The signs of the times (12) [keeping the

garments]

Yoshinobu Namihira, MD FACG3000 halls ferry roadVicksburg, MS 39180

Phone 601 638 9800; fax 601 638 9808E mail: namihira@earthlink.net

•Keeping our garments

Sermon detail• Opening hymn: 590 trust and obey• Scripture reading: revelation 16:15• Special music : the namihira’s• Sermon : the sings of the times (12)

[keep the garments]• Closing hymn: 632 until then

Sermon detail• Opening hymn: 590 trust and obey• Scripture reading: revelation 16:15• Special music : the namihira’s• Sermon : the sings of the times (12)

[keep the garments]• Closing hymn: 632 until then

Sermon detail• Opening hymn: 590 trust and obey• Scripture reading: revelation 16:15• Special music : the namihira’s• Sermon : the sings of the times (12)

[keep the garments]• Closing hymn: 632 until then

Revelation 16:15

• “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

• Revelation 16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” 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. 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. 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 whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

• And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 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. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 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.

Keeping our garments • How to dress for the wedding and the reception • We have studied a number of passages in discussing what is

happening during this sixth-plague announcement. You might want to turn back to look at them. Another interesting parable tells about the wedding supper

but focuses on the call and the required preparation for it. Read the story in the first part of Matt. 22. In comparing this story to the parable of the ten virgins, we realize that the wedding was the selection process, here represented as separating those who have accepted the king's garment and those who have not. We see the several events in the story:

Pre-advent (investigative) judgment

Verdict

Marriage feast in heaven for the righteous

Millennial judgment in heaven

Inspection of wedding garments

King's order to bind

The feast to which guests were called

The servants (righteous) bind and cast wicked into fire / darkness

• Warning "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15)

• So what does this warning in the middle of the 6th plague mean to us? We have been studying the end-time selection or judgment process following the source of the imagery in our verse. This is represented by the day of atonement on the sanctuary calendar. I believe it has already begun. It ends quietly like a thief, after the final challenge of the image to the beast and when the last decision is made for or against Christ. Then comes the noise as the seven last plagues fall.

•The sanctuary service in a nutshell summary

The Hebrew SanctuaryThe Illustrated Plan of Salvation

• In Exodus 25 Moses is shown the plan for the Tabernacle or Sanctuary. This plan was a simplified version of the heavenly Sanctuary or Tabernacle, designed to reveal that Jesus Christ is our High Priest, our mediator, in the plan of salvation-

• Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.Exo 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

• The Sacrifice to atone for sin.• Once it was built and functioning, the first step in

the Sanctuary services was the offering of a sacrificial animal. This could be any of various animals, including a bullock, goat, lamb, or turtle doves offered for sacrifice by the repentant sinner. The sinner, by transgressing the law of God, recognizes that he faces the prospect of death -

• 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

• Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;...

• The Sanctuary service provided an illustration of the way the sinner was to repent and atone for his sins. To bring home to the sinner the consequences of his sin, 1) the sinner placed his hands on the head of the animal and 2) confessed his sins to God. He was then required 3) to slay the sacrificial animal by his own hand, as an offering for his sin, and 4) collect the blood of the animal. This emphasized to the sinner that his transgression of the law of God was no small matter, and that death was the inevitable result. The animal that was sacrificed (usually a lamb) was symbolic for Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, offered as a sacrifice in our place, so that we as sinners do not have to die for our sins.

• That was the full extent of the participation on the part of the sinner. From that point forward, all the rest of the service was conducted by a priest as mediator between the sinner and God. This was symbolic of Jesus our High Priest, our mediator between us and God the Father-

• 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

• The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings.• Exo 27:1-8, 38:1-7.• After confessing his sins over the animal and slaying it, the sinner let the priest as

mediator take the lamb (or whatever animal was offered) and place selected portions of it (such as the fat, Lev. 4, 9) on the Brazen (Brass) Altar of Burnt Offerings, to be consumed by the flames. For those too poor to offer an animal, an offering of flour was permitted (Lev 5:11), which was also burned on the Altar. The Altar was constructed of Acacia wood, covered with brass. The Acacia wood symbolized the works of humanity, that but for the brass covering would be consumed by the fire. The brass was a symbol of suffering, so this Altar represented the suffering and death of Jesus Christ that covers and protects the repentant sinner from the divine fire of Judgment. The Altar had at each of its corners, a horn, representing the power, strength, honor, and victory of God. Before being sacrificed, the animal was secured to the horns of the Altar (Psa 118:27). Blood from the sacrificed animal was placed on the horns of the Altar by the priest, and the rest was poured out at the bottom of the Altar (Exo 29:12, Lev 4:7). The fire for the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings was a special divinely lit fire, that was started by fire coming down out of heaven (Lev 9:24). This symbolically represents the fire that will ultimately consume all sinners, known as the lake of fire in Revelation

• The Laver.• Exo 30:18-21, 38:8

• Located between the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings and the Sanctuary, the Laver was a basin filled with water used for ritual cleansing. The Laver was made from the brass "looking glasses" (mirrors) of the women. Before handling the animal sacrifices brought by the people, the priest would have to cleanse his hands and feet with water from the Laver. This was symbolic of the act of baptism. Baptism is a declaration of the repentant sinner that he has been buried with Jesus Christ and resurrected with him as a new creature (Rom 6:4-13). The polished brass of the Laver is to be a "looking glass" revealing our sins, and showing us our need for a Savior, that we might be baptized and receive the righteousness that God offers us though His Son Jesus Christ. If the priest were to neglect this act of cleansing, he would be struck dead as a result (Exo 30:21). Why? Because to reject the cleansing righteousness of Jesus Christ is to die in one's own sin.

• Justification• The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offering and the

Laver were both outside of the Sanctuary proper, to the immediate east of the entrance. It was also in this area that the animals were slain for the services. These activities carried on outside the Sanctuary represented the process of justification and reconciliation of the sinner through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and the acceptance of that vicarious sacrifice of the Lamb of God by the repentant sinner.

• The Golden Candlestick (Menorah).• Exo 25:31-39, 37:17-24.• Inside the Sanctuary itself, in what is known as the first apartment, or Holy

Place, were three pieces of furniture. To the south side of the room was a large golden candelabra, or Menorah, that had six branches off of a central candlestick. The Menorah used pure olive oil as fuel. It was the job of the priests to daily trim the wicks (which were made of old priestly garments) and refill the bowls of oil, so that the Menorah would constantly be a source of light for first apartment or Holy Place. The Menorah represented Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world, and the olive oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the wicks were symbolic of the righteousness of Christ. The Menorah also represents the seven churches of Revelation, who are to share the light of the gospel message with the rest of the world. It can be found in Revelation 1:12 and 4:5.

• Sometimes the central candlestick is illustrated as being slightly taller than the others. The Menorah is also thought to be symbolic of the 7 days of creation, with the taller candlestick representing the Seventh - day (Saturday) Sabbath, the only week day that God sanctified (dedicated to a Holy purpose

• The Table of Showbread.• Exo 25:23-30, 37:10-16.• On the north side of the Holy Place was a small table

known as the table of Showbread. It was constructed of Acacia wood and covered with gold. On it were kept 12 loaves of unleavened bread (Lev 24:5-9). These loaves were symbolic of Jesus, who is the bread of life (Jn 6:35), but they also represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Also kept on the Table of Showbread, were offerings of wine (Num 28:7), so both the bread and the wine of the Lord's supper were represented here. The Table of Showbread is alluded to in Revelation as a throne before the Candlestick, in chapter 4 verses 2-5.

• The Golden Altar of Incense.• Exo 30:1-10, 37:25-29.• On the west side of the Holy Place, immediately before the

veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, was a small Golden Altar of Incense. In it was a brass pot, containing hot coals from the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings, and it was here that a very special blend of incense was burned by the priest, which filled the Sanctuary with a sweet smelling cloud, and obscured the glory of God over the mercy seat of the ark on the Day of Atonement, preserving the life of the High Priest (Lev. 16:13). Sacrificial blood was sometimes put on the horns of the Golden Altar of Incense (Lev. 4:7, 18). The Golden Altar of Incense also figures prominently in the book of Revelation (Rev 8:3-5) with regard to the end of judgment, or close of probation on humanity.

•Sanctification• The activities in the first apartment, or Holy

place, represented the daily process of sanctification of the repentant sinner in preparation for the final judgment which occurred on the Day of Atonement, observed today as Yom Kippur.

• The Veil of the Sanctuary• Exo. 26:31-33, 36:35, 2 Chron 3:14• This veil or curtain between the two apartments

of the Sanctuary, the Holy and the Most Holy, has great significance. This is because it was this veil that tore at the very moment Jesus died on the Cross, symbolic of the end of the need for the human Levitical priesthood as mediator between man and God-

• Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

• Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

• The veil represents the body of Jesus. It is only by passing through this veil that access is possible to the Most Holy place of judgment. The tearing of the veil is symbolic of the death of the Lamb of God, which now permits the believer in His atonement immediate access to the Most Holy place, of God, the place of judgment, through the new High Priest Jesus Christ, the one and only mediator between man and God.

• 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

• The faithful have full and complete access to God, without the need of an earthly mortal priest to represent them

• The Ark of the Testimony of God.• Exo 25:10-22, 37:1-9.• This was a box constructed of Acacia wood covered with Gold.

Inside it was kept the two tables of stone upon which the Law of God (The 10 Commandments) was written. Later it also contained Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna. The lid of the Ark was called the Mercy Seat (Exo 25:17), and above it was where the glory of the Lord was present, between two covering cherubs, or angels, on either end of the Ark. The Mercy seat, or lid, represented Jesus Christ, the mediator for humanity between the Law of God, that requires the death of the sinner, and a merciful God. The High Priest was the only person allowed to enter the Most Holy place where the Ark was kept, and that was only on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement (known today as Yom Kippur).

• The Ark of the Testimony from Solomon's Temple was secreted away before the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and was never present in Herod's Temple. The armies of Titus found the Holy of Holies quite empty in 70 A.D. The Ark remains unlocated today, although there are numerous speculations about its whereabouts.

• In Revelation (which was written about 95 A.D.), the Ark is seen in Chapter 11, verse 19. It is interesting to note that John is seeing the Ark of God in the heavenly Sanctuary, not the earthly Sanctuary (which was utterly destroyed in 70 A.D. by the armies of Rome

• Judgment• The activities on the day of Atonement symbolized the people of

God, seeking representation by their High Priest Jesus Christ in the judgment, who met all the demands of the law perfectly and then was sacrificed for our sins. He paid the price for our disobedience, though he was perfectly obedient. The Hebrew Sanctuary illustrates that ultimately all humanity will be judged by the standards of God's Law. Those with faith will keep the Law perfectly through Jesus Christ. Those without faith will not have been able to keep the Law of God, and must die as a result. After all, the wages of sin is death. Since the Law of God could not be changed, Jesus died for us, in our place, to satisfy the Law.

• By faith, we will take on the righteousness of Christ and be judged as keepers of the Law, with a right to the tree of life and eternal life.

• Just as all Israel sought representation by the High Priest on that day, we should be fervently seeking our High Priest, Jesus Christ, to represent us in Judgment.

• CONCLUSION• The Hebrew Sanctuary figures so prominently in the book of Revelation

that you MUST understand the symbology of the Sanctuary and the yearly Sabbaths to really understand what John is trying to relate in Revelation. The Sanctuary is presented in Revelation as follows-

• The Golden Candlestick - Rev 1:12, 4:5 • The Table of Showbread - Rev 4:2-5

– Pre-Advent Investigative Judgment begins, Rev 4 - 6, see Key of the House of David

• The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings - Rev 6:9 • The Golden Altar of Incense - Rev 8:3-5, 9:13 • The Ark of the Testimony of God - Rev 11:19

– The Temple closed to all men, Pre-Advent Investigative Judgment ended - Rev 15:8, 22:11

• Second Coming - Rev 19:11-16, Rev 22:12 – The Millennium - Rev. 20:1-3, Saints judge the wicked - Rev 20:4

• Great White Throne Executive Judgment of the wicked - Rev 20:11-13

• This shows a progressive sequence in

Revelation detailing the Judgment, the first phase of which ends in Revelation 8:3-5

with the throwing down of the golden censer, illustrating the close of probation, the conclusion of the mediation of the High Priest (Jesus Christ) on the behalf of the people of God.

• So, if that is clear to you, then on what basis can anyone claim the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, the very focus of the Day of Atonement (Judgment Day), has been done away with? It is the very standard by which all humanity will be held accountable to God. It was by questioning, doubting, and then breaking God's Law that sin entered into the world in the first place. Those with faith will find mercy and atonement from God the Father through Jesus, and be restored to the pre-fall nature. Those without faith will face God's Law without an advocate, and the Law will condemn them to death. God's Law will stand unchanged and unyielding, the very character of God (love) expressed in words. The wicked will pay the price for their sins, and perish due to their lack of faith in Jesus, the one and only High Priest or mediator able to reconcile them with the Law of God, the Ten Commandments

• The entire Hebrew Sanctuary and it's related Sabbaths illustrated God's plan of salvation for all of mankind in a graphic way to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer.

• Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

•Back to revelation

• If probation closes when the plagues begin to fall, why does the warning appear here? It is actually part of a separate scene (introduced by "And I saw" in verse 13). We are taken back in time in order to understand the final gathering of the kings under the sixth plague. The gathering apparently begins before the plagues begin but isn't completed until the end of the sixth plague. The dragon, beast and false prophet, along with deceptive miracles (v.14), were at work in chapter 13 to set up the image. The establishment of the image is here the gathering of the kings for battle. God's response : the plagues was the final wrath � �predicted by the third angel,

• Consider the following scenario: As the four winds begin to build up, the three spirits or world religious powers feel (correctly) that the judgments of God are falling on the world. However, they do not acknowledge their own defiance as the reason. They rally the political powers and the inhabitants of the planet through miracles and human doctrine. As announced by the first angel, worship will be the issue,. Instead of giving glory to God following the pattern He established, Sunday worship, already popular, will be urged, hoping to satisfy God. We remember that the sun was worshiped by pagans as the source of life a challenge to the �true Creator who had sanctified His special day. The new day was borrowed by Christians of the early centuries in order to provide a compromised religion all could accept

• Sunday sacredness has already been urged by the Pope (1989). Most who echo the call have not yet understood what they are doing. Because this doctrine is developing like a crusade flag for modern Christianity, it is easy to see that it could be at the heart of the issue for gathering the kings. Dear friend, wherever you are, I simply urge you to join me in watching and keeping our garments, as our verse advises, so that we not be found naked while thinking we are well clothed. My saying something doesn't make it true. Just study the Word for yourself. We all must have the robe of the righteousness of Christ (Isa. 61:10).

Sequence of events in being received into heaven

Going with Christ into the wedding

Wedding Exit from wedding

the �time of coming as a thief

Plagues �

study Dan. 12, below.

Banquet

Plagues after judgment and before celebration

Let's look at a piece of the original story that helped us establish the time above. Then we will add a passage to show how the plagues fit into the picture. We noticed that the imagery in our thief statement leads us to Luke 12. First the thief warning again. "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15).

Luke 12:32-40• “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the

kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

• Terrestrial meltdown Peter describes the judgment, the plagues, and the reward for the righteous without directly specifying the order. 2 Peter 3.

Text Comments10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,

Coming as a thief but noisy when he arrives.

10, 11 . . . in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [behavior] and godliness,

The Holy Spirit may not have shown Peter the individual plagues, but this event at Christ's coming certainly describes the end result of the plagues, in the day of the Lord. (Joel 2). We also see our responsibility.

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Our reward

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

The judgment. At His return, we will be found by Him either innocent, without spot, or guilty. We are that way when He comes because of the judgment which will have just ended. Our bodies are changed then (1 Cor. 15:50-53). Our characters are not (Rev. 22:11).

•At the beginning of Daniel 12, we find the same picture of reward after the plagues, which this time are seen as the time of trouble.

Dan. 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain. . . .

Total defiance of God as at the end of Rev. 13.

12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble. . .

Standing for battle after being seated in judgment

12:1 . . . and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

The righteous will be saved from trouble because their names will have been retained in the book of life by the judgment process, .

12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Reward of the righteous

Keeping our clothes • "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that

watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15).

• The message to the final church, Laodicea, charged us to buy white clothes,. We need to keep them. Are we once saved, always saved? According to our verse, only if we are diligent to keep our clothes. This means be faithful in our walk our behavior. �

• We need not fear nakedness, however, because Jesus is eager to give us the power to walk in purity of character. Praise God

THE ENDThank you for coming!

Sermon detail• Opening hymn: 590 trust and obey• Scripture reading: revelation 16:15• Special music : the namihira’s• Sermon : the sings of the times (12)

[keep the garments]• Closing hymn: 632 until then

Place of visit

• 9-29-2012 , vicksburg sda church

•The Seventh Plague Poured into the Air

Into the air • And the seventh angel poured out his vial into [on] the air; and

there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Rev. 16:17-20)

• When we come to the time of verse 17, the curses of the plagues have fallen on the sea, the rivers, and so on. The blessings represented by these life-support systems have been withdrawn. Now the air is cursed. With no air, we can't breathe. Perhaps poisonous gases will be in the air certainly an easy curse to imagine �with angry nations and radical groups so ready to use biological and chemical methods of life destruction. We may also see the air cursed in the increased pollution, which we may expect to be worse as our planet goes out of control.

• Prince of the power of the air "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" (Eph. 2:2)

• No air, no breath. This reminds us of an often misunderstood verse about having breath withdrawn. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity." (Eccl. 12:7, 8) ec12. We discovered that the reference to dust returning clarified that the spirit that returns to God is simply the breath which Solomon here tells us is withdrawn in a reversal of the process of creation 1411g. No more breath, no more life. When studying the fifth trumpet call we find sun and air darkened and see this to represent obscuring areas of truth as part of Satan's end-time deception. So whether poisoned air or no air, we are looking at the finishing of life on this planet for those who are not protected by God.

• 16:17b It is done

• And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done." (Rev. 16:17)

• This exclamation from God is with "a great voice . . . from the throne." It marks a pivotal point in the history of the universe. To get an idea of what is "done" we look first at the context. The sixth plague ended with the kings gathered at Armageddon poised to strike. The kings and the three evil forces will not be "done" but God is. They will have shown their willingness to destroy the righteous. Compare je5116.

• And he [the earth beast who was doing miracles] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (Rev. 13:15) Then we turn back to chapter 10 and notice an interesting statement: "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." (Rev. 10:7). The trumpet was then beginning, 1007. Here it is sounding loud and clear. The people of God have stood the test. They are sealed, 0704. The mystery of godliness is finished.

• The mystery of iniquity is also finished, at least in part. Iniquity or sin is a "mystery" in that it has no rationale. Here it has led the rebels against God to determine to destroy the small group who have chosen to be loyal.

• Time to punish the end-time wicked As the law of God is openly violated, the utter evil of the ways of sinners is fully demonstrated. God can punish them and save the righteous without being misunderstood. Had He acted earlier, His justice might have been questioned. Thus, It is done. The righteous are reaped 1415 while the wicked suffer the full strength of the time of trouble. They are trampled in the winepress

• 16:18 Violent activity

• "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found." (Rev. 16:18-20)

• Here we sense the terrible scene resulting from the pouring out of the seventh plague. See is34. Let's consider the events involved.

• Earthquake "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low. . . . In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." (Isa. 2:12, 20, 21) Also Job 9:6. The great earthquake also appears in Rev. 11:19 and indirectly in 6:14-17. I believe this will be literal and also symbolic as God's breaking up all the systems of the earth. It will happen, at least in part, by allowing the development of Satan's power which naturally results in chaos and anarchy.

• 16:19 The alliance breaks up In verses 13 and 14, we saw the formation of a three-part coalition 1613, which had been set up before the plagues began, for the gathering of the kings. Chapter 17 describes this same group in different symbols: "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." (Rev. 17:18). The city is seen in 17:5 as Babylon. We may understand that the city (the alliance) breaks up when the people see that they have been deceived. This will not mean that they want to worship God. Their decision against Him was final at the time probation closed at the beginning of the plagues

• Cities of the nations fall How is this different from the breakup of the alliance itself? The parts of the alliance were 1)the dragon, 2)the beast (papacy), and3) the false prophet (Protestant power). If we see a city of a nation as the working relationship of a people group, then we may understand this fall as the further disintegration of the kingdoms of the kings that were gathered by the alliance.

• Babylon came into remembrance God's remembering great 1408 Babylon here does not imply that He had forgotten, but that the time had come to do what He had promised through the voice of the third angel. "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" (Rev. 14:9, 10)

• 16:20 Islands and mountains flee "And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found." (verse 20). We identified mountains as nations or world powers 0808. Islands might be smaller nations. We may expect political chaos. The righteous had been threatened with isolation from commercial activity, forbidden to buy or sell, 1317b. Now the wicked suffer the loss of earthly support, the fate they had intended for the righteous

• 16:21 Great hail falls

• "And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." (Rev. 16:21)

• What might the falling hail represent? We expect a climax in this last verse about the last plague. But hail seems less significant than mountains disappearing and the cup of God's fierce wrath. For understanding, we turn to the 28th chapter of Isaiah..

• Destruction Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent as a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, like a storm of mighty overflowing waters, He has cast it down to the earth with His hand. The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim is trodden under foot. . . . In that day the Lord of hosts will become a beautiful crown and a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people. A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment. . . . The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are confused by wine from strong drink. . . . He who said to them, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary," And, "Here is repose," but they would not listen. So the word of the Lord to them will be, "Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive.

• Therefore hear the word of the Lord, O Scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said "We have made a covenant with death. And with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception." Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, , a costly cornerstone for the foundation, . . . . Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the secret place. . . . For the Lord will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gibeon; to do His task, His unusual task, and to work His work, His extraordinary work. And now do not carry on as scoffers. . . . For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, of decisive destruction on all the earth. (Isa. 28:2-22, NASB)

• This is also the time the temple is opened in heaven and the ark of the covenant is seen 1119, The seventh plague of Egypt was hail per2. We may expect literal devastating hail, but the greater meaning might be in words of Jesus: "And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (Luke 20:17, 18) Here men have irrevocably refused the way of righteousness. They have refused the orders given by the Lord. They have not searched the Scriptures, comparing line to line, a little here and a little there. They have refused to fall on the stone, and as mighty hail, it grinds them to powder. God's act is unusual or strange to those who expect that he will always wait. (See 2 Peter 3: 9, 10)

• Talent A talent is a weight but also a measure of money. In Matt. 25 it is a measure of Christ's gifts to be developed by His servants. I see the overall talent given to us all as His grace. Notice in the story that the one unimproved talent brought the downfall of the wicked servant in mt25b

• Rebellion to the end ". . . and men blasphemed God because of the plague. . . ." It is clear that the wicked, at this point, have made their decision permanent.

• God is certainly reluctant to bring the terrible destruction of the last plagues, but they are the natural and fair payment for their rejection of Him and their persecution of the end-time righteous. By the grace of Jesus, we may prepare and hold tightly to Him day by day. We may let Him break us to have our hearts healed.

• Spring feast type • Christ appears to come back in spring !• 1mo-10 th:pass over lamb selection

• 1-14 :pass over lamb killing,• 1- 15----unleavended bread, bitter herb, duration=7 d

• 1-16:first fruits, sheaf waving,

• Starting point of 50 days for Pentecost

• On 52 days from Pass over , then Pentecost starts

• Meaning of various feast activity

Spring feast type and anti-type

• Pass over lamb selection

• Pass over lamb killing• Unleavened bread and

bitter herb• First fruits, sheaf waving• Pentecost

• Jesus = the lamb of God• Jesus = crucifixion on

the cross ,shedding of blood

• 144,000 presentation• Gathering at the time of

Pentecost , Paul,

• Pass over• Unleavened bread and bitter herb• First fruits and wave sheaf• pentecost

• Jesus = the Pass over lamb• Jesus perfected character and sin out • Jesus= the first fruit and resurrection• Descending of the Holy spirit , 3000

conversion

• Trumpet, (warning)• Atonement (judgment,

cleansing of the temple,• Tabernacle (co-

merorating the time of Exodus from Egypt , in booths and huts)

• Announcement of Jesus second coming

• Judgment of the dead, cleansing of the temple, 1844,

• 1,000 years, (millennium),

Fall feast :type and anti-type

• Trumpet• Atonement• tabernacle

• Arrival, announcement, beginning

• Judgment, self –examination ,verdict, final fate decided, final outcome determined

• Great gathering at the time of camp meeting

The Pass Over feast (1)

• Type• 1cor.5:7 “christ our Pass

over is sacrificed for us • Ex. 12:6 “it was set

apart,and kept separate from the flock

• Ex.12:6 “the pass over lamb was slain

• Anti-type• 1cor.5:7 “christ our Pass

over is sacrificed for us • John11:47-53 “ christ

was condemned to death by the Sanhedrin some days before the crucifixion

• John 11:54 “Jesus therefore walked no more openly

The Pass Over feast (2)

• Ex.12:6 “the pass over lamb was slain on the 14 th day of Abib,or Nisan

• Ex. 12:6 “ the lamb was slain between the two evening

• Ex.12:46 “ not a bone of lamb was broken

• John18:28;19:31;luke 23:54-56 “Jesus was crucified on the day the Jews were preparing to eat the pass over ;viz, the 14th day of the month of Ahib, or Nisan

• Mark 15:34-37 “Jesus died upon the cross between the two evening

The Pass Over feast (3)

• Ex.12:46 “ not a bone of lamb was broken

• Ex. 12:7 “blood was placed on the two posts and lintel of the door

• Ex. 12:8 “unleavened bread and bitter herbs were eaten with the lamb

• John19:33-36 “not a bone of the Savior was broken

• John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin

• 1cor 5:7 “unleavened bread represented freedom from malice and wickedness

The Pass Over feast (4)

• Ex. 12:19 “no leaven was allowed in their homes for one week after the pass over feast

• Ex. 12:7,12,29,42

“deliverance came at midnight after the slaying of the first born of the Egyptians”

• 1peter3:10;1thess. 5:23 “the Christian is not only to keep his lips from speaking guile; but his whole spirit, soul, and body are to be preserved blameless”

• Job 34:20 “it is at

midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people”

The Pass Over feast (5)

• Ex. 12:22-23 “no shelter from the destroyer except under the blood of the pass over lamb ”

• Ex. 12:10,46 “none of the lamb to be left until morning. The portion not eaten was to be burned”

• Acts 4:12 “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”

• Mal. 4:1-3;Eze.28:12-19 “when the righteous are delivered, ashes will be the only reminder of sin and sinners”

The Pass Over feast (6)

• Ex. 12:43 “no stranger could eat of the pass over”

• Ex.12:48 “there was a provision made by which a stranger could eat of the pass over”

• Rev. 21:27 “no sinner can share in the reward of the righteous”

• Eph.2:13;Gal.3:29 “but now, in Christ ,ye who sometimes were far off, are made night by the blood of Christ”

Unleavened Bread (1)

• Lev. 23:6,7 “the day following the pass over , the14th day of Ahib, was a ceremonial sabbath”

• Deut .16:4“there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days”

• Luke 23:54-56;John 19:31“he 14th day of Ahib, in the year the Savior was crucified ,was the seventh day Sabbath of the Lord”

• 1cor.5:7 “purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Pass Over is sacrificed for us”

Unleavened Bread (2)

• Deut. 16:3 “seven days shall thou eat unleavened bread …that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life”

• 1cor. 5:8 “let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness ;but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth”

The first Fruits(1)

• Lev. 23:5-11 “the first fruits were offered the 3rd day after the pass over”

• Lev. 23:10 “the priest waved a handful of grain in the head or under of kernels”

• 1cor.15:20;luke 23:21-23 “Christ arose on the 3rd day and became the first fruits ‘

• Rom . 8:29 ;matt 27:52-53 “many saints arose with Christ . He was the first –born among many brethren.

Pentecost(1)

• Lev. 23:16 “this feast was held seven weeks ,or 50 days from the offering of the first fruits”

• Ex.23:16 “the feast of Harvest indicated the first –fruits of thy labors which thou hast sown in the field”

• Acts 2:1 “the day of Pentecost has fully come, that is ,the full seven weeks had passed”

• Acts 2:41 “the anti-type of the first –fruits was 3000 souls , the spiritual harvest gathered as the result of Christ ‘s personal work

Pentecost(2)• Deut . 16:11,12 “those

celebrating this feast in the type of were to rejoice before the Lord. And remember their freedom from Egyptian bondage”

• Deut. 16:10 “ the children of Israel were to make liberal offerings at this feast according as God had blessed them”

• Acts 2:41,46 “ those that shared in the antitypical Feast of Harvest made it a time of rejoicing from the bondage of sin”

• Acts 2:44-45 “ as the antitypical feast all that believed sold their possessions and goods and gave them to the Lord’s work”

Trumpet (1)• Lev. 23:24-27 “trumpet

blown, announcing that the day of atonement was drawing near”

• Num. 28:11-15 “many sacrifices were made at the Feast of trumpet”

• Num. 10:3-10 “the sound of the trumpet assembled Israel to appear before the Lord

• Lev. 14:6 “the first angel’s message announced that the real day of atonement ,the judgment , was at hand. “

• Heb. 10:32 “those who proclaimed the first angel’s message sacrificed much: they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods

Trumpet (2)

• Num. 10:3-10 “the sound of the trumpet assembled Israel to appear before the Lord

• 1cor. 15:51-53 “the trumpet of God will summon the saints to meet the Lord when He appears.”

The day of Atonement (1)

• Lev. 16:29-30 “on the 10th day of the 7th month ,the sanctuary was cleansed”

• Lev. 16:15-19 “the sanctuary was cleansed ,and sins removed by the blood of the lord’s goat,at the end of the year’s service

• Dan . 8:14 “unto 2300 days ;then shall the sanctuary be cleansed “

• Acts 3:19-20 “sins will be blotted from the heavenly records near the end of Christ’s work as high priest

The day of Atonement (2)

• Lev. 16:4-6 “the high priest made special preparation to enter the most holy apartment”

• Ex . 28:9-21 “the high priest bore the name of Israel over his heart and on his shoulders when he entered the most holy place

• Dan .7:13-14 “ Christ is born into the most holy apartment by the angels of heaven”

• Rev .3:5 “Christ knows each name, and confesses the names of the overcomers before the Father and the angels

The day of Atonement (3)

• Lev. 16:2 “God’s presence was in the most holy place on the day of atonement”

• Lev. 16:20 “when the high priest came out of the sanctuary , he had made an end of reconciling”

• Lev. 16:21 “the sins were all laid upon the scapegoat

• Dan . 7:9-10 “the Father enters the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary before the opening of the judgment

• Rev. 22:11-12 “ when Christ comes out from the heavenly sanctuary ,He announces the eternal destiny of every soul

• Ps.7:16 “ sin will return upon the head of the originator of sin

The day of Atonement (5)

• Lev. 16:27 “the bodies of the sacrifices were taken without the camp and burned, and nothing but ashes remained as a reminder of sin

• Matt .13:41—43;mal .4:1-3 “christ will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. And they will be burned in the fires of the last day. Only ashes will remain

The day of Atonement (4)

• Lev. 16:22 “the goat shall bear the sins into a land not inhabited, a land of separation “

• Lev. 16:23 “ the high priest left the robe he wore while officiating in the most holy place in the sanctuary and put on other garments

• Lev. 20:1-3 “Satan will be left on the desolate earth for 1000 years”

• Rev .19:11-16 “Christ lays aside His priestly robes, and comes to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Duty of the Congregation(1)

• Lev. 23:27 “ it shall be a holy convocation unto you. All were to assemble for worship.”

• Lev. 23:27-29 “in the type, all were to afflict the soul , spend the day in prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart

• Heb . 10:25 “God’s people should not forsake assembling together as the end draws near.”

• Luke 21:34-36;Isa 22:12-14 “the admonition is , ‘watch …and pray always and avoid surfeiting and drunkenness.’

Duty of the Congregation(2)

• Lev. 23:27 “offer an offering made by fire , an entire consecration

• Lev. 23:30 “ all personal work was to be laid aside on the day of atonement

• 1thess 5:23; Rom. 12:1 “the whole spirit ,and soul ,and body are to be fully consecrated to God”

• Luke 21:34-36 ;Matt 6:32-33“the care of this life are not to come in and crowd out God’s work

Three books of Judgment

•Book of life•Book of remembrance•Book of death

Book of life (1)

• Luke 10:20 name written in heaven• Luke 10:19-20 to be enrolled in the book of

life is the highest honor given mortals• Phil 4:3 names of faithful worker recorded• Ex . 32:33 the names of those that cling to sin

will be removed• Rev.3:5 names of the faithful retained• Rev .13:8;17:8 wicked are not recorded

Book of life (2)

• Rev.20:15 none will be saved whose names are not recorded in the book of life

Book of Remembrance

• Mal . 3:16 record every word• Matt .12:36-37 idle words• Ps . 56:8 tears of repentance • Eccl. 12:13-14 every secret act• Ps . 87:4-6 birthplace and environment • 1cor .4:5 counsels of heart

Book of Death

• Jer. 17:13 those that forsake God are written in the earth

• Jer. 2:22 sins all recorded• Job .14:17 sins sealed up• Deut .32:32-36 “the sins of the wicked are all

laid up in store until the day of judgment • Hos. 13:12 sin bound up

Feast of Tabernacle • Lev. 23:27,34 “the feast of

Tabernacle came only a few day after the day of atonement “

• Lev. 23:40-42 “the people dwelt in booths, they lived in camp life.

• Lev. 23:42 “ all that were born Israelites could participate in the Feast of Tabernacles

• Rev . 22:11 “quickly after the decree that closes the judgment Christ comes for His people

• Rev . 20:9 “ the dwelling place of the redeemed before the earth is made new is called the camp of the saints

• John 3:5 “it is the new birth that entitles a person to share in the camp of the saints

• i

Spring feast

• Pass over • Unleavened

bread•Waved sheaf• Pentecost

• Friday =crucifixion• Sabbath=communio

n• Sunday=resurrectio

n• Sunday=holy spirit

Fall feast

• Trumpet•Day of

atonement • Tabernacle

• 1833=1st angel• 1844=Judgment • future= New

earth