Now let’s continue right on here in Revelation 6. Now let’s coordinate this with Revelation 12. So hold your place here in Revelation 6 and let’s come back to Revelation 12 and let’s see what’s going to happen. Satan is going to be cast down. He’s going to persecute the Church. After those who go to a place of safety have gone, then we pick it up here in the very last verse of Revelation 12, verse 17. This is when the martyrdom of the saints begins to take place. And let’s understand something here, there is a great principle, which is this: The one who seeks to save his life shall lose it, and the one who loses his life in Christ shall save it. Now that is accomplished in two ways: 1) if you think you’re going to go to a place of safety, be guaranteed you aren’t; 2) and if you think you’re going to avoid martyrdom, be guaranteed unless you die before these events take place, you’re not. So we might as well face the reality of the truth of the things at the end-time as Jesus said – the worse things that have ever happened on the face of the earth since the beginning of the creation are going to take place. So we might as well gear ourselves up for the thinking and ask God for the help, the strength, the character that we need, because this is not going to be “good-time Charlie” and “wonderful Sally time” when these things and events take place. That’s why Jesus said, “Woe.” And then we’re going to see what God is going to do about it.

Last verse: “Then the dragon was furious with the woman and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17, FV). Now when war comes against the saints they are going to know wherever true Christians are, because all of those who are true Christians will not have the mark of the beast and they will know where you are. Now granted, some can flee from city to city but they’re going to track you down, because there are going to be traitors. There will be people who are looking to kill Christians because, combined with the two witnesses, they are the ones who are causing all the problems on the earth.

Now let’s pick it up here in Revelation 6:9. Brethren, I want you to understand the magnitude of these things. I want you to understand how awesome these events are going to be where we are not talking about little events at the end-time that are going to take place and all of a sudden, like the Protestants believe, there’s going to be a rapture. There isn’t going to be any rapture. Only the few that go to the place of safety – and they are only there to fulfill what Jesus said, that the mouth of the grave would not prevail against the Church. So there’s going to come a time when all of the rest – just the few that are in the place of safety – and I don’t think many of us are going to make that, because we have to be a witness for Christ. And just like Christ was a witness to the world and gave His life that we may live, we have to give our lives for Christ. And we need to understand that. And if you have not counted yourself already dead to sin, and dead because you have been buried in the watery grave, then you are not mentally prepared for the things that are coming. And so part of what I’m trying to do is to help us have a big picture of what’s going to take place, and to give us strength and courage by the power of God’s Spirit to stand for what is right; to know what we need to do; to realize that God is there, Christ is there, they will help us, they will strengthen us; but we have to be a witness against all of the bloody wretchedness of this world even in giving our lives. And you look back at the prophecy that we are going to read here, and many others have done so down through history. And what makes us think that we are so all-fired good that we are going to avoid it. A little colloquialism: It ain’t a gonna happen.

Now verse 9: “And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God [because they believed God], and for the testimony that they held…” to tell them that just like the two witnesses are saying to the beast and the false prophet, “You are of Satan the devil. You are not of God. These plagues are coming down and we call them as a demonstration against your evil and your wickedness.”

“…And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ And white robes were given to each of them; and they were told that they should rest a short time yet…” In other words they are still dead. But this is just a vision to give you an understanding what’s going to happen at the end-time in comparison to those who had been martyred before us, you see.

“…Until it be fulfilled that both their fellow servants and their brethren also would be killed, just as they had been.” Now when it comes time that all of those that Satan makes war against – he finally gets them – that ends the “church age.” Then something new is going to begin, and as we know from past sermons and so forth, the next event that’s going to take place is going to be approximately eighteen months before Christ and the saints put their feet on the earth. Now I want you to begin to think what’s going to happen here.

Verse 12: “And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as the hair of sackcloth, and the moon became as blood…” Because if there’s a great earthquake and it’s anywhere near volcanoes you’re going to have all of this exploding at the same time. “…And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the heaven departed like a scroll…” There is going to be a new thing that’s going to take place. God is going to reveal in a great and a powerful way, just like He said back there in the book of Haggai, “I’m going to shake the heavens. I’m going to shake the earth. I’m going to shake the sea.” And that’s what this is right here. And then the heavens are going to depart as a scroll and a new thing is going to be revealed.

Let’s see what it is: “…and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth…” Now God is going to get the attention of the whole world. This is going to be an awesome and fantastic thing. “…And the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb because the great day of His wrath has come, and who has the power to stand?’ ” (Rev. 6:9-17, FV).

Now what is this going to be like when this takes place. How is this going to take place? Look, I want you to understand this is the beginning of the return of Christ to the earth. But He has to come from the third heaven, however far away that that is. So the heavens roll back as a scroll and then they see something that they have never seen before. Let’s come to Matthew 24. And this is what they are going to see. The whole world is going to see this. It’s not going to be that every eye is going to see Him just kind of a flick of a second and every eye sees Him. No, we are going to see that this is going to be something that they are going to be aware of for approximately a year and a half. And it’s going to be a new thing. And it’s going to frighten the whole world.

Now let’s pick it up here, Matthew 24:27: “ ‘For as the light of day, which comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.’ ” That’s how it’s going to start. Now the light of day is what? The sun. When the heavens roll back as a scroll then, as we’re going to see, this is called the “sign of the Son of man.” And it’s going to be like a new sun that is going to suddenly appear. And what are the men on earth going to say? Why are they going to be willing to fight? The whole world has been programmed with UFO’s and Aliens, right? It’s going to be declared as the alien invasion of the world and we must save ourselves from them. And in a sense they will be right because Jesus Christ and God the Father and the angels of God are indeed alien to the inhabitants of the earth. But it’s going to be greater than that, as we will see.

Now verse 29: “ ‘But immediately after the tribulation of those days…’ ” That’s the tribulation against Israel. We’ll see that when we come to Revelation 7. There’s a great tribulation which compasses the whole world. There is the tribulation that is against Israel for God’s punishment which lasts two full years, as we find in Hosea 5 and 6. “ ‘But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.’ ” I mean the whole universe. The return of Christ, when it begins, is going to affect the whole universe. “ ‘And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…’ ”, which in verse 27 says is like the light of day which shines forth from the east unto the west. So here’s a new sun. The earth is down here turning on it’s axis and it looks like it’s a new sun that goes around, that is like a second light. That’s why it shines from the east to the west because the earth is on it’s axis turning. So that’s going to be quite a thing, isn’t it? “ ‘…And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming…’ ” And He’s going to come: “ ‘…upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’ ” And it’s going to arrive at, verse 31: “ ‘And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet; and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other’ ” (Matt. 24:27, 29-31, FV).

Let’s go back to the book of Revelation and see how this thing is going to be. Because when this comes down it’s going to be something. God is going to shake the heavens, God is going to shake the earth, God is going to reveal Himself. Let’s come back to Revelation 1. Why will all the tribes of the earth mourn? Why will all people be willing to fight against Christ? Because they’re following the anti-Christ and the false prophet. And they are going to declare that this is an alien invasion from outer space. That’s why all the armies are going to be gathered together.

Now let’s read this here, Revelation 1:7: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds…” So as it appears in heaven, then it’s going to come closer, and closer, and closer, and closer to the earth until it reaches a point in the clouds above the earth. And that’s going to give plenty of time for all the armies of the earth to gather together. “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and those who pierced Him [that’s a direct reference to those who crucified Him; and of course our sins killed Christ, so every eye is going to see Him]; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Rev. 1:7, FV).

Now let’s come back to Revelation 7. Let’s see what’s going to happen. So the sign of the Son of man is there. Time is going on. The earth is still turning on it’s axis. Now then, God stops the tribulation against Israel and He begins His final harvest. And there’s every reason to believe that Revelation 7 is going to take place on the next to the last Pentecost as Christ is returning, because He’s going to be coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming to the earth. It’s not going to be all of a sudden – whoop, one day here’s Jesus; whoop, one day here’s the resurrection; and whoop, we all return to the earth on the same day. It isn’t going to happen that way because you have to ask the question: Why are all of those on the earth going to be fighting against each other and fighting against Christ. Why are all the armies of the earth gathered at Armageddon? Because they’re going to fight this alien invasion, and we are going to see that it’s going to get worse for them.

Now God intervenes. Remember this: Before any event takes place God gives space of repentance. So here’s a space of repentance that God gives to Israel: “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth…” Now look, this is big time stuff. “…So that the wind might not blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to damage the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not damage the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ And I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel.”

Now if you don’t have our study paper on who the hundred and forty-four thousand are, write in for it. Because if you have the Spirit of God today you cannot be one of the hundred forty-four thousand who are saved in the next to the last Pentecost before Christ and the saints return to the earth. These are of all the tribes of Israel. It is a special harvest of God, and they receive the Holy Spirit of God in a special and particular way, because there are no ministers there to baptize them; there is no one to counsel them; their repentance is because they [have gone] through the tribulation and fulfills the promise of Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 that if while in captivity you seek the Lord your God with all your heart, then He will save you. And this is what happens. And it starts out with the tribe of Judah first to fulfill the prophecy that God is going to save the tents of Judah first. And then it lists the twelve tribes. Then after that there is a great innumerable multitude because the hundred and forty-four thousand are not the only ones who are going to repent. This is the result of the harvest of the preaching of the two witnesses to Israel and Judah [and] all the tribes of the earth. And now we have a great innumerable multitude, see. So if anyone says that there are only going to be a hundred forty-four thousand in the first resurrection, know that they are lame-brained idiots, because the Bible says, verse 9: “…a great [innumerable] multitude … out of every nation [that takes care of sacred-namers doesn’t it?] and tribe and people and language…” And what are they going to be? They’re going to be in the resurrection. So here’s the vision that portrays them “…standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and holding palms in their hands…” So they’re going to be in the first resurrection.

Verse 14 says: “ ‘…They are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; and they have washed their robes, and have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb’ ” (Rev. 7:1-4, 9, 14, FV). Quite a thing, isn’t it? And by their repentance – that’s what’s going to happen. Then we come to all the events that take place then in Revelation 8 and Revelation 9 and Revelation 10 and all those events that take place.

Now let’s come back here to Revelation 11 and let’s see what’s going to happen because we come to the last Pentecost. That’s when the harvest is going to take place. So here, all this time during this whole year the wars have been going on, on the earth (Revelation 8, 9, and 10); the hundred forty-four thousand and the great innumerable multitude have been spared and they have been saved, waiting the resurrection because we’re all going to be resurrected at the same time.

Now then we are going to see when the resurrection is going to take place, because this is important for us to understand because it does not take place on the Feast of Trumpets. It takes place on Pentecost because from the time of the resurrection of Christ and His ascension to heaven we have seven continuous weeks of the harvest, and God is harvesting, God is harvesting all the way down through it. And then the resurrection is going to take place on the fiftieth day. That’s when the two wave loaves are brought, when there will be permanent change from flesh to spirit.

Now let’s come back here to the two witnesses. Revelation 11:7: “ ‘And when they have completed their testimony, the beast who ascends out of the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and will kill them.’ ” See, because what Satan is always allowed to do is to believe that he’s going to win. See, that’s what happened with Pharaoh when he went and chased the children of Israel to the Red Sea and thought, “Man, they got across there – I’m going across.” So they’re going to think that they’re going to win. So God is going to let them finally kill the two witnesses. And everyone with their cell phones everywhere will be able to see this. They’ll see it on television, they’ll hear it on radio, they’ll have the broadcast. This is going to be a worldwide event. They’re going to say, “Let’s have a feast.” Yes.

“ ‘And their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt [that’s Jerusalem], where also our Lord was crucified. Then those of the peoples and tribes and languages and nations shall see their bodies three and a half days, for they will not allow their bodies to be put into tombs. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and will make merry, and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets had tormented those who dwell on the earth.’ ”

Now notice – surprise, surprise, God has a big one in store for them: “Then after the three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a great voice from heaven, say, ‘Come up here!’ And they ascended into heaven in a cloud; and their enemies saw them rise.” So what do we have here? Another fulfillment of the Word of God. The last two martyred are the first two raised to life.

“And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand men were killed in the earthquake. And the rest were filled with fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming immediately. Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet [right as soon as they got out of their sight the trumpet sounds, and this is the resurrection of the rest of the saints, the rest of the firstfruits]; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity’ ” (Rev. 11:7-15, FV). Now this is going to be something. This is a fantastic thing that is going to take place. So when that trumpet sounds let’s look at two places where it talks about the trumpets, and the resurrection, and let’s think and talk about the resurrection here for just a minute in relationship to the rest of the world.

Let’s first of all come to I Corinthians 15, and let’s pick it up here in verse 49: “And as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep…” Because there will still be some who will be alive when Christ returns – the hundred forty-four thousand, the great innumerable multitude – they are waiting the resurrection. They will be changed from flesh to spirit in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye. “…But we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound…” Now notice these are not trumpets, but trumpet. “…And the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ” (I Cor. 15:49-54, FV). And it’s going to be.

Now let’s come over here to I Thessalonians 4 and let’s see what’s going to happen. Let’s see how this is going to take place, then we’ll go back to Revelation 14 and see what’s going to transpire because this is going to be an awesome event indeed. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 13: “But I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in exactly the same way also, those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” Now how’s He going to bring them with Him because they’re dead in the grave? We’re going to see that in just a minute.

“For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep…” So the dead will be raised first. Those who are living will follow. “…Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first…” (I Thes. 4:13-16, FV).

Now what’s that going to look like? Now let’s picture this for just a minute here. Let’s put all of this together. We’ll see it in Revelation 15 here in just a minute. The sign of the Son of man appears in heaven. It’s coming closer and closer and closer and closer and closer to the earth over the space of a year. And then it comes right down into the clouds. Now the clouds are restricted up to about 50,000 to 60,000 feet down to almost ground level. Now then the sign of the Son of man when it comes into the clouds is going to be transformed into a great sea of glass. We’ll see that in Revelation 15. But the resurrection takes place, and the Angels are going to, as we saw, carry them up to, as we will see, the sea of glass.

Now I believe the whole world is going to see this. And what are they going to say? “The aliens have come and they’ve got this huge space craft right there hovering over Jerusalem, and they are snatching bodies.” Has the world been prepared mentally for that through movies and things? Yes. So here they’ll see all of the saints being resurrected who are in the graves. The graves opening up and here they come – thousands and thousands and thousands of them. And then those who are alive, the hundred forty-four thousand and great innumerable multitude and those who are in the place of safety, they will be resurrected and they will come to the sea of glass. Now this is going to make the world even more angry at this alien invasion. And they are going to feel that unless we can get rid of this, unless we can marshal all the armies of the world against this mighty invasion from outer space, that we are going to be taken over by the aliens.

Now let’s come back here to Revelation 14 and Revelation 15. Let’s see how the harvest is like. Let’s pick it up here in verse 14: “And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and one like the Son of man sitting on the cloud, having a golden crown on His head; and in His hand was a sharp sickle.” The harvest of the firstfruits. Tie that in with Matthew 13 – the harvest is at the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels carrying all of the saints up to the sea of glass. And this is going to bring the greatest confrontation that the world has ever, ever seen. “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Thrust in your sickle and reap, because the time has come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ ” And that’s the harvest of the firstfruits. Now the harvest of the wicked comes after that. “And He Who was sitting on the cloud thrust forth His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped” (Rev. 14:14-16, FV).

Now let’s come to Revelation 15 and let’s see something. Alright, verse 1: “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and awesome: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is filled up. And I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had gotten the victory over the beast…” That means over Satan the devil, so that goes all the way back to Abel. “…And over his image…” That includes all of the idolatry beginning with Cain and all the way down through history to our time. “…And over his mark…”, which is at the end-time with the mark of the beast that’s going to be enforced upon all human beings. “…And over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” Now, when you’re resurrected, where are you going to be taken? If the angels take you, where are they going to take you? They are going to take you to the sea of glass. See, now that’s not a doctrine of Fred Coulter. That’s what I read out of the scriptures.

Now if you don’t have the tape, “What’s Going To Happen On The Sea Of Glass” I’ll just review it for you. 1) We’re all going to receive our garments – the righteousness of the saints. 2) We’re going to receive our new name. 3) We’re going to meet Jesus Christ. 4) The marriage of the Lamb is going to take place. 5) We will see the declaration of Jesus Christ to God the Father. When all the saints are resurrected and on the sea of glass, He is going to turn to the Father (and we’ll probably all see this at the same time) and say to the Father, “Behold all the brethren that you have given Me.” And all of our rewards are then going to be given. We’re going to have to know what to do; which cities we’re going to rule over; who are we going to work with; how’s it going to be done? We’re going to also have to understand how to ride those white horses that we’re going to be given. Because now we are going to be the army of God coming back to the earth, you see. And we don’t come back to the earth until it’s pictured by Trumpets. So we are on the sea of glass all during the time from the resurrection of Pentecost until we come back with Christ on Trumpets. And we’re going to see all the events that take place, standing on the sea of glass having the harps of God.

“And they were singing the song of Moses…” proclaiming how great and powerful God is – a man of war. “…The servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and awesome are Your works…’ ” This is going to be the greatest and biggest thing that has ever happened or has occurred in the history of the whole world from the beginning of the creation of man until the resurrection of His Church. And it’s going to be this great worldwide thing.

“ ‘…Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy; and all the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been revealed’ ” (Rev. 15:1-4, FV). Well, they’re not going to come and worship before God until the government of God is set up on the earth and they begin to beat their spears into pruninghooks and their implements of war into plows and come and learn the way of God. And if they don’t come and keep the Feast of God, as we know, there are going to be plagues, there are going to be things that will come upon them because God is not going to establish the Kingdom of God and have men continuously rebel. It’s going to come in power, it’s going to come in awesome destruction, as we will see here, Revelation 16 leading up to returning to the earth with Christ. This is going to be big time – absolutely the biggest thing that has ever been in the history of the world.

So what I want you to understand brethren, is this: God has called us with the greatest calling possible. We are in training for eternal life. God has given us of His Spirit. He is going to resurrect us from the dead. He is going to give us power and authority to rule under Christ. He is going to bless us with joy and greatness for all eternity and we will forever be the Church of the Firstborn – the harvest of the firstfruits of God, resurrected on Pentecost in great joy and power and wonder and magnificence. And now we are going to be ready for the biggest fight that the world has ever seen. But you have to come back for Trumpets in order to see that.

Pentecost – 2006

Scriptural References

1. Leviticus 23:17-21

2. II Corinthians 9:6-8

3. Matthew 13:33

4. Acts 2:1-4, 37-41

5. I Corinthians 15:34, 12-23

6. James 1:17-18

7. Hebrews 12:18-24

8. Romans 8:29

9. Revelation 11:1-7

10. Matthew 24:15-22

11. Revelation 6:1-8

12. Revelation 12:17

13. Revelation 6:9-17

14. Matthew 24:27, 29-31

15. Revelation 1:7

16. Revelation 7:1-4, 9, 14

17. Revelation 11:7-15

18. I Corinthians 15:49-54

19. I Thessalonians 4:13-16

20. Revelation 14:14-16

21. Revelation 15:1-4