The Time of Gods Wrath and Deliverance has now Come
Intro: Well morning friends and visitors. My Name is Matt Johnson and we are now working through the last chapters of Revelation. The book of Revelation is a PROPHECY to show Gods people what will take place between Jesus’ first and second comings.
PRAYER: Well TWO WEEKS ago we looked at Revelation 13 – which is all about 1) the Antichrist, 2) the war on Gods people and 3) the mark of the beast. During this great tribulation its going to be hard for Christians to remain FAITHFUL to Jesus; hard to DISCERN right for wrong; hard to KNOW truth from propaganda. Revelation 13 told us that during this time – all those who refuse to bow before the multiheaded beast and worship his image will be put to death. Revelation 13 told us that those who refuse to drink the false prophet’s KOOLAID – will not be able to buy and sell. Now as I showed you – all three commentaries that I am using on Revelation agreed that the picture in Revelation 13 is that of a TOTALITARIAN STATE – controlling the church and preventing true worship of Jesus.
Sadly, we see some of this happening today. In the last few years – the state started introducing laws that are taking away 1) our freedom of speech, 2) freedom of religion and 3) even freedoms in employment. If you can’t see, the church is under attack right now. This past week, I heard that the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne (the second largest Anglican Diocese in Australia) has forbidden their ministers from speaking about LGBTQIA issues and transgender issues. Every minister and volunteer in Melbourne Diocese now has to sign a document where they promise not to speak biblically about LGBTQIA and transgender issues. Let me show you ONE CLAUSE in their Code of Conduct. (Slide 2). Now if you want to be a minister in Melbourne Diocese or even volunteer in this Diocese you must first sign this document. And if you do not sign the document – you can no longer serve in the Anglican Church of Melbourne.
Now what do you call a church that tells its ministers and volunteers not to obey the Bible? Are they being faithful to Jesus? (PAUSE). That’s right you said it, not me. Now I’ve heard on the rumour mill – that no insurance company in Australia would insure them if they didn’t introduce a law like this. So the ability for the Diocese to buy and sell and do business was constrained by the necessity of insurance…
Now for the past two years I’ve been in an argument with leaders in Sydney Diocese on similar issues of obedience to unjust laws. I IMAGINE that within the next 18 months to 2 years – Sydney Diocese will ask me to sign a similar document. It’s almost inevitable. So, what would you have me do as your minister? (PAUSE) What happens to our church if I don’t sign? Trusting Jesus is going to be hard.
Revelation 13 is no longer a future reality. It’s becoming a present reality. The things Revelation 13 describes are beginning to happen in Australia and many western nations. So, “WHAT COMES NEXT?” If the state 1) is turning the bride of Christ into an unfaithful harlot and 2) antisemitism is on the rise – WHAT COMES NEXT?
(Slide 2) If you look again at this Diagram you can see my lay out of Revelation. I’ve spoken about this previously – so I’m not going to say much. But we are now in the part of Revelation (where we are coming out of the events of the great tribulation) via THE SEVEN BOWLS. And I have put the seven bowls (and all that follows it) IN RED – because these are the days of Gods Wrath. In these chapters Jesus is the AVENGER OF BLOOD.
Point 1: Jesus Comes Riding on the Clouds of Heaven
Show: Rev.14:14-16 (READ)
Explain: Now who is this person on the clouds? (PAUSE) C’mon. It’s not a trick question. If something looks like a dog, smells like a dog and barks like a dog, there’s a good chance it’s a dog. The same is true in Revelation. If it looks like Jesus, it’s probably Jesus. But sadly, many academics intentionally make things obscure rather than clear. This is called OBSCURANTISM. So some scholars – say things like; If this is Jesus why does he get described as one like a Son of Man? Mmmm. Jesus is always described as one like a Son of Man. Well, why does it say in verse 15 – then another angel came out of the temple. Doesn’t this mean the one on the clouds is also an angel? Well, no! That doesn’t logically follow. Well, if the one on the clouds really is Jesus why is an angel telling him what to do? THIS IS ALL OBSCURANTISM. The one on the clouds is clearly – Jesus. All three commentaries that I am using to study Revelation agree that this is still Jesus.
FIRST, in Revelation 1:13 – the exact same words – one like a Son of Man is used to describe Jesus. SECOND, just because ANOTHER ANGEL turns up in verse 15, doesn’t mean the Son of Man is an angel. ANOTHER ANGEL is probably referring back to the 3 angels in verse 6; verse 8 and verse 9. What’s more, the fact – that an angel comes from Gods temple and tells Jesus to start harvesting actually makes perfect sense. While Jesus was on earth he said no one knows about that day, not the angels in heaven, nor even the Son. But only the Father. So an angel now comes from the Fathers side and tells the Son of Man it’s now time. SO, THIS PERSON coming on the clouds and beginning the harvest is definitely Jesus.
Let me show you some OTHER BIBLE PASSAGES about Jesus coming on the clouds. The first is Daniel 7:13 (Slide 5). Matthew 24 writes (Slide 6; Matt.24:30-31). The beginning of Revelation 1:6 says (Slide 7; Rev.1:7). So this has to be Jesus.
Jesus comes on the cloud, swings the sickle and harvests a group of people from the earth. Now this first group of people are not thrown into the wine press. This first group of people are harvested by the Lord of the Harvest. So this seems to be where THE RAPTURE of the church might take place. Jesus comes on the clouds, swings his sickle and the church goes up to meet him in the clouds. (I mean what else can this be?) The rapture that Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4 and Jesus speaks of in Matthew 24 seems to be happening in these verses. BUT PLEASE NOTICE it is happening 1) after the days of antichrist and 2)after the salvation of the 144,000 Jews. So this is more post tribulation than mid-tribulation. But nonetheless – this seems to be the point where Christians are raptured (Hallelujah) AND non-Christians are left behind on earth to be cast into the wine press. (Doh! Not so good).
In Revelation 13 – the antichrist has come. In Revelation 14 there seems to be a symbolic salvation of 144,000 Jews in line with Romans 11 which says; “ALL ISRAEL (however you interpret that) will be saved”. So after these events Jesus swings the sickle and gathers THE REMAINDER of his people from the earth. Now if this is correct Jesus appears to be rapturing the church before the days of Gods wrath and the avenging of blood begin. I think this rapture event could take place as little as 6-12 months before Jesus returns to slay the antichrist. There is nothing in Scripture that says the rapture happens at the 3.5 year mark. So I think it happens here -shortly before the very end.
What all scholars seem to admit is that there are TWO HARVESTS. All three of my commentaries believe THE FIRST HARVEST by Jesus is the harvest of the righteous. THE SECOND HARVEST of the angels is the harvest of the wicked. The point is, when Jesus harvests his people, you really do not want to be left behind because this begins the avenging of blood…
Point 2: Jesus Spills the Blood of those Left Behind (Avenger of Blood)
Show: Rev.14:17-19 (Slide 8-9)
Explain: Well this image of A WINE PRESS is a common agricultural image. It pictures 1) the gathering up of the ripe grapes and 2) the pressing of them in a wine press to 3) squeeze out all the juice. Now if you’ve never seen this before talk to Maria Stephenson. Maria has been pressing grapes with her family since she was a kid. Every year her dad buys grapes. Everyone washes their feet and then the grapes are stomped in a wine vat (or bath) and the juice is collected to make wine. It’s a long loved family tradition. But absolutely everyone and everything ends up stained with grape juice. That’s the point. Its messy.
And after Jesus raptures the church things do get messy. Jesus is now filling the role of being THE AVENGER OF BLOOD in the Old Testament. And the crushing of the grapes in the wine vat is A COMMON END-TIME IMAGE that is meant to scare you. The people (left behind) are now crushed in the wine vat until their blood flows more than a meter deep for about 300 kms. It’s truly a terrifying image.
Now like many things in Revelation I do not think the wine vat is not A LITERAL WINE VAT. The wine vat is now the world itself and the grapes are the people left behind. The MESSAGE is that you don’t want to be left behind at the rapture because its going to be a bloodbath. Revelation 16 – the seven bowls of wrath – equals lots of blood. Revelation 17-18 the condemnation of the harlot equals the spilling of her blood for all the blood she has shed. Revelation 19 – the Battle of Armageddon ends with lots of dead bodies and animals licking up the blood. These chapters of Revelation are all about Jesus being the King of Kings AND “the avenger of blood”. God is rightfully demanding the blood of all those who have killed, beheaded and spilt the blood of his people during the great tribulation. What the antichrist, the harlot and the world did to Gods people during the tribulation, so God now returns on their own heads in the days of wrath.
Apply: So please CAREFULLY CONSIDER your picture of God. At this point baby Jesus laying in the manger – doesn’t really cut the mustard. In fact, even loving, merciful, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” – is not quite the right image. This is now the Lion of Judah. Of course, (GOSPEL) God loves you so much he sent Jesus to die on the cross for your sins. Jesus took all the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong. And the good news is that God does want to show you mercy and he does want to save you. But that’s up to you. You need to 1) believe in Jesus, 2) repent of your sin and 3) ask for forgiveness. If you reject Jesus, spit in Gods face and hate Gods Jewish and Gentile people – then things will get messy for you.
The Bible is clear that when God is in the Avenger of Blood mode it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb.10:30-31). You really do not want to be alive at this point. THE PICTURE of the winepress being trod in Gods wrath comes from two Old Testament Bible passages. The first is Isaiah 63 (Slide 10). The point is – Jesus is not just the kinsman redeemer. Jesus is also the avenger of his kinsman’s blood. If you make yourself an enemy of God’s people, you are ultimately making yourself an enemy of Jesus.
Joel 3 also says (Slide 11). Now obviously, 1) Jesus swinging the sickle, 2) the harvest being ripe and 3) treading the winepress in Revelation 14 – has its roots in Joel 3. Joel 3 now speaks of a day of such anti-semitism towards Jews – that ALL THE NATIONS gather in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the Kidron Valley) against Israel. Now this valley is just outside the Temple Mount. Joel 3 calls it the Valley of Decision. Should they attack Gods people or not? Zechariah 12 also speaks of a day when all the nations will attack Jerusalem (Zech.12:3-6). But in Zechariah 12 this turns out to be a good thing – because after the attack the Jews look on the one they pierced and they mourn for him as an only child (Zech12:10-11). Often it is only in moments of great humbling that we recognize our need of a Saviour. So perhaps the Jews are humbled as all the world turns on them and this then brings about their salvation.
Apply: But throughout the Old Testament the nations are always too harsh with the Jews and so God then comes as the avenger of their blood. Consequently many Christians believe that the treading of the wine press may take place outside PHYSICAL JERUSALEM. Now I don’t want to preclude that possibility because something seems to be happening on the world-stage that is antisemitic. BUT the real treading of the wine press will ultimately happen outside the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22 says (Slide 12; Rev.22:14-15). So it is outside the city of the new Jerusalem that the wicked will be trampled by Gods wrath for all eternity. If you ultimately find yourself gathered with the unbelievers 1) opposed to the New Jerusalem, 2) opposed to Gods rule AND 3)opposed to the rights of Gods people – well get ready for the avenger of blood. I’ll let you decide for yourself how A) the physical Jerusalem and B) the new Jerusalem may intersect…
Point 3: Jesus’ People now Sing a United Jewish-Gentile Song
Show: Rev.15:1-4 (READ)
Explain: Well this is the second choir. Last week, I explained that the 144,000 singing on Mt Zion in Revelation 14 had a definite Jewish flavour. The 144,000 harked back to Revelation 7 which said the 144,000 were from all the tribes of Israel. But the 144,000 in Revelation 7 also clearly harked back to Isaiah 49, which spoke of Jesus being a light to the Jews and to the Gentiles. So we have two choirs. One choir worships God from a Jewish frame of reference. The other choir worships God from a more Gentile frame of reference. The word “NATION” gets repeated twice in this song. The word NATION is “ethnos” from which we get ethnic. But this word can also be translated Gentile (as in not Jewish).
Now exactly, how THE JEWISH CHOIR got to heaven (en-masse) before Jesus’ harvest or rapture of the church in Revelation 15 leaves me a little concerned for Israel and what may happen to them (in the last days). I mean how else might the entire nation of Israel get to heaven en-masse, prior to the rapture? Mmmm.
Of course, I’m only thinking out loud and where Scripture is silent, I really should be silent too. But after the rapture of the church – A) the Jewish choir and B) the Gentile choir join together in ONE SONG. When it says they sang the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb – it’s not really two songs, but one song. Many translators believe this should say; “they sang the song of Moses, which is the song of the Lamb.” Its actually the same song. The song of the Old Covenant and the song of the New Covenant is the same song. Its about A) God redeeming his chosen people from slavery and B) bringing them into the promised land – C) all because of his SOVEREIGN GRACE towards undeserving sinners. It is the same song because ultimately it was faith in the blood of Jesus that saved Israel from Egypt and brought them through the baptismal waters of the Red Sea. In the end – the Jews understand that Moses song of redemption is the Lambs song of redemption.
So Jewish believers and Gentiles believers are now singing one song together. THE DIVIDING WALL of hostility between Jews and Gentiles has finally come down – as God intended. This is the fulfilment of Ephesians 2 – where God works to create ONE NEW WORSHIPPING MAN out of Jews and Gentiles (Eph.2:11-22). But really it is one new worshiping woman, because this is now the true bride of Christ. Jesus isn’t a polygamist. When he comes back it is for one bride who is both Jewish and Gentile (Eph.5:25-33). Sadly, throughout the ages THE JEWS have held a prejudice towards Gentiles AND THE GENTILES have held a prejudice towards Jews. Please know that if you are Jewish believer – you are no better than the Gentiles. You are just a sinner saved by the precious blood of Jesus. And if you are a Gentile believer, you should know you are no better than the Jews in Israel. You are just a sinner saved by the precious blood of Jesus. So who are you to judge another? You think your better, more noble or righteous than them? The Bible is clear; don’t judge anything before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes (1Cor.4:5).
THE SONG OF MOSES comes from both Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32. Both are songs of Moses. Now most people focus on Exodus 15. But there is good reason to believe the Song of Moses in Revelation 15 is coming MORE from Deuteronomy 32, than Exodus 15. Let me show you the end of Deuteronomy 32.
Show: Deuteronomy 32:43 (Slide 16).
Apply: Well this is now the end. The ANTICHRIST has come. The FULL NUMBER OF JEWS have been saved and Jesus has RAPTURED the church. So there is now one bride singing the Kings praise. As God first intended when he gave His promises to Abraham in 2000BC – God now has one worshiping community ready to be united with Jesus forever. INCREDIBLY, this UNITY between Jewish and Gentile believers (which has been so fragile in the history of the world) has somehow been solidified through the great tribulation. PERHAPS, this unity ultimately comes as we recognize all God’s chosen people have a common enemy. PERHAPS its by standing together in the trenches that we learn to really trust each other…
Exactly how God brings this picture of Jewish believers and Gentile believers together – waits to be seen. But the story of the Bible is definitely moving in this direction. You can’t deny this. THE QUESTION the world is asking is who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Well please remember there are no good guys. We are all sinners. But in His mercy God has chosen to save some by His Sovereign Grace. The Bible speaks of this truth and God will save His people. So judge nothing before the appointed time – because if you judge wrongly Jesus will be the avenger of his people’s blood. So be humble. Be prayerful and be careful. The world is becoming very self-righteous right now and it very quick to condemn.
