Introduction

Revelation 16:8-21 ESV  The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire.  (9)  They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.  (10)  The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish  (11)  and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.  (12)  The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.  (13)  And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.  (14)  For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.  (15)  (“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!”)  (16)  And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.  (17)  The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”  (18)  And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.  (19)  The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.  (20)  And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.  (21)  And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

• Now, if you were here last week you know that before I start my sermon, I have to plug Passover.
• Y’all, get signed up for the Seder meal… make it a priority! Make it a family tradition! Let it forever be a part of your life every Holy Week.
  • Not only is it the feast that Jesus had His last supper and gave us communion, but it is also an END TIMES prophecy… I am sure you know that by now!
• We talked two weeks ago about the song of Moses, the Song that He sang after fleeing from Egypt, it is the very song the martyrs will be singing as God takes the final victory!
• But not only that… we introduced the first 3 of the Seven bowls of judgments, and we can see how each one corresponds to specifically to one of the 10 plagues that were poured out on Egypt.

THE BOWLS AND THE PLAGUES
1st Bowl: Boils and sores on the beast worshipers -> Sixth Exodus plague
2nd Bowl: Seas turn to blood -> First Exodus plague
3rd Bowl: Rivers and springs become blood -> First Exodus plague

• So we talked about and went over those three last week, and we really focused on the Justice of God, and why it is a good thing that God pours out His wrath… why it is a Just thing for Him to do.
  • Today we are going to go over the final four bowls of God’s wrath. They too have parallels with the plagues of Egypt during the Passover and Exodus.

4th Bowl: Sun Scorches Men-> Seventh Exodus plague
5th Bowl: Darkness-> Ninth Exodus plague
6th Bowl: Demonic Frogs-> Second Exodus plague
7th Bowl: Geographic Calamity and Hail -> Seventh Exodus plague

• Now this of course is not a perfect correlation.
  • If you have been to a Passover feast or two, you would know that the Seventh Plague is a horrible hailstorm mixed with fire that destroys plants and trees and torment people and livestock.
    • Not EXACTLY the same as the 4^th an 7^th bowl, but we still see God using mother nature to pour out His wrath.
  • That said, it is hard to deny how uncanny it is that both and Exodus and in Revelation we see plagues of frogs, plagues of water turning to blood, plagues of darkness, plagues of boils, and plagues of hail.
• And that makes sense because God never changes. He is that same today, yesterday, and forever. That what Hebrews 13:8 teaches us.
• So if God never changes it makes sense that His reaction, His out pouring of wrath, would always be in the same kind of vein…
  • God’s people get persecuted in Egypt, God sends these plagues on Egypt.
  • God’s people get persecuted all over the world, God sends these plagues all over the world.
• And that is what we see in this text, the final four of the seven bowls of God’s wrath being poured out.
  • Just as God freed the Jews from the Egyptians via the Exodus after these plagues, so will God free His global church via the rapture after these plagues.
  • And even in the midst of all these bowl plagues, Jesus reminds us He is coming back. I love that Jesus added this into the middle of Revelation 16…

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!”)

• I love that, right in the middle of the Bowl judgments, Jesus says… “I AM COMING BACK! STAY READY, STAY AWAKE! IF YOU STAY READY YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET READY!”.
• But we have preached on that before, so today I want to preach on God’s patience.
  • Last week we learned What it Means to Serve a Just God.
  • This week we learn What it Means to Serve a Patient God.

• What it Means to Serve a Patient God.

• So, what does it meant that God is patient?Point one answers that Question.It means that God Gives men Time to Repent.

Point One – God Gives Men Time To Repent

Revelation 16:8-9 ESV  The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire.  (9)  They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

• Now after 7 seals of God’s wrath, and 7 trumpets of God’s wrath, and now 4 bowls of God’s wrath… you would think that men would get the picture… but nope, it says right here they did not repent.
• How about after the 5^th bowl? Nope, not then either…

Revelation 16:10-11 ESV  The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish  (11)  and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

• Still men did not repent…
• Then look what happens after the Sixth bowl.

Revelation 16:12-14 ESV  The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.  (13)  And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.  (14)  For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

• Instead of repenting, what did mankind do? They got together and said “Let’s make war with God! Draw up the battle lines, we are sick of this God, let’s go fight Him, let’s overpower Him! There are more of us than of them, we got this!”
  • If man only could figure out that the path to victory is not to war against God, but to repent and join with God. BECAUSE GOD ALWAYS WINS!
• But none the less, do you see how many times… how God gives chance after chance after chance for repentance.
• Of course this is not the first time we see this trend.
  • We see God’s patience, God given second, and third, and 47^th chances at repentance…
  • This isn’t even the first time in Revelation God has given man more time to repent.
• Think about it, God could have easily killed all the wicked with the snap of His fingers… with just a thought God could end all the evil and wicked people in the world.
  • But He doesn’t… why?
  • Because He is patient. He is waiting for one more here to repent, and one more there…
    • He is waiting for that family in Sri Lanka to come to Him.
    • He is waiting for that young Muslim boy in Northern Nigeria to repent and come to saving grace.
    • He is waiting for those souls in North Korea to be born again, before being persecuted and killed.
    • God is waiting. God is patient. There are more to be saved, there are more to repent, there is still time!
      • When you see the wrath of God poured out, do not let it harden your heart, let your heart sing that God is Just and worthy to be praised.
      • And that He is patient, not wanting any to go to hell but all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

• Listen, I want Jesus to come back.
  • I want Him to come back so bad!
  • Every time I hear a crack of thunder in an otherwise peaceful sky, I run out to look to the east…
    • Is it now? Is He coming back?! Is the trumpet going to sound?! Is He coming on the clouds? IS IT FINALLY TIME?!
    • MARANATHA LORD! I AM READY! COME QUICKLY!
  • Man every time we have a Passover feast I half expect Elijah to come and join us, signaling the return of Christ!
• But inevitably when Elijah does not join us, when the trumpet does not sound, when Christ is not on the clouds and it’s just another thunder storm…
  • When that happens I remind myself “God is not slow in fulfilling His promises… But God is patient… He is waiting for more to come to repentance”
• And I am so glade that Jesus didn’t come back in 2003… BECAUSE I WOULD BE IN HELL! Because I did not get saved until 2004.
  • God was patient, He waited to return until I got saved, and you got saved… and many others.
  • And God’s patience extends today.
    • And it extends everyday until Christ comes back that some might come to repentance.
    • THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
• Don’t tell me that God is not a loving God.
  • His wrath is brewing in heaven.
  • He watches as men do horrible things to each other.
  • His son was killed TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO by wicked, horrible humans… the same humans He made to worship Him… the same Humans He chose as His people… the same ones He called by His name… THEY MURDERED HIS SON!
    • God could have in that moment EXPLODED in His wrath and destroyed all of mankind.
    • And He had every right to, it would have been an act of supreme Justice.
    • Yet, for 2000 years God has held back His wrath.
    • And you say God’s not a loving God… WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM HIM? He has given man a near infinite number of chances to repent… yet as a whole mankind keeps on being wicked.
  • God’s Patience proves His love.
  • Patience is literally the first attribute of Love listed in 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

• God’s patience proves His love…
  • And it is incredibly merciful…
  • And it is incredibly kind…
  • And it is incredibly wonderful…
  • But it is not infinite.
• That is our second point this morning… God’s Patience is Not infinite.

Point Two – God’s Patience is Not Infinite

Revelation 16:12-16 ESV  The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.  (13)  And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.  (14)  For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.  (15)  (“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!”)  (16)  And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

• So as the sixth bowl of God’s wrath is poured out, mankind gathers together with demons and forms an army to fight against God.
  • God then sends the Seventh bowl of His wrath…

Revelation 16:17-21 ESV  The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”  (18)  And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.  (19)  The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.  (20)  And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.  (21)  And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

• So now, the plates of the Earth’s crust have rearranged themselves, mountains have been made flat, Islands have sunk below the top of the ocean… I would say things have gotten pretty bad.
  • Does man repent now? Nope, those who are still left alive are still determined to fight God, to curse Him, and to form an army against Him.
• God has been patient with man up until this point, but Spoiler Alert, God’s patience is not infinite… Let’s jump ahead a few Chapters in Revelation to see what becomes of this army of men and demons who want to war against God…

Revelation 19:15-21 ESV  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.  (16)  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.  (17)  Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God,  (18)  to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”  (19)  And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.  (20)  And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.  (21)  And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Revelation 20:9-10 ESV  And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,  (10)  and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

• Well there you have it, the end of wicked life on earth.
  • Now these are two separate battles that take place, and we will get into that latter, but I wanted to show you, these men who gather to war against God… God eventually puts an end to them all.
• After Christ has come back, after He has raptured His bride, the church away, and after all of these bowls, trumpets and seals…now all that is left is the remnants of humanity, gathered together to war against Christ.
  • And up until this point God has been patient… He has waited for and urged repentance.
    • But God’s patience is not infinite… and here in Revelation 19 and 20 we see it’s end.
  • Every wicked person on earth, every single one, with the beast, and the false prophet, the demons and the devil himself… they are all slain by Christ and His army in those final two battles, and they are thrown into the depths of hell where they will suffer for eternity.
  • Finally, at this point, by the end of Revelation 20… God’s patience with humanity has finally run out.
• And it is so important to understand this point, y’all. God is patient with sinners, but God DOES NOT TOLERATE SIN.
  • Do you understand the difference?
  • When my son leaves His bowl of half eaten cheerios on the table for the 7^th time this month, I may chose not to discipline him… I may chose to give him grace. But eventually, if my son keeps it up, I will have to discipline him.
    • If I refuse, and let him for the rest of his life leave his half eaten bowl of soggy oat circles on the table… then I decided to tolerate his bad habit.
• God does not tolerate sin.
  • He is an intolerant God… because He is a perfect God.
    • Perfection does not tolerate imperfection.
  • But God is also a patient God…
    • This means that every time you sin, you better believe you are building up His wrath…
    • But God is also a loving God, and so He would rather His wrath be poured out on the cross for your sins, then for His wrath be poured out on you for eternity in hell.
• If you are sitting in this church and you are breathing, God has been patient with you… He is urging you to come to repentance… will you chose this day to serve and follow Him… will you chose to turn from your sins?
• Because God’s patience is not infinite, and His patience for you and your sin will one day run out.
• Chose Christ today while there is still time…

Conclusion

Let me close with this passage from Isaiah, it is an end time prophecy, talking about the same things John is seeing in his vision in Revelation… Isaiah Prophecies this…

Isaiah 30:18-20 ESV  Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.  (19)  For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.  (20)  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.

• God want’s to show mercy to you, God want’s to show you His grace. He has been waiting patiently to show you His mercy.
  • If you will accept it, then you will be a part of the people who dwell forever with God, no tears, no pain, no sorrow, no enemies… You will live in perfection forever.
  • I want you to make heaven, I do, but you it starts with being born again… have you been born again?
• So the title of this sermon is “What it mean to serve a Patient God”… here is what it means:
  • It means there is still time to lead the lost to Christ.
  • There is still time for missions work.
  • There is still time to pray for your loved ones to be saved.
  • There is still time to reach the lost.
  • There is still time for you to repent from your sins and be born again if you haven’t already.
  • But it does not mean you will have forever.
  • Because God’s patience is not eternal.
  • You could walk out of this building and be hit by a mac truck… and that’s it… you could come down with a fever tonight and not wake up in the morning… you could have a heart attack before even leaving this room. Tomorrow is not promised… and once you die it is to late, for the Bible says that Judgment comes right after you die.
  • God is a patient God, what that means is that He has waited long enough for you to come to Him… Please don’t make Him wait any longer… Be born again! And if you are born again, war for everyone in your sphere of influence that they two would be born again!
• Gospel Call