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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes

May 26, 2024 Special Servants – Deacons
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46 min
May 23, 2024 Zechariah Chapter 9
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45 min
May 19, 2024 Philemon: Onesimus
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35 min
May 19, 2024Revelation 9: The Seventh Seal: 5th & 6th Trumpets
The Seventh Seal: 5th & 6th Trumpet
Revelation 9
Introduction: The Lamb took the scroll from the hand of the one sitting on the throne. One by one he opened four of the seven seals, revealing judgments against the wicked. When the fifth seal was opened, souls were seen under the altar who had been murdered for the word of God and their testimony of Jesus. They cried out, “How long before you judge and avenge our blood?” They were told to wait a little longer until more of their brethren should be killed as they were.
When the sixth seal was opened, God revealed judgments on the powers of the earth which were executed by the wrath of the Lamb.
Before the seventh seal was opened, we see four angels at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth. This restraint was done so that the perfect number of saved (144,000) could be sealed and protected from the judgments to come.
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, seven angels were given seven trumpets. As each trumpet is blown, plagues are revealed, like the plagues of Egypt. These plagues are partial judgments, affecting a third of mankind and are against those who have persecuted God’s servants. With each trumpet blown the plagues become more severe. After the first four plagues are revealed, an eagle flies overhead and cries out that the next three blasts of the trumpets will bring severe woes exceeding the first.
Preparing for the Final Trumpets
Though the judgments seen in the opening of the seals have not yet specified the nation that is being targeted, we have seen many hints that Israel and Jerusalem is being targeted. In Daniel, there are two nations that are prophesied for destruction: Israel and Rome. And Daniel was told that the scroll that was sealed up until the time of the end would reveal the details.
Further, the language that has been used concerning these judgments are matched by nearly the same words used by Jesus in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 to describe the destruction of Jerusalem.
Finally, there is a connection to the plagues revealed in the blowing of the trumpets are the punishments promised by God if Israel turned away from him:
Deuteronomy 28:58-60 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.”
“Deuteronomy 32:22-24 “For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. And I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend my arrows on them; they shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured by plague and poisonous pestilence; I will send the teeth of beasts against them, with the venom of things that crawl in the dust.”
Deuteronomy 28:46-47 “They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things.”
All of the above comes to mind as we read the outcome of the trumpets.
The Fifth Trumpet
Notice keys to the text:
“A star fallen from heaven” –
Rev. 12 pictures Satan and his angels falling from heaven.
When the 70 returned to Jesus after casting out demons, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:17).
“The bottomless pit” – or “abyss”
In verse 11, the one who is king and angel over the bottomless pit is named “Abaddon” & “Apollyon.” These names means “death/destroyer”.
In 11:7 The beast is the one who rises from the bottomless pit. And in 13:1, it is the Dragon who calls the beast up from the sea and is described as the fourth empire from Daniel 7, the Roman Empire.
“Out of the furnace came locusts on the earth”
These locusts are unique because they harm people, not vegetation. The only people they cannot harm are those who have the seal of God.
They are pictured with human faces and as a great army with crowns on their head, indicating great authority. The parallel fits perfectly with Joel 1-2 where are locust in invasion on Israel is used as a picture of the nation being destroyed by Babylon.
The description of the locusts is terrifying, and that is the message. What is about to happen is a horror. A nation is coming to bring terror and pain. The plague lasts 5 months (the lifespan of locusts), but are restricted from killing anyone. However, the pain is so bad that people want to die.
People often read this and want to know specifically how this was fulfilled, as if there were literally crazy looking locusts with scorpion tails. But God is not intending to cause us to look for some literal event that would parallel this. The intent is the terror and pain that will take place.
Before we move to the sixth trumpet, notice certain words in the text:
Verse 1: “he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.”
Verse 3: “…from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions.”
Verse 4: “They were told not to harm the grass…”
Verse 5: “They were allowed to torment for five months.”
What is the message? This is God’s work. Just as God sent Assyria against Israel and the Chaldeans against Judah, so now he raises up another nation who is governed by Satan and use them to punish his people.
The Sixth Trumpet
“A voice from the four horns of the golden altar” – Again there is reference back to the altar under which were the souls of the saints crying out how long before our blood is avenged? And again we see another answer to their appeal.
Remember in 7:1, the four angels holding back the four winds of the earth until the servants of God are sealed? Now the four angels release the winds.
We are also given more specifics. These angels were bound at the river Euphrates. That is the direction of the nations of Assyria and Babylon who destroyed Israel and Judah. Therefore, we have a clear message of another great nation coming to punish God’s people.
This time, the nation does not just torment, but actually kills a third of mankind. Thus another partial judgment leading up to the seventh seal, which will be full judgment.
The power of this nation is indicated by its 200 million troops. Of course, that is unheard of, and again is symbolic of the great power this nation has.
In each of these partial judgments, God is instilling fear and torment, intending to wake people up and get them to repent of their sins.
Present Day Lessons
Keep in mind 6:8. The punishment of the pale horse was a fourth of the earth killed with sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. These are the same plagues God brought on Israel in Ezekiel’s prophecies and have now been revealed in the trumpets.
Suppose we heard on the news tomorrow that another virus is on the loose, and is so powerful and contagious that it will make COVID look mild. One percent of the world died from covid, but in this plague, at least a third of the world will die. Anyone want to freak out! That’s the purpose of these plagues. Will anyone realize a need for repentance, and the need to return to God?
Luke 13:1-5 “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Verses 20-21 Some might read this and think, this can’t be the Jews. They gave up their idols. Think again:
When Jesus condemned the Pharisees for being lovers of money, were they idolators?
When Jesus condemned them for being murderers in their hearts, and even preparing to murder him, were they murderers?
When Jesus condemned them for turning the temple into a place for money changers and their priests into those who raised themselves above the people, were they worshiping demons?
When they divorced their wives and lusted in their hearts, were they convicted of sexual immorality?
Indeed! We don’t have idolatrous “images” in America or in our churches, but can we not be convicted of idolatry through our passion for “things,” “recreation,” “possessions,” and “careers”? The Jews fooled themselves, and so can we.
So when the next 9/11 happens or the next virus plague, or war, etc., will we remember that God is sending warnings, partial judgments leading up to the final judgment? A new vaccine won’t solve it, new technology isn’t the remedy, and Homeland Security won’t protect us. Repentance is the only hope.
Berry Kercheville
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35 min
May 19, 2024 The Work of Deacons
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44 min
May 16, 2024 Zechariah Chapter 8
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46 min
May 12, 2024Revelation 8: The Seventh Seal: Trumpets!
The Seventh Seal: Trumpets!
Revelation 8
Introduction: 6:9-11 In the opening of the fifth seal we were given a picture of “souls under the altar” who had been killed because of the word of God and their testimony. Though they were told to “rest a little longer” until more of their fellow servants were killed, God began his answer to their prayer with the opening of the sixth seal and the picture of judgment on those who were persecuting.
But before Jesus completed his picture of judgment, we see 144,000, the perfect number of the saved sealed in order to protect them from God’s coming judgments. These saints are further comforted by a picture of a great multitude before the throne who had come out of the great tribulation and were shouting praise before the throne: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Now we are ready for the opening of the seventh seal, which will be God’s answer to the souls under the altar.
Silence in Heaven (8:1-5)
When visualized, the drama of the silence in verse one is startling. With all the activity around the throne, suddenly silence! As usual, we know what this means when we see the same picture in the OT prophets:
Habakkuk 2:20 gives a contrastive warning to those who follow “speechless idols”: “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” Following these words, Habakkuk 3 pictures judgment on the nations.
Zechariah 2:13 When God prepared himself to attack the enemies of his people, the prophet wrote, “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Therefore, the silence is a dramatic warning that God has had enough and is rising up to avenge the blood of his saints. As we will see in chapter 11, the opening of the seventh seal concludes with the seventh trumpet sounding, and God completes his judgment against the persecuting nation, Israel (Daniel 11).
Seven trumpets are given to the seven angels that stand before the throne of God. We cannot be sure who these angels are, but no doubt they are significant servants of God ready to do his will against the persecutors. Please be aware of a simple fact: God is using angels to destroy Jerusalem, even though this was done through the Roman armies. This is another indication of spiritual forces affecting the nations.
This is similar to Isaiah 10:5-6, when God sent Assyria against a wicked Israel. “Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.”
“Trumpets”: In both Old and New Testaments, the blowing of a trumpet signals impending judgment.
1 Thes. 4:16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Jeremiah 4:5-6 “Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, ‘Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!’ Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from the north, and great destruction.”
Remember that the impending doom of Jericho was prefaced by trumpets being blown every day for seven days and the city falling on the seventh day.
Now notice in verses 3–5 the word “altar” used three times.
Vs. 3: An angel “stood at the altar with a golden censer…with the prayers of the saints…on the golden altar before the throne.”
Vs. 5: “The angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth…”
Now you can see how this connects to 6:9-11. The souls of those who had bee slaughtered for the word of God and their testimony were under the altar crying out “How long…” God’s answer is now being given as an angel stands at the altar and offers incense with the prayers of the saints.
Vs. 5 shows us God’s answer to the prayers. As soon as the prayers are presented, the angel fills his censer with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. And notice the end of verse 5: “there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.” These words parallel the conclusion of the blowing of the seventh trumpet in 11:19.
Again, we see a similarity to when God previously destroyed Jerusalem during the days of the Babylonian Empire. Ezekiel 10:1-2, “Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire in appearance like a throne. And he said to the man clothed in linen, ‘Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.”
Judgment has begun!
Blowing the First Four Trumpets
The first five trumpets correspond to five of the plagues of Egypt. This confirms even more that these are leading up to the final judgment against a persecuting nation. Each plague is added one on top of another until their complete destruction. 11:15 states, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
When we consider the purpose of the plagues on Egypt, we see the primary reasons for God’s judgments:
Exodus 9:16. To Pharaoh God said, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” The spiritual forces coupled with wicked kings of the earth have constantly challenged God for supremacy (Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, etc).
Revelation 17:14. Jesus is now proclaimed as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus’ purpose in becoming King is to bring all enemies in subjection to God. Thus, Psalm 2, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’ … Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.”
First angel: hail and fire mixed with blood. A third of the earth is burned up.
We immediately see the parallel to the Egyptian plague of hail mingled with fire which caused a loss of a portion of the crops. In this case a similar “portion” is affected as a third of the earth is burned up with the trees and grass. Therefore, this is a beginning judgment, a partial judgment.
Ezekiel also gives us a parallel when God also speaks of destroying his enemy nations: “With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and I will pour down torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur, upon him and his troops and the many peoples that are with him.” (Ezekiel 38:22)
Second angel: “a great mountain burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.”
We again see the parallel to the Egyptian plague of water to blood with a third of the sea becoming blood and a third of the creatures dying and a third of the ships destroyed.
“Mountains” are typically used by the prophets to reference nations. Jeremiah speaks of the fall of Babylon in this way: “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, declares the LORD, which destroys the whole earth; I will stretch out my hand against you, and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burnt mountain” (Jeremiah 51:25). Therefore, we are seeing the overthrow of a nation affecting a third of the earth.
Third angel: “A great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.”
The result is a third of the fresh water is poisoned and people died because of drinking poisoned water. We see again the similarity to the plague of turning water to blood.
A “great star”: In prophecy, “stars” often refer to angels, or angels who represent nations. In Isaiah 14, “Lucifer” is pictured as a morning star that fell from heaven. In Rev. 12:4, the Dragon “swept down a third of the stars from heaven and cast them to the earth.” Is this an angel or an evil angel that is cast to the earth to punish God’s persecutors? (Cf. 1:20)
Jeremiah uses the same terms concerning God’s judgments on Israel:
“Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to feed this people wormwood and give them poisonous water to drink.” (Jeremiah 9:15)
“Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: I am about to feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” (Jeremiah 23:15)
As we can see, each judgment leaves a painful result on those who are the cause of the saints under the altar.
Fourth angel: “a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.”
The sun, moon, and stars not giving their light has always been a picture of a judgment on a nation. When Jesus spoke of the fall of Jerusalem and the nation, he said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matt. 24:29).
Those words of Jesus were of Israel’s final judgment. But in each of these trumpet blasts, we only see partial judgments. This may be parallel to Jesus referring to the “pains” leading up the fall of Jerusalem as “birth pains” (Matt. 24:8). In fact, in Luke 21:11, Jesus spoke of the years leading up to the destruction, “There will be earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
In order to keep these partial judgments in context, and understand who is being affected, we must keep in mind that the trumpets are an answer to the souls crying out under the altar asking “how long before you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Later, in 11:2, just before the seventh trumpet sound, we are clearly told that it is Israel especially that is the object of judgment in this first part of the book. They are “given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.” A nearly direct quote of Jesus in Luke 21:24.
And in Luke 21:22, Jesus said concerning Jerusalem and Israel, “These are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.”
Verse 13: The eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead…”
After the fourth trumpet sounds there is an obvious separation that is made between the first four trumpets and the last three trumpets. The first four were partial judgments, but these last three are catastrophic.
An eagle is a sign of doom. Deuteronomy 28:49-50, “The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young.”
Lessons:
This section has reinforced the repeated theme of this last book of the Bible. God is ruling and God is victorious. Therefore, “wait on the Lord.” I am reminded of the story of Hezekiah when Assyria had conquered all of Israel and Judah, and only Jerusalem was left. The captain of Sennacherib’s army bellowed and threatened about how they would all be destroyed if they did not surrender. Hezekiah was in a tizzy. He had been doing all he could to protect the city from this very moment, but to no avail. Finally, he listened to Isaiah’s plea to relax and trust the Lord. When Hezekiah saw that all was lost, he finally laid all the threats before the Lord. The Lord’s answer was amazing. He basically told the king that he might as well go to bed and get a good night’s rest. There is not a thing he needed to do. And when the morning sun rose, 185,000 Assyrian troops were dead. Same with these early Christians and our battle with the powers of this world. Relax. God has this. We overcome with the word of our testimony and loving not our lives even unto death.
All of these judgments came out of the prayers of the saints that went before the throne of God. Don’t be afraid to pray for great things, even that “mountains may be moved from their place!”
Berry Kercheville
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44 min
May 12, 2024 Hyperlinks In The Bible
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43 min
May 12, 2024 The Work of Elders
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41 min
May 09, 2024 Zechariah Chapter 7
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43 min