Simple Faith

Guest (Male): When we pray, sometimes God says no. How do you feel when God says no? Here's Pastor Bill Henry.

Bill Henry: I'm praying for this person over here, and again, God says no sometimes. Who here likes it when God says no? Anybody? None of us do because most of us—and I put myself first—I'm a spoiled brat sometimes. I want it my way. Remember how kids can be when they don't get their way? We can be like that with the Lord. Look, God knows, and we are not our own any longer.

Guest (Male): Greetings and welcome to another edition of Simple Faith with Pastor Bill Henry. Good to have you along with us as we continue reasoning through Revelation. It's a fascinating book to say the least, and it contains some pretty amazing prophecies about our future. The Bible carries a 100 percent accuracy rating when it comes to prophecy. So logic tells us that everything in the book of Revelation will indeed come to pass. Let's go ahead and join Pastor Bill in Revelation Chapter 6, verses 9 through 11.

Bill Henry: Today, I don't know, it's kind of funny and sad at the same time. We like to really lift up those radical testimonies, right? I was a drug addict, I was in a gang. All of a sudden, we want to send them around to all the churches. This guy used to be this and he got saved. Isn't that awesome? Well, how about the one person? Yeah, I grew up in a Christian home and I was very religious and I went to church for 20 or 30 years, but all of a sudden the gospel broke through and I got saved. I repented of my sins and my faith became alive to me.

Those are both exciting testimonies, by the way. But we like to lift up the one, right? This is so radical. Or we get somebody, a famous musician or actor or actress gets saved. Maybe it's a TikToker for many of you out there. They got saved. This is so exciting. That's no more exciting to me than the bum on the street. No more exciting to me than the homeless person or the person in the rest home. I remember talking to a fellow who was 90 years old. He was the captain of a vessel during World War II, and he came to Christ at that age. Those are things just as exciting.

Somebody famous comes to Christ anymore, it's like, praise the Lord, I pray for them, but I move on. I don't know if we think it validates our faith. I don't know. But your testimony matters is what I'm trying to say. You might not have the most dramatic testimony, but if you are a Christian, you have been changed by Jesus Christ and you have a testimony. If you don't have a testimony, then get saved. If you don't have a before and after, get saved. Sincerely. Because there is a radical change from before you're a Christian and then after.

And then by the way, all the way through to what God is even today. You know what I love about God? He doesn't stop. A lot of us are like, yes, I got saved back in 1972 when I was at summer camp and I'm continuing. No, God wants to use you and do radical things even now, whether you're 16 or whether you're 60 or 90. He wants to use you for His glory. He wants to continue to give you a testimony. We were talking about tithing a couple of weeks ago as we were going through Second Chronicles and the people were going crazy. They had this big revival in Israel and Judah. It was awesome.

They had this week, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They had that was supposed to be a week and they were like, this is so awesome, let's go for another week. So they went for another week. And then they went home. And the King Hezekiah says, I'm going to tithe first and then I'm going to call everybody to tithe and to give. And the people were so excited. They brought heaps and heaps. It took four months for them to give all that they wanted to give. It was so neat. A little old lady came up after and said, I'd love to tell you my testimony about me tithing and how faithful God has been.

There is power in her testimony. A lot of people don't tithe because they're afraid to tithe or they love their money too much. Those are the two reasons. We love our money too much or we're afraid. I'll tell you what, it's great to hear a testimony. It's great to hear a testimony when God has healed somebody, literally physically healed somebody. It's awesome. It's great. It's also awesome to hear a testimony when God didn't heal somebody and let them die because God's grace is active in both situations and God can bring glory to both situations.

There is power in your testimony, beloved in Christ. There is power in the Word of God. Do not be afraid to use it. Look at verse 10. "And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'" That sounds pretty gnarly, doesn't it? Are you sure these guys are Christians, Pastor Bill? Are you sure these gals are Christians? They're calling for judgment. Don't judge me, bro, and avenge our blood.

There's what's called dispensational theology. Basically, it says that we're currently in the church age and that this is the age of grace. This is the dispensation of grace and mercy because Jesus commanded us to love those who hate us, bless those who curse us. And by the way, we are commanded to do those things, praise God, and empowered by His Holy Spirit to do that. But here's the thing. When the church is taken up to heaven and the rapture goes away, again, this dispensational theology, then they say the church age is then over and a new dispensation or a new work of the Holy Spirit begins.

Basically now it's the time or dispensation of God's judgment and God's wrath. The Millennial Kingdom will be the time or dispensation of God, Jesus ruling upon the earth. So they say basically that these saints who were killed during the Tribulation are not part of the church, but these are Tribulation saints and now they're waiting for God to do what He said He's going to do. Because God said He will avenge. God said that He is the one who will take vengeance. Remember where Paul had quoted that: "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord."

Today we have lost our sense of right and wrong in many cases, even many who profess Jesus Christ. It's like we think it's one or the other, that it's either justice or grace and that the two can't come together. When we were talking about wrath a few weeks ago, it's the same thought. But here we see these saints are crying out to God for justice, even for vengeance. But today we live in a world that calls darkness light and light darkness. And we live in a world that calls good evil and evil good. Sadly, many of us have gotten caught up into this because who wants to be mean? Who wants to be even perceived as being a mean or a jerk for Jesus?

But what happens is we too can lose our way whenever we get away from the Word of God. We have to be careful. Here these martyrs are crying out to the Lord. They call the Lord, notice, holy and true. Yet look at what they're crying for: judgment and an avenging of blood. Now, it's interesting, the word "avenge" here, "avenge our blood," literally in the Greek is to execute justice. To execute justice. There is a holy justice and it is okay even today to cry out for holy justice. We can forgive someone and say, I forgive you, but guess what? You're still going to have to go to prison for the crimes you committed.

I can forgive someone and say, I'm sorry, but you're still going to have to be put to death at the death penalty because you killed someone. You killed my brother. You killed my mother. You killed my wife. We can forgive them by the blood of Jesus Christ, but there's still that consequence. We think that the forgiveness equals, oh, they're just going to go be set free. Today many get justice and revenge mixed up. Justice is basically society and at one point God, but society, in Romans we read this, that the society, the leaders of our society, are supposed to take vengeance for us, get justice for us.

So we don't seek to get revenge. It's okay for justice. There should be justice. And yet today again, many call justice evil just like they call good evil. And many even say this in the name of Jesus Christ. I remember years ago, maybe 10 or eight years ago, I don't know if you saw this, I was watching it on the news happen live and there was this scene where a husband escaped—I think it was the husband escaped—and his daughters and his wife were in this house and it was back east. And he went to the police and said, they got my daughters, they've been raping them repeatedly, they've been raping my wife repeatedly.

There was two guys and you need to go in and save them. So they're outside this house and they were out there for hours and wouldn't go in. The police wouldn't go in. And next thing you know, there's a fire coming from the second story. The guys had lit these gals all on fire and murdered them. The guys came out, they were caught red-handed in the act, and guess what? No death penalty. Rape, murder, caught red-handed, there's no question, because we've forgotten what is right and what is wrong. That justice is not evil. And we need to understand this even as Christians.

Look, God will avenge. He says this in Romans 12:19, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." So where do we go? And even if you notice, the saints underneath are crying out to the Lord. God has instituted in Romans that the governments are supposed to be implementing justice. But many today, because lawlessness is increasing, they're not doing it. I'll give you another example: the death penalty itself. There are many who in the name of Christ—there's probably some here today—you'll say, I'm against the death penalty. It's inhumane, it's this and that.

Well, how about we do this? Let's let God tell us what to do. Everybody okay with that? Whether He says no or yes, what does He say? Turn with me, please, to Genesis Chapter 9. And remember, this is before the law was given and this is God speaking, and He is saying something that is a simple truth that is supposed to be for all humankind. This isn't just to Israel. Genesis 9, verses 5 and 6. Remember, this is after the flood. God is speaking to Noah. And this is what He says we come to here in Genesis 9, verse 5. "And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person's life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. If anyone who murders a fellow human being must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person's life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in His own image."

It's pretty clear there that God says if you murder somebody, then your life is forfeit. And so here's the thing. Notice at the end of verse 6, because God tells us why. It's not just to prevent others from murdering others, which I'm sure that's part of it. But notice this: it says, "For God made human beings in His own image." You see, it is the most horrendous of acts when a human being kills another human being. And by the way, this includes abortion. This is a human being killing another human being. And any of you say, well, no, it's not a human being, it's a fetus. Let's go to the Latin.

"Fetus" means baby in the womb. So even when people say, oh, it's just a fetus, okay, yeah, I agree. It's a baby in the womb. So look, and by the way, if you've had an abortion or you know somebody who has, there's forgiveness at the cross of Jesus Christ. You walk in that forgiveness. You come if you haven't. But here's the thing: it is murder. Okay? And we need to understand this. That God is clear on these things, and this is called justice. And because look, for God made human beings in His own image. So when somebody goes—and those two guys killed those girls and that mom—they should have been put to death. Period. By human hands, God says.

So again, these people are crying out from under the altar there. "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And so again, in Chapter 7 we read that these are the saints that are coming out of the Tribulation. And it's kind of a neat thing. I wanted to just point out something real quick that we may miss in the midst of all this. This is rugged. These guys are killed for their faith, these gals are killed for their faith, for the Word of God, their testimony. But here's the beautiful thing. And this is radical.

In the midst of God pouring out His wrath upon the earth, there are people being saved. God's grace in the midst of His wrath. That's our God. Turn with me to Revelation 7, because I don't know if you realize there are more people probably going to be saved in the Tribulation than have been saved in any point in history. And this is why I say this. Revelation 7, verses 9 and 10. "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude no one could number." And these are the ones that are saved out of the Tribulation from all tribes, every nation and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb."

That is our God, that even in the midst of this horrific stuff, people numbers that no one could number are coming to Christ. Look at verse 11 back in our text. "Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." So again, the white robe, as we just read back in Chapter 7, it's because these robes were dipped in the blood of Jesus Christ. And so it was given to them, representing that they are now righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ.

It's a representation of them being forgiven, white as snow. And notice again, this was given to them. They didn't earn it. Our salvation is given to us. We don't earn it. Now it goes on here. Notice they're told to rest a little while longer, but then it goes on to say, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed as they were was completed. So there's a number. God knows how many are going to be killed for faith in Jesus Christ. Who do you think set that number? Was it Satan? Was it the Antichrist? Was it humans? No, it was God. He has that number set and it's like, you know what? That's enough. That's enough.

So we need to see something here. This is so important. That once we are in Jesus Christ, He counts and numbers the hairs of your head. And guess what? Even if we are to die for our faith in Jesus Christ, He is still with us. You see, Jesus God is completely omniscient. He knows everything: past, present, and future. When these people are all dying, He knows how many are going to die for Him and their faith. We might say, well, that's really mean, Jesus. You're letting all these people who love you and have served you, you're letting them die for you?

Can I ask you who you think you are for asking God that question? Who do we think we are sometimes? Ever think about that? Do ever look in the mirror and say, who do you think you are? It's funny because we look at this and we might pray, well, Lord, we just pray that none of these people are killed, you just bless them. And yet they all get killed. And then we have the audacity to get mad at God because He didn't do what we asked Him to do. Lord, why didn't you answer my prayer? I prayed for them that they wouldn't. And God looks and He says, well, you see, you're My servant, I'm not yours. I'm not your genie, no matter what false theology you might buy into.

I'm God. You're My child. And if you're going to be like Stephen and your death brings more glory to Me, how many people would want that, by the way? If I by my death would bring more glory to God than through my life. Lord, by Your grace, I will die for You. And I mean it has to be by His grace because I can't do it on my own. I'd run like a little baby in the other direction. We need to understand that God is completely sovereign. We've lost sight of this today in the church. We like to think of ourselves as kind of completely sovereign, don't we? I know what's best for everybody.

I want You, Lord, to heal Victor's back. I want his back healed, Lord, and in Jesus' name we anoint. And you know what? God says, no, I'm not going to do it right now. Oh, wait, I'm going to wait to do it this time. Or no, I'm not going to do it at all. I'm praying for this person over here, and again, God says no sometimes. Who here likes it when God says no? Anybody? None of us do because most of us—and I put myself first—I'm a spoiled brat sometimes. I want it my way. Remember how kids can be when they don't get their way? We can be like that with the Lord. Look, God knows, and we are not our own any longer.

As we're closing, let's ask ourselves this: why is this in the Bible again? Why are we reading these words about martyrs during the Tribulation? I think there's more than a few reasons, but let me just talk about two quick ones. Number one, because I think it's a warning for all of us even here today. Where are you in Jesus? Where are you in Jesus Christ because these days are coming? And I'll be honest with you, I think it's coming anytime, any moment. I think we're in the midst of the signs. I think these things are happening all around us that have never happened before in the history of the world. In the history of the world. And a lot of us are blinded to it because you're not reading the Bible. You're not in maybe you're not even a Christian. Today come, repent of your sins, believe on Jesus Christ, come into the Kingdom of God, enter into His forgiveness and His grace. Believe on Him and His death and His resurrection from the dead. Believe on Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life and find forgiveness and new life, be born again of the Spirit of God.

Now another reason. I'll tell you what, there might be a lot more persecution coming before the rapture of the church. Are you ready for persecution? Are you ready for persecution? Have you really thought about this? I'm going to close by reading. There's a fellow named R. Kent Hughes and he writes some awesome commentaries and he wrote this. He said this: "This scene in the Scripture is for me and you. The scene is to strengthen us to be faithful unto death, to tell us that some of us may be martyrs so that we can be preparing ourselves for that now."

Why is this passage here? To prepare us for martyrdom. Do you know how to prepare for martyrdom? Soak yourself in the Word of God. Cling to its promises. Live in the world the Bible describes, not in the world in line with the world that the rebellious humans reinvent for themselves. Read the Bible like you might be martyred for it. Pray like you would if you knew they were going to kill you for it one day soon. Preach the gospel like you might die for it. Cast your votes like all your life depends upon it. Love your spouse like you would if you knew that they were coming for you tomorrow. Hold your kids and teach them the faith like there is no tomorrow. Live like there is something worth dying for.

Put thoughts like these in your mind. God, Christ, the Bible, the truths of faith, these are the things worth more to me than life. Life without these things is not worth living. I would rather have my life taken from me than to surrender the good confession. God will protect my family, my widowed wife, and my orphaned children. He is God, not my persecutors. I love my family and will serve them as long as there is breath in my chest. But all the while, I will be teaching them words like Psalm 63:3: "The steadfast love of the Lord is better than life." Are you ready?

Guest (Male): I hope you were blessed by today's message from Pastor Bill Henry. This has been Simple Faith with Pastor Bill Henry from Simple Faith Calvary Chapel in Vancouver, Washington. And today we brought you a message from Pastor Bill's new series in the book of Revelation. If you'd like to hear today's message again or share it with a friend, it's available at our website to either watch or listen or download in MP3 format. We have a large number of Pastor Bill's messages archived and you can find them all at simplefaith.org. That's simplefaith.org.

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