WEBVTT 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:11.759 You're listening to the road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:16.719 Jesus is giving us his plan. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:19.920 He's about to throw a party. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:24.719 A beautiful party for the Church of Jesus Christ. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:31.920 But it's going to be horrible for those who do not have a personal vital dynamic going relationship with him. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:34.240 And so here's what it is, men and women. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.799 He's saying to us as friends, get ready. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.240 Don't be deceived. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:43.679 Be prepared. 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:46.079 Now is the time to share our faith. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:49.039 Now is the time to tell our friends about Jesus Christ. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:53.119 There will be a day when it is absolutely too late. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:58.240 Today, Pastor Steve continues his series on the Book of Revelation. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:04.079 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:08.640 For more information on The Road, visit theroad.org. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:14.000 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:18.799 We are in the Book of Revelation. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.439 We've been going through a series on the Book of Revelation. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:27.680 We are a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, expositional teaching church. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:34.319 I believe that it's my job as the pastor of the road to give you a love for the truth. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.879 And I can't give you a love for the truth if we're not in the truth, which is God's Word. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.840 So we're in the Word every week. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:44.560 And I don't want you to turn to Revelation, though. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:46.719 I want you to turn to John 15. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:48.400 Would you look at John 15? 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.239 And if you have your notes that are on the app, it's also there. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:53.760 John 15. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:59.519 And I want to begin before we go into the seven seals of Revelation chapter 6. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:18.479 I want you to understand the perspective of Jesus as it relates to you and I intimacy with him, an intimate relationship with Jesus, as he speaks to us as his friends, not his servants. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:27.199 Now we are his servants, but primarily in the heart of God is that you would be his friend and he would be your friend. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:28.560 Look at verse 12. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:34.879 This is my commandment, Jesus speaking, that you love one another as I have loved you. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:41.759 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:46.879 You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:55.520 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:00.960 Remember, we're talking about a time in history where there were masters and servants there in Israel. 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:09.520 They would have understood that clearly, that the master had very little relationship with the servant or the slave. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:13.439 It was more the servant of the slave just serving the master. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.680 The master and the servant would not have had a personal relationship. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:19.919 They would not have been connected to each other. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:27.919 He's saying, look, I'm redefining to you a relationship with God like you've never known before. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:37.759 But I call you friends, for all things that I heard from my father I have made known to you. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:39.199 Now, this is what's important. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.280 We are in the book of Revelation. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.840 We are studying the book of Revelation, the apocalypse. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:57.520 And this is God speaking to his friends about information in the future that he wants his friends to know. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:03:58.639 Have you ever done that? 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:09.840 Have you ever been with someone and you're about to do something and you would only say it to someone of intimacy with you, because if everybody knew it, it would ruin the whole thing. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.120 Or it would blow what you're going to do. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:14.719 You might call it a surprise party. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:16.879 Have you ever done a surprise party? 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:22.079 You know, everybody's either been a part of one or it had it done to you. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:28.720 And usually people who have it done to them don't like it until they're in it, and then it's kind of cool because it just shocks them. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.759 But you don't want people to know, and so there's a plan. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:38.079 And here's what's happening in the book of Revelation Jesus is giving us his plan. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:46.000 He's about to throw a party, a beautiful party for the church of Jesus Christ. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:53.120 But it's going to be horrible for those who do not have a personal, vital, dynamic, growing relationship with him. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:55.360 And so here's what it is, men and women. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.120 Be prepared. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.600 Now is the time to share our faith. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.560 Now is the time to tell our friends about Jesus Christ. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:14.720 There will be a day when it is absolutely too late. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:20.079 When things have moved along to such a degree it's too late or we're not here. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:24.879 And I haven't even started downloading the perspective of the rapture. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:29.439 But there will be a day when the gig is up. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:35.839 And so he's giving us this beautiful letter, this powerful letter of the beauty of Christ. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:38.639 And don't miss this, what I'm about to say next. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:44.879 That men and women, we're going into the second week of January, this week of impact. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:50.079 I don't even like Marks and I've been talking about some of the staff and I've been talking about, we don't have a theme yet. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.560 But during this week, we do it every year. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:54.480 We come together. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:59.519 And do you realize in that week the next week is the inauguration of a new president? 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:04.160 It's either going to be President Trump or President Clinton. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:08.560 And I guarantee you, there's fear on both sides of that equation. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.199 And uncertainty, right? 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:14.160 The markets are talking about it right now all over the place. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:15.759 Tons of uncertainty. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:26.000 You're going to go into January with tremendous uncertainty about our nation and maybe about your 401k and about your life and all of that. 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.360 And I'm telling you what, we have got to stay focused, men and women. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:31.519 We have got to stay focused. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.160 You have got to keep your eye on the ball. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:39.600 We've got to walk in these latter days so close to Christ. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:51.279 Because as we're walking in truth, there is a security and a peace and even a joy and a power that comes through him. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.720 Jesus is your friend. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.279 And that's why we study Revelation. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:02.240 So if you turn now to Revelation chapter 6, we are in the seven seals. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:08.959 We started it actually two weeks ago because we had the worship and prayer interruption last week. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.800 Opening of the fifth seal, verse 9. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:26.000 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:42.079 This is a glimpse into the greatest evangelistic outreach the world has ever seen will be happening in these latter days, and the greatest persecution that the church has ever seen. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:50.000 I happen to believe, much to the chagrin of some of my dispensational brothers, and I'm a dispensationalist too. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.240 I'm a reformed dispensationalist. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:55.199 That we'll go through some of this. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:00.560 We may go through a lot of this before we're raptured out. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:09.759 And that we will be a part and we will at least see the beginnings of, I don't believe we're going to see the entire wrath of God by any means, but I believe we're going to see the beginnings of the judgment of God. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:11.839 You're in it right now, men and women. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:19.279 As I said last week, the candidates we have for president are the discipline of the Lord. 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:28.560 Now, I don't believe it's the judgment of the Lord, but I believe it's the discipline of the Lord, and God disciplines those he loves. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:37.679 And so there is this outpouring of persecution upon those who love the Word of God. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:41.600 Now, I brought up here this morning my Bible. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:42.879 This is my study Bible. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:45.759 This is the one I read almost every morning. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.080 Um, and this is my journal. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:51.919 And we talk about PB and J around here, prayer Bible journal. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.559 P B and J, not peanut butter and jelly. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:56.320 Prayer, Bible, and journal. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:58.159 And I have a super cool journal. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:58.559 Look at this. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.120 Even got the Worshiper and Warrior brand that Ryan put on it. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:15.919 But I want to challenge you that as we move into these days where there's uncertainty at every front, there's uncertainty in your job, there's uncertainty in your family, there may be uncertainty in your marriage. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.679 You may be single, and there's uncertainty in your singleness. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:26.639 Some of you are being devastated by physical issues in your life. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:32.000 To be in God's word and to be going through that. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.120 Follow our PBJ journal. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.159 It's right there on the website. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:36.799 It's right there in that. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.679 You can read that. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:44.799 If not, may God lead you to a book and just read a chapter a day and let God speak to you. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:54.480 And that intimacy and that love and that passion for Christ will only grow as you put in the time with Him. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:58.879 And so in these latter days, there's going to be martyrs. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:02.080 Man, that's the way I want to go. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:08.480 Man, I'd rather be martyred for my faith any day than on some machine. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:13.440 And, you know, you know, I what a great way to go. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.000 I mean, arrow through the heart. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:20.480 Um, you know, I don't know, maybe they'll be into electric chairs for Christians. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.440 I don't know. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.200 But let's get it done. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.559 Let's just do it. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:25.440 Preaching the word. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:28.159 I mean, up here in the pulpit, that'd be a great place too. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.600 And you know what? 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:41.600 Here's the deal: you're gonna have Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary that comes to the family reunions and hates every time you talk about Jesus. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:46.720 There won't be Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary opportunities anymore. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.759 This is our time, church. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:55.840 This is our time to share our faith. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:06.879 You know, listen, I were we were up early this morning praying and we were praying about different things, and we were both saying, you know, I think the hardest part for us as Americans is how easy it's been. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:09.279 It's always been easy. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:12.639 And we've lived long enough to remember just how easy it was. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:19.360 And, you know, you if you talked about going to church or things like that, I mean, it wasn't a big deal, but it's increasingly different now. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:22.799 And as you talk about the Lord, there's pressures. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.480 And you're seeing your freedoms in some cases taken away. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:30.639 I was just in a conversation with a young man here who's at UCCS. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:35.919 He's here for the first time this morning, and he's he's the head of a group called Chi Alpha. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.279 Called Chi Alpha. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:53.840 They had to go to court in California because the school that that Chi Alpha was at, which was on 500 campuses now, they were told that you couldn't say that the leaders of a Christian fraternity, Chi Alpha, had to be a Christian to be a leader in the group. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:12:00.720 Well, they won, but that's increasingly the funnel we're walking in, you guys. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.559 And I think that's disconcerting. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:06.320 Well, what we're reading now is like exponential. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.320 This is where things are going. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:13.919 Now listen to what the martyrs under the altar say to the Lord. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.639 And John gets to eavesdrop in this vision. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:30.879 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:36.240 Now, earth dwellers or those who dwell on the earth, always in Revelation refers to those who are unbelievers. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.279 And this is different. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.639 I mean, this is very interesting. 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:47.919 They're not saying, Oh Lord, shower down mercy and love upon the earth for the fulfilling of the Great Commission. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.840 This is different now. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.159 This is different now. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:13:00.159 They're actually praying, God, judge and avenge our blood. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:19.679 In Revelation 6.8, we read, So I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was death, and Hades followed with him, and power was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, to kill with hunger, with death, and by the beast of the earth. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.960 So there is this sword of the Antichrist. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:29.440 There's this sword coming from government to kill believers. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:33.519 And now there's a different viewpoint. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:39.919 Church, there's a different viewpoint by those who have been killed, and it's one of avenge. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:42.879 So, so hear what I'm saying. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:47.519 This is, we are in the age of grace and mercy and love. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.720 We are in the age of grace and mercy and love. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:56.159 And we when we are in a conversation with those who don't have a relationship with Christ, love them. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:01.039 Have relationship of mercy and grace. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:06.399 Because there's a day coming when it will be judgment time. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:22.399 You in this room who you're not sure about your relationship with Christ, you're not sure where you stand with Christ, I hope your heart shudders a little bit because the reality is you're now in the you're in the age of grace. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:29.600 But that age of grace will come to an end, and the vengeance of the Lord will come forth. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:38.320 It's interesting, though, from another perspective, what we see in the viewpoint of the martyrs at the altar about our soul's destiny. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.720 How many of you have heard of soul sleep? 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.639 How many anybody heard of soul sleep? 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.159 Okay, soul sleep has been a popular idea in the church. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.519 The idea that when you die, you basically fall asleep. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.799 And it's not in the Bible. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:53.600 I just want to let you know, these people are not asleep. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.240 They are very, very awake. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.559 And the scriptures are clear. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:05.200 Paul says that he would depart and leave this body and be with the Lord. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:10.320 He said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:23.679 In 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elijah and the widow's son, remember, he prays three times, and it says in Scripture, the soul came back into the boy's body. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.559 No mention of sleep. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:31.919 Jesus says to the thief at the cross, you'll be with me in paradise. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:34.159 Today, you'll be with me in paradise. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:42.480 So we see a glimpse of eternity and what it's going to be like, and that when we die, men and women, we will be in the presence of the Lord. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.840 We'll be fully engaged. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.799 It appears actually here that we can see what's happening on the earth. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.080 Isn't that exciting? 00:15:50.240 --> 00:16:02.720 I mean, you I mean, it seems as though our relatives, those around us, good friends of ours that have passed away, they see and they notice in some kind of mystical way what's going on on the earth. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:14.000 And it appears, and we're going to see this in Revelation, about the incense, the bowls of incense are the prayers of the saints that they're actually praying. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:18.480 I mean, here they're crying out to God to avenge their blood. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:23.039 But how exciting that those that have gone before us are praying for you. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:25.840 They're praying for our grandchildren, they're praying for you. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.840 And the Lord hears those prayers. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:30.159 They see what's going on, they can see. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.679 They're not asleep. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.159 There's no such thing as soul sleep. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:36.240 It's a weird doctrine. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.840 They're very awake. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.440 It's called soul awake. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.600 Okay, their soul is awake. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:45.519 And if you're born again, that's what you have to look forward to. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:52.320 But if you're not, as I said to you a few weeks ago, this is as good as it gets for you. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:57.039 It doesn't get any better than what you have here because it's only going to get worse. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:01.200 But for the believer, this is as bad as it gets. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.360 It's only gonna get better. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:10.000 And some of you have been through horrendous stuff. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:18.240 I know your stories and the pain and the agony, and you grew up in families that were just a mess. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:23.759 And and you are you are making it. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:28.000 You are figuring it out in Christ, and it's awesome. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.680 It's gonna get better. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:40.559 You're gonna get to heaven, you're gonna be saved, you're gonna be in the presence of the Lord, we're gonna be in the presence of all our friends who know the Lord, and we're gonna get our bodies back, and they're gonna be 30 years old. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.160 No, 29 years old. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.960 I said that wrong. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.160 29 years old. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:50.720 I mean, I don't know about that part, but but you're, you know, we are going to hug each other. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.160 We will have bodies. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:55.920 There'll be a new, recreated heaven and earth. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.599 Isn't that awesome? 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.680 I mean, I love living in Colorado. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.319 It's the closest thing to heaven in my mind anywhere, bro. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.839 You know, this is great. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.079 But it's gonna be way better. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.960 It doesn't get any worse than this for the believer. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.200 It doesn't get any better for the unbeliever. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.559 So get saved today. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:18.960 If you're here today and we're getting we're gonna take communion and go into worship, come to Christ. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:26.480 Come up to some of us and say, I want to receive Christ, and we'll lead you in the same prayer that we prayed for me when I was 18 years old. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.680 Gave my heart to Christ. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.200 That began the wonderful journey. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.799 I was born again. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:35.039 I was reborn spiritually in Christ. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:40.960 Then a white robe was given to each one of them. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:55.119 And it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed as they were, was completed. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:00.400 So even in this horrific tribulation period, and I don't believe this is actually the tribulation period, by the way. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:09.359 I believe in this period leading up to the tribulation, because when we get to the tribulation, I mean that it this is like on this persecution's on steroids. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.079 Okay? 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:20.319 And so at this point, as we're leading up with the birth pangs of the coming of the Lord, he's saying to us that there's actually a number. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:25.440 So God's still in control, even in these horrendous times. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:32.000 And he's actually got a number before he makes his move. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:48.240 I looked when he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.759 So this is a literal earthquake on the face of the earth. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:54.559 There's three great earthquakes in the book of Revelation. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:20:00.000 And we're seeing the birth pangs of the coming of the Lord. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.279 Listen to this. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:12.079 From 1900 to 1910, there were three earthquakes globally over 6.0 on the Richter scale. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:20.319 So what I'm about to read to you is all over, it's either 6.0 on the Richter scale or above that. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:24.799 And you could triple this if we went 5.0, but I'm just talking about 6.0. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:26.720 I just kind of randomly chose that. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:31.759 And the reason I chose it is because around 6.0 is when you really have damage. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:35.680 1910 to 1920, there were two. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:39.839 1920 to 1930, there were two. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:44.319 1930 to 1940, there were five. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:48.559 1940 to 1950, there were four. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:52.960 1950 to 1960 there were nine. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.839 1960 to 1970, there were 13. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.119 1970 to 1979, there were 51. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:07.599 1980s, there were 86. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:19.200 From 1991 to 1996, only five years, there were over a hundred killer quakes over 6.0 on the Richter scale. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:33.440 And since 1996 to 2014, there have been 188 earthquakes over six on the Richter scale, and you could just about double, almost triple that if you went 5.0. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:40.160 More people have died of earthquakes in the last 10 years than any other natural disaster. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:44.640 These are the birth pangs of the coming of the Lord. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.240 Matthew 24, that's what Jesus said. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.000 He called them birth pangs. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.640 This election's birth pangs. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:56.880 You can say earthquakes are the Braxton hicks of the coming of the Lord. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.119 There is a birth coming. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:21.599 This, I believe this is such a pivotal time in history, church, to be sharing our faith, to be not afraid of men, to stand for goodness and love and mercy, and to share of your relationship with Christ to others. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.200 Verse 13. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:32.160 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:36.000 Now, this means a lot to me because my aunt in South Carolina had a fig tree. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.759 Big fig tree. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.559 Huge, shady fig tree in her backyard. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:44.559 And I can just remember it like it was yesterday. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:55.759 Walking back there through their detached garage, and I go through and just the smell of the figs and just seeing all the ripe figs on the ground all around. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:23:03.599 Saying that the stars of the sky are going to be falling from the sky. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:16.960 Do you guys realize that for you that are scientists, and we have a lot of we have a lot of scientists here and researchers and analysts here at the road, do you realize the earth wobbles about every seven to eleven years? 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:25.039 Now you don't feel it, but they they have instruments, you have instruments to be able to pick that up. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:27.920 And so every seven to eleven years, the earth wobbles. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:46.720 And Chuck Mitzler, when he was branch chief of the guided missile department for the Air Force, said that they decided that if 25 to 40 nuclear missiles were detonated at the same time, it would actually alter the rotation of the earth. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:58.960 Certainly, if an asteroid hit the earth, it would have an impact upon, at least briefly, the rotation of the earth. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:04.559 In Winslow, Arizona, we have this incredible crater. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.599 Listen to this crater. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.559 Some of you have been to it. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.920 You've told me about it. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:14.720 They believe it's an asteroid crater that in times immemorial, an asteroid hit. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:32.559 This crater is 600 feet deep, a mile wide, and the earth, when it hit, kicked up the earth around it 130 feet burns on the edges of this thing. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.880 Can you imagine hundreds coming all at once? 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:45.599 That seems to be a picture of something about the stars of heaven falling to the earth. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:56.640 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:06.079 And if you've seen the pictures of the nuclear blast with the Bikini Islands, it looks like a scroll being rolled up. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:11.759 When Krakata, I'm probably not saying this right. 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.279 It almost looks like Japanese to me. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:13.920 Let me say it. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:23.039 Krakotawa in 1883 exploded the island in the South Pacific, Krakotawa. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:33.359 It was heard, now this is in 1883, it was heard over 3,000 miles away. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:40.000 That would be like hearing a blast in New York City that we would hear here in Colorado. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:45.599 It changed the tides of the ocean for 1,700 miles. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:50.559 This is going to be horrendous changes on the earth. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:55.359 There will be a pervading fear rippling through the church. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:59.440 There will be prevailing fear rippling through our politicians. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.480 And you know what? 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:03.519 It won't matter how big your bank account is. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:07.519 Listen to what John says next. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:31.839 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, this is how deep their faith will be. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:35.839 They're talking to mountains and rocks. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:50.000 God, Almighty, sovereign God, is doing this, and the kings and the prime ministers and the wealthy and the billionaires are crying out to rocks. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.559 I couldn't help but say that. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:54.160 I mean, I read that and I went, what? 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:59.599 Fall on us and hide us from the face of him. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:04.559 They know it's God, but they still don't cry out to God. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:11.599 Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:18.559 For the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand? 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:27.359 Presidents, diplomats, rulers, military generals, billionaires, confused, fearful, praying to rocks. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:34.960 No station in life, no position, no power will be able to save them. 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:41.519 There will be no advantage to anyone from the highest to the lowest. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:47.519 Vance Havner has said that the most expensive real estate at this time will be a hole in the ground. 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:57.119 Great leaders begging for their death, terror in their hearts for those who have not accepted him. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:03.759 But not repentant, not repentant, praying to rocks. 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:10.400 Bible says, he who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:22.720 Never does it say, he who calls on Krishna, he who calls on a crystal, he who calls on trees and rocks shall be saved. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:27.759 Yet that's exactly what the scriptures say they're doing. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:34.480 Have you made your peace with Jesus? 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:45.119 Some of you in this room are carrying such angst toward God because of the pain of the past. 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:57.440 And I want to say Jesus loves you, He cares about you, and He saw you in that most difficult hour. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:00.720 Maybe it was sexual molestation. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:05.759 Maybe it's the death of a father or a mother at an early age. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.960 I don't know. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.880 Maybe it's a divorce. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:13.200 Maybe it's the pain of loneliness. 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:26.400 You know, I think it's probably could be said, and I know Billy Graham said it many years ago, that the greatest disease in our nation is loneliness. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:36.960 Mother Teresa said when she came to the United States to speak to a joint session of Congress, said, I've never been in a more lonely nation than the United States of America. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:52.720 And having lived around the world and been in many third world nations myself, it is true that just looking at our neighborhoods that we think are kind of cool and beautiful, the reality is they actually represent with our independence a lack of any relationships. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:57.119 You know, you go to most parts of the world and everybody's just kind of crammed together. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.960 And you oh, we'd never live there. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.319 But there's a beauty to it. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.759 There's a beauty to it. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:11.599 And I remember loving being in Tokyo when we lived in Tokyo those years, and then later in Okinawa, how you just see all your neighbors when we go to eat, because there's these, all the shops are right there, you'd see each other. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.279 There was a sense of community. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.720 We don't have that. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:18.000 And I believe we should have that. 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.920 And I believe it's right here. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:22.960 That's why you should be at church. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:25.680 We have good donuts too. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:31.599 But to come and have relationships, most of us are very, very lonely. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:34.480 And I say to you, come to Christ. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:39.359 Begin a personal, vital, dynamic, growing relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:41.200 Open up your heart. 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:43.119 Pray to receive Christ into your heart. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.000 Open the door. 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.759 He knocks at that door. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:51.440 And that begins the love relationship where we won't be walking in fear. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.799 Do you realize that? 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.920 I don't think we're going to be walking in fear. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:58.400 I'm kind of excited about this stuff. 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:16.880 And kind of in a weird way, it means to me that I'm going to soon be with Christ in eternity where there's no more sorrow, there's no more tears, and there's no more pain. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:24.640 We're going to have this thing going on with Jesus wherein we have an intimacy with everybody around us. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:34.640 And I know it's hard, I mean, it's really hard for us to understand, but the reality is, is we're going to be with Him and all the things that your heart longs for. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:39.920 You see, our hearts long for stuff right now that we just never seem to quite experience. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:43.599 And you get glimpses of it when someone listens to you. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:51.119 You know, you're sharing something, and something within you feels security when someone listens to us. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.640 What is that? 00:31:53.279 --> 00:32:01.039 That was put in you by the Lord Jesus Christ because He will always fulfill that in the next life. 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:05.599 That awesome! No more sorrow. 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:08.079 No more tears. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:10.480 So come to Christ. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:16.880 You've been listening to The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:19.920 We hope you have been blessed by today's message. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:24.000 To connect with us further, visit theroad.org. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:28.079 If you are walking through a difficult time, we want to pray for you. 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:35.200 Go to the road.org, click on the ministries tab, and go to our prayer page to send us your prayer request. 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:43.440 Thanks again for tuning in today, and be sure to listen to the next edition of The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt.