Finding Our VoiceFinding Our Voice

Revelation 11Revelation 11

The PictureThe Picture

• Latter part of the Tribulation Latter part of the Tribulation

• 1,260 days, 42 months1,260 days, 42 months

• Rooted in DanielRooted in Daniel

• Time of Time of “great distress”“great distress”

The PictureThe Picture

• Church is trampled partially, yet protected Church is trampled partially, yet protected ultimatelyultimately

• Measuring a sign of protection (Zech. 2)Measuring a sign of protection (Zech. 2)

• In the midst of this, God sends forth His In the midst of this, God sends forth His prophetsprophets

The PictureThe Picture

• The emergence of the Anti-Christ (v.7)The emergence of the Anti-Christ (v.7)

• Prophets:Prophets:– Clothing—sackcloth (Elijah and John)Clothing—sackcloth (Elijah and John)– Office—priest (Joshua); kingly role (Zerubbabel)Office—priest (Joshua); kingly role (Zerubbabel)

Zechariah 4:14Zechariah 4:14

The PictureThe Picture

• ProphetsProphets

– Power and ProtectionPower and Protection

– Elijah calling down fire on Ahaziah’s soldiers (2 Elijah calling down fire on Ahaziah’s soldiers (2 Kings 1). They are protected by God for a timeKings 1). They are protected by God for a time

– Power like Moses and ElijahPower like Moses and Elijah

We Must Never Lose OurWe Must Never Lose OurProphetic VoiceProphetic Voice

• The North American evangelical church has The North American evangelical church has forgotten thatforgotten that

– Positive ThinkingPositive Thinking– Robert SchullerRobert Schuller– Corruption of church growth principles in some Corruption of church growth principles in some

parts of the mega church movementparts of the mega church movement

We Must Maintain BalanceWe Must Maintain Balance

• We mustWe must

– Speak the truth in loveSpeak the truth in love– Know how to answer with grace, seasoned with Know how to answer with grace, seasoned with

saltsalt– Give reason for hope with gentleness and respectGive reason for hope with gentleness and respect

We Must Maintain BalanceWe Must Maintain Balance

• Yet we must remember actions of those Yet we must remember actions of those writerswriters– Acts 2: 23, 36, 38-40Acts 2: 23, 36, 38-40– Acts 17:29-31Acts 17:29-31– Jesus – “white-washed tombs” “You have had Jesus – “white-washed tombs” “You have had

five husbands, and the man you are with is not five husbands, and the man you are with is not your husband” (John 4)your husband” (John 4)

We Must Maintain BalanceWe Must Maintain Balance

• John the Baptist – “It is not lawful”John the Baptist – “It is not lawful”

• Our reticence has placed us in a bad position Our reticence has placed us in a bad position and we must overcome itand we must overcome it

• We must remember missionaries of the past We must remember missionaries of the past and presentand present

We Must Preach ToWe Must Preach To Ourselves Ourselves

• 1 Cor. 9:271 Cor. 9:27

• 1 Cor.. 5 – expel the immoral brother1 Cor.. 5 – expel the immoral brother

• We must regain our own disciplineWe must regain our own discipline

• We must seek to build toward holiness in our We must seek to build toward holiness in our homeshomes

We Must Be Prepared We Must Be Prepared To SufferTo Suffer

• The landscape has changed in our cultureThe landscape has changed in our culture

• Those who seek to be prophetic will suffer Those who seek to be prophetic will suffer more directlymore directly

• The Lord will work through our faithful The Lord will work through our faithful witness and OUR FAITHTUL SUFFERINGwitness and OUR FAITHTUL SUFFERING