In this riveting episode, Bible teacher and author David Hawking leads us through a deep analysis of the day of the Lord, a term often misunderstood in Christian eschatology. Contrary to popular belief, this day signifies judgment rather than blessing, as David meticulously explores through various Bible passages. The focus is on Revelation chapter 6, where David delves into the significance of the fifth and sixth seals and the devastating events that unfold during the tribulation period.
00:00:53 Introduction to the Episode and Bible Passage
00:02:46 The Tribulation and the Day of God’s Wrath
00:05:48 Eschatological Terms and Biblical References
00:08:59 Protection of the Elect and the Severity of Judgments
00:12:00 The History of Martyrdom and Prophetic Insights
00:15:00 Spirit of Prophecy and Importance of Faith
00:17:51 Appeal to God’s Righteousness and Revenge
00:24:08 Summary of the Ongoing Study in Revelation
SPEAKER 04 :
Contrary to popular Christian belief, the day of the Lord has nothing to do with blessing. I’ve heard many times, in fact, read it in many commentaries of prophecy books, that the day of the Lord refers to both judgment and blessing, that it refers to the tribulation as well as the millennial reign of Christ. I have found absolutely no proof of that in the Bible. And once again, the Bible gives interesting insight to all the commentaries on my shelf.
SPEAKER 02 :
This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher and author David Hawking. Today, the sixth seal breaks, the earth shakes, and the sky tears apart. And in a moment, everything people trusted for safety is gone. fails. Kings, leaders, the powerful and the rich, all hiding, all begging for cover. The great day of God’s wrath has come and no one can escape. Open your Bible to Revelation chapter 6 verses 9 through 17 as David Hawking takes us into the day of God’s wrath. Just before we begin, here’s David’s son, Matt.
SPEAKER 01 :
Hope for Today is all about sharing the life-saving, life-changing hope of the gospel within a world of darkness. We are passionate about equipping believers in these difficult days through the faithful teaching of God’s Word. And a vital part of sustaining this ministry is prayer. This is so important that I’m asking you to put a reminder on your phone or calendar to pray for Hope for Today as often as possible. And if you’re praying, send a note and let us know. Jim is going to share how to get in touch with us and become a part of hope for today’s ministry.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, thank you, Matt. And if you want to get a hold of us to let us know you need prayer, whether you’re praying for us, call 800-75-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Bible is 24253. Or you can always send us a note by going to davidhawking.org. Use the contact form. Oh, and by the way, when you reach out, if God puts it on your heart to make a donation, that would be tremendously appreciated and helpful. And here’s David with today’s study.
SPEAKER 04 :
Take your Bibles and turn to Revelation chapter 6. We are in the subject of the tribulation. And our subject… is the day of God’s wrath. The day of God’s wrath. We pick up where we left off. We are at verse 9 of chapter 6. We have just began opening the seven-sealed scroll. We have had four of those seals broken and we have seen terrible devastation. We have the prophecy that over a fourth of the earth’s population will be destroyed and and we are still at the beginning stages of the tribulation, the day of the Lord, the day of God’s wrath. Beginning at verse 9, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll, when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty men and every slave and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? You can’t help think when you hear this excellent presentation of what the Hebrew prophets said, they will say peace, but there is no peace. And the Apostle Paul, himself a well-trained Jew, said, when they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. These are very difficult times. Now, the day of the Lord is a very important eschatological term. It is used constantly in the Bible. It actually appears 20 times in eight Old Testament prophetic books. It’s only used, interestingly, three times in the New Testament. In Acts 2.20, which is simply quoting Joel 2.31, It’s used in 1 Thessalonians 5, 2, where the Bible says, The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, for when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes. A verse I quoted a moment ago. And a third case is in 2 Peter 3, verse 10, which tells us the day of the Lord. is going to come and bring great destruction on the planet. That God is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. In addition to the day of the Lord, used 20 times in Old Testament prophetic books and three times in the New Testament, This period of time is also called the day of God in 2 Peter 3, 12, when God really takes over the affairs of human history in a way that he has never done before. It’s called the day of wrath in the prophet Zephaniah’s message in chapter 1, verse 15. And in verse 18, it’s called the day of the Lord’s wrath. It’s called the day of darkness in Joel 2, 2 and Zephaniah 1, 15. And contrary to popular Christian belief, the day of the Lord has nothing to do with blessing. The day of the Lord has nothing to do with blessing. I’ve heard many times, in fact, read it in many commentaries of prophecy books, that the day of the Lord refers to both judgment and blessing, that it refers to the tribulation as well as the millennial reign of Christ. I have found absolutely no proof of that in the Bible. And once again, the Bible gives interesting insight to all the commentaries on my shelf. If you just read the Bible, the day of the Lord is a day of darkness and gloom and judgment. It is not a day of blessing. It is a time of Jacob’s trouble, said the prophets. It is a day to run away and hide. It is not a day to be joyful and happy. And we have two judgments here. We have, first of all, the fifth seal judgment in verses 9 to 11. Turn back to Matthew chapter 24. Matthew chapter 24. In the Olivet Discourse, or the message Jesus delivered on Mount Olives, in Matthew chapter 24, In this great prophetic message, he said something about the tribulation period that parallels the fifth seal judgment where we see martyrs being pictured under the altar. We read in Matthew 24, 21 and 22, Jesus said, “…for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. But for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened.” The elect, I happen to believe, is the nation of Israel. And unless it were for the elect’s sake, the days would not be shortened. In other words, God will not let this time go on indefinitely and cause greater damage than what he has described because of the elect’s sake, because of his people Israel. But the period of time will be so terrible on the planet. that unless it were shortened, it would look like everybody will be wiped out. The judgments will be so severe that the possibility of survival over a long period of time will be completely eliminated. We’ll be seeing that as we especially get into the trumpet judgments. In Zephaniah chapter 1 in the Old Testament, Zephaniah chapter 1, right before Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Zephaniah chapter 1, I read in verse 14 to 16, this Hebrew prophet said, “…the great day of the Lord is near. It is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord. The mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath.” a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord, and their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like the dung.” It’s a day of judgment, a day of terrible tragedy, a day of much death and destruction. Go back, please, to Revelation chapter 6, verse 9 to 11. And I’d like you to see three things in these verses, one in each of the verses. In verse 9, you have the condition of those under the altar being described. The condition of those under the altar being described. We’re told that they are slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And when it says under the altar, it’s not picturing the altar of incense, which will be described in chapter 8, but we’re picturing the altar of sacrifice. They were slain is a perfect tense, meaning had been slain, which suggests that these martyrs are from the past. They are not the martyrs of the tribulation who are yet to be killed, but they’re the martyrs of the past. God calls these Jewish martyrs of the past, he calls them a cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12, 1 and 2, who observing all of us who are running the race, and we are exhorted to run it with patience. And then in chapter 11, which we call the Hall of Faith, or the Hall of Fame, Hall of Faith chapter, there’s a long discussion of all the people and how they had suffered. And in Hebrews 11.35, after discussing the victories that many people had in the days of the Hebrew prophets long ago, it then changes and says, but others… And it means others of a different kind were tortured, killed, slaughtered, persecuted, of whom the world was not worthy. In other words, there are many, many people As Jesus said, from the blood of righteous Abel to Zechariah, we have a tremendous list of martyrs. Zechariah is the last martyr mentioned in the last book of the Jewish Bible, which is 2 Chronicles, organized a little differently in our English Bible. The reasons for their martyrdom, we’re told, are both conviction as well as confession. Isn’t that interesting? They are slain for the word of God. but also for the testimony which they held. Some of us have strong conviction but are unwilling to publicly confess our faith. Paul wrote to us, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Back up to chapter 1 of Revelation, verse 9. Interesting to me how often the writer John who did live in a terrible time of persecution, the Emperor Domitian, 81 to 96 AD. Interesting how often he refers to the suffering and martyrdom of the people of God and for the reasons behind it. In chapter 1, verse 9, I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos. For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Conviction and confession. Same thing said in chapter 6. Jump to chapter 12 and look at verse 11. Chapter 12, verse 11. It says, “…they overcame him,” meaning the devil, chapter 12, verse 11, the accuser of the brethren, “…they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” We’re talking martyrs. Verse 17, the dragon was angry with the woman or enraged with the woman, the woman representing Israel, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah. We look in chapter 19 of Revelation in verse 10. Chapter 19, verse 10. It says, I fell at his feet to worship him, and he said unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. You know, that all of a sudden hit me one day. It’s saying that people have died, have been martyred for their commitment and conviction in the Word of God and their confession, the testimony that they have held. And all of a sudden it hit me, here in this verse in chapter 19.10, when John fell at the feet of the angel who was telling him this message, and he was warned not to do that. You don’t worship angels, you only worship God. But he said, those who have the testimony of Jesus, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The point and the spirit of prophecy is not to hear the fascinating story of future events, however interesting it is. The spirit of prophecy, if we’re really hearing the word of God through all of our studies, is that we will have deeper convictions and a stronger public confession of our faith because we know how it’s all going to turn out. How interesting. The testimony of Jesus, our commitment, our confession that he is the Messiah and our coming king is the very spirit of prophecy itself. That’s a powerful statement. In chapter 20, verse 4, a picture of the martyrs again. And it says, I saw thrones and they sat upon them. Judgment was given unto them. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, for the word of God. who had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ, with the Messiah, a thousand years. Very interesting. Come back to Revelation 6. That’s the condition of those under the altar. They are past martyrs who have been killed for their convictions and their confessions. Secondly, the cry of those under the altar is in verse 10. The cry of those under the altar. Did you notice that? They cried not with a soft crying, but with a loud voice. And they said, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And there are two things I’d point out to you about this cry. First, it’s an appeal to God’s righteousness. It’s an appeal to God’s righteousness. How long, O Lord? By the way, that’s the Greek despotes, from which we get the English despot, indicating the sovereignty and absolute authority of He who we call Lord. O despot, holy and true. Amen. Same thing could be said in the words of just and faithful, that God will do everything right, and you can count on him to do it. So they appeal to God’s righteousness. And as it says in the book of Genesis chapter 19, will not the judge of the earth do right? You see, all of these martyrs who have suffered for their convictions and confessions are crying out a prayer through the ages, which the Hebrew prophets said was, how long did the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? And here, how long, O Lord, holy and true, until you avenge our blood? But they not only appeal to God’s righteousness as the holy and true God, but they appeal to God’s revenge. A lot of us don’t understand that because we speak of the love and the compassion and the graciousness, the forgiveness of our Savior, and well we should. But I remind you that God is a holy God, a just God, a righteous God, and he is going to bring revenge. The Bible says for us not to ever take revenge because it says vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Well, they appeal to God’s revenge. Dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And throughout Revelation, as we pointed out in our last time, there is a continuing message that the tribulation is the vengeance of God against all those who have opposed it. It is God’s vengeance, the thing the prophets predicted would one day come. God would settle all accounts, straighten it all out, and God will take over, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Messiah.
SPEAKER 02 :
That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking, and you’re listening to Hope for Today. David is going to bring us day two of this powerful teaching tomorrow, but for today, he’s back in just a moment with some final thoughts on what we’ve studied. So do stay right there. And before that, Matt’s here, and we want to share a quick word on a great resource that you might just want to add to your home Bible study library.
SPEAKER 01 :
You may not know what you’re missing in the book of Zechariah until you open up our book, Visions of the Future. It’s a study guide through Zechariah.
SPEAKER 02 :
Inside, your dad, David Hawking, applies his in-depth Bible study regimen. Boy, your dad is always thorough to reveal the powerful historical significance of Zechariah. and to detail and explain its prophecies for the past, present, and future.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, and Visions of the Future is our featured resource for August. It’s a dynamic study of Zechariah chapters 1 through 14. And Matt, let’s take a quick look inside. Jim, part one is titled The Eight Night Visions and reveals marvelous prophecies showing the role and ministry of the Messiah in his first coming and the future second advent that will mark the beginning of the messianic age and millennial reign of Christ. And your dad refers to Zechariah as the gospel of the Old Testament. Amen. Well, part two? Covering Zechariah 7 and 8 has four essential messages to God’s people on rebuke, repentance, restoration, and rejoicing.
SPEAKER 02 :
And then in part three, your dad investigates the prophecies given to Zechariah, revealing… two burdens for the future, the rejection of the anointed king, and the return and reign of the king.
SPEAKER 01 :
And also in this section, we see teaching on the appearance of our Lord, judgment of Israel’s enemies, mourning for the one they pierced, cleansing from sin, the second coming, and more.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, discover some outstanding treasures, outstanding treasures in Zechariah with David’s book, Visions of the Future, our featured resource for August. And Matt, how much is it? Just $15. You can purchase it at davidhocking.org or when you call. And consider adding a donation to your order to help us continue this ministry or become a regular monthly supporter and join with us in ministry.
SPEAKER 01 :
And please faithfully pray for hope for today.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yes, please do. To get your copy of Visions of the Future, call 875-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. 875-BIBLE. 888-75-24253 or 888-75-24253 or visit our website davidhawking.org davidhawking.org And before David returns to close out today’s time in the Word, I want to quickly remind you that we’ve put together two wonderful resources to help you follow along in our current Revelation series on radio and to dig deeper on your own. First, the Revelation Study Notes, and they’re just $10. These are outlines, key scriptures, insights, and definitions for each one of the 48 messages in our current Revelation radio series, and they are David’s original sermon notes. The complete set is just $10. We also have the Revelation Series audio, a complete set of all 48 messages on MP3, and that’s just $30. You can listen anytime, anywhere, and save what you’re learning for the future. To order the Revelation series on MP3, $30, or to order the Revelation series study notes, those are $10, call 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And of course, you can purchase online at davidhawking.org. You can also send a donation by phone or on the internet, or you can send your support via a good old-fashioned letter. Our address in the U.S., Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. Or in Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S, 8PU1. Oh, and be sure to include a note, how God is working in your life as you study God’s Word with us. We’d appreciate it. And here’s David.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, we’re still in chapter 6 of Revelation, from verse 9, when he opened the fifth seal, and we saw the martyred souls under the altar who were alive and talking. And they were told to rest a little while until others would join them. And then the sixth seal is opened up. And that’s where we are in our study. And the truth of the matter is we have a lot of stuff available to you on our website and teach in the book of Revelation. And as you know, I couldn’t wait to read the rest of chapter 6. beginning with verse 12, when he opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake. And that, friends, introduces the day of God’s wrath. That’s what verse 17 says. The great day of his wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand? God bless you.
SPEAKER 02 :
Like David said, you can find this study in multiple formats on our website, davidhonking.org, along with a ton of other Bible study resources. So check it out today. And quickly before we go, would you take a moment to let us know how and where you listen to Hope for Today? You know, we hear from people who listen during their commute, others who stream while working out or walking, and many who listen online. Your feedback helps us to use God’s resources wisely so more people can hear solid Bible teaching. So let us know how you listen. Call 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada or use the contact form at davidhawking.org. Well, next time, our study of the sixth seal opening continues. The world stops breathing, the earth shakes, the sky collapses, and the wrath of the Lamb falls. There’s nowhere to run and no one left standing. Don’t miss David’s continuing study of Revelation 6, 9 through 17, right here on Hope for Today.
