THY KINGDOM COME, #2, “Seek First the Kingdom of God” | Mac Hammond
Pastor Mac delivered the second installment of his series entitled, “Thy Kingdom Come.” The book of Hebrews says that in the end times, God is going to shake the world systems. Some things will be removed by the shaking. Things that cannot be shaken will survive. And what survives the shaking will be transformed. Regarding the world’s systems, Pastor Mac says, “If our dependence is more grounded in these worldly systems than our dependence on God, we too will be shaken.” We are in the midst of the world being shaken. It’s important we understand why the shaking is happening and what we are to do in the midst of it.
Revelation Revealed #12| Pastor Jim Hammond | January 8, 2023
One of the most exciting books in the Bible, the book of Revelation can also be complicated to understand. But Pastor Jim Hammond brings light to these biblical mysteries. That’s what he did this past weekend when he preached the 12th part of his series, “Revelation Revealed.” He expounded on Revelation 6:7–17 which talks about the opening of the fourth, fifth, and sixth seals. We learned about the how death will increase in the earth, and about the saints under the altar of God and their prayer to Him, and how an earthquake will shake mountains and islands out of their places.
Dive Deeper:
Pastor Jim first gave a review of what he taught in last week’s message which was the first four riders in Revelation chapter six. These riders have become known as the “four horses of the apocalypse.” The rider on the white horse being the figure of Antichrist coming forth. The rider on the red horse had the power to take peace from the earth. The rider on the black horse brought worldwide famine. The fourth rider on the pale horse comes forth and the rider is death and hell followed after him. They were given power over a fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, famine, and with plague and wild beasts. This results in one fourth of the world’s population will be killed.
We learned there will be a world leader, who is Antichrist, that will seem to have all the answers and will negotiate a seven-year peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, and all the nations of the world.
When the fifth seal was opened, John saw souls under the altar of God who had been killed because they adhered to the Word of God and for their testimony. Pastor Jim talked about their prayer to God, asking for vengeance.
He went on to talk about the restraining element (the saints of God) in the world that is holding back Antichrist from appearing before his time. Pastor Jim talked about using our faith against the spirit of lawlessness that’s in the earth. He then expounded on the importance of developing our faith.
When the sixth seal was opened, an earthquake took place and the sun became black and the moon became as blood. The earthquake, many believe, is triggered by an explosion, perhaps a nuclear explosion.
He said that the description of Revelation 6:14, “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together,” is proof of a nuclear explosion. Commentators concur this describes what a nuclear blast looks like. When this happens, the great men of the world will hide in fear and declare the great day of the Lord has come.
Pastor Jim then went on to say that if you want to escape all that, you can. Receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you will miss it.
Read About It:
Revelation 6:7–17, “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 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: 10 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? 11 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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 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. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 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: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (KJV)
Isaiah 24:18–21, “And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. 19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.” (KJV)
Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” (KJV)
Matthew 27:39–40, “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (KJV)
Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” (KJV)
Discussion Questions:
1. Since the consensus of Bible scholars is that we are close to end time events, how does that influence your thinking?
2. Does this knowledge give you pause about the way you’ve been living your life so far?
3. If so, are there areas of your life that you would change?
3. Do you feel compelled to communicate these end time revelations with your unsaved family members and loved ones?