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Revelation 18 & 19

The Fourth Angel’s Message
and the Second coming

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Today, we begin in Revelation 18.

 

Even though we don’t hear much said about this chapter, it is very interesting chapter four two reasons:

 

First, when the events of the sixth trumpet and the consequences for rejecting the free gift of eternal life are brought together, Revelation 18 really contrasts the boundless love of God with the pervasive rebellion that is found in every human heart.

 

In other words, when you understand how free salvation is, and how low God has set the threshold for salvation, it is amazing that anyone would reject God’s offer! …

 

God’s final offer of salvation is represented in Revelation 18 as a powerful message carried to Earth by an angel having great authority.

 

The message in Revelation 18 will be so torturous that the wicked will not be able to rest day or night while the message is being proclaimed.

 

Revelation 14:11   “…There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”

 

This is the last message that the 144,000 will deliver. It can be boiled down to a single sentence:   Come out of her [the prostitute] my people….”

 

I call this message, “the fourth angel’s message” because it follows the three messages already given by the 144,000.

 

The second interesting thing about this prophecy is its use of parallel language from the Old Testament.

 

Because parallel language is used, some understanding of “Plan A” is helpful. In other words, there is an obvious parallel between the fall of modern Babylon and the fall of ancient Jerusalem.

 

We will begin today’s study; I hope you remember from the previous study that the great prostitute in Revelation 17 is Lucifer’s theocratic government.

 

Of course, Lucifer’s theocratic government does not yet exist.

 

However, at the time of the sixth trumpet, Lucifer will declare himself “King of kings and Lord of lords.” He will demand the formation of the one-world church/state and to achieve this goal, he will kill a third of mankind.

 

At that time he will abolish all the religions and governments of the world. This will put everything and almost everyone on Earth under his demonic control.

 

It is important that we understand the identity and establishment of the great prostitute because the fourth angel’s message is directed at those people who are still in Babylon but they have not yet committed the unpardonable sin. They are on the brink, but they haven’t blasphemed the Holy Spirit by rejecting His demand to surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ. 

 

You might be wondering, how on Earth could a sincere and honest person remain in Babylon, still undecided about the gospel of Jesus Christ when the sixth trumpet occurs?

 

Well, honest and sincere people will not be in a state of indecision at the time of the sixth trumpet.

 

The point here that God loves sinners – those people who are in rebellion. God loves people who are not honest and sincere because He knows that they can be transformed into saints by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit can transform any rebellious heart if the sinner doesn’t drive the Holy Spirit away through defiant rebellion.

 

Consider this:

 

There is a huge difference between living by faith and embracing truth…. And blessed is the person who experiences both.

 

When a person lives by faith, that person lives up to what he believesto be right no matter what. This is what Daniel’s three friends did at the fiery furnace test and their experience reflects the Biblical definition of faith!

 

On the other hand, embracing truth is not to be confused with living by faith.

 

A person can live by faith and know very little truth!

 

God wants people to know Truth because Truth produces a higher quality of life than ignorance can possibly offer.

 

For example, if your dentist tells you that flossing your teeth every day is important, and if you embrace this truth, you will experience a better state of dental health than someone who doesn’t know the truth about flossing.

 

The point here is that truth sets us free of the consequences that come through ignorance.

 

Profound statement coming:

 

Truth will set you free.

Ignorance will set you back.

 

This digression on the difference between living by faith and embracing truth is important in this study because you need to know that many people live by faith, but they also live in ignorance.

 

The apostle Paul discovered this phenomenon.

 

Acts 19:1   While the apostles was at Corinth; Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

 

Acts 19:2   and asked them, “did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

 

Acts 19:3   So Paul asked, “The what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.

 

Acts 19:4   Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

 

Acts 19:5   On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.”

 

There are millions of people who love God, who live by faith, but they don’t know the truth about God!

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