The seventh trumpet points us to the time when God’s kingdom comes in full and is celebrated by singing His praise in His glorious presence.

I. The Kingdom in the Lord’s Timing – v. 15.

See also Rev. 10:7; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Isaiah 9:6-7

II. The Kingdom in the Lord’s Songs – vv. 16-18.

See also Rom. 1:18; 2 Thess 1:8

III. The Kingdom in the Lord’s Presence – v. 19.

Application

An interpretive application: 

As Christ’s church, we are fully equipped to walk through gospel opposition through the knowledge of our eternal reward.

I. God’s Witnesses are Fully Equipped – vv. 3-6.

See also Jeremiah 5:14, 23:29

II. God’s Witnesses will Face Opposition – vv. 7-10.

III. God’s Witnesses will Find Vindication – vv. 11-13.

Application

1) The church is vulnerable while on mission. 

2) The church is also invincible while on mission. 

Main Point: Church, you are known and kept secure by God, but you should expect rejection, hostility, and suffering from this world.

I. Security in a Measured Temple – 11:1.

See also 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 3:12

II. Vulnerability in a Trampled Court – 11:2.

See also Rev. 21:2-3; Rev. 21:9-10

Application: 

In a world rushing toward judgment, God calls His church to boldly proclaim His gospel message that is both sweet with hope and bitter with judgment.

I. The Messenger’s Glory – 10:1-4.

II. The Messenger’s Oath – 10:5-7.

III. The Messenger’s Scroll – 10:8-11.

“When you digest the gospel and its great truths begin to work in your day to day living, you might too find it a bittersweet experience. In the home, some of your children or your spouse may have never tasted the sweetness of the gospel. It is difficult to be a Christian in that setting, for just by being a believer, you drive a wedge between yourself and those you love. It is utterly impossible to be faithful to Christ without incurring some of the world’s displeasure and contempt.” – Joel Beeke

No amount of suffering is sufficient to produce repentance apart from divine grace.

I. Dead Men Under Judgment – 9:13-19.

See also 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

“These horses of death wield death through the hellish deceit that pours forth from their mouths, hot, smoky, and rancid smelling as sulphur.” – Dennis Johnson

II. Dead Men Unrepentant – 9:20-21.

See also 1 Corinthians 10:31

“The blood of the martyrs is precious to the Lord. The prayers of the saints are heard. God sees their tears and their suffering. Yet, in spite of all these warning voices, mankind in general does not repent. Foolish and stubborn men continue to transgress both the first (v. 20) and the second table of the law (v. 21). The persecuting world becomes the impenitent world. It is impenitence that brings about not only the outpouring of the bowls of final wrath (chapters 15, 16) but also the culmination of this wrath in the final judgment.” – William Hendrickson

Application

1) Have you been deceived?

2) Have you been burdened?

3) Rejoice in the Lord.

These locusts serve as a warning: God’s temporal judgments call us to repent before the final judgment comes.

I. The Tyrant and the Terror of the Locusts.

See also Luke 10:18; Ephesians 6:12

II. The Target and the Torment of the Locusts.

See also John 10:9; Ephesians 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Acts 26:18

“Here are the demons, robbing men of all light, that is, righteousness, and holiness, joy, and peace, wisdom and understanding.” – William Hendrickson

Application

1) Heed the warning! 

2) Many believers need to re-read Eph. 6. 

“Never let go out of your minds the thoughts of a crucified Christ. Let these be food and drink unto you; let them be your sweetness and consolation, your honey and your desire, your reading and your meditation, your life, death, and resurrection.” – Thomas Brooks

3) Rest in God’s sovereign control, even over evil. 

4) Take comfort that God has sealed us and will take us all the way home. 

5) Warn others while there is still time. 

Sermon: Luke 22:14-23, From Passover to Lord’s Supper

Main Point: Jesus transformed the Passover meal into The Lord’s Supper,

showing himself to be the true Passover Lamb.

I. From Passover to Jesus – 22:14-18

See also Exodus 6:6-7

II. From Passover to Lord’s Supper – 22:19-23.

See also 1 Corinthians 10:16

Application:

1. Rejoice in Christ’s redemption.

2. Look forward to His return.

3. Prepare your hearts.

Sermon: Revelation 8:6-12, Echos of Exodus

Be thankful for God’s judgment. Through it He calls the world to repentance and reminds His people that this world is not our home.

Echo #1, The First Trumpet Judgment.
see also Exodus 9:22-24; Isaiah 28:1-3

Echo #2, The Second Trumpet Judgment.

Echo #3, The Third Trumpet Judgment.
see also Jeremiah 23:15

Echo #4, The Fourth Trumpet Judgment.
see also Ezekiel 32:7-8; Matthew 24:29

Application:

1. God is good to send smaller judgments into the world to call the wicked to repentance and remind the righteous that this is not their home.

2. God is holy and His judgment is sure.

3. Take hope, believer. His judgment is terrifying, but He is sovereign and in control.

Sermon: Nehemiah 3:1-32, Lessons in the Lord’s Work

3 Lessons in Faithfully Serving the Lord

Lesson 1: The Lord’s work is not only for spiritual leaders, but for ordinary Christians (v. 1-3; 1 Thess. 1:3, 8)

Lesson 2: The Lord’s work is worthy of great personal sacrifice (v. 8, 14, 32; Matt. 16:24)

Lesson 3: The Lord’s work is worthy of our zeal (v. 4, 21, 30; Rom. 12:11; Philippians 1:12-14)

“Nothing is so effective in keeping true Christianity alive as the yeast of zealous Christians scattered throughout the Church. Like salt, they prevent the whole body from falling into a state of decay. No one but men of this kind can revive Churches that are about to die. It is impossible to overestimate the debt that all Christians owe to zeal.” – JC Ryle

Sermon: Revelation 7:13-17, Coming Out of the Great Tribulation

When is the great tribulation, and who are the ones coming out of it?

I. When is the “Great Tribulation”? – v. 14

See also Revelation 1:9; 1 John 2:18; 1 Cor. 10:11

II. Who are “the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation? – vv. 13-17.

See also Ezekiel 37:27

Application

1) Are you out there enough with your faith in Christ to receive pushback from the world?

2) Are you daily delighted and satisfied by His grace?