In the sermon “Heavenly Observations of Earth” from the Revelation: Jesus Revealed – The View Behind The Veil series, we examine the opening of the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11. The Apostle John sees the souls of faithful martyrs — slain for the word of God and their testimony — gathered under the heavenly altar. They cry out with a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
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Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Revelation 6:10 And they cried 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?”
Revelation 6:11 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.
Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be
hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
1) Is there life right after death?
2) Do people in heaven remember life on earth?
3) Do people in heaven see what is happening on earth?
The 5th Seal
I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls …”
Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,
Exodus 40:5 You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark
of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:6 Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of
the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls …”
Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the
altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the
the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,
ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
II. THE CAUSE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
They were murdered for fulfilling the two greatest commandments–loving God and
loving people.
Revelation 2:13 “… And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in
the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you,…”
According to a report from watchdog group, Open Doors US, in 2025
“388 million Christians suffered persecution last year with 4,849 murdered and 3,632
churches and Christian properties were either destroyed or attacked.while 4,712
Christians were detained.”
With North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen being the top 3 worst countries
Satan past, present and future has always used an ungodly governments to be the
greatest persecutor of the church.
III. THE CRY FROM THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:10 And they cried 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?”
Luke 18:6, “Jesus said, … Shall not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to
Him day and night, and will not God judge when His elect cry out to Him?”
Genesis 4:10 “…The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground …”
Revelation 6:10 “… will avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
IV. THE COMPLETION OF THE MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:11 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.
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,
and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the
crown of life.
V. THE CONTINUATION AFTER THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:9 (VOICE) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the
heavenly altar the souls of those murdered for holding fast to the word of God and
their testimony.
Revelation 6:10 They cried out in a great, singular voice. Murder Victims:
1. Death is Not the End. Life goes on after Death.
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed
from death into life.
2. The Martyred Souls Aren’t Sleeping.
Daniel 12:2 ‘And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,Some
to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those
who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the
body and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart
and be with Christ, which is far better.
For unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in hell (Luke 16:22–23).
Luke 16:22 “… the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, …”
3) People in Heaven Remember Life on Earth.
Revelation 6:10 (NLV) All those who had been killed cried out with a loud voice saying,
“How long will it be yet before You will punish those on the earth for killing us?
Lord, You are holy and true.”
4) People in Heaven See What is Happening on Earth.
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in
heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to
the Lord our God!
Revelation 19:2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged
the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged
on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Luke 9:28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He
took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
Luke 9:29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe
became white and glistening
Luke 9:30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Luke 9:31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about
to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Do you realize that we really don’t know one another here on earth?
1 Corinthians 13:12 “… Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
5. Don’t Forget The Fans In The Stands.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The last invitation in the Book of Revelation is the last one in the Bible
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come…
Explore the terrifying and prophetic vision of the Four Horsemen in Revelation 6 in this powerful Bible teaching. As the Lamb opens the first four seals, the world is shaken by deception, war, famine, and death.
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Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another;
and there was given to him a great sword.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by
the beasts of the earth.
Job 39:19 “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with
thunder?
Job 39:20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
Job 39:21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the
clash of arms.
Job 39:22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from
the sword.
Job 39:23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
Job 39:24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come
to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
Job 39:25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
THE 1ST SEAL: THE WHITE HORSE OF DECEPTIVE PEACE.
Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Opinions on who is the first rider is include:
1) Jesus Christ
2) the advance of the gospel,
3) False religion
4) the antichrist,
5) the spirit of conquest,
6) government persecuting Christians,
7) Satan’s servants in general.
8) Not a person but a personification
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat
on it was Death, and Hades
The horsemen are not persons, but personifications, representations
manifestations, embodiments,
It’s not that the four horses will actually ride over the earth, but are symbolical
representations of things that will happen
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, …”
Daneil 11:21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give
the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by
Jeremiah 6:14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace,
peace!’ When there is no peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction
comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
THE 2ND SEAL: THE RED HORSE OF DESTRUCTIVE PUNISHMENT.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who
sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and
there was given to him a great sword.
Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom …”
Matthew 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;
but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Albert Einstein said,”The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything
except our way of thinking. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking
if mankind is to survive.”
President Ronald Reagon once said, “Man has used every weapon he has ever
devised … It takes no crystal ball to perceive that a nuclear war, is likely … In a
nuclear war, all mankind would lose.”
Former Soviet president Brezhnev once said, “Only he who has decided to
commit suicide can start a nuclear war.”
THE 3RD SEAL: THE BLACK HORSE OF DIVISIVE POVERTY.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barleåy for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Lamentations 5:10 Our skin is hot as an oven, because of the fever of famine.
Lamentations 4:9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger;
For these pine away, stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.
Matthew 24:7 “… And there will be famines …
Mark 13:8 “… and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Revelation 6:6 “… and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
THE 4TH SEAL: THE PALE HORSE OF DEADLY PLAGUES.
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the
beasts of the earth.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be.
Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But
Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.
Revelation 9:20 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues,
did not repent …”
Revelation 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their
sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Song “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we’d all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we’d all been ready
There’s no time to change your mind
The Son has come and you’ve been left behind
Acts 17:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this
to all by raising Him from the dead.
Join us as we continue our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Revelation. In this message, we dive deep into Revelation 5:7-14, witnessing the breathtaking scene in the heavenly throne room where the Lamb of God approaches the throne to take the scroll. Discover why Jesus Christ alone is uniquely qualified and completely worthy to unlock history and receive all our praise.
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Revelation 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who
sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your
blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign
on the earth.”
Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the
throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten
thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
Revelation 5:12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to
receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under
the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to
the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four
elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, writing on Revelation, said this:
“There are four things out of place in the universe. The church is out of place; she
ought to be in heaven. Israel is out of place; she should be in the land that has been
sworn to her, and possess every part of it. The devil is out of place; he ought to be
in the lake of fire, but he’s still roaming free. And Christ is out of place; He should
be through with intercession and seated on His throne, reigning, instead of upon
His Father’s throne interceding.”
I. THE SPECIAL SEARCH FOR THE WORTHY ONE.
II. THE SPECIFIC SELECTION OF THE WORTHY ONE.
III. THE SLAIN SACRIFICE KNOWN AS THE WORTHY ONE.
IV. THE SPONTANEOUS SERVICE TO THE WORTHY ONE.
Revelation 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who
sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Psalm 33:2 Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument
of ten strings.
Psalm 144:9 I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing
praises to You,
Revelation 5:8 “… the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having
a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Luke 1:9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour
of incense.
In the Old Testament, God had a temple for His people.
In the New Testament God has a people for His temple
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
1 Thessalonains 5:17 Pray without ceasing,
V. THE SAINTS SONG FOR THE WORTHY ONE.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your
blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Psalm 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy
Psalm 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth–Praise to our God
Isaiah 42:10 Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth,
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Revelation 4:8 “…they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty Who was and is and is to come!”
Psalm 98:4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice and
sing praises
Psalm 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
1. IT IS A WORSHIP SONG
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy …”
Plato said, “Every heart sings a song incomplete until another heart whispers back.”
Is he worthy? Is he worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory.
Is he worthy of this? HE IS!
Revelation 5:12 …”Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Step through the open door into heaven’s throne room in Part 3 of our Revelation series! In “A Visit to God’s Heavenly Throne,” we witness the breathtaking vision of Revelation 4 — the radiant One seated on the throne, surrounded by 24 elders, four living creatures, a sea of glass, and the ceaseless worship of heaven. Discover the seven awe-inspiring elements around God’s throne and explore four life-changing aspects of true praise: its permanence, the glorious Person we worship, the humble posture of worship, and its power to lift our perspective from earth to heaven. Be renewed in worship as Jesus is revealed behind the veil!
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Sermon Notes
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven,
and One sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in
appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like
an emerald.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones
I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the
midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes
in front and in back.
Revelation 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like
a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature
was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne
and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying:
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
There are Seven Things Around the Throne of God
1. SEATED UPON THE THRONE IS THE TRIUNE GOD.
2. SURROUNDING THE THRONE IS A RAINBOW.
3. SITTING AROUND THE THRONE ARE THE 24 ELDERS.
4. SOUNDING FORTH FROM THE THRONE ARE LIGHTNINGS,
THUNDERS AND VOICES.
5. SPREAD BEFORE THE THRONE IS A SEA OF GLASS.
6. SITUATED IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE ARE THE FOUR
LIVING CREATURES.
7. SHARING PRAISE TOWARD THE ONE ON THE THRONE ARE
THE CREATURES AND THE ELDERS.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
1. THE PERMANENCE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:8 “… And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
Psalm 136:1 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136:2 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Quote
When we are really in love, we don’t count the number of times we say “I love you!”,
especially if the one we love really loves to hear it.
The same way, God really loves to hear our words of love towards Him, even when
we only say “I love You” over and over again.
2. THE PERSON OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Lyrics “I Write The Songs”
I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music, and I write the songs
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory
3. THE POSTURE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the
throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying:
The word “worship” means to prostrate one’s self,
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker.
Quote
There are times I get down on my face to pray and it’s like I just can’t even get my face
deep enough in the carpet. It just seems like I can’t humble myself enough before God
Revelation 4:10 “… and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne …”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
4. THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
Praise is not praise unless it’s expressed.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Worship lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Pastor Ed Hamilton delivers a powerful message titled “It’s A Big Deal” that explores the parallels between current world events and biblical prophecy. Drawing from Genesis 6 and contemporary examples, Hamilton emphasizes the pervasiveness of violence and corruption in our world, likening it to the days of Noah. He delves into the nature of sin, its consuming and controlling power, and its continual presence in human hearts. The sermon also touches on the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, the evil presence of sin, and how history tends to repeat itself. Hamilton concludes by reminding the congregation that while evil may seem to prevail, God’s plans stand firm forever, offering hope and perspective in turbulent times.
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Sermon Notes
Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.
Genesis 6:12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh
had corrupted their way on the earth.
Genesis 6:13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the
earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves
violence His soul hates.
Proverbs 13:2 ” … The soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin said at the funeral eulogy for her son Hersh on Sept. 1, 2024
“I have had a lot of time during the past 332 days to think about my sweet boy
Hersh. And one thing I keep thinking about is how, out of all the mothers in the
whole entire world, God chose to give Hersh to me. What must have I done in a
past life to deserve such a beautiful gift? It must’ve been glorious.
Hersh and I once watched some documentaries a couple of years ago together
about young people who had died and he commented:
‘How come everyone
who dies young is always said to be the funniest, the smartest, the greatest,
the handsomest? Why doesn’t anyone ever say ‘I liked Max, but you know
what, he was pretty stupid, his sense of humor was off, and he had bad breath’.’
I am honest, and I’d say, it’s not that Hersh was perfect, but he was the perfect
son for me, and I am so grateful to God and I want to thank God, right now, in
front of all of you, for giving me this magnificent present of my Hersh. For 23 years,
I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersh’s mama. I’ll take it
and say thank you. I just wish it had been for longer.
Hersh, for all these months, I’ve been in such torment and worried about you for
every millisecond of every single day. It was such a specific type of misery that
I never experienced before. I tried hard to surpass the missing you part because
that, I was convinced, would break me. So I spent 330 days terrified, scared,
worrying, and frightened. It closed my throat and my soul throbbed with 3rd degree
burns.
Amidst the inexplicable agony, terror, anguish, desperation, and fear, we became
absolutely certain that you were coming home to us alive, when it was not to be.
Now I no longer have to worry about you, I know you are no longer in danger.
But now my worry shifts to, … How do we live the rest of our lives without you?
I pray that your death will be a turning point in this horrible situation in which
we are all entangled.
You each and every single one of you did every single thing right to survive 329 days
in what I’m pretty sure can only be described as hell. I send each of the families
my deepest sympathies for what we are all going through and for the sickening
feeling that we all could not save them. I think we all did every single thing we could.
And Hersh there is one last thing I need you to do for us. Now I need you to help us
stay strong and I need you to help us survive.”
Matthew 2:18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they
are no more.”
John 8:44 He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him …
I. IT’S A BIG DEAL SEEING BIBLE PROPHECY FULFILLED.
Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.
Genesis 6:12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh
had corrupted their way on the earth.
Genesis 6:13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the
earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves
violence His soul hates.
Proverbs 13:2 ” … The soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
The Hebrew word Hamas is defined as “violence, violently dealing in taking away,
ruthlessness, fierceness, cruel hatred, to lay waste, to think up devise mistreatment
to wrongfully imagine.
Rabbi Nechemia Coopersmith said (quote)
October 7th…became the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust…
The world watched then, it knew, and the world did nothing. We will not stand by
and do nothing again. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. How fitting it is that in
Spanish the word “hamas” has an entirely different meaning. It means: “never again.”
II. IT’S A BIG DEAL UNDERSTANDING SIN’S EVIL PRESENCE.
Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
1. SIN IS CONSUMING.
Genesis 6:5 “… EVERY intent… ”
Our mind is depraved and reprobate
The Bible says we are blind, we have eyes but we don’t see
The Bible says we are deaf, we have ears but we don’t hear
Our ears are deaf to God’s voice and truth,
What comes out of our mouths is as foul as a rotting corpse;
Our mouths are full of cursing and bitternes
We open our mouths and we pollute the air.
Our tongues are filled with lies.
Snake venom drips from our lips.
The Bible says our hearts are desperately wicked, we have the hands of the wicked
and our feet are swift to shed innocent blood.
2. SIN IS CONTROLLING.
Genesis 6:5 ” ….Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil …”
3. SIN IS CONTINUAL.
Genesis 6:5 ” … the thoughts of his heart was only evil CONTINUALLY.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
III. IT’S A BIG DEAL KNOWING HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son
of Man be.
Matthew 24:38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
Matthew 24:39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
What are the marks of the “days of Noah?”
1) The world did not get better then so it is not going to get better now
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
2) People were living as if it was business as usual then and now.
3) A world filled with violence then and now.
4) The minority of believers like Noah were standing alone against the majority of
the unbelieving world then and now..
5) The world was and still is completely unprepared for the coming judgment.
Psalm 33:11 “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart
through all generations”.
