Commit To Submit
Submission Out Of Reverence For Christ
Ephesians 5:14-6:9 8/15/10 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key verse 5:21 Delivered at U of I Champaign Urbana UBF
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
I was very thankful when Dr Sam Lee invited me to come and preach here at U of I. He not only invited me, but my whole family! Obviously he wants to uphold and support house churches. He said, “Come and spend the weekend with us. We’ll give you and your whole family a tour of Springfield and you can deliver the message on Sunday.” Wow! What a great offer! I never saw the Lincoln Museum before and it is a once in a lifetime chance to come and preach on this prestigious U of I campus. God confirmed this speaking engagement at the recent Midwest/Missouri Valley Summer Bible Conference. I got to help Mary Cowen with her house church testimony. I met Jeremiah Park. Msn Joseph was in my small group. I also got to lead a group Bible study in the same room as Dr Sam’s group. To me, these were all signs from God that I should come.
Jesus has called me and my family to serve the students of NIU. NIU is a little different than U of I. NIU has many great students and students from over ninety countries, over 25,000 in all. NIU ha many great things. But this is U of I Champaign-Urbana! This is where Illinois’ top politicians are willing to jeopardize their careers, pulling strings to get their loved ones enrolled. This is where 13 Nobel Prize winners taught. This where some our state’s top students come. What an honor to be here! Who am I and who is my family that we can serve the Lord in this way? I thank God for his grace and I thank God for your hospitality.
So let’s get into the passage. In chapter five Paul urges Christians to be imitators of God. (5:1) We can do this when we live a life of love (2) and be light in Lord. (8) In this passage Paul teaches proper Christian behavior in certain relationships. The glue that keeps all of these relationships together and producing good fruit, is submitting to one another put of reference to Christ. This is never easy, but absolutely necessary to bring glory and honor to our Lord Jesus. May Jesus’ light shine brightly as you discover the wisdom of submitting to one another out of reverence to Christ. May you find new fresh, ways that you can practice submission to those who God has put in your lives. And may you have vision that your fellowship can become like the Ephesian Church.
Part l: A Beautiful Christian Fellowship (14-18)
God formed a beautiful Christian fellowship among the Ephesians. Look at verses 14b, “…Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." The fellowship of believers are those who personally experienced the grace of God. In the past they had spent their lives sleeping in deadness of heart. But one day, Jesus, the Light Of the World, shone his light on them. They heard the word of God and woke up spiritually. They repented and were forgiven of all their sins. They crossed over from death to life. (Jn 5:24) There is more. Let’s read verses 15-18 together. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.’” These young believers were very sincere in living out their newly discovered faith. They were careful to study the Bible, find God’s will and obey it. They sought after God’s wisdom and lived by it. They took very opportunity to grow in Jesus’ image and share their faith. They abandoned their past hedonistic lifestyles with its drunkenness and lived a spirit filled life, a life pleasing to the Lord.
Their fellowship was a taste of heaven. Look at verses 19-20. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Their Christian lives were joyful. They could make music in their hearts to God. They were constantly encouraging one another with hearts full of song and lips full of praise. It came naturally for they were thankful for the saving grace of Jesus. What a beautiful fellowship! There was nothing like it in the world. Can you imagine coming to their church and someone comes up to you, holds your hand and sings to you? What would you do? Sing back or join in if you knew the song I hope. People were attracted to them to learn of Jesus and hear the word of God. We all want this kind of fellowship. My long term goal is to establish a 120 flock of God with this kind of spirit at NIU. I can see that God is growing this type of fellowship here at U of I Champaign – Urbana. For example, when we were practicing our special song Andy Lee joined in the singing and his brothers gathered around us as we all sang together. It was beautiful. Great fellowship starts with a core group of people who know the grace of God.
Part ll: Submit To One Another (5:21)
This kind of fellowship is not built by following a detailed list of creeds or following a “formula” for church growth. It is formed among people who love Jesus and who long to be imitators of Christ. But there is some other missing element. In America there are Christians who love Jesus and try to love others, but this kind of fellowship is becoming very rare. In fact, church attendance is on the decline. The USA Today, last week, reports that summer youth camps are dwindling and being cancelled because youth don’t find them relevant. What is the missing ingredient that strengthens Christian relationships, builds joyful fellowship and glorifies Jesus in the world? Let’s read verse 21 all together. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This is the key.
Why did Paul say, “submit to one another”? Is it easy? Not really. To submit means to yield. Submitting never comes naturally, especially in America, where the motto for the state of New Hampshire is “Live Free Or Die.” It is difficult because it requires humility, love and faith. It requires humility because we need to regard others better than ourselves. It requires love because we must love others and value our relationship with them even at the cost of our pride. It requires faith because we submit out of our reverence for Christ.
We may know this in our heads, but how difficult it is to submit to one another in real life! We have differing opinions. We butt heads and foster resentful feelings in our hearts for years. But if we are going to imitate Christ’s life of love we must learn to submit. When we submit, we pray for God to be glorified and God will help us to do what is right. Submitting is not compromising your convictions. It is not wasting time. It is coming together in the name of our Lord Jesus; growing together; co-working; relationship building. It is building Christian community.
Why must we submit to one another? Look at verse 21b again. “…out of reverence for Christ.” Reverence is a feeling of profound awe and respect mingled with love. We willingly submit because we have so much awe and respect for Jesus and we love him. Who is Jesus? He is the Almighty Creator God. He enjoyed all the glory, power and majesty of the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, for our sakes he humbled himself, came to this world and became man. He loved and served and taught about the kingdom of God. He touched lepers. He gave sight to the blind and made the lame walk. He was a friend to sinners. He raised 12 disciples to be future spiritual leaders of the world. After 3 ½ year of loving and serving and teaching, he suffered and died on the cross bringing to us forgiveness. After pouring out his life he rose from the dead to give us a living hope in the Kingdom of God. He saved us from our sins, healed us and gave us eternal life. How awesome is our God! He is worthy of all praise. It is right to revere Jesus! It is right to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Despite of all these explanation, it still may be difficult to understand what submission means. Paul gave us several examples. He talks about the relationship between husbands and wives, children and parents, masters and slaves. These relationships are chosen because they are relationships that are the bedrock of any society. They also demand commitment. We can not ignore these relationships nor walk away from them. (Though some may try.) They are also relationships that have the potential to produce great satisfaction and much glory to God, if we practice submission within them. Let’s see.
Part lll: Wives/Husbands, Children/Parents, Slaves/Masters (5:22-6:9)
First, husbands and wives. Wives must submit to their husbands. Let’s read verse 22. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” And also verse 24, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Note that Paul doesn’t say, “Wives submit to your husbands if you think he’s funny, rich, handsome and right.” He points out that the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. And just as the church submits to Christ so a wife should submit to her husband as a reflection of our relationship with Jesus. A wife’s submission to her husband is also an act of faith, hope and love. She submits because she has faith that it is God’s design for the family. She has hope that when she submits to her husband’s leadership then he will grow to be a great servant of God. All of this is possible because of her reverence for Christ and her respect for her husband (24).
Husbands must love their wives. (25-33). Let’s read verse 25. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her….” And now verse 28. “In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Husbands must love their wives. This kind of love is unconditional love. A husband must be like Jesus toward his wife, even laying down his life for her. He must love her like he loves his own body. He must pray for her and make an environment for her to study the Bible, perhaps doing the housework sometimes, so that she can have some uninterrupted quiet time in the word of God. In general he must try his best to present her to Jesus as a radiant bride. When he does, his family life will be a reflection of how Jesus loves the church. Also when a wife is loved like this she will easily submit to her husband.
How is this submission on the man’s part? This kind of love does not come naturally. Usually husbands want their wives to serve them. They want to take care of their own bodies well, like going to the gym and splashing on “Old Spice” after shave. They want to make sure that they have enough “Me” time for their hobbies ignoring their wife’s tight schedule. They also keep a record of wrongs. To submit and follow Paul’s instructions requires humility. It requires sacrifice. But a Christian man must submit in this way to truly love his wife out of reverence for Christ. And they can be a little more like Jesus.
Third, children and parents. Children must also practice submission. Let’s read verses 1-3. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3’that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Obey means, “to follow the commands or guidance of; to comply with or conform to. (Merriam Webster) For those who have children they will discover that it is very difficult for them to obey…even if the child wants to. They are so excited about living, that most of the time it takes several demands, with a louder and louder voice, for obedience to occur. Obedience can be forced for a while. But true obedience is born out of love. When we love someone, we can obey them from the heart. Jesus’ whole life was marked by obedience to his Father in heaven. It was because he love his Father. (Jn 17b:26b) Therefore when Paul said, “Obey your parents” he meant, “Show love to your parents by following their commands and their guidance…co-operate with them because they love you…and you should love them.”
Paul also tells children to “Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise…” (2) To honor means “a showing of respect” (Merriam Webster) Most times young children honor their parents. Many honor and respect their parents throughout their life time. But sometimes kids get older and begin to see their parents’ faults and criticize them. But here Paul does not say that they should honor their parents if their parents deserve it. They should simply honor them…period. This reveals God for God honors and respects us unconditionally.
There is also a ministry application in all this teaching about parents and children. All of us have someone who either led us to Jesus or has been mentoring us to help us grow as disciples. They are like spiritual parents. Paul was a spiritual father to several people. He once referred to Timothy and Titus as his true son in the faith. (1 Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4) Paul taught them the word of God, planted God’s hope in them and discipled them. He went ahead of them, setting the example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Paul had many sons and daughters in the faith. And they loved him. When he prayed with the elders of the Ephesus church, they cried because they knew that they would not see him again. (Acts 20:36-38) They obey Paul, honored him and co-worked together in the task of world mission. Through their submitting to Paul’s leadership out of their reverence for Christ, the Gospel spread quickly across the Roman world.
What about those who feel that they just can’t obey and honor their parents? Paul says, “obey your parents in the Lord.” Obeying your parents in the lord can mean two things. It could mean that you should obey them as long as they don’t tell you to deny Jesus. But it can also mean that when it is hard to love and honor your parents, then you should take deeper root in Jesus and Jesus will help you.
Parents are also called to submit to the truth of God in raising their children. Let’s read verse 4. “4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” “Exasperate” was a very difficult word for me. This means to irritate or annoy; to excite the anger of. (Miriam Webster) I am afraid that I exasperate my kids too often. I need to repent and learn this lesson well. The fact is that children are very sensitive. They are easily brought to tears. When they don’t understand why they are being disciplined, they get angry. Parents can make unreasonable demands not based on the truth of God, but rather on their impatience, anger, judgmental feelings or human expectations. They also can make their kids angry by living according to the principle, “do as I say but not as I do.” This would make anyone angry.
To not exasperate children does not mean to just be their buddy and let them grow like weeds. Look at verse 4b, “…instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” A father should do his best to direct, guide and discipline his children so they may be successful, happy and hopefully disciples of Jesus. I think of Abraham in Genesis 18:18-19. It reads, “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Abraham directed his children to keep the way of the Lord through his practical example. All those under his care saw his life of faith and his sincere spiritual struggle and they were influenced by him. I think that the best way to bring our children up in the training and instruction of the Lord is first show them lots of love, but also to have 1:1 Bible study with them, even from a young age. Make sure the kids see us praying, serving, creating Bible material, having Bible students come to our home, etc. When a parent’s lifestyle is one of submission to Christ, then the children will not become exacerbated, but rather may become willing co-workers in the work of God, even when demands are made on them.
When parents submit like this, then they reveal Jesus. We are God’s children, but does Jesus irritate and provoke us? No. He is very patient with us. Through his word and his Spirit he teaches us. He goes on ahead of us to show us the way. (Jn 10:4) He is by our side for our entire lifetime helping is to grow spiritually. This is Jesus. Let’s pray that we may reveal Jesus through our relationships with our children. Let us pray that we can have happy homes with love marked by submission to one another.
Third, slaves are called to submit to their masters. Look at verses 5-8, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” In the Roman world slavery was a part of life. In some Roman cities, two thirds of the population were slaves. Many of the early Christian converts were from the slave class. In regards to a slave’s attitude to his master, Paul uses the expressions “just as you would obey Christ,” and “doing the will of God from your heart,” and “as if you were serving the Lord.” In order to submit in this way, they needed to repent of bitter feelings and embrace a humble, obedient spirit.
But in our modern western society there are no slaves, (except for Visa slaves). Then what do these words mean to us? Well, there are relationships that Christians find themselves in where this principle may apply. What at about the employee/boss relationship? Employees should respect their bosses and with sincerity of heart, work hard as you would work for Christ. Don’t steal from your employers and give them an honest day’s work. What about the student/professor relationship? Students, obey your professors with respect and sincerity of heart. Listen attentively, take notes, do your homework on time with a scholarly attitude. Grow under his/her mentorship just as you would study under Christ. What about athlete/coach relationship? Athletes, respect and obey your coaches. Go to open gym. Always give 110%. Be there for all practices and games. Be an encouragement. When we find ourselves in a slave/master situation, instead of being bitter and turning and running, we must make each interaction a lesson in living before the Lord. Even though our employers may not recognize us, and our professors may fail to see our effort, or our coaches may keep us on the sidelines, and our Visa Masters may keep us in perpetual debt, Paul promises “the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does.” (8a) We must live before God and do our best to please Jesus.
There are a few chosen ones whom God has placed in the master position. How does Paul call them to submit? Look at verse 9. “And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” Masters were to treat their slaves with respect for God is the Master of all. Today, all people in positions of power and authority must remember that they have been chosen to lead, equip and inspire those under their authority to help them work hard, live for the glory of God, and bear much fruit in their lives. One day they will have to give account to the One who is over them in heaven.
In this passage we discovered that in order to have a healthy and joyful Christian community, we need to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Submission is never easy, for it takes great humility but when we submit to our fellow believers, the peace of heaven can become manifest among us and Jesus can be revealed vividly through our humble submission. Whatever situation you may find yourself in, a husband, a wife, a child or a parent, a slave or a master, there are clear ways that God is calling you to practice. Do so …and be filled with vision that our Christian communities at NIU and U Of I Champaign Urbana can become like the Ephesian church.
Let’s read our key verse together. Verse 5:21, ““Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” And not lets read out motto, nice and loud….COMMIT TO SUBMIT.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Ephesians 5:1-20
Be Imitators Of God
Ephesians 5:1-20 Delivered by Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 8-7-10
Verse 5:1,
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children”
Introduction to Ephesians.
For the next few weeks, we will study Ephesians. It is in order to prepare our hearts and our minds for our visit to the U of I Champaign UBF. Afterwards we will be studying the full armor of God (Eph 6). I hope to also have an “Armor of God” Bible School to bring in the new semester. In order to get into Ephesians, it is proper to get a little background. We can get some history of the Ephesian Church from Acts 19-28. Paul came to Ephesus from Corinth. The city was a commercial center of the Roman world. Revelation talks about 7 churches of God. Ephesian church is one of them. (Rev 2) You can go to Turkey and visit Ephesus. There Paul found twelve disciples and helped them to receive the baptism of Spirit. Paul entered the synagogue for three months, arguing persuasively among the Jews about the kingdom of God. He took the disciples and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years. Everyone who touched Paul was healed of their sickness. Many demon worshippers became believers. Converts burned their sorcery books at a cost of over 1 million dollars. Paul’s teaching brought spiritual revival to the city. But not everyone was happy. A silver Smith got really upset because no one wanted to worship Artemus and buy his idols. He incited the crowd and many Ephesian citizens tried to kill Paul. A riot almost broke out. But God saved Paul and he left and set out for Macedonia. Ephesus was the city where Paul gave his heart and raised the disciples of Jesus who went on to pioneer Asia Minor.
One year, Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to bring a financial offering to Jerusalem from the Gentiles in Asia Minor. This was a dangerous journey but absolutely necessary for the advancement of the church. Paul was not sure whether he would arrive in Jerusalem dead or alive. On the way to Jerusalem, Paul met the elders of Ephesus. They were mutually encouraged by each others’ faith. He told them this would be the last time that they may see him. He gave them some life-giving advice in verses 36-38, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give then to receive.’" Paul had many things to say to the brothers and sisters at Ephesus, but what grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. They all knelt down and prayed. They all wept as they embraced each other. Then they accompanied him to the ship. The Ephesian Church was full of love. They had true friendship in Jesus.
Chapters 21-28 of the book of Acts is about an exciting story of Paul going to Jerusalem but his plan was modified by God and he went to Rome as a prisoner. Initially he had some freedom to rent a house and have visitors. (Acts 28:30-31) For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the LORD Jesus Christ. Then, one day, he was thrown into a dungeon, a real prison. It was dark and dirty. Paul was all alone.
This was about the year A.D. 60. Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, wrote this letter to his dearly beloved disciples. (Eph 3:1, 4:1, 6:20) In his prison, he knelt before God and prayed for them. (Eph 1 and 3). Paul was not sure that he would come out of prison alive. His future was uncertain. He loved the disciples of Jesus in Ephesus. He knew that they might be discouraged because of his suffering. (3:13). If you knew that your time on this planet was short, what would you say to your beloved disciples and co-workers in the gospel? Well, he wrote the most appropriate things in the Book of Ephesus. Let's study portions of this letter knowing that Paul was in prison and he was pouring our his love and concern for this young church.
In Ephesians 5, Paul encouraged the Ephesian Christians to live a life of love. The phrase, “live a life of love,” might be the best summary of how to live out our new lives in Jesus. What better way to live a life of love than to imitate God. For God so loved the world that he sent his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) It’s not easy to imitate anyone. It requires humility and heart. Let’s learn from Paul what a life of love is and how to live a life of love by imitating the life of our Lord Jesus.
Part l: Live A Life Of Love. (1-7)
First, the best way to live a life of love is to be imitators of God. (1) Look at verse 1. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children….” To “be imitators” means to learn from someone else in order to master something. Sometimes the word “imitation” has a negative connotation because it conjures up images of low quality, counterfeit branded products made overseas. Moreover, our culture places a high premium on originality and creativity. No one wants to be accused of imitating anyone. They feel that it beneath them to imitate anyone. But the truth is, that without imitating, we cannot master anything, be it a field of study or a skill. Nor are we able to be original and creative without first learning to imitate. This lays a foundation in order to be creative. Let’s think about some great people in our culture. Ludwig Von Beethoven is a composer and is universally acknowledged as a creative genius. He was a child prodigy but he knew that to be a great musician, he had to study under a great musician. He wanted to study under Mozart and he eventually studied under Haydn. He practiced for ten hours a day. Only by imitating and learning from Haydn, could Beethoven become the great composer we know today.
To imitate is not easy. In the ancient world, a young man named Demosthenes, was ridiculed for his weak voice and poor pronunciation. So he went to the best orator of his time. In order to be trained to imitate his teacher’s pronunciation, Demosthenes put small pebbles in his mouth and practiced until he could speak clearly through the pebbles. To imitate his teacher’s volume, Demosthenes practiced on the seashore to train his voice to be louder than the roaring waves. By imitating his teacher, Demosthenes became one of the best orators in history.
We are familiar with imitating. Some people want to be like their favorite athlete. They imitate how they practice and play and even wear the same clothes and shoes. To be successful in their careers and in business, some people imitate Bill Gates or Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart. When we visit the Art Institute of Chicago, or the NIU school of art, we can see art students with paint and canvas, reproducing masterpieces and imitating the styles and techniques of famous artists. Our kids are in a praise band. If they want to grow to new heights in their worship music, they need to imitate great worship bands like Jesus Culture. Without imitation, we forever remain mediocre or worse.
We need to humble ourselves and live a life of imitation and then we can become the creative genius’ that we all want us to be. Why is it in America that we look at good examples around us and we never want to learn from them? We may envy them but we don’t want to imitate them. A lot of people compliment me about my family. They envy what God has given our house church. I think that they can have it too, if they learn to imitate. What did I do? Julie and I married by faith, sharing a common faith and common mission in life. We dedicated our family to serve Jesus and his mission, in our case, it is campus mission. We try to surrender ourselves to Jesus. We go to church every week. We attempt to study the Bible with a scholarly attitude. All of my children have one-to-one Bible study. We have daily bread, family prayer meetings, daily. We try to minister to the lost flock of God. We prepare music for each Sunday worship service from Thursday every week. I am not saying this to brag. I am only saying this to give people some direction. Do you want a family like mine? Well, imitate us as we strive to imitate Jesus. But we are not the ones to imitate actually.
Who or what, then, should we imitate? Let’s read verse 1. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.” It is one thing to imitate other people to learn some skill or technique, but Paul says that children of God must be imitators of God. To be imitators of God is more than just coming to church. To imitate God is to learn his heart and mind and grow to be like Jesus. To imitate God is to grow in the fullness of God’s love. We can really imitate God when we are sure that we are dearly loved by God. Children, who are sure about their parents’ love, almost instinctively imitate them. They learn not only skills but they especially learn their parents’ heart and mind for them. In this way, they also learn to love others. To be imitators of God we must be sure that God is our Heavenly Father who loves us as his precious children.
Second, live a life of love. (2) How can we be imitators of God? Let’s read verse 2. “… and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” We best imitate God when we live a life of love. The phrase, “live a life of love”, is very beautiful. It inspires us to overcome selfishness and our differences with others to live a noble and meaningful life of devotion. People often think of love as a feeling but according to the Bible, love is expressed as a lifestyle. “Live a life of love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 say, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” All of these things about love are not so much about how we feel as much as they are about how we live. We live a life of love when patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, hope and perseverance define our relationships with others. There are so many good examples of those who lived a life of love, like Rev. Yang Won Sohn who adopted the North Korean soldier who murdered his sons during the Korean War; Corrie Ten Boom who forgave the Nazis for killing her family members and brought Christ’s forgiveness to countless people after World War II, and Mother Teresa who loved the poorest of the poor and sickest of the sick in India. These are great people who lived great lives of love for the glory of God. But what about ordinary people like me?
“Live a life of love” sounds good but it also sounds too hard. How can we begin to live a life of love? We cannot by ourselves but we can live a life of love, when we accept God’s love for us. Look at verse 2 again. “… and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Jesus loved us so much that he sacrificed himself on the cross, to take up the punishment for all of our sins. Because Jesus loved us, we have an obligation of love to also love. 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Therefore, to live a life of love begins by accepting Jesus’ love for us. When we accept Jesus’ love and forgiveness for us, we can love and forgive others. Moreover, we see from Jesus that there is no limit to a life of love. Jesus loved us to the point of death and we ought to do the same for our brothers. Knowing Jesus’ love enables us to do that. I am far from living the life of love that Jesus wants me to live. I am not patient. I am not gentle, I am not kind. I keep a record of wrongs. Especially to those who are closest to me. I need to learn of Jesus and be changed in my inner person in order to live a life of love.
During this summer, there were three Bible conferences in Latin America. God is doing great and fantastic things in faraway places through our missionaries. A missionary’s life is not glamorous but difficult. Many have no security in this world. Many struggle with language, cultural differences and loneliness. Some struggle with their health. Some are in danger because of their missionary activities. Some worry about their children’s future. Why, then, do they remain in the mission field? It is because they love the people. They live a life of love and God has blesses their ministry.
We, too, can live a life of love from exactly where we are. Then we can be instrumental in leading students to faith in Jesus and helping them to grow in that faith. Usually, though, we can not live up to this heavenly standard of living even though we really wanted to do so. It is so easy to live a life of pride, a life of selfishness and a life of indifference but not a life of love. Still Jesus’ love and grace are limitless. Surely he will help us when we decide, by faith. Let us pray to live as Jesus lived by loving as he loved. May God bless each of us to live the most beautiful life – a life of love.
Third, not even a hint…. (3-7) A life of love is also characterized by moral purity. Let’s read verses 3-4. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk and course joking are all antithetical to a life of love. We must not have even a hint of these things in our lives. Why?
Paul gives a strong warning about this in verse 5. “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Immorality, impurity and greed lead to idolatry so we must get rid of these things in our lives. But everywhere we go, whether work, school, the movie theatre or anywhere else, we find immorality, impurity and greed. So we must be careful not to be partners with these things or with people who do these things. The most common conversation topics involve gossip complaining, immoral things or course joking or all of the above. As God’s holy people, we must not participate in those things. Rather, we must be ready to give thanks to God in any situation. The life of love is characterized by thanksgiving to God, thereby being a good influence on others, encouraging them not to go astray.
Part ll: You Are Light In The Lord. (8-20)
A fundamental change in our lives has been occurred since we have been touched by Jesus’ love. Let’s read verse 8a. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Paul says that in the past, we were not only in darkness but we were darkness itself. But Jesus changed is. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus transferred us form the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, his light. After accepting Jesus, we are no longer dark. Rather we became light in the Lord. Our lives and our whole family can be a blessing, to many around us. All true Christians are light in the Lord. Instead of bringing darkness, we shine Jesus’ light wherever we go. Jesus’ light brings forgiveness, love and hope. Jesus’ light gives meaning to our lives. I really enjoy going to Bible conferences. Do you know why? It is because when I go to Bible conferences I am surrounded by people whose faces shine like the sun because of the grace of Jesus poured out on them. This is not a comment about their skin tone – it was a comment about their souls. I thank God that our family could be a blessing to the people of DeKalb Christian Church. I thank God that Sarah could shine the light of Jesus on her friends at her recent birthday party. I pray that we can be light in the Lord to the students of NIU and Kishwaukee College.
Imitating Jesus’ life of love shines Jesus’ light in us, into the world. How can we do so? First, live as children of light. (8-14) Let’s read verses 8b-10. “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” In Jesus, we are light. There is no room for darkness. We should not be angels in church and devils at home. Instead we must consistently live out our new identities as children of light and bear good fruit. This requires finding out what pleases the Lord. Children of light must study the Bible, pray and then put God’s word into practice.
Children of light stay away from the fruitless deeds of darkness. Look at verse 11. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” According to verse 12, they should not even talk about what is done in darkness because those deeds are so shameful. Darkness pervades the world but children of light drive it out by shining Jesus’ light. They do so by living a life of love. Children of light also expose the fruitlessness of darkness so that people may turn from their darkness and live a fruitful life in Jesus. Let’s live as children of light and shine brightly through our lives of love.
Second, be wise. (15-21) Let’s read verse 15 together. “Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise, but as wise….” It is pure wisdom to decide to live a life imitating God, especially Jesus’ life of love. In particular we need wisdom to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. When we look at the world, we can become discouraged by the evil things we see. But we must see these things, not as hindrances, but as opportunities to imitate God. In fact, every opportunity is an opportunity to bring glorify God.
Verse 17 says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Fools live according to their sinful nature but truly wise people understand what God’s will is and seek to imitate God in their daily lives. God does not want us to be filled with all kinds of immorality and course joking, like we read about in verses 3-5. Nor should we live like party animals, as in verse 16. God’s will is for us is to be filled with his Holy Spirit and speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. God’s will is for us to sing and make music to him that expresses our thanks to him. His will for us is to humble ourselves and imitate Jesus’ life of love and sacrifice. It is his will be live as the light of the world, pointing others to the source of our light, Jesus Christ. It all begins when we accept Jesus’ love for each of us personally, taste that love and decide, by faith to imitate him in living a life of love.
Ephesians 5:1-20 Delivered by Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 8-7-10
Verse 5:1,
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children”
Introduction to Ephesians.
For the next few weeks, we will study Ephesians. It is in order to prepare our hearts and our minds for our visit to the U of I Champaign UBF. Afterwards we will be studying the full armor of God (Eph 6). I hope to also have an “Armor of God” Bible School to bring in the new semester. In order to get into Ephesians, it is proper to get a little background. We can get some history of the Ephesian Church from Acts 19-28. Paul came to Ephesus from Corinth. The city was a commercial center of the Roman world. Revelation talks about 7 churches of God. Ephesian church is one of them. (Rev 2) You can go to Turkey and visit Ephesus. There Paul found twelve disciples and helped them to receive the baptism of Spirit. Paul entered the synagogue for three months, arguing persuasively among the Jews about the kingdom of God. He took the disciples and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years. Everyone who touched Paul was healed of their sickness. Many demon worshippers became believers. Converts burned their sorcery books at a cost of over 1 million dollars. Paul’s teaching brought spiritual revival to the city. But not everyone was happy. A silver Smith got really upset because no one wanted to worship Artemus and buy his idols. He incited the crowd and many Ephesian citizens tried to kill Paul. A riot almost broke out. But God saved Paul and he left and set out for Macedonia. Ephesus was the city where Paul gave his heart and raised the disciples of Jesus who went on to pioneer Asia Minor.
One year, Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to bring a financial offering to Jerusalem from the Gentiles in Asia Minor. This was a dangerous journey but absolutely necessary for the advancement of the church. Paul was not sure whether he would arrive in Jerusalem dead or alive. On the way to Jerusalem, Paul met the elders of Ephesus. They were mutually encouraged by each others’ faith. He told them this would be the last time that they may see him. He gave them some life-giving advice in verses 36-38, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give then to receive.’" Paul had many things to say to the brothers and sisters at Ephesus, but what grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. They all knelt down and prayed. They all wept as they embraced each other. Then they accompanied him to the ship. The Ephesian Church was full of love. They had true friendship in Jesus.
Chapters 21-28 of the book of Acts is about an exciting story of Paul going to Jerusalem but his plan was modified by God and he went to Rome as a prisoner. Initially he had some freedom to rent a house and have visitors. (Acts 28:30-31) For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the LORD Jesus Christ. Then, one day, he was thrown into a dungeon, a real prison. It was dark and dirty. Paul was all alone.
This was about the year A.D. 60. Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, wrote this letter to his dearly beloved disciples. (Eph 3:1, 4:1, 6:20) In his prison, he knelt before God and prayed for them. (Eph 1 and 3). Paul was not sure that he would come out of prison alive. His future was uncertain. He loved the disciples of Jesus in Ephesus. He knew that they might be discouraged because of his suffering. (3:13). If you knew that your time on this planet was short, what would you say to your beloved disciples and co-workers in the gospel? Well, he wrote the most appropriate things in the Book of Ephesus. Let's study portions of this letter knowing that Paul was in prison and he was pouring our his love and concern for this young church.
In Ephesians 5, Paul encouraged the Ephesian Christians to live a life of love. The phrase, “live a life of love,” might be the best summary of how to live out our new lives in Jesus. What better way to live a life of love than to imitate God. For God so loved the world that he sent his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) It’s not easy to imitate anyone. It requires humility and heart. Let’s learn from Paul what a life of love is and how to live a life of love by imitating the life of our Lord Jesus.
Part l: Live A Life Of Love. (1-7)
First, the best way to live a life of love is to be imitators of God. (1) Look at verse 1. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children….” To “be imitators” means to learn from someone else in order to master something. Sometimes the word “imitation” has a negative connotation because it conjures up images of low quality, counterfeit branded products made overseas. Moreover, our culture places a high premium on originality and creativity. No one wants to be accused of imitating anyone. They feel that it beneath them to imitate anyone. But the truth is, that without imitating, we cannot master anything, be it a field of study or a skill. Nor are we able to be original and creative without first learning to imitate. This lays a foundation in order to be creative. Let’s think about some great people in our culture. Ludwig Von Beethoven is a composer and is universally acknowledged as a creative genius. He was a child prodigy but he knew that to be a great musician, he had to study under a great musician. He wanted to study under Mozart and he eventually studied under Haydn. He practiced for ten hours a day. Only by imitating and learning from Haydn, could Beethoven become the great composer we know today.
To imitate is not easy. In the ancient world, a young man named Demosthenes, was ridiculed for his weak voice and poor pronunciation. So he went to the best orator of his time. In order to be trained to imitate his teacher’s pronunciation, Demosthenes put small pebbles in his mouth and practiced until he could speak clearly through the pebbles. To imitate his teacher’s volume, Demosthenes practiced on the seashore to train his voice to be louder than the roaring waves. By imitating his teacher, Demosthenes became one of the best orators in history.
We are familiar with imitating. Some people want to be like their favorite athlete. They imitate how they practice and play and even wear the same clothes and shoes. To be successful in their careers and in business, some people imitate Bill Gates or Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart. When we visit the Art Institute of Chicago, or the NIU school of art, we can see art students with paint and canvas, reproducing masterpieces and imitating the styles and techniques of famous artists. Our kids are in a praise band. If they want to grow to new heights in their worship music, they need to imitate great worship bands like Jesus Culture. Without imitation, we forever remain mediocre or worse.
We need to humble ourselves and live a life of imitation and then we can become the creative genius’ that we all want us to be. Why is it in America that we look at good examples around us and we never want to learn from them? We may envy them but we don’t want to imitate them. A lot of people compliment me about my family. They envy what God has given our house church. I think that they can have it too, if they learn to imitate. What did I do? Julie and I married by faith, sharing a common faith and common mission in life. We dedicated our family to serve Jesus and his mission, in our case, it is campus mission. We try to surrender ourselves to Jesus. We go to church every week. We attempt to study the Bible with a scholarly attitude. All of my children have one-to-one Bible study. We have daily bread, family prayer meetings, daily. We try to minister to the lost flock of God. We prepare music for each Sunday worship service from Thursday every week. I am not saying this to brag. I am only saying this to give people some direction. Do you want a family like mine? Well, imitate us as we strive to imitate Jesus. But we are not the ones to imitate actually.
Who or what, then, should we imitate? Let’s read verse 1. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.” It is one thing to imitate other people to learn some skill or technique, but Paul says that children of God must be imitators of God. To be imitators of God is more than just coming to church. To imitate God is to learn his heart and mind and grow to be like Jesus. To imitate God is to grow in the fullness of God’s love. We can really imitate God when we are sure that we are dearly loved by God. Children, who are sure about their parents’ love, almost instinctively imitate them. They learn not only skills but they especially learn their parents’ heart and mind for them. In this way, they also learn to love others. To be imitators of God we must be sure that God is our Heavenly Father who loves us as his precious children.
Second, live a life of love. (2) How can we be imitators of God? Let’s read verse 2. “… and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” We best imitate God when we live a life of love. The phrase, “live a life of love”, is very beautiful. It inspires us to overcome selfishness and our differences with others to live a noble and meaningful life of devotion. People often think of love as a feeling but according to the Bible, love is expressed as a lifestyle. “Live a life of love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 say, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” All of these things about love are not so much about how we feel as much as they are about how we live. We live a life of love when patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, hope and perseverance define our relationships with others. There are so many good examples of those who lived a life of love, like Rev. Yang Won Sohn who adopted the North Korean soldier who murdered his sons during the Korean War; Corrie Ten Boom who forgave the Nazis for killing her family members and brought Christ’s forgiveness to countless people after World War II, and Mother Teresa who loved the poorest of the poor and sickest of the sick in India. These are great people who lived great lives of love for the glory of God. But what about ordinary people like me?
“Live a life of love” sounds good but it also sounds too hard. How can we begin to live a life of love? We cannot by ourselves but we can live a life of love, when we accept God’s love for us. Look at verse 2 again. “… and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Jesus loved us so much that he sacrificed himself on the cross, to take up the punishment for all of our sins. Because Jesus loved us, we have an obligation of love to also love. 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Therefore, to live a life of love begins by accepting Jesus’ love for us. When we accept Jesus’ love and forgiveness for us, we can love and forgive others. Moreover, we see from Jesus that there is no limit to a life of love. Jesus loved us to the point of death and we ought to do the same for our brothers. Knowing Jesus’ love enables us to do that. I am far from living the life of love that Jesus wants me to live. I am not patient. I am not gentle, I am not kind. I keep a record of wrongs. Especially to those who are closest to me. I need to learn of Jesus and be changed in my inner person in order to live a life of love.
During this summer, there were three Bible conferences in Latin America. God is doing great and fantastic things in faraway places through our missionaries. A missionary’s life is not glamorous but difficult. Many have no security in this world. Many struggle with language, cultural differences and loneliness. Some struggle with their health. Some are in danger because of their missionary activities. Some worry about their children’s future. Why, then, do they remain in the mission field? It is because they love the people. They live a life of love and God has blesses their ministry.
We, too, can live a life of love from exactly where we are. Then we can be instrumental in leading students to faith in Jesus and helping them to grow in that faith. Usually, though, we can not live up to this heavenly standard of living even though we really wanted to do so. It is so easy to live a life of pride, a life of selfishness and a life of indifference but not a life of love. Still Jesus’ love and grace are limitless. Surely he will help us when we decide, by faith. Let us pray to live as Jesus lived by loving as he loved. May God bless each of us to live the most beautiful life – a life of love.
Third, not even a hint…. (3-7) A life of love is also characterized by moral purity. Let’s read verses 3-4. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk and course joking are all antithetical to a life of love. We must not have even a hint of these things in our lives. Why?
Paul gives a strong warning about this in verse 5. “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Immorality, impurity and greed lead to idolatry so we must get rid of these things in our lives. But everywhere we go, whether work, school, the movie theatre or anywhere else, we find immorality, impurity and greed. So we must be careful not to be partners with these things or with people who do these things. The most common conversation topics involve gossip complaining, immoral things or course joking or all of the above. As God’s holy people, we must not participate in those things. Rather, we must be ready to give thanks to God in any situation. The life of love is characterized by thanksgiving to God, thereby being a good influence on others, encouraging them not to go astray.
Part ll: You Are Light In The Lord. (8-20)
A fundamental change in our lives has been occurred since we have been touched by Jesus’ love. Let’s read verse 8a. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Paul says that in the past, we were not only in darkness but we were darkness itself. But Jesus changed is. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus transferred us form the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, his light. After accepting Jesus, we are no longer dark. Rather we became light in the Lord. Our lives and our whole family can be a blessing, to many around us. All true Christians are light in the Lord. Instead of bringing darkness, we shine Jesus’ light wherever we go. Jesus’ light brings forgiveness, love and hope. Jesus’ light gives meaning to our lives. I really enjoy going to Bible conferences. Do you know why? It is because when I go to Bible conferences I am surrounded by people whose faces shine like the sun because of the grace of Jesus poured out on them. This is not a comment about their skin tone – it was a comment about their souls. I thank God that our family could be a blessing to the people of DeKalb Christian Church. I thank God that Sarah could shine the light of Jesus on her friends at her recent birthday party. I pray that we can be light in the Lord to the students of NIU and Kishwaukee College.
Imitating Jesus’ life of love shines Jesus’ light in us, into the world. How can we do so? First, live as children of light. (8-14) Let’s read verses 8b-10. “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” In Jesus, we are light. There is no room for darkness. We should not be angels in church and devils at home. Instead we must consistently live out our new identities as children of light and bear good fruit. This requires finding out what pleases the Lord. Children of light must study the Bible, pray and then put God’s word into practice.
Children of light stay away from the fruitless deeds of darkness. Look at verse 11. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” According to verse 12, they should not even talk about what is done in darkness because those deeds are so shameful. Darkness pervades the world but children of light drive it out by shining Jesus’ light. They do so by living a life of love. Children of light also expose the fruitlessness of darkness so that people may turn from their darkness and live a fruitful life in Jesus. Let’s live as children of light and shine brightly through our lives of love.
Second, be wise. (15-21) Let’s read verse 15 together. “Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise, but as wise….” It is pure wisdom to decide to live a life imitating God, especially Jesus’ life of love. In particular we need wisdom to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. When we look at the world, we can become discouraged by the evil things we see. But we must see these things, not as hindrances, but as opportunities to imitate God. In fact, every opportunity is an opportunity to bring glorify God.
Verse 17 says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Fools live according to their sinful nature but truly wise people understand what God’s will is and seek to imitate God in their daily lives. God does not want us to be filled with all kinds of immorality and course joking, like we read about in verses 3-5. Nor should we live like party animals, as in verse 16. God’s will is for us is to be filled with his Holy Spirit and speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. God’s will is for us to sing and make music to him that expresses our thanks to him. His will for us is to humble ourselves and imitate Jesus’ life of love and sacrifice. It is his will be live as the light of the world, pointing others to the source of our light, Jesus Christ. It all begins when we accept Jesus’ love for each of us personally, taste that love and decide, by faith to imitate him in living a life of love.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Revelations 10:1-11
The Angel And The Little Scroll
Revelation 10:1-11 Lesson 10
Key verse 10:10-11 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 8-1-10
“I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages
and kings.’”
In chapter 8 and 9 we saw a lot of destruction and hardships that was unleashed upon the world. There was the plague of locusts that came up out of the Abyss led by their leader, named Destroyer. They had power to inflict suffering on the unrepentant populace for five months. We saw the huge army, amassed at the Euphrates River, two hundred million strong, set free to bring about God’s judgment. God had a clear purpose in allowing all the suffering that took place. It was his last- ditched effort to save people who stubbornly refused to repent of their sins, before they had to face the final judgment. Through it all we saw how God is actually the one who was in control. We also saw God’s grace in protecting those who received the seal of God on their foreheads.
In this passage, through all the suffering, we will see the glory and majesty of our God revealed in one of his ambassadors, a mighty angel. The mighty angel came down from heaven carrying a little scroll. John was given a mission to eat the little scroll and prophesy against many peoples, nations, languages and kings. Through this passage let us be encouraged by the fact that God is all powerful, almighty and the sovereign Lord of all that occurs in our lives and in this world. Let us adopt the attitude of a true servant of God’s word…the attitude that strives to internalize God’s word personally, obey it and teach it to others. Most importantly may you grow spiritually until the word of God can be like honey in your mouth and may you still hold onto it even when it becomes sour in your stomach at times. May God bless you.
Part l: The Mighty Angel And The Little Scroll (10:1-7)
In verses 1-4 God encourages the believers who were going tribulations.“ 1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." The mighty angel who came down from heaven was robed in a cloud with a rainbow above his head. He stood astride the sea and land. He was carrying the little scroll, in his hand. His appearance reminds us of Jesus in 1:12-16, but he is not Jesus. He is the King's messenger. When he shouted, the voices of seven thunders spoke. The contents of the second little scroll are not indicated, but it also may contain a revelation of judgment. They definitely contain the word of God.
His appearance was very encouraging. Look at verses 1, 3, “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars….3and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.” First, there was a rainbow above his head. In the Bible, the rainbow is a very glorious symbol. After the flood God set a rainbow in the sky and promised Noah and all mankind, that never again would he send a flood to destroy the earth. (Gen 9:13) Therefore it is a symbol of God’s faithful covenant. The rainbow is also something beautiful in the sky after a big storm. Noah saw the rainbow after a flood. Rainbows are seen after a summer rain. Therefore rainbows can be symbols of hope and a new beginnings after suffering. And we all know what is at the end of a rainbow? Yes!…a pot of gold. The rainbow above the angel’s head surely would have planted hope in suffering believers’ hearts.
We all need to see the hope of God for a new beginning in the midst of hardships. We have so many hardships. There are people I know who work so hard but they still have a hard time to pay the rent. Some students are getting deeper in debt and are not even sure that they can get a job using their degree. Some are stressed because of relationship problems. This summer has been a dry time in regards to ministry. It is so hard to get a person to begin Bible study and come to Sunday Worship Service. We are all in some sort of storm. But we need to lift up our eyes and see the rainbow, the sign that God is bringing a new beginning in our lives and ministry. The storm is passing and a bright new tomorrow in Christ is beginning.
Second, God’s ambassador is mighty. He is powerful. The angel’s legs were very strong, like fiery pillars. They were set on the land and the sea. He came from heaven. His power dominates the land and the sea. His voice was like seven thunders, like the roar of a lion. The roar of the lion is a display of his power and authority. I wonder what the seven thunders were saying. The voices probably contained two elements; God’s judgment and the fulfillment of God’s plan. Maybe there was an announcement of judgment found in Revelation 8:13a, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth…” Maybe he was saying what was written in Revelation 11:15b, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Maybe it was the words of heavenly worship found in Revelation 5:12, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Whatever was said, the point was clear, that though the world seemed to be harassed by demons, our God is the almighty God and he is fulfilling his plan of salvation. He is the victorious one, and so are those who are sealed by God.
The angel announced eminent fulfillment of God’s plan. Look at verses 6 & 7. “And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, ‘There will be no more delay! 7But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.’" The mystery of God in the New Testament is that God has brought Jews and Gentiles together as one holy nation under the banner of the gospel. (Eph 3:6) But complete fulfillment of this mystery, the angel was referring to, can be seen in Revelation 11:15, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." At the end of time, God’s plan for human history is completely revealed, all prophecy will be fulfilled. The end of the age will arrive when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. God has declared with absolute certainty that this will happen. We share in this victory with Jesus as his people. We may loose a few battles but the war is already won. This is very encouraging news for the people of God of all generations.
The question is, do we have eyes to see God working in the midst of cataclysmic disaster to fulfill his plan and bring about his kingdom? Can you see God working through the hardships and difficulties that are happening in your life? Just as certain as there are death and taxes, so there is also suffering and a cross that you must carry. If we are those who think that Christian life is a life of constant joy, laughter, ease and blessing upon blessing, all the time, you will be greatly disappointed. If you are not prepared, hardships of life will broadside you, even if you are a Christian. Such people, in their self centered way of thinking, will doubt the love of God when faced with their cross. Some will even doubt God’s existence. A few may even become enemies of God, working against God’s holy purpose. If we do not protect our hearts, then we may be one of those who fall away forever in the times of Tribulation. We need to be prepared and one way to be prepared is open your eyes to see God’s kingdom advancing. Jesus set the perfect example for us. Even when he was suffering and dying on the cross, he never doubted the love of his father. To be certain, God has a very clear purpose through it all. It may be not only to draw you closer to him, but also to draw your loved ones. It may to be to help some one repent of their idols and give their entire heart to the living God. It may be to help our nation to repent. Whatever the reason, we must always hold onto the truth revealed in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Part ll: Take It And Eat It (8-9)
The angel had a very important mission for John. Look at Verses 8-11, “ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings." This scroll is the word of revelation and judgment to the people of the earth. It is the word of God.
John was told to eat the little scroll. To eat the scroll means to digest it, to extract all of its nutrients and incorporate the nutrients into our own bodies. The scroll becomes part of us. It is sort of like communion when we take the bread of life, Jesus. Jesus said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Jesus said many other things like this. John was to take and eat the little scroll just as we must take and eat the bread of life. Let’s us repent of our superficial glances at the Bible and ingest it daily as we must.
Part lll : Sweet And Sour (10)
This little scroll had some interesting characteristics to it. Look at verse 10. “I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” Why is it that the little scroll tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth, but turns his stomach sour? First, let’s think about the scroll being sweet to taste. First the word of God is indeed sweet to taste. It is full of satisfying truth and true hope and great blessing. It is encouraging and strengthens the heart like nothing else in this world. Some of the fondest moments I have with the Jesus and his word are times when I could write daily bread, alone, at a picnic table at an Easter Bible conference. Or at before breakfast at a kitchen table or a table in a hotel. I have many Books of the Bible on my i-pod. I recently downloaded the Book of Joshua. I listened to the whole book as I walked the dog. It was sweet to me. The word of God is also sweet as I share it with Bible students who are truly interested in learning of Jesus. It is sweet when God reveals his truth to me in epiphanies of truth. These are personal revelations of truth from the Bible that strike our hearts like thunder. We never forget them. We are inspired to write them on our bedroom walls. My first epiphany of truth from God was Genesis 15:1b, “Do not be afraid Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward.” This promise came to me in the midst of some intense persecution. They were a comfort to me. I never forgot these words for the past 24 years. They were like honey in my mouth. I thank God that some of my kids are experiencing epiphanies of truth in Bible study. King David even experienced the word of God as honey. He wrote in Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Where would we be without the word of God?
I pray that we all may enter into this relationship with word of God. We need it to be disciples of Jesus. When the word of God is like honey in your mouth you can walk with Jesus faithfully and never fall away. Life in Christ will be a joy a delight to you. You will know that the word of God is more satisfying than music, more interesting than animated power points, more life changing than the words of an interesting preacher, more comforting than small group meetings. We need all these things, but the Word of God is the best! In the past 24 years in ministry I have discovered that those who have not cultivated a passionate love for the word of God and who depend on entertainment, speakers, books and fellowship for their lives of faith, will follow Jesus only a few years. They will become disinterested and fall away from Jesus.
There is another interesting characteristic to the word of God. Look at verse 10 again, “I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” Why would the lovely word of God turn your mouth sour? John was told that he must prophesy against many peoples, nations, languages and kings. God's word is truth, so it is sweet to taste; but often it speaks against our sinful desires. It convicts us as it exposes sin in us. Jesus acted out this truth when he turned over tables in the temple. (John 2:15) God’s word turns over tables in our own hearts. The word of God calls us to closer obedience to Jesus. It is not easy to obey. The word of God urges us to proclaim its truth to an unreceptive world. It is not easy to proclaim. We would all like to have our Christian lives to contain quiet moments of prayer and meditation drinking coffee in the mornings. But when the word of God leads us to the sacrificial, narrow way, to pick up our own crosses, it may be become sour in our stomachs. We may not like the place where the word of God is leading us. When the study of the word of God gets dry and not interesting and unappealing to us, how do we respond to the word of God? Do we throw it up out of our stomachs? Do we cast it away and look for more entertaining things, like a more interesting preacher or a book to the exclusion of the Bible?
When the word of God becomes sour in our stomachs we must stick with it. In Luke 9:23 Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and pick up our crosses and follow Jesus. When we stick with the word of God, the word of God will surely become like honey to you once again. It will be a joy to you and preaching it to a dying world will be a joy also. Stick with it. Get though the dry moments and find the honey in the word of God all over again.
Part lV: You Must Prophesy (11)
John was given a mission related to the word of God in the scroll. Look at verse 11 again. “Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.’" To prophesy means to speak as if divinely inspired; to give instruction in religious matters; to make a prediction and to preach. John was to eat the scroll and then preach the message of its contents to the people of the world. These words gave John hope and direction. He was already an old man and a prisoner on the island of Patmos, but God’s word to him meant that he would not die in exile. He would go on preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth as a bishop in the early church. For us, to prophesy, means to preach the word of God to the people of our generation. God has called us, to do this, here at UBF, mainly through 1:1 Bible study and discipleship.
When we eat the word of God, we will be able to prophesy “life giving” things to the young people of this generation. We all want to share God’s word in meaningful ways. But to do so you have to ingest the word of God, into our hearts in order to prophesy in the first place. Anyone who does not have such a relationship with the word of God can not speak the word of God. We all saw the messengers at the Peoria summer Bible conference. We all loved their messages and felt that they spoke very powerfully. They were preaching the word of God. They were prophesying to the people of our generation. God is raising them up as world class messengers. But what did it take for them to prophesy so powerfully? They had to eat the word of God. There was a messenger training camp. Prior to this camp they had to memorize their passages and prepare the first draft of their messages. Under the guidance of the senior UBF staff in the Chicago area, five messengers spent one week in full devotion to message preparation. They might have has six drafts of their messages. They ate together and slept in the same building and prayed together and prepared together. Each messenger made a personal decision to sacrifice in order to prepare their messages. They had a positive attitude in order to eat the word of God and God blessed them and us abundantly. I need to eat the word of God diligently in the coming two weeks. We are going to U of I Champaign Urbana where I will preach at our UBF ministry. I can not just wing it and talk about something very shallowly. This is not prophesying. I need to give my heart, digest Ephesians 5 and 6 and wholeheartedly prepare the word of God. May we repent on not eating the word of God. May we all devote ourselves to deep and scholarly Bible study and to the preaching of the word of God! America…let’s get back to the Bible!
In this passage we could see that God remains all powerful and almighty even in the midst of the deepest turmoil in our world and in our lives. We must open our eyes to see his glory and his kingdom advancing and grow. We also discovered what our attitude must be towards the word of God if we are going to stand as servants of Christ. We must “eat” the word of through deep and scholarly Bible study. We need to experience that sweetness of the word of God. And when the word of God becomes sour in our stomach, we must hold onto it, and allow it work in us and through us. Then it will become sweet in our mouths once again and more often. Lastly, let us devote our selves to prophesying the word of God to the nations of our generation, starting at Northern Illinois University. Amen!
Part l: The Mighty Angel And The Little Scroll (10:1-7)
1. Read vs. 10:1-4 How does God encourage the believers who go through the tribulation (woes)? Describe his appearance and characters (1,3) What does the rainbow symbolize? (Gen 9:13) What does the fact that he stands on land and sea?
2. How does he announce the fulfillment of God’s plan? (6,7) What is the mystery of God? (Eph 3:6; Rev 11:15b) How should this strengthen our faith in God? (Ro 8:28)
3. What is the little scroll? What do you think are the contents of this scroll? (Rev 8:13a; Rev
11:15b; Rev 5:12)
Part ll: Take It And Eat It (8-9)
4. What does it mean by ‘take it and eat it.’? How can we take and eat the word of God? What should be our attitude towards the word of God? What efforts can you make to take and eat God’s word?
5.
Part lll : Sweet And Sour (10)
6. What was John’s initial reaction to the word of God? What does it mean that it was sweat in his mouth? How can we have such a relationship with the word of God? (Ps 119:103)
7. What does it mean when the contents of the scroll turned John’s mouth sour? How can this happen? What must be our response when the word of God become sour to us? (Lk 9:23)
Part lV: You Must Prophesy (11)
8. What was the command of the angel? Who must he prophesy to? (11) Why would this be very difficult to do? (Jn 7:7; Mk 6:4) Why must we do it? How can you apply this command to your own life?
Revelation 10:1-11 Lesson 10
Key verse 10:10-11 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 8-1-10
“I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages
and kings.’”
In chapter 8 and 9 we saw a lot of destruction and hardships that was unleashed upon the world. There was the plague of locusts that came up out of the Abyss led by their leader, named Destroyer. They had power to inflict suffering on the unrepentant populace for five months. We saw the huge army, amassed at the Euphrates River, two hundred million strong, set free to bring about God’s judgment. God had a clear purpose in allowing all the suffering that took place. It was his last- ditched effort to save people who stubbornly refused to repent of their sins, before they had to face the final judgment. Through it all we saw how God is actually the one who was in control. We also saw God’s grace in protecting those who received the seal of God on their foreheads.
In this passage, through all the suffering, we will see the glory and majesty of our God revealed in one of his ambassadors, a mighty angel. The mighty angel came down from heaven carrying a little scroll. John was given a mission to eat the little scroll and prophesy against many peoples, nations, languages and kings. Through this passage let us be encouraged by the fact that God is all powerful, almighty and the sovereign Lord of all that occurs in our lives and in this world. Let us adopt the attitude of a true servant of God’s word…the attitude that strives to internalize God’s word personally, obey it and teach it to others. Most importantly may you grow spiritually until the word of God can be like honey in your mouth and may you still hold onto it even when it becomes sour in your stomach at times. May God bless you.
Part l: The Mighty Angel And The Little Scroll (10:1-7)
In verses 1-4 God encourages the believers who were going tribulations.“ 1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." The mighty angel who came down from heaven was robed in a cloud with a rainbow above his head. He stood astride the sea and land. He was carrying the little scroll, in his hand. His appearance reminds us of Jesus in 1:12-16, but he is not Jesus. He is the King's messenger. When he shouted, the voices of seven thunders spoke. The contents of the second little scroll are not indicated, but it also may contain a revelation of judgment. They definitely contain the word of God.
His appearance was very encouraging. Look at verses 1, 3, “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars….3and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.” First, there was a rainbow above his head. In the Bible, the rainbow is a very glorious symbol. After the flood God set a rainbow in the sky and promised Noah and all mankind, that never again would he send a flood to destroy the earth. (Gen 9:13) Therefore it is a symbol of God’s faithful covenant. The rainbow is also something beautiful in the sky after a big storm. Noah saw the rainbow after a flood. Rainbows are seen after a summer rain. Therefore rainbows can be symbols of hope and a new beginnings after suffering. And we all know what is at the end of a rainbow? Yes!…a pot of gold. The rainbow above the angel’s head surely would have planted hope in suffering believers’ hearts.
We all need to see the hope of God for a new beginning in the midst of hardships. We have so many hardships. There are people I know who work so hard but they still have a hard time to pay the rent. Some students are getting deeper in debt and are not even sure that they can get a job using their degree. Some are stressed because of relationship problems. This summer has been a dry time in regards to ministry. It is so hard to get a person to begin Bible study and come to Sunday Worship Service. We are all in some sort of storm. But we need to lift up our eyes and see the rainbow, the sign that God is bringing a new beginning in our lives and ministry. The storm is passing and a bright new tomorrow in Christ is beginning.
Second, God’s ambassador is mighty. He is powerful. The angel’s legs were very strong, like fiery pillars. They were set on the land and the sea. He came from heaven. His power dominates the land and the sea. His voice was like seven thunders, like the roar of a lion. The roar of the lion is a display of his power and authority. I wonder what the seven thunders were saying. The voices probably contained two elements; God’s judgment and the fulfillment of God’s plan. Maybe there was an announcement of judgment found in Revelation 8:13a, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth…” Maybe he was saying what was written in Revelation 11:15b, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Maybe it was the words of heavenly worship found in Revelation 5:12, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Whatever was said, the point was clear, that though the world seemed to be harassed by demons, our God is the almighty God and he is fulfilling his plan of salvation. He is the victorious one, and so are those who are sealed by God.
The angel announced eminent fulfillment of God’s plan. Look at verses 6 & 7. “And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, ‘There will be no more delay! 7But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.’" The mystery of God in the New Testament is that God has brought Jews and Gentiles together as one holy nation under the banner of the gospel. (Eph 3:6) But complete fulfillment of this mystery, the angel was referring to, can be seen in Revelation 11:15, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." At the end of time, God’s plan for human history is completely revealed, all prophecy will be fulfilled. The end of the age will arrive when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. God has declared with absolute certainty that this will happen. We share in this victory with Jesus as his people. We may loose a few battles but the war is already won. This is very encouraging news for the people of God of all generations.
The question is, do we have eyes to see God working in the midst of cataclysmic disaster to fulfill his plan and bring about his kingdom? Can you see God working through the hardships and difficulties that are happening in your life? Just as certain as there are death and taxes, so there is also suffering and a cross that you must carry. If we are those who think that Christian life is a life of constant joy, laughter, ease and blessing upon blessing, all the time, you will be greatly disappointed. If you are not prepared, hardships of life will broadside you, even if you are a Christian. Such people, in their self centered way of thinking, will doubt the love of God when faced with their cross. Some will even doubt God’s existence. A few may even become enemies of God, working against God’s holy purpose. If we do not protect our hearts, then we may be one of those who fall away forever in the times of Tribulation. We need to be prepared and one way to be prepared is open your eyes to see God’s kingdom advancing. Jesus set the perfect example for us. Even when he was suffering and dying on the cross, he never doubted the love of his father. To be certain, God has a very clear purpose through it all. It may be not only to draw you closer to him, but also to draw your loved ones. It may to be to help some one repent of their idols and give their entire heart to the living God. It may be to help our nation to repent. Whatever the reason, we must always hold onto the truth revealed in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Part ll: Take It And Eat It (8-9)
The angel had a very important mission for John. Look at Verses 8-11, “ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings." This scroll is the word of revelation and judgment to the people of the earth. It is the word of God.
John was told to eat the little scroll. To eat the scroll means to digest it, to extract all of its nutrients and incorporate the nutrients into our own bodies. The scroll becomes part of us. It is sort of like communion when we take the bread of life, Jesus. Jesus said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Jesus said many other things like this. John was to take and eat the little scroll just as we must take and eat the bread of life. Let’s us repent of our superficial glances at the Bible and ingest it daily as we must.
Part lll : Sweet And Sour (10)
This little scroll had some interesting characteristics to it. Look at verse 10. “I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” Why is it that the little scroll tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth, but turns his stomach sour? First, let’s think about the scroll being sweet to taste. First the word of God is indeed sweet to taste. It is full of satisfying truth and true hope and great blessing. It is encouraging and strengthens the heart like nothing else in this world. Some of the fondest moments I have with the Jesus and his word are times when I could write daily bread, alone, at a picnic table at an Easter Bible conference. Or at before breakfast at a kitchen table or a table in a hotel. I have many Books of the Bible on my i-pod. I recently downloaded the Book of Joshua. I listened to the whole book as I walked the dog. It was sweet to me. The word of God is also sweet as I share it with Bible students who are truly interested in learning of Jesus. It is sweet when God reveals his truth to me in epiphanies of truth. These are personal revelations of truth from the Bible that strike our hearts like thunder. We never forget them. We are inspired to write them on our bedroom walls. My first epiphany of truth from God was Genesis 15:1b, “Do not be afraid Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward.” This promise came to me in the midst of some intense persecution. They were a comfort to me. I never forgot these words for the past 24 years. They were like honey in my mouth. I thank God that some of my kids are experiencing epiphanies of truth in Bible study. King David even experienced the word of God as honey. He wrote in Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Where would we be without the word of God?
I pray that we all may enter into this relationship with word of God. We need it to be disciples of Jesus. When the word of God is like honey in your mouth you can walk with Jesus faithfully and never fall away. Life in Christ will be a joy a delight to you. You will know that the word of God is more satisfying than music, more interesting than animated power points, more life changing than the words of an interesting preacher, more comforting than small group meetings. We need all these things, but the Word of God is the best! In the past 24 years in ministry I have discovered that those who have not cultivated a passionate love for the word of God and who depend on entertainment, speakers, books and fellowship for their lives of faith, will follow Jesus only a few years. They will become disinterested and fall away from Jesus.
There is another interesting characteristic to the word of God. Look at verse 10 again, “I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” Why would the lovely word of God turn your mouth sour? John was told that he must prophesy against many peoples, nations, languages and kings. God's word is truth, so it is sweet to taste; but often it speaks against our sinful desires. It convicts us as it exposes sin in us. Jesus acted out this truth when he turned over tables in the temple. (John 2:15) God’s word turns over tables in our own hearts. The word of God calls us to closer obedience to Jesus. It is not easy to obey. The word of God urges us to proclaim its truth to an unreceptive world. It is not easy to proclaim. We would all like to have our Christian lives to contain quiet moments of prayer and meditation drinking coffee in the mornings. But when the word of God leads us to the sacrificial, narrow way, to pick up our own crosses, it may be become sour in our stomachs. We may not like the place where the word of God is leading us. When the study of the word of God gets dry and not interesting and unappealing to us, how do we respond to the word of God? Do we throw it up out of our stomachs? Do we cast it away and look for more entertaining things, like a more interesting preacher or a book to the exclusion of the Bible?
When the word of God becomes sour in our stomachs we must stick with it. In Luke 9:23 Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and pick up our crosses and follow Jesus. When we stick with the word of God, the word of God will surely become like honey to you once again. It will be a joy to you and preaching it to a dying world will be a joy also. Stick with it. Get though the dry moments and find the honey in the word of God all over again.
Part lV: You Must Prophesy (11)
John was given a mission related to the word of God in the scroll. Look at verse 11 again. “Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.’" To prophesy means to speak as if divinely inspired; to give instruction in religious matters; to make a prediction and to preach. John was to eat the scroll and then preach the message of its contents to the people of the world. These words gave John hope and direction. He was already an old man and a prisoner on the island of Patmos, but God’s word to him meant that he would not die in exile. He would go on preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth as a bishop in the early church. For us, to prophesy, means to preach the word of God to the people of our generation. God has called us, to do this, here at UBF, mainly through 1:1 Bible study and discipleship.
When we eat the word of God, we will be able to prophesy “life giving” things to the young people of this generation. We all want to share God’s word in meaningful ways. But to do so you have to ingest the word of God, into our hearts in order to prophesy in the first place. Anyone who does not have such a relationship with the word of God can not speak the word of God. We all saw the messengers at the Peoria summer Bible conference. We all loved their messages and felt that they spoke very powerfully. They were preaching the word of God. They were prophesying to the people of our generation. God is raising them up as world class messengers. But what did it take for them to prophesy so powerfully? They had to eat the word of God. There was a messenger training camp. Prior to this camp they had to memorize their passages and prepare the first draft of their messages. Under the guidance of the senior UBF staff in the Chicago area, five messengers spent one week in full devotion to message preparation. They might have has six drafts of their messages. They ate together and slept in the same building and prayed together and prepared together. Each messenger made a personal decision to sacrifice in order to prepare their messages. They had a positive attitude in order to eat the word of God and God blessed them and us abundantly. I need to eat the word of God diligently in the coming two weeks. We are going to U of I Champaign Urbana where I will preach at our UBF ministry. I can not just wing it and talk about something very shallowly. This is not prophesying. I need to give my heart, digest Ephesians 5 and 6 and wholeheartedly prepare the word of God. May we repent on not eating the word of God. May we all devote ourselves to deep and scholarly Bible study and to the preaching of the word of God! America…let’s get back to the Bible!
In this passage we could see that God remains all powerful and almighty even in the midst of the deepest turmoil in our world and in our lives. We must open our eyes to see his glory and his kingdom advancing and grow. We also discovered what our attitude must be towards the word of God if we are going to stand as servants of Christ. We must “eat” the word of through deep and scholarly Bible study. We need to experience that sweetness of the word of God. And when the word of God becomes sour in our stomach, we must hold onto it, and allow it work in us and through us. Then it will become sweet in our mouths once again and more often. Lastly, let us devote our selves to prophesying the word of God to the nations of our generation, starting at Northern Illinois University. Amen!
Part l: The Mighty Angel And The Little Scroll (10:1-7)
1. Read vs. 10:1-4 How does God encourage the believers who go through the tribulation (woes)? Describe his appearance and characters (1,3) What does the rainbow symbolize? (Gen 9:13) What does the fact that he stands on land and sea?
2. How does he announce the fulfillment of God’s plan? (6,7) What is the mystery of God? (Eph 3:6; Rev 11:15b) How should this strengthen our faith in God? (Ro 8:28)
3. What is the little scroll? What do you think are the contents of this scroll? (Rev 8:13a; Rev
11:15b; Rev 5:12)
Part ll: Take It And Eat It (8-9)
4. What does it mean by ‘take it and eat it.’? How can we take and eat the word of God? What should be our attitude towards the word of God? What efforts can you make to take and eat God’s word?
5.
Part lll : Sweet And Sour (10)
6. What was John’s initial reaction to the word of God? What does it mean that it was sweat in his mouth? How can we have such a relationship with the word of God? (Ps 119:103)
7. What does it mean when the contents of the scroll turned John’s mouth sour? How can this happen? What must be our response when the word of God become sour to us? (Lk 9:23)
Part lV: You Must Prophesy (11)
8. What was the command of the angel? Who must he prophesy to? (11) Why would this be very difficult to do? (Jn 7:7; Mk 6:4) Why must we do it? How can you apply this command to your own life?
Revelation 9:1-21
When The Star Opens The Abyss
The 5th and 6th Trumpets
Revelation 9:1-21 Lesson 9
Key verse 9:1; Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 7-25-10
"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss."
In this passage, the 5th and 6th angels blew their trumpets. There would be great destruction, but servants of God who bear his seal would not be harmed. God's purpose in releasing this destruction on mankind was to bring godless people to repentance (20). However, they did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. In this passage we learn that though Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, they can find comfort knowing that on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. We will also discover that God wants people to repent and be saved, but if people do not repent and accept his grace, there is no way to be saved. May God grant each of us repentant hearts and his seal on our foreheads, through the blood of Jesus.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
The Abyss was opened in God’s right time. Let’s read verses 1-2, “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.” John saw a "star", but this time the "star" was an intelligent being, able to take hold of a key that was given him and he opened the Abyss.
First, what is the Abyss? It sure doesn’t seem like some place I would like to go to even if I was a cave explorer for National Geographic. It is that horrible of a place. The Abyss is a "bottomless pit". In verse 2, John saw smoke rising from the shaft leading from the Abyss. It resembled smoke billowing out of an active volcano, which darkens the sun with its dark plumes. Smoke sometimes relates to judgment, doom, and torment in the Bible. In Luke 8:31 Jesus drives some demons out of a young man suffering from demon possession. The demons begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. It is preliminary a type of prison for demons abut not their final abode, which is the lake of fire.
What a foreboding scene! Is there a bright side to all this? Yes…If we look closely we can see that the key to the Abyss ‘was given’ to this ominous star. (9:1) He didn’t have it on his own accord, nor did he take it from its owner, who is God himself (for the shaft of the Abyss is normally held by Christ.) (Rev 1:17,18) But now it is temporarily given to another heavenly being who, simply appears to carry out God's instructions. In other words he is operating under God’s authority to fulfill God’s purpose. Though things seem to be out of control sometimes, God is actually in control.
The pollution that was pouring out of this Abyss, like the BP Gulf Oil Spill, was not the only thing that came out of that pit. Let’s read verses 3-4. “And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” In the Old Testament, The Prophet Joel described a locust plague as a foreshadowing of the ‘Day of the Lord’, meaning Christ’s coming judgment (Joel 2:1-10). Locusts were symbols of destruction because they destroyed all plant life. The eggs that they laid would become nymphs, the next spring who would eat the tender shoots. Here, the locusts symbolize an invasion of demons called to torture people who do not believe in God. The main intent of any demon is to prevent, distort or destroy peoples’ relationship with God. Because they are utterly corrupt and degenerate, they appear as locust in John’s vision. Probably these demons also assume some of the characteristics of locusts, overwhelming, hideous and devouring everything…never being satisfied. The locust demons also have a leader. Look at verse 11.“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon” His name means Destroyer. How would you like to have a name like “Destroyer”? Some of our boys might be thinking, “Ahh cool!”
These locusts caused people to suffer greatly. Look at verses 5-6, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” Their power was limited by God. They could only torture people and cause them to suffer in agony for five months. Because of the influence of these scorpion-like locusts, people will seek death but will not be able to escape their pain. They long for death rather than repenting and coming to God. The suffering they would endure is like that of the sting of a scorpion. What is the sting of a scorpion like? (let’s get someone up here to demonstrate the symptoms.) Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, the sting of a scorpion may include pain, which can be intense, with numbness and tingling in the area around the sting, but little or no swelling, muscle twitching or thrashing, unusual head, neck and eye movements, drooling, sweating, restlessness or excitability and sometimes inconsolable crying, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, muscle twitching, weakness. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scorpion-stings/DS01113/DSECTION=symptoms) It sounds pretty bad. Our friend Elijah Kasango was bit by a scorpion as he lived in a refugee camp in Zaire.
But there is a bright side to this story dark story as well. Their activity on the earth was limited by God. Look at verse 5a, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months….” God limits what they can do. They can do nothing without his permission. In other words, they are under God’s authority. God is our King. He is our sovereign Lord. He is in control of even things that make us afraid, like a bad economy, like sickness, and even violent crime. He uses things to serve his own purpose and to bring people back to him in repentance and faith.
God can take a person’s suffering, inflicted on them by the devil, and turn it into his good purpose. Think about Jesus. The devil did not want Jesus to fulfill his mission to be the Savior of the world. And so he threw all he had at Jesus causing him to be rejected and suffer greatly and be nailed to a cruel cross. The devil may have thought he was successful in thwarting the salvation plan of God. But he was not. Acts 2:23-24 reads, “23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Though all the fury of hell was thrown at Jesus, in the end, it fulfilled God’s plan to make Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Praise God for his sovereign control of this world and our lives. Anyone who commits themselves to Jesus, Jesus commits himself to them and leads them fruit bearing and to eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Another bright side is that they only hurt those who did not place their hope and trust in God. Look at verse 4b, “…but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” There is a timeless spiritual principle that we can learn from this passage. Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, but on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. Also servants of God, who bear his seal, would not be harmed in the time of suffering. “How do we get this seal on our forehead?” some of you may be asking right now. Listen to Ephesians 1:13-14, “13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” It is quite simple. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Place all of you hope and trust in him as you follow him as your Lord and Savior. When you repent and believe, you will be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
John then proceeded to describe the creatures he saw from head to tail. Let’s read verses 7-12, “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. 12The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.” " There is an old Arab proverb which says that the locust has a head like a horse, a breast like a lion, feet like a camel, a body like a serpent, and antennae like the hair of a maiden. (Constable’s notes) Locusts can be likened to horses when examined closely. Perhaps the reference to hair like women's, meant long hair, conveying a kind of wildness. Long hair in biblical times also was a sign of glory, so perhaps they have some glory. Lion-like teeth may indicate how powerful they were. John's description seems to indicate that they were frightening (cf. Joel 2:4). Their crowns (Gr. stephanos) probably symbolize their victory over the objects of their oppression. Their iron breastplates, gave them the appearance of invulnerability. It also means that someone was fighting against them. Who? It could have been the armies of people who did not believe in God. The sound of their activity was terrifying, like the sound of battle. Their resemblance to men suggests their intelligence, but they are not men. They were able to inflict all types of torment on large numbers of people. Some interpreters believe they represent a human army with flying war machines run by internal combustion engines. Still others interpret them as demons.
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
There was something in store for those who did not repent and accept Jesus at their Christ. Look at verses 13-16. “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The altar in the temple had four horns, one at each corner, and these were called the horns of the altar (Exodus 27:2) In the vision, someone near these four horns called out to the sixth angel. He gave the angel a command to release the four angels who were bound at the Euphrates River. These angels were bound and therefore we can say that they must have been fallen angels. If they were good angels why bind them? Let them go around and do their good deeds. These were bad angels. Not only bad, they were exceedingly evil and destructive. But they do not have the power to release themselves and do their evil work on earth at will. Instead, they are held back by God and will be released at a specific time. This area was the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. In the first century, people would have thought of the Parthians, the world's most dreaded cavalry at that time. The Parthians were the only warriors the Romans could not and did not defeat. They came from beyond the Euphrates and filled peoples’ hearts with terror. Whatever the case, the point is that our God, is the sovereign Lord. Our God is in control and he brings about his justice. No demonic forces can thwart his plans.
The number of troops in this army is somewhat prophetic of the end times. Let’s read verse 16, “The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The sixth angel blew his trumpet and four angels with an army of two hundred million were released and sent to kill a third of mankind. In John’s day, this number of mounted troops in any army was inconceivable, but today there are countless countries and alliances that could easily amass this many soldiers. In 1965 China claimed to have an army of 200 million (cf. Time, May 21, 1965, p. 35). In WWll, the combined Allied and Axis forces at their peak, totaled about 70 million. The number of people sympathetic to radical Islam’s cause could be over 200 million. So, such a human fighting force is very conceivable in the end times.
What was the purpose of this vast army? Look at verse 15. “15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” Their task was to put one-third of those who dwell on the earth to death. That is not a good purpose for living, but I guess someone has to do it. I have greater hope for higher purposes for each one of you. These four horrible angels “had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year.” With all that’s going on, we again see that nothing is random. They were used by God to bring his justice on a hardened, unrepentant populace.
What did this vast army look like and how did they fulfill their dastardly purpose? Let’s read verses 17-19, ““The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.” Horses were swift implements of war in ancient times. Some interpreters have suggested that what they represent are modern weapons that shoot both forward and backward, such as missiles. Red, blue, and yellow breastplates covered both horses and riders. This was defensive armor. They had lion-like horse heads. Lions are terrifying, fierce, and destructive at times. Fire, smoke, and sulfur spewed out of their mouths. The colors of fire, smoke and sulfur are also red, blue, and yellow. Fire, smoke, and sulfur are natural elements that God used to bring judgment in the past during similar conditions, like the destruction poured down on Sodom and Gommorah. (cf. Gen. 19:24, 28). He may use them again at the time of the end.
The judgment’s toll upon mankind will be enormous. “18A third of mankind was killed…” (18a) Here, one third of all people are killed. In Rev 6:7-8, one forth of mankind was killed. If you do the math, that leaves us with only half of those we started with. Imagine…over one half of the people in the world will have been killed by God’s judgments. Many more died as martyrs and for other reasons (cf. Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22). Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction. Together they will be responsible for the largest death toll in human history so far.
We can see God’s purpose in unleashing his wrath upon the earth in verses 20-21. Let’s read them. “20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Clearly, God wanted to bring godless people to repentance (20). We are now living in the age of grace. God is leading people to himself through his love, his grace, forgiveness, truth, and divine-fatherly discipline. God is leading the world to himself through his Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Millions upon millions of people today are responding to his tender call, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) But in the end times, people, who have spent a life time ignoring and rejecting God’s call, will be facing eminent, eternal judgment and condemnation. What is God to do? Sit back, fold his arms and let them all go to hell? No, even in the end times, God does not want anyone to perish, both now and in the future. (2 Peter 3:9) And so he tries his best, right to the bitter end, as any father would do. How did the people respond to his last ditched-rescue attempt? Look at verses 20-21 again. They did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. These people were so hardhearted that even the plagues did not drive them to God. Nevertheless some will become believers in Jesus Christ (ch. 7).
How could these people get so hardened? People don’t usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly. They slip into it a little bit at time until, hardly realizing what had happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. The Bible says that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. ( jn 8:34) Any person who allows sin to take root in his or her life, and anyone who does not know the grace of Jesus very detailedly, can find themselves in this predicament. Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, then a habit the next day, then separation from God forever. (James 1:15) To think that you can never become as evil as the people in verses 20-21 is the first step toward a hardened, unresponsive heart. We must humble ourselves, daily repent of our sin before God and acknowledge our need for Him. God's people are the broken hearted, those who allow the word of God to penetrate their lives and take root in their hearts. God wants to give us a new heart. King David said it best, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) The true spiritual labor of a Christian is to not lose their heart to the world and its evil desires, but keep it tender and responsive to Jesus. This is why we must train ourselves to listen to the word of God and allow ourselves to be healed and cleanse through the word daily. May God create in each of us a pure heart and help us to deeply honor and respect him during worship so that are hearts may not grow hard from sin and the world. Then we can stand firm in out faith, both now and in the future.
In this passage we learned that God wants all people to come to repentance and faith and be saved and to this end he tries his best. He wants to place his seal on us, the promised Holy Spirit. But we must not wait for destruction to come upon us. Repent and believe now and be saved, for today is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2) We also learned that God is in control and no matter how bad things get God has his good purposes in our lives. We need to trust God. We also learned to keep our heart soft and tender and responsive to God and his word, or sins deceitfulness will hardened our hearts. Hard times will come and they will get harder. Come to Jesus, and be found in him. You will taste true hope and glorious victory.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
1. Read vs. 1-2. When the fifth trumpet sounds, a star that has fallen from the sky is given the key to the Abyss. What does the star here represent? (11, 12:4, 20:3) As he opens the Abyss, what happens to the sun and the sky? (2, 6:12) What does it represent? (11:2,7)
2. Read vs. 3-6. How are the locusts restricted in their evil operation? (3-4) How do they torture the unbelievers? (5,6) How long? Why does God distinguish the believers from the unbelievers? How does it show that God is in control over this judgment?
3. Read vs. 7-12. Describe the appearance of the locusts. How do they look? What do they symbolize? (Or are they real?) How do they inflict torment upon the unbelievers? (10) Who do they belong to? (11) Who is the angel of the Abyss? (20:3)
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
4. Read vs. 13-16. At the sixth trumpet sound, what is the sixth angel commanded to do? (13) Who are these four angels kept at the river Euphrates? (14, 7:2) What happens to mankind? (15,16) What does it signify that they have been kept ready for “this very hour and day and month and year”?
5. Read vs. 17-21. Describe appearance of the horses and riders. How are they similar to (or different from) the locusts? What do they represent? How is a third of mankind killed? How do the people respond to the terrible judgments (20,21) How are the two woes different from the first four trumpet judgments?
The 5th and 6th Trumpets
Revelation 9:1-21 Lesson 9
Key verse 9:1; Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 7-25-10
"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss."
In this passage, the 5th and 6th angels blew their trumpets. There would be great destruction, but servants of God who bear his seal would not be harmed. God's purpose in releasing this destruction on mankind was to bring godless people to repentance (20). However, they did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. In this passage we learn that though Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, they can find comfort knowing that on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. We will also discover that God wants people to repent and be saved, but if people do not repent and accept his grace, there is no way to be saved. May God grant each of us repentant hearts and his seal on our foreheads, through the blood of Jesus.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
The Abyss was opened in God’s right time. Let’s read verses 1-2, “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.” John saw a "star", but this time the "star" was an intelligent being, able to take hold of a key that was given him and he opened the Abyss.
First, what is the Abyss? It sure doesn’t seem like some place I would like to go to even if I was a cave explorer for National Geographic. It is that horrible of a place. The Abyss is a "bottomless pit". In verse 2, John saw smoke rising from the shaft leading from the Abyss. It resembled smoke billowing out of an active volcano, which darkens the sun with its dark plumes. Smoke sometimes relates to judgment, doom, and torment in the Bible. In Luke 8:31 Jesus drives some demons out of a young man suffering from demon possession. The demons begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. It is preliminary a type of prison for demons abut not their final abode, which is the lake of fire.
What a foreboding scene! Is there a bright side to all this? Yes…If we look closely we can see that the key to the Abyss ‘was given’ to this ominous star. (9:1) He didn’t have it on his own accord, nor did he take it from its owner, who is God himself (for the shaft of the Abyss is normally held by Christ.) (Rev 1:17,18) But now it is temporarily given to another heavenly being who, simply appears to carry out God's instructions. In other words he is operating under God’s authority to fulfill God’s purpose. Though things seem to be out of control sometimes, God is actually in control.
The pollution that was pouring out of this Abyss, like the BP Gulf Oil Spill, was not the only thing that came out of that pit. Let’s read verses 3-4. “And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” In the Old Testament, The Prophet Joel described a locust plague as a foreshadowing of the ‘Day of the Lord’, meaning Christ’s coming judgment (Joel 2:1-10). Locusts were symbols of destruction because they destroyed all plant life. The eggs that they laid would become nymphs, the next spring who would eat the tender shoots. Here, the locusts symbolize an invasion of demons called to torture people who do not believe in God. The main intent of any demon is to prevent, distort or destroy peoples’ relationship with God. Because they are utterly corrupt and degenerate, they appear as locust in John’s vision. Probably these demons also assume some of the characteristics of locusts, overwhelming, hideous and devouring everything…never being satisfied. The locust demons also have a leader. Look at verse 11.“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon” His name means Destroyer. How would you like to have a name like “Destroyer”? Some of our boys might be thinking, “Ahh cool!”
These locusts caused people to suffer greatly. Look at verses 5-6, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” Their power was limited by God. They could only torture people and cause them to suffer in agony for five months. Because of the influence of these scorpion-like locusts, people will seek death but will not be able to escape their pain. They long for death rather than repenting and coming to God. The suffering they would endure is like that of the sting of a scorpion. What is the sting of a scorpion like? (let’s get someone up here to demonstrate the symptoms.) Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, the sting of a scorpion may include pain, which can be intense, with numbness and tingling in the area around the sting, but little or no swelling, muscle twitching or thrashing, unusual head, neck and eye movements, drooling, sweating, restlessness or excitability and sometimes inconsolable crying, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, muscle twitching, weakness. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scorpion-stings/DS01113/DSECTION=symptoms) It sounds pretty bad. Our friend Elijah Kasango was bit by a scorpion as he lived in a refugee camp in Zaire.
But there is a bright side to this story dark story as well. Their activity on the earth was limited by God. Look at verse 5a, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months….” God limits what they can do. They can do nothing without his permission. In other words, they are under God’s authority. God is our King. He is our sovereign Lord. He is in control of even things that make us afraid, like a bad economy, like sickness, and even violent crime. He uses things to serve his own purpose and to bring people back to him in repentance and faith.
God can take a person’s suffering, inflicted on them by the devil, and turn it into his good purpose. Think about Jesus. The devil did not want Jesus to fulfill his mission to be the Savior of the world. And so he threw all he had at Jesus causing him to be rejected and suffer greatly and be nailed to a cruel cross. The devil may have thought he was successful in thwarting the salvation plan of God. But he was not. Acts 2:23-24 reads, “23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Though all the fury of hell was thrown at Jesus, in the end, it fulfilled God’s plan to make Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Praise God for his sovereign control of this world and our lives. Anyone who commits themselves to Jesus, Jesus commits himself to them and leads them fruit bearing and to eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Another bright side is that they only hurt those who did not place their hope and trust in God. Look at verse 4b, “…but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” There is a timeless spiritual principle that we can learn from this passage. Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, but on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. Also servants of God, who bear his seal, would not be harmed in the time of suffering. “How do we get this seal on our forehead?” some of you may be asking right now. Listen to Ephesians 1:13-14, “13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” It is quite simple. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Place all of you hope and trust in him as you follow him as your Lord and Savior. When you repent and believe, you will be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
John then proceeded to describe the creatures he saw from head to tail. Let’s read verses 7-12, “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. 12The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.” " There is an old Arab proverb which says that the locust has a head like a horse, a breast like a lion, feet like a camel, a body like a serpent, and antennae like the hair of a maiden. (Constable’s notes) Locusts can be likened to horses when examined closely. Perhaps the reference to hair like women's, meant long hair, conveying a kind of wildness. Long hair in biblical times also was a sign of glory, so perhaps they have some glory. Lion-like teeth may indicate how powerful they were. John's description seems to indicate that they were frightening (cf. Joel 2:4). Their crowns (Gr. stephanos) probably symbolize their victory over the objects of their oppression. Their iron breastplates, gave them the appearance of invulnerability. It also means that someone was fighting against them. Who? It could have been the armies of people who did not believe in God. The sound of their activity was terrifying, like the sound of battle. Their resemblance to men suggests their intelligence, but they are not men. They were able to inflict all types of torment on large numbers of people. Some interpreters believe they represent a human army with flying war machines run by internal combustion engines. Still others interpret them as demons.
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
There was something in store for those who did not repent and accept Jesus at their Christ. Look at verses 13-16. “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The altar in the temple had four horns, one at each corner, and these were called the horns of the altar (Exodus 27:2) In the vision, someone near these four horns called out to the sixth angel. He gave the angel a command to release the four angels who were bound at the Euphrates River. These angels were bound and therefore we can say that they must have been fallen angels. If they were good angels why bind them? Let them go around and do their good deeds. These were bad angels. Not only bad, they were exceedingly evil and destructive. But they do not have the power to release themselves and do their evil work on earth at will. Instead, they are held back by God and will be released at a specific time. This area was the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. In the first century, people would have thought of the Parthians, the world's most dreaded cavalry at that time. The Parthians were the only warriors the Romans could not and did not defeat. They came from beyond the Euphrates and filled peoples’ hearts with terror. Whatever the case, the point is that our God, is the sovereign Lord. Our God is in control and he brings about his justice. No demonic forces can thwart his plans.
The number of troops in this army is somewhat prophetic of the end times. Let’s read verse 16, “The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The sixth angel blew his trumpet and four angels with an army of two hundred million were released and sent to kill a third of mankind. In John’s day, this number of mounted troops in any army was inconceivable, but today there are countless countries and alliances that could easily amass this many soldiers. In 1965 China claimed to have an army of 200 million (cf. Time, May 21, 1965, p. 35). In WWll, the combined Allied and Axis forces at their peak, totaled about 70 million. The number of people sympathetic to radical Islam’s cause could be over 200 million. So, such a human fighting force is very conceivable in the end times.
What was the purpose of this vast army? Look at verse 15. “15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” Their task was to put one-third of those who dwell on the earth to death. That is not a good purpose for living, but I guess someone has to do it. I have greater hope for higher purposes for each one of you. These four horrible angels “had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year.” With all that’s going on, we again see that nothing is random. They were used by God to bring his justice on a hardened, unrepentant populace.
What did this vast army look like and how did they fulfill their dastardly purpose? Let’s read verses 17-19, ““The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.” Horses were swift implements of war in ancient times. Some interpreters have suggested that what they represent are modern weapons that shoot both forward and backward, such as missiles. Red, blue, and yellow breastplates covered both horses and riders. This was defensive armor. They had lion-like horse heads. Lions are terrifying, fierce, and destructive at times. Fire, smoke, and sulfur spewed out of their mouths. The colors of fire, smoke and sulfur are also red, blue, and yellow. Fire, smoke, and sulfur are natural elements that God used to bring judgment in the past during similar conditions, like the destruction poured down on Sodom and Gommorah. (cf. Gen. 19:24, 28). He may use them again at the time of the end.
The judgment’s toll upon mankind will be enormous. “18A third of mankind was killed…” (18a) Here, one third of all people are killed. In Rev 6:7-8, one forth of mankind was killed. If you do the math, that leaves us with only half of those we started with. Imagine…over one half of the people in the world will have been killed by God’s judgments. Many more died as martyrs and for other reasons (cf. Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22). Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction. Together they will be responsible for the largest death toll in human history so far.
We can see God’s purpose in unleashing his wrath upon the earth in verses 20-21. Let’s read them. “20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Clearly, God wanted to bring godless people to repentance (20). We are now living in the age of grace. God is leading people to himself through his love, his grace, forgiveness, truth, and divine-fatherly discipline. God is leading the world to himself through his Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Millions upon millions of people today are responding to his tender call, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) But in the end times, people, who have spent a life time ignoring and rejecting God’s call, will be facing eminent, eternal judgment and condemnation. What is God to do? Sit back, fold his arms and let them all go to hell? No, even in the end times, God does not want anyone to perish, both now and in the future. (2 Peter 3:9) And so he tries his best, right to the bitter end, as any father would do. How did the people respond to his last ditched-rescue attempt? Look at verses 20-21 again. They did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. These people were so hardhearted that even the plagues did not drive them to God. Nevertheless some will become believers in Jesus Christ (ch. 7).
How could these people get so hardened? People don’t usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly. They slip into it a little bit at time until, hardly realizing what had happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. The Bible says that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. ( jn 8:34) Any person who allows sin to take root in his or her life, and anyone who does not know the grace of Jesus very detailedly, can find themselves in this predicament. Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, then a habit the next day, then separation from God forever. (James 1:15) To think that you can never become as evil as the people in verses 20-21 is the first step toward a hardened, unresponsive heart. We must humble ourselves, daily repent of our sin before God and acknowledge our need for Him. God's people are the broken hearted, those who allow the word of God to penetrate their lives and take root in their hearts. God wants to give us a new heart. King David said it best, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) The true spiritual labor of a Christian is to not lose their heart to the world and its evil desires, but keep it tender and responsive to Jesus. This is why we must train ourselves to listen to the word of God and allow ourselves to be healed and cleanse through the word daily. May God create in each of us a pure heart and help us to deeply honor and respect him during worship so that are hearts may not grow hard from sin and the world. Then we can stand firm in out faith, both now and in the future.
In this passage we learned that God wants all people to come to repentance and faith and be saved and to this end he tries his best. He wants to place his seal on us, the promised Holy Spirit. But we must not wait for destruction to come upon us. Repent and believe now and be saved, for today is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2) We also learned that God is in control and no matter how bad things get God has his good purposes in our lives. We need to trust God. We also learned to keep our heart soft and tender and responsive to God and his word, or sins deceitfulness will hardened our hearts. Hard times will come and they will get harder. Come to Jesus, and be found in him. You will taste true hope and glorious victory.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
1. Read vs. 1-2. When the fifth trumpet sounds, a star that has fallen from the sky is given the key to the Abyss. What does the star here represent? (11, 12:4, 20:3) As he opens the Abyss, what happens to the sun and the sky? (2, 6:12) What does it represent? (11:2,7)
2. Read vs. 3-6. How are the locusts restricted in their evil operation? (3-4) How do they torture the unbelievers? (5,6) How long? Why does God distinguish the believers from the unbelievers? How does it show that God is in control over this judgment?
3. Read vs. 7-12. Describe the appearance of the locusts. How do they look? What do they symbolize? (Or are they real?) How do they inflict torment upon the unbelievers? (10) Who do they belong to? (11) Who is the angel of the Abyss? (20:3)
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
4. Read vs. 13-16. At the sixth trumpet sound, what is the sixth angel commanded to do? (13) Who are these four angels kept at the river Euphrates? (14, 7:2) What happens to mankind? (15,16) What does it signify that they have been kept ready for “this very hour and day and month and year”?
5. Read vs. 17-21. Describe appearance of the horses and riders. How are they similar to (or different from) the locusts? What do they represent? How is a third of mankind killed? How do the people respond to the terrible judgments (20,21) How are the two woes different from the first four trumpet judgments?
Revelation 9:1-21
When The Star Opens The Abyss
The 5th and 6th Trumpets
Revelation 9:1-21 Lesson 9
Key verse 9:1; Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 7-25-10
"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss."
In this passage, the 5th and 6th angels blew their trumpets. There would be great destruction, but servants of God who bear his seal would not be harmed. God's purpose in releasing this destruction on mankind was to bring godless people to repentance (20). However, they did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. In this passage we learn that though Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, they can find comfort knowing that on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. We will also discover that God wants people to repent and be saved, but if people do not repent and accept his grace, there is no way to be saved. May God grant each of us repentant hearts and his seal on our foreheads, through the blood of Jesus.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
The Abyss was opened in God’s right time. Let’s read verses 1-2, “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.” John saw a "star", but this time the "star" was an intelligent being, able to take hold of a key that was given him and he opened the Abyss.
First, what is the Abyss? It sure doesn’t seem like some place I would like to go to even if I was a cave explorer for National Geographic. It is that horrible of a place. The Abyss is a "bottomless pit". In verse 2, John saw smoke rising from the shaft leading from the Abyss. It resembled smoke billowing out of an active volcano, which darkens the sun with its dark plumes. Smoke sometimes relates to judgment, doom, and torment in the Bible. In Luke 8:31 Jesus drives some demons out of a young man suffering from demon possession. The demons begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. It is preliminary a type of prison for demons abut not their final abode, which is the lake of fire.
What a foreboding scene! Is there a bright side to all this? Yes…If we look closely we can see that the key to the Abyss ‘was given’ to this ominous star. (9:1) He didn’t have it on his own accord, nor did he take it from its owner, who is God himself (for the shaft of the Abyss is normally held by Christ.) (Rev 1:17,18) But now it is temporarily given to another heavenly being who, simply appears to carry out God's instructions. In other words he is operating under God’s authority to fulfill God’s purpose. Though things seem to be out of control sometimes, God is actually in control.
The pollution that was pouring out of this Abyss, like the BP Gulf Oil Spill, was not the only thing that came out of that pit. Let’s read verses 3-4. “And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” In the Old Testament, The Prophet Joel described a locust plague as a foreshadowing of the ‘Day of the Lord’, meaning Christ’s coming judgment (Joel 2:1-10). Locusts were symbols of destruction because they destroyed all plant life. The eggs that they laid would become nymphs, the next spring who would eat the tender shoots. Here, the locusts symbolize an invasion of demons called to torture people who do not believe in God. The main intent of any demon is to prevent, distort or destroy peoples’ relationship with God. Because they are utterly corrupt and degenerate, they appear as locust in John’s vision. Probably these demons also assume some of the characteristics of locusts, overwhelming, hideous and devouring everything…never being satisfied. The locust demons also have a leader. Look at verse 11.“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon” His name means Destroyer. How would you like to have a name like “Destroyer”? Some of our boys might be thinking, “Ahh cool!”
These locusts caused people to suffer greatly. Look at verses 5-6, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” Their power was limited by God. They could only torture people and cause them to suffer in agony for five months. Because of the influence of these scorpion-like locusts, people will seek death but will not be able to escape their pain. They long for death rather than repenting and coming to God. The suffering they would endure is like that of the sting of a scorpion. What is the sting of a scorpion like? (let’s get someone up here to demonstrate the symptoms.) Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, the sting of a scorpion may include pain, which can be intense, with numbness and tingling in the area around the sting, but little or no swelling, muscle twitching or thrashing, unusual head, neck and eye movements, drooling, sweating, restlessness or excitability and sometimes inconsolable crying, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, muscle twitching, weakness. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scorpion-stings/DS01113/DSECTION=symptoms) It sounds pretty bad. Our friend Elijah Kasango was bit by a scorpion as he lived in a refugee camp in Zaire.
But there is a bright side to this story dark story as well. Their activity on the earth was limited by God. Look at verse 5a, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months….” God limits what they can do. They can do nothing without his permission. In other words, they are under God’s authority. God is our King. He is our sovereign Lord. He is in control of even things that make us afraid, like a bad economy, like sickness, and even violent crime. He uses things to serve his own purpose and to bring people back to him in repentance and faith.
God can take a person’s suffering, inflicted on them by the devil, and turn it into his good purpose. Think about Jesus. The devil did not want Jesus to fulfill his mission to be the Savior of the world. And so he threw all he had at Jesus causing him to be rejected and suffer greatly and be nailed to a cruel cross. The devil may have thought he was successful in thwarting the salvation plan of God. But he was not. Acts 2:23-24 reads, “23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Though all the fury of hell was thrown at Jesus, in the end, it fulfilled God’s plan to make Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Praise God for his sovereign control of this world and our lives. Anyone who commits themselves to Jesus, Jesus commits himself to them and leads them fruit bearing and to eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Another bright side is that they only hurt those who did not place their hope and trust in God. Look at verse 4b, “…but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” There is a timeless spiritual principle that we can learn from this passage. Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, but on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. Also servants of God, who bear his seal, would not be harmed in the time of suffering. “How do we get this seal on our forehead?” some of you may be asking right now. Listen to Ephesians 1:13-14, “13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” It is quite simple. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Place all of you hope and trust in him as you follow him as your Lord and Savior. When you repent and believe, you will be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
John then proceeded to describe the creatures he saw from head to tail. Let’s read verses 7-12, “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. 12The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.” " There is an old Arab proverb which says that the locust has a head like a horse, a breast like a lion, feet like a camel, a body like a serpent, and antennae like the hair of a maiden. (Constable’s notes) Locusts can be likened to horses when examined closely. Perhaps the reference to hair like women's, meant long hair, conveying a kind of wildness. Long hair in biblical times also was a sign of glory, so perhaps they have some glory. Lion-like teeth may indicate how powerful they were. John's description seems to indicate that they were frightening (cf. Joel 2:4). Their crowns (Gr. stephanos) probably symbolize their victory over the objects of their oppression. Their iron breastplates, gave them the appearance of invulnerability. It also means that someone was fighting against them. Who? It could have been the armies of people who did not believe in God. The sound of their activity was terrifying, like the sound of battle. Their resemblance to men suggests their intelligence, but they are not men. They were able to inflict all types of torment on large numbers of people. Some interpreters believe they represent a human army with flying war machines run by internal combustion engines. Still others interpret them as demons.
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
There was something in store for those who did not repent and accept Jesus at their Christ. Look at verses 13-16. “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The altar in the temple had four horns, one at each corner, and these were called the horns of the altar (Exodus 27:2) In the vision, someone near these four horns called out to the sixth angel. He gave the angel a command to release the four angels who were bound at the Euphrates River. These angels were bound and therefore we can say that they must have been fallen angels. If they were good angels why bind them? Let them go around and do their good deeds. These were bad angels. Not only bad, they were exceedingly evil and destructive. But they do not have the power to release themselves and do their evil work on earth at will. Instead, they are held back by God and will be released at a specific time. This area was the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. In the first century, people would have thought of the Parthians, the world's most dreaded cavalry at that time. The Parthians were the only warriors the Romans could not and did not defeat. They came from beyond the Euphrates and filled peoples’ hearts with terror. Whatever the case, the point is that our God, is the sovereign Lord. Our God is in control and he brings about his justice. No demonic forces can thwart his plans.
The number of troops in this army is somewhat prophetic of the end times. Let’s read verse 16, “The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The sixth angel blew his trumpet and four angels with an army of two hundred million were released and sent to kill a third of mankind. In John’s day, this number of mounted troops in any army was inconceivable, but today there are countless countries and alliances that could easily amass this many soldiers. In 1965 China claimed to have an army of 200 million (cf. Time, May 21, 1965, p. 35). In WWll, the combined Allied and Axis forces at their peak, totaled about 70 million. The number of people sympathetic to radical Islam’s cause could be over 200 million. So, such a human fighting force is very conceivable in the end times.
What was the purpose of this vast army? Look at verse 15. “15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” Their task was to put one-third of those who dwell on the earth to death. That is not a good purpose for living, but I guess someone has to do it. I have greater hope for higher purposes for each one of you. These four horrible angels “had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year.” With all that’s going on, we again see that nothing is random. They were used by God to bring his justice on a hardened, unrepentant populace.
What did this vast army look like and how did they fulfill their dastardly purpose? Let’s read verses 17-19, ““The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.” Horses were swift implements of war in ancient times. Some interpreters have suggested that what they represent are modern weapons that shoot both forward and backward, such as missiles. Red, blue, and yellow breastplates covered both horses and riders. This was defensive armor. They had lion-like horse heads. Lions are terrifying, fierce, and destructive at times. Fire, smoke, and sulfur spewed out of their mouths. The colors of fire, smoke and sulfur are also red, blue, and yellow. Fire, smoke, and sulfur are natural elements that God used to bring judgment in the past during similar conditions, like the destruction poured down on Sodom and Gommorah. (cf. Gen. 19:24, 28). He may use them again at the time of the end.
The judgment’s toll upon mankind will be enormous. “18A third of mankind was killed…” (18a) Here, one third of all people are killed. In Rev 6:7-8, one forth of mankind was killed. If you do the math, that leaves us with only half of those we started with. Imagine…over one half of the people in the world will have been killed by God’s judgments. Many more died as martyrs and for other reasons (cf. Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22). Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction. Together they will be responsible for the largest death toll in human history so far.
We can see God’s purpose in unleashing his wrath upon the earth in verses 20-21. Let’s read them. “20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Clearly, God wanted to bring godless people to repentance (20). We are now living in the age of grace. God is leading people to himself through his love, his grace, forgiveness, truth, and divine-fatherly discipline. God is leading the world to himself through his Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Millions upon millions of people today are responding to his tender call, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) But in the end times, people, who have spent a life time ignoring and rejecting God’s call, will be facing eminent, eternal judgment and condemnation. What is God to do? Sit back, fold his arms and let them all go to hell? No, even in the end times, God does not want anyone to perish, both now and in the future. (2 Peter 3:9) And so he tries his best, right to the bitter end, as any father would do. How did the people respond to his last ditched-rescue attempt? Look at verses 20-21 again. They did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. These people were so hardhearted that even the plagues did not drive them to God. Nevertheless some will become believers in Jesus Christ (ch. 7).
How could these people get so hardened? People don’t usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly. They slip into it a little bit at time until, hardly realizing what had happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. The Bible says that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. ( jn 8:34) Any person who allows sin to take root in his or her life, and anyone who does not know the grace of Jesus very detailedly, can find themselves in this predicament. Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, then a habit the next day, then separation from God forever. (James 1:15) To think that you can never become as evil as the people in verses 20-21 is the first step toward a hardened, unresponsive heart. We must humble ourselves, daily repent of our sin before God and acknowledge our need for Him. God's people are the broken hearted, those who allow the word of God to penetrate their lives and take root in their hearts. God wants to give us a new heart. King David said it best, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) The true spiritual labor of a Christian is to not lose their heart to the world and its evil desires, but keep it tender and responsive to Jesus. This is why we must train ourselves to listen to the word of God and allow ourselves to be healed and cleanse through the word daily. May God create in each of us a pure heart and help us to deeply honor and respect him during worship so that are hearts may not grow hard from sin and the world. Then we can stand firm in out faith, both now and in the future.
In this passage we learned that God wants all people to come to repentance and faith and be saved and to this end he tries his best. He wants to place his seal on us, the promised Holy Spirit. But we must not wait for destruction to come upon us. Repent and believe now and be saved, for today is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2) We also learned that God is in control and no matter how bad things get God has his good purposes in our lives. We need to trust God. We also learned to keep our heart soft and tender and responsive to God and his word, or sins deceitfulness will hardened our hearts. Hard times will come and they will get harder. Come to Jesus, and be found in him. You will taste true hope and glorious victory.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
1. Read vs. 1-2. When the fifth trumpet sounds, a star that has fallen from the sky is given the key to the Abyss. What does the star here represent? (11, 12:4, 20:3) As he opens the Abyss, what happens to the sun and the sky? (2, 6:12) What does it represent? (11:2,7)
2. Read vs. 3-6. How are the locusts restricted in their evil operation? (3-4) How do they torture the unbelievers? (5,6) How long? Why does God distinguish the believers from the unbelievers? How does it show that God is in control over this judgment?
3. Read vs. 7-12. Describe the appearance of the locusts. How do they look? What do they symbolize? (Or are they real?) How do they inflict torment upon the unbelievers? (10) Who do they belong to? (11) Who is the angel of the Abyss? (20:3)
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
4. Read vs. 13-16. At the sixth trumpet sound, what is the sixth angel commanded to do? (13) Who are these four angels kept at the river Euphrates? (14, 7:2) What happens to mankind? (15,16) What does it signify that they have been kept ready for “this very hour and day and month and year”?
5. Read vs. 17-21. Describe appearance of the horses and riders. How are they similar to (or different from) the locusts? What do they represent? How is a third of mankind killed? How do the people respond to the terrible judgments (20,21) How are the two woes different from the first four trumpet judgments?
The 5th and 6th Trumpets
Revelation 9:1-21 Lesson 9
Key verse 9:1; Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 7-25-10
"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss."
In this passage, the 5th and 6th angels blew their trumpets. There would be great destruction, but servants of God who bear his seal would not be harmed. God's purpose in releasing this destruction on mankind was to bring godless people to repentance (20). However, they did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. In this passage we learn that though Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, they can find comfort knowing that on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. We will also discover that God wants people to repent and be saved, but if people do not repent and accept his grace, there is no way to be saved. May God grant each of us repentant hearts and his seal on our foreheads, through the blood of Jesus.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
The Abyss was opened in God’s right time. Let’s read verses 1-2, “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.” John saw a "star", but this time the "star" was an intelligent being, able to take hold of a key that was given him and he opened the Abyss.
First, what is the Abyss? It sure doesn’t seem like some place I would like to go to even if I was a cave explorer for National Geographic. It is that horrible of a place. The Abyss is a "bottomless pit". In verse 2, John saw smoke rising from the shaft leading from the Abyss. It resembled smoke billowing out of an active volcano, which darkens the sun with its dark plumes. Smoke sometimes relates to judgment, doom, and torment in the Bible. In Luke 8:31 Jesus drives some demons out of a young man suffering from demon possession. The demons begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. It is preliminary a type of prison for demons abut not their final abode, which is the lake of fire.
What a foreboding scene! Is there a bright side to all this? Yes…If we look closely we can see that the key to the Abyss ‘was given’ to this ominous star. (9:1) He didn’t have it on his own accord, nor did he take it from its owner, who is God himself (for the shaft of the Abyss is normally held by Christ.) (Rev 1:17,18) But now it is temporarily given to another heavenly being who, simply appears to carry out God's instructions. In other words he is operating under God’s authority to fulfill God’s purpose. Though things seem to be out of control sometimes, God is actually in control.
The pollution that was pouring out of this Abyss, like the BP Gulf Oil Spill, was not the only thing that came out of that pit. Let’s read verses 3-4. “And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” In the Old Testament, The Prophet Joel described a locust plague as a foreshadowing of the ‘Day of the Lord’, meaning Christ’s coming judgment (Joel 2:1-10). Locusts were symbols of destruction because they destroyed all plant life. The eggs that they laid would become nymphs, the next spring who would eat the tender shoots. Here, the locusts symbolize an invasion of demons called to torture people who do not believe in God. The main intent of any demon is to prevent, distort or destroy peoples’ relationship with God. Because they are utterly corrupt and degenerate, they appear as locust in John’s vision. Probably these demons also assume some of the characteristics of locusts, overwhelming, hideous and devouring everything…never being satisfied. The locust demons also have a leader. Look at verse 11.“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon” His name means Destroyer. How would you like to have a name like “Destroyer”? Some of our boys might be thinking, “Ahh cool!”
These locusts caused people to suffer greatly. Look at verses 5-6, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” Their power was limited by God. They could only torture people and cause them to suffer in agony for five months. Because of the influence of these scorpion-like locusts, people will seek death but will not be able to escape their pain. They long for death rather than repenting and coming to God. The suffering they would endure is like that of the sting of a scorpion. What is the sting of a scorpion like? (let’s get someone up here to demonstrate the symptoms.) Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, the sting of a scorpion may include pain, which can be intense, with numbness and tingling in the area around the sting, but little or no swelling, muscle twitching or thrashing, unusual head, neck and eye movements, drooling, sweating, restlessness or excitability and sometimes inconsolable crying, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, muscle twitching, weakness. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scorpion-stings/DS01113/DSECTION=symptoms) It sounds pretty bad. Our friend Elijah Kasango was bit by a scorpion as he lived in a refugee camp in Zaire.
But there is a bright side to this story dark story as well. Their activity on the earth was limited by God. Look at verse 5a, “They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months….” God limits what they can do. They can do nothing without his permission. In other words, they are under God’s authority. God is our King. He is our sovereign Lord. He is in control of even things that make us afraid, like a bad economy, like sickness, and even violent crime. He uses things to serve his own purpose and to bring people back to him in repentance and faith.
God can take a person’s suffering, inflicted on them by the devil, and turn it into his good purpose. Think about Jesus. The devil did not want Jesus to fulfill his mission to be the Savior of the world. And so he threw all he had at Jesus causing him to be rejected and suffer greatly and be nailed to a cruel cross. The devil may have thought he was successful in thwarting the salvation plan of God. But he was not. Acts 2:23-24 reads, “23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Though all the fury of hell was thrown at Jesus, in the end, it fulfilled God’s plan to make Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Praise God for his sovereign control of this world and our lives. Anyone who commits themselves to Jesus, Jesus commits himself to them and leads them fruit bearing and to eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Another bright side is that they only hurt those who did not place their hope and trust in God. Look at verse 4b, “…but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” There is a timeless spiritual principle that we can learn from this passage. Jesus' people often suffer persecution in a godless world, but on the Day of Judgment, only those bearing God's seal will be saved. Also servants of God, who bear his seal, would not be harmed in the time of suffering. “How do we get this seal on our forehead?” some of you may be asking right now. Listen to Ephesians 1:13-14, “13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” It is quite simple. Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Place all of you hope and trust in him as you follow him as your Lord and Savior. When you repent and believe, you will be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
John then proceeded to describe the creatures he saw from head to tail. Let’s read verses 7-12, “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. 12The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.” " There is an old Arab proverb which says that the locust has a head like a horse, a breast like a lion, feet like a camel, a body like a serpent, and antennae like the hair of a maiden. (Constable’s notes) Locusts can be likened to horses when examined closely. Perhaps the reference to hair like women's, meant long hair, conveying a kind of wildness. Long hair in biblical times also was a sign of glory, so perhaps they have some glory. Lion-like teeth may indicate how powerful they were. John's description seems to indicate that they were frightening (cf. Joel 2:4). Their crowns (Gr. stephanos) probably symbolize their victory over the objects of their oppression. Their iron breastplates, gave them the appearance of invulnerability. It also means that someone was fighting against them. Who? It could have been the armies of people who did not believe in God. The sound of their activity was terrifying, like the sound of battle. Their resemblance to men suggests their intelligence, but they are not men. They were able to inflict all types of torment on large numbers of people. Some interpreters believe they represent a human army with flying war machines run by internal combustion engines. Still others interpret them as demons.
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
There was something in store for those who did not repent and accept Jesus at their Christ. Look at verses 13-16. “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The altar in the temple had four horns, one at each corner, and these were called the horns of the altar (Exodus 27:2) In the vision, someone near these four horns called out to the sixth angel. He gave the angel a command to release the four angels who were bound at the Euphrates River. These angels were bound and therefore we can say that they must have been fallen angels. If they were good angels why bind them? Let them go around and do their good deeds. These were bad angels. Not only bad, they were exceedingly evil and destructive. But they do not have the power to release themselves and do their evil work on earth at will. Instead, they are held back by God and will be released at a specific time. This area was the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. In the first century, people would have thought of the Parthians, the world's most dreaded cavalry at that time. The Parthians were the only warriors the Romans could not and did not defeat. They came from beyond the Euphrates and filled peoples’ hearts with terror. Whatever the case, the point is that our God, is the sovereign Lord. Our God is in control and he brings about his justice. No demonic forces can thwart his plans.
The number of troops in this army is somewhat prophetic of the end times. Let’s read verse 16, “The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” The sixth angel blew his trumpet and four angels with an army of two hundred million were released and sent to kill a third of mankind. In John’s day, this number of mounted troops in any army was inconceivable, but today there are countless countries and alliances that could easily amass this many soldiers. In 1965 China claimed to have an army of 200 million (cf. Time, May 21, 1965, p. 35). In WWll, the combined Allied and Axis forces at their peak, totaled about 70 million. The number of people sympathetic to radical Islam’s cause could be over 200 million. So, such a human fighting force is very conceivable in the end times.
What was the purpose of this vast army? Look at verse 15. “15And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” Their task was to put one-third of those who dwell on the earth to death. That is not a good purpose for living, but I guess someone has to do it. I have greater hope for higher purposes for each one of you. These four horrible angels “had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year.” With all that’s going on, we again see that nothing is random. They were used by God to bring his justice on a hardened, unrepentant populace.
What did this vast army look like and how did they fulfill their dastardly purpose? Let’s read verses 17-19, ““The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.” Horses were swift implements of war in ancient times. Some interpreters have suggested that what they represent are modern weapons that shoot both forward and backward, such as missiles. Red, blue, and yellow breastplates covered both horses and riders. This was defensive armor. They had lion-like horse heads. Lions are terrifying, fierce, and destructive at times. Fire, smoke, and sulfur spewed out of their mouths. The colors of fire, smoke and sulfur are also red, blue, and yellow. Fire, smoke, and sulfur are natural elements that God used to bring judgment in the past during similar conditions, like the destruction poured down on Sodom and Gommorah. (cf. Gen. 19:24, 28). He may use them again at the time of the end.
The judgment’s toll upon mankind will be enormous. “18A third of mankind was killed…” (18a) Here, one third of all people are killed. In Rev 6:7-8, one forth of mankind was killed. If you do the math, that leaves us with only half of those we started with. Imagine…over one half of the people in the world will have been killed by God’s judgments. Many more died as martyrs and for other reasons (cf. Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22). Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction. Together they will be responsible for the largest death toll in human history so far.
We can see God’s purpose in unleashing his wrath upon the earth in verses 20-21. Let’s read them. “20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Clearly, God wanted to bring godless people to repentance (20). We are now living in the age of grace. God is leading people to himself through his love, his grace, forgiveness, truth, and divine-fatherly discipline. God is leading the world to himself through his Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Millions upon millions of people today are responding to his tender call, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) But in the end times, people, who have spent a life time ignoring and rejecting God’s call, will be facing eminent, eternal judgment and condemnation. What is God to do? Sit back, fold his arms and let them all go to hell? No, even in the end times, God does not want anyone to perish, both now and in the future. (2 Peter 3:9) And so he tries his best, right to the bitter end, as any father would do. How did the people respond to his last ditched-rescue attempt? Look at verses 20-21 again. They did not repent but continued in idolatry, magic arts, immorality, theft, etc. These people were so hardhearted that even the plagues did not drive them to God. Nevertheless some will become believers in Jesus Christ (ch. 7).
How could these people get so hardened? People don’t usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly. They slip into it a little bit at time until, hardly realizing what had happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. The Bible says that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. ( jn 8:34) Any person who allows sin to take root in his or her life, and anyone who does not know the grace of Jesus very detailedly, can find themselves in this predicament. Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, then a habit the next day, then separation from God forever. (James 1:15) To think that you can never become as evil as the people in verses 20-21 is the first step toward a hardened, unresponsive heart. We must humble ourselves, daily repent of our sin before God and acknowledge our need for Him. God's people are the broken hearted, those who allow the word of God to penetrate their lives and take root in their hearts. God wants to give us a new heart. King David said it best, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) The true spiritual labor of a Christian is to not lose their heart to the world and its evil desires, but keep it tender and responsive to Jesus. This is why we must train ourselves to listen to the word of God and allow ourselves to be healed and cleanse through the word daily. May God create in each of us a pure heart and help us to deeply honor and respect him during worship so that are hearts may not grow hard from sin and the world. Then we can stand firm in out faith, both now and in the future.
In this passage we learned that God wants all people to come to repentance and faith and be saved and to this end he tries his best. He wants to place his seal on us, the promised Holy Spirit. But we must not wait for destruction to come upon us. Repent and believe now and be saved, for today is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2) We also learned that God is in control and no matter how bad things get God has his good purposes in our lives. We need to trust God. We also learned to keep our heart soft and tender and responsive to God and his word, or sins deceitfulness will hardened our hearts. Hard times will come and they will get harder. Come to Jesus, and be found in him. You will taste true hope and glorious victory.
Part l: Those With The Seal Of God (1-12)
1. Read vs. 1-2. When the fifth trumpet sounds, a star that has fallen from the sky is given the key to the Abyss. What does the star here represent? (11, 12:4, 20:3) As he opens the Abyss, what happens to the sun and the sky? (2, 6:12) What does it represent? (11:2,7)
2. Read vs. 3-6. How are the locusts restricted in their evil operation? (3-4) How do they torture the unbelievers? (5,6) How long? Why does God distinguish the believers from the unbelievers? How does it show that God is in control over this judgment?
3. Read vs. 7-12. Describe the appearance of the locusts. How do they look? What do they symbolize? (Or are they real?) How do they inflict torment upon the unbelievers? (10) Who do they belong to? (11) Who is the angel of the Abyss? (20:3)
Part ll: Those Who Did Not Repent (13-21)
4. Read vs. 13-16. At the sixth trumpet sound, what is the sixth angel commanded to do? (13) Who are these four angels kept at the river Euphrates? (14, 7:2) What happens to mankind? (15,16) What does it signify that they have been kept ready for “this very hour and day and month and year”?
5. Read vs. 17-21. Describe appearance of the horses and riders. How are they similar to (or different from) the locusts? What do they represent? How is a third of mankind killed? How do the people respond to the terrible judgments (20,21) How are the two woes different from the first four trumpet judgments?
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