Join us in uncovering the truths hidden within Revelation 6. We delve into the catastrophic events predicted to precede the tribulation period and what they signify for believers. Featuring insights from prophetic scriptures, David Hawking offers a compelling narrative of hope and expectancy for those who hold faith, alongside a heartfelt invitation to embrace the one true path to salvation.
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The world is already starting to feel the panic. And they’re going to turn over allegiance to a world leader who they think can bring order out of chaos. And God Almighty will cause an earthquake that will cause so much panic, people will know that the day of God’s wrath has come. People who tell me we’re in the tribulation period, sorry, not close.
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Thank you.
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This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher and author David Hawking. The sixth seal of Revelation 6 is broken and creation itself goes into free fall. Earthquakes rip through the land. The sky tears like paper and the most powerful people on earth, kings, generals, the rich, the mighty, scramble for hiding places, begging for the mountains to crush them. rather than face the Lamb. The great day of God’s wrath has come, and there’s only one question left. Who can stand? Open your Bible to Revelation 6, 9 through 17, as David brings a final look at this sobering scene and the peace that believers have, because we won’t be there. Before we begin, Matt’s here, and we want to tell you how you can get even more out of this series in Revelation. We have David’s original sermon outlines and notes for each message in our Revelation radio series. These are wonderful for following along through the series and then into the future when you want to review or share it with others.
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Discover and experience Revelation in a deeper, more encouraging fashion with our Revelation radio series and my dad’s message outlines in his notes. The Revelation series sermon notes pack is just $10. You can purchase and download at DavidHawking.org or receive them by PDF CD when you call us. And then you can save and store all that you’re hearing in our current series. with the Revelation Radio Series Message Pack on MP3. All 48 audio messages on MP3 format download or MP3 CD, special price this month, just $30. Or on DVD, a special price this month, $50. Go to DavidHawking.org or call 1-800-75-BIBLE. In Canada, at 1-888-75-BIBLE. And Bible by the Numbers is 242-5353.
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Now turn to Revelation chapter 6, and here’s David with day three of The Day of God’s Wrath.
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We pick up where we left off, 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? Turn back to the sixth seal judgment in verse 12. And I want you to see two things. Number one, the worldwide catastrophe that will take place, which is mentioned in verses 12 to 14. It’s called a great earthquake. And the second thing we’ll look at is the panic-stricken concern of the people on earth in verses 15 to 17. Now let’s take a look at this worldwide catastrophe, which God predicts will take place somewhere in the beginning of the tribulation, apparently, if it’s chronological here. It says a great earthquake in verse 12. Look at the extent of this catastrophe, this worldwide catastrophe that’s going to take place, the extent of it. And I want you to see it in both heaven and on earth. In heaven, look at what takes place. It affects four things. It affects the sun, the moon, the stars, and the sky itself. Revelation is quoting the verses saying, that are in the Hebrew prophets. What’s going to happen to the sun? It’ll become black as sackcloth of hair. What will happen to the moon? It will become like blood. What will happen to the stars? They’re going to fall from heaven. But look at what Jesus said, Matthew 24, 29. It says, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. What are the powers of the heavens? Some say it’s referring to the governments of the world. Some say, no, it’s referring to the demonic hosts, the spiritual wickedness in high places. It’ll all be shaken up when God decides to take over, when the day of God’s wrath comes. According to chapter 6, the stars are going to fall to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she’s shaken of a mighty wind. And the sky, how about this? Heaven… departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. You say, what in the world is that all about? Turn back to Isaiah chapter 34. To those of you who wrote me notes this week, to slow down and not give you a whole lot of Scripture, we’ll have to wait for another week for that. Isaiah chapter 34, verses 1 to 8. This is where it is a direct quote again in Revelation. Remember when we started Revelation, I told you that there are over 400 quotations from the Old Testament prophets in the book of Revelation. They’re just constant. Isaiah 34 talks about the heaven departing as a scroll when it’s rolled together. Let’s read this. It says, “…come near ye nations to hear, hearken ye peoples, let the earth hear, and all that is therein, the world, and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, His fury upon all their armies.” He hath utterly destroyed them. He hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stents shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together like a scroll, and all their hosts shall fall down as the leaf falleth off from the vine and like a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven. Behold, it shall come down upon Edom, upon the people of my curse to judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood. It is made fat with fatness with the blood of lambs and goats and the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord hath a sacrifice in Basra and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. Verse 8, it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion. Remember we told you that when the Messiah comes, according to Isaiah 63, he comes to Basra, where all the armies of the world will be gathered against Israel. A great final Middle East battle that we call a battle of Armageddon. On those slopes and plains of Edom, they will be gathered, much like we saw the gathering of the nations at the Persian Gulf War. Not the Basra in Iraq, not B-A-S-R-A, but the Basra of Edom, B-O-Z-R-A-H. And the prophet said the Messiah will come there and will trample out the winepress of God’s wrath against all the nations who come against Israel. When it looks like it’s hopeless, the Bible says the Lord will defend his people and will fight for his people Israel. Hey, the day of victory for Israel is in the Lord’s hands. Now what happens on earth? Back to Revelation 6. This is what happens in heaven. The sun becomes black. The moon like blood. The stars falling from heaven like a fig tree casting off her figs. It will be unbelievable display as the sky literally is rolled up like a scroll. Can you imagine the dramatic event that is taking place here? What is it doing? It’s announcing that the day of God’s wrath has come. On earth it says every mountain… Read it carefully, verse 14, last phrase. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places. That’s what I call an earthquake. Quote from Jeremiah 4, 23 to 24. Every mountain, God has predicted, and island will be moved out of its place when God brings this great earthquake that will happen in the beginning of the tribulation time. We already have one-fourth of the population killed. The world is already starting to feel the panic. And they’re going to turn over allegiance to a world leader who they think can bring order out of chaos. And God Almighty will cause an earthquake that will cause so much panic, people will know that the day of God’s wrath has come. People who tell me we’re in the tribulation period, sorry, not close. We’re looking at the extent of the catastrophe, but the explanation of the catastrophe, I’m sure, is of interest to you. There are two major views. One is that this language is symbolical. You can read it in a lot of people’s commentaries. I am not in that category, but I mention it to you. So when they read something like this, they say, well, all this is talking about is social and political upheaval. No way. This is literal. Among those who are literal, there are three major views. One, this earthquake is the same one at the end of the tribulation that’s mentioned in Revelation 16. So they do not see the chronological events of Revelation. Another view is that it’s the earthquake at the middle of the tribulation, which you read in chapter 11, verse 13. And they also relate that to the earthquake, according to Ezekiel 38, 19, that destroys the armies of the king of the north that will invade Israel. It’s a possibility. Believe me, it’s a very great possibility. The third view, which I hold not real dogmatically, but I think meets the dimensions of the book, is that it’s an earthquake that happens in the beginning of the tribulation in the first three and a half years that will cause the world to know that this day is totally different than any other day. There’ll be no other explanations. This is no limited deal. Every mountain, every island moves out of its place. The entire world is shaken for the announcement has come, verse 17, that the great day of his wrath has come and who shall be able to stand. We’ve looked at the worldwide catastrophe that will take place. Let’s conclude by looking at the panic-stricken concern of the people of earth. Have you ever been a part of panic? Imagine a worldwide catastrophe of such nature that all the leadership of the world goes into panic. Now you see this in at least three ways. You see it in their attempt to hide. Verse 15, “…the kings, great men, rich men, chief captain, mighty men, everyone hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains.” The Bible speaks of this also in Isaiah and Hosea. Jesus referred to it in Luke. An attempt to hide. They’re aware that something dramatic and awful is occurring. You see it also in their associating these events with the wrath of God. Notice that in verse 17. They’re proclaiming. The great day of his wrath has come. It’s like the whole world knows because of the extent and greatness and terribleness of the catastrophe, the whole world knows that this is different than anything we have ever experienced. They know this is associated with the wrath of God. One of the interesting things about Revelation is even when men know that it’s coming from God, it says they will not repent. Shows you the problems in the human heart, isn’t it? You say, if only I could see a demonstration of God’s power, I would truly believe. Jesus said, even if somebody comes back from the dead, they won’t believe unless they believe Moses and the prophets. You need to believe what the Bible says. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. For by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which appear were not made of things which are, that are presently existing. We understand that God created it. How? By faith. We weren’t there. We didn’t see it. And the world says, you don’t have the proof of that. Well, we do. but we understand their objection. The truth of the matter is it’s a lot simpler to believe that God created it than the nine basic theories they have of how the solar system was brought into existence. It takes more faith to believe that. A lot simpler to say in the beginning God created, case closed. You know, why waste time? But the panic-stricken concern of all the people of earth, not only seen in their attempt to hide and associating these events with the wrath of God, but in their ability to survive. They’re asking the question, who shall be able to stand? Well, God had long ago said this. Let me tell you something. When the day of the Lord comes, people all over the world will be asking the question, who’s going to be able to survive this? No wonder God has to supernaturally protect his people, which we’ll look at in our next time together. Let’s pray. Oh, Lord God, we are so aware in reading your word that there is a judgment day coming, that there’s going to be a crisis and a catastrophe on the planet such as the world has never seen. It’ll be the long-anticipated day of God’s vengeance and wrath upon this world. Father, I do not know the hearts of people here, but you do. You told us to be ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man cometh. We remember Jesus told his disciples, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You believe in God, believe also in me. For in my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself. And we remember Thomas’ concern, how can we know the way? And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but through me. We do not want to be arrogant and proud, but we want to be truthful and when we tell the world that Jesus is the only way. You told us to repent or perish, that we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ if we are to be saved. We must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead if we want to be saved. You tell us that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. He put his faith in that which God promised him even though he never saw it. Oh God, I pray that you’d help us to believe in the one about whom we read, whom we’ve never seen with our physical eyes. The one who died on a cross in Jerusalem and according to the Bible for our sins. The one who rose again the third day seen of many, ascended to heaven and said, I’m going to come again. Lord, I would pray that those here in our audience who are not sure of their own relationship with God might, in this moment of quietness, open their heart and turn to the Lord Jesus before it’s too late. We thank you, Lord. I wonder how many of you say, David, I know things are not right in my heart. I need to settle this. I’m not really sure if the Lord came now that I’d be on my way to heaven with him. I’m really not confident. I need the Lord in my life. I need it. And I wish you’d just pray for me. Just write in your heart quietly, you pray to God. Something like this. Oh, Lord. I’ve done so many things in my life that have not pleased you. I’ve sinned against you in word and deed and thought. And I know I can’t earn or deserve your salvation. And I’ve done a lot of things I’m ashamed of. I know the Bible says that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. That Jesus arose again from the dead. That I would be resurrected myself and live forever with you, Lord Jesus. the best I know how, based on what the Bible says, I’m now asking Jesus Christ to come into my life, to be my Savior, to be my Lord. I’m committing my life and future to him who is my Messiah, my Deliverer, my Savior. From sin, death, and hell, I turn my life over to him right now. I commit my all to Jesus Christ. And I thank you for loving me, for forgiving me, for giving me everlasting life. I believe in you. I trust you. I depend upon you and you alone. Thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen. God bless you.
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That’s Bible teacher David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. And friend, if you just prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, welcome to the family of God. Or maybe you haven’t yet decided to turn your life over to Jesus Christ to put your faith in Him. but you’d like to know more from God’s Word. In either case, we’d love to send you David’s booklet called What Is Christianity? and a Bible study by mail to help you on your journey. Now, both of these are free to new believers or to those who aren’t yet a Christian, but they want to know more. call 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. to get yours. That’s 800-75-242-53. And if you live in Canada, call 888-75-BIBLE, 888-75-242-53. 242-53. You can also request yours using the contact form at davidhawking.org. Now for everyone listening, you know, if you’ve ever glossed over or avoided the book of Zechariah, my friend, you are missing out on a huge blessing, not to mention some extremely essential teaching. Right now, David’s son Matt’s here, and together we’re going to tell you how to get a wonderful book by David that will help you glean every lesson this powerful section of Scripture has to offer.
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Matt? Zachariah was a young man among the captives who returned from Babylon, and God called him in 520 B.C. to preach repentance to the returned exiles and encourage them to rebuild the temple and restore proper worship.
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Zechariah reminded the people of God’s simple plan. If they would repent and return to him, he would return to them the blessings of protection he had promised.
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The returning exiles had grown discouraged, and Zechariah was a new voice from the Lord to renew enthusiasm for completing the temple restoration, remaining faithful to him, and rebuilding a God-honoring community from the ruins. Zechariah is also a wonderful book of Bible prophecy.
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The ministry of the Messiah is clearly laid out, both the first coming and the second coming.
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Jim, there’s no other Old Testament book that has as much detail. Zechariah has numerous powerful prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry. And many are quoted in the Gospels. The triumphal entry. His death and the scattering of his followers. Messiah’s role as king and priest. And more. And second coming prophecies include the Battle of Armageddon, Messiah’s arrival on the Mount of Olives, rulership over the entire world. And there’s even more. Wow. Israel’s experience during the time of Zechariah is a foreshadow of their future. As it was through the reprimand of Babylonian captivity. That the nation was purged of idolatry, so it will be by the fires of the tribulation that Israel will be purified from its sin of sins, the rejection of the Messiah. That’s it.
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Well, this and more awaits you inside Visions of the Future by David Hawking, our featured resource for August, and it’s just $15. And as always, please faithfully pray for hope for today. Yes, do pray that God will continue to lead this ministry in its mission to bring the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible to a world in darkness. To get your copy of Visions of the Future, call 800-75-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Bible by the numbers 24253, or visit davidhonking.org. And by the way, while you’re getting in touch with us, would you consider something else? Every time someone stands with hope for today, families find hope. People who’ve never understood Jesus finally see him clearly from the word of God. And some hear the gospel for the very first time. You know, your support puts God’s word on the air, online, and into hearts that desperately need it. So if God is stirring your heart to pray for us or to give, why don’t you pray for us? we’d be honored to hear from you. You can mail your gifts or tell us you’re praying for us at Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. And Tustin is spelled T-U-S-T-I-N. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO7OAKS, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S 8P1. And here’s David to close out our time in God’s holy word.
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Thanks, friends, for listening to Hope for Today. We are studying the book of Revelation. It is a fabulous study. It is a book that 44 times says that John saw signs, and 84 times he talks to us about the sound of heaven is loud and great, and there’s so much in Revelation to tell us about what’s going to come to planet Earth at the tribulation. And it will follow the rapture of the church, and it is a terrible period of time. It will last for seven years, according to the book of Daniel, chapter 9, verse 24 to 27. And one of the great things that we learn is the tribulation is the wrath of the Messiah upon planet Earth. I think a lot of folks think that our Lord Yeshua would never do this. But He is not only a God of mercy and grace and salvation, but He is also a God of wrath. And it says in verse 17, the great day of His wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand? Well, the answer is no one will. It’s going to be a terrible time. Over half of the world’s population is going to be killed during those seven years. The seven years will have the Antichrist, a false prophet. Oh, we got a lot of stuff to talk about. Plan to be with us. God bless you.
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Well, thank you, David. And on our next broadcast, David charges ahead in Revelation. You know, the scenes get bigger, the stakes get higher, and the clock on this world starts running out. What does it all mean and where do you stand? Well, don’t miss what’s next. And be sure to invite a friend to listen along with you as our series in Revelation continues right here on Hope for Today.