WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.240 I want you to turn with me in your Bibles. 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:04.639 Mashed potatoes, tuna croquettes. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:05.040 What? 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:05.599 Lunch. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:06.320 Lunch. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:06.799 Amen. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:08.640 Well, can I preach first? 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:09.599 Okay. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.480 He's ready to eat. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:17.359 We got we got tuna uh what do we got? 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:23.120 Tuna croquettes and beef stravana. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:23.760 Ooh. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:27.600 You know, I don't even like tuna, but I do like tuna croquettes. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:28.239 Amen. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:31.920 We got any bread to put that in between so I can have a sandwich. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:34.799 Thank you. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:35.280 Thank you. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:37.759 Mayonnaise ketchup. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:38.320 Okay. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:43.119 Revelations chapter 4. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.640 It's one of those days. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:49.520 Amen. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:52.159 I tell you, I love it. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:52.719 I love it. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:53.759 I love it. 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:56.479 Man, that was good singing this morning. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.520 Revelations chapter 4. 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:05.200 Somebody asked me, are we going to be in this book for two years? 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:06.480 And I said, no. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:08.719 We're not. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:10.000 I promise. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:13.760 But everybody's been wanting Revelation. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:16.079 Let me tell you the book of Revelation. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:18.799 You just can't run through it. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.840 You really can't, because it's some significance. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.000 But I will promise you this. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:33.599 The next last section will be a lot quicker than the first section, the first two sections. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:47.200 Because a lot of this horrible tribulational things that are going to be taking place after today, you're going to just thank the Lord. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.040 We're not going to be here. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:57.680 But I will touch on them and I will, but I'm not going to dissect those things like I have done the churches. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:06.000 And then the end of it will dissect it because we see when God comes back with his millennial reign. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:15.360 We're going to be looking in detail, though, the Beam of Judgment seat, the white judgment, the white throne judgment, and then the millennial reign. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.680 Those is where we'll spend the times. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:19.919 Because it's been good. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:21.199 Hadn't you enjoyed it though? 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:23.120 Has it not been enlightening? 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:28.080 But today we're going to really look at one verse in chapter 4. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:37.840 Because it really is a transitional verse that really tells us really who we are, the church. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.520 We have come to the end of the church age here in the book. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:45.840 End of chapter 3, verse 22, was the end of the church age. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:48.400 And so we're looking now. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:52.639 In fact, the book of Romans is called what we call the. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:56.800 I am a little, Ben, can you bring me down just a little bit? 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:08.639 The book of Romans is called the courtroom of the Bible, but the book of Revelation is called the throne room of the word. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:15.759 The word throne occurs, listen to this, 37 times in this book. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:21.759 Revelation opens with a throne and it ends with a throne. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:22.960 It's awesome. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:23.840 It really is. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.360 The throne here in chapter 4 is the throne of judgment and justice. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:44.560 And what I mean by that is the judgment at the beam of judgment seat, which we'll see soon for us Christians, for our works, not for our salvation, but for our works, and the justice. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:04:06.560 There, then we enter into chapter 6, where the justice for those that are lost and those that have just brought havoc on the church and hated the church and killed Christians, the havoc of the tribulation is justice for those who tried to destroy God's church. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:12.879 So we see what we have seen was the things which thou hast seen. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:14.560 Remember Revelation 1.19? 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:15.759 That was verse 1. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:24.079 God took him up to the, hey, God showed John all that he was, who Jesus was, and heaven. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:35.519 And then we saw the things which are, we saw the church age, beginning from the apostles to the time we are raptured out, was chapters 2 and 3. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:41.759 And now we're beginning to enter into the section, the things which shall be hereafter. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:46.079 Now, let me just give you a little taste. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:56.000 Soon, when the church is raptured out, we'll be invaded by a white, red, black, and pale horse. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.240 Soon the earth will be quaking and heaven will be shaking. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:08.480 Soon hail, fire, and blood will fall from the sky and the mountains will move into the seas that will turn into blood. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:16.399 Soon men will be petrified by the falling of stars and disturbances of the sun, moon, and stars. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:22.800 But before all these things take place, you look at that, when you start looking at that, and that's some things we'll touch on. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.120 When you see that, listen to me. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:26.560 It's going to be horrible. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.199 People will be crying out to die. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.600 But I got good news. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.160 Look at chapter 4, verse 1. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.639 The church is not going to be here. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:42.720 After this, John said, I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:54.399 And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be here after. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:59.040 Now, before I get started, and I'm excited about this message. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:01.759 Oh, the rapture is one of my favorite topics. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.920 Anyone that needs a worship guide, I don't want you to miss any of that. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:13.759 Anybody needs a worship guide, raise your hand because we are about to get involved in this unbelievable proof. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:15.519 And let me just show you something. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:18.959 John, right here, is called, I believe, Up to Heaven. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:26.160 And I believe it is a symbolic picture of the rapture that's going to take place for the church. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.279 He's given us a literal example of what's going to happen. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:34.160 John is literally by himself, one person taken up to heaven. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:38.319 And I really do believe that's a symbolic picture of the rapture. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:50.079 In fact, when God calls his church, when he returns for us, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4.17, and I think I have that verse up there, that we shall be caught up. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:53.920 Now watch, caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:58.800 Now the word caught up there comes from the Greek word harpazo. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:00.319 Harpazo. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:09.839 And it literally, literally means to seize or to snatch up as a robber would seize something and run and leave. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:10.720 That's what it means. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.279 To snatch away, to snatch up. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.480 And a lot of people say, well, the word rapture is not even in the Bible. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.839 I'm going to deal with that. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.920 But hey, it doesn't have to be. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.279 Because, hey, the word grandfathers is not in the Bible. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.839 How many grandfathers do we have here today? 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:27.759 Okay? 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:28.720 Okay. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.519 I mean, hello, did you not get that? 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:43.439 But what I do know is in the Bible is a word right here, harpazo, which means to be caught up, which means to be snatched away. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:45.199 And I'm going to be dealing with that word. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:53.680 The Latin word is raptus, R-A-P-T-U-S, raptus, which means to seize by force. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.920 So we see that I really believe this is a picture. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:07.519 John is a symbol picture of the rapture of the church that's going to happen and does happen right after the church age. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:13.839 Now, let me give you, there's several reasons why I believe verse 1 is a reference again to the rapture of the church. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:18.560 Number one, the location in the book is right. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:20.560 Now, what I mean by that, what's this? 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:24.560 Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, we find the church is addressed. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:29.279 In chapters 4 and 5, we see a vision of heaven. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.000 And we're going to talk about heaven next week. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:33.440 A vision of heaven. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:41.200 But chapter 6, the beginning of the tribulation period, we are told that we will be kept from the hour of what? 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.919 Hour of temptation in Revelations. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:52.960 Last week we looked at it, Revelations 3.10, meaning that the church will not go through the tribulation period. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:58.000 That's, I mean, just the location and the sequence of the book. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:05.039 Now, the second reason, I believe, the absence, is the absence of any mention of the church. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:06.159 Now, watch this. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:12.159 After chapter 3 is an indication that it is not on the earth during the tribulation period. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:18.879 Again, there are 16, listen, 16 references to the church in the first three chapters. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.639 16 references. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:24.000 To the church in the first three chapters. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:28.720 In chapter 6 through 18, there's no mention of the church at all. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.399 Not one mention. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:31.120 Why? 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.360 Because I believe it's been raptured out, no doubt in my mind. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:40.320 There's a third reason that I hold to, that I believe. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:56.320 The extensive use, now listen to this, this is good, of Old Testament language and symbols in chapters 4 through 18 indicate that God is dealing with the nation Israel and not his church. 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:07.679 In fact, these symbols, well, in fact, in the Old Testament, in Daniel, the tribulation is the time of what they call in the Old Testament Jacob's trouble. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:08.399 Remember that. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:09.600 You probably have heard that. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:11.120 Jacob's trouble. 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:15.600 The 70th week of Daniel's vision. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:29.600 Symbols included, now listen to this, all through these next six from chapter 6 to 18, deal with the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, altar, elders, censors, cherubims, seals, trumpets, and plagues. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:34.000 All which relate back to the nation Israel. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:43.840 So the language itself and the symbols and the signs that we're going to look at do not relate at all to the church age, none whatsoever. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:56.320 And then the fourth reason that I believe is the similarity of the events in Revelation chapter 4, verse 1 and 2, and listen to it as I read. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.919 After this I looked, and behold, the door was opened in heaven. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:09.360 And the first voice which I heard was, hey, as a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither, and I will show three things which must be hereafter. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:16.080 And immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:31.840 Now when you go over, and we will, the 1 Thessalonians 4, 13 through 18, where it's Paul's talking about the rapture, it's the same indication of a snatching away of what? 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:34.320 The Christian in the rapture. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:37.840 It's it. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:49.519 So those are four powerful reasons that I know that chapter 4 in the book of Revelations 1 and 2 is a picture of the rapture of the church. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.639 So with that said, I've titled this message. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:54.639 We're going to be moving on up. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:57.519 We're going to be moving on up. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:04.159 And what I want you to understand is that Revelation 4, 1 is a very special verse. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.480 For example, I thought about that. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.120 Have you ever, guys, have you ever buttoned a shirt? 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.799 Well, ladies, too, button your shirt. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.600 You know, I start at the top. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.519 Maybe you're supposed to start at the bottom. 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:17.759 That you probably wouldn't have the problem I'm about to say. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.320 But have you ever missed the top button? 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.679 And you get to the bottom and it's out of whack. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:30.000 And you say, I got to do it again. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:32.960 I'm going to have to re-but unbutton my shirt and button it again. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:35.039 Well, that's kind of like this verse. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:40.240 If we miss this verse, you're going to miss the rest of the book of Revelation. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:42.720 As far as the church is concerned. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.320 So we got to get it right. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.919 And we are going to get it right. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.960 And so right here, I want us to look at the facts. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:49.840 The facts. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:55.759 The first thing in your outline this morning we want to look at is the importance of this verse. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.279 And it's two things. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:01.440 First of all, it is a transitional verse. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.320 Look at it. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:05.440 Notice that the verse begins with the phrase. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.559 Now watch this. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.840 After this. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.879 And it ends with the word hereafter. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:14.879 Important you understand that. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.399 In the Greek text, these words are exactly the same. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:26.080 Both of these English expressions are translated from the Greek word, which is mita tuta. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:27.440 You can say that. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.039 That's an easy one. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.480 Mita tuta. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.440 Say that with me. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:32.879 Mita tuta. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.480 That's the same two words are right here. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:43.440 And now this is not the first time, though, if you remember that we saw this verse, or this word, excuse me. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.519 I didn't bring it to attention then. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:58.480 But in Revelation 1.19, which is the whole outline of the whole book of Revelations, things now, hey, things now, things to come, and then things hereafter. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:02.320 I mean, and remember the word hereafter at the end of verse 19? 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.279 Guess what it is? 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.879 Mita tuta. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:12.480 So that word is a tremendous transitional word, and it shows up right here. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:22.080 These things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter in verse 19, Mita tuta, that ties everything together. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:22.960 Now watch. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:27.279 When he says these things which are, pointed to what? 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.039 Chapters 2 and 3. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:37.200 But then in verse 22 in Revelation 3, he says, He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.799 Now, here we go. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.000 This is good. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:47.679 So we've got chapters four and five are the transitional period for the church. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:53.360 The church age has come to end at verse 22 in chapter 3. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:01.519 Now, what God is telling John, who's telling and writing to us, now the church is taken out. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:09.360 Because he's promised us in verse 10 and chapter 3 that we would not suffer through that horrible temptation, that tribulation. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.600 So now the church is taken out. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.279 We're going to heaven. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:16.720 And the next Sunday we'll see about that and look at the heaven. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:19.200 We'll be looking at the beam of judgment seat. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.639 It's going to be awesome. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:25.039 But then he says, but now you've got to see what happens next. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:29.840 Chapter 6 through 19, the horrible tribulation is going to take place. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:34.159 But the exciting thing to know, church, is we're not here. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.919 We're not here. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.159 This verse tells us about that. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.080 That we're going to be moving on up. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.799 But not only is it a transitional verse, watch this. 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.240 It's a typical verse. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:46.799 Now, John is one man here. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:51.360 But he's a representative of all of us that are Christians. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.240 He really is. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.320 He's called the representative man. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:06.639 And what I see here, and what I, when I was putting this together, I don't want to give away the rest of the message, but the event that's called the rapture is very important because let me show you some things that are going to take place. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:14.240 First of all, for this transition, when it takes place, three or four very important things happen. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:23.919 Number one, the first thing's going to happen, and here it is, 1 Thessalonians 4, 16 through 18, the church is going to be taken out. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:28.879 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:32.799 Now, I'm going to teach you something about that word shout this morning. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:39.600 When the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, there's two things that really take place that we're going to look at. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.960 The shout and the trumpet. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:47.759 He says, and the trump of God, and those who are alive and remain should be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.799 So shall we ever be with the Lord. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.080 And I lost the verse. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.919 I don't know what happened. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.840 Be with the Lord. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:02.960 And therefore, I knew it, but I've got to memorize, but I want to make sure y'all can see it. 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.799 Therefore, he says, What? 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.000 Say it with me. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.559 Say it again. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.599 Therefore, what? 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:18.319 Now, ladies and gentlemen, if you and I are going through that horrible hell on earth called the tribulation, that's no comfort. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.680 None whatsoever. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.240 Not one bit of comfort. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:31.920 Now, the rapture also is called in Titus 2, 13, it's called the blessed hope. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:39.759 Listen to what he says, looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.960 So say it with me. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.240 The blessed hope. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.839 The rapture is the blessed hope. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.079 That's our blessed hope. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.640 It's going to take us out of here before that horrible, horrible tribulation. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.960 So the bride of Christ is taken out. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.240 It's our blessed hope. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.599 But there's a second thing. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.240 You know what's holding back? 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.400 You think, hey, a lot of people think we're living in hell now on earth. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.640 Oh, you hadn't seen anything yet, folks. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:18.240 And the reason we we're not living in that horrible time now is because the Holy Spirit is holding back the wrath of God. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.400 That's why. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.759 Look at this verse. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.359 I think it's on there too. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.839 2 Thessalonians 2, 7. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:32.559 Let me show you why you hadn't experienced, you hadn't experienced anything like going to be during the tribulation. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.519 And here's why. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:44.079 For the mystery of lawlessness, that, and I could even tell you all the tribulation that I just shared, a few things that's going to happen a while ago, is already at work. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:48.160 Yes, ungodliness is at work, but not the tribulation yet. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:52.799 Only he who now restrains will do so until he is what? 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.799 Taken out of the way. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:19:00.079 The reason we're not seeing that horrible tribulation is because the church is still here. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:04.240 The church is God's restraint on evil. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.680 Can I get an amen? 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:08.559 And that's why we're to be living godly. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:15.920 That's why we're to be honest and holy, so that we can show who we really are, ambassadors of Christ. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:20.480 But one day the Holy Spirit's going to be taken out of here. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:24.640 The bride's taken away, the Holy Spirit's taken away. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:34.960 And then Jesus said, when that takes place, this sinful, rebellious world will be plunged into a great tribulation. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:37.680 Matthew 24, verse 21. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.799 So this verse stands right here as a type. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:47.680 That is Revelation is 4.1, or as a picture of what will happen when Jesus returns for his children. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.599 So are you ready? 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.720 Listen to what he says in Matthew 24, 44. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:59.200 Therefore be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:01.359 That's why he didn't come. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:03.440 Was it last Saturday he's coming? 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.359 23rd? 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.319 I had so many people. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.279 Oh, blah, blah, blah. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:13.119 I just said, guys, I don't even want to debate this. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:13.839 Why? 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:17.119 But I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.400 You don't know the hour. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.279 And they kept saying, I said, listen, listen. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.400 I can promise you, he's not coming the 23rd. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.640 He may come the day before, the day after, but he's not coming then because you know it. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.599 Hello. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:38.400 I mean, I I do have a doctorate's degree, but I don't need that to figure that out. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.319 Amen. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:42.960 That's just simple math. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.279 He's not coming. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:45.920 No. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:21:00.640 So, not only is it a transitional verse, it's a transitional verse saying that, bow, before the tribulation, the wrath of God comes on sin and judgment of sin and ungodliness and lawlessness, the church is gone. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.559 The Holy Spirit's gone. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:05.920 Let me tell you, that's why you don't want to go through the tribulation. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:09.599 There's not one mention of the Holy Spirit from chapter six up. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:12.319 I'm at four at the end of three up. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.680 Not one. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:17.680 So, that brings them into my second point. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.839 The illustrations of this verse. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.400 Boy, they got some great illustrations. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:28.319 The book of Revelation is filled with signs, symbols, and illustrations. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:37.680 You remember verse one, the verse one in Revelation itself, we are told that He sent, Jesus sent, and signified it. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:39.279 I like that word signified. 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.880 You know I love word studies. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:50.880 The word signify literally means, if you sound it out, it becomes sign I fied. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.400 Sign I fied. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:59.440 In other words, the Lord tells John that He's going to reveal some of the content of this book. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.480 And what? 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.559 Signs and symbols. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.920 That's what he says. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:08.319 And if you've read the book of Revelation, you know how true this is. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:11.200 Jesus, watch this, is pictured as what? 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.400 The Lamb? 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.920 The Lamb of God. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:16.720 The redeemed saints are pictured as what? 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:19.440 The 24 elders. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:22.240 The New Jerusalem is pictured as what? 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.759 The bride. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:26.240 The Antichrist is called what? 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.599 The beast. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:32.880 There are many other examples that could be given, but these are some of the keys that we all know. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:42.640 He merely uses this, hey, uses the language of symbolism to describe actual vents for every generation. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.480 And it's powerful. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.680 It's powerful. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:52.960 And so there are two symbols of illustration that he uses here that are very applicable to us. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.079 Two of them. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.799 A, it involves the eyes. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:58.559 Look at what verse 1 says. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:06.480 John says that he saw, look, he said, I looked, and behold, a door opened in heaven. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:12.319 Now, this phrase literally means that there was a door standing open. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:17.759 And in the Greek text, you basically, let me teach you just a little Greek lesson. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:19.039 It's simple. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:22.720 There's two major tenses in Greek language. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:26.400 The present tense or the eris tense. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.839 Those two. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:30.960 Eris tense means a completed action. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.880 It's done once and for all. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.920 Present tense means it continues. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.519 It continues. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.759 And here's in the present tense. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:45.839 In other words, not only was the door open, but it was continually staying open. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:51.839 In other words, heaven door is open right now for people to be saved and come in. 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.519 Can I get an amen? 00:23:53.920 --> 00:24:00.079 And it's going to be open until Jesus, hey, comes and takes his church out. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:03.200 But once he takes it out, folks, it's closed. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:07.200 And the only people going to be saved then are those that have never heard the gospel. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:09.519 And that'll take place in tribulation. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:19.359 But the problem with that, most of everyone that gets saved, most of them will be Jews, but many nations, otherwise, will get saved, children that have been raised up that hadn't had the opportunity to hear the gospel. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:23.599 But the problem with that, most of them will be martyred, or all of them will be killed. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.680 Now tell me that's comfort. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:28.720 No, church, it's not here. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.480 So we see right here. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.400 Unbelievable. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:40.000 This is the third door now we've encountered in Revelation thus far. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:43.119 Remember the door service we looked at last week? 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.559 Revelation 3:8. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:49.039 Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and man can't shut it. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:59.359 I don't know how many three or four people emailed me after that message last week and said, How there's some doors that have been opened for them for me to pray for this vision, and they shared it with me. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.400 And I'm praying for them. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:02.000 They believe God's opening the door. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.359 And let me say something, folks. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:08.480 If God opens the door, it's to open a it's opening a door for ministry and service. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.519 Bless God. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.519 Hey, run through it. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.839 Right here. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:17.680 I didn't even say this, but uh, I'm thinking of it right now. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.680 Uh, Denson was looking for a job. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.480 God opened that. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:24.880 We've been praying, and God opened the door this past weekend for him to run through it. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.880 Jesse, been praying for Jesse. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.640 He got a job this week. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:30.559 Don't tell me my God doesn't work. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.559 Give him a hand this morning. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:36.160 A door of opportunity. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:44.079 Somebody said, Well, you know, so-and-so gave me, gave me, uh, they said that I could go to work for him, but you know, I just really don't know what I ought to do. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:50.079 You're looking for a job and somebody wants to hire you, and you don't know what to do. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.759 You got a problem. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:57.200 Hello, go to work. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.839 Yeah, but I'm waiting for a better work. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:10.480 Let me tell you, if I'm gonna hire somebody, I'd lots rather hire somebody that's already working than somebody sitting around doing nothing. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:18.000 Hello! My granddaddy said, Don't you ever quit a job till you have a better one? 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:22.720 Hello! Well, the God provide, no, that's just ignorance. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.519 That's you. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:29.519 Hello! You just quit a job and you got a job and God's gonna provide. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:31.279 God didn't tell you to quit a job. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:37.279 God never tells you to quit something that you, hey, he, if he's opened the door, let me tell you something too. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.400 Let me tell you something else. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:40.480 This is I'm running a rabbit right now. 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:42.559 But listen, listen, listen to me. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:42.960 Listen. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:47.039 God didn't call you to do something else till you completed what he's called you to do. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:50.480 Hey, hey, that's good preaching, preacher. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.559