gospel age. The gospel age is that age between
our Lord's first coming, that error between our Lord's first
coming and His second coming. And all of the book of the Revelation,
it all takes place within these bookends. The book of the Revelation is
not about what's going to happen in the last few years before
our Lord comes back, but rather it sets forth everything that
happens ever since our Lord gave Himself a ransom for our sins,
ever since the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep,
ever since He reconciled us unto God by His blood, ever since
He redeemed us, ever since He made us righteous, ever since
He put away our iniquities by sacrifice on the cross, ever
since then, this age goes all the way through until the Lord
comes back. And that's all the book of the
Revelation. The book begins with the exile
of John on the Isle of Patmos, and you'll notice this as we're
going to pick up and kind of go a little bit faster. I've
been a little deliberate at the beginning because there's so
much that people don't understand, I'm afraid. But it begins there,
and then it goes through setting before us the difficulties that
All of God's people are going to run into an encounter during
this age. I'll tell you something. It doesn't
matter when the people of God have lived. Ever since the days
after our Lord's resurrection, the book of Acts. You read through
the 28 chapters of the book of Acts. That's the transition book
between the four gospel narratives and the epistles. The book of
Acts being that book that gives us the ordinances that are very
simply and clearly set before us and the structure of the church
of our Lord Jesus and the way things would be done in an orderly
fashion for the glory of God from the book of Acts all the
way through the rest of the epistles All of these things are for our
benefit. And what we know, we know this,
and this is seen especially in the book of Acts, God's people
are a persecuted people. God's people are a tried people.
There never has been a generation of the Lord's people that didn't
have to go through difficulties. Our Lord Jesus holds you in place
there in Revelation 6. Go over to John chapter 16. I want you to notice what the
Lord Jesus says in John chapter 16. He says this in verse 33. John chapter 16 and verse 33. He says to His disciples, this
is the night before He gave Himself to the Father as the sacrifice
and put away our sins. He said, these things I've spoken
unto you that in Me, In me you might have peace." Now listen,
folks, there's no peace anywhere else. There's no peace to be
found anywhere else except in the Prince of Peace, that One
who made our peace with God by the blood of His cross. He says,
in me you have peace. And as we look to the Lord Jesus,
as we rest in Him, we have peace. We have peace. But he said this,
in the world. And that's what we're in. We're
in the world. We're not of the world, but we're in the world. In the world ye shall have tribulation. That's just the way it is. If
you think you're going to have an easy road all the way to glory,
you're mistaken. You're going to have troubles.
You're going to have trials. You're going to have afflictions.
You're going to have sicknesses. You're going to have disappointments.
You're going to have griefs. You're going to shed a bundle
of tears, a bucket full of tears. That's the way it is in this
world because God's ordained it. God's ordained it. We've not yet entered into our
rest. We've entered into the rest of
the Lord Jesus. And indeed, we do have peace
in Him. But in this world, we are going
to have tribulation. He says, but be of good cheer. Even in the midst of the tribulation,
I have overcome the world. And throughout the book of the
Revelation, we see God's people going through times of great
difficulty over and over again. But we must keep this ever in
view and ever in mind. All that happens during this
age. It's now been 2,000 years or
so. And most of that is just history
to us, but let's just kind of narrow it down. All that happens
in your age, in your lifetime. All that happens to you. You,
the children of God. You are a vessel of mercy. All that happens to you, God
has purposed it. Everything's already been decreed.
You can't change God's will? I just finished writing two Sunday
school lessons in Matthew chapter 6 in response to one of the disciples
who said to the Lord, teach us to pray. I just finished writing
two Sunday school lessons on that. And this is what the Lord
said regarding instructing His people to pray. Pray, thy will
be done. Thy will be done in heaven and
on earth. When we seek the Lord in prayer,
we're not seeking Him to change His will. I don't want God to
change His will because God has all wisdom. God has all knowledge. God has all intelligence. Well,
God sees the end from the beginning. All I can see is right now. I've
got very limited vision. I don't know what the next day
will hold. I don't know what the next moment
will hold. And you don't either. Why then
would we presume to know what's best for us? And if you want
some rest in your soul, then may God show you this, that your
life has already been purposed by God. All the curves, all the
mountaintop experiences, all the valley experiences, it's
all been purposed by God, and it's in the book. That's what
we need to see, and that's what I've endeavored to show you.
All that happens in this age has been purposed by God, and
it's in the book. The book, and I said this toward
the end of the message this morning, and for the benefit of maybe
for somebody who didn't hear the message this morning, whether
you're here or you're watching by internet, I would love for
you to hear that message. I encourage you to listen to
that message about the purpose of God because all that happens
during this age is what God has purposed and it's all in the
book. In this book, it very simply
stands for God's eternal purpose. That's what it is. I don't want to make this complicated,
I want to make it as simple as I can make it. And I know there's
been a lot of repetition, but the reason, and any of you who
are teachers, you know the best way to teach is through repetition.
Because we have to hear this over and over again, because
We're by nature ignorant of these things. I'm not saying that we
haven't been taught properly. Preachers have taught us and
preached to us and we've tried to listen, we've tried to learn,
but I think there's a lot of misinformation on this. And this
book, Sealed with Seven Seals, is very simply the purpose of
God for this age. Everything that God is determined
to happen. And when, as our brother read
to us here in Revelation chapter 6 and verse 1, when the Lamb
of God starts opening the seals, all this means is this, the Lord
Jesus is executing the purpose of God. That's what it means.
And if you look at it in that way, it's really quite simple. It's quite simple. Now, I disagree. with those who see a rapture
of the church before this book is seen and before the seals
are opened. Now, if you believe that, that's
fine. I'm not going to fuss with you. I don't think this is something
that we ought to divide over. There are those who believe that
the Lord is going to rapture his people. and that this is
set forth in the beginning of chapter 4 of the book of the
Revelation. Now, if you have a Scofield reference
Bible, and that's what I was raised on, I was raised on Scofield
reference Bible, and we thought C.I. Scofield was the, he's the
final authority. Well, he's not. And I'll tell
you this, just to give you a little historical information, when
King James gave instructions to the translators of the King
James Bible, King James Version, called the Authorized Version,
here's what he said, no notes by man on the pages of sacred
scripture. But that's been violated by a
lot of people. They put notes on the pages of
your Bible. And I tell you, here's what happens, and this is just
my two cents worth on this. Here's what happens. People read
the Word of God, and then they read the notes, and they receive
the notes just like they believe the Word of God. But the notes
aren't inspired. In fact, just to give you a little
bit more history, and there's no extra charge for this, C.I. Schofield got his beliefs from
a fellow by the name of Darby, J.N. Darby, who was of the Brethren
Church. And, as I understand, J.N. Darby got his beliefs about the
end time events from a Pentecostal woman who had a vision. So, there
you go for what that's worth. Now, and I'm not, if you believe
In this way I used to believe, I bet you used to believe, and
maybe some of you still do. The rapture of the church, seven
years tribulation, Lord come back second coming, so they've
got three comings of the Lord really. That's what that amounts
to. Three comings of the Lord. His
first coming, the rapture when He comes, and then the second
comings, that's actually three comings. Then when He comes back
the second time, then He establishes a literal kingdom in Jerusalem,
and He actually sits upon the throne of David for a thousand
years, and that's when Israel is going to be brought in. Now,
here's my problem with all that, and if you want to believe it,
you have at it. But here's my problem. The focus
is not on Christ Jesus, but the focus shifts to Israel, The focus
shifts to what's going to happen in China, the USA, and other
nations. It shifts to wars that men are
going to have, and our eyes are taken off of Christ Jesus the
Lord. And I guarantee you, any teaching
that takes our eyes off Christ Jesus is dead wrong. I know that. You see, the book of the Revelation,
it's not about what's going to happen to Israel. It's the revelation
of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the apocalypse of Christ
Jesus. And the word apocalypse doesn't
mean destruction. It's the revelation of Christ
Jesus. He's revealed. He's revealed
in His glory. He's revealed in His great power.
He's revealed in His wisdom as He executes God's eternal purpose. And He's worthy to do that because
He finished the work that God gave Him to do. And I think these
other beliefs take our eyes off that. That's why I have difficulty
with them. Now, you say, Jim, you don't
believe in a rapture? Well, yes, I do. Look with me
in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Now, I'll tell you this, the
word rapture is not found in the Bible. It isn't found in
the Bible. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. But on the other hand, there
are some other good words that are not found in the Bible that
we use. Sovereignty, that's not found in the Bible. The word
trinity isn't found in the Bible. Look at this. 1 Thessalonians
chapter 4. Look at verse 13. 1 Thessalonians
chapter 4 verse 13. But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you
by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain
under the coming of the Lord will not prevent them that are
asleep." That is, precede them. We won't go up before them. We're not going to be changed
before them. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of
God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up." And the original word would
be literally translated, seized. The Lord's going to seize upon
us. And therefore, men have used the word rapture, and that's
okay. That's okay. We're going to be raptured. He's
going to come back. He's going to lay a hold of us.
He's going to snatch us away. And He's going to rapture us. We're caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we
ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another
with these words. I certainly believe that when
the Lord Jesus comes back, that those who are alive and remain
shall meet Him in the air. The dead in Christ shall be raised
first. Then those who love the gospel,
who are dwelling on this earth, when our Lord comes back, they
shall be seized and raised and changed, raised up into the air
and changed. And that's when Mortality is
going to put on immortality and corruption is going to put on
incorruption. But I don't see this as a secretive
coming. Because in Revelation chapter
1 and verse 7, it says, He cometh with clouds, which we have here
in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. He comes with clouds and in Revelation
chapter 1 verse 7, It says, and every eye shall see Him. There's
nothing secretive about that. Every eye shall see Him. And
it's going to happen so quickly. You say, well, how quickly is
it going to happen? 1 Corinthians 15, 51 through
57 says this, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. That's
how fast it's going to happen. So how's that all going to happen
in a moment in the twinkling of an eye? I don't know. How'd
creation come about? He spake and it was done. And
the Lord is coming back, and just like that, we're going to
be raised up to meet Him in the air. The dead will be raised,
and Christ Jesus will all be changed, and together with the
Lord, we'll come down here in a great white throne judgment. It's all going to happen so quickly,
so rapidly. And you know the Old Testament
saints, they are awaiting this glorious day when the Lord will
return. This is what Job said in Job
chapter 14 and verse 14. He said, if a man dies, shall
he live again? All the days of my appointed
time will I wait till my change comes. And he's been waiting
for a long time. He's been waiting in glory. These
people back in Revelation chapter 6 that Joe read to us about. These who have been martyred
for the cause of Christ Jesus. Many of them have been waiting
a long time. But our Lord says, it's a little
season. A little season. They've gone
to glory. The Lord said, just rest for
a little season. A little season. Look at Revelation
6 and verse 11. He says that white robes were
given unto every one of them. I'll address that in a little
bit. It was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little
season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that
they should be killed as they were should be fulfilled. What does the word fulfilled
mean? Accomplished. Till what shall be accomplished?
The purpose of God. The purpose of God. It's got
to be accomplished. It's got to be fulfilled. The enemies of our Lord will
continue. They'll continue to oppose the
gospel. And as God gives them opportunity,
They will be murdering and slaughtering the people of God. And that's
all in the purpose of God too. You see, nothing is left out.
So that seemed very cruel of God. God's not cruel to His people
ever. Not ever. You say, I don't know
why God brings such hardships upon His people. You get that
book, Fox's Book of Martyrs, and you read it. Read some of
the things that God's saints have gone through down through
the years since our Lord Jesus went back to glory. All of those
things were purposed by God. So I don't know how tribulation
and persecution is good for us. I'll tell you how it's good for
us. It makes us look to the Lamb of God more fully. And anything
that leads us, drives us to our God to find rest for our poor
souls is good for us. That's why tribulation works
patience as we look to the Lord Jesus. So the saints of God, we endure many a hardships and
these are set forth in the book of the Revelation. And I'll give
you this and then I'll go into this more detail what Joe has
read to us this evening. If, as many believe, the church
of our Lord is taken out before these events happen, what would
be the need for all the encouraging words that the Lord sets forth
between here and Revelation chapter at the end of chapter 20 where
there's the great white throne judgment. What's the need for
the encouragement? What's the need for the instruction
if we're not going to be here? If there's none of the people
of God that are going to be here? Do you think the Lord has set
forth all of these things just to satisfy our curiosity? That's
not what it's about. This is so the people of God,
like those people In the days after Stephen was martyred, Stephen preached the gospel and
they stoned him to death. And then the Jews, they felt
really bold. And they started making things
rough on all of God's people and the Lord's people had to
leave Jerusalem. They went out. We say, was that
in the purpose of God? Absolutely. Because God had purposed
that the Gospel go forth. And they were keeping it pretty
much in Jerusalem. But as a result of the persecution
that arose upon the death of Stephen, the saints of God went
forth. One of them was Philip. And he
went into Samaria. And many, many, many believed
the gospel of God's grace. And then he went into a desert
to preach the gospel to one poor soul. But the gospel of our Lord
Jesus began to spread. It spread because of the persecution. It spread because of the martyrdom.
It spread because many of the saints of God were murdered.
They sealed their faith with their blood. But that was in
the purpose of God too. See, nothing is left out. Nothing
at all. The Lord said, go back to, look
at Revelation chapter 2. These letters that were written
to the seven churches of Asia Minor, I know that they addressed
specific situations in those churches But there's a message
in these letters for you and me as well. And all the saints
of God during this age, look at Revelation 2 and verse 10.
He says, fear none of those things with thou shalt suffer. Now you
take that to heart. Fear none of the things that
you shall suffer. You know why you shouldn't fear
them? Because they can't really hurt you. They can't hurt you. They can't hurt your soul. The
Lord Jesus said they may even kill your body, but they can't
kill your soul. So it says, fear none of those
things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast
some of you into prison that you may be tried and tested.
Ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death,
even if it's to death. He said, I'll give you the crown
of life. Be faithful. So these, the opening of the
seven seals, is the opening of the secrets of God, the mysteries
of God, the eternal purpose of God. And the Lord, the Lord doesn't
tell us everything that He's doing, but I'll tell you this,
He does make known to us the fact that He is executing His
will during this age. Bill, I know that. That's what
God is doing. He is executing His will. You say, it's a very mysterious
thing. Yes, it is. And you know what? God hides
these mysteries from many. Isn't that what it says over
in Matthew chapter 7? Chapter 11, I mean. He hides
mysteries from many people. He doesn't tell them what's going
on. But it says in Psalm 25, 14, the secret of the Lord is
with them that fear Him. The Lord shows us what He's doing,
at least in general. What's God doing today? Well,
as we look at this opening of the seals, we see what He's doing. We see what He's doing. Look
at this, Revelation chapter 6. In the first seal, verses 1 and
2, and I'm not going to repeat all the things because I've preached
on most of these already. But what is this? The opening
of the first seal, what is this? Now, it's first because it's
got the priority. It has priority. Now let me ask
you this. During this gospel age, okay,
from our Lord's gone back to glory and then He's coming again.
During this gospel age, what is the most important thing,
the most vital thing that's going on during this age? Is it not
the salvation of sinners? And here's what the opening of
the first seal is all about. Our Lord Jesus going forth to
conquer poor sinners by His free and sovereign and mighty grace. That's what the opening of the
first seal is. There's nothing more vital to
the purpose of God than the salvation of His people. These people He
gave to Christ Jesus in covenant love. Oh, love of God, our brother
sang to us. How rich and how poor, how pure,
how measureless and strong. That's the love that God has
for His elect. And during this gospel age, the
Good Shepherd is going forth and finding the lost sheep and
bringing them into the fold of salvation. And that, very simply,
is what the opening of the first seal is all about. And I said,
it's got the priority. Because this is first in the
book of God. The salvation, the everlasting
security of His chosen people. People He loves with all of His
heart. The people He loves with an everlasting love. And this will go on to the end
of time. to the end of time. Now, the enemies of the Lord,
they're spared. Those right at the end, they'll
be spared until the last of His elect have been gathered into
the fold of salvation. So what's the most important
thing? The first seal tells us this, the Lamb of God is going
forth conquering, riding on a white horse. Saving His people. He raises up preachers to preach
the gospel of accomplished redemption, of reconciliation. He sends His
Word by His mighty Spirit. It causes men and women and young
people to be born again. It gives us a new heart. It gives
us the gifts of faith in Jesus Christ and repentance toward
God. That's what the opening of the
first seal is about. What about the opening of the
second seal? In the Lord saving His people,
and this is verses 3 and 4, He is making a distinction, a division
between unbelievers and believers. The Lord is causing a separation.
And the opposition to the gospel, the grief, the tears, the separations
which come about due to the love of the truth by the Lord's people,
it's all purposed by God. See, I wish there weren't divisions. There are really no divisions
between God's people. You know that? There are no real
divisions between God's people. The divisions are between those
who are the Lord's people and those who aren't. Those who love
the gospel and those who don't. Now, I'm not saying that some
of the Lord's people don't have squabbles and have disagreements
and can't get along because personalities rub each other the wrong way
and things like that, but ultimately, All of God's people, we believe
the same gospel. It's a common faith. That's what
Jude says. It's a common faith. It's a common
salvation. We have this in common. Saved
by the same grace. Washed in the same blood. Robed
in the same righteousness. And the world is going to divide
with us. The religious world is going
to separate itself from us as a result of us announcing to
them, we believe the message of grace. And I guarantee you
that's going to result in a division. But that's in the purpose of
God too. In the purpose of God. Then the
third seal, the opening of the third seal. What's that all about? Well, the same Lord who saves,
the same Lord who sends forth His Word reminds us that He sends
forth His Word where he will. And maybe he'll just send the
famine instead of sending forth his word. And here's what we
learn from this. God sends the gospel where he
wants to. That's what the opening of the
third seal is about. The Lord sends his truth where
he will. I've mentioned you before and
you've read it in Acts chapter 16. The Apostle Paul and Silas
and Luke wanted to go deeper into Asia. The Spirit of God
said, you can't go there. He left them in a drought. He
left them in a spiritual drought. He left them in a famine. But
Lord, if they don't hear the Gospel, nobody is going to believe.
If they don't hear the Gospel, nobody is going to be saved.
The Lord said you can't go over there. That's written in the
book. Written in the book. The Lord sends His message where
He will. And be thankful God sent His Word to you. He didn't
leave you in a wilderness. He didn't leave you in a barren
desert. He didn't leave you in darkness.
He sent the truth to you. He didn't have to. He wasn't
obligated to do it except according to His eternal purpose. He sent
the Gospel to you. Rejoice and give thanks evermore. He didn't leave you. in your
ignorance. He gave you grace in Christ Jesus
before the world began. And then He revealed the truth
to you. In the fourth seal, what is this but the Lord showing
us according to His eternal purpose. He's got the keys of death and
hell. He controls all physical life and He controls all spiritual
life. You'll live till He says you'll
die and then you're going to die. And you won't live spiritually
unless the Lord says to you, Arise from the dead! Then you'll
live. He's got to pass your way like
He did Lazarus and say, Lazarus, come forth! If He doesn't do
that, you'll stay dead! That's for sure. And then the fifth seal. This sets forth the truth that
even the tribulations and the persecutions and the martyrdoms
of the people of God, they all happen according to His purpose.
His purpose. During this age, God's people have never been
promised a flower-strewn pathway to glory. Watch this, verse 9. When He
had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
them that were slain for the Word of God. First thing I notice
is these souls are alive. They are souls of people. Death
didn't end it all. When death happens, your soul
changes residence, but it doesn't die, it doesn't cease to exist.
And where are these souls? Now watch it. Under the altar. They are under the altar. You
know what the word under means? Beneath or covered by the altar. Who is our altar? Christ Jesus
is our altar. He sees the souls of those who
have departed. He sees them in glory and they're
under the altar. They're under the blood. That's
where they are. You see, the altar is the place
of blood. The altar is the place of sacrifice. Under the blood
of Jesus. That's what we sing. Under the
blood of Jesus, safe in the shepherd's fold. Under the blood of Jesus,
safe while the ages roll. Safe though the worlds may crumble. safe though the stars grow dim,
under the blood of Jesus I am secure in Him." Where have the
saints of God gone? They've gone to glory on the
basis of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. They're covered
by the altar. That's where they are. Not only as in the brazen altar
where the sacrifice was offered, but the altar of the incense
which is a place of worship. right there at the Holy of Holies.
That's where they are. They're in the presence of God.
That's where they've gone. They've gone in the presence
of God. I know they had a rough road. But I'll tell you what, for the
people of God, the road leads to glory. Leads to glory. They're under the blood. They're
under the altar. And these are those who were
killed for the Word of God, for the testimony which they held.
They believed the Gospel. I tell you folks, we ought to
be thankful we live in a country where we still have the liberty
to meet without fear of interruption by the government. And then saying
to us, you all can't meet anymore. Unless you believe a kind of
a national religion or something like that. We may come to that.
I don't know. If that's in the book, that'll
happen too, right? If it's in the book. If that's
what God's ordained. We take all these things for
granted. We figure, well, there'll be
another service. We'll always be able to come
back to the building here and worship the Lord as we understand
that He should be worshipped. Well, maybe so, but maybe not. I don't know. Because I don't
know what's in the book. But I know this, whatever happens,
happens according to His will. And I tell you, these who are
in heaven, they're still interested in God making things right. Because it says in verse 10,
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? Lord, how long
are you going to allow the ungodly to live on the earth? Lord, how
long are you going to allow your enemies to blaspheme your name?
Lord, how long? How long will you permit all
of this to go on? Men cursing your name and killing
your people, how long? Well, the end of verse 11 tells
us, till everything is fulfilled. How long will the enemies keep
on in opposition against God's people? Till all things written
in the book come to pass. Till it's all accomplished. And
look at verse 11. White robes were given to them.
They got white robes on. They all clothe just alike. Well,
what's that? That's the righteousness of Jesus
Christ. They're saved by the same righteousness by which we're
saved. Now, get this, they're no more
secure than we are. Because you see, we too are under
the altar. And we too have white garments. And they're no more precious
or more loved by the Lord than we are. Because they, like us,
were God's gift to Jesus Christ. We're His sheep. We're the sheep
of His pasture. These white robes, they're the
garments of victory. It's the wedding garment. It's
the justifying garment. It's the wedding garment according
to Revelation chapter 19. And these who are ungodly, they
have no idea that they're being spared only until all of God's elect
are saved. Why is it that all of the filthy
living, all of the false religion, Why is it all of it just continues? And to us, in many ways, seems
to be getting worse. Why is that? Well, it's all fulfilling God's
purpose. It's all fulfilling what God
has decreed. But I'll tell you this, those
who've gone to glory, and soon we shall, They enter into rest. Here's
what the Lord said to them. Rest yet a little season. Just
rest. Rest from your labor, rest from
your toil, rest from your sorrows, rest from your sufferings. You
know, that's what heaven is to be with Christ Jesus and like
Christ Jesus, and enter into his rest, you think of the things
that occupy your mind and your heart. Family issues. Maybe job problems. Financial
matters. The mess that the world is in.
You know what it means to go to heaven? is just to enter into
rest. Be done with all. Won't that
be wonderful? We just rest. Rest for a little
season. That's what the Lord says. Rest for a little season.
How long is a little season? Well, it's until the purpose
of God is the last word, verse 11, until it's fulfilled. Until
it's all accomplished. What are those folks in heaven
doing? It would appear to me they have some interest in what's
going on in this world based upon this verse. Because they
want vengeance. They're not cruel. But they see
what the ungodly have done to the church of our Lord Jesus
Christ down through the ages. They say, Lord, how long will
this go on? How long will Babylon, false
religion, keep on spewing out her false gospel? How long? The Lord said, just rest for
a little season. Because He is fulfilling His
purpose in all things. And one of these days it will
all be accomplished. And then the end will come. And as we shall see next Lord's
Day morning at the very end of Revelation chapter 6. You see,
I said that these visions that the Lord gives John, seven of
them, they take us from the first advent to the second advent. And that's what we're going to
see right at the end there of chapter 6 next week. We're taken
right up to the end. The judgment. The judgment. Something
we don't have to fear. We don't have to be afraid of
that because our sins have been judged in the Lord Jesus. Well, I hope that makes some
sense to you. I hope so. Well, let's sing a
closing song.