A Daily Walk

John Randall: All the signs around us seem to be telling us Jesus is coming soon. So, what are we to do? "What do we do right now, Pastor John? How do we respond to this? What are we supposed to be doing right now? I see it. I know. I'm aware of it. I see all that's happening. What are we to do?" You want to know what you're supposed to do right now? Abide in Jesus. Abide in Jesus. Dwell with him. Stay close to him. Stay close to him. He's coming.

Guest (Male): Welcome to A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall, coming to you once again today from Calvary South OC. We've seen it repeated throughout the ages. Mankind's heart is hard. Attempts to fight God and loses. But this is taken to a whole new level in Revelation 16 as the bowls are being poured out on the earth. Now, you would think finally people would get it, but sadly, that won't be the case for all too many. Here is Pastor John with part two of The Bowl Judgements.

John Randall: Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the 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 the plagues, and they did not repent nor give him glory. It was in Revelation again, chapter eight, that we read when the fourth trumpet sounded that the sun, the moon, and the stars were impacted and affected. The result was one-third of the day and the night no longer shone.

Yet in Revelation 16, it's a completely different judgment because when the sun is affected in the bowl judgment, the impact will increase instead of decrease. The third of the portion or the rest that remains left shining now produces devastating results as the sun scorches mankind. I'm sure you're aware of the sun even now, but it makes up 99% of the mass of the entire solar system. The diameter of the sun at its equator is approximately 860,000 miles, about 109 times of the earth.

It's so large that it can fit an estimated 1.3 million earths inside of the sun with room to spare. The earth right now is just at the right distance from the sun, 93 million miles away. At this distance, the earth receives only billionths of the sun's energy every second. If it were closer, all of the water would boil, and survival of life would be impossible. If it were further away, all of the water would freeze, and the planet would be barren and empty of life.

The sun converts about five million tons of its matter into energy every second. That's the equivalent to 100 million or one megaton hydrogen bombs going off every second. The surface temperature is 5,500 degrees Celsius, and the core temperature of the sun is 15 million degrees Celsius. When you think about is there a real God, just look up in the sky and think to yourself, why does it stay there? How is it? What is it that keeps it there? What is it that keeps the earth rotating at just the right time on its axis?

I'll tell you what it is if you don't know. It's God. It's God. It's not evolution, friend. It's God. And it's the same God that loved you so much that you are the height of his creation. You were created in his image. He created you for fellowship, and he desires to save you if you're not saved. That's the God I'm talking about. Creation reveals the glory of the Lord. The firmament shows his handiwork, and men take it for granted.

But in the Tribulation period, the sun's strength will increase to the point where men will be scorched by its heat, and they will know where it comes from. Remember, the water supply is no longer available, and mankind responds to this judgment by blaspheming God and refusing to repent. That reveals a few things. For one thing, it reveals that even though mankind knows that he's suffering the consequences of his sin and where the judgment is coming from, he still refuses to repent and turn to God.

The wishful thinking of some is that men would repent if they only knew the power and the righteous judgment of God. But it's shattered by the frequent mention in this chapter of the hardness of the human heart in the face of the most stringent and evident divine discipline. Man says, "I'm not going to bow. I'm not going to bend. I reject you, God." That's the heart of man. It proves that the problem with humanity isn't the environment. It's not the climate that he lives in, but it's the hardness of heart.

They did not repent. They did not give glory to God. Their rebellious hearts were further exposed. Even though the repercussions got worse, they didn't get right with God. I have thought to myself many times when I look at people's lives who are rejecting Jesus Christ, it appears on the outside that everything is fine. Their Instagram feed looks wonderful. Their life is perfect. They have no issues. It's a constant highlight reel, but they do not know Jesus.

I've thought, what is it going to take for their eyes to be opened? Does it have to be something tragic? Does it have to be something difficult? The Lord said in his word, "Come, let us reason together. Let's talk about this. Let's dialogue together." He gives them the opportunity. The Bible says in Hebrews chapter three, "Do not harden your hearts as in the day of rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness." Friend, do not harden your heart today. If God's trying to get your attention, and you know right now that it is the Lord that's speaking to you in this moment, listen and respond to that.

Then the fifth bowl is poured out. 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, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Again, we find similarities to the ninth plague that fell on Egypt recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus in chapter ten, and also the fifth trumpet that sounded in Revelation chapter nine, where darkness came upon the earth.

But when this fifth bowl is poured out, it is directed at the throne of the beast and his kingdom. Following the scorching of the sun and the loathsome sores, there is complete and total darkness. The Bible tells us in Zephaniah chapter one, verse 15, concerning this, that the day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress, of anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness that is coming upon the earth.

This is real, though. This is what's coming. I don't know if you've ever been in a dark place physically where, after a time, your eyes are supposed to be adjusted, but it's still so dark that you can't see the hand in front of your face. That's what we're talking about. No light is available anywhere. Darkness has always been a symbol of evil in scripture. The devil himself is called the prince of darkness. Jesus spoke of those who live in a lifestyle of sin and referred to them as living in darkness.

It's called a kingdom of darkness, and of course, his kingdom is a kingdom of light. He wants to bring you out of the kingdom of darkness and into his marvelous light. Jesus said it this way in John chapter three, "This is the condemnation that has come into the world, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Everyone practicing evil hates the light and doesn't come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Friend, let me ask you today, are you living in darkness or are you walking in the light? Because if you're living in darkness and you're choosing darkness, you will eventually have darkness. But Jesus is calling you into light. He's calling you into light. I wonder if you can hear his voice today. The kingdom of this world is a kingdom of darkness, and it will eventually and literally darkness covers this kingdom. And men, again, they know that these judgments are supernatural and come from God.

They gnaw, it says, their tongues because of the pain that they'll be in. The darkness of the fifth bowl is really a preview of hell itself. It's a preview of what hell's going to be like because Jesus, who described hell, described it as outer darkness. He said that it's a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those under the judgment of the fifth bowl stand, as it were, on the shores of the lake of fire. And yet, they blaspheme God, and they do not repent.

They do not turn from their sin or their evil deeds. Friend, perhaps that describes you today. You know you're walking in disobedience to God and to his love for you. Things are quickly unraveling, and darkness is encroaching. Don't make the same mistake that these people did and harden your heart because I do believe that there comes a point, and I don't know where it is, when you can harden your heart over and over and over again and God accepts the decision that you make.

Repentance demands a change of lifestyle. Those of the world's kingdom here knew this was God's doing but didn't repent. They didn't change because they would have had to give up something, and they were unwilling to part with it. They were unwilling to part with that which was destroying them, but they were in bondage to it. But what they would have received in return is incomparable, eternal life. Finally, the sixth bowl. 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. They were spirits of demons performing signs which go out to the kings of the earth and the whole world to gather them together for the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Behold, the Lord says, "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 a place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Two things occur in the sixth bowl being poured out. First of all, it says the river Euphrates is dried up, which allows the kings of the East to assemble and to go to battle. Also, demonic spirits go out deceptively, and they convince these nations, these rulers, these kings, to come together and fight against God. How deceptive do they have to be to convince men to actually try and fight against God in this battle of Armageddon?

The river Euphrates is a river that holds a place of prominence in the scriptures. It's mentioned a total of 19 times in the Old Testament and two times in the New Testament. The river Euphrates is a natural barrier between the East and the West. The Euphrates River is the eastern border of the land God gave to Abraham back in Genesis 15. It's about 1,800 miles long and so large that it forms a barrier between the armies of the world. It also at one time served as the eastern border of the Roman Empire.

But now, it says this river dries up and all the kings, everybody gathers. The people from the East, they come together. The question naturally occurs, who's the kings of the East? Who are they? Is it China? Is it Muslim nations? It seems to refer, perhaps, to those Oriental rulers in the East. It's not a surprise when you look at what's going on today in the East. For the literal rendering of this passage is "the kings of the sun rising." That will have a connection in the final world conflict.

It's no surprise to see the rise of China. I said it. We're seeing it. Having a population of over 1.2 billion people, they boast of the possibility of being able to field a 200 million man army. Furthermore, it's interesting to see the growing relations between nations right now: China, Iran, Afghanistan. Even this week, I saw how that Afghanistan, now under the reign of the Taliban, is making nice with China. Friends, things are coming together. I hope you see it.

I hope you're aware of what's happening right now in this world, that your eyes are open, that you're not sticking your head in the dirt and in a hole in the ground and trying to hide from it all. Listen, you need to have your eyes open. You need to see what's going on. Things are coming together quicker than we can even follow. But here's what we know for sure: the armies of the world at this time will be seduced by lying spirits that will convince them to come to the battle of Armageddon.

The battle of Armageddon is a place called the valley of Jezreel, there in Israel. It's a beautiful valley. I've visited it many times. It separates Galilee from Samaria. It is peaceful and breathtaking. When Napoleon Bonaparte saw this valley, he said it is the ideal battleground for the armies of the world, and he was absolutely right. But John sees a preview of nations coming together for this final battle. In the future battle, God will intervene. He will destroy the armies of the Antichrist, as defined in biblical prophecy.

There will be a multitude of people engaged in the battle of Armageddon, and the battle ends as soon as Jesus shows up. He opens his mouth and speaks and, like a sharp sword, it goes out. Game over. That's what happens. And the Bible predicts it in Zechariah chapter 14. It says this, "For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem. The city shall be taken. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as he fights in the day of battle."

But then in the midst of the sixth bowl being poured out, there is a parenthetical passage that leaps off the page, the words of Jesus. Notice he said, "Behold," and listen carefully, he said, "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." Here is a declaration of the certainty of the coming of the Lord when he said, "I am coming." Not "I might." It's a possibility. It's without doubt. He said, "I am coming."

Many today scoff at the thought of the coming of the Lord, but that doesn't change the facts. He said, "I am coming," and he is. There is also an indication of the way in which he is coming. He said, "I'm coming like a thief." When a thief comes, he does so unexpectedly and quickly. There are many who will not be anticipating the arrival of the king. Then there is a blessing pronounced on those who are watching, those who are not falling asleep amidst this world.

They have their eyes open. They can discern the times. They know that there is something far greater at hand than what the media of this world presents. They know their Bibles. They know there is a dark agenda of the devil setting up the world. But ultimately, they know that God is working all things together for good, and they will not be taken by surprise because they're watching. Is that you this morning? Are you watching? Are you ready? Are your eyes open?

It also says their garments are prepared, and they won't be ashamed. The Bible says in 1 John chapter two, "Now, little children, abide in him, that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed at his coming." Abide in him. "What do we do right now, Pastor John? How do we respond to this? What are we supposed to be doing right now? I see it. I know. I'm aware of it. I see all that's happening. What are we to do?" You want to know what you're supposed to do right now? Abide in Jesus.

Abide in Jesus. Dwell with him. Stay close to him. Stay close to him. He's coming. As you look at this chapter and we conclude, you can see the obvious progression of the hardness of men's hearts in that they rebel against God. They choose to worship and follow the beast. They then suffer the consequences, and rather than repent, they blaspheme and they curse God. Finally, man then attempts to fight against God and loses.

But listen, this is the progression of many people even today. People talk about being progressive. Yeah, progressive away from God. That's where it's headed. "I'm very progressive in my thoughts." Away from God. Look where it leads you. Look where it leads the culture. Look where it leads the state, the nation, and the world. When you progress away from God, you're going away from God. There are those that have reasons for hardening their heart and choosing not to believe, and they vary.

But as you get further and further away, you're fighting against God and then eventually you die without him. Dying without the one who came to die for you, so that you never have to die, you'd have eternal life, is a grave error and mistake. Last bowl. Verse 21, 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.

And the 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. And 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, that's about a hundred-pound hailstone. And what did men do? They blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

You may recognize those words, "It is done." These words described a completed action with ongoing results. It's similar to Jesus's words that he said from the cross, "It is finished." It's done. It's complete. God's judgment on Jesus at Calvary provided salvation for repentant sinners, but the judgment of the seventh bowl brings doom on the unrepentant sinner. Jesus said it's finished, and if you trust in him, you can know that your salvation is secure. But if you refuse, you're going to hear him say, "It is done."

And rather than be savior, he becomes judge. This great earthquake, a mighty great earthquake, it's as if I picture in my mind if you've ever had one of those snow globes. Everything seems peaceful until you take it in your hand and you shake it up, and suddenly everything is going. It's like God, who spans the universe with his hand. The Bible says the earth is his footstool. He takes the planet in his hand and just shakes it up like it's never been shaken before.

Mountains crumble. Cities, nations split apart. Everything being shaken, as the Bible says in Hebrews, "He who promised once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven." And yet, what cannot be shaken will remain. Everything is shaking at the end and hailstones falling, a hundred pounds, and men blaspheme God and reject him. Folks, listen, today God is calling for people to repent from sin and to be saved.

Jesus said many will say to me in that day, "Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?" And I will profess to them, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity." There will be those that say, "Lord, but didn't we do this? Lord, I went to that parking lot that one time. I mean, that was something." And the Lord will say, "I didn't know you." You need to repent.

A repent is a change of direction. The first message that Jesus preached after he was baptized was "Repent and believe the Gospel." And that message hasn't changed. Jesus told the crowd in Luke's Gospel, 13, "Except you repent, you will likewise perish. Except you repent." The Bible says in Acts three, "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, and that times of refreshing may come from the presence of God."

Do you desire times of refreshing? Do you want to know that your sins are forgiven? Do you want to not be here when this happens? Then friend, respond to the love of God today. God loved you so much that he died for you. He went to the cross, paid for every sin you've ever committed, and then was buried, and then rose again on the third day and offers you salvation, forgiveness. Today is the day. Don't put it off.

All these things are coming in the future. These things will surely take place. But Jesus said, "I have come as a light into this world," in John chapter 12, "that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness." Jesus said, "If anyone can hear my words and does not believe, I don't judge him, for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. But he who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."

Friend, Jesus wants to be your savior today. He loves you. These things are surely coming upon the earth in the future. God has warned us in advance, but there is a way of escape, and he has provided it. Friend, I pray today that you will choose that way of escape, that exit strategy that has been provided through the work of Christ.

Guest (Male): There is a way of escape, so take it. As we read about the destruction and death during the Tribulation, we can avoid it all by placing our trust in Christ, and we hope that you will too if you haven't already. This is A Daily Walk. Pastor John Randall just completed Revelation chapter 16. You can hear it again at adailywalk.org or wherever you get your podcasts. Or download our church app so you can listen through your mobile device. Just search for Calvary South OC.

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