Grace Bible Church Sermon: Martyrs, Terror, and Prophecies of the Future

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Delve into a sermon at Grace Bible Church focusing on the Fifth & Sixth Seals from the book of Revelation, discussing martyrs, terror, and prophecies of the future. Reflect on the opening of seals, the horsemen, and the unfolding events signaling significant change. Explore the scenes in heaven, the worship of the Lamb, and the divine judgments foretold. Understand the symbolism, the messages to the seven churches, and the overarching themes of divine justice and redemption in Revelation.

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Presentation Transcript

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

A reminder to consider others Please: Silence your cell phone & all electronic devices Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early) Refrain from eating & drinking during worship service (except medical needs)

The Fifth & Sixth Seals: Martyrs & Terror Revelation 6:9-17 The things which you have seen - Revelation 1. Introduction The glorified Christ John s commission

The Fifth & Sixth Seals: Martyrs & Terror Revelation 6:9-17 The things which are - Revelation 2-3. The letters to the seven churches

The Fifth & Sixth Seals: Martyrs & Terror Revelation 6:9-17 The things which will be after these things prophecies of the future Revelation 4 The scene in heaven of God the judge on His throne and the worship surrounding Him

The Fifth & Sixth Seals: Martyrs & Terror Revelation 6:9-17 Revelation 5 The scroll and the Lamb worthy to open it and the worship of the Lamb

Review Revelation 6 - The opening of the seals on the scroll by the Lamb First Seal: The white horse & rider with bow & crown whose bloodless victories bring a false peace

Review Second Seal: The fiery red horse & rider with a sword - peace collapses with murder, civil strife & wars Third Seal: Black horse with its rider with a scale - famine

Review Fourth Seal: Pale green horse with death as its rider & hades following: wars, famine, pestilence, wild beasts These are all part of the beginning of birth pangs - Matthew 24:5-8 - in the early part of the Tribulation

Three Series of Judgments 1) Seals - Rev. 6:1 - 8:1 2) Trumpets - Rev. 8:2 - 14:20 3) Bowls - Rev. 15:1 - 19:20

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 John s focus shifts from the horses & riders going out to the earth back to the scene in heaven These are followers of Christ who had been martyred prior to the opening of the fifth seal

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 We call them martyrs due to their faithful witness / testimony (marturiva / martyria) of Jesus unto death They are slain / slaughtered with violence like when Abel was killed by Cain (1 John 3:12)

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 Jesus warned this would happen - Matthew 24:9-13 A warning that extends through the Tribulation period

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 The altar is in temple in heaven - probably the incense altar - since incense smoke symbolizes prayers An imprecatory prayer like Psalm 74:9- 10 in crying out loudly for God to bring justice & His vengeance

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 He is Lord - despovthV / despot s - a master who holds complete power or authority over another Using the pattern of the Psalms, their question of how long? is an appeal to the sovereign God to take action

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 God s holiness assures He will judge and His veracity assures He will keep His promises God s restraint gives sinners time to repent, but it should not be presumed His longsuffering will continue

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 Vengeance is sought on those who dwell on the earth - the men rebellious against God who murdered them

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 Their white, long robe, showed that they were people of dignity - holiness They do not have resurrection bodies, but their souls are being manifest in some form that can wear a robe

The Fifth Seal Revelation 6:9-11 They are to rest a little longer until all the rest that will be martyred during the tribulation are gathered in There will be many more martyrs - Revelation 7:9-17; 11:3-12: 13:8, 15; 14:1-5; 17:6; 18:24

The Sixth Seal Revelation 6:12 17 This is part of the beginning of birth pangs in the early part of the tribulation Several of the events in the sixth seal are similar to later events that are much worse

A Great Shaking Revelation 6:12 14 John s attention returns to events on earth A shaking of great intensity - more than just the earth Even greater shaking in the seventh bowl judgment in which the islands & mountains are no more (Rev. 16)

Darkened Sun & Blood Moon Revelation 6:12 They emit light but their appearance is changed Joel 2:10 - darkened due to a locust plague. A Lunar eclipse yields a reddish moon. This darkening is directly related to the shaking - most likely dust and smoke

Darkened Sun & Blood Moon Revelation 6:12 Later changed appearances of sun & moon: 4th trumpet 5th trumpet 5th bowl. No light in Matt. 24:29

Falling Stars Revelation 6:13 A star can be any celestial object - this description fits a meteor shower Stars also part of 4th trumpet judgment, and included in prophecies of Isaiah 14:10 & Ezekiel 32:7

A Split Sky Revelation 6:14 From the human perspective it appears the universe is coming apart The heavens will pass away (2 Peter 3:10), but that is later after the millennium (Rev. 21:1; Matt. 24:35)

The Human Response Revelation 6:15 17 Seven-fold description of mankind includes everyone In fear they to hide in caves & among rocks in the mountains - a dangerous action after an earthquake

The Human Response Revelation 6:15 17 They ask the mountains & rocks to fall on them - they seek death, but cannot find it Death is preferred & sought in an effort to avoid the wrath of Him who sits on the throne & the Lamb

The Human Response Revelation 6:15 17 Only those who trust & follow Jesus are exempt from God s wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9) God s longsuffering patience is not an exemption from His wrath (Rom. 2:5; Eph. 5:6; John 3:26; 2 Thess. 2:7-9)

The Human Response Revelation 6:15 17 God s wrath is a thoughtful & determined expression of His anger to punish those who sin against Him

The Wrath of God & the Lamb This wrath is already present when the sixth seal is opened - it is not something just arrived or future An already present wrath refutes the Pre-wrath rapture position Contrary to the text, the Pre-wrath rapture position holds the earlier seals are the wrath of man, not God

The Wrath of God & the Lamb The Pre-wrath rapture removes the comfort in 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9 & Rev. 3:10 of being exempt from wrath The Pre-wrath rapture removes the doctrine of imminence replacing it with looking for celestial signs