Revelation 9:12-21

1. because of the false gods they love - Rev. 9:20
1. what is a false god?
1. the greatest sin is loving something more than God - Matt. 22:36-38
2. Jesus said, "no man can serve two masters" - Matt. 6:24
3. Jesus said that it was hard for a rich man to enter heaven - Matt.19:23-24
4. covetousness is called idolatry - Col. 3:5
2. these false gods were something made with their own hands - Rev. 9:20
1. because of their love for their false gods, they invested heavily in them
2. the most costly would denote a higher degree of devotion & honor for that false god
3. these false gods were status symbols (the "status god")
3. these false gods could do nothing for those who worshipped them - Rev. 9:20
1. they could not see any bodies need
2. they could not hear any bodies prayer or cry for help
3. they have no ability to come to any bodies aid or rescue
4. how can an intelligent person put their faith in something like this?
2. because of the sins they enjoyed - Rev. 9:21
1. their false gods influenced their behavior
1. wrong beliefs produce wrong actions
2. their actions show who they are following - John 8:44
2. the sins they enjoyed
1. murder – a common thing today
2. sorceries
1. meaning of word: medication, a drug, a spell-giving potion, a druggist or poisoner
2. our English words pharmacy & pharmacist come from this Greek word
3. witchcraft by means of drugs
4. drugs were used to kill the pain & guilt of the conscience
5. drug are used as a form of escapism
6. Satan will use drugs as a means of deceiving the minds of many people - Rev. 18:23
3. fornication
1. common place today (50% of married people cheat & 88% of college kids practice it)
2. it is heavily promoted today
4. thefts – an unjust means of acquiring wealth
3. they had no restraints for the things they wanted to do
1. they enjoyed sin & did not want to change - "neither repented they"
2. they do not think their actions are wrong (because of the false god they follow)
4. a biblical description of these sin lovers - Prov. 30:11-14
1. the disrespectful - 11
2. the hypocrite - 12
3. the proud - 13
4. the cruel & greedy - 14
5. the Bible is certainly not outdated, is it?
3. because they have hardened their heart
1. the judgment of God did not have the effect that would reasonably be expected
1. they did not abandon the sin for which they were being judged
2. they did not seek the true God that was judging them
3. they did not change their minds about the false gods the worshipped
2. this is what Pharaoh of Egypt did when confronted by God
1. he wasn’t going to let anybody tell him what to do
2. no amount of suffering could change his mind
3. God is willing to forgive these sin & all sin, but it is up to man
4. Jesus is knocking at the door of our heart and wants to come in - Rev. 3:20
5. one day God’s long-suffering will end