Waiting For Jesus
March 22, 2018 Save Article"
1 Thessalonians 1:7-10
(RA-1995, Program: 1218, Air date: 03.25.18)
- INTRODUCTION
- 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 contains some of the richest verses on Bible prophecy found in the Bible.
- The signs of Jesus’ coming are many, and they tell us that His coming is imminent.
- We are not looking for some event in history; we are looking for Jesus Christ Himself.
- Revelation 22:20
- This is the last prayer in the Bible.
- It should also be our prayer today.
- Matthew 6:10
- Revelation 22:20
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10
- There is impending wrath known as the Great Tribulation.
- The Bible teaches clearly that there is a dark, troubling period coming unlike any tribulation previously seen upon the Earth.
- This is the wrath to come.
- Daniel 12:1
- Matthew 24:21
- Revelation 6:15-17
- This wrath to come is preceded by four horsemen.
- We know these as the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
- This wrath to come is preceded by four horsemen.
- THE WHITE HORSE: DOMINION AND TRIUMPH (Revelation 6:1-2)
- The rider on this white horse is the Antichrist.
- A white horse is a symbol of triumph.
- Rulers in New Testament times would prance around on a white horse when they triumphed.
- The rider of this horse has a bow in his hand.
- This is a weapon of war; a symbol of power.
- This rider is a conqueror with power.
- This rider also has a crown upon his head.
- This is a crown given to a king.
- There is coming a wicked, malevolent, indescribably powerful ruler that the Bible calls the Son of Perdition, the Beast, the Antichrist.
- He will be the last world dictator.
- This is a crown given to a king.
- John 5:43
- The Lord Jesus Christ told of this coming ruler.
- Daniel 8:25
- This ruler will come to the world scene in the guise of peace.
- THE RED HORSE: DESTRUCTION (Revelation 6:4)
- The rider on this horse is war.
- Red is the symbol of blood.
- When the devil-inspired leader, the Antichrist, goes forth to conquer, certain things will follow:
- Sin
- War
- Havoc
- Destruction
- Matthew 24:6
- The spirit of Antichrist will inflame men’s hearts with hatred.
- Brother will rise up against brother.
- Child will rise up against parent.
- Nation will rise up against nation.
- People have rejected the Prince of Peace, and now there will be unrestrained war.
- Matthew 24:19-20
- THE BLACK HORSE: DEPRIVATION (Revelation 6:5-6)
- Famine rides upon the black horse.
- During this time, it will take a day’s wage to buy a loaf of bread, or one meal.
- There will be massive starvation.
- Most able-bodied persons will be involved in wars, leaving very few to till the fields and get food to the hungry.
- The Roman General Titus surrounded Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
- He cut the city off from its food supply so that the people could not go out into the fields to harvest the grain.
- What ensued was maniacal starvation that resulted in cannibalism.
- Most able-bodied persons will be involved in wars, leaving very few to till the fields and get food to the hungry.
- THE PALE HORSE: DEATH (Revelation 6:7-8)
- The word “pale” in this passage means a ghastly green, putrid, the color of decaying flesh.
- Death is the rider upon his own horse.
- Revelation 6:8
- More than 1/4 of the world’s population will die during this time.
- That is approximately one billion people.
- More than 1/4 of the world’s population will die during this time.
- The chain reaction of these events:
- Sin causes hatred.
- Hatred causes war and bloodshed.
- War causes famine.
- Famine produces death.
- Revelation 6:8 tells us that it does not end with death.
- Death is followed by Hell for the unbeliever.
- Even in death, we cannot hide from God.
- Revelation 6:8 tells us that it does not end with death.
- Revelation 9:6
- THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH (Revelation 6:8)
- What are these beasts of the Earth?
- Some believe this is literal language, others believe this is symbolic.
- The Antichrist is a “beast,” and he has a number of beasts who will follow him.
- These beasts will be demon spirits.
- Revelation 9:1-3
- The star mentioned in this passage is Satan himself.
- The bottomless pit is the penitentiary for the most malevolent and evil demon spirits.
- Satan will loose these demon spirits upon the Earth during the Great Tribulation.
- These demon spirits are described as locusts.
- In the Middle East during Bible times, an invasion of locusts was very destructive.
- There would be so many in a swarm that they would blot out the sun.
- They would leave devastation in their path.
- Revelation 9:4
- These demon spirits, these locusts, will feast on men, humanity.
- Revelation 9:5-7
- We see the progression of these spirits as they are described as locusts, then scorpions, and then as horses.
- We see the torment they will impart as they are described as scorpions.
- A horse can outrun a man, and these spirits will come with rapid progress and irresistibility.
- Those who are alive during the Great Tribulation will not be able to withstand or outsmart these demon spirits.
- Revelation 9:7
- The “face of a man” in the Bible speaks of human wisdom and intelligence.
- Revelation 9:7
- We see the progression of these spirits as they are described as locusts, then scorpions, and then as horses.
- Revelation 9:8
- These spirits will be very seductive.
- They will be intelligent as well as alluring.
- We must remember that Satan comes either as an angel of light or as a roaring lion.
- These demon spirits will come to devour.
- These spirits will be very seductive.
- Revelation 9:9
- These demon spirits will be invincible.
- It will do man no good to try to fight back.
- Man will not be able to outwit them nor outrun them.
- Revelation 9:10
- God is still in control, and He limits their time upon the Earth to five months.
- Revelation 9:1-3
- What are these beasts of the Earth?
- CONCLUSION
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10
- The wrath is coming, and only the Lord Jesus Christ can deliver us from this wrath to come.
- We are not waiting for Antichrist to appear; we are waiting for Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
- The church will not go through the Great Tribulation.
- The Lord Jesus Christ has delivered the church from this wrath.
- The second coming of Jesus is a comfort.
- God is not going to pour out His wrath upon His children.
- Before God destroyed Sodom, He brought Lot out.
- Before God sent the flood, He put Noah in the ark.
- God chastises His children, but His wrath is for the unsaved.
- Revelation 3:10
- 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10
- While we are waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to be serving Him and telling others about Him.
- We need to turn to God from idols.
- Anything we love more, serve more, trust more or fear more than Almighty God is an idol.
- Not only are we waiting for Jesus and expecting Him, we need to anticipate Him.
- The Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who can deliver us from the wrath to come.
- Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.
- Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 10:9-10
- Romans 10:13
- Acts 16:31
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10
"
found this helpful. Did you find it helpful?