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6th Seal 1 - Separating Sin From Righteousness

6th Seal 1 - Separating Sin From Righteousness

(Rev 6:12-17 KJV) And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; {13} And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. {14} And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. {15} And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; {16} And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: {17} For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

From this text we will consider the thought of Separating Sin from Righteousness. We see how the writer describes the judgment of God, which causes the heaven to depart, and every mountain and island to be moved out of their places. The revelation of the judgment of God causes a separation to take place. The sheep are separated from the goats. The precious is separated from the vile. Sinners are separated from the righteous. Thank God that you live in the Gospel day where you can come to the Lord in repentance and have sin erased from your life. You can be transformed from a sinner into a saint! Then you will have nothing to fear when separation comes for you will be safe in the fold of Jesus, your Lord.

As we have been studying the revelation for several weeks now, we have shown you how this book is a revelation of the fight to live righteous. Jesus is our King, our Commander and He leads us in victory over sin, the devil and all the imps he can come up with. Jesus reveals to us, His children, the methods and strategies of the devil and gives us solutions and methods to defeat him at every turn. Living a Christian life is likened to living as a soldier engaged in a lifetime war. We are to ever be on guard, constantly train for battle, spy out the enemy, plan our battles, review the instructions of our commander and obey the orders of our leaders. In so doing we find ourselves rewarded with righteousness and peace and joy in this world and, eternal life in the world to come.

And now to the revelation that our Lord is giving us this morning concerning the separating of sin from righteousness. Where sin rules and reigns, heaven departs! That truth applies in every sense of the word. As long as sin rules and reigns in your heart, you will not experience the righteousness, peace and joy of heaven. But, when you repent of sin, forsake it and turn your life over to Jesus, sin departs and heaven comes in. Also in your final day, you will step into eternity to face the Lord just as you have lived and if you have lived a sinner’s life you will be separated form heaven. The revelation of the judgment of God’s Word brings a shaking that causes a separation. In our text John said the _heaven____ departed.

(Mat 3:7-12 KJV) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? {8} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. {10} And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {11} I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: {12} Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

In this passage we see John the Baptist as he preached and baptized in the river, Jordan. If you notice he did not _baptize____ everyone that came to him. Some had not repented and therefore were not fit candidates to be baptized. And so it is to this day. It does no good to baptize a sinner that has not repented. All you will do is get him wet. Now John went on to inform us of the ministry of Jesus Christ. He has a fan in His hand, He will purge His floor, He will gather His wheat into the garner. In other words, Jesus will separate the righteous from the sinner and He will gather the righteous into His Kingdom. The sinner that does not repent will be burned up as chaff that has no value. Jesus’ ministry was one of separation and that separation had begun with the preaching of John.

(Mat 13:24-30 KJV) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: {25} But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. {26} But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. {27} So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? {28} He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? {29} But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. {30} Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Here Jesus gives us a fundamental truth concerning the Kingdom of God. The weeds are allowed to grow in the same field with the _wheat____ until the time of harvest and then they are separated. The wheat is gathered and the weeds are burned. In this world Saints and sinners share the same field. We grow together, we work side by side, we shop in the same stores, we attend the same schools and we sit on the same church pews. But, there comes a time when a separation occurs and the saints are gathered into the fold of God while the sinners are bound to a devil’s hell. You will be rewarded according to the life that you choose to live, righteous or sinful.

(Mat 25:31-46 KJV) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: {32} And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: {33} And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. {34} Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: {35} For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: {36} Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. {37} Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? {38} When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? {39} Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? {40} And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. {41} Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: {42} For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: {43} I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. {44} Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? {45} Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. {46} And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Notice in verse 32 that He separates one from another with the blessed going on his _right____ hand. When you repent of your sin and accept Jesus as your Lord, He separates you from sin and places you at His right hand to be blessed as long as you stay there. He separates and divides as a shepherd separates and divided his sheep from his goats. Believe me a shepherd knows the difference between a sheep and a goat. So the Lord knows the difference between a saint and a sinner. Jesus goes on in this passage to explain the difference in the actions of the righteous and the unrighteous. The righteouses are those that demonstrate a genuine and consistent concern for the welfare of others. They share, they give, and they minister to the needs of others. They pray for the needy. The unrighteous are selfish, ignoring the needs of others and are not able to pray even for themselves much less others.

(Psa 16:11 KJV) Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

It is on the Lord’s _right___ hand that you want to be for there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore. There is only one way to be gathered on the right hand of God and that is to confess your sin, repent of it and forsake it to live the way your Lord ordained for you to live.

(Psa 17:7 KJV) Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

Yes, God will save you if you will put your trust in Him. He will give you the power that you need to live a holy life. But, to get it you must put your trust in Him. He saves with his right hand.

(Psa 18:35 KJV) Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

He will hold you up by His _right___ hand when you put your trust in Him. One of the reasons that many people have concluded that they cannot live holy is because they have tried to do it without the Lord’s help and failed. If you have had such an experience, don’t think that you are alone for many have made that same mistake. In order to live a righteous life, you must put your trust in the Lord and allow Him to direct your steps. Then and only then will you be able to live a righteous life for it is then that the Lord will hold you up. It is then that you will discover how the power of God flows through your life and gives you strength to be an overcomer.

(Jer 15:19 KJV) Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

God is telling Jeremiah to so preach His Word that it separates the _precious__ from the vile. When the Word of God is preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it brings judgment upon sin and separates the sinner from the righteous. God wants His people to live holy and blameless so that He, a Holy God, can dwell among them.

(2 Cor 6:14-18 KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? {15} And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? {16} And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {17} Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, {18} And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God wants you to be His temple. He wants to dwell in you. He wants to be your God. To have God dwell in you, you must be separated from sin. What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? The two are opposing entities. You cannot be the servant of both.

(John 8:34 KJV) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

(Mat 6:24 KJV) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

And so if you have allowed sin to be your master, there is an invitation going out to you this morning. You are invited to repent of your sin and accept Jesus Christ as your savior and Master. You are invited to step out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light, out of the mire of sin and into the peace and joy of righteousness. As the prophet of old has proclaimed:

(2 Chr 7:14 KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God expects you to _humble___ yourself, pray and seek His face and turn from your sin. Then He will forgive you. He does not expect you to ask forgiveness and continue in your sin. There is no peace in that kind of life. God expects you to turn from your sin and then He will pour His blessings out upon you. God wants you to separate sin from your heart so His Holy Spirit can dwell there.

(Eph 2:1-11 KJV) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: {2} Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: {3} Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {4} But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, {5} Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) {6} And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: {7} That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. {8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast. {10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. {11} Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Notice how the writer reminds you that in time past you walked according to the course of this world, but now God has raised you up to walk with Christ. You cannot walk with the devil and with God at the same time. When you turn your life over to the Lord, he raises you up out of sin to walk in newness of life – a life of holiness and righteousness.

(Eph 2:12-22 KJV) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: {13} But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. {14} For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; {15} Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. {18} For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. {19} Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

When you repent of sin forsaking your sin and following the directions of the Holy Spirit you become a _Saint____. As a saint you become a _citizen____ of the kingdom of God. You are no longer a stranger or foreigner; you are a citizen. You are builded together with the saints; you are a habitation_____ of God. God can now dwell in you through His Holy Spirit. Sin is separated from your life and God has filled you with His presence.

(Eph 3:14-19 KJV) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, {15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, {16} That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; {17} That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; {19} And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.