542, we're commencing with. 542, my eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the fatal lightning of his terrible swift sword. His truth is marching on. And we're going to be picking up on that line. The second line there, he's trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. 542, we're standing as we sing. That's that. Glory, glory, hallelujah. me. Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory, hallelujah. I was sent to make my friend, but all is marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah, hallelujah. ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ He is coming and we know it all from far and wide away ♪ ♪ He is risen today and he is strong to the break ♪ As you unite together in prayer, We'll seek the Lord together, our Heavenly Father and our gracious God. We draw near in to thy presence this evening. We thank thee for a veil that is rent in twain, a way that has opened up for us to come. There is no hindrance or barrier tonight. We need no earthly priest, but we thank thee that we can come in the Savior's name. He is the one great high priest that we all need. And when we come in His name and through His merit, we enter into thy courts, we are granted acceptance before thee, thou art favorable to us. Thy face is turned toward us in Jesus Christ, because He is the one who has removed sin out of the way. It is our sins that cause thee to hide thy face. Lord, thou canst not look upon sin and iniquity. The Lord hath purer eyes than to do so. It offends thy holiness. It grieves thee. It provokes thy wrath. But we thank thee, Lord, for what took place at Calvary. Thank thee the fire fell upon the Savior there. Fires of thy wrath, that they were consumed by Christ against us. O Lord, there is no more wrath now for those who are in Christ. Whatever wrath will fall upon this world in a future day, and we read about the fury of thy wrath. But O Lord, we thank Thee for the child of God. There is no more wrath that has all been consumed by Jesus Christ, that He extinguished the fires of divine wrath against those who are His. there at Calvary. Lord, it seems such an impossibility, and yet there was that wondrous transaction that was carried out there when the eternal wrath of God was absorbed and extinguished by the eternal Son. And as a result, He has brought in eternal redemption. And tonight, Lord, we are the beneficiaries of that, each one who knows Christ, who has been brought to the Savior, We thank the Lord for each one who can testify to that time in their lives when they passed from death to life and from the power of Satan on to God. Lord, once we were ruled by sin and dominated by sin under its condemnation and its power, but we thank thee for the one who breaks the power of cancelled sin, sets the prisoner free, Tonight, Lord, we are those individuals who have been set free, and we rejoice in that liberty that is found in Jesus Christ. And we give Thee praise tonight that Thy truth is marching on. We thank Thee, Lord, that nothing can deflect Thee from Thy purposes in this world, not even the wickedness of man and the increasing wickedness of man, Lord, we are warned in Scripture of that falling away that is to take place before the Savior comes. But even that, Lord, cannot frustrate Thy purposes, for they are irresistible purposes, eternal purposes. We thank the Lord it is a purpose in grace to save a people and keep a people one day present that people holy and unblameable, unreprovable in Thy sight. We thank the Lord that we are going to be gathered together as one all in Christ and presented to our Heavenly Father. We are the jewels that will be made up, and we pray Lord that others will be brought in to that company. Even tonight, we pray for salvation to visit us. We pray for loved ones to be saved, family members to be brought to the Savior, to be awakened, to flee from wrath to come. Neighbors and friends, acquaintances around us. Lord, even those that in a sense are strangers to us, who live in this community, Lord, who pass us by, and yet we know very little or nothing about them. But Lord, we pray that thou would have mercy upon their souls. They're on the broad road, they're perishing. Many on that downward way that's leading on to eternal destruction. Lord, these are the days of thy grace. Mercy's door is opened, and we pray that many will press in. Even tonight, Lord, as the gospel is preached, in various places, let there be a pressing in to the kingdom of God. Lord, enlarge the company of the saints of God. Reduce those that are allied to the devil and who are still in their sins. Lord, spoil, bind the strong man. Spoil his goods, we pray. May Satan be... the worse off even tonight, because the gospel has triumphed in many hearts and lives. O Lord, we look to Thee. Bring glory to Thy own name. Come amongst us. Encourage our souls. Bless us as Thy people. Remember Thy cause in these times. We ask, Lord, that Thou will come down with power and work amongst us in a mighty fashion. And may Thy name be exalted, we pray. Lord, to the ends of the earth, may that be so. And we pray that there will be praise directed to Thee, because souls are one for Christ. There is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Lord, may there be many that will repent this very night. So hear us, we pray. Tarry with us now as we continue on this evening before Thee, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. 380. 380, McShane's great hymn. We're going to sing that in a moment as our offering hymn. While you're turning that up, we bid you welcome. We're glad to see you, each one, in the house of the Lord tonight. And we pray the Lord will bless us. Those who are tuning in online, we welcome you also, and pray the Lord will be your portion. Now, this incoming week, remember, on Tuesday evening, there is the Bible Club. That's now at 6.30. So it's a change of night, change of time, Please remember that. Wednesday night is our midweek meeting, prayer meeting and Bible study. We are going to say a little bit about the plans the presbytery has for the 75th anniversary. There is a short video, three minutes, that was played at presbytery on Friday night, highlighting some of these matters. So we'll make a start with that on Wednesday night. There's also going to be the offering for the work of the college. We do need to take that up. Congregations do need to support the work of the college. So we haven't taken up an offering as yet. this year. So we want to do that. There is a little card there on the table as well. They came from Presbytery. It's announcing the opening of the college. It's a little way off now. It's not to Friday the 13th of March. That is going to take place. So pick that up. There's a little blurb on the back. There's a picture of the college as well. as it is at present. So they're on the table there, please. So make use of those and keep that date in mind. That's going to be Friday the 13th of March. That's actually going to be our soul winners weekend as well. So we're having the Saturday night meeting and the Lord's Day for our soul winners. It's going to be the 75th anniversary weekend as well. As you imagined, having the denomination starting on the 17th of March, 1951. So we'll be saying a little about all of that on Wednesday night in the midweek meeting. And then Friday evening there is our school open night. and well that starts in the afternoon 4 30 right through to 7 pm so do remember that you can come it's more than an open night it's also science fair our brother jonathan cole dr jonathan cole is going to be the judge at the science fair on friday night so he will be going around all the pupils as well and you can come and see what they put on as well so that's open to everyone If you're interested in coming any time between those times, 4.30 and 7 p.m., you'll be more than welcome. And then services next Lord's Day, 11.30 and seven are the times. But in the morning, it'll be Sabbath school prize giving. Elizabeth McGill will be speaking at that to the pupils of the Sabbath school. And in the evening time, we'll be observing the Lord's table at the close of the evening meeting. So I'll be preaching at those meetings next Lord's Day. The regular service times, there's a meeting in the Glebe Road Nursing Home in the afternoon. We will be having our youth meeting quarter to nine. Our brother Thomas Hannah will be along to speak at that. Do remember the students that are into exam season. Our brother Christopher is with us today. Remember him and the other students. They've had their first week of exams and two more weeks to go before they conclude. So pray the Lord will bless them and help them as they face those exams. I mentioned about the new hymnal. So if you're interested in that, there's some people did wish to exchange, and that's perfectly acceptable. We'll get that sorted out. As I said, some people had ordered just the words edition. It's eight pounds. And then there's that gilt edged version that has come out, a leatherette back. that's 20 pounds, so some people upgraded to that this morning and we'll get that sorted. So there are a few ward additions that we have spare, so if you didn't order one at all and you would say well I would like one, they're eight pounds, just mention to some of the men on the door there tonight and they'll take a note off that and they'll give one to you. So remember that if you haven't picked yours up yet and you did order one and you do want to maybe exchange, well again, speak to those brethren who are stewarding tonight and they will take notes of that and we'll get that sorted out. There is that CD. I said this morning it's marking the anniversary. It's not the denominational anniversary. Ballymena have produced that marking. It's 50 years from the mission in the town hall. Some of you will remember that. The great mission Dr. Paisley had in Ballymena town hall. So that's 50 years ago. It was 1975. So Ballymena have produced that CD of singing by various groups and choirs in their church. So if you want that, it's £13. It's on the table there. There's some copies of that. There is that missionary prayer card as well. If you want to take that for praying for the missionaries through the course of the month, there's a particular missionary work designated for each day of the month. then I did mention about the cleaning rota that will be brought in at the new year. If there's any who want to be added to that, and we would encourage others if you would take that on, please, there's a few dropping off for various reasons. So we could do with some others that would be willing, even if you joined up with somebody and formed a group to clean, that would be much appreciated. Usually on a monthly basis through the summer, through December, it reverts to a weekly rota on those occasions. Okay, I think that is everything by way of announcements. they're all in the will of the Lord. 380, then, is going to be our offering hymn when this passing world is done, when has sunk on radiant sun. When I stand with Christ on high, looking over life's history, then, Lord, shall I fully know, not till then, how much I owe. 380, keeping our seats as we worship the Lord with our tithes and offerings. ♪ ♪ Will you be mine as they shall be ♪ ♪ When I shall be no more ♪ ♪ All else will die but much as I do ♪ ♪ When I shall be no more ♪ ♪ There's a man in the ground ♪ ♪ Where I see the eyes of God ♪ ♪ Loving with a singing heart ♪ ♪ He'll show my glory to the world ♪ ♪ Save them all from what they fear ♪ ♪ Even with the Savior's smile ♪ ♪ My spirit's light divine ♪ ♪ Pleads with all on earthly shore ♪ Let's stand for verses four and five. ♪ Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit ♪ ♪ Blessed Jesus, make me sure ♪ ♪ God exists like a child born ♪ ♪ And soon we'll be here ♪ ♪ God has led me forward to us ♪ ♪ See His eyes, hear the Lord's voice ♪ Returning to Isaiah chapter 63, at least to begin our Bible readings this evening, we're going to read in three places, here in Isaiah, then over in Joel, and then we're going over to Revelation chapter 14. So, Isaiah chapter 63, we're going to read the first six verses of this chapter. In doing so, in reading these three portions, it really is to try to bring them together in your own mind. I've said this a number of times, that it is a matter of bringing together different portions. The book of the Revelation doesn't say all that much that is entirely new. Now, it enlarges upon things, but what is there has already been stated somewhere else in the Word of God. And certainly tonight, I want us to think about that. We're coming to the harvest of the earth, again, the second part of this. And we're thinking about the grapes. I mentioned last time about a harvest that was the grain, the wheat. And we were thinking about that parable, the wheat and the tares, and how that comes in at this particular time. Well, tonight, we're thinking about the grapes, the harvest of the vines, and what the Lord has to say about that. So Isaiah chapter 63, we're reading from verse 1. And also, I would ask you to take note of the places that are mentioned. This is going to be significant when we get over to Revelation and later on this evening as we're considering what is said there. Isaiah chapter 63, verse 1, who is this? that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Basra, this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength, I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me. For I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled on my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. And I looked, and there was none to help, and I wondered that there was none to uphold. Therefore mine own harm brought salvation unto me, and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury. And I will bring down their strength to the earth." And then if we go over to the little book of Joel, Joel Amos Obadiah, last chapter of Joel. And we're going to take a moment and read this chapter through. in its entirety. Joel chapter 3. The prophecy of Joel is really all about the coming of the Lord. And we have had reference, had reason to reference chapters 1 and 2 before now in thinking about some of the things that are said in the book of the Revelation. And here again, we're coming tonight to take up chapter 3. So Joel chapter 3 beginning at verse 1. For behold, in those days and in that time, when I will bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat And there's another place to take note of. And will plead with them there for my people, and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people, and have sold a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? Will ye render me a recompense? If ye recompense me swiftly and speedily, will I return your recompense upon your own head? Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things, the children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place whether ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head. And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah. they shall sell them to the Sabaeans, to a people far off, for the Lord has spoken it." Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles. Prepare war. Wake up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw nigh. Let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about. Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about." And here's a verse to particularly notice and tie in with Revelation 14. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, get you down, for the press is full, the fats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake. But the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain, Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall be no strangers pass through her any more. And it shall come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters. And a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed, for the Lord dwelleth in Zion." And then if we go over to Revelation chapter 14, where we have been here now a few weeks, and we're coming to the closing verses of this chapter, the last four verses tonight. Reading from verse 17, this is going to be our text. Revelation chapter 14, verse 17. And another angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharpsicle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharpsicle, saying, thrust in thy sharpsicle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Amen. I know the Lord will add His blessing to the reading of His Word tonight to all of our hearts. We'll bow together in prayer and ask the Lord for His help as we come to His Word. Our Father, we thank Thee for the Word of God, that Thou hast given to us these things that reveal to us what will yet take place. Lord, we are not to be in the dark We are not to stumble around not knowing what is going to happen, but we know there is a day when the Lord indeed will roar out His eye, and He will deal with His enemies. And tonight we pray as we consider that harvest, we pray that thou will come and speak, Lord. Let it be a warning note to all those who are out of Christ tonight, and what their end will be, their inevitable end. Lord, there is no doubt about this. The Lord has said these things multiple times in His Word, and we know, Lord, Thy Word stands. Thou hast exalted Thy Word above all Thy name. Thou hast put great honor upon keeping Thy Word. Lord, what Thou hast said will most certainly come to pass. So help us, give us insight, give us understanding. We pray of the things of God, lead us. We ask, Lord, as we compare Scripture with Scripture. We've already been seeking to do that in our Bible reading. We pray, Lord, that one portion will indeed throw light upon another portion, and that we will see these things more clearly as a result of comparing Scripture with Scripture. So hear us now, we ask. Bless us, we humbly pray. We look to Thee in Jesus' name. Amen. So there are two parts to this harvest that we read off here in Revelation chapter 14. There is that part that we have already thought about with regards to the wheat, the golden wheat, the good grain gathered into the garner. And the Lord is coming, and He's going to separate on that day when He comes between the wheat and the tares. And we were noticing how that parable even emphasizes how the tares are going to be gathered out first, bundled up, ready for burning, cast into the fire. There is another part that is here before us, a second part to this harvest. There is the grain harvest, then there follows on the vine harvest. And if you know the order of the harvest in Israel, you will know that that is a natural order among the Jews. They started off, the barley harvest would have been first. You think about Ruth and how she and Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. They came back at the very beginning of the harvest season. But the harvest season wasn't all at one time. That was spread out over many months. Because it took so much manpower and labor, they couldn't gather the whole harvest in in a very short space of time. So the Lord was merciful and he gave the earth to bring forth fruit and to bring its harvest over a period of months. So the barley harvest would be followed on by the wheat harvest, and then that would finish the grain harvest. And then after the grain harvest, there would come the harvest of the vines, the vintage. It's not a word maybe that we use so much today talking about vines, the vintage, but it's referring to the harvest that comes from the vines. And that's the order that we observe here in this portion of scripture. And for those who were Jewish of character, who are Jewish of culture, who would have known the order of things, they would have immediately recognized the significance here that first of all, there would be a grain harvest, and then there would follow on a vine harvest. And we have thought about that grain harvest and those golden grain, that golden grain gathered in safely to the garner. And tonight we're coming to think about the second aspect of this, the grapes, the vines that are going to be harvested and what that suggests to us. Now, as I pointed out last Lord's Day evening, it's very much a portion that has to do with the second coming of the Lord, His direct coming. Because if you go back there to the 14th verse, for example, where John writes, I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And we know that the Lord left the scene of time in a cloud. When he went up from the Mount of Olives on the day of his ascension, when he took his disciples out towards Bethany, and he spoke to them, and then it says he was parted from them, and he went up into heaven in a cloud. Well, he's coming back on the cloud. The angel said that. As he has gone into heaven, so he's coming back again. So it's no surprise that when we get to Revelation 14 and verse 14, and we read here about one sitting upon the cloud and he's called the Son of Man, that we are immediately going to make that connection with Acts 1. And we're going to say, this is exactly how the Lord left the world. And the Bible tells me he's coming back again in exactly the same fashion. He's coming in a cloud. He's coming in a cloud. So this portion very directly does indeed indicate to us the actual coming of the Lord. And there are these two reapings that are involved in it. And with regards to the second aspect of the harvest, it is one of wrath. It is one of wrath. When we think about the gathering in of the grapes, we read there about Him gathering them into the great winepress. If you go down to Revelation chapter 14 verse 19, He's gathering them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. So it is most definitely a harvest here of wrath. or a harvest unto wrath that is before us. There's some other words there that I think would be valuable to highlight as we go along here, because it speaks about the angel that came out from the altar that had power over fire and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle. So again, this indicates that it is a cry of wrath. That may well be I'm not saying that it is, because the Bible doesn't specifically tie this up, but it may well be that is the voice of the archangel that you read of in 1 Thessalonians 4.16. Remember that well-known verse, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God? So what is that voice of the archangel? Well, here's an angel that cries with a loud voice, it tells us. The Lord is coming at this very moment. Now, I'm not saying that it directly is, because as I say, the scripture doesn't specifically tie it up. But there's one place there in Thessalonians where it tells us there's going to be the voice of the archangel. And here's another place in Revelation, very obviously speaking about his actual coming to the world. And we read about an angel that cries out with a loud voice. Verse 18 there of Revelation 14. He cries out with a loud cry, and it's a cry of wrath against the enemies of God, those who have opposed Him and set themselves against Him. We're told there at the end of verse 18 that there is a need now to thrust in the sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vines of the earth, for they are fully ripe. They are fully ripe. They have ripened in God's time. Oh, you and I might think the earth is ripe for judgment a lot sooner. The Lord is merciful. As we look back there in some of those earlier statements in Revelation chapter 14, where we spoke about one last opportunity, the Lord is merciful. We were thinking about that thought this morning, about His long suffering and how He delights in loving kindness. The Lord is merciful. He does bear long with His enemies. He gives them ample opportunity to repent. Nobody's going to stand before the Lord and say, you didn't give me opportunity, Lord. Or even, you didn't give me enough opportunity, Lord. No, no one's going to stand before the Lord and say that, because they will realize the Lord has given them ample opportunity to get right with God. He bears long with those who grieve Him and provoke Him, who sin against Him, that they would repent and turn to Him. But at length, he will deal with them. There will come a time when the grapes are fully ripe. The harvest doesn't take place until the vine dresser knows exactly when they are ripe. He's well skilled at knowing when the vines are ripe. He's not going to pick the grapes too soon, nor is he going to leave them until they're overripe. He knows exactly when they've ripened. And the Lord has his appointed time when he knows the earth is ripe. And the grapes are ripe for reaping. Now the first thing I want you to consider here about this harvest that is mentioned in these verses at the end of this chapter is that the grapes that are gathered into the winepress is a reference to the judgment that will come upon the supporters of Antichrist. This is not the general judgment of all the ungodly. That comes much later. We'll get to that when we get to Revelation 20 and the great white throne of judgment. But that's not what is in view here at this particular time. This is not the great white throne of judgment. This is Christ dealing with his enemies when he comes. We know that he's going to destroy Antichrist with the brightness of his coming. 2 Thessalonians tells us that. And alongside that destruction of Antichrist with the brightness of his coming, he's also going to gather these vines, as they are described, into this winepress. And we're going to seek to paint the picture of what that actually is in a moment. But he's going to gather that in, and he's going to trample them in his fury. So it is a Pacific judgment with reference to those who are the supporters of Antichrist. If you go back there to that first portion we read, Isaiah 63 verses 1 and 4, I'm not going to go down through every verse of that, but I certainly want to pick out some of those verses. I asked you to take note of the places that are mentioned, and we'll pick up on that in a moment. But it is evident a picture of the vines being gathered into the wine press. And then an individual would get in and walk all over those vines. That's how it was done. There might be a mechanical process today for doing this. that had been much more hygienic as well, and sterilized systems and all. But in a bygone day, they had a wine vat, and they would gather in the vines. And then somebody actually would get in with their bare feet, and they would start just walking all over the vines, crushing them with their feet. And there would be an outlet at the bottom of the wine vat, and they would catch the grape juice as it would come out. That's how grapes were dealt with in order to extract the juice from them. As I say, as time went by, there was mechanical presses and so on came into existence. But way back in Bible times, it was a simple process. Gather them into a vine fat, somebody gets in and tramples on them. So we'll understand then, for example, that question that is asked there, wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine fat? because this was the common practice. And then there is the statement by the Lord, I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with me. So the Lord says, first of all, I've already been in the winepress, and I have trodden it. I have trodden it alone, and there's been nobody with me. And that can be taken as a reference to Calvary, because there the Lord was in the winepress of the wrath of God himself. it's in the past tense in that statement. But then look at the next statement, which is not in the past tense, but now in the future tense, for I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury. So there is something that is past, there is something that is yet future. It's a basic rule of grammar. If something says it's in the past tense, I have trodden, well, we're going to look for that in the past. But here the Lord says, I will tread them in mine anger. So we're looking for something that is yet to come. And he says, their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. So the Lord is speaking here about a harvest. And He's actually going to do the treading of the grapes. He's going to gather them together, and it's as if they're gathered into a wine vat. And then He's going to trample on them in His fury. That's what we read off there in Joel chapter 3. Maybe if you would go back there just for a moment, just to explain what it is that we're going to think about. Joel chapter 3, because that chapter begins with the Lord saying, I am going to gather the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I'm going to judge them. Here's the Lord gathering in the vines into the wine vat. The wine vat is going to be the land of Israel. In fact, it's going to be a particular place outside Jerusalem. It's called there the valley of Jehoshaphat. And if you've been in Israel, there is a valley that runs just outside Jerusalem, and it's known by this name, the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And the Lord says, I am going to gather the nations there, and it's as if I am gathering the grapes into a wine vat. And when I have gathered them there, I'm going to trample them and them in my fury. In Joel chapter 3, It's all about that. I highlighted verse 13, put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe, come get you down, for the press is full, the fats overflow, for their wickedness is great. It's a grape harvest that is here in view, not a grain harvest. It's not a harvest of the redeemed. It's not the Lord gathering in His own. He's already gathered up His own. He's going now to deal with these enemies. It's not our purpose tonight to go through Joel chapter 3, but I want you to make that connection about where the Lord says, I will gather them. And that's mentioned a number of times down through that chapter that the Lord is going to do this. I am going to gather them. He even tells us the place in which He's going to gather them. It's going to be the valley of Jehoshaphat. Let's take verse 12 before we leave Joel 3. Let the heathen be awakened and come up to the valley, for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. So the Lord has picked his vine fat. As I say, this is a picture, a metaphor that would have been instantly recognizable to every Jew and many others in those times, because this is how it was done in the land of Israel and outside the land of Israel as well. And the Lord is taking that picture of how they gathered in the grapes into the wine vats. Somebody got in to walk all over them and out flowed the juice. And the Lord says, do you see the valley of Jehoshaphat outside Jerusalem? I'm going to gather the nations and I'm going to trample them. Jeremiah 51 verse 33 says, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, the daughter of Babylon, is like a threshing floor. It is time to thresh her, for yet a little while in the time of her harvest shall come. This is a harvest of woe. If you want to come over to the New Testament, 2 Thessalonians 1, let's take what the Lord has to say there about the same time. 2 Thessalonians 1 verse 7, to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels and flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saints. So we are told exactly when that is going to happen. He's coming in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God. And He's going to do it when He comes to be glorified in His saints. That's when He's doing it. Revelation 19 takes up this as well. It's the same time, but just a little later on in the book of the Revelation. Revelation 19, verse 15. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, and with it he shall smite the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." And there it identifies the nations. He's going to smite the nations. Joel 3 told us that. I'm going to gather the nations into that valley, the valley of Jehoshaphat particularly. I'm going to smite them there." So that's the first thing I want you to consider, that this has to do with the smiting of those nations that are allying themselves to Antichrist. The second thing I want you to consider is that God Almighty is going to gather these grapes for a crushing, a crushing in the winepress. He is going to crush them. He is going to crush them utterly and defeat them utterly. The picture there is given to us in Revelation 14. At the end, it says, the winepress was trodden. Verse 20, the last verse of Revelation 14. The winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even onto the horse bridles by the space of 1,600 furlongs. So there is this casting of these nations, as it were, into a wine vat. And in His fury against them, He's going to deal with them. These are nations that have rebelled. These are nations that have defied Him. These are nations that have worshipped Antichrist and promoted Antichrist. They are going to suffer the brunt of the Lord's judgments when He comes. He will trample them in His fury. Have we any idea And what that is, there has never been a judgment that God has done yet in this world, but He has tempered it. He has tempered it. But there comes a time when it will be untempered, undiluted wrath in His fury. We have no comprehension of that, men and women. That is going to be an awful day for those who have opposed Christ and who align themselves with another. it is going to be a most terrible day. We would not want to be among that crowd, those nations that are going to be gathered. They're not all the nations of the earth. They're the nations that have supported Antichrist, the nations of the ten kingdoms that will have promoted Antichrist and supported him and given their kingdoms to him, it tells us. These are the nations that He is gathering in to that wine vat, the valley of Jehoshaphat. Now what I want to take a moment and consider with you as well, if you come back here to Revelation 14, and look at this last verse, and look at the last part of this last verse, How are we to understand this? The wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press. Well, we can understand the picture that is being employed here. As I say, it's a picture of a wine vat. This is the normal practice. But then it says, the blood will come out even onto the horse bridles by the space of 1,600 furlongs. Is that significant? Is that a Pacific figure? Or is it just a general figure? Well, let's start to understand something of this. Furlong. A furlong is 200 yards. You need eight of them to make a mile. They still use these terms today in horse racing. Not that I encourage you to be involved in horse racing, but if you know anything about it or listen or hear, you'll know that there are races and they are measured by furlongs. And every furlong is 200 yards. You need 8 of them. 1,600 yards will make a mile, more or less. So what we think here about is 1,600 furlongs. So if you work that out, you're going to get 200 miles. You're going to get 200 miles divided by 8. Simple sum. So we're talking here about a distance of 200 miles. And the Lord says, such is going to be this fury that I'm going to visit upon these nations as I gather them into this particular place, that it's going to be seen for 200 miles. I asked you to keep in mind some of those places that are mentioned there. We started off in Isaiah 63, and you read about Bozrah and Edom. Who is this that cometh up from Edom, from Bozrah? That's a place just southeast of the Dead Sea. It's in the land of Jordan tonight. It's in the kingdom of Jordan. But there is a Pacific place, there is a Pacific city. The name is slightly different to Basra today in Arabic, but there is a place that is identified as the ancient Basra in the scriptures. And the scripture there in Isaiah 63 asks the question, who is this that comes up from Edom? And it would seem that that's a starting point for the Lord in dealing with his enemies and gathering them into this wine vat. He's going to begin in Edom. which is now in the kingdom of Jordan. He's going to begin in Bozrah, a particular place just southeast of the Dead Sea. That's where it's going to begin. And then, if you have Revelation 16 or Revelation open before you, turn over to chapter 16 and verse 16, and Here's another verse that ties in with the very same thought that we're thinking about tonight, and He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Well, I'm sure we've heard of this name and people's misuse of it, and they talk about the Battle of Armageddon and all the apocalyptic accounts that are going to take place. There's even films that have been made with this name and so on. Well, where is that? Where is Armageddon? So we've thought about the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which is around about Jerusalem. We've thought now as well, if we go back to Isaiah 63, Edom and Bozrah, and here's a third place that the Lord mentions. It's called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. That word Armageddon means hill or city of Megiddo. It's located in Northern Israel. And I would say every one of us know about it. You mightn't be able to open up a Bible map and put your finger exactly on it, But you know about this place. You've read about it so many times in the Bible. It goes under some other names. For example, in the days of Joshua in the book of Judges, it was called the Valley of Jezreel. Joshua fought against the nations of Canaan in the Valley of Megiddo. Barak and Deborah, when they fought with Sisera, and defeated those enemies, Jabin's armies, the 900 chariots, and there was a special intervention by God into those circumstances. That's the same valley. Gideon and his 300 men against the Midianites. Again, a special divine intervention of God to defeat the enemies. It was on the plain of Megiddo. What about the mighty Samson? When he triumphed against the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, and he slew a thousand of them, where was that? The plain of Megiddo. This is a frequent place where God gathers his enemies in. What we read about in Isaiah 63 and even here in Revelation 14 or Revelation 16 and verse 16 about him gathering them into the plain of Megiddo or Armageddon isn't something that's just a one-off. This has never happened before. The like of it has never been happened. God has done this over and over and over and over again in Old Testament times. And sometimes he did it with special divine intervention to defeat those enemies. So every Bible reader is well familiar with that place. As I say, we mightn't be able to open a Bible atlas and put your finger exactly on it, but you know these accounts that I have drawn to your attention tonight. This is the same valley that David slew Goliath. Now in David's day, it was called the Valley of Elah, but this is where it was. Northern Israel. David, the two armies. It tells us about the two armies camped. When David fought Goliath, they were camped on the hills either side, and there was this vast valley in between, and Goliath came out into the valley. You know the account and how he cried out, send me out a man to fight with me. Goliath's the type of antichrist, the defier of God. And how David went out and fought him, slew him, cut off his head, that was in the plain of Megiddo, although it was called the Valley of Elah. You can look it up tonight. If you have an atlas, or even better, go to Google, Google Maps, type in the plain of Eshcolan. In Israel, it's a very fertile plain. That's the word, Eshcolon, that refers to that particular place. And it refers to its fruitfulness. It's a very fruitful valley. And do you know what grows in the valley? Vines. Vines grow in the valley of Eshcolon tonight. And the Lord has painted a picture in His Word that tells us He's going to gather the nations And it's just like gathering vines, harvesting vines, and he's going to put them into a wine vat, and he's going to trample them in his absolute fury. And tonight, in that valley, there are vines growing, as if the Lord says, here's the picture. It's in the Scriptures. It's in the Old Testament. It's in the New Testament. It's in Revelation. I'm going to gather them in. So we have started away down in Bozrah and Edom. We've got to the valley of Jehoshaphat, outside Jerusalem. And now we've got up to northern Israel. Do you know what the distance is from those places that I've just highlighted to you? 1,600 furlongs, 200 miles. Again, go and look it up if you don't believe me. Check it out. If you start in Bozrah, in Edom, if you go to the valley of Jehoshaphat and then go on north to that great plain where the Lord says they're going to particularly gather and they're going to move down towards Jerusalem, 200 miles, 1,600 furlongs is the exact distance. And here you have it in the Scriptures written a way back the end of the first century by John the Apostle in inspiration, and he tells us the very distance. He tells us the blood is going to go out of this winepress, as it were, the space of 1,600 furlongs. God doesn't make any mistakes. When God says a figure, that's exactly what it's going to be. If some of you remember reading up or hearing at that time about, it was, I can't remember, I think it was the first Gulf War, when the Iraqi forces were retreating out of Kuwait, having been defeated. And there's that road from Kuwait to Baghdad. And there was whole columns, whole columns of Iraqi soldiers in armored vehicles and tanks and so on that were all fleeing out of Kuwait, heading for Baghdad, looking for safety. American bombers just picked them off one after another. It got so bad, George Bush Sr. had to intervene and say, enough is enough. If this gets out, we'll have lost the propaganda war. If anybody finds it out, there are pictures. There's even film footage on the internet of some of the carnage. The Lord is going to do something like that, not using some military power on the earth. The Lord is going to do it Himself. He's going to intervene. It tells us there in Joel 3, He's going to roar out of Zion and trample them in His fury. And those nations that will gather against Israel, it's just as if the Lord is gathering them into a wine vat. And when the time is ripe, He's going to trample them in His fury. Can we stand by God's Word tonight? Most definitely. That's a challenge to the unconverted. God's Word will come to pass in minute detail. God puts great store, the utmost store upon His Word and keeping His Word and it coming to pass. There's nothing that is going to fall by the wayside. He has exalted His Word above His name. I am always amazed and challenged at those seven things that God hates that are listed in Proverbs, and three of them have to do with the Word with your tongue. Now, if we were to list seven things that God hates, well, you might put the tongue in and the words that are spoken. You might put it in once, but I guarantee you none of us would put it in three times out of seven. We would have any other number of sins, and we would say, God hates that sin, and He hates that sin. And we'd easily get to seven and maybe more. God says there's seven things that I hate, and three of them have to do with what you say or don't say. And it underscores the point, Christian. What God says stands. You can depend upon His Word. And when God warns the sinner, here is the end of those who turn against the Lord. Here's the end of those who defy Him. He pictures it. It's just like gathering the vines into the wine vat. He is going to trample them in His fury. That's exactly what He's going to do. Is it not much better tonight to be among God's redeemed? I finish out this chapter by taking you back to verse 1 of this chapter, to that 144,000 that stood upon Mount Zion with the Lamb. What a difference. What a contrast. How much more important it is to be standing among them tonight, to be numbered among the 144,000, redeemed, the firstfruits unto God as they were described. We looked at it at the time. how much more important it is to be numbered among them. And if there's one lesson to take from tonight, I trust there's more than one, but certainly one is that God keeps His Word exactly. God keeps His Word exactly. You can depend upon it. What He says will come to pass. May the Lord bless His Word tonight to all of our hearts. We'll bow in prayer. We're going to sing a hymn that has a connection with this. In a moment, our Father, challenge us through Thy Word as we have considered it. Lord, we have just sought to bring Scripture together tonight that Thou hast stated in Thy Word and given by inspiration. We have sought, Lord, to set it down side by side that we might understand this day of fury, absolute fury, when God will break out upon His enemies. And Lord, there will be no hope. There will be no sparing of any on that day. They are gathered into the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God. Lord, we pray that while there is mercy, we will flee to Christ and be numbered among those that follow the Lamb and are counted as the Lord's people. write Thy Word upon our hearts, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 143, we're going to sing. I think it's this tune of Masterspeak is the tune that we sing it to. Number 143, who is this that comes from Edom, with his garments stained with blood, to the slave proclaiming freedom, bringing and bestowing good. Glorious in the garb he wears, glorious in the spoil he bears. So here's a hymn that's based upon Isaiah 63 that we have been thinking about this evening. We're going to sing all five verses of the hymn. 143, standing as we do so. Christ is born! Christ is born! ♪ Blessing, glory, and freedom ♪ ♪ Bringing the peace of the earth ♪ ♪ Alleluia, alleluia ♪ ♪ For as in the start we arose ♪ ♪ Glorious, proud we honor thee as the High King. ♪ ♪ Praise the Savior, Lord of hosts. ♪ ♪ Praise him always, our Son. ♪ ♪ Why did you leave me in the stream? ♪ ♪ Why did you leave me in the stream? ♪ ♪ For his chosen love we make known ♪ ♪ And we'll go days to day and day to day ♪ ♪ From day to day onward to day to day ♪ ♪ He's the King of the world ♪ ♪ Sing a hymn for Him, amen, amen ♪ ♪ He's an everlasting throne ♪ ♪ He is the great King of kings ♪ ♪ His praise ♪ ♪ I feel God so dearly in my heart ♪ ♪ Where, oh, shall I be when that hour comes? ♪ ♪ Is this it where love has gone? ♪ ♪ Love has gone, life remains lost ♪ Our Father, we thank Thee for the one who has already trodden the winepress, so that we might escape. And He knew what it was to be crushed. And we thank Thee that He has come forth victorious, and He's able, He's the mighty to save tonight. But O Lord, what a note of warning we have been thinking about of those who are out of Christ, who will rebel and defy Him, and what their end will be. And we pray that that warning note will register in our hearts this night. Part us with Thy blessing now, Thy fear and favour. Grant Thy people Thy abiding presence, even through this night, through the week, that is ahead in the will of God. Hear and answer our prayers, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. ♪ you.