ZNA-254

921025PM

REV. 9:1-12

Bottomless Pit

Whenever we meet around the word of God, we need to ask and answer some key questions.

Our passage tonight is Rev. 9

The key questions are:

1. Why should we study Revelation? 2. When should we study Revelation? 3. How should we study Revelation? 4. Can we really know anything about the future and prophecy for sure?

1. Why? Rev. 1:3 We are blessed if we read and heed. Actually, 2 Pet. 3:10-14 says there are three reasons: – promote Godliness – discourage materialism – develop expectancy So that’s why. Now, 2. When? Rev. 2:7 As soon as you know you are God’s servant. Also, whenever these things invade your church: Seven churches: 1. Love — Ephesus – lost first love, theologically precise with distant hearts 2. Last – hold on — Smyrna – purified by persecution 3. Separate — Pergamum – wed to world: – country club with no standards, focus on money, car, job – only doing what is socially acceptable – compromising with no true stand – more concern with fashion that holiness * won’t pay price to be true disciple! Gal. 5:9 – leaven (sin) permeates! 4. Purify — Thyatira – sinful chcurch teaching false doctrine, social gospel, not divine. 5. Wake up — Sardis – dead, cold, lifeless in spiritual stupor 6. Keep on — Philadelphia – sound doctrine, faithful, zealous, outreaching and in love with Christ.

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7. Watch out — Laodicea – apostate, counterfeit, that sickens God – liberal church on way to Hell that will thrive during tribulation.

So, the best answer to when is now that you want to listen to God! 3. How shall we study Revelation? Rev. 1:19 – in context Basic flow: Ch. 1-4 Jesus Christ challenging His church Ch. 5-20 Jesus Christ conquering this planet Ch. 21-22 Jesus Christ consumating His plan So, in context = how now = when to get blessed = why

4. Can we know really for sure what’s ahead? The answer to that is a most assured Yes. Chapter Event Lesson 1. Rev. 1-3 = Church Age Be saved behold king Key verse “Today is day of salvation” _________________________________________________________

2. Rev. 4 = Rapture, end of church Be ready and judgment of Key verse: behold I come Christians, be holy quickly “all stand” _________________________________________________________

3. Rev. 5-18 = Tribulation Be thankful, God not appoint us to wrath (I Thess 5:9) _________________________________________________________

4. Rev. 19 = Second coming Be patient Christ rights wrongs, Christ cleans planet _________________________________________________________

5. Rev. 20 = Millenium Be focused Christ perfect earth Christ fulfill promises _________________________________________________________

6. Rev. 20 Great White Throne Be faithful Point folks to Christ

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Fulfill God’s plan _________________________________________________________

7. Rev. 21-22 = Heaven Be investing Lay up treasures in heaven! _________________________________________________________

Now, Rev. 9:1-12

Pompeii

Just south of Naples, Italy on the sun drenched coast the land began to rumble during the life of Apostle John… Then one peaceful morning it happened, with a roar the earth vented its poisonous gasses and ash, hot mud and molten rock froze Pompeii and Herculaneum in time. A baker and his bread A boy and his leashed dog

Most never felt the hot mud or lava, the noxious odors killed them.

Join me and see a pit far deeper, belching out smoke from the prison house of the most horrible demonic creatures incarcerated by God for their heinous acts now set free to wreak havoc unparalelled on the history of the earth.

Well, that’s that section!

We must study it again, but just before we close, you probably asked: How did they get there, in that prison pit? Back up to Jude 6, 2 Pet. 2:4, Gen. 6.

But again He failed! “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” and though all others perished in the waters of the cleansing Flood, the line of the promised Seed was preserved. The bodies of the demon-possessed men and women perished in the waters of the great sea which received the Flood waters, and their lost souls were imprisoned in Sheol, or Hades. The angels who participated in this further act of rebellion received a special judgment, however. “The angels which kept not their first estate [same word as “principality”], but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell {Greek Tartarus, the lowest hell], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2Pet. 2:4). Hocking

Satan’s host was thus significantly depleted, even though he still controls a great army of evil “principalities [and] powers,… rulers of the darkness of this world,… spiritual wickedness in [the heavens]” (Eph. 6:12).

With all these defeats by God, all occasioned by his resistance to God’s purpose for man, it is small wonder that Satan’s hatred of mankind now is indescribably bitter. He

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would torment and destroy every last human being if God would allow it, but the great Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, will permit him only so much latitude. “Messengers of Satan” buffet men (2 Cor. 12:7), demons possess and attempt to destroy men (Mark 9:17-27, etc.), Satan himself, “as a roaring lion” (1 Pet. 5:8), devours whom he can. Yet God, in mercy, again and again gives grace and healing and protection against Satan’s devices, and the hatred of Satan and his angels for men intensifies more and more.

Finally, the restraints will be relaxed, however, and the hosts of darkness will be unleashed to torment the age-long cause of their frustrations and resentments. But even this is no victory for Satan, God simply using it as one of His means of judgment on rebellious men.

Are you: Looking for Christ? Investing in heaven? Living in holiness?

Questions and Answers?