HE OPENED THE SIXTH SEAL           	Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  11-21-99 P.M.  		 Rev.6:12-17   		
	The forces of evil have been allowed to kill many people.. and perhaps especially 
those who are believers in Christ.. who stand for His Word.. who maintain their testimony.
 (John saw it when the fifth seal was opened) 
	Now John sees something of God's reaction to the treatment of His own.. a time 
of vengeance.. 
I.  THE EVENTS.. 
  A. The Earth.. 12 
    1. A great earthquake.. "shaking" 
	- Five different quakes mentioned.. 6:12; 8:5; 11:13; 11:19: 16:18 
	- They bring great devastation.. recent ones in Turkey.. 
	- But.. this involves the whole earth !! 
	- Probably Volcanoes erupt as a result.. 
	- God shows His displeasure... and it is recognized that way 
  B. The Sun.. 
    1. Becomes black as sackcloth of hair.. 
	- Has happened.. Ex.10:21-23; Luke 23:44,45 
	- Will happen again.. Is.33:9,10; Joel 2:31; 3:9-15; Mt.24:29,30 
	   - Morrow Co. gas leak.. fires.. smoke.. Mt. St. Helens 
  C. The Moon.. 
    1. How often we remark about the beauty of the moon.. 
	- Became as blood.. an object of horror 
  D. The Stars.. 
    1. Fell to earth like figs falling in a wind storm.. (meteors) 
	- Nov.13, 1833.. "shooting" stars fell for 3 hours and many thought the end 
	   of the world had come.. 
	- Even this week... people were calling in about the meteors.. 
  E. The Heavens.. 
    1. Departed as a scroll rolls back up.. 
	- Evidence of God's providential control.. He rules through natural disasters..  
	   The "Trumpet" judgments will be more supernatural... and the "Bowl" judgments 
	   even more so! 
II.  THE EFFECTS.. 
  A. Who Is Affected? 
    1. Kings of the earth... the heads of state 
    2. Great men.. high ranking officials 
    3. Rich men..  those who control commerce and business 
    4. Chief captains.. military leaders 
    5. Mighty men.. influential..
    6. Bondmen.. those who are imprisoned.. enslaved 
    7. Freemen..  None exempt.. 
 ** Man today considers himself self-sufficient.. king of his own destiny 
	- Modern "miracles" in medicine, surgery, technology, travel, etc. 
	- Genetic manipulation of all sorts.. pigs, goats, cattle.. all with genes implanted 
	  to produce potential medicines in their milk 
	- "Knowledge" about the universe.. all but eliminates the "need" for God!! 
  B. How Are They Affected? 
    1. They Cry out in horror.. 
	- They are exposed to an angry God.. and KNOW IT!! 
	- But.. instead of repentance.. there is rebellion  2Thes.2:11,12 2. They Cry Out To 
	  The Mountains and Rocks...  "hide us..." 
	    - From The One on the Throne.. 16 
		- They will be aware that it is from God.. they had put it all aside as pure myth...
		  but now!!
		- They have denied Him, rejected Him, blasphemed Him.. 
	    	   - But they will know that HE IS! 
	- From The Wrath of The Lamb..(interesting phrase)
	    - For the great day of His wrath has come.. 
	    - All the prophecies of the past are about to be fulfilled 
	    - All the plans of God are about to come together.. 
    3. They Cry Out.. "Who shall Be Able to Stand?"  Nahum1:6; 1Thes.5:3 
	- They will know this is the Tribulation Period so long talked about 
	- They will know they are being judged... and no place to hide 
	- They will know "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" 
        Heb.10:30,31 
 ** THERE WILL BE SOME WHO ARE ABLE TO STAND...
	- They are the ones who put their trust in the Lord 
	- They are the ones who are "washed in the blood of the Lamb" 
	- They are the ones who are redeemed by His precious blood! 
THE BAD NEWS IS... 
   THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING of THE TRIBULATION AND NO PERSON 
	SHOULD ENTER..  THOUGH THERE WILL BE MANY! 
THE GOOD NEWS IS... 
   THERE IS TODAY A THRONE OF GRACE AND YOU ARE INVITED 
	TO COME "BOLDLY" FOR MERCY AND GRACE!
	   ALL ARE INVITED... THOUGH THERE WILL BE ONLY A "FEW"