Revelation 16:15 (ESV): “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

Hollywood has repeatedly tried to imagine the destruction of the world. Movies such as 2012 portray earthquakes, collapsing cities, and destruction. It is frightening to imagine something even worse happening in real life.

But there is a significant difference between those fictional catastrophes and what Revelation 16 describes. In Hollywood, destruction usually results from uncontrollable natural or cosmic forces that result from the original sin. In Revelation 16, however, the seven bowls are deliberately poured out by God as His righteous judgment against a rebellious world.

This is the same God who loves us and sent His Son to die for us. He is perfectly loving, but He is also perfectly holy and just. His patience should never be mistaken for indifference toward sin.

This Sunday, let’s explore these final judgments at the end of the Great Tribulation with humble hearts, knowing that God’s plan is perfect and that it culminates in the victorious return of Jesus Christ.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Pastor Denis Garijo

“God always warns before he finally punishes.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones

We have seen the dragon and his friends – then the Lamb! We watched the parlor tricks of hell and we were saddened by the deceit of Satan and how many were fooled. Despite all warnings of Heaven many still followed the pseudo trinity down the wide path toward destruction. That final day has come! This chapter is all about our final warning – God will call to account those who have flaunted His Grace and dwindled away His Mercy – time is up! The only question of this chapter is ‘are we prepared?’ The Tabernacle and the Temple are all examples of God’s required preparation – the sacrifice of the lamb – the washing of the Word – the prayers of incense lifted – the blood on the Mercy Seat. Each of these bring us into the presence of the Lord! What was given to Moses and fulfilled by Christ is once again played out before the victorious in Heaven. What a scene! Join us as we witness old songs and new songs and the world gets ready for the final 7 Bowls.

Pastor Mike

“Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel has made him just a gardener.” George Herbert (1593-1633)

After Chapter 13 and the powerful enemies of Heaven are revealed: the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet – one could wonder if there is any good news! There is – the Gospel is not defeated and it is now the Lamb’s turn to speak. We hear from Jesus directly and He sends 5 angels to set things right. We will celebrate both the Survivors and Salvation itself in this chapter. We will see the vindication of Saints and the judgment of Sinners. We will wrap up our time this week with the last two angels – each armed with a sickle for harvest of grain and grapes and try to show what each might mean for us today and the days to come. This is a full chapter and one I don’t want you to miss. 

Pastor Mike

It just keeps getting better!  We return to the scene of the Dragon but this week he is not alone – with the Serpent we meet 2 more ‘beasts’ one from the sea and one from the earth.  This hellish trinity begin a cruel ruling of the earth with some spectacular signs and wonders.  This deceives the population into divine worship – Satan has always wanted to be worshipped!  Sunday we will follow the vision of John from beast to beast and see this UN-holy trinity – a poor substitute for the true and living God and his Son and the Holy Spirit.  I will also spend some time going over the meaning of The Book of Life or sometimes called The Lamb’s Book of Life.  How is our name written there?  How is it ever blotted out?  How can we be sure?  These and many other questions Sunday at Grace – see you there!

Pastor Mike

“When a man argues for victory and not for truth, he is sure of just one ally that is the devil.” George Macdonald

John is given and then gives to us in Revelation 12 a brief account of Redemption in Human History.  Lots of imagery and illustrations but basically the key elements.  We see Israel as summarized in Mary and the Devil filled by Herod and the birth of a baby who is the Creator and Messiah – finally we witness the battle fought in Heaven with Michael and Satan.  What a chapter!  Inside these scenes we will find justice and judgment and even some everyday advice of how the redeemed should live.  The clearest take away is the inevitable victory in Jesus!  Sunday will sound a lot like a cosmic movie with lots of action and actors but it is real and coming to a calendar near us!  Don’t miss this one!  

See you Sunday, 

Pastor Mike

"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace..."  Martin Luther

The final Trumpets – sixth and seventh!  We meet the 2 Witnesses and see the power of God in their testimony.  Then we watch as they are martyred – then gloated over – then raised!  What a story!  We will follow the scene of Heaven as the Temple of Heaven is briefly described have seen the images of the Tabernacle and Temple of Solomon.  So much in this account to absorb but the lessons are really pretty simple.  God’s Witnesses are examples of what we should be – fearless – careless – heedless – reckless!  Sunday I will cover all of these and we will see the power of God in the Lamb showered on the Earth.  In all of this judgment is love of God and hope in Christ – see you Sunday.

Pastor Mike

The big pause! A mighty angel appears and brings a little scroll – this seeming contradiction is really to show emphasis! This angel appears and then makes an astonishing announcement. Then the symbolic acts of consuming the scroll becomes the biggest lesson for us in Revelation 10. We will meet this angel and get to know a bit about the little book. Why a smaller version of the great book opened by the Lamb/Lion? Why does it taste sweet but upset the stomach? Why is the metaphor of eating used rather than reading quietly or aloud? So many questions! I will try to answer as many as I can – this is a pivotal transition chapter – don’t miss this one! I will also share some very current information for the Bible Engagement Center for Bible Engagement. So very good and so very convicting! I will add some suggestions about how to be active in God’s Word and how to stay active – please join us this Sunday for the Big Angel and the Little Book.

Pastor Mike

The world thinks that if people could just see a miracle, experience suffering, or witness God's power, they would repent and come to Christ “all on their own.” As you read Revelation 9, John shows otherwise. This chapter describes unimaginable judgment: Demonic oppression, death, fear, and global chaos. And it ends with one of the saddest statements in Scripture: "The rest of mankind... did not repent..." (Rev. 9:20-21)

The issue has never been a lack of evidence. The issue is the condition of the heart.

The heart of discipleship is choosing surrender today before judgment forces the question tomorrow. Revelation 9 reminds us that the greatest tragedy is not judgment itself—but a heart that refuses to turn to Christ. We are shown what happens when people continually and relentlessly ignore God, we see what happens to humanity through the destructive consequences of their rebellion, and we see that they will still refuse to repent. What this shows is that our deepest need is not simply relief from judgment but a transformed heart.

Revelation 9 is not merely about future events, told through imagery and symbolic language—it is about present decisions. Every day we are becoming either more responsive or more resistant to God's voice. The question is not, "What will happen in the end?" The question is, "How am I responding to Jesus today?”

Looking forward to this Sunday - 

Josh Burt

God gives John—and then us—a glimpse into the second series of judgments: the Trumpets. Before those are poured out, there is a powerful pause of silence, then a trip to the altar of incense, because God cares. Each of the judgments intensifies the truth that God is using His creation to show His wrath against sin.

This week, Pastor Denis will begin with walking us through Revelation 8:1 and the significance of the silence in heaven. And Pastor Mike will then continue through the trumpet judgments, where two things become unmistakably clear: God is just as He carries out what is long deserved by a sinful world in every generation, and God is merciful as He hears our prayers and gives warning of the judgment to come.

“If we minimize grace, the world sees no hope for salvation. If we minimize truth, the world sees no need for salvation.”  Randy Alcorn

There is a pause in Heaven as the Lamb halts the judgments of the Horsemen long enough to seal the promised tribes of Israel during the Tribulation.  The pause also allows John to glimpse the hordes of martyrs around the throne as a promise to us that Salvation does not end nor is it thwarted during the Tribulation.  The Tribulation is a time of judgment but not despair!  This pause before the seventh seal give us a clear look at the redemptive heart of God.  God love us and desires our salvation.  He made the promises in Eden – He gave the many prophecies of the Old Testament – He sent His only Son as the Lamb.  Sunday we will hear from the Lamb and see first hand of this great love. I will spend some time sharing Salvation from the Old Testament - New Testament - Tribulation - all the same! 

We will also talk about the 144,000 and we will hear the promises of ‘no more tears’ but most of all we will spend our time worshipping the Lamb – the Redeemer – the Savior.  See you Sunday!

Pastor Mike