Pentecost 2017—LIVE #1

How God looks at the seven churches of Revelation &
explaining the "Sun of Righteousness" in Malachi

Fred R. Coulter—June 4, 2017

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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the Feast of Pentecost! Time marches on; doesn't wait for anybody. We wished it would, but this day actually pictures when time will stand still for us.

Pentecost is a day that has tremendous meaning. It's connected with the Wave Sheaf Offering, which pictures Jesus Christ ascending to heaven, being accepted as the sin offering for the world. That was on the first day of the week during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

As we know, God has hidden the meaning of these days, scattered throughout the Bible. There is one key to understanding, and that is to obey God.

In Lev. 23 we covered the Wave Sheaf Offering, but what I want to do is see what is offered on that day. A burnt offering is a whole burnt offering that is burnt to God. The priest doesn't partake of it, the offeror doesn't partake of it. It all goes to God. That shows total dedication to God.

Leviticus 23:12: "And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to the LORD.'

Who is 'the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world'? Jesus Christ! We see the parallel here. Without the New Testament, then you wouldn't have the understanding of what that means.

Verse 13: "And its grain offering… [unleavened bread] …shall be two tenth parts of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD for a sweet savor…. [that is wholly burnt] …And the drink offering of it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin."

We saw, as it was with Israel, that they really didn't celebrate this Wave Sheaf Offering until they got into the land. The first time they did that was after they crossed to Jericho and then at Gilgal they had the Wave Sheaf Offering, because they harvested of the land.

Then it tells us to count, v 15: "And you shall count to you beginning with the next day after the Sabbath, beginning with the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete."

We have 49 days that way, plus one, which is 50. So that's where we are here.

Verse 16: "Even unto the day after the seventh Sabbath you shall number fifty days. And you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD."
Verse 17 becomes kind of a little stumbling block for people: "You shall bring out of your homes two wave loaves of two tenth parts. They shall be of fine flour. They shall be baked with leaven, they are the firstfruits to the LORD."

Why have an offering with leaven? Didn't we just finish the Feast of Unleavened Bread? No leaven is to be eaten by the priests except with part of the peace offering! It is never given to God. It is never burnt. These are wave offerings.

Why? We'll answer that question. It's kind of a conundrum again unless you have the New Testament because the only way to understand these things is to let the Bible interpret the Bible so that you know what it means. We'll come back to that in just a bit.

Verse 18: "And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bull, and two rams. They shall be for a burnt offering to the LORD with their grain offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savor to the LORD." All of this goes to God.

• What do the seven lambs represent? We have seven weeks to the harvest!
• What do we find again in Revelation?
• How do we interpret this?
• How many churches are there? Seven churches!

The churches are to be wholly dedicated to God. We will see a little later when we get to that, that yes, they didn't do it exactly that way except for two of them. And we'll find the reasons for that when we get there.

Verse 19: "Then you shall sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering… [that is taken outside the camp and it is burned] …and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings." There are three aspects to the peace offering:

• the offeror, who eats part of it and eats the leavened cakes
• the priest, who is the mediator
• God, that part of the peace offering that is burned on the altar

Isn't it interesting that the first part of it all comes from God to us? The next part of it, is we have our part and the priest's part, and God's part altogether.

Verse 20: "And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits, a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be Holy to the LORD for the priest."

Here the priest gets a portion of the leavened bread, and he gets a portion of the peace offering, a special one.

Verse 21: "And you shall proclaim on the same day that it may be a Holy convocation to you. You shall do no servile work therein. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations."

Notice how it starts out with the Wave Sheaf Offering and it's connected every week. Then you come to the finale and you have all of these offerings given on this day.

Stop and think about the difference between this and the other listed offerings for the other Holy Days. Where are they listed? Num. 28 and 29! This tells us that these offerings here, beginning with the Wave Sheaf Offering, and the offerings for the 50th day, Pentecost, are important to God. What it does, it pictures the work from the time of Christ down to His return and the first resurrection.

We're told to take up an offering, so we always take up an offering on the Holy Days. We'll do that and then we'll answer the questions:

• Why the leavened cakes?
• What do those represent?

(pause for offering)

Isn't it interesting that for Pentecost there's so much meaning to it that we find the clues in the New Testament? For the Passover of the Old Testament you really didn't need much to interpret that. Matt. 13 helps answer the questions:

• Why the leaven?
• Is leaven always a type of sin?

If it is, we should always eat unleavened bread, wouldn't you think?

• Is there a time when leaven pictures something good?

if it is

• What is it?

Matthew 13:33: "Another parable He spoke to them: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to leaven…'"

The Kingdom of Heaven is a place where there is no sin. How can you compare it to leaven? There must be a good aspect of leaven!

"…which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until all was leavened" (v 33). When it's all leavened and you bake it, the change to the bread is permanent. This is a type of our being resurrected and accepted of God with a permanent change from flesh to spirit. That's what that represents.

It's kind of a different way of representing it. Why? Can you see the action of leaven if it's not in bread? No! It has to be in bread to really work. But when it puffs it up, it's with invisible gas, you can't see it.

In this case, it's a type of the Holy Spirit. Now we have been completely changed from the unleavened to the leaven in a spiritual sense. It's a little difficult to follow because if you're locked into unleavened bread equals sin then it's kind of hard to follow.

Look at it this way. How much sin is there in the Kingdom of Heaven? None! So therefore, if it's compared to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the woman pictures the Church, this represents the teaching of the Church so that everyone has the Spirit of God. Then when the resurrection takes place, then it's complete.

With unleavened bread nothing changes when you cook it, it remains flat. That's how it's supposed to be for us getting rid of sin! The good action of the leaven is showing that we become spirit beings through the unseen work and power of the Holy Spirit that works in us to develop the character we need. Therefore, there is a complete change of the dough from the form being unleavened. You mix in the leaven then you have a completely different product. The difference is a taco or a piece of bread, both made from flour. Both are entirely different.

Let's see some other things here that we need to cover. We'll review a little bit of Rev. 1, but the 2nd and 3rd chapters are very important for us to understand.

Jesus said He is 'the Beginning, the Ending, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega.' These are personal letters written to the Churches. There are three aspects—the woman put in how many measures of leaven? Three! There are three aspects to the seven Churches of God:

• the literal churches to whom this message was sent originally
• a projection of the history of the Church of God down through time
• at the end-time we have them all over again

Remember, the seven churches are not restricted to a corporate entity. These are the seven churches as God looks at them down on the earth.

A couple of weeks ago I talked about the Lucein Chinese in Southwestern China. They have been 100 years translating the Bible into their language. They finally completed it this year.

What is God's work down there with them? They have the Word of God! Where they live I don't think they have much television. I think their time is spent in farming and living. The whole group of people are very dedicated to the Bible. They've been 100 years translating it. An amazing thing! So, how does God look at them? I don't know!

Even with the things that we do, we have large fellowship groups, like when we had the conference back in Cincinnati, we had 150 of us there. Then we have small fellowship groups. We have individuals who learn from being online or with what we mail to them.

The whole nature of the Church is changed from a building to people and from people to the different aspects of our relationship with God!

As I mentioned before, we get e-mails and people say, 'I've been studying for 2 or 3 years.' I had one e-mail from a woman who wanted me to call. So, I called and talked to her and she said, 'I've been to every Church of God down here in Georgia, and I'm not happy with any of them. I'm not going to waste any more time with them. I just hear it every Sabbath; I turn you on and I go over everything that you have. I listen to you every day. I'm doing that to prepare for the resurrection.' How many people are like that?

Coupled with the fact that the Church periodically faces a demographic cliff; that is everybody gets old and then they die. It's up to God to call new ones.

We have this promise from Jesus that He told His disciples, and when He told them—I don't think they had a clue—'I will build My Church.' He didn't say synagogue. I wonder what the disciples thought? What do you mean build a church? The 'ecclesia' or the group of believers.

Here we have letters to the churches. It applies to all Christians, because the message is to the churches. It talks about:

• what we should do
• what Christ wants us to do
• what we shouldn't do
• how we can grow and overcome

We won't read every word of it. I'll leave that up to you.
The Church at Ephesus:

Ephesus was a center where they had a scriptorium. After the death of John they made copies of the New Testament. That is called the Byzantine Text form. That text form has nearly 6,000 accurate witnesses as to what the Word of God is

• used in writing the books
• used in preaching
• used in the electioneering that was done

How many do they have of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad? I think it's three or four! Yet, the world accepts every word of that. Then they say the New Testament's a bunch of lies. No, it isn't!

Now at the end-time there have been enough honest scholars down through time and Pierpont and Robinson were the ones who did the Byzantine Text form. The Received Text and the Byzantine Text form agree nearly 99%. The disagreements are not major. They're like spelling and accent marks. Once in a while there's a different word.

I even caught A Parsing Guide to the Greek New Testament by Nathan Han not having the correct word for parsing. So, God has made it all available.

Revelation 2:1: "To the angel of the Ephesian church, write: "These things says He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.'" That's the Church.

The churches are arrayed in this vision in a circle, not as a candelabra; you can't stand in the middle of a candelabra. But in the midst of the Church, showing that Christ is always with His Church.

Verse 2: "I know your works…" I want you to understand one thing as we go through here. On what are we judged? Our works! Martin Luther said 'faith alone' and no works. James took care of him. That's why Martin Luther didn't like the Epistle of James; he called it 'an epistle of straw.'

"…and your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil; and that you did test those who proclaim themselves to be apostles, but are not, and did find them liars" (v 2). That's absolutely true what happened.

What was one of the first things Jesus said? Watch out and be on guard that no one deceive you (Matt.24)!

Verse 3: "And that you have borne much and have endured, and for My name's sake have labored and have not grown weary; : nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love" (vs 3-4).

This is not losing the first zeal that you have when you first understand about the Truth of God. What is the first love? The Greek here is 'protos'! What is the first commandment? To love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being! They were tending to things of people more than the things of God.

Verse 5: "Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works…"

As we go through these you will see this applies to many different people, in different places. In each one of these we can pick up something that relates to our behavior and our relationship with God that we need to learn. That's why Jesus said that this is to the Churches, not just the Church alone.

Verse 5: "Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; for if you do not, I will come to you quickly…"

This does not mean in the return of Christ. Can Christ come on someone suddenly? Yes, indeed!

• through circumstances
• through His Spirit
• through an angel
• through a demon
• through Satan

"…and I will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent. But this you have: that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (vs 5-6).

We have that in a booklet: Is the Ministry God's Government? This is the hierarchical form of ruling over the brethren.

Verse 7: "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God." You can read about that in Rev. 22.

We'll just kind of summarize each one as we go through and see the progression.

The Church of Smyrna:

Not much in doctrine here. Persecuted! When you're persecuted and chased around, you don't have much time for study. But you have to be faithful, loyal and close to God.

Verse 8: "And to the angel of the Church of the Smyrneans write: These things says the First and the Last, Who was dead but is alive. 'I know your works and tribulation and poverty (but you are rich)…'" (vs 8-9)—complete opposite of the Laodiceans. They say, 'We are rich,' but they are poor.

The way God views things is not the way that men view things. If you love God and keep His commandments, that's worth more than having possessions and all kinds of things.

"…and the blasphemy of those who declare themselves to be Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan" (v 9).

Satan has his religions, his groups, and we will see at the end-time, when we get to the Church of Philadelphia we have an encounter again with the synagogue of Satan! Today that's called the elite.

Verse 10: "Do not fear any of the things that you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."

Rev. 17:6[transcriber's correction] talks about the martyrs of the saints. The blood of the saints by the great whore, which the world has committed fornication with, we need to keep that in mind when we read some of the next couple of ones here. She has the blood of the saints, killing the true Christians, and the martyrs of Jesus. We see a lot of martyrs for Jesus today, especially in the Middle East.

How do they fit into the scheme of things? They probably fit into the scheme of things for the second resurrection rather than the first resurrection. Most of them have Sunday, a great many of them have idolatry, and so forth. But they hold to the name of Jesus; that's to their credit. That's why God commends them.

The Church in Pergamos:

The next one here, the Church in Pergamos. Where were they? They were where Satan's throne is!

Verse 12: "And to the angel of the Church in Pergamos, write: 'These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword.'"

What is the sharp two-edged sword? His Word and also the power to take life! You read that when Christ destroys the army, it's by the Word, the two-edged sword, out of His mouth (Rev. 19).

This church is in trouble, He says, v 13: "I know your works and where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is…"—right at the headquarters. In Pergamum they had the great altar to Zeus. They have that on display in Germany someplace.

Sidebar: The king of Pergamos, before he died—I forget the year, it was 200-300A.D. maybe a little later—he willed all the religion and all the authority that they had at the temple of Zeus to Rome. This shows the transfer from Babylon, to Greece, to Pergamos, to Rome.

"…but you are holding fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you…" (vs 13-14).

I want you to pay attention to what this is because when we come to Rev. 14, that we're going to examine a little later, why are there two groups of 144,000?

Verse 14: "But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication."

This spiritually means what is known today is the Sacrifice of the Mass. Do they sacrifice it every week? Do they say that Jesus is sacrificed every week? Yes, indeed! But what does Heb. 9 tell us? He was sacrificed once for all time! He is not sacrificed over and over again. This gives us a clue as what the system was and it is called spiritual fornication.

Verse 15: "Moreover, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate…. [then He gets very harsh with them] …Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth" (vs 15-16). The judgment of God comes upon them.

Has that happened to the Churches of God in different times? Yes, indeed!

Verse 17: "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…" If you overcome, you'll get a new name.

The Church at Thyatira:

It continues on even worse than those in Pergamos. Also, it's interesting that the Seventh Day Adventists claim they come from the Church of the Alps that fled there in 325A.D.

So, here we have coming closer to our time, what happened to the Church of God. The history of the Waldensians and the history of the Catholic Church and all of that is wrapped up right in here in this Church to Thyatira.

Verse 19: "I know your works, and love, and service, and faith, and your endurance, and your works; and the last are more than the first. But I have a few things against you, because you allow the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants into committing fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols" (vs 19-20).

Here we have the carry-over even more. He gave her time to repent. When was that? Council of Trent! Ever read the history of the Council of Trent? They had a whole group in the Roman Catholic Church that wanted to abandon all tradition and go by the Bible.

Since the Protestants did not do that, since the Protestants kept Sunday, they said, 'We're going to go with the traditions and the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. They didn't repent.

Verse 23: "And I will kill her children… I am He Who searches the reins and hearts…" Every judgment of God is with every individual, with His Holy Spirit!

"…and I will give to each of you according to your works.… [v 24]: …as many as do not have this doctrine… [v 25]: But hold fast what you have until I come. And to the one who overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, I will give authority over the nations"  (vs 23-26).

Here is a key for the whole thing concerning works. What are the works of Jesus? Whatever He has commanded! That's a key to understanding. The works that God gave us to do, He expects us to do. It's not just by belief and faith alone, because He says, 'The one who has ears, let him hear!'

(go to the next track)

The Church at Sardis:

Rev. 3 talks about Sardis. They have a name that they live, but they're dead and they have to do the first works or their name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. Isn't that an interesting statement?

The Church at Philadelphia:

Now we come to the Church at Philadelphia. We'll spend just a little time here. The other day we spent a lot of time with the Laodiceans, so we won't castigate you again this week.

Every church wants to be the Philadelphia church. I even saw in San Francisco one time, as I was driving down the street, there was a Seventh Day Adventist Philadelphia Church of God.

One of the Churches of God today that says it's the Philadelphia Church of God, has anything but brotherly love. If your parents aren't in the Church you can't talk to them. If your relatives are in a different Church of God, you can't talk to them. That's not brotherly love.

The key is this: if you don't love God first, you can't love your brother!

Notice what Christ says about this church, v 7: "And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia, write: 'These things says the Holy One, the One Who is true… [notice how He defines Himself here] …the One Who has the key of David… [to open the relationship with God] …Who opens and no one shuts, and Who shuts and no one opens.'"

This tells us whatever is done is not done by spending lots of money. It is done after the door is opened. What did Jesus tell us to do? Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened! So, we need to knock.

How do we knock today? We do advertising! We want to begin to do more advertising so that we can reach out to people.

• we have a special thing on Facebook
• we use the Washington Times
• we use several of the homeschoolers

We need to have something that we can send out to people that are new so Phil Neal is working up a brochure about the Christian Biblical Church of God. It's not wrong to advertise; you at least have to announce things.

Then we have churchathome.org. That is so people can learn at home without having to go to a church. Who knows what you might find in a church today. Maybe you might walk in on a homosexual marriage. Maybe you might walk in and there's an imam and the Presbyterian minister sharing prayer. Who knows!

He says this to all the churches, v 8: "I know your works…" God knows our works. He knows the secrets of the heart. He knows the thoughts of man. All of those things together.

"…Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no one has the power to shut it because you have a little strength, and have kept My Word, and have not denied My name" (v 8)

What does it mean to keep My Word? The Greek word is 'tereo'! That means:

• to watch
• to keep guard upon protectively the Word of God
• to observe practically

Jesus said we're to live by every Word of God.

• to keep it strictly!

This Word has a lot of meaning. He doesn't command any of the other churches in doing that.

• to preserve
• to shield
• to store up
• to reserve
• to keep in custody
• to maintain

That's what the ministry needs to do! That's what we strive to do. Don't anyone get the point that I'm trying to say that we are the Philadelphia Church of God. There may be a lot of others out there in the same way.

What if that church in China falls into that category because they've been translating the Word of God for 100 years to get the whole Bible? How do they fit in with God? We don't know, but we need to learn the lesson!

"…and have kept My Word, and have not denied My name" (v 8). How do you deny His name? We have the example of Peter! You deny the name of Jesus by works that are not inspired and motivated by the Spirit of God and the Word of God!

Notice the encounter with the synagogue of Satan. What do we have today? We have the greatest power of the elite that has been in the whole history of the world! We know there are antichrists. We know there are those who are against Christians. We know that they want to take down the morals of everyone.

Verse 9: "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who proclaim themselves to be Jews and are not, but do lie…" They claim 'we have the right way and our way is the only way to do it,' but it's of Satan and not God.

"…Behold, I will cause them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you" (v 9). That will have to be at a time later. But God loves us. We love God first, God loves us, we love Him; same way with faith.

Verse 10: "Because you have kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you from the time of temptation…"—that's a little different.

{note sermon: The Temptation to Try the Whole World} It is not the Great Tribulation. It is more than likely the coming mark of the beast.

"…which is about to come upon the whole world…" (v 10).

Another thing to understand about Revelation is that it's talking about whole worldwide events, not little tiny things, but big, mammoth things! Same way with preaching the Word of God.

Space-X, as I have mentioned, is putting up all these satellites to have Wi-Fi everywhere. Bibles are being putting on apps. There are nearly a billion people that have the Bible on apps. That's a warning to them.

The American Bible Society is getting Bibles out to many places in the whole world that have never been before. They are getting it for the first time. Remember Jesus said, 'This Gospel will be preached as a witness to the world and to all nations, and then the end shall come.' All of that's being done right while we sit here doing what we're doing in our small little group.

It's interesting how the synagogue of Satan wants to get rid of the Bible and replace it with the Koran. What have they done in the U.K.? What are they doing in Europe?

Someone made the comment the other day I thought was very interesting. Brussels wants to rule the world, but they can't get rid of the terrorists in Brussels. How can they rule the world? They hate Trump! They say you can't have any travel ban because you want to ban all Muslims. He did say that 'until we find out what's going on.'

Where did Trump go on his first overseas trip? Right into the heart of the Muslim religion, right there in Saudi Arabia! Interesting! We live in interesting times.

"…I also will keep you from the time of temptation, which is about to come upon the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly; hold fast that which you have so that no one may take away your crown. The one who overcomes…" (vs 10-12).

• I will give you the name of My Father
• I will give you the name of the city Jerusalem

My name and your new name!

Verse 13: "The one who has an ear, let him hear…"

The Church at Laodicea:

I'm just going to make one comment about that. What was the downfall of Solomon, the richest man in the world, the one that God blessed more than any other man on earth? He got his mind on himself! You read Ecclesiastes 1 and 2 and all the things that he received from God, he never mentioned that he received them from God as a special blessing.

Same way with the Laodiceans, v 17: "For you say, 'I…'" Downfall is when you get your mind on yourself instead of thinking of others, instead of your mind on God. You have it on I, what you have, what you're going to do. It's going to lead to trouble.

That's all I'm going to say about the Laodiceans today. The next time you listen to a minister, how many times does he say I? You might have a key!

Rev. 4 is interesting. What is this? Who was the Apostle John? He had to be of the priestly line because when they arrested Jesus, John went right on in to the high priest's abode!

Who was the only one to go in to the Holy of Holies when the tabernacle and temple were on the earth? The high priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement! Think about this:

• we have the seven churches
• we have seven weeks to the harvest
• then Pentecost pictures the resurrection

So, we have the pattern here in Rev. 2, 3 and 4:

Revelation 4:1: "After these things I looked, and behold, a door opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard was as if a trumpet were speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take place after these things'"—a type of the resurrection. Who did John see? He saw:

• God the Father
• the 4 living creatures
• the 24 elders
• the throne sitting on a sea of glass

What did we cover on Day 49 in Exo. 24? How did they see God when Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and 70 of the elders went up to confirm the covenant with God? They saw Him walking on a sea of glass like sapphire stone, clear as crystal! So, here again we have the same thing. This is a type of the resurrection.

• What one person did he see? He saw the one Who was Christ, the Lamb that was slain (Rev. 5) and He had seven horns in His head!
• What are those seven horns? The seven churches, because Christ is the Head of the Churches!
• Who did John not see?

Remember this when you're talking to a Trinitarian:

• If the Holy Spirit is a person, why wasn't he there in this vision? Because the Holy Spirit is the power of God!

What we learn from Rev. 5 is none of the major prophecies are going to unfold until God tells Christ that it's time. When you see them building the temple in the right place, know that we're close to the end. There has to be a temple.

Let's cover some other things which fit into the seven. In Rev. 6 we have seven seals. This tells us in v 2 the false religion—the white horse—is gaining momentum. That's not Christ! Christ comes on another white horse. This is the false christ, going out conquering and to conquer.

Revelation 6:3: "And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come and see.'' And another horse went out that was red; and power was given to the one sitting on it to take peace from the earth " (vs 3-4). That is the beginning of the Tribulation.

What does this tell us? Just like the Bible says, 'When they say peace and security, sudden destruction comes upon them' (1-Thess. 5).

Think how wonderful of a thing it will be if they finally get everything under control and they have a form of peace. You can't say we have peace on the earth today. We've got wars, we've got terror, all of that. So, there will come that time of peace.

Speculation: What I'm going to tell you is based upon Scripture, but is not dogmatically, absolutely Truth, but may be something to watch.

We know the beast power's going to come. This means that there has to be a complete change in Europe, and there's going to have to be a revival of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe. How that comes about, how long that will take we don't know.

Then the beast power we know makes a covenant with the Jews for seven years (Dan. 9). What would that covenant consist of? We'll get back to that in just a minute.

We also know that the King of the South is going to be developing into a big power. I believe that the Trump visit to Saudi Arabia is the beginning of giving the military base to the King of South that it never had. The Muslims do not want the Mosque of Omar disturbed. The place where they build the temple, where it originally was, is about 600-yards south of where the Mosque of Omar is. What if we take these three things:

• the Jews find out where to build the temple
• the beast makes the covenant with them

The covenant is that we will guarantee that you can build the temple!

• the Muslims will agree to it because it's not where the Mosque of Omar is

They will be happy that the Jews will not enter up there again.

Could it be the King of the South also agrees to let the Muslims establish their caliphate in Egypt? Then you would have quid-pro-quo.

• Jews can build the temple
• Muslims can build the mosque
• Rome will be happy to help both of them
• we will enter into a time of peace

But it will only last three and a half years!

Does that sound plausible? We'll have to see. That's why this is speculation; you'll have to put that together.

In Rev. 6 you have war, famine, persecution, then you come down to a spectacular thing that will take place:

Verse 12: "And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as the hair of sackcloth, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the heaven departed like a scroll that is being rolled up…" (vs 12-14).

What is that going to be like? All of a sudden the heavens are going to change! Let's see what they will see.

"…and every mountain and island was moved out of its place" (v 14). All of those out there at their place of safety in the South Sea Islands, better have a canoe right next to your place.

Verse 15: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains."

This is a spectacular event that affects the whole earth. What will the heavens look like when that occurs? And approximately when will it occur? We'll have to speculate on that again!

Verse 16: "And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.'"

They know this is from God, but what will they be convinced that it actually is? but it is not? What is the thing that they're preparing people for, even the Catholic Church? Invasion from aliens from outer space! In that they're partly correct.

• Is God the Father a stranger to them? Yes!
• Is Jesus Christ a stranger to them? Yes!
• Are the angels of God a stranger to them? Yes!

That means they're aliens, but not to us!

Verse 17: "Because the great day of His wrath has come, and who has the power to stand?" The whole earth is in a shambles!

• When does this occur?
• What happens right after it occurs?

Speculation: What do we have in Rev. 7? We have 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude, all are sealed! What does sealing mean? They are given the Holy Spirit, meaning they are converted at that time!

That can't be any of us. Anyone who says, 'I'm part of the 144,000,' you've already been sealed before they're chosen, so how do you know?

What happens here? When people see all of these things taking place on the earth… Let's add some other things in to it:

• the Gospel being preached in all the world to all nations
• the Bible being distributed to virtually everyone on earth
• the Word of God is available on everyone's cell phone

They have available to them, just like we have now, they can see the events that are going on.

Here we have all of these things taking place. We have also at the same time the modern children of Israel going into captivity. The first two years of the three and a half year Tribulation is against Israel.

Rev. 7—it's interesting that it's seven. Here we have everything calm for a while. Even the winds don't blow. What do you suppose the world is going to be doing in the meantime? Trying to repair everything that was destroyed!

• What will they see when the heavens are rolled back as a scroll?
• Will it be something that they've never seen before?

Let's see what Jesus says concerning the end-time. Remember it says every eye shall see Him. Let's understand this, too: When it says the whole world, the Bible means the whole world. When it says to all nations, it means all nations. When it says every eye will see Him, that literally means every eye will see Him.

What was the response of those when the heavens roll back? First response is it's from God!

Let's see what they will see. We have in Matt. 24 that the temple has to be built because of the abomination of desolation. Then we find the Tribulation begins; that's the second seal. Those in Judea you just get out of the country. If you're in the field, go. If you're in your house, go. Don't wait!

Matthew 24:21: "For then shall there be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be again. And if those days were not limited…" (vs 21-22).

The King James Version says 'cut short.' So, everybody says He's going to cut short the Tribulation. No! Then He would be lying about the three and a half years. It's limited to three and a half years. The first two of those three and a half years is the Tribulation against Israel.

"…there would no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be limited." (v 22).

We're also going to learn a very important key concerning understanding the Bible. The Bible is written in such a way that many times it tells you a summary of what's going to happen before it tells you what is happening.

Verse 26: "Therefore, if they say to you, 'Come and see! He is in the wilderness"'; do not go forth. 'Come and see! He is in the secret chambers'; do not believe it. For as the light of day, which comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west…" (vs 26-27).

• What is that? That's the sun!
• How does Jesus return?

Verse 27: "For as the light of day, which comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be."

It tells you leading up to the resurrection, v 29: "But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened… [Rev. 6] …and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…'" (vs 29-30).

What is the sign of the Son of man in heaven? It's like the sun! In other words, a second sun will all of a sudden appear out there in the heavens and every eye shall see it.

Let's answer a verse that's very hard to understand without what we just covered. I know I wondered about this for years until I understood what I'm telling you now:

Malachi 4:1: "'For behold, the day is coming, burning like a consuming oven; and all the proud, and every doer of wickedness, shall be stubble. And the day that comes shall burn them up,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and will leave them neither root nor branch.'" That projects forward even into the Lake of Fire!

Sidebar: But what's going to happen to the foes even beginning with the two witnesses? They try and kill the two witnesses! What happens? Fire comes out of the mouth and destroys them!

Verse 2: "But unto you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise…" We know we're not to worship the sun, moon or stars. What is the Sun of Righteousness?

"…and healing will be in His wings. And you shall go out and grow up like calves of the stall" (v 2).

Just like the Old Testament, it contains several things within a verse. Let's focus in on this:

Speculation on "…the Sun of Righteousness…" and how can you equate Christ to the sun and call it "…the Sun of Righteousness…" and not have it be idolatry? Unless it has something to do with Matt. 24 and the sign of the Son of man as a second sun that will be there! Every eye will see it!

That's the sign of the Son of man in heaven, the second sun, Matthew 24:30: "…and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn… [Did they not do that, (Rev. 6)?] …and they shall see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

• What's going to happen with that second sun? It's going to be out there!
• What happens when people get used to it? They will say, 'Oh, well, it's not going to hit the earth!'

in the meantime:

• What does Christ do? He sends His angels to seal the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude!
• Could that be God's harvest on that Pentecost, with a year left to the complete first resurrection? Could be! Undoubtedly is!

What we will do is finish this sermon next week. We won't have another Pentecost, but we'll have another week to explain it, because it entails an awful lot. I've covered a lot. If this is the first time you've ever heard it, you're probably going to have to go over it again so you can grasp it.

The Tribulation against Israel ends at two years. How do we know? If you want to know what's happening in the U.K. today read the book of Hosea. That will tell you.

Hosea 5:13: "When Ephraim… [U.K. today] …saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to the Assyrian and sent to King Contentious. Yet, he could not heal you nor cure you of your wound, for I will be to Ephraim as a lion…" (vs 13-14).

We've covered where does terror come from—Trump, Terrorism & God—God says He will appoint it. How does He do it?

We saw with Solomon God raised up Hadad the Syrian and some Edomites with them to come against the children of Israel during Solomon's reign as a warning that he better change. But he didn't do it. People who say, 'God is a God of love. Why would he do these things such as terror things and kill people?'

• Would you rather be struck down with a bolt of lightning from heaven?
• Would you rather have God come to you personally Himself? No!
• What does God do? He raises up terrorists because it's in their genes!

That's the big fallacy of trying to control terrorism!

• Can you read their minds? No!
• Do you know when someone's going to think to commit terror? No!
• What does God say if you love Him and keep His commandments? 'One of you will chase a hundred, five of you will chase ten thousand' (Lev. 26 and Deut. 28).
• What do we have today?
• One terrorist, or two or three chase how many thousands?

God says that when you fear Him, even your enemies will be at peace with you. What is the solution to terrorism?

• More surveillance?
• How does that work?
• More searches?
• How does that work?
• Invading nations?
• How has that worked?
• All fail because God is one Who can control them!

Could they be at peace if we were at peace with God? Yes, indeed! Even our enemies would be at peace with us, if we were at peace with God.

So, what happens in a country like the U.K. where they virtually told God to get out? Many of the leading philosophers are nothing but atheists. The one woman who wrote Harry Potter—satanists—and how have they spread that to the world?

If I'd stand up in front of a whole bunch of Brits over there in London and say, 'Everybody come here and I'll tell you how to solve your terror problems. When I'm done with sermon, I want everyone of you on your knees confessing your sins, praying to God, weeping and bewailing all the sins and all of the pride, arrogance, that you have had. Then if you make peace with God and love Him and keep His commandments, He will take care of the terrorists because He's the only One Who can do it.' I doubt if I would be alive.

Here we have, God's going to punish them, v 15: "I will go; I will return to My place… [He's going to leave them] …until they confess their guilt and seek My face… [How do the 144,000 receive salvation? They repent!] …in their affliction they will seek Me earnestly."

Again, I ask: Could they all be captives and enslaved on the British Isles, subject to the Muslims? I don't know, so this is speculation! Here's their answer when they repent.

Hosea 6:1: "Come and let us return to the LORD, for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days… [How long is a day in prophecy? A year, so this is two years!] …He will revive us; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then we shall understand, if we follow on to know the LORD. His going out is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth" (vs 1-3).

Is that how we get the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude? Which no one could number?

Think if this happened on the Day of Pentecost, this huge harvest of God, and we'll cover when they're resurrected and what they'll be doing in part 2.

This is going to be spectacular. What can we say up to this point? This is phase one of the return of Christ. There will be that sun out there and it will be there for another whole year to the next Pentecost.

What happens then? We will have to stretch it out one more week to get the answer here!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:12-13, 15-21

• Matthew 13:33
• Revelation 2:1-10, 12-17, 19-20, 23-26
• Revelation 3:7-13, 17
• Revelation 4:1
• Revelation 6:3-4, 12-17
• Matthew 24:21-22, 26-27, 29-30
• Malachi 4:1-2
• Matthew 24:30
• Hosea 5:13-15
• Hosea 6:1-3

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Numbers 28; 29

• Matthew 24
• Revelation 22; 17:6, 19, 14
• Hebrews 9
• Ecclesiastes 1; 2
• Exodus 24
• Revelation 6:2
• 1-Thessalonians 5
• Daniel 9
• Revelation 7
• Leviticus 26
• Deuteronomy 28

Also referenced:

Book: A Parsing Guide to the Greek New Testament by Nathan Han

Booklet: Is the Ministry God's Government?
Sermons:

• The Temptation to Try the Whole World
• Day 49, 2017—LIVE
• Trump, Terrorism & God

FRC:lp
Transcribed: 6-18-17
Formatted: bo—6/3/17

Copyright 2017—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.