View Article BLOODY WATER, BOILS AND BLISTERS
BLOODY WATER, BOILS AND BLISTERS
(from the Breath of Life Series by C. D. Brooks)
transcribed and edited by Derek Morris
Our subject tonight, even the title is awesome: “Bloody Water, Boils, and Blisters.” Ladies and Gentlemen, if that sounds terrible, it’s because it is. You know, there are so many things in the Bible that many have never heard before, but they’ve been there all the time. When you begin to study the Word of God and find these things, it is edifying and it is also very sobering.
I want to begin with a text of Scripture, and I would suggest that you write these things down. Look at them in your own Bible. Get into the habit of studying the Word, and if you do that the Lord will lead you. Pray before you study. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you for we all need guidance. Would you say Amen?
In Daniel 12:1 the Bible says, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of Thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Now, that’s enough to sober us tonight, wouldn’t you say? When you think of the great catastrophes that have shaken this world, when you think of the tragedy and destruction even in your own lifetime, you know there have been some awful times of trouble on earth. Yet the Bible says that a time is coming, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time.
The Bible says that right before that time, Michael will stand up. I pronounce His name Mich-a-el so you’ll know who Michael is. The latter part of that word, el, is the Hebrew for God, elohim (Bethel means house of God). Michael means “One who is as God.” This is a reference to none other than Jesus Christ. He is called the great Prince. Would you say Amen? It says He’s going to stand up. Christ is not going to wait forever. For we read last night in Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit will not always strive with man.” Though God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come unto repentance, the day is going to come when He will stand up. That will be the signal for a time of trouble to begin such as never was, since there was a nation. The prophet Isaiah also caught a vision of this end time. In Isaiah 13:9 the Bible says, “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” Tonight, men sin as if there’s no such thing as a judgment. They shake their fists in the face of God and they laugh at the cross. And though right now God offers salvation, though right now Jesus is tenderly calling, one day, the prophet says, Christ is going to stand up.
Let’s turn over to the book of Revelation 15 and I want you to notice with me the last verse of that chapter. Revelation 15:8: “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” The Bible says the temple was filled with smoke. Well, what temple is the prophet John talking about? Some building here on earth? In Revelation 11:19 the Bible says, “And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.”
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven”--where? John says, “the temple of God was opened in heaven.” And in chapter 15:8 John says that “the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” Now, that ought to cause you some concern. But what does it mean, “no man can enter it”? What man can enter heaven anyhow? I want to tell you something about the temple in heaven. The earthly tabernacle was an earthly copy or type of the temple of God in heaven. There was a place in the earthly tabernacle and the temple called the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies. In the Most Holy Place was a single piece of furniture called the Ark of the Covenant: A chest, overlaid with gold, with a lid of solid gold called the mercy seat, and angels on either end. Between these angels, over the mercy seat, was the brilliant Shekinah Glory and bright light symbolizing the very presence of God. And all of this typified what’s in heaven.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible says in heaven there is the Ark of the Testament; but instead of golden angels, the covering cherubim stand; and instead of the brilliant light, the Shekinah Glory, the very God of heaven and earth sits on His throne.
Well, how can any man enter the temple of God in heaven? I want to tell you how. By faith! Jesus said, “If any man sins he’s got an Advocate with the Father” (I John 2:1). That’s why the Bible says in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find mercy and grace to help in time of need.” Would you say Amen? It doesn’t mean that you’re going to get on a rocket and go to glory! It means that when a Christian falls down on his knees and cries out, “Lord, have mercy,” it is as though he were ushered right into the throne room of God by faith. God gives you His personal attention. And seated on the right hand of the throne of the Father we have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous, pleading for you. Whenever justice says that sinner deserves to die, Jesus holds up His nailed scarred hands and says, “Father, that’s one of My children. He’s asking in My name. I’ve already paid the price so let’s give him mercy and grace!”
Tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, I can get on my knees and go into the very presence of God by faith, but the time is going to come when folks will no longer be able to do that. The day is going to come when praying time will be over. “The temple of God was filled with smoke from the glory of God; and from His power and no man was able to enter into the temple.”
Praying time is over. The door of mercy is closed. If there’s a doubt in your mind that that day will ever come, let me read to you from Revelation 22:11. The Bible says, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Ladies and Gentlemen, when that day comes, Jesus is going to close probation. No more prayers heard now. If you haven’t repented, too late to repent. No hope now. No more mercy.
The very next verse says, “Behold, I come quickly.” That’s why if you plan to pray, do it now. If you plan to obey, do it now. There are folks who come up and say, “Oh, I enjoy your sermons,” but a sermon without a reformation isn’t worth a dime. We’re running out of time.
Before us is a time of trouble such as never before. Before we go to the screen, I want to read to you an appeal from the book of Zephaniah 2:1-3:
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger (Zephaniah 2:1-3).
God appeals to you tonight, seek ye the Lord. Seek Him while there is yet time, for when He stands up and the temple is filled with smoke, it’s too late. For the next verse after Revelation 15:8 is the first verse in chapter 16. And the Bible says, “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.’”
Friends, I’ve made up my mind tonight, come what may, I’m going to walk with the Lord. I’ve made up my mind. If my friends turn their backs on me, I’m going to walk with the Lord. I’m going to pray now while it’s still praying time. How about you? I’m going to come, surrender fully to Christ, and decide to do His will before it’s eternally too late. How about you? That’s a beautiful artist’s impression of what the new earth is going to be like. I’ve made up my mind, by God’s grace, that I’m going to be there. How about you?
The Bible says, “Blessed are they that do His commandments that they may have a right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city.” So let’s decide tonight that we’re going all the way with Jesus. What do you say? If tonight you want grace and power to follow Jesus and be saved in His kingdom, I want you to stand up quickly and let God know.
O blessed Lord. What a precious hope is ours! What joy is just before us! Help us not be afraid of the time of trouble soon to come. Thank You for the promise of Your word tonight that You will watch over Your people in that day. And so the burden on our hearts tonight, Lord, is that we would be Your people. The burden on our hearts tonight is that we would be right with You. We’re praying for grace. We’re praying for power. We’re praying for courage to follow You and to do all that You would have us do. And at last, save us in Your kingdom, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
