Questions:

Is it Christian to be angry? What should anger us?

Does God have the right to be angry about all of these things?

Should God be angry? What should He do about it?

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?

-Revelation 6:15-17 (NIV)

Evil is a very real thing, but the day is coming when all evil will be judged and destroyed utterly by God.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

-Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

-Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

Now, this is where it gets sobering…

1. Idolatry: pursuing money, sex, and fame over and above God.

Why? It ruins you.

2. Ignoring the plight of widows and orphans.

Why? Reveals apathy toward God and your neighbor.

3. Hypocrisy: Acting religious outwardly while living unjustly or without true devotion. Why? Destroys others.

4. Pride and Arrogance: the idea that you don’t need God, or that God does not exist, or, that you don’t care if he exists or not.

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

-Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)

5. Ingratitude and Entitlement: Ignoring God’s goodness and turning away after receiving His blessings.

Why? Forgetting God leads to spiritual decay and injustice.

Who is guilty of these things?

Our current series: The End of Everything.

Focus: the Year of Jubilee

The major events of Jesus' life (His First Coming) correspond with the first 4 of the 7 feasts of the Old Testament.

It seems likely that His Second Coming will correspond with the final three feasts outlined in the Old Testament. The Year of Jubilee plays a major role in these final events.

The Year of Jubilee features the Kinsman Redeemer who could rescue, redeem, and restore you.

The Year of Jubilee has both a spiritual and literal fulfillment.

1917: The Balfour Declaration (declared land belonged to Israel.)

1967: Israel is declared a Nation

2017: Jerusalem is restored as the Capital.

Kinsman Redeemer’s other function was as Goel Ha Dam: The Blood Avenger.

The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death.

-Numbers 35:19 (NIV)

The Messiah is prophesied to carry out both roles.

He is both: Kinsman Redeemer: The Suffering Servant

Kinsman Redeemer: Blood Avenger

Because of their thirst for revenge against the oppression of the Roman Empire, the Jewish people had begun to create a Messiah in their own image.

Jesus came the first time as the Kinsman Redeemer.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

-Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

-John 1:29 (NIV)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clan of Judah, out of you will come for me the one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

-Micah 5:2 (NIV)

...As for you, watchtower of the flock, stronghold of the Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

-Micah 4:8 (NIV)

The Messiah, will be from not just the town of Bethlehem but specifically Bethlehem Ephrathah.

The Tower of the Flock

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

-Luke 2:8 (NIV)

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

-Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)

Those words in Luke’s gospel spoken to the Shepherds were bursting forth with deep meaning.

Yeshua—Jesus—Born in the agricultural center, as foretold by Micah, because He was to be the lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.

Jesus comes first as the sacrificial lamb.

Jesus comes the second time as the roaring lion of the tribe of Judah and as the Blood Avenger!

They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

-Revelation 6:16 (NIV)

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever…

-Revelation 14:9-11a (NIV)

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?

-Revelation 6:15-17 (NIV)

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants. And again they shouted: Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.

-Revelation 19:1-3 (NIV)

Jesus comes the second time as the Goel-Ha-Dam:

The Blood Avenger

The Roaring Lion from the tribe of Judah

The Rider on the White Horse

Whose blood is He avenging?

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood? Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?

-Revelation 6:9-17 (NIV)

Testimony: marturia (Greek)

As the Jews created Jesus in their own image, have you created God in your own image?

Christian Persecution

There are many places where Christians are persecuted — predominately by Islamic states who have a policy of persecution against the Christians.

Christians believe that no faith should be persecuted.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.

-Revelation 19:11-18 (NIV)

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them...

-Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)

God is far more patient, loving, and forgiving toward people I could never be. He is also Holy—unable to sweep sin under the carpet without dealing with it.

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

-Romans 3:21-26 (NIV)

You have two choices in the manner in which you choose to relate to God:

As a debtor whose debt has been paid.

As a debt denier whose debt remains.

You can relate to God on the basis of Law.

You can relate to God on the basis of Grace.

There is only one solution: The Cross!

God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus so that it would not have to be poured out on you.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

-Romans 3:25a (NIV)

Today is the day of grace!

But judgment is coming.

The final Jubilee must be near.

When it arrives... The Trumpet Blows, the dead in Christ rise, and we who are still alive will join them with Christ in the air.

However, the wrath of the Lamb will now be unleashed.

First, the Lamb’s attention is turned toward leaders and followers of false religious systems

Har: Mountain

Meggido: Valley where the great battles were fought.

Symbolizing man’s attempt to dethrone Christ and elevate themselves—just as Lucifer had done long ago.

Then, those who were not called up to meet Jesus in the air will stand before the Great White throne of judgement and be judged by their works and deeds.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Romans 1:18-23 (KJV)

One is what might be called "A Book of Merit."

"And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in their books."

Another book: The Book of Life.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

-Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV)

The Parable of the Fig Tree

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

-Matthew 24:32-35 (NKJV)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 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, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

-Matthew 24:36-44 (NKJV)

Make a Difference