sure, and we're going to turn again to the book of the Revelation, and it's always good to know where you're going, right? Amen. Amen. Amen. So we're going to read some verses again in Revelation chapter 6 in just a moment, but if you would, let's bow for just a wee word of prayer. Our Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that we can bow in your presence, and we're so thankful for the promise that you've given us, that if we'll just live for you and be what you want us to be, that you one day will say to us, well done, thou good and faithful servant. Father, I pray tonight as we approach the Word of God that you'll open our hearts and minds. I pray to bless, Lord, the reading of the Word of God. Father, I pray for this preacher that you'd so fill me to the uttermost, and I thank God that the Holy Ghost undertakes for me. And I pray that you would now open our hearts and minds for we pray in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Back in Revelation chapter 6, and we're going to look in verse 9, 10, 11 again once more. Basically in the last verse, but we're going to read all three of the verses. The Word of God says, and this is the Word of God. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood of them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them. And it was said of them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled." Now, I want to look at this just a moment and say by way of introduction, notice they say, how long, oh Lord, how long that you judge not and avenge the blood. of them, our blood with them that live on the earth. And he said in verse 11, rest yet for a little season. I want to speak to you tonight on, oh, you just wait. My mother used to say, oh, you just wait till I get you home. But Jesus is saying here to these martyred saints, oh, you just wait. Now, all the great tribulation, all the great devastation and the death of mankind was unleashed upon the world as the tribulation began in verse 1 to 8. But now in these verses, 9, 10, and 11, we see the first mention of martyrs. As we have seen in this first seal, we have the midpoint of the tribulation, which is actually bridging the gap between God's wrath in the first half of the tribulation and the fury of God's judgment and wrath that's unleashed in the second half of the tribulation. Now, as in the horsemen of the first four seals, we also see a compelling driving agency or a driving force of each one of these that seems to push it along. First of all, we see in the first seal that we looked at, the seal number one, the force was peace. The driving compelling force was peace. Then in the second seal, the compelling force was war, that of war. And then in seal number three, the compulsion was famine. There was a great famine on the earth. And then in seal four, we saw the great compelling force there was the pale horse with that was pestilence resulting in a catastrophic, speedy death that would cover the earth. Now here in this fifth seal, the driving force seems to be that of prayer. These saints, these martyrs began to pray the prayer of those saints of God. And I'd like to point out three features that are evident in these three verses. First of all, in verse 9 that we've seen, I want us to see again briefly the martyred individuals. Who are these? The apostle John saw underneath the altar the souls of those that had been slain. These are martyrs killed during the time of the judgment when there will be a widespread persecution of believers led by Satan and his devils, and then finally the Antichrist. The persecution of believers, which will begin early in the first half of the tribulation, will intensify dramatically after the Antichrist sets himself up as God. At that time, he will, according to Revelation 13, 7, will make war with the saints and overcome them, the Word of God says, with the whole world worshiping Antichrist as God. believers will be considered blasphemers for opposing him. That will bring upon them persecution from the Antichrist's false religious system. By the way, that false religious system is in operation today. A lot of people don't see that and don't realize that. But in Revelation 9, verse 21, it speaks of the rapid increase of murders during this time. Many of the victims will no doubt be believers and the victims, they'll be victims of this mob violence that will cover, seem to cover the earth. Now we see in verse 9, it says it is the souls of the martyrs that John saw underneath the altar because their bodily resurrection had not yet taken place as of in Revelation 20 and verse 4. These souls have been sacrificed at an altar, and I submit that to you, and I think we'll see this as we go, at an altar near the temple by having their heads cut off. Leviticus, if you read Leviticus chapter 1, and I read that this morning, by the way, in my reading, Leviticus chapter 1, and you will find that all sacrifices would have their heads cut off. Leviticus chapter 1 and verse 8, Leviticus chapter 1 verse 15, those offerings were decapitated. This altar here in chapter 6 is not the earth itself. This is a literal altar according to chapter 8 and verse 5. Let's look at that just briefly. It says, And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth. And there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Now, and then in chapter 11, Chapter 11 and verse 1 and 2, he says, And there was given me a reed, likened to a rod, and the angels stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. Now, I want us to go over to 2 Thessalonians very quickly. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and beginning in verse 1, Paul said this, he said, Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him. Now, by the way, that is speaking, I believe, of the second coming of Christ, the coming of Christ, not necessarily the rapture. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that day, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Now notice this in verse 3. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first. And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God. or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know what withholdeth that it might be revealed in this time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he Now, the point of this is, Remember that it said that he's going to show himself. He's going to be in the temple. He's going to show himself He's going to set himself up as God and he is going to demand that he be worshiped and So I would submit to you that what he's doing He is actually sacrificing these on the altar. This is sort of a of a in-your-face type sacrifice, if you would. Those souls have been sacrificed to Antichrist who are at the time will be in the temple as he is showing himself that he is God. Now, the martyrs are on the earth under the altar in an intermediate state. as we find in the Old Testament. We can read also in the book of Luke, chapter 16, verse 22 and 23. It said, And it came to pass that the beggar died. You remember this is the beggar. Notice that he died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. That's all it said basically about the rich man. Now, these martyrs, as I said, are on the earth under the altar in an intermediate state. before they would receive their resurrection bodies. The same thing applies to another group that we would read about in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 7, we come to the 144,000 who are on the earth. And the same company is found up in the third heaven in Revelation chapter 14, verse 1 to 4, the same group. This means that the people who are killed in the tribulation get raptured sometime before the end of the tribulation. Now, don't let the word raptured here bother you. It's not talking about the rapture of the church, but the first resurrection basically is in three parts. The catching up of the Old Testament saints at the resurrection, the catching up of the New Testament saints at the rapture of the church, and then the catching up of the tribulation saints just before the second advent at the end of the tribulation. Now, these martyrs who have their heads cut off in Revelation chapter 6 are up in the third heaven in Revelation chapter 7. And the 144,000 who are on the earth in Revelation chapter 7 are up in the third heaven in Revelation 14, and this would clearly indicate that they will be in heaven after the tribulation. Now, this is not, we must remember, this is not the rapture, not the catching up of the church. This is the catching up of the tribulation saints, specifically Jewish saints, as we would find in Matthew 24, 29 to 31. Now, these under the altar are the first fruits of those who will be saved during the tribulation, really foreshadowing the salvation of Israel as a whole at the end of the tribulation period. Turn with me, if you would, to Zechariah chapter 12. Zechariah chapter 12, and in verse 10. The prophet said this, he says, speaking for God, I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Then also in chapter 14 and verse 1 of Zechariah, he says, Now we would go to the book of Romans, Romans chapter 11. Romans chapter 11 and verse 26. Notice what Paul says, According and concerning the gospel, as concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sake, for the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. So I was submitting to you these individuals, these martyred individuals, who they are. They were actually martyred, I believe, as a sacrifice by the Antichrist. Remember, the Antichrist is not only one instead of, but one that opposes, and so he's trying to imitate He's trying to falsely present himself like Christ, and so he would be offering sacrifices. All right, so we look back in our text in Revelation chapter 6, we look in verse 10, notice now not only the those martyrs that are martyred individuals, but let's look at the motive that's implied in verse 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? What a question. How long is it, Lord, that you're going to wait? Now, the seven seals of the book of the Revelation show God's wrath and judgment on the evil not on his children. We must understand that. This is not a judgment upon God's people. This is a judgment upon evil. The motivation is involved in this seal, that is involved in this seal, is the prayers of the tribulation martyrs for God to enact vengeance upon these murderers. Prayer will play a vital role in God's judgment on the earth. The prayer here is similar to the prayers of the imprecatory Psalms that we had read, and we went through several months ago the imprecatory Psalms. The pardoning prayer is appropriate in a time of grace, for sure. Our great desire would be, even for one that thought they were our enemy or we thought was our enemy, would be pray for them to be saved. And by God's grace, they would be saved. But when the time of God's judgment comes during the tribulation, that is all none in void. It's all gone. So the pardoning prayer is appropriate in the time of grace, but when the time of judgment comes, prayers for divine judgment are in perfect order. Such prayers are not from a desire for revenge. but for the protest against all of the sinfulness and all of the dishonoring of God Almighty. God's hand of judgment will move in response to the martyrs. In other words, he will work, and he indicates that. His hand will move in response to the martyrs because their prayers here will be urgent and consistent with his purpose, of course. Notice it says here in this verse 10, the phrase that it says, they cried with a loud voice, and it emphasizes the urgent need, the urgency, and it denotes strong emotions that they're releasing. They want this to be done. They want God to be vindicated, not necessarily themselves. They want God to be vindicated. The 24 elders and the angels, you remember, in chapter 5 and verse 12, they rejoiced with a loud voice, they said, and praised God with a loud voice and said, Thou art worthy. And there was a loud voice. And in the tribulation, the martyrs will petition him with a loud voice. In keeping with their prayers for vengeance and justice, they address him. as the Lord, holy and true. The word translated Lord here speaks in verse 10 speaks of God the Father's power and His authority. You see, God the Father is the only one that has the power and the authority to do what they're asking. And the Godhead is the only one that has that power. Now questioning how long Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood upon them that dwell on the earth?" In no way reflects a personal vendetta. These are not asking for themselves to be justified or their killing to be justified for their sake, but they are asking for God's glory. They are asking Him the question because they have holy desire to see Satan and Antichrist destroyed. and put down finally for God's glory. Now, how long? Notice the little phrase, how long, is of course a well-known cry of the suffering Israel, reflecting the perplexing question, you know, how long? It was in the book of Psalms, the question of the righteous asking when their pain will end. We could go to Psalm 31 and verse 1 where David asks that question and then Psalm 35 and verse 17 as well. But here the phrase also as it ends in verse 10, On them that dwell on the earth, this is really a technical term that's used throughout the book of the Revelation for the ungodly. And as was the case with martyred Abel, the very ground cries out for their blood. And of course, this great company of martyrs is not the church. For we have seen the church to be translated before the seals are broken. But this company of the martyred people would be basically the Jewish remnant. When the church is taken away, God is going to deal with Israel once more. Many Jews will turn to God in that day. The apostle Paul said this in the book of Romans 11 and verse 25. He says, "...blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." Then further on, he says in the 26th verse of the same chapter, And so all Israel shall be saved. And I read that, as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. In other words, Israel nationally will be saved. The veil of blindness will be taken away and the many of the Jews will turn to God and reject the claims of the Antichrist, giving their allegiance to God and to His Christ and realizing He's the Messiah finally. That would be a great day. So as a result, the Antichrist will make their blood run like a river, and there will be a great company of martyred Jews in that day. And that's why they would say, how long, O Lord, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? In other words, when will you stop this? When will you stop them? So then we get to verse 11, and I want you to notice here's the Messiah's instruction, what he says to them. Notice in verse 11, he says, "...and white robes were given unto every one of them. And it was said of them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed, as they were, should be fulfilled." What answer is given to those who cry with a loud voice for the judgment upon their enemies? This is the answer. God says, oh, you just wait. He's saying, he tells them, wait yet rest yet for a little while until their servants, their fellow servants also and their brethren should be killed as they should be fulfilled. Now, from this we learn that yet others are to be martyred, and that the judgment swift and sure will be meted out to those who shall be the ones that have slain them." Those killers. Verse 11, notice he says, Verse 11 is filled with some exciting and very important information for us if we look at it. First of all, we see that in verse 11 that the dead are conscious and are aware of the promises of God. These martyrs were able to cry out to God and express their concern over the fulfillment of God's past promises for avenging their blood and bringing justice to the world. So they are conscious. This dismisses completely the idea of soul sleep. We saw last time, if you remember, that the soul is basically exactly like the body, but it's more of a not a physical body, but it's the soul that's waiting for the new body. But then secondly, that exciting and important information that we see in verse 11 is that those who have died do have that intermediate body until they receive their final resurrection body. The text says, a white robe was given to each of them. The robe suggests the body, does it not? The white robe or the white garments description is also used in chapter 7 and verse 14, if you just look at that for just a moment. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest, and he said unto 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. And then in chapter 19 as well, chapter 19, And in verse 8, notice what he tells us in regards to this white robe. He said, and he said unto me, write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto these, I'm sorry, verse 8, chapter 19, verse 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white, for fine linen is the righteousness of the saints." So they're going to be clothed. They can be clothed, we understand, which indicates that these wares to these wares have salvation, they have righteousness before God as a reminder that what grants them the access to this heavenly kingdom is the righteousness of God and their salvation. Then thirdly, we would see that the thing that we would learn in verse 11 is that dead believers are resting. Now, we know in this world many times believers suffer a great deal. They suffer agony in a lot of different ways. Maybe they would suffer from great illnesses or whatever. But when the soul that leaves its body, then it's in the hand of God, the hands of God. And here we see these believers, these dead believers are resting. Now, we all have loved ones who have gone before us, and they're not asleep. They're not tucked away in a corner somewhere, but they are resting yet for a little while. And it says, and it was said of them that they should rest a little for a little season, meaning that their lives will soon be characterized by activity rather than rest. In the coming kingdom of Jesus on earth, believers will rule and reign with Him, the Word of God tells us. We will not be sleeping. Sometimes you get to the point in your life that you'll grab a nap anytime you can. But I've found out that that doesn't always come as easy. But folks, when we are worshiping and we're living with Christ on earth and the believers will rule and reign with him, we won't be sleeping all the time. So we understand that. Revelation chapter 14 adds that the dead are blessed. or blessed because they rest from their labors. Let's look at that. Revelation chapter 14 and verse 13. He says, and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them. So we see there will be resting of the saints. And it's the struggles, the trials, the heartaches of this life will all be over for those who have died in the Lord. We know of many times there are those who struggle greatly for some type of ailment or some type of emotional disturbance or whatever it may be. But there's coming a time that those who are in the Lord will rest and they will not battle anymore. But then the fourth thing we will learn from this verse 11 is that God's plan is right on schedule. Notice he says, Yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled. Now, it might not seem like things are under God's control. We can look at the world around us and you see how rapid sin is. And so we think, well, God's not in control of it. We know that the devil rules this world. He's the god of this world. But, folks, he is still under the command of God. We understand that. It might not seem that things are under God's control, but the Bible teaches us very clearly that they are. God is working out his plan according to his timetable, not ours. By the way, let me just say this. We are all excited about the coming Monday of the inauguration. And everybody's all excited. This Bible says when they're saying peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh. And I'm concerned. I told Judy this afternoon, I said, I'm waiting. Based on the scripture, I'm waiting for the other shoe to fall, the other foot to come down. because everybody thinks everything is going to be lovely after January the 20th. Well, you might in order just buckle up because things probably were going to get more strenuous than you thought. But God is working out his plan according to his own timetable. These martyrs should rest a little longer, he's saying, until others join them who have also been killed for their faith. Then this sad occurrence will be, of course, completed. The killers, the killing of believers will come to an end. And that brings us to the next thing, that many believers will be killed during the tribulation period. These are not members of the church. These are tribulation saints, those who did turn to Christ. We're going to learn more about this when we get into Revelation 7, the next chapter. But here it describes additional martyrs with such terms as fellow servants, if you'll notice, and brethren. which most likely these would have to do with Jewish people, but it could be those who are Gentiles who are saved, but whatever, their fellow servants, there's some others that will be martyred. This is a possible reference, as I said, to both Gentiles and Jews who will suffer martyrdom during the tribulation. In this seal is a cry on the part of these souls that are identified here for the Lord to avenge their blood and to bring about judgment. This is not out of character with God to make such a plea, although in the world today he's seen as a God of love, and he is a God of love. But he's also a holy God. And he will not permit sin to live and go forever. And so today people see him as a God of love and they say, such a God as you would describe does not exist. Folks, he does exist. He gave us this book and he tells us the judgment that's coming at his hand. But thank God he tells the church that we will not be here. And that's why it's so important that we be about the master's business in telling others about Christ. People have created a God in a form that pleases them. Well, you hear people say, well, the God that I serve wouldn't do so and so. Well, when you hear that, they've all automatically committed idolatry. They've set up their own God at their own making, their own choosing. So people have created their own God, and of course, they have eliminated any thought of his being a vengeful God. But if you read this, you find that he is, especially verse 11, there is vengeance coming from God. The Word of God teaches that he is a vengeful God in certain areas, and he gets to the point that he will tolerate no more. But the God of Scripture is a God of vengeance. He himself says this in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32 and verse 35, and recompense. Their foot shall slide in due time, for the day of their calamity is at hand, and all the things that shall come upon them make haste. That's Deuteronomy 32, verse 35. You could also look at verse 41 and 43 with that as well. But if you get over to Psalm 94, verse 1 to 7, and then verse 23 of Psalm 94, you would see the same thing that's spoken of about God. Now, we remember, as I said earlier, the imprecatory psalms were where the psalmist is calling for God to destroy the wicked and to bring about vengeance. Now, when we balk at that and we say, that does not resemble the God that I would know, when we balk at that, we're forgetting that he's not talking about anyone that we may dislike or anyone that's offended us, he's talking about those unholy unholy people, unholy agents who have stood against him and will not get right with God, that they are enemies of God. The greatest of these imprecations is, of course, is found in Psalm 35, Psalm 69, and then Psalm 109. There are numerous Numerous other Psalms with similar prayers for God to bring vengeance on the wicked. In Psalm 79, in verse 10, the Word of God says this, God is a God of vengeance. The prophet Micah said this, speaking on behalf of God in chapter 5 and verse 15 of Micah says this, In Isaiah 59 and verse 17, we read of God putting on what Isaiah calls the garments of vengeance for clothing. Notice what it says in Isaiah 59. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation upon his head, and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing. and was clad with zeal as a cloak. And then in verse 18 of the same chapter in Isaiah, according to their deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies, to the islands he will repay recompense. And then Isaiah 64, verse 4, for the day of vengeance is in mine heart, God said, and the year of my redeemed has come. In other words, there's a time that he's going to set the record straight. That would be Isaiah 60, you could compare Isaiah 64, verse 7 to 9. So God, being a God of vengeance, that vengeance, what would it do? First, it will display God's glory. Then that vengeance will, and this is what the saints are asking for, it will display God's glory, it will display God's justice, it will display God's holiness, it will display God's righteousness. And when all that is put on display and God is fully vindicated, then the righteous will be glad. The Proverbs tells us in Proverbs 25 and verse 21, if thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink. That's what we're supposed to do, but God will bring vengeance. Here is the other side of the coin. What we've just seen about vengeance is the other side of the coin. We're to be compassionate. We're to demonstrate the love of God towards sinners. Just as the love of God was demonstrated toward us while we were yet sinners. I'm so glad that God withheld his judgment on me. I'm so glad that he expressed his love for me and demonstrated his care for me. And much of that was through other people who knew Christ. There certainly is a balance that we are to seek where we seek mercy and compassion for those who are under God's judgment. as well as seeking and longing for the vengeance which puts God on display and vindicates His holiness and His righteousness. Paul said this in Romans 12 and verse 19, And then in the next verse, Paul goes on to say, therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirsts, give him drink. So you see, he shows you the same coin, but both sides of the same coin. It's certain there is a day of vengeance coming, but that doesn't mean that we should treat sinners with revenge and be vengeful, have vengeful spirits and try to stand against them in vengeance. We do long for the day when God's holiness and justice and righteousness will be vindicated. But at the same time, we know that there's a fearful day for the ungodly. And in the meantime, we reach out in love and compassion to those who are not saved and show them mercy. You see, folks, a lot of people act in a way that if they were saved, they wouldn't act that way. If they say things that if they were saved, they wouldn't say that. But we should approach that with compassion and mercy. Here in Revelation chapter 6, we come face to face with God's vengeance. The time of grace is coming. is really coming to an end here, and we're now in that seven-year period that we call the time of this, called the time of the tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble. This seven-year period is identified in the book of Daniel as seven years and is identified again in the book of Revelation as half of that being three and a half years. And this brief period of time is the time when God unleashes his vengeance and judgment and wrath upon the earth like never before. I want you to listen to the book of Acts chapter 17 and verse 30. ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent, because he hath appointed a day into which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead." Of course, speaking of Christ. In all this, we certainly can conclude that God is just and God is true. In verse 10, they addressed him as Lord, holy and true. We can also conclude that a great judgment is coming and that the church will not be here on earth when that great wrath is unleashed. And we can also conclude that our loved ones that have passed on in Christ are now in the hands of God. So the most important question then is, are you saved? Whether you're in the auditorium or listening by the way of the internet, the questions you must face is, are you saved? Are you ready to meet God? You never know when that's going to come. You never know when something's gonna take place that would take you out of this world. Do you know Christ as your Savior? Are you sure that you've trusted Christ as your Savior? That's the great surety that you need, the great knowledge that you need. I want you to look at the book of Hebrews just a moment, and we'll be closing with this. But in Hebrews chapter 10 and in verse 24, Hebrews 10 and 24, he says, let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day approaching. But notice he says, for if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries." Now, what he simply said is that if we once one hears the truth and they turn away from the truth, there's no other sacrifice for salvation. other than Jesus Christ. There's no other way for them to be saved. And so what's going to happen then? A certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation. And then it goes on to say, verse 28, and he that despised Moses died without mercy under two or three witnesses. How much sore punishment, suppose ye, shall ye be thought worthy, who have trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he is sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me. I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge his people." Now, verse 31, notice this. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Now, the point is, these folks, these that we read about in Revelation 6 are those who have died for their faith. They have trusted Christ. There are others in the tribulation who will die for their faith. We that are saved, we are living for God. But those who are not saved, he says, it's a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a living God. So we understand there's a great judgment coming. That's why it's incumbent upon you. It's incumbent upon me. It's incumbent upon all of us as a church to witness, to win souls, to bring people to Christ, bring people in to hear the Word of God preached and talk to them individually, give them tracts and try to get them saved because there's a fiery judgment coming. It is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a living God. Our Father, we're so thankful for this day that you've given us. We're thankful for the Word of God that you've given us and pray, dear Lord, that you'd bless this to our hearts. Help us, Lord, to see and realize the nearness of the time. Father, we thank God that we can say that we know that we're saved. Father, should there be anybody listening, anybody in the sound of my voice tonight that does not know that they're saved, I pray that they would come to a saving knowledge of Christ, that they would receive him, repent of their sins, and trust Christ as their Savior, that we can know that day and know that we're saved. Father, we ask you for that in Jesus' name.