SCRIPTURE: Revelation 15:1-16:21 (Page 1467); Ezekiel 38:1-23 (Page 1035)
SERMON: Watch Closely!							4 February 2001

INTRODUCTION: THE BOOK OF REVELATION

A. THE BEGINNING OF THE END (Rev.1:1-3 & 22:6; 7,12,20; see Dan.2:28,29,45; 7:13,14; Mk.12:28; 26:64; Heb.1:3f; Rev.12:10)

B. A LETTER TO THE CHURCH (Rev.1:4,20; chps.2,3; see Gen.2:2; 33:3; Lev.4:6; Lk.17:4; see Eph.1:1,etc.)

C. JUSTICE & MERCY (Rev.22:14,15; chps.4-22)

Introduction: justice and mercy from heaven (chps.4,5; eg.8:3f and 21:2)

1. 7 seals (judgment authorized - unrepentant destroyed; chps.6-8a; 144k protected, chp.7)

2. 7 trumpets (judgment announced - unrepentant destroyed; chps.8b-11; 144k victorious, chp.12-15a)

3. 7 bowls (judgment accomplished - unrepentant destroyed; chp.15b,16; end of old, 17:1; chps.17-20; beginning of new, 21:9; chps.21,22)

4. The End (8:5; 11:19; 16:18,21; see 4:5; Ex.19:16-19; Heb.12:18-27; see Ex.7-15 and back of outline)

Summary: three witnesses in a capital case (Rev.6:8; 9:15; 16:3; 20:10-15; see Dt.17:6; 19:15; Heb.10:28)

  I. THE THIRD AND FINAL WITNESS (16:1-21; Dt.17:6; 19:15; everything dies; 16:3; see 8:7f; 6:8)

A. SELECTION OF IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM CHAPTER 16

1. the unrepentant wicked are destroyed (16:9,11; see 9:20,21; see Ex.8:15,32; 9:34; Is.8:21,22; 2Chr.36:16)

2. the root cause solution (16:10(13:2),17(Eph.2:2); see 19:19f; 20:10f)

3. the Euphrates (16:12; 9:14; see Is.44:24-45:7; 41:2,25; Jer.50:9f; 51:11,28; Dan.5:20,21; see Ex.14:21f)

4. triple threat: gather for The Day of the Lord (16:13,14; see 13:18,1f; see 20:7-9)

5. (H)ar-Magedon (16:16,14; see Zech.12:9-12,2f & Ezk.39:1-6,17; see Ex.14:23f; or see 1Kngs.18:19f)

6. it is finished (16:17; see 21:6; see Jn.19:30)

7. the cup of wrath (16:19,1f; see v.6; 14:10; Is.51:22; Jer.25:15; see Mt.26:39f)

B. FOCUSING STRUCTURES

1. seventh bowl (16:17-21; see 16:1; 15:1)
a. two sets of three angels (16:2-4 & 8-12; see 14:6-11 & 14-20)

b. focus on the praise to God’s justice (16:5,6; see 15:3,4; see Eph.1:6,12,14; Rom.9:22,23)

2. sore subject (16:2&11; see Ex.9:9,10)
a. the last two bowls (16:12-14,16 & 16:17-21)

b. focus on the promise to man’s faithfulness (16:15; see 14:12; also 13:8,10)

(completed on reverse)

SERMON: Watch Closely!								4 February 2001

 II. THE BEATITUDE (16:15; see Mt.5:3f; Lk.6:20f,24f)

A. SPOTLIGHT: BEHOLD (16:15; 22:7,12; see 14:12; 13:10,18; see 1:7; 2:10; 3:20; Mt.24:25)

B. BASIS: COMING LIKE A THIEF (16:15; 3:3; see 3:11; 22:7,12,20(1:1,3); see Mt.24:43; Lk.12:39; 1Th.5:2; 2Pt.3:10)

C. ARRIVAL: SUDDEN DESTRUCTION & SALVATION (16:14,16; see 20:7-9f&21:1f; Is.37:36-38; 2Th.2:8)

D. PROMISE: BLESSED (16:15 with 1:3 & 22:7; see 14:13; 19:9; 22:14; see Dan.12:12; Mt.24:46; Jms.1:12; see Lk.6:20f)

E. BLESSED: WATCHING... (Rev.16:15)

1. for His coming (Mt.24:42,46; 25:13; Mk.13:34-37; Lk.12:37)

2. against sin (Rev.3:2,3; Mt.26:41; Mk.14:38; Acts 20:29f; 1Th.5:6; 1Pt.5:8/ Mk.9:43f; Rom.8:13; Col.3:4/ Lord’s Supper)

3. by means of prayer (Mt.26:38-41; Mk.14:34-38; Col.4:2/ evening worship)

4. strong and courageous (1Cor.16:13; see Dt.31:6,7,23)

F. ... AND KEEPING HIS GARMENTS.. (Rev3:4,5(1-6); 3:18; see 4:4; 7:14; 19:8/ Jms1:27; 1Jn2;16; 2Pt1:4/ Mt22:11,12)

G. ... IN ORDER THAT NOT WALK NAKED, ASHAMED (Rev.3:17-19; 3:4; see Gen.2:25; 3:7-11)

III. WATCH CLOSELY! (16:15; 3:2,3; see Mt.24:42; 25:13; 26:38-41; 1Th.5:10; 1Pt.5:8)

SUMMARY: Jesus is warning us three times in the Book of Revelation, by seals and trumpets and bowls, that He is “surely coming to judge the earth” (Ps.98) such that all sin will be fully punished in His justice and all righteousness will be fully rewarded in His grace.

Jesus Christ is coming again!  He is on His way and will arrive suddenly.  There will be no time to prepare once He is here because, like lightning, thunder, earthquake and hailstorm (and Oswego winters) once these things start, it is too late to get ready!  
illustrate from the recent earthquakes in El Salvador and India?

Prepare NOW for The Day of the Lord because you do not know when it will arrive.  It will come and this creation will be “gone in (less than) 60 seconds”.  Through faith in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, cut off your sins so that you will not be cut off in them (Mk.9) when He pours out His wrath against sin.  Also by the power of the Holy Spirit, put on His righteousness which is given to you through faith so that, when He comes, you will be blessed to “walk with Him in white” (Rev.16:15; 3:4) as a beloved bride (Rev.19:8) and not thrown out into the outer darkness as a dirty whore (Rev.16:15; Ezk.16,23; Mt.22:11,12).

Jesus is coming to judge the earth in perfect justice.  If you curse Him, you will also do so forever in the eternal plagues of hell.  If you worship Him, you will do so forever in the eternal joys of heavenDISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Questions and comments from the preaching.

2. Do you live each day with The Day of the Lord consciously in mind?
a. If so, how so?
b. If not, why not?
c. What changes do you need to make in this regard?

3. How does the Lord’s “coming quickly” fit with the necessity of the apostacy coming first? (IIB; 2Th.2:1f)

4. How is prayer a means of “watching”? (IIE3; Mt.13:15; 1Cor.2:9; Eph.1:18)
a. How is this ironic in terms of our experience in prayer? (see Lk.22:40f,45; Mt.26:38-41; Col.4:2)