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Waiting For Jesus

March 22, 2018 Save Article

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1 Thessalonians 1:7-10
(RA-1995, Program: 1218, Air date: 03.25.18)

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

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