All right, let's take our Bibles
now and turn to Revelation chapter six. I hope you don't think I'm taking
too long on these studies, but I've learned a long time ago
not to just assume people know what I'm talking about when I
state something. And I like to kind of get off
into it a little bit, so at least I know those who are listening
know what it is I'm talking about. Last week we looked at the four
horses that he talked about here in Revelations, and the things
that they represent as coming upon the earth in the last days.
We ought to be interested in that because we're living in
the last days. These are the last days. John
said that when he wrote the epistle of 1 John. He said, little children,
it is the last time. This is it. There's not going
to be another time. This is it. Whenever this time
is exhausted, judgment's coming. That'll be it. It's the end of
all things. And all of the apostles tell
us plainly in epistles that we're living in the last days. The
canon of scripture is complete. This is the only age in which
that could be said. The full canon of scripture.
I hold in my hands before you this morning the whole counsel
of God that he's purposed to reveal to men. This is it. The
canon of scripture is complete. Christ has come and accomplished
our redemption and the gospel age is unfolding as I speak. It's unfolding all over the world. And once his elect have been
called out, our Lord shall appear, and time shall be no more. Now
in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, we're given
seven visions. These seven visions are concerning
this age, and in each vision, given the assurance that we shall
have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, no matter
what that age shall bring forth. We're going to have the victory
in Him, and we're assured of it. And in the four horses and
their riders, we see that wars and rumors of wars and slaughter
should be the lot of the whole of mankind. And it's going to
continue that way to the end. I know people talk about better
times coming, and they talk about the good old days, and they talk
about all those things, but here we're told that it's going to
continue the same. and it's going to be that way
to the end. And it's going to be that way with economic hardship,
famine and disease, and also death. And we're those, if we really
think about these things and we think about what these horses
represent, what despair we would experience if we knew that these
horses were riderless What about if economic hardship and death
and all of these things had no guidance, had no purpose, had
no one sitting upon? But here in Revelations, we're
told they're not riderless. Each horse had a rider. The purpose
of a rider is to hold those reins and make that horse go where
it's intended to go. And so we see that all these
things that's coming upon our generation all have riders. And either Christ himself or
Christ's designated authority sits upon these horses and holds
their reins in his hand. It's a great comfort to know
that we're complete in Christ who is the head, he said, the
head of all principality and power. Now this morning I want
us to look at the fifth seal as the Lamb opens it and shows
us again those things purposed of God that must come upon us
and to assure us of our victory in Him. Revelation 6 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 and for the
testimony which they held. Now these were believing men
and women. who were put to death for their
insistence upon the word of God and the gospel doctrine of Christ.
They insisted upon it. They didn't just state it and
say, well, this is what I believe and you believe whatever you
want to. No, they said, this is what I believe and this is
it. This is it. They insisted on it. And because
they did, they lost their lives. And these slain ones cry for
God's just retribution upon their enemies. And it's not just for
their sakes that they cry, but for Christ's sakes and the honor
of their God. They were representing their
God when they said these things. See, this is what people don't
understand when they come in here. They come in here and sit
down and they listen to preachers. It's not just here, it's anywhere.
But they believe those preachers are just men stating their ideas,
and their theories, and their doctrines, and so on, or the
doctrine of their denomination. And they listen to them, and
they pick a few things that they might like, and the rest of it,
they throw it in the trash can. They never look upon that man
behind that pulpit as being God's ambassador. And I tell you, that
makes the difference in how you hear. Now either God has designated
ambassadors, or he's a liar, one or the other, because he
says he does. He says that he does. So I want
us to look at these things as they're open to us. And these
slain one, these martyrs, cry for God's just retribution upon
their enemies, and that just not for their sake, but for Christ's
sake and the God that they represent. Christ is honor-bound to avenge
the blood of his faithful servants. Now you write that down. It's
gonna be. He said, he that heareth you,
heareth me. Now listen, that wasn't all of
it. He said, he that despiseth you, despiseth me. And he's gonna contend with me.
He's gonna contend with me. I sent this man. He's honor bound to avenge the
blood of his faithful servants and avenge them he shall. All
right, what is a martyr? These are martyrs who cry for
the vengeance of their God. What is a martyr? Brother Don
defines a martyr as one who witnesses for Christ and voluntarily lays
down his life for his cause. Now in that sense, every true
believer is a martyr. He loses his life for Christ. That's a martyr. It's a martyr
in a spiritual sense. For whosoever shall save his
life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake
and the gospels, the same shall save him. Turn with me to Luke
chapter 14. Here's what we're talking about.
We're talking about believers, all believers, true believers
being martyrs. Luke chapter 14, look here in
verse 26. If any man come to me and hate
not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren
and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Utter impossibility. Now this
is not talking about hatred in its proper sense as we understand
it commonly. If it were, it would be contrary
to the law which tells us to honor our father and mother.
It doesn't tell us to hate our father and mother, it tells us
to honor our father and mother. And it'd be contrary to the commandment
of Christ to love even our enemies. And it would be contrary to conscience
and nature. What he's talking about here
is preferring these ones and loving them above him. Now that's
what he's talking about, and if you're looking for a scriptural
definition, look over to Matthew chapter 10. I'll give you the
scriptural definition. of what he's talking about over
here in Luke. Matthew chapter 10 verse 37. He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Now these, along
with our closest friends, or to be neglected and forsaken
and turned from with indignation when they stand in the way of
the honor and interest of Christ, just as any other rebel would. John Gill said those who are
true disciples should be ready to depart from their dearest
relations and friends along with such things in life which they
hold in common with them. and that when the situation dictates
the need. I can get along fine with my
relatives as long as we talk about fishing, as long as we
talk about old school days, as long as we talk about how we
met our wives or our dogs or our hobbies. I get along just
fine. But boy, don't mention one thing
about the doctrine of Christ, pal, there's a division, there's
a sword right there. That's what he's talking about.
That's what he's talking about here. And in this sense, every
man is a martyr. And such things cry out for vengeance. Do you know that the Lord told
his disciples this? Now you think about this world.
Just think with me for a minute. You think of the foolishness
and the evil things that exist in this world. Just think about
it for just a minute. Satan is in this world, deceiving
men. False religions in this world,
deceiving men. Do you know what our Lord told
his disciples about what he warned them about? He said, your enemies,
your enemies, Didn't mention Satan, and he didn't mention
false religion. He said, your enemies shall be
them of your own household. That's your enemy. Why? Because
you love them. Because you care for them. You have a history with them.
They mean something to you. And Satan can use them in such
a way as they become your greatest enemy. So beware. And this, hence, every believer
is a martyr, and such things cry out for vengeance. And our
Lord said, but whosoever shall offend one of these little ones
that believe in me, whoever he is, it were better for him that
a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned
in the sea. Now he said, woe unto the world
because of offenses, for it must be that offenses come. But woe
to that man, by whom the offense cometh. He said of Judas, it'd
been better for him not to have been born. But in this vision, we see these
martyrs in heaven. I've already described them to
you here on earth, but I'm describing those now in heaven. Those who
ascended into heaven, they died. These all died in faith. God
raised them up, and they're seated in heaven. Seated in heaven with
Him. And about these martyrs, He tells
us three things. First of all, He tells us that
these martyrs are robed in white. That means they have fully, fully
received and are clothed in the righteousness of God. Righteousness
of Christ. Clothed in white. That's that
righteousness of Christ which is imputed to every redeemed
sinner. You know over in Romans chapter
4 verse 21 he said that Abraham was fully persuaded while on
this earth, fully persuaded that what God had promised he was
able to perform. He promised righteousness. He
promised redemption. Abraham said he was fully persuaded
that what God promised, he was able to perform. And therefore,
it was charged to him, imputed to him for righteousness. Now, verse 23, Romans chapter
four. It was not written for his sake
alone that it was imputed to him, but for us also to whom
it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our
Lord from the dead. who was delivered for our offenses
and raised again for our justification. So these martyrs were fully justified
and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Secondly, he tells
us this about those martyrs. He tells us that they were resting.
They were resting. They weren't in a state of unrest.
Though their blood cried out for vengeance, they themselves
were resting. They were resting. He said to
them that they should rest for a little season. Rest in his sovereign purpose
and power to fulfill the holy and righteous will of God. And
that he was able to righteously recompense for their suffering. Paul said to the Thessalonians,
he said, and you that are troubled How were they troubled? Same
way we are. They were troubled by unjust
tribulations and persecutions. And he said, you rest with us.
That's what he wrote them and told them, you rest. You that
are being persecuted, you rest with us. When the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming
fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of his power. So every believing soul shall
sacrifice his life, either physically or spiritually or both, for the
word of God and the testimony of Christ, so that we'll all
become martyrs. But they shall also rest in the
fact that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation
to them who trouble them. Now you can read about that in
2 Thessalonians 1 6. And then the third thing I see
about these martyrs is that God recognized them and acknowledged
them and promised to them that their death would be avenged.
He knew who they were. And it was according to his purpose
that they were martyred. He knows who they are. And in
passing, let me say this. He assures them that there are
others whose lives must yet be given until that purpose be fulfilled. He said, you rest a little while
because I have more. I have more that shall be martyred. Verse 12, and I behold, when
he had opened the sixth seal, This is Revelation chapter 6
and verse 12. And I beheld him when he opened
the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake. And the
sun become black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood. 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. And the heavens
departed as a scroll when it is rolled up together. And every
mountain and island were moved out of their places. 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 caves, that is in dens, and in the rocks
of the mountains. And they 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, now listen, of the
Lamb. For the great day of His wrath
is come, and who shall be able to stand? Now it's clearly stated
in the opening of this sixth seal that judgment is both purposed
and revealed in the revelation of God's mysterious book. Judgment's
coming. I've heard close friends and
relatives try to write off judgment as a warning, which was never
intended to be manifested. And they tell me they said they
liken it to a loving parent threatening their child to do what he's been
told, but never really intending to do it. Let me tell you something. This
kind of tactic, in case you don't know it, don't work. With your children, it's not
the severity of the punishment that matters. It's the certainty
of it. Don't tell your child you're
going to spank it and then don't. Don't tell your child you're
going to punish it and then don't. That makes you out to be a liar.
And it's not going to learn anything, and you're not going to learn
anything. Listen to this, he said, For
whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom
he receiveth. If you endure chastening, God
dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the Father
chasteneth not? Now my dad didn't whip a neighbor
kid, but he sure did me. And they learned from watching
me. and had a respect for him and
an honor for him and they didn't do when they came down to my
house what they did at other houses. He gained their respect. They understood that he meant
business and I did too. No judgment is the idle thread
of God. It's as sure as his unchangeable
purpose and as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Judgment's coming. Judgment's
coming. Well, what does he tell us about
this judgment? Well, he tells us, first of all,
that all source of light shall be taken away. Did you get that
when I read those scriptures a while ago? The sun shall become
black as sackcloth. Not gonna shine anymore. I don't
know if you know it or if you're that well-read in the scripture,
but when he talks about the sun shining, he likens that to the
light of the Son of God. And in that sense, he said, the
heavens declare the glory of God. The sun shall become as
black as sackcloth, and the moon shall become as blood, and the
stars shall fall unto the earth. And the heavens, he said, depart
as a scroll when it's rolled up. David said the heavens declare
the glory of God and the earth showeth his handiwork. But that
scroll of light gonna be rolled up. It was unrolled for all men. You can read Romans chapter one,
all men are without excuse because creation declared it. Creation
has its own form of life. Conscience has its own form of
life. But in that day, all that scroll that God has unveiled
for men, He's going to roll it up. Time of readings past. The heavens shall no longer declare
anything, for they'll be rolled back as a scroll. And then secondly,
it says, men, all men shall try to hide themselves from the Lamb. Seems odd, don't it? The Lamb
is the only source of salvation. But they're going to hide themselves
from the face of the Lamb because it's the day of the Lamb's wrath
that they're experiencing. One man said, in that great and
terrible day of the Lord, there'll be a strange prayer meeting.
Men will pray, but not to God. They're going to pray to the
rocks and the mountains. They're going to pray, but not
to be saved, but to hide them from the face of the Lamb. They'll
pray not for life, but for death. And when the day comes, now hear
me, the door of grace will be shut. No more grace. No more grace. That's the significance
of that time. And that's why men ought to tremble.
We're living in an age of grace, in an age of the gospel. An age
of mercy and grace and forgiveness. And men totally ignore it, trot
it underfoot. Do despise it under the spirit
of grace. Think about it. Judgment's coming,
and it may be today. Might be. There have been a lot
of years gone by since Christ ascended back into glory. Could be today. But whether it
is or not, my last days are coming, and they're coming quick. Judgment's
coming. What will we do? Where will you
go? He's already told us you can't
hide from it. He's already told us there'd
be no more light. What are you going to do? And
that day there should be, now listen, an immediate dissolution
of all things. Not going to be a gradual thing,
but a climactic and undoing of all things. There'd be nowhere
to hide and nowhere to run and no one to help. John tells us
in chapter 20 of this same book, he said, I saw a great white
throne, and him that sat on it, from whose faith earth and heaven
fled away, and there was found no place for them. What will
you do? Where will you go? My friend,
God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,
and judgment is according to his counsel and will. So why
are you telling us these things, preachers? Well, I'm telling
you these things because they are the testimony of God. And
they're the warnings of our Savior of this age and things that's
coming upon us and how we're to deal with those things. Don't
treat these things as though they were matters of speculation
and theory and just another man's idea or somebody trying to scare
me into a profession of faith. Don't treat these things that
way. Treat these things as the declaration of God. Judgment's coming, and the only
hope there is for fallen sinners is to bow to, bow down before
Him, bow to, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. And of those,
Paul says this, there is therefore now no judgment, no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the spirit. They walk in the faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ. And they do not fear death. Death
is a promotion for them, but it's terror, an oncoming terror
to this world, or should be.