5 February 2008

Text: Revelation 16

(I) PLAGUE #4 Scorching Heat Wave

“Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.
And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” Revelation 16:8-9

1. More than global warming

2. Scorched with great heat

3. Response:

a) Blasphemy

b) Did not repent

c) Did not give God glory

(II) PLAGUE #5. Darkness

“Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.
They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” Revelation 16:10-11

1. Darkness that is frightening

2. Pain (from previous plagues)

3. Response:

a) Blasphemy

b) Did not repent

(III) PLAGUE #6. Drying up of the Euphrates; Unclean frog spirits

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:12-14

“And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” Revelation 16:16

a) Drying up of the Euphrates

b) Preparation for war

c) Unclean spirits galvanize kings of the earth for the battle of Armageddon

(IV) A SPECIAL WORD FROM THE LORD JESUS

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15

1. As a thief in the night (to the unwatchful)’

2. Challenge to “keep garment” (Readiness)

(V) PLAGUE #7 Earthquake and Hail

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’
“And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” Revelation 6:17-18

“And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent.
Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” Revelation 16:21

1. Earthquake

2. Hail

3. “It is done”