Let me welcome each one to this SGAT meeting by way of a video broadcast. I am speaking to you from Kiltskerry, Free Presbyterian Church in County Tyrone. And as you will know, this is a recorded video, recorded some time before the actual broadcast date. And that is done in order to permit those whose duty it is to prepare the recording for this evening's meeting. I'm speaking to you, therefore, in the immediate aftermath of the heartbreaking news of the death of our beloved Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I personally have felt her passing very deeply. She has been a central figure in my life, for I was only ten years old when she was crowned Queen. And as a ten-year-old, I was to some degree sensitive of the change that was taking place in the country. Since my own conversion in 1964, I have often prayed that the Lord would indeed save the Queen. Nothing is more important, dear friends, be we pauper or princess, than our eternal salvation. I can but sincerely hope that it is well with our late beloved Queen. Having uttered these few words and given expression to my feelings shared by millions across the nation, I'd like us now to turn to the Word of God. My subject this evening, given to me to speak upon tonight, is when will the seven plagues be poured upon the earth. Now, I cannot give you a time and a date for these things to begin to happen. However, as a start, to answering the question in our title, I would say that we should look at the opening of the first seal as it's recorded in Revelation chapter 6 and the verse 1. As you know there are the seals, the trumpets and then the plagues or the vials of wrath. And yet I do believe there is a very close proximity of these events and overlapping, no doubt. But if you turn to Revelation chapter 6, we read in the opening verse of the sequence of events that follows, or the beginning of the sequence of events that follows the opening of the seal. Here's what we read in verse 1, And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals. Oh, take note of that. The Lord is in control of these events. He is the author of these events, terrible in all as they may be. We forget, you know, that the gentle Saviour is also the God of wrath and judgment. And so here the Lamb opened one of the seals and I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder. One of the four beasts saying, come and see. One of the four living creatures. The term beast there is a most unfortunate translation because it gives you the impression of that which is anything but pleasant, especially when we later come across the Antichrist called the beast. We think of these wonderful creatures as being somewhat similar, but they're absolutely not. These are angelic beings, living creatures. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer. Now, there's so much there, but we do want to, as it were, find ourselves tied up with details here, for that's not the main topic of our subject. But I would ask you to take note of the fact that here we have the one on the white horse, and he's carrying a bow, and the crown is given on to him. I believe we have the Lord Jesus here. revealed to us, coming to be crowned as king of his dominions, but he's carrying a bow. Now that's a weapon that is used at a distance from the enemy. Were you to read on in your Bible to Revelation chapter 18, there you will see in greater detail what I believe is the same event, the coming again of the Lord Jesus. And he's not carrying a bow on that particular occasion, but rather he is carrying a sword. And as you know, a sword is a close contact weapon. I said chapter 18, I should have said chapter 19, of course, of Revelation. So, here is a preview, as it were, of the coming of the Lord Jesus and it's linked with the opening of the first seal. I believe that that would impart to us the knowledge that When we start to see these events, the seals, the trumpets, the plagues, the coming of the Lord is within a bow shot. That's a good way to put it. It's getting very close. In the verse 11 of chapter 6, You have a conversation between those who have suffered under Antichrist, pleading with the Lord for Him to exercise judgment and vengeance upon Antichrist and upon those who had so afflicted them. And the Savior answers them. We are told in verse 11, white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for A little season. So here again is an indication that the time of the Saviour's return is getting close. And that's revealed to us right in the middle of the revelation of the opening of the season. The Bible teaches us that in the end days, the people of God, the converted people of God, will have largely gone to sleep with regards to the coming again of Christ. I'm sure they'll be industrious enough in their seeking after the comfort of this world, but when it comes to the subject of the coming again of Christ, they will have fallen asleep. That's set before us in the opening verses of Matthew chapter 25, in the parable the Savior tells there of the five wise and five foolish virgins. We read in the verses 5 and 6, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept, that's both the wise and the foolish. And at midnight there was a cry made, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Now this is a time of slumbering, of that I have no doubt. as one who is a keen student of what the Bible has to say about prophecy regarding the last days and who in reading my Bible sees references everywhere on this wonderful subject. I find it altogether amazing Hard to fathom how it is so many Christians really take no great interest in this subject. Indeed, many would seek to discourage the study of the subject, saying it's totally a waste of time, can't be understood. Even ministers of the gospel take up that notion. And it's all evidence of the spirit a slumber that there is today. But, as the time of the Saviour's return draws near, there is going to be an awakening cry from heaven. A fresh bringing before the people of God this wonderful event. If you go into the epistles, you will find Paul particularly referring to those to whom he is writing as those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord. So there was an awareness, a fully awake attitude amongst the believers in the first century, far from what it is today. But I believe God's going to awaken His church and stir it up again in preparation for the coming of the Lord. The saints of God will be made aware that the second coming is on the very horizon. That's what the voice from heaven says in the parable in Matthew 25. Behold the bridegroom cometh, he's drawing near. I believe God is going to work by His Spirit and by the preaching of His Word and the study of His Word to make Christians realize the time of the Lord's return is coming very near. Again, when we consider the character of the events that follow the opening of the seals, if you look at Revelation 6, verses 3-8, you will see almost a record of events very similar to those that we see taking place around us today. Look around you. See the dark storm clouds that are gathering. We see the beginnings, I believe, of the troubles that will be visited upon the world, particularly the Roman earth, the kingdom of Antichrist, in that day spoken of here in Revelation 6. But today we have war, we have famine, we have floods, we have fires, we have droughts that have ravaged many lands. including of late parts of the United Kingdom. There is, worst of all, growing opposition to Bible Christianity. Sodomites, adulterers, blasphemers, open defiers of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, cannot dominate as they do the palace, parliament, the streets, and the airways of the news media, without life for the Christian becoming more hazardous and dangerous. Now the things I just mentioned, and of which we have been reading in our newspapers in recent days, have come upon us suddenly. Since the emergence of Covid-19 in 2020, if I'm not mistaken, what unimagined changes and chaos have impacted upon nations. Money and technical expertise have not been able to cope with these events. In actual fact, when we think of the reports concerning our own national health, it has almost broken our national health. Not to mention many other government agencies whose task it is to combat emergencies. At the very least, There is, in this all that I have just referred to, a foreshadowing of the scenes depicted in the opening of the seals here in Revelation 6, if not indeed the very beginning of what is here revealed to us in this chapter 6. We will not merely look at the time when these plagues will take place, but at other matters that are related to their outpouring. I have a number of points to make and I will seek to set them out as clearly as possible before you. First of all, there will be many indications of the approach of Christ's return, of which the plagues are but one. There will be many other events and happenings taking place that will serve to augment and strengthen the opening up of the plagues and the pouring out of them upon the earth. How kind is God? How kind is God? He doesn't merely set off, if I might use a picture, He doesn't merely set off one flare to let us know there's danger. But flare after flare after flare is going to be sent up into the air for us all to see. as the day of Christ's return draws near. There were clear indications when Christ was to come at the first advent, so I believe that there will be even greater and clearer signs of the second advent. And indication of the Lord informing his people of his plans may be seen in Jeremiah's prophecy regarding the duration of the Babylonian captivity. God made that known. And I would draw your attention to the fact that in his mercy, God lets people know when, because of their sin, they're about to be visited with judgment. God in his kindness makes all these items of information available. I'm sure part of that plan has to do with mercy, warning sinners of what's coming with the objective of having them repent and turn and seeking God for mercy. Daniel chapter 2, sorry, Daniel chapter 9 and verse 2 reads, In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years. For of the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem. I may not be right in this, but I've often wondered how it was that it was not until this late point in the life of Daniel, almost at the end of the seventy years' captivity, that Daniel came to understand that's how long the captivity would last. It says he understood by the books, he discovered it, in other words, in the writings of Jeremiah. But I've often wondered how he hadn't understood this and discovered this quite some time before the seventy years were almost up. But we'll leave it there. Perhaps it is an example of how God's people can read the Bible and miss important points of information. Further information was given to Daniel, and this again serves to underscore the fact that God would have his people informed of what it is he was going to do. In the chapter 9 and the verses 25 and 26 we read, Know therefore and understand. This is what is being given to Daniel by the heavenly agent. Know therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks, the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times, And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. And the people of the prince shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood. Unto the end of the war desolations are determined." Now I'm not going to go into that particular prophecy except to underscore the fact that God here in these two verses is giving great detail as to when the Messiah would come the first time and what it was that would happen to him. He would be cut off when he did come in his first advent. Now I think that these things are in keeping with God's mercy, since the events that will occur at the second advent will bring upon ungodly mankind the most terrible and eternal consequences. As ever, the Lord gives clear warning of judgment coming. It is in keeping with the term, long-suffering, so often used of the Lord. Israel was kept informed of what the Lord was doing in Egypt prior to the Exodus. Again, I say to you, and I want you to grasp the simple truth, God's going to let us know. He's going to make it known to us. The end of this age is approaching and his return is drawing near. Evidence of this informing of his people and through them mankind and the awakening of the believers prior to the first advent may be seen in what is revealed to us concerning Simeon and his companion in faith Anna. For the knowledge that they had is very clearly given them of God regarding the coming the first coming of Christ. And they passed on this knowledge to others. Luke chapter 2 is where you'll find that story. The verses 25 to 26 and 36 to 38. And there you have how these two individuals, godly individuals, became possessors of information regarding the soon coming of Christ on the first occasion and how they passed that on. Now I tell you that that incident was a foreshadowing of what I believe will soon happen on a larger scale as we get nearer and nearer to the time of the Saviour's return and the pouring out of the seals and the sounding of the trumpets plagues, all of these will act as sirens to tell us the time is near. It's going to happen again just as it happened in the experience of Simeon and Anna. The run up to the Saviour's return is one of great and traumatic events. We're going to see things happen. I've already said we have seen things happen in the last couple of years, the like of which we never imagined. But I tell you that these things are small in comparison to what it is we will yet see take place in this world. And it's God sounding the alarm and letting us know, letting the world know, that the great day of His wrath is coming and drawing near. If we go back to chapter 6 and the opening of the seals, we're told that it's a period of war, of famine, and of slaughter in many lands. Particularly, I have to say, in the territories of the old Roman Empire. That's the kingdom of Antichrist. That will be the ten kingdoms of Spokanaw in Revelation chapter 17. In truth the majority of the inhabitants of this world have enjoyed comparative peace and quiet and plenty for a long time, but I think we see in but recent months that this comfortable affluence is under serious threat and is likely coming to an end. The seals opened in Revelation 6 and the events that followed that indicate that the end times will be turbulent as never known before. And I would urge upon you, because I cannot go through all the verses that will be required, but I would urge upon you to Just read for yourself, closely, slowly, carefully, Revelation chapter 6 and 7. I say, are we not seeing the beginning of this disruption? The rising cost of fuel, the rising cost of energy, the rising cost of food. I just got notice a day or so ago that the electrical company that supplies power to my house for the third time in I'm sure less than 12 months, it's going to go up by 30%. That sort of price rising is unheard of. It's unheard of, and yet it's not just that one commodity, but virtually every commodity used in our homes is rising at this fantastic rate. I tell you, disruption and disorder, that's what the Bible says is coming, and are we not seeing the beginnings of it? In the period of the trumpets, that will bring even more distressing times upon many. We're getting closer to the period when there will be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring. Just every order that we have become so used to and taken for granted is being shaken, is being shaken. That's referred to by the Lord in Luke chapter 21 and the verse 25. just before the period of the plagues, which is the central topic of our study. Just before the period of the plagues, or the vials of wrath, it is to be noted that there is a reference to the final Horus, Revelation chapter 14. The verse 15 says, And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat in the cloud, thrust in the sickle, and reaped. for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. So I suppose I could from that verse say to you that in answer to the question that has been posed to me, when will the plagues be poured out? Just before the Saviour comes to reap the harvest of the earth. They are, as I've already said, one of the many indications of the approach of the end of the age. This announcement I've just read out is followed by the pouring out of the plagues or vials of wrath as is recorded for us in Revelation chapter 15. Can we not safely say that the events in the closing years of this age will be such as to arouse men, not just believers, from the deepest slumber and cause them to realize that the halcyon days of God's long-suffering of man's wicked rebellion is coming to an end and the intervention of God in man's affairs so often a topic in prophecy throughout the Bible is about to take place than ever before. The second thing I want to say is that the time of the seals, back to Revelation 6, is close to the end of this age for it is a time when the Lord starts the process of claiming his inheritance or his heritage. Revelation 5, and I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven seals. Now an understanding of the significance of this sealed book may be had by looking at Jeremiah 36. particularly the verses 6 through to 12. In this chapter, Jeremiah is depicting the Lord delivering his people and their land into the hands of the Babylonians as a punishment for their sins. You have that in verses 2 and 5 of Jeremiah 32. But Jeremiah also prophesied of the return of God's people to their own land in verse 15. The prophet was told to engage in the purchase of a field from his uncle's son and by so doing demonstrate that the land of Israel would return one day to the ownership of God's people and that such a purchase would not be a lost investment The enemy would only occupy Canaan for a time appointed of God. Then it would return to Israel. That's what that little exercise that Jeremiah was required to go through when he purchased that field was all about. What is particularly interesting is the legal requirement to have two deeds of sale. One was sealed and one unsealed. Verse 11 of chapter 32 of Jeremiah. When the property was to be redeemed, that is, bought back by the original owner or his descendants, then the redeemer of the property would have to produce the sealed receipt or deed. to prove his right of ownership. And that's what the Saviour is engaged in right at the time when the seals are opened. Christ, the Redeemer of God's elect, possesses a sealed book that is evidence of his rightful ownership of a people and all that pertains to their eternal happiness and glory. He has a receipt for His possession, His eternal people, His eternal elect. He made that purchase at Calvary when He offered His blood as the price of redeeming His elect from captivity and condemnation under sin. Christ's elect are His inheritance. He has yet to claim His possession and enter into the full enjoyment of it. But He will one day. I've been teaching the boys and girls in our Christian school, how that at this very moment the Lord Jesus is seated at his Father's right hand, waiting for the day when the Father will cause the enemy to be broken and to become a footstool for feet of Christ. He's waiting at the moment. He has the sealed book, he has the receipt, and one day he's going to claim his inheritance. At this present time Each child of God is sealed unto the redemption of the purchased possession. The day of the opening of the seal and the claiming of his inheritance by Christ draws on and the events that will Accompany the opening of the seals will tell us what is happening in heaven and how that Christ is getting ready to claim his inheritance. Remember what the Savior said, when these things begin to come to pass, then look up. We ought to familiarize ourselves with that which is revealed to us in scripture, particularly the book of Revelation, because they are the signal. Things are coming to an end and we should look up for our redemption. Draweth nigh. That's the other sealed, or unsealed I should say, copy of the transaction. It's open, we can all read of how the Saviour purchased His people. One day He's coming to claim, but there's a sealed copy as I say. in heaven. When the time will come, Christ will open it in preparation for his claiming of his possession. The scripture is forever written down in heaven. It's a sealed copy there. And all that's in it, one day Christ will open it before his father to claim what is his. Again, it's reasonable, surely, to assume that the opening of the seals is very close to the end of the age. Indeed, we're told very clearly in the narrative dealing with the outpouring of the plagues, that John saw something that indicated this truth. Seven angels having the seven last plagues, the word last is suggested, for in them is filled the wrath of God. And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark, And over the number of his name stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God. Revelation 15 verses 1 and 2. It's tied in to the last three and a half years of this age. Because here is mentioned those who had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name. These are things tied to the last three and a half years of this age. The linking together of these two scenes indicate just when the plagues are to be poured out. It was during the time when the Mark of the Beast was being enforced upon those under his dominion. It's during the last three and a half years, they say, of this age. Thirdly, consider the location where the events will take place during the period of the seals, of the trumpets, and the plagues. I know that there is a widespread perception among many of God's people that these events will impact upon the whole world, one end of the world to the other. I think that error, for error it is, arises chiefly from the folly propagated by those who believe in dispensationalism. We have all heard at least, if not seen, the dispensational gospel tract depicting at the time of the secret rapture, so-called, airplanes crashing and other vehicles under the control of Christians who have suddenly been snatched away, crashing, and there's all sorts of disasters taking place. all over the world. It's nonsense. It's absolute nonsense. I think that the view held by amillennialists would also support that notion that the whole earth is affected by these awful things taking place. But let me just remind you that at the first impact, or the first advent, there was a limited impact at the first Only the land of Israel was affected. Certainly it spread outward in the days of the apostles when Christ sent them out onto the Gentile nations. But at the first it was an event, the coming of Christ the first time was an event only the people of the Holy Land and only a limited number of them was aware of. Remember the Saviour's words to the woman of Canaan. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15 verse 24. However, that embargo, that limitation was soon lifted following the day of Pentecost. And the glorious news of Christ's redemption began to spread throughout the whole world. But that wasn't the case at the first. And it took decades for those cities that we're familiar with, like Ephesus, to actually receive the gospel. Well, I think there's a pattern here for us to look at. Please consider these words. Found in Zechariah, if you want to look it up in your own Bible at this moment, Zechariah chapter 8, verse 20. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities, and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts, I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and pray before the Lord, thus saith the Lord of hosts. In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you. for we have heard that God is with you. Now, I'm not going to take the time now to tell you that those words relate to what is happening after the Saviour returns. Isaiah chapter 2 speaks of the Lord coming to Jerusalem and the word of the Lord going out from Jerusalem. At the beginning and throughout the years of the millennial reign. Well, here is events linked to that very thing. And what I want you to take note of, and I say to you as I've often said to the boys and girls, watch every word. Here's what the people are saying to this Jew whom they have let hold upon. We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. They had heard. They hadn't seen the coming of the Lord. And that's something you should give a little thought to. But they had heard about it. You see, that little phrase, we have heard that God is with you, is an indication that there was a publishing across the world of what was happening in Jerusalem, now that Christ had returned. He's returned to take up residence in Zion and it will become the subject of news reports which have reached out beyond the Holy Land onto unbelieving nations and in response to these reports there is a flocking to Jerusalem in company with the exiled Jews who are themselves being gathered by the Lord out of all nations. We might consider the words of Rahab, you remember her in the city of Jericho? As an example of how the reports of the extraordinary dealings of God with Egypt when he plagued it went out to the surrounding nations. Remember the spies? Here's what she said. And she said unto them, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side, Jordan, Sihon, and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed." That's Joshua chapter 2 verses 9 and 10. We have heard. It was 40 years ago these things had happened. We have heard. See how the reports of what God did in Egypt has spread? Likewise, when the Saviour comes, the reports will spread and men and women will hear of what's happening and will be attracted to Jerusalem. We might talk about the Gibeonites. They explained to Joshua why they put on the show and pretended they had come from a great distance. And if you look at Joshua 9, verses 9 and 10, it says, we have heard the fame of him. and all that he did in Egypt. So I'm pressing upon you the fact that the Lord in his coming will, prior to his coming, have centred his attention upon the location that throughout history he has ever centred his attention, namely the Mediterranean area, that which Israel is to a large degree the very centre of. Well, that's where the plagues etc. will fall. In that territory. In and around that ancient region. From Babylon high to the coast of England. We're told particularly that Jerusalem and Babylon will feature in the events of the final days. In Revelation chapter 11 we read of that period which refers to the last 42 months of this age. Verse 2. The events recorded in that chapter take place in the great city. which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified. And the judgments that fall there, recorded in chapter 11 of Revelation, they fall on Jerusalem. Not on Moscow, New York, or anywhere else, Jerusalem. And that's where we will see the events spoken of under the seals, the trumpets, and the plagues take place. Again, if we look at Revelation 16 verse 2, we are told, Where the first plague will fall. And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a noisome and grossome sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. Now I have to say that again we underscore the fact that when The word world appears here. It doesn't really mean all of the globe. It doesn't mean the inhabited earth. The word earth is a translation of a Greek word that is often used to refer to the land of Israel. Indeed, its first appearance in the New Testament refers to Judah. Let me read you out the first reference where you find this Greek word. And thou Bethlehem In the land of Judah are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of these shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. So the word, I believe, when we are studying prophecy should never be limited to an understanding that is a reference to the land of Israel. It likewise appears so in a few verses further on. Verse 20 of chapter 2 of Matthew. Arise take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel for they are dead that sought the young child's life. So this focus upon the land of Israel and the territories that are associated with it in the days of Antichrist is again mentioned for our consideration in Luke chapter 2 verse 1. It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Well, all the world didn't mean all the world, for Caesar's dominion and rule didn't extend to all the world, but it did extend to the territories over which Antichrist will one day rule. That's where the plagues will fall. That's where they will fall. We are told specifically that the plagues will be poured out on the earth in Revelation 16.1, and I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, go your way and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And there again you have that Greek word that doesn't mean the whole earth. It just refers to a limited portion of the earth. that we can rightly call the prophetic earth. It's the ten kingdoms that are referred to in Revelation chapter 17 verses 12 and 14 who come to support and amalgamate themselves and ally themselves with the Antichrist. That is the earth upon which the plagues will fall. A further indication of the location, I am pressing this upon you, where we are to look for the plagues to be poured out may be seen in chapter 16 and verse 3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea and it became as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea." I believe this is the same sea as referred to in Revelation chapter 13, out of which the Antichrist, the beast, arose. The sea? It's the Mediterranean Sea. The word Mediterranean, as you know, means the middle of the earth. The middle of the earth. And it's right in the middle And unto Christ's earth one of the plagues will fall upon that sea. An even more definite indication of the location of the area plagued is given in chapter 16 verse 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain. So again I'm telling you that we can look for fulfilling of the pouring out of the plagues in those territories over which Antichrist rules, for he is the chief target of God's plagues, just as it was with Pharaoh and his land. One final point that I want to make. The specific time when the seven last plagues are to be poured out is clearly indicated to us in God's word. That is, it's clearly indicated with a little bit of research. God hid gold in the earth and many, many other precious stones and objects, diamonds, all the precious stones, etc. and men have to dig for them. There's no one growing on trees And it's a bit like that. God demands an effort from us to find his truth. And the specific time when the last plagues are going to be poured out is clearly there in the word of God for those who will look. We're told the period in which the first plague is poured out in Revelation chapter 16 verse 2 is poured out when the mark of the beast is evident in his kingdom. That's within the last three and a half years. It's the time of the very zenith of Antichrist power. We are told the purpose of the place. Why is God doing this? That will tell us something of the timing. And the seventh angel poured out his violins into the air and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying, It is done. Chapter 16 verse 17. The gloriously triumphant purpose of God regarding Babylon and the apostasy linked with it is ended. under the judgment of God. It's one of the very final scenes of this age. It is the purpose of God to avenge Babylon and its age-old rebellion which it has fomented amongst mankind even today. We have Babylonianism in Popery, we have it in Ecumenism, we have it in the liberal theology that abounds within our churches. That's Babylon. God's going to avenge it. It's the wine of fornication that has intoxicated the nations of men even today. Remember what you read in Revelation chapter 17. The angel takes John and he says, Come hither I will show you the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Babylonianism. God's going to avenge. And the last plague is poured out on the seat of the beast. The very headquarters of this rebellion. God's going to fulfill us, but of that we can't be sure. I love a verse that I read in Jeremiah chapter 51. I've come to it many times. I've marked it so well in my Bible, I can hardly read it in my Bible. But here's what it says, Jeremiah 51 verse 29, And the land shall tremble in sorrow, for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. What is said in verses 9 and 11 should be noted, Men were scorched with a great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues, and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness. And they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains on their souls, and repented not, and repented not of their deeds. Even to such as these rebels will an opportunity be given to learn of their sins and turn from them. but they repented. They were sold out entirely to rebellion against God. Opportunities to repent may be given, but repentance is not immortal man's power. It's a gift of God's grace. Wicked men may be given space to repent, yet if God does not give that grace to repent, no man will repent. Here is foretold for us the fate of the ungodly. That's why all these things are set before us in the Bible. No man will ever go to hell claiming, I never knew, I was never told. It's there in great detail of what sin will bring upon men. Such a forewarning displays God's mercy. No clearer warning of the fate of the defiers of God could be given. In closing, may I ask if any of you have noted the words of this clear warning of that which is to come on wicked men, and yet not acted upon that warning? Have you taken heed of these words, and sought the Lord for mercy, crying out, God, be merciful to me? Long ago a young mother called Hannah said this, The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces. Out of heaven shall he thunder upon them. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth. and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 10 Hannah was so right. It will come. May the Lord bless you and I hope at least to some degree you have found this study profitable, helpful and glorifying of God. Good night and God bless you.