Half Time - Revelation 9:13-10:11
Posted by Calvary Chapel Fremont at 1/9/2011 11:16 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Half Time Revelation
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Half Time Revelation
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday January 9, 2011
Half-Time
Revelation 9:13 – 10:11
13-16 These are fallen angels who have been bound/kept imprisoned. In v15, they kill 1/3 of mankind, whereas in v18 we are told that the 200M horsemen kill 1/3 of mankind. Obviously, this army is demonically inspired. It’s hard to see this as an army of 200M men. Consider -
1.5M in US armed services/850,000 reserve | China: 2.285M/510,000 reserve | Russia: 1M/20M reserve | Iceland: 0 (short-term missions trip to invade Iceland) Wikipedia
I am told that a modern army needs 25 people in the rear to support one soldier in the front. So, an army of 200M would need a support of 5B. Make it 10 to 1 = 2B. This is demonic army or hyperbole – army so big/strong nothing can stop it.
17 Description – this is a demon army / 18-19 Assignment
Fire and brimstone are elements of hell
* Brimstone = ‘burning stone’. Sulfur deposits can burn/run in streams spreading fumes/destruction. Flood-waters in Egypt (Nov. ’94) caused bridge to collapse crushing two fuel tanks at a military storage depot. The fuel caught fire/spread thru Durunka carried by flood-waters. Fires ignited fuel in pipeline spreading more fire to hundreds of homes.
* Hell is creeping over the earth, claiming all it can
20-21 They did not repent - this hellish invasion had a heavenly intent. God is working to bring people to repentance. Work of their hands – life is what I make it to be. God would have uc the work of His hands.
1-4 Resting your foot on a place expressed the purpose of taking possession of that place. Here, Christ/representative is laying claim to whole earth. Even after all hell has broken out in C9, He still lays claim to it - still wants you after all the mess your life has been.
When demons are crawling everywhere/situation seems hopeless – lost forever/irredeemable – we need this vision. We need a vision/ revelation of the power of God that is greater than that of the enemy. We need an experience w/in us of the Holy Spirit that is greater than the unholy spirits that are in the world.
After all the pounding/punishment that a football team takes during the 1st half, they have a time out for refreshment/reflection – ½ time. In the middle of the a game there is an intermission – stretch out/stock up. ½ time is a chance to recover from what they have experienced/prepare themselves for what lies ahead. W/o this time, strength/concentration will greatly diminish.
God gives John a spiritual intermission in C10. After all the blood/ guts he’s seen in C6-9 (maybe 3B dead) - ½ time. During this time he will be refreshed/strengthened/prepared for what lies ahead.
God tells John in v11 that there is much ministry left. This was true of Elijah, too – he needed ½ time. He wanted to quit/thought his ministry over/survival questionable. But God had much more for him. John is not aware of what’s coming and the challenges he will face, but God knows. Elijah didn’t know/you don’t – God does.
All of us need a ½ time – a time where we can be refreshed/ strengthened/prepared. You have need of a spiritual intermission for revelation/refreshment. Being in church can begin to meet this need, but you must have time alone w/ God. W/o time alone w/ God where His hand can come upon you/hear His voice, you won't have enough strength for what lies ahead/may faint on the way. You have need of ½ time that you might have a revelation of God.
2K6:15-17 All the preaching in the world would not minister to Elisha’s servant – he needed a revelation.
Paul prayed that you would have a spirit of revelation – he knew that his preaching/teaching/letters weren’t enough. I become frustrated at times because one of my desires is that you have a revelation of the power of God. I know that one glimpse of God’s power/glory are worth more than 10,000 words I can speak to you.
My frustration is that a revelation of God’s power is usually the fruit of time spent alone w/ God. And when you don’t spend time w/ God, you’re left w/ only my feeble explanations/descriptions. Cry out, “God, show me Your glory.”
As God brought John into ½ time, John heard 7 thunders not intended for us. Obviously, John had a need to hear them and God determined that we didn’t have that same need. God has things to reveal to you. When you spend time alone w/ God you will hear things intended for no one else but you. You will hear things no one else could tell you. And you will say things to God that you could speak to no one else.
One of the greatest needs in the church today is not a reformation of doctrine, but of discipline. One of the greatest needs of the church is that each believer have a spiritual intermission/spend time alone w/ God. W/o time alone w/ God you will become spiritually weak/yield to other than the hand of God.
Devotions isn’t a work you do for God, but a work He does for you. Devotions is where you position yourself to meet w/ God.
C10 doesn’t forward the plot of this book or unfold any of the judgments intended for planet earth. We could go straight from 9:21 to 11:1 w/o an interruption in the action. We want to rush back into the action. God says, ‘1/2 time’.
5-7 God’s Word prepares you for what’s next - ‘John, don’t let what you see cause you to think that somehow God’s promise is delayed or hindered by the power of the enemy all over the land’ (cf. 5th and 6th trumpets). Often we think that the circumstances in which we find ourselves could never yield to the plan of God or fit in. I’m sure Joseph thought this as he lay in prison – same w/ Abraham/David. The days ahead are full of the promise of God. God has much to do in/for/thru you.
8-11 Not only ru2 spend time w/ God, ur2 eat His Word. The Word that John ate prepared him for what God had for him – so you.
A bittersweet Word
* Menelik II was emperor of Ethiopia from1889 to 1913. Historians credit him with having brought Ethiopia into the 20th century. He introduced public education/telephone/telegraph service/railroads. But he did have one very bizarre/eccentric habit. He believed that whenever he fell ill, what he needed to do was eat a few pages from the Bible. Menelik practiced this form of self-medication for years. It didn't seem to do any harm. During the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of strokes that left him paralyzed. After a stroke in December 1913, he was feeling very weak/ill. He asked his aides to tear out the entire book of I Kings/feed it to him page by page. It was later reported that he died eating the story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. (Most I know die in the book of Leviticus between burnt and sin offering).
God has an energizing word to speak to you
* As you spend time alone w/ God in a spiritual intermission, you will hear Him and He will strengthen you.
Many skim C10 and pass on quickly - little action – no blood/guts.
C10 is the eye of the storm/oasis in the desert/island in the middle of a merciless sea. You need to be much and often in this place.
Even as John didn’t know what was coming next, neither do you. That which God is doing is preparing you for what lies ahead.
Are you prepared for eternity? How do I prepare myself? Respond to Jesus – He still wants you, cf. 10:2.
Download | Duration: 00:50:33
Half-Time
Revelation 9:13 – 10:11
13-16 These are fallen angels who have been bound/kept imprisoned. In v15, they kill 1/3 of mankind, whereas in v18 we are told that the 200M horsemen kill 1/3 of mankind. Obviously, this army is demonically inspired. It’s hard to see this as an army of 200M men. Consider -
1.5M in US armed services/850,000 reserve | China: 2.285M/510,000 reserve | Russia: 1M/20M reserve | Iceland: 0 (short-term missions trip to invade Iceland) Wikipedia
I am told that a modern army needs 25 people in the rear to support one soldier in the front. So, an army of 200M would need a support of 5B. Make it 10 to 1 = 2B. This is demonic army or hyperbole – army so big/strong nothing can stop it.
17 Description – this is a demon army / 18-19 Assignment
Fire and brimstone are elements of hell
* Brimstone = ‘burning stone’. Sulfur deposits can burn/run in streams spreading fumes/destruction. Flood-waters in Egypt (Nov. ’94) caused bridge to collapse crushing two fuel tanks at a military storage depot. The fuel caught fire/spread thru Durunka carried by flood-waters. Fires ignited fuel in pipeline spreading more fire to hundreds of homes.
* Hell is creeping over the earth, claiming all it can
20-21 They did not repent - this hellish invasion had a heavenly intent. God is working to bring people to repentance. Work of their hands – life is what I make it to be. God would have uc the work of His hands.
1-4 Resting your foot on a place expressed the purpose of taking possession of that place. Here, Christ/representative is laying claim to whole earth. Even after all hell has broken out in C9, He still lays claim to it - still wants you after all the mess your life has been.
When demons are crawling everywhere/situation seems hopeless – lost forever/irredeemable – we need this vision. We need a vision/ revelation of the power of God that is greater than that of the enemy. We need an experience w/in us of the Holy Spirit that is greater than the unholy spirits that are in the world.
After all the pounding/punishment that a football team takes during the 1st half, they have a time out for refreshment/reflection – ½ time. In the middle of the a game there is an intermission – stretch out/stock up. ½ time is a chance to recover from what they have experienced/prepare themselves for what lies ahead. W/o this time, strength/concentration will greatly diminish.
God gives John a spiritual intermission in C10. After all the blood/ guts he’s seen in C6-9 (maybe 3B dead) - ½ time. During this time he will be refreshed/strengthened/prepared for what lies ahead.
God tells John in v11 that there is much ministry left. This was true of Elijah, too – he needed ½ time. He wanted to quit/thought his ministry over/survival questionable. But God had much more for him. John is not aware of what’s coming and the challenges he will face, but God knows. Elijah didn’t know/you don’t – God does.
All of us need a ½ time – a time where we can be refreshed/ strengthened/prepared. You have need of a spiritual intermission for revelation/refreshment. Being in church can begin to meet this need, but you must have time alone w/ God. W/o time alone w/ God where His hand can come upon you/hear His voice, you won't have enough strength for what lies ahead/may faint on the way. You have need of ½ time that you might have a revelation of God.
2K6:15-17 All the preaching in the world would not minister to Elisha’s servant – he needed a revelation.
Paul prayed that you would have a spirit of revelation – he knew that his preaching/teaching/letters weren’t enough. I become frustrated at times because one of my desires is that you have a revelation of the power of God. I know that one glimpse of God’s power/glory are worth more than 10,000 words I can speak to you.
My frustration is that a revelation of God’s power is usually the fruit of time spent alone w/ God. And when you don’t spend time w/ God, you’re left w/ only my feeble explanations/descriptions. Cry out, “God, show me Your glory.”
As God brought John into ½ time, John heard 7 thunders not intended for us. Obviously, John had a need to hear them and God determined that we didn’t have that same need. God has things to reveal to you. When you spend time alone w/ God you will hear things intended for no one else but you. You will hear things no one else could tell you. And you will say things to God that you could speak to no one else.
One of the greatest needs in the church today is not a reformation of doctrine, but of discipline. One of the greatest needs of the church is that each believer have a spiritual intermission/spend time alone w/ God. W/o time alone w/ God you will become spiritually weak/yield to other than the hand of God.
Devotions isn’t a work you do for God, but a work He does for you. Devotions is where you position yourself to meet w/ God.
C10 doesn’t forward the plot of this book or unfold any of the judgments intended for planet earth. We could go straight from 9:21 to 11:1 w/o an interruption in the action. We want to rush back into the action. God says, ‘1/2 time’.
5-7 God’s Word prepares you for what’s next - ‘John, don’t let what you see cause you to think that somehow God’s promise is delayed or hindered by the power of the enemy all over the land’ (cf. 5th and 6th trumpets). Often we think that the circumstances in which we find ourselves could never yield to the plan of God or fit in. I’m sure Joseph thought this as he lay in prison – same w/ Abraham/David. The days ahead are full of the promise of God. God has much to do in/for/thru you.
8-11 Not only ru2 spend time w/ God, ur2 eat His Word. The Word that John ate prepared him for what God had for him – so you.
A bittersweet Word
* Menelik II was emperor of Ethiopia from1889 to 1913. Historians credit him with having brought Ethiopia into the 20th century. He introduced public education/telephone/telegraph service/railroads. But he did have one very bizarre/eccentric habit. He believed that whenever he fell ill, what he needed to do was eat a few pages from the Bible. Menelik practiced this form of self-medication for years. It didn't seem to do any harm. During the last few years of his life, he suffered a series of strokes that left him paralyzed. After a stroke in December 1913, he was feeling very weak/ill. He asked his aides to tear out the entire book of I Kings/feed it to him page by page. It was later reported that he died eating the story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. (Most I know die in the book of Leviticus between burnt and sin offering).
God has an energizing word to speak to you
* As you spend time alone w/ God in a spiritual intermission, you will hear Him and He will strengthen you.
Many skim C10 and pass on quickly - little action – no blood/guts.
C10 is the eye of the storm/oasis in the desert/island in the middle of a merciless sea. You need to be much and often in this place.
Even as John didn’t know what was coming next, neither do you. That which God is doing is preparing you for what lies ahead.
Are you prepared for eternity? How do I prepare myself? Respond to Jesus – He still wants you, cf. 10:2.
What a great point- we all need a half time with God. Church, of course, is a good start, but it's easy to just go to church and go through the motions. I think we all need alone time with God. Preferably a few times a week at least. It's so refreshing!
-Mrs. Benson
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