Title: The Apocalyptic Derby!
Text: Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Intro: Yesterday, we saw a parade of jockey's and beautiful horses. The horses were extremely well breed and demonstrated speed and power. The race was hyped for nearly a year, but over with in a couple of minutes. This is just like prophecy. The Bible has spoke of the end time for centuries and people have ignored the truth. However, the prophecies of the Bible will come to pass with a derby of different sorts. An apocalyptic derby. And it's message is simple . . .
PROP: JESUS IS COMING SOON, ARE YOU READY?
READ REVELATION 4:1-6:8
REV. 4:1-3 (SCENE 1) THRONE OF GOD
REV. 4:4
(SCENE 2) REDEEMED CHURCH, They are dressed in white garments, promised to every believer in Rev. 2:10;3:4.
In the O.T. vision of God's throne, where the serephims and cherubims are mentioned, there are no elders present. These elders have their names on the gates/foundation of New Jerusalem.
REV. 4:5-6A (SCENE 3) SPIRIT OF JUDGEMENT AND BURNING.
Isaiah 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
REV. 4:6B-8 (SCENE 4) 4 LIVING INTELLIGENT CREATURES REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL CREATION: LION - WILD ANIMALS, THE CALF - DOMESTICATED ANIMALS, EAGLE- BIRDS, MAN - IMAGE OF GOD.
2 TYPES OF ANGELS AROUND THE THRONE:
1) Seraphim - So full of the reflective glory of God that they seem to be on fire. They cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Host: The whole earth is full of His glory."
2) Cherubim - keepers of the garden.
They cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
3 HOLY'S FOR THE TRINITY OR GODHEAD
2 TYPES OF ANGELS AROUND THE THRONE REPRESENTING HOLINESS: SEPARATION FROM EVIL AND DEDICATION TO GOD.
REV. 4:9-11 (SCENE 5) OVERFLOW OF WORSHIP FROM THE BEAST.
REV. 5 (SCENE 6) THE LAMB WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SEALS
REV 6 (SCENE 7) THE APOCTYLIPTIC DERBY
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
I. THE FIRST HORSE OF THE APOCALYPTIC DERBY
A. THIS HORSE REPRESENTS THE RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST.
1. He will be an ambitious ruler who will embody the likes of Nebuchunezzar, Antiochus Epiphanes (from Syria), and Hitler. His goal is total world domination and personal worship according to Rev. 13.
2. He will be a brilliant Economist and a Military genius. (Dan. 8:25)
Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
3. He will rise to power over a 10 kingdom confederacy and attain world wide domination after defeating three kings or world leaders. This could be through military or political defeat. (Dan. 7:24; Rev. 13)
4. He will promise peace. (move to number 2) In fact, world peace will actually be his platform for war.(Dan.8:25; 1Th. 5:3)
1 Thes 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
5. The world climate is staged for a one world government for many reasons:
1) Fear of nuclear war
2) Economic uncertainty
3) Rising influence of U.N.
Kim Respank, former president of the United Nations said, "Send us a man who will bring the world together and join us together in peace, and we will serve him, be he God or devil!"
II. THE SECOND HORSE OF THE APOCYLIPTIC DERBY
Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
A. THE SECOND HORSE REPRESENTS WAR
1. Although the antichrist promises peace he will not be able to deliver it. (see commentary above)
2. Actually peace will be his basis for world war.
3. War will be a natural result of the antichrist rising up to conquer.
4. He is a barbarian so he will plunge into the earth with a blood bath of unprecedented proportions. This will end in one great climatic war called, "the battle of Armegeddon."
5. Many wars will be caused by the response of rebel nations refusing to give up their solidarity and liberty. They will not succeed in defeating him. Only Christ will be able to defeat him ultimately.
III. THE THIRD HORSE OF THE APOCYLIPTIC DERBY
Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
A. THE THIRD HORSE REPRESENTS FAMINE
1. Because of the terrible wars going on food will not be grown in many places of the world.
2. Famine is always the result of war.
3. A man will have to work an entire day just for enough food to live. This will not feed anyone else in his family. Undoubtedly, this will result in cannablism as recorded in earlier civilizations who faced terrible famine.
2 Kings 6:29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
4. Millions of poor people will die. However, the rich will not be harmed due to the expression, "hurt not the oil and the wind."
5. Many will be forced to receive a damning mark in the hand or forhead.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
IV. THE FORTH HORSE OF THE APOCYLPTIC DERBY
Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
A. THE FORTH HORSE REPRESENTS DEATH
1. Those who die during this attack from death will be damned to hell. God's people will be protected.
2. The term and with the wild beast may seam like a mind boggling statement. However recently medical specialist have traced the aids virus back to species of monkeys in Africa, called the green monkey. Also, this virus has been discovered in horsed world wide and in sheep in the middle East. The beast of the field have become the source of our present day plagues, aids.
3. This last horse will kill 25% of the earths population with disease.
Again:
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
