Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 9

 This is interesting because we are introduced to an altar in heaven. Up

until this point, John either hasn’t seen it or there hasn’t been one. This is

the first mention of an altar in the Book of Revelation. An altar is a place

of sacrifice. The single sacrifice present in heaven is Jesus Himself, and

Jesus alone. Why? He is sufficient. Nothing more required and nothing

different could suffice. As we’ve discussed previously, Jesus alone, in all

of history and before history, is uniquely particularly qualified to reverse

the debt, burden and effect of sin upon creation.

 John sees souls… What an interesting statement. We see bodies, physical

appearance, at first, but the truth of who the person is…, that is not what

we can see on the outside, readily and immediately. There is something of

greater substance, something that is physically immediately observable in

heaven…, and that is who you are underneath this earthen vessel.

 And the souls are under the altar. Notice they aren’t on the altar. That is a

spot reserved for Jesus alone. But they are underneath the altar, submitted

to the altar, if you will… And these are who we call Tribulation Saints.

During the time of the Great Tribulation there will be many that come to

faith. Those that remember the conversation they had with their neighbor

who just up and vanished one day! Perhaps they remember that one

church service they went to some long time ago where they heard the

Gospel of hope and times have gotten so hard…

 I do realize that some sermons, some church services are the single and

only opportunity someone may have at hearing the Word of God and the

Gospel of Jesus Christ… I approach every teaching, and have for the past

almost 15 years, like it’s my first, last and only shot. I can’t tell you how

many people I’ve had the privilege to teach the Bible to, even just once,

that are now deceased…

 This is during the time of the Tribulation upon the earth. And the Bible is

quite clear that there will be those that will come to genuine faith after the

rapture of the church and during the Great Tribulation. Will they be

saved? Eternally, yes, but their lives will be required of them. They will be

pursued, easily identified, and they will be killed for their faith.

 They were slain for their testimony, for their faith, but notice, and for the

Word of God. Without the Word of God, there really isn’t faith. Or

perhaps I should say, “true faith, saving faith, power in your faith.” I

mean, think about it. You can have faith in that guy, your president,

bitcoin… Many people placed their faith, their investment, in Enron and

Blockbuster! You can have faith and that faith can be powerless if it is not

established in something that is faithful!

 The point I’m getting to is one says they have faith and yet if your faith is

not in alignment with the Word of God then your faith is not in Jesus who

is the Word of God according to John Chapter 1 and Revelation Chapter

19! It’s Kmart! It’s Blackberry. It’s MySpace! It’s BigLots! THAT ONE

HURT! HA!

Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 10

 Some teach that these are the souls of all of the martyrs of all time

however the text doesn’t support that. Notice they say, “Judge and avenge

our blood on those who dwell on the earth.” Whoever did this to them are

dwelling on the earth. So, these are not the martyrs of all time, these are

the Tribulation Saints.

 I want to show you something that I believe is helpful in understanding

Biblical time periods. The Tribulation is also known as the Dispensation

of Judgment. Calvary Chapel, and I personally, ascribe to a

dispensationalist perspective of scripture. Ok, what does that mean…?

 A dispensation is just simply a way of ordering things. Not essential for

salvation, perhaps not even too important, but it’s a thing. In theology, a

dispensation is the divine administration of a period of time; each

dispensation is a divinely appointed age and as these ages progress, we

have a progressive revelation of God to man.

 Dispensationalism has two primary distinctives: 1) a consistently literal

interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy, and 2) a view of the

uniqueness of Israel as separate from the Church in God’s program.

Classical dispensationalism identifies seven dispensations in God’s plan

for revealing Himself to humanity.

 Innocence (Genesis 1:1 – 3:7), Conscience (Genesis 3:8 – 8:22), Human

Government (Genesis 9:1 – 11:32), Promise (Genesis 12:1 – Exodus

19:25), Law (Exodus 20:1 – Acts 2:4), Grace (Acts 2:4 – Revelation 20:3),

and the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).

 The Tribulation is the Dispensation of Judgment. Today, we are not in

the this time but rather we are in the time of grace…, or the Dispensation

of Grace, and I want to show that to you conclusively using scripture.

 Remember Stephen when he was being stoned? Acts 7:60, “Then he knelt

down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this

sin.” Very different than the charge coming from the altar in heaven

during the Tribulation. Remember Paul writing in the Book of Philemon?

Philemon 1:18, “If he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my

account.” Quite different again from what we are seeing in Revelation 6.

Remember Jesus on the cross, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what

they are doing.” Are these three examples just better people than those

that were calling out in heaven? No. The difference is the dispensation.

Stephen, Paul, even Jesus ushering in this new dispensation as He dies for

the sins of the world, all harkening from the time of Grace or the

Dispensation of Grace. The time we are in today…, and truly this should

be our heart, Christian…this should be your heart…and if you’re a

Christian…it is…you just may be denying it and causing yourself to

suffer…

 May I just give you this. It’s ok to forgive those that are not deserving of

forgiveness. It’s ok to love someone who doesn’t love you back. It’s

alright. In fact, in the time we are in today, its all right… And we should.

It doesn’t feel great, it ignites a sadness and a longing in you but that

sadness and longing are an echo of heaven in your heart of hearts. Deny

that and I do believe you miss out on a moment of communion with the

Holy Spirit and moments repeated can turn into days and a life. It's ok…

You and I are called to come out from the world and draw near to the

Lord. This is how…

 But here…, “Judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the

earth.” Entirely different, isn’t it? Why? The Great Tribulation is the time

of judgment and the world has entered into an entirely new era…

Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 11

 There’s a pattern here that I just want to take a minute and talk about, and

that pattern is comfort, rest and completion. A white robe was given to

each of them which speaks of covering and comfort. Rest, and then a

promise of completion. This is a good picture pattern of close proximity to

Jesus. Whatever has happened, whatever is going on, whatever the worry,

take it to the Lord…, even if it’s a call for vengeance, hey, God says in

Deuteronomy 32:35, “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot

shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the

things to come hasten upon them.”

 So even if the call is out of pain, fear, anger, this is the pattern of God’s

protective response. He will comfort you. He covers you in rest that you at

times don’t even want! HA! YOU WANT to be angry and it’s subsiding!

What happens hurt so much but you took it to the Lord and now you’re ok

and you even stir it back up yourself because you WANT to be upset! HA!

You flesh ball!!! HA!

 And then He brings it to completion with His purposes, not the enemy’s.

Not what the flesh wants to do to you…, but the trial turns into a teaching

and the loss turns into a lesson…, and you grow. That which doesn’t kill

does make you stronger when you take it to the Lord!

Revelation Chapter 6 Verses 12 – 15

 Something catastrophic is happening on the earth. Unlike anything that

ever has happened or will happen again. Every mountain and island

moved out of its place…stars falling like figs…the sun blackened…the

sky receding… Some commentators ascribe this to some sort of nuclear

holocaust but this is much more than that…this is something else entirely.

What? Really no way to know…

 And notice, in the end, no earthly thing makes you any different than

anyone else…, kings, great, rich, commanders, mighty, slave and free…

Everyone is the same. Why are we so attached to and pursuing things that

in a time of trouble does nothing for us…? It’s like having a tool box full

of ineffective tools and we just sit there admiring them…until the check

engine light comes on. And all the money is spent and all the room is

taken (no more tools fit) and we have nothing that actually will help us. Be

mindful of what matters and what in the end will not expire.

Revelation Chapter 6 Verses 16 – 17

 This is one of the most pathetic scenes in all of scripture but this is where

idolatry and rejection of the Holy Spirit will lead… Instead of running to

God, the answer to all of this calamity…, they run away. It is like a fish

running to a desert when the ocean is available… Stop choosing to deny

the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Soften your heart…and if it’s not

happening…get in the Word…, lift your hands in worship, ask for

prayer…the list goes on and on as to what you could do… but you lust for

the desert…why?

 Instead of running to God, they run away…and instead of calling out to

God, they call out to creation…to the mountains and rocks. Some say time

heals all wounds…those some are idiots. (Time is a part of creation!)

Some believe a better job, a better house, a better pastor (psh, like you

could find that), a better whatever…and things would be so much better…

Time and all of creation…it’s all subservient to its Creator. The answer is

to turn your life over to the Father.