7th Seal 3 - Prepare For The Future

(Rev 8:1-6 KJV) And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. {2} And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. {3} And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. {4} And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. {5} And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. {6} And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

In past messages we have considered the silence in heaven. When you become a Christian you become a heavenly place as Christ dwells in you. The devil works very hard to get you to keep quiet about what the Lord has done for you. Then we considered the prayers of the saints. Our Lord, Jesus is the angel that takes the censer and offers incense with our prayers as our intercessor. He then takes the censer, in answer to our prayers and fills it with fire of the altar and casts it into the earth. This causes conviction to seize sinner’s hearts and be shaken with the realization of their condition before God. Today we will turn our attention to the message in verse 6; the seven angels which had the seven trumpets _prepared___ themselves to sound.

All things require preparation. You prepared for church this morning. You prepare for your occupation. You prepare for winter. Preparation is a continual part of life. You are preparing almost constantly and yet you seldom stop and think about it. Today we look at some preparations that each of us needs to make and at the preparation required to sound the trumpet (preach the Gospel). There is a great lack of Spiritual preparation in our land today.

In his explanation of his visions, John takes for granted that you have been paying attention and remember what he has told you. He frequently will refer back to something that he told you about in former chapters and use that information to help explain the next vision. Here John says in verse 2, I saw the seven angels. What does he mean the seven angels? This is an example of what I am talking about. In chapter one, he described Jesus holding seven stars in his right hand and then he went on to explain that the seven stars represented seven angels. He explained that the angels were the pastors of the seven churches. And now after giving us the messages to each of the seven churches, a vision of God’s throne and an explanation of how Jesus opens our understanding of the Word of God, he is continuing to tell us something about the seven angels.

Now the pastor’s job is to preach the Word of God to the people. This is the most responsible job on earth. It is so important that the pastor understand what God says so that he can properly instruct the people. And so John informs us that the seven angels prepared themselves to sound. They did not just up and begin to preach. No, they got ready first. Have you ever heard a trumpet player play a tune on the trumpet? Do you think that all he had to do was to pick up that instrument and blow air in it? Well it would make some sort of sound but I don’t think that any of us would recognize it as a tune. So it is with the Word of God. God expects his messengers to sound the trumpet with a certain sound. The people need to hear clearly the direction that God sets for them to take. An uncertain sound will only bring confusion and the people will not clearly know what God expects of them. And so the truly God called messenger prepares himself to sound.

Preaching the message is the easy part; the real work is in the preparation. Abraham Lincoln once said “if you want me to talk for two hours, I am ready, but if you want me to speak for five minutes, I need two weeks to get ready”. I have heard preachers say that they don’t need to do anything to preach. All they have to do is stand up and God gives them the message. Well I’ve heard some of those messages and they convinced me all the more that much preparation is needed. The angels prepared themselves to sound. If you are going to carry the Gospel as a minister of Christ or if you are going to teach a class, sing a special song, play on a musical instrument, lead the congregation in prayer, greet the people as they arrive to service, testify to your coworker or whatever, you need to prepare yourself.

No one is going to do your preparation for you. It is your responsibility to prepare to fill the place that your Lord puts you in. It is your responsibility to use the talents and gifts of the Holy Spirit that the Lord places within your hand. There is a great lack of preparation for the Lord’s work in our land today. Far too many Christians are attempting to work in the harvest field of souls with little or no preparation. No wonder that there is so much confusion in the multitude of teachings that exist in our time.

I. Preparation begins with your salvation:

You cannot help the Lord in His great harvest field until you become one of His servants. To serve Jesus, you must prepare your heart to receive Him as your Savior and Master.

(1 Sam 7:3 KJV) And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Prepare your _hearts____ unto the Lord. Is there room in your heart for the Lord. Many people in our time want the Lord only as a savior. They want to be saved from hell and forgiven of their sins but they don’t have any room in their hearts for a Master. If you are one of those people, I have news for you. You can’t have Jesus in part. You either accept Him as Savior, Lord and Master or you don’t really have Him. Have you accepted Him as your Lord? Are you doing your best to serve Him and live the way that He wants you to live? Are you allowing Him to lead you into the paths of righteousness and peace and joy? Have you prepared your heart unto the Lord? This is the starting point for you can only be a real servant of the Lord if you have given Him first place in your heart. That is why the first commandment requires you to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

(Col 3:1-5 KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. {2} Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {3} For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. {5} Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

If you are going to be a Christian, then your Lord expects you to do some things. He says that you are to seek those things which are _above___, He expects you to set your affections on things above and He expects you to control your body. How about a little check this morning: what things are you seeking? On what is your affection set? Is your body under your control? None of this will happen without preparation. Prepare your heart for the Lord! Set your affections! You choose what kind of life that you are going to live and what is going to be important to you. Jesus is looking for help in the harvest of souls. You can help and the first thing for you to do is to become an example for others to follow.

(Luke 13:22-27 KJV) And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. {23} Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, {24} Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. {25} When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: {26} Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. {27} But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Notice that Jesus said _strive_ to enter in at the strait gate. It takes effort to be saved. This instruction was given to the question, are there few that be saved? As we observe the actions of most people in our lifetime, it would appear that few are saved. And, one of the biggest reasons is that so many will not put forth sufficient effort to be saved. Jesus said this is a strait gate meaning a difficult passage. You will have to prepare, study, persevere and work to enter in to the kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy.

(1 Tim 6:10-12 KJV) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {11} But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. {12} Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Notice the advice the Bible is giving us here. Don’t be snared by the love of money___ for many have been and they have been turned from the faith and reaped much sorrow. But, to be a man of God follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. Fight___ the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. How are you going to do this? By making preparation to be obedient to your Lord! These qualities will not just suddenly jump up and appear in your life. You are going to have to put them there by fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold onto eternal life.

(Mat 3:1-10 KJV) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, {2} And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. {3} For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. {4} And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. {5} Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, {6} And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. {7} 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.

John’s job was to _prepare___ the way of the Lord. If you want the Lord to come into your life, then you will have to prepare the way. That preparation begins with you repenting of your sin and straightening up your life. When the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had not repented, came to him to be baptized, John refused to _baptize__ them. He didn’t see any evidence in their lives that they had repented of their sins. Therefore, they were not ready to be baptized. Jesus is expecting to see evidence in your life that you have repented of your sins before He will commission you to be a witness for Him. If you want to escape hell and make heaven your home, then you must repent of your sin and prepare your heart for Jesus to live in you as your Lord and Master!

(Rev 7:9-14 KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; {10} And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. {11} And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, {12} Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. {13} And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? {14} And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

What did the people in this great multitude do to get into the presence of God? They _washed__ their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. They did it. It was not done for them by the preacher or their parents. It was something that each of them did for themselves. If you ever expect to come into heaven, into the presence of God, then you must wash your robe in the blood of the lamb. How do you wash your robe? You wash it by repenting of your sin and accepting the fact that Christ’s blood was shed in your place so that you can be forgiven of your sin. There is no entering into heaven without preparation. Are you ready?

(Mat 24:42-51 KJV) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. {43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. {44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. {45} Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? {46} Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. {47} Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. {48} But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; {49} And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; {50} The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, {51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Message from our Lord is to be ready___. You have no idea of when you are going to step through death’s door into eternity. It may be today, it may be next week, it may be next year, it may be ten, twenty, thirty or more years. You don’t know. But you do know that it will happen for the living know that they shall die. So be ready. Make your preparation now and then it won’t matter when it happens for you will be ready.

(Mat 25:1-13 KJV) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. {2} And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. {3} They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: {4} But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. {5} While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. {6} And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. {7} Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. {8} And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. {9} But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. {10} And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. {11} Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. {12} But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. {13} Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

You are not ready to live until you are ready to die. This is the first basic step in preparation to serve the Lord. Be ready for you don’t know the day or the hour when you are going to go out into eternity to meet the Lord.

(Eccl 9:5 KJV) For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

(Eccl 9:11-12 KJV) I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. {12} For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

You do know that you will die__, you just don’t know when. Be ready! Now is the time! Today is the day of preparation!

(Eph 6:10-20 KJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. {11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; {15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: {18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; {19} And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, {20} For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

II. Preparation Is Required to Sound The Trumpet (Preach/Teach)

The angels prepared themselves to sound. They prepared their hearts for the Lord to dwell in them as Lord and Master. They repented of their sins and washed their robes in the blood of the lamb. They received the fire of the Holy Ghost in their lives. They got ready to die. They pressed their way into the kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy. They took the whole armour of God so that they could fight the good fight of faith and win.

How about you this morning? Have you prepared your heart to receive the Lord? Have you repented of your sin? Have you washed your robe in the blood of the lamb? Are you prepared to fight the good fight of faith? Now is the time! Today is the day of preparation, take advantage of it while you have opportunity.