The Fifth Trumpet - January 28, 2018 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

Sulley, from Walt Disney's Monster, Inc.

In 2001, Walt Disney released the movie Monster’s Inc.  In the movie, monsters would invade a child’s bedroom and capture their screams.  It was the scream of a child that powered the monster’s world.  Of course, Disney turned things around, and soon the monsters and the children were getting along just fine.

I wish it could be true.

From an early age, children sense that there is something “out there”; something that is unnatural.  It causes them to fear.  Naturally, we adults try to calm the children.  We look for ways to eliminate those fears.  We tell our child that we are nearby and would not let anything happen to them.  But maybe the kids are right.  Hollywood sure seems to think they are right.  Directors John Carpenter, Ridley Scott, or even Alfred Hitchcock sure knew how to play on those fears.  Their movies trigger our childhood fears, and we scream once again.

What if I told you that the nightmarish creatures from our dreams are, in fact, quite true.

Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.* ² When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke.

³ Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. ⁴ They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵ They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. ⁶ In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!

⁷ The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had what looked like gold crowns on their heads, and their faces looked like human faces. ⁸ They had hair like women’s hair and teeth like the teeth of a lion. ⁹ They wore armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. ¹⁰ They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. ¹¹ Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.

¹² The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!  (Revelation 9:1-12).

  John observes a star - one that had fallen from the sky - opening the bottomless pit.  Of course, this isn’t one of the points of light from the nighttime sky; this is a reference to Satan.  The Bible describes him as a “fallen star” (Isaiah 14:12 & Luke 10:18).  When the fifth trumpet is blown, Satan opens the abyss – the bottomless pit – and creatures from our nightmares emerge.

This whole section gives me the heebie-jeebies.

For five months these hideous creatures torment the people of this earth… everyone, except those marked by God.  These 144,000 are spared.  And, if they are lucky, some Gentiles who believe in Jesus might just be spared as well.

I know.  I know.  Some have tried to interpret what these locust-like creatures really are.  Theologians from the 1800’s thought these were Muslim soldiers on horseback (Adam Clark, for example).  John Westley compared them to Persians who were wearing turbans on their head.[1]  Today, some think of helicopters, and they go to great lengths to draw that conclusion.  Of course, people tend to interpret scripture based on what they see around them.  100 years from now (if we are still here) people will understand these verses within their context.  This is why I am convinced it is a mistake to “humanize” these creatures.  This is not a human army making life miserable.  What comes out of the abyss are supernatural creatures with human-like cunning and intelligence.

We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into speculation.  If we expend all our energy trying to figure out what these creatures are, we will miss the whole point.  This fifth trumpet is part of God’s judgment.  No, humanity will not pass peacefully into the night.  Yes, God is indeed slow to anger and filled with unfailing love.  But He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished (Nahum 1:3).  Although it seems evil people get away with murder, a day is coming when God will deal justly; He will separate the good from the bad.  And in this fifth trumpet, we see God doing just that; tormenting the unjust but sparing His children.

During that 5-month period, do you think the world will notice how God spares His people?  Those who are marked by God do not suffer the torment from these creatures.  Do you think this will cause some people to believe?  I’m not sure.  I can only hope.  But this same separation didn’t seem to work during the time of Moses.  Many of the plagues against Egypt did not affect the Israelites living in the land.  The hailstorm devastated the Egyptians, but the Israeli living nearby did not suffer at all (Exodus 9:26).  These demonic creatures from John’s Revelation do the same; many suffer while a few select are spared.  Do you think the people of the world will soften their hearts and finally believe?  Maybe a few.  I hope some will believe, but it appears humanity will remain stubborn and stiff-necked.

I confess; this passage of scripture is difficult to read.  It reveals a horrible future for those who turn their backs on God.  And this fifth trumpet is but a foretaste of what is to come.  Here, we are given but a glimpse into what Hell will be like.  The Bible teaches us that those judged unworthy will be cast into the Lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).  There, they will spend eternity with Satan, his demons, the antichrist, and the false prophet (Revelation 20:10).  In that place, they will be tormented forever and ever.  They seek relief but will find none… just as they do from these locust-like creatures.  So, for 5 months, those not marked by God will get a little taste of what Hell will be like.

Even so, they will not repent.

This is a rather depressing look into humanity’s future.  A day is coming when the people of this world must face the judgment.  But there is Good News here.  Those marked by God are protected.  These monsters cannot hurt them.  He has made them this promise.  He promises the same to you and me as well.  For those who trust in Jesus, no power of hell or scheme of man will ever be able to pluck us from His hand (John 10:29).  God walks into our room, wipes away our tears, and promises to protect His child. 

He is nearby; He will not let anything happen to those He loves.

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[1] Wesley, John. "Commentary on Revelation 9:7". "John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/revelation-9.html. 1765.

The Fullness of God - January 21, 2018 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

The old mountaineer had lived a full but not precisely a saintly life and now was on his deathbed. He summoned his weeping wife. "Sara," he said, "go to the fireplace and take out the third stone from the top."  She did as instructed.  "Reach in there," said her husband, "and bring out what you find." Her fingers touched a large mason jar, and, with some effort, she pulled it up. The jar was full of cash.  "Sara," said the old man, "when I go, I'm going to take all that money with me. I want you to put that jar up in the attic by the window. I'll get it as I go by on my way to heaven."

His wife followed his instructions. That night the old mountaineer died. After the funeral, his wife remembered the Mason jar and went to the attic. There was the jar still full of money and by the window.

"Oh," the widow sighed. "I knew I should have put it in the basement."

We chuckle at this because most of us have a realistic understanding of Heaven and Hell.  We are comfortable with the idea that God will separate humanity into categories.  There are the saved and the unsaved.  However, for others, this concept of judgment makes them uncomfortable.

One of the significant stumbling blocks in the Church today is that many Christians dwell on only one characteristic of God.  For example, a Christian who focuses solely on the love of God tends to overlook the holiness of God and the justice of God.  A Christian who dwells on love, grace, and mercy permits far too much sin in their lives and in the lives of others.  Believing that God is only filled with love, these Christians draw people to God, but never address their sin.  They never focus on holiness, just acceptance.  They teach that God overlooks their sin, which is not true.

Those who focus only on holiness and the judgment of God limit His grace, love, and mercy.  They restrict a person’s access to God because, in their mind, He cannot tolerate sin.  Because these Christians focus on God’s judgment, they make no room for those who stumble or those who struggle with sin in their life.  One group is offended that God would reject the old mountaineer, while the other affirms God’s condemnation.  Sadly, neither group has seen the fullness of God.

It’s unfortunate that many Christians are “either/or” in their view of God.  In their eyes, God is either loving, or He is judging.  This view divides Christians into different camps.  We see this in our own denomination.  But what if we viewed God with an “and/also” approach?  What if God character is to love and also judge?  Is it possible that the fullness of God’s character reveals both?  I think Chapter 8 of Revelation is a perfect example of this. (Read Revelation 8:1-13)

When Jesus opens the last seal on this sacred scroll, all of Heaven falls silent.  For about half an hour, the saints beneath the throne stop their praise.  The angels and the 4 living creatures stop chanting their “Amen.”  The 24 elders stop singing.  The raptured Church stops its worship.  It is silent.

And this happens because the fullness of God’s plan has finally been revealed.  The last seal has been broken.  The scroll is laid wide open for all to see.  Those in Heaven finally see the extent of God’s mercy, the fullness of His love, the purity of His holiness, the beauty of His grace, and the firmness of His judgment.

Which of these attributes do you think caused Heaven to pause?  Do you believe heaven was speechless because of the severity of God’s judgment?  Do you think the saints beneath the throne finally took a breather when they saw what God was going to do to the wicked people of this earth?  Do you think it was like the victims of a violent crime finally hearing the Judge say “guilty?”  What caused Heaven to stand still for so long?

I can only imagine.  But…

I think it was the fullness of God’s character; the fullness of God’s mercy, love, grace, holiness, and judgment that caused those in Heaven to stand in awe.

What is unfortunate is that most of us only focus on one characteristic of God.  And when we see God demonstrate this, we cheer His grace OR cheer His stern judgment.  But, when He displays the fullness of His character, we stand in silence.  We are speechless when we such grace-filled judgment.  When God fully reveals His plan for humanity, His Grace, Love, and Mercy are balanced with His Holiness and Justice.  He is a God of Truth AND Grace, not one or the other.  This, I believe, is what caused Heaven to stand in awe.

Yes, as we have read in this chapter, the breaking of that last seal causes terrible disasters to strike the earth.  Once this final seal is broken, God will send 7 judgments upon the earth through the sounding of 7 trumpets.  But that is not the only thing revealed in the scroll.

God’s truth is the standard by which He expects us to live.  He demands that we be holy, just as He is holy (Matthew 5:48).  However, He shows love and mercy to those who strive to attain that holiness.  This is His grace.  And if we were to summarize God character into two different categories, it would be Truth and Grace.  Those two characteristics of God are inseparable.

John observes that an angel mixes the prayers of God’s people with the smoke from an incense burner.  As the smoke from the incense rises from the hot coals, the prayers of the Saints are added as an offering to God.  I suspect these were prayers asking God to reveal the fullness of His character.  As God was about to judge the world, they prayed that it would be according to the fullness of His nature.  I believe these saints were asking God to judge the world with grace, love, and mercy.  For God to judge in any other way would be to diminish His character… His holiness.

And this is precisely what we see happening.  Did you notice God’s mercy in the first four trumpets?  Did you see His restraint?  In His mercy, only a third of the earth was consumed by fire.  Only a third of the sea creatures died; only a third of the ships were destroyed.  God showed restraint and struck only a third.  He could have destroyed it all, but He chose judgment balanced by grace.

As you and I live out our lives here on earth, the proper prayer for a Christian is a prayer for God to treat others according to the fullness of His character.  As we lift our prayers for those around us, we should be asking God to work in their lives in the fullness of His glory; to show them grace or truth wherever it is needed in their lives.

It is this balanced view of God that the world needs to see.  It is the fullness of God’s character living in us that will cause the world to stand in awe.

God’s Second Chance - January 14, 2018 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

So, it seems that these four ministers had a series of theological arguments, and three were always against the fourth.  One day, after the usual 3 to 1 vote, the odd pastor out decided to appeal to a higher authority.  "Oh, Lord!" he cried.  "I know in my heart that I am right, and they are wrong!  Please give me a sign to prove it to them!"  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  As soon as the minister finished his prayer, a storm cloud moved across the sky above the four pastors.  It rumbled once and dissolved.  "A sign from God!  See, I'm right, I knew it!" said the fourth pastor, but the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds naturally form on hot days.  So, the pastor prayed again: "Oh, God, I need a bigger sign to show that I am right and they are wrong.  So please, Lord, a bigger sign!”  This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning slammed into a tree on a nearby hill.  "I told you I was right!" cried the minister, but his friends insisted that nothing had happened that could not be explained by natural causes.  The Pastor was getting ready to ask for a *very big* sign, but just as he said, "Oh God...," the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice intoned, "HEEEEEEEE'S RIIIIIIIGHT!"   The minister put his hands on his hips, turned to the other three, and said, "Well?!"  One of the other pastors shrugged and said, "So. Now it's 3 to 2."

A bigger sign.  If only God would provide a more significant sign.  If only God would give a big enough warning, so our doubting friends would believe.

I am deeply saddened by friends or family members who reject God’s grace.  I wish they could know the same peace and love I have found through Jesus.  Immeasurable joy fills my heart simply because I believed in God’s offer of grace found through Jesus, the Messiah.  I want them to know forgiveness, but apparently, God has not been able to break through their stubborn heart.

If only God would provide a big enough sign to help them believe.

Apparently, one day God will do this.  Reading through Revelation, we get the impression that a vast number of doubters will one day believe.  They’ll smack their heads and exclaim, “They were right.  Those Christian’s were right.”

In Revelation six, we are left with a question.  When the earth, the sky, and the heavens are in turmoil, the people of the earth recognize that the Great Day of God’s Wrath has come, and they observe, “Who is able to survive?”  God answers this question in chapter 7.  (Read Revelation chapter 7)

First of all, God says He will mark 144,000 Jews.  They will be spared; they will survive the great tribulations caused by the Antichrist and caused by God.  But then we are shown a second group of people.  These are people clothed in white.  These are Gentile people (Gentile is a New Testament term for someone who is not Jewish).  These people were from all walks of life; from every tribe, nation, and language.  Although they were not spared the tribulations (after all, they were in Heaven), they still found themselves worshiping the Lamb (Jesus) and praising God for all He had done.  And what makes their presence significant is that this vast crowd is not the Church; these people are not Christians like you and me.

Take notice of what happens here.  One of the 24 elders (they represent Israel and the Church), asks John who these people are and where they came from.  And John doesn’t know.  If this vast crowd were the Church, surely John would have recognized them.  He was one of the Twelve Apostles who walked with Jesus.  He was the last surviving Apostle.  He was a leader in the Church.  He was imprisoned on Patmos for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus.  If anyone recognized the Church, it should have been John.  But he doesn’t.  So, the elder explains their origins.

These are Gentiles (again, a non-Jewish person) who didn’t believe in Jesus until after the great “sign” they had been looking for.  And just was that sign?  It was probably the rapture of the Church.  When God calls every Christian to Heaven, there will be many who finally admit, “Those Christians were right.”  And then they will finally believe.

This group of new believers will have missed the rapture of the Church.  They will not be spared the time of Great Tribulation, but they will be given eternal life.  And they will be killed because of their faith.  They will “die in the great tribulation” (verse 14) because of their new-found faith in Jesus.  These new Christians are those who refused to accept the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16).  They would not bow down and worship the Antichrist.  So, they were killed because they refused to comply.  And God, who is filled with mercy and grace, brings these martyrs to His throne where they no longer suffer because of their steadfast faith.

Does anyone else find this incredible?

God is so loving, filled with so much grace, that He opens the doors of heaven to those who finally believe… even though they missed the “deadline.”  Sure, they will not be spared the consequences, but they will still find themselves in Heaven before the throne of God.

God will give them one final chance to believe.

I understand if you struggle with this.  Most Christians today want God to reward us for our faith and punish the hard-hearted for their unbelief.  But God gives second chances.  His goal is to ransom as many as He can.  He takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner (Ezekiel 18:32).  And I like that; I love that God wants to save as many people as He can.  I want this to happen as well.  I want my stubborn neighbor or unbelieving relative to be saved.  I want them to spend eternity in Heaven.  And it’s refreshing to learn that God shares that same desire (or should I say, I share His same desire).

To my Christian friend I ask, how does this make you feel?  Are you willing to accept that God gives humanity a second chance to believe?  And to those who are stubborn and presently refuse to believe, let me say that I personally hope you believe in Jesus before the “great time of testing”; I want you to be spared the wrath that is to come.  I want you to believe the message of salvation today.  If not, then I pray the great sign of the rapture softens your hard heart.  That at last, you will believe the message of Jesus being preached by the Church today.  I pray you believe when God gives you a second chance.

Whisperings - 2017 Christmas Eve story

For Christmas Eve this year I wrote a children's book which I read to the children.  It is called Whisperings, and is based on Zechariah 3:1-4.  You can read the story below.

God's Message of Hope

December 24, 2017

West York Church of the Brethren

On this day, the church choir presented a Cantata during morning worship.  As a lead-in, I read from Luke chapter 2.

Copyright laws prohibit me from posting the Cantata.  Thankfully, I am still able to post this reading of scripture.