There are some things that will happen on the earth in the future that are determined by God against a rebellious world. The message is repent and believe in Christ as Saviour.
Revelation 6: The Seven Seals
1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!"
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"
4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!"
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
10 They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,
13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.
14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,
17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
Revelation 7: The 144,000 of Israel Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
A Great Multitude from Every Nation
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?"
14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Things to think about…
1. What a fearful sight begins in Rev 6 as the first scroll is opened and the seals are broken. The white horse of war, the red war horse denying the earth peace, the black horse of judgement and the pale horse of death are unleashed with their riders. These judgements have been happening right throughout history, but John sees this future from himself and already a lot of these things had taken place prior to John writing. So when is this specific period going to start…it will be revealed as we go.
2. Look at Rev 6:10. Those who have witnessed for Christ and died for their faith are crying out for justice. They say, “how long before you judge and avenge”. Doesn’t sound very nice in our ears, but it is a righteous cry. They are told to rest a while until all their number is complete. This number is being added to everyday. Let’s pray Christ’s martyrs get justice. Are you praying for the persecuted church so these scriptures may be fulfilled?
3. A question for you. Do you think Rev 6:12 -17 has happened yet? I would say clearly not. These verses refer to the period of history that proceeds the second coming of Christ. Indeed, we can say with John, “who can stand?”, vs 17. No-one. Remember Paul’s exhortation “to take heed how you stand (only in Christ) lest you fall” 1Cor 10:12. By this point all the earth’s leaders know that “the Lamb”, Jesus Christ is the One who is sending this devastation upon the earth. They hide in fear and now wish for death, which of course would bring no relief. These are people, regardless of their suffering will not repent. If they survive, they seed the earth with people through the Millennial reign of Christ. But as we know, even after 1000 years of restoration and blessing, millions will still amass themselves against Jesus’ authority. Signs, wonders and the Lord’s blessing do not convert a soul. Salvation is completely an act of grace.
4. I believe the seven seals on the scrolls in Rev 6 are also represented in the seven trumpets in Rev 8 as well as the seven angels with seven plagues in Rev 15 and the seven bowls in Rev 16. I believe these are like the four gospels that speak about the same events but are looking at them from different perspectives. This will become clearer as we go through the book.
5. Consider the angels described in Rev 7:1-3. They can control the weather and judgement. Remember the angel of judgement that came not only over Egypt’s firstborn, but also over Israel when he killed 70 000 men. The four angels that are appointed for judgement at this time in history are given authority over the wind and power to harm the earth and the sea. Just four angels!
6. Who are these 144,000, Rev 7:4-8. They are Israeli men, vs 4 and are the same ones that keep themselves as virgins who are also referred to in Rev 14:1-5. These will follow Christ and forsake earthly temptation. They are reserved as those who are especially called at this time by our Lord at the end. They will be Christ’s witnesses especially to Israel but also to the whole world regarding the promises and calling of Israel’s God and the promises that are yet to be fulfilled in His people. 12, 000 from each tribe in Israel. Notice Joseph is listed as a tribe. Joseph and Ephraim are often interchanged in the scriptures. Records were lost from most of Israel’s tribes after the Assyrian invasion of northern Israel in 722BC. But the Lord knows who makes up the tribes and where the tribes are presently.
7. Rev 7:9-17 speaks of the period of tribulation on the earth. Shall the church go through the tribulation, or be raptured out? There are 3 general views for the rapture that Paul speaks about in 1Thess 4:17. John says here that “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation, have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”, vs 14. These are Christians that have sacrificed themselves and given up all to follow Christ. Look at the promises that await them, Rev 7:16, 17. I believe we will go through the rapture as the verses in this chapter are speaking within a global context not just focussing on the Jews, Israel or Jerusalem. We also have the witness of the Apostles and church history that trial, suffering and tribulation are part of the Christian witness. Some believe the church is raptured out first and the mention of believers in this passage are those that get converted during the tribulation period.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “is the Lord of all” – Reading Psalm 118.
1. Think about Jesus singing this Psalm with His disciples before His death. These statements don’t seem accurate, vss 5-17. After all Jesus was handed over, He was put to shame, tormented and killed. The cup wasn’t taken away from Him. The Lord had forsaken Him on the cross. How do you make sense of these words.
2. The Psalm speaks about being disciplined. Jesus is singing here. What is meant in vs 18
3. Psalm speaks about a gate of righteousness, vss 19-20. What is the gate. How do we enter in.
4. The Psalm speaks of salvation, vs 21 and that that stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. What does this mean?.
5. Discuss the irony of vs 26 and the events leading up to Jesus entry into Jerusalem and then being crucified outside its walls.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for pledges for finances for the youth and young adults pastor role.
2. Carols service 18th December – Family fun Day afternoon/evening 3pm-7pm.
3. Christmas Day Service 25th Dec – on a Sunday this year – service will start at 9:00am.
4. Pray for the leadership of our country.
5. Pray for the people of Iran and Ukraine.
6. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
7. Health of Ross Goltz. Operation on his voice box this Wednesday.
8. More young families and youth into the church.
9. Ministry leaders within the church.
10. Our One for Israel ministry.
11. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Greater know ledge of what is required with finances and work needed to be done around the church on Sunday by Shaun Newberry.
2. The faithful service of Ross Goltz for 9 years as CBC’s treasurer!
3. Worship on Sunday – thankyou worship team. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
4. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Discussion after church next Sunday for finances for youth pastor position and commitments and sign up for other care roles in the church.
2. Family fun day/Carols night 3-7pm 18th Dec – Book it in. Invite people flyers
3. Christmas Day service – 9am Dec 25th.
4. Remember to check your duty rosters.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
