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- [00:02]
A
Welcome to Christ in Prophecy Radio. I'm Tim Moore, director and senior Evangelist for Lamb and Lion Ministries, and I'm here with Nathan Jones, our Internet evangelist. Nathan, let me ask you this. Have you ever experienced a season of suffering? The kind where the days feel long, the nights feel longer, and you find yourself crying out to God, wondering, does he even hear me? Does he see what I'm going through?
- [00:22]
B
Well, certainly, Tim, I think every believer in Jesus has those moments, and they are dark moments late at night. But when I read the Bible, I'm reminded that some of the greatest men and women of faith in Scripture wrestled with the very same questions. The Psalms are full of honest, anguished prayers. They're raw cries from broken hearts asking God to hear, to act, and even to intervene.
- [00:43]
A
Absolutely. And this is what the Bible makes clear. God always hears the prayers of his people. Far from being ignored, your prayers are woven into the very fabric of God's sovereign plan. He has not forgotten a single one. And this truth is divulged in a book of the Bible that might surprise you. The Book of Revelation. Today, as we discuss Revelation, you'll discover a stunning and unexpected scene that will make this truth clear.
- [01:08]
B
Well, that's right, Tim. You know, last week we discussed the seven seal judgments. And as we left off, we were standing at the threshold of something even more terrible. The seven trumpet judgments. Friends, if you thought the seal judgments were sobering, buckle up. But pay close attention because in the middle of these judgments there's going to be a remarkable hope filled event. If the events of Revelation get mixed up and out of order for you, then I strongly encourage you to request our prophecy chart. It's called an Overview of the End Times. This resource displays the order of events as described in Revelation. It's clear. Tim. I think our design team did a wonderful job. It's beautiful and it's in color detail. You can get it as large as a wall poster for teaching classes or or as small as a bifold for sharing with friends and family. So folks, go to our website at christinprophecy.org, click store and you'll find our prophecy chart there. It will help you make sense of the Book of Revelation. Check it out.
- [02:03]
C
Christinprophecy.org People are desperately searching for answers online and there are many voices trying to get their attention. At Christ in Prophecy, we point people to God's Word. It's the only Source that is 100% reliable. From the beginning to the end times. To help us teach others about Bible prophecy, please Consider making a generous donation to support this ministry. We rely on the fervent prayers and sacrificial giving of fellow believers to continue broadcasting Christ in Prophecy on tv, radio and online. The Bible has already revealed what we need to know. Help us share the truth with others by giving today@christinprophecy.org Donate
- [02:50]
A
welcome back to Christ in Prophecy Radio. Let's do a quick review of where we've been in recent weeks. Obviously there is a gap between the Rapture and the Tribulation. And during this time the Antichrist is unveiled and consolidates power as the little horn of Daniel, ultimately signing a peace treaty with Israel and allowing the rebuilding of the temple. That event marks the official beginning of the Tribulation. And last time we walked through the seven seal judgments, which Jesus breaks one by one on the scroll. That seventh and final seal, broken in Revelation 8, ushers in the trumpet judgments. But before the first trumpet sounds, something profoundly moving takes place in heaven.
- [03:28]
B
Yes, heaven goes silent for 30 minutes. It's fascinating. It's a break in Revelation 8. It's a piece. It's like all of heaven is getting ready for something horrible to happen. And get a little background here, folks. There's 21 judgments that God pours out onto the earth. The first seven are seal judgments. The second, which we're discussing in this program, are the trumpet judgments and the last are the bowl judgments. So here in heaven, there's a little bit of peace. And the prayers of the saints are gathered with incense and they're lifted up for the Lord. And as we read in 8, 4, and the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints out of the angel's hand before God? Isn't that amazing, Tim, to think that when we pray, sometimes we think, oh, we're just talking to the walls. Or, you know, our prayers are going air and they're going nowhere. But the Bible says our prayers are like incense to the Lord. They're a wonderful smell. They're always before Him. And that's very encouraging.
- [04:19]
A
It is very encouraging. I think sometimes we look at things from a human and very impatient perspective. Sometimes God's answer would be like a parent, wait. Sometimes his answer would be no. But always he wants us to align our hearts with his through prayer. And that's really the purpose, to make sure that we are adhering to his will and really submitting to him by but raising up all our cares and concerns because he cares for us again just as a parent. So our prayers are not lost in Psalm 56, 8. David says, Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? God declared to Moses in Exodus 3, 7, I have surely seen the affliction of my people. I am aware of their sufferings. And in Isaiah 63, 9, in all their affliction he was afflicted. So it is biblical to pray that God would vindicate his righteousness and, and set the injustice of a wicked world correct. But it's also right to lift up our individual personal prayers and knowing that all of those are in alignment with his nature. Yes, prayers for justice, but yes, our own heartfelt concerns. I am mindful not to be too trivial in my prayers, just me personally, because just like a child, I want to grow in wisdom and in stature, recognizing that I should always be submissive to God because he knows what is best and right for me. And I want that to occur in my own life.
- [05:41]
B
Amen. And amen. Well folks, we're going to get into Revelation chapter eight, so open your Bibles, pick up in verse six and we're going to hear these angels blast their trumpets and through that God's judgment will again begin to befall the earth in the very first trumpet judgment, verse seven. Hail and fire mixed with blood. And when that's poured out onto the earth, Tim, one third of the earth, the, and the trees and all the green grass is going to be burned up. What do you think could be causing that?
- [06:09]
A
Well, we don't know for sure. Obviously this could be something supernatural or it could be something as understandable as a nuclear holocaust that causes hail and fire mixed with blood, so to speak, and one third of the earth being burned up. That of course leads to trumpet number two, a great burning mountain hurled into the sea with one third of the sea turning to blood, one third of the sea creatures dying, one third of ships destroyed. And so again the devastation continues to expand. And then you get to trumpet number three, where a great star, likely a meteor we think, which is actually given a name called wormwood, will fall and poison one third of the fresh water sources and people will die from these bitter waters. And that leads again to trumpet number four.
- [06:50]
B
Yes, so what we got here is we are looking at the world being destroyed. We just got through a world war and then it appears it turned into a nuclear war. But now the Lord is using natural disasters to fall upon the earth and meteors, comets, earthquakes, blowing, volcanoes exploding. And as a result, with all that particulate blown into the atmosphere, we get to the fourth trumpet judgment, verse 12. It says one third of the sun, moon and the stars are darkened and light will be reduced by one third. Tim I spent the summer up in Alaska and we had daylight all day long and a very short night. But the kids there told me that during the winter they have a very short day. Well, imagine that all over the world. But there is so much particulates and pollution from all that devastation. Blocking out the sun every night will be a blood moon.
- [07:39]
A
It certainly will. And then we get to an eagle that's going to be crying out with a loud voice in heaven. Woe, woe, woe, three woes to all those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining blast of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound. That's in Revelation 8:13. And I think it's very important to remember that these trumpets are given to these angels. By who? By God? In the opening portion of this chapter, chapter eight, after Jesus has broken the seven seals, John says that he saw these seven angels who stand before God and seven trumpets were given to them. Who has the authority to give them the trumpets? Who has the authority to tell them to blow the trumpets? Who has the authority to unleash all of this devastation, all these judgments? God. And so once again we see that it is the wrath of God being poured out. And some will deny even yet that the wrath of God is being poured out on the earth in their understanding of the tribulation timeframe. But Scripture is very clear that it is the authority of God, and obviously so far it has been catastrophic. But the Lord is not finished. The next three trumpets, just as the angel said, with woe, woe, woe, will shift from natural disaster to something far more chilling, the unleashing of demonic forces upon the earth. So stay with us as we get to that segment, but first we're going to be talking about what's really going on. Stay tuned.
- [09:02]
C
These days you can't get much of anything for less than a dollar a day. But when you partner with Christ in prophecy, giving $25 a month or more, your spare change will make an eternal impact. Our prophecy partners pray faithfully for us and give sacrificially to make it possible to proclaim the soon return of Jesus Christ. Through tv, print, radio and online. Consider joining this remarkable group of people by becoming a prophecy partner today. For a commitment of $25 a month or more, we'll send you our outstanding bi monthly Lamplighter Magazine, powerful ministry updates and exclusive special offers throughout the year to become a prophecy Partner. Follow the links donate@christinprophecy.org donate that's christinprophecy.org donate.
- [09:59]
B
Welcome back to Christ in Prophecy Radio. I'm Nathan Jones. I'm here with Tim Moore. And as we begin, let's listen to a brief teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig.
- [10:07]
D
Now, once the rapture happens and the tribulation begins and judgments are poured out, they're going to happen one after another in rapid succession, like dominoes tipping over. But all the signs that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24 find their fulfillment in these chapters. In fact, look at it this way. Revelation chapter 6 to 18 or 19. The rest of the book basically takes what Jesus said in Matthew 20:24 and expands it in great detail. Seals are followed by trumpets, seven trumpets are blown. With each blow of the trumpet is an announcement of judgment. The judgment comes and they include hail and fire from the sky, rivers, springs and grass being affected. 1/3 of the vegetation, 30% of the sea life, 1/3 of the fresh water supply decimated. Oh, and the sky gets black, becomes dark. At that point, an angel flies through heaven saying woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth. In other words, it's been bad so far, but the worst is yet to come.
- [11:28]
A
You know, I was so grateful that Skip was willing to join us for an episode of Christ in Prophecy Television. Folks, if you are used to listening to us on radio, please know that you can always access all of our materials@christinprophecy.org including all of our radio programs for the past two plus years and all of our TV programs going now for 26 years. And so let's talk about what we see happening today. We are always talking about the signs of the times. In our Lamplighter magazine every other month, we highlight some of the signs that are manifesting. They are multiplying and even converging before our eyes. And so do the natural and environmental disasters that we see in the headlines today foreshadow these trumpet level catastrophes.
- [12:10]
B
What we have to do is go back to a teaching that Jesus, the apostles, they wanted to know what would be the signs that would lead up to his return. And Jesus gave 10 of them. He said there would be various false prophets and false teachers, wars and rumors and wars, earthquakes, natural disasters, famines, great signs in the sky, the persecution of believers and even an attack on Jerusalem, the whole world being against Jerusalem. And he compared them to birth pains where when you go into labor, the contractions are far apart and they're not as painful. But as you get closer and closer to the baby being born, the contractions are closer and they're more intense and more frequent. And he was using that to compare that. Yes, we've had natural disasters, we've had false teachers, we've had plagues and signs in the sky, but they grow increasing frequently and intensely. And as we led up to the Lord coming to rapture, the church up and then going into overdrive during the Tribulation.
- [13:08]
A
Well, obviously there in Matthew 24, you mentioned the 10 signs. We could talk about Luke 21 and many other places where Paul and other writers talk about the signs of the end times, how apostasy will be growing, people will not put up with sound teaching, but will want to have their ears tickled over and over. We see signs throughout the scriptures pointing to the end times. So what we've done at Lamb and Lion Ministries is categorize them into what we call six categories. Signs of nature, signs of society, spiritual signs, both positive and negative. Signs of world politics. The nations converging as described in the Bible toward the end times. Signs of technology. Yes, technology, even described in scripture. And obviously the greatest sign of all, the sign of Israel. And so we see before our eyes all those signs manifesting. We see in our own culture, in the church, the spiritual warfare that is raging and. And we see the convergence of these prophetic signs as the end grows close. Satan is raging because he knows his time is short.
- [14:08]
B
Yes, these birth pains folks are increasingly infrequent intensity. You know it. Just look at the sign of nature, for example. The fact that there are so many natural disasters just coming stronger and stronger. How false teaching and apostasy is all over the world. There's wars breaking out all over and rumors of wars. There's a push towards a one world government. Israel is a nation again, just as Tim said. All these signs have converged together to the point to the fact that yes, we are getting closer and closer to the Tribulation era, but that also means that we are getting even closer to the rapture of the church. Folks, put your eyes on that. That is the next prophetic event that we all as Christians are looking forward to. Stick with us. We'll be back in just a moment.
- [14:50]
A
Hi, this is Tim Moore with Lamb and Lion Ministries inviting you to join me on a once in a lifetime special spiritual pilgrimage to Israel. This June, I'm leading a group of fellow pilgrims to walk where Jesus walked in the land of Israel. Together we will experience the very places where Bible prophecy was fulfilled and discover how prophecy is being fulfilled today. Most trips to Israel turn out to be, well, just tours and nothing more. But this is a spiritual journey, an adventure. You are invited to come for spiritual purposes, to draw nearer to the Lord and to develop a better understanding of his word. Take 12 days to discover Israel and walk where Jesus walked. For additional details and to register, go to christinprophecy.org events I hope to see you there. Well, if the first four trumpet judgments were devastating, Nathan, the final three, called the three woes, are in a category all of their own. God transitions from using natural forces to unleashing the demonic realm itself upon an unrepentant world. And yet God still provides remarkable hope.
- [15:57]
B
Yeah, it's going to get really bizarre. So you got all these what would appear as natural disasters, but they are certainly the wrath of God. And then you get to the fifth trumpet in chapter nine, and we see a fifth angel sound his horn, and he sees a star falling from heaven to the earth. To him was given a key to the bottomless pit. He opens that pit and smoke poured pours out of it. The sun and air are going to be darkened, and out of it come these locusts on the earth. And it says they have power like scorpions. They run around and they can't harm the earth, but they can sting all those who have rejected Jesus as savior at that time. People will beg for death, but they won't be able to get it. And the description of these demonic locusts is just hideous. It says they look like horses, their heads had crowns on them, their. They had faces of men, but hair like women, teeth like lion's iron. Tim, it's going to be a nightmare coming live right there in the middle of the tribulation.
- [16:53]
A
It surely will. And they will be led by a demonic general called Abaddon or Polyon, depending on whether it's Hebrew or Greek. And so we know that this demonic horde will torment mankind again. As you said, people will wish they could die, but they will be unable to get the relief of death. And Nathan, we obviously have speculated on whether or not this demonic horde was in put into the abyss back during the time of Genesis, when the demonic realm had relations with women here on the earth and God relegated some of them to the abyss. But the bottom line is they have been held in captivity until this moment when they are unleashed by the angel sent by God. And this brings us then to trumpet number six, the army of 200 million horsemen. So tell us about that from Revelation 9, 1321.
- [17:41]
B
Okay, so it's interesting. The Euphrates river, one of the oldest rivers in the world. You could read about it even back in the Garden of Eden. There's four angels that are bound in the Euphrates River. Monstrous Chimera, looking like things. And they're going to lead an army of 200 million, we believe, demons. And out of their mouths come fire and smoke. They incinerate people. So where the locust demons can only torment the people, these demons, this 200 million man army kills, get this one, one third of the remaining mankind. We're talking probably up to a billion people. So when you combine the seal judgments and the trumpet judgments, by this stage of the Tribulation, half the world population, folks, that's 4 billion people in today's numbers will have perished.
- [18:23]
A
Yeah, you know, this is devastation upon devastation. And that's why these three woes are so terrible. And that's why In Revelation chapter 10:11, there's an interlude. And folks, we need to recognize that even as we're reading through Revelation, imagine the people during the Tribulation who might have a copy of God's Word and are reading the events that are going to befall them. And at some point you would become so despondent, you think, well, what's the point? Perhaps. But God provides windows of hope. And so that's exactly what is Provided in Revelation 10:11. Even in wrath, God remembers mercy. And so we're told about a mighty angel and a little scroll which John is given to eat. It is sweet to the taste, but bitter in the stomach. In other words, God's justice is sweet to us who are looking forward to him ruling and reigning with righteousness. But his judgments are grievous for those who must endure them. And then we are told about the two witnesses in Revelation 11, which demonstrates God's desire that none would perish, but that all would come to salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. And that's why for three and a half years, these two witnesses proclaim the Gospel in Jerusalem with supernatural power.
- [19:32]
B
Yeah. Isn't it wonderful that, you know, people think that the church needs to be in the tribulation for the Gospel to be shared. But the Bible says no. The Lord is going to provide these two witnesses who for the first three and a half years will proclaim the gospel all from Jerusalem. He's going to send out the 144,000 Jewish evangelists which will share the Gospel all over the world. He's even, we'll read later a gospel angel that will go to every single person on the planet and share the gospel with them so that by the end of the tribulation, every single person would have the gospel shared for him. Tim I love it. In all this horror that we're reading, God takes a moment and gives John the opportunity to record real hope there that, yes, the gospel continues to spread. And I believe more people will be saved during the tribulation than probably the 2000 years of church history.
- [20:19]
A
I think that's such a tremendous hope that we have that God's love and his mercy is so great that even as he's pouring out wrath, there is still the possibility that people will be saved. And again, it is his desire and intent. Now a lot of people will get caught up on speculating who these two prophets are. They are the witnesses. They could be Moses and Elijah because that's who we're seeing at the transfiguration. We likely think that it's probably Enoch and Elijah because those are the two described as not dying in the Old Testament. The point is that God knows and that he will send these prophets, these witnesses with great power to proclaim the gospel and through modern technology, every person on earth will see them. Well, this brings us finally, Nathan, to the seventh trumpet where the kingdom is proclaimed. And actually in Revelation 11:15, it says the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever. Sort of a preview of the end of the whole story when Jesus Christ returns to reign.
- [21:22]
B
Tim we have covered an enormous amount of ground. And folks, as you've seen, even in the darkest passages of revelation, God's mercy and redemptive purposes shine through. Well, coming up, Tim's going to leave us with yet another word of encouragement. Stay tuned.
- [21:37]
C
When you scroll through the daily news, you almost always hear bad news. It's easy to forget that there's anything good happening in the world today. But here at Christ in Prophecy, we're proclaiming the good news that Jesus Christ is returning soon. This program is one of the many resources made possible because of the sacrificial financial support of our prophecy partners. These are faithful men and women who give each month and pray for our ministry. Prophecy partners commit to give $25 a month or more. That's less than a dollar a day. For your gift, we'll send you our Lamplighter magazine, ministry updates and special offers throughout the year. To become a prophecy partner and share the good news that Jesus is coming back, go to christinprophecy.org that's christinprophecy.org Donate
- [22:32]
A
the scope of death and devastation described in Revelation chapters 8 and 9 is almost beyond comprehension. But here's what strikes me the most. Even in the darkest hour of human history, God does not abandon his people. He hears their prayers. He collects their tears. He sends witnesses. He restrains the very demons of hell in wrath. God remembers mercy. You know, Jesus, when asked by his disciples to tell what would happen in the end times, responded to them first and foremost by saying, see to it that no one misleads you. And that is our goal here at Lamb and Lion Ministries. We want to always point you back to the word of God and the truth that is revealed, hoping that you will flee from the wrath to come and into the loving arms of our Savior. Jesus asked a rhetorical question in Luke chapter 18. When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth? It is our goal that we will be faithful until he comes. But that brings me to a prayer. We live in a day when many people feel their prayers are falling on deaf ears, or that God is distant or distracted, or simply doesn't care. But the Bible says otherwise. David wrote, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? The God who numbers the hairs on our head is the same God who at the dawn of the tribulation was. Pauses heaven itself for 30 minutes as the prayers of his saints rise like sweet incense before his throne. Friends, your prayers matter. They are not floating off into the ether. They are heard by a God who calls himself our Father, who knows our afflictions and who, in the person of Jesus Christ, took on our suffering so that he could relate to every one of us and so that you could have salvation. The most important prayer you could ever pray is to say, lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. The only way that I can achieve eternal life. Friends, you need to know the trumpet judgments are coming. The bowl judgments are coming. And one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The question is whether you bow willingly today in faith or faces justice without a savior. We're not trying to frighten you. We are pleading with you. Be reconciled to God as we close today, I want to echo the words of the 24 elders in Revelation 11:17. We give thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were. Because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Make that your song of worship today. Godspeed.