Rev. David Holwick ZA
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
July 17, 1988
Matthew 24:21-25
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I. Drought in Coshocton County.
A. Driest summer in 100 years (since recording began)
B. Why?
1) Changing weather patterns.
a) Temporary shift of jet stream currents.
b) Permanent "Greenhouse Effect."
1> Ohio 9 degrees hotter in 50 years (Newsweek).
2> Midwest U.S. becomes a desert.
2) Judgment of God.
a) For sins of America?
b) Preview of Tribulation that will come on the world?
1> Rev 8:7 -
"The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and
fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth.
A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were
burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."
II. What is the Tribulation?
A. Christians suffer tribulations right now.
B. But a future time is coming when troubles will intensify:
called the Great Tribulation.
C. Time of immense suffering on the earth.
1) Plagues and trumpets of Revelation.
2) Rule of the Antichrist.
3) Concluded by battle of Armageddon.
III. Nature of Judgments.
A. Revelations describes 3 sets of 7 judgments.
B. Judgments gain in intensity, but last in each series brings to
the End.
C. With trumpets and bowls, first 4 are natural disasters, last
3 are plagues on people.
1) Are modern disasters signs of the end?
a) They would not be the signs in Rev - trib not started.
b) They are previews of what tribulation will be like.
c) Are they intensifying?
1> Famines.
2> Earthquakes.
3> Signs in heaven - 1987 greatest year for comets.
2) Nature of disasters in Revelation:
a) Natural plagues of hail, blood, insects.
b) Cosmic plagues:
1> Comet? falls into sea.
2> Sun, moon, stars darkened.
c) Demonic plagues - satanic locusts, etc.
D. Plagues end up being total and global.
Jesus: if not shortened, on one would survive. Matt 24:22
E. The judgments are selective: Antichrist's followers are
affected, Christians are not.
1) Rev 16:2 - Painful sores break out on people who have
Antichrist's mark - not on Christians.
2) Rev 16:10 - Fifth bowl plunges Antichrist's kingdom into
darkness.
Implication from Exodus: Christians have light.
F. Basis of selection: Mark of Beast.
1) Hand or forehead.
2) Can't buy or sell.
3) Implies loyalty to the Antichrist.
4) Related to number "666."
5) Marks person for damnation.
a) Modern identity - Universal Product Code?
IV. Purpose of the Tribulation.
A. Judge world for its sins.
1) Parallel with Noah and Flood.
2) Parallel with Sodom and Gomorrah.
3) Exact parallels with Moses and Exodus.
a) Trumpets and bowls parallel four plagues of Egypt.
b) Song of Moses is sung.
B. Purify world.
(Jesus did not come to condemn world, but save it.)
1) Judgments are meant to lead people to salvation.
a) Time is offered.
1> Judgments increase in severity (1/4, 1/3, 100%).
2> Time gives opportunity to repent.
b) Salvation is offered.
1> Offer is implied by world's refusal of salvation.
2> Two witnesses. Rev 11
3> Angel from God. Rev 14:6
Proclaims "eternal gospel."
4> Testimony of believers (martyrs).
2) Results:
a) Most will reject it.
1> Rev 9:20 - Survivors do not repent of
idolatry, sexual sin.
2> Rev 16:9,11 - They curse God and do not repent.
(Note they believe in God)
b) Many will accept and be saved.
1> Survivors of city's earthquake repent. Rev 11:13
2> Nations will be converted. Rev 15:4
3> Evidence in heaven:
Great Multitude stands before God. Rev 7:9
V. Christians and Tribulation.
A. Christians are also marked - by Jesus.
1) God's names written on all believers. Rev 3:12
2) 144,000 sealed on forehead by God. Rev 7:2
a) Jews?
b) Christians?
c) Nevertheless, parallel with beast's mark is valid.
B. Christians are protected by God.
1) Plagues fall only on those with mark of Beast. Rev 16:2.
2) Woman of God protected in wilderness. Rev 12:6,14
3) Only their bodies can be killed - Jesus will glorify and
protect them forever with his love:
White-Robed multitude. Rev 7:13
C. Christians are not immune from judgment.
1) Removal - lampstand (church) removed from place. Rev 2:5
2) Warfare - Jesus will fight against apostates with
sword of his mouth. Rev 2:16
3) Suffer - Believers who commit spiritual prostitution
(spiritual, moral) are made to suffer or
killed. Rev 2:22-23
4) Surprised - They will be caught like a thief. Rev 3:3
5) Rebuked - Jesus will discipline them. Rev 3:19
D. Christians must be "overcomers," in any tribulation they face.
VI. Conclusion of Tribulation.
A. Jesus returns, claims whole earth for his kingdom. Rev 11:15
B. Unrepentant are judged. Rev 11:18
C. Believers are glorified.
VII. Application.
A. How do you respond to troubles?
1) See as God speaking to you in a special way?
a) Develops holiness.
b) Teaches persistence.
c) Helps us wait for God's best.
2) Perhaps changes (repentance) needed in life?
3) Seek God, or reject him?
B. Are you committed to Jesus Christ?
1) Is he the LORD of your life?
a) Shown by commitment.
b) " " morals.
c) " " love for others. (witnessing)
2) If so, nothing can separate you from God.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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