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It’s become painfully obvious that the advances in the internet has caused many bad things to happen, it’s given evil far too many tools at their fingertips. Names, addresses, phone numbers are easily obtained with just a few clicks on the keyboard. On a positive note, it’s offered me tools for deepening my faith and understanding as I study the Instruction Book, aka the Bible.

One of my favorite tools is the ability to go back to previous sermon series I didn’t know about in past years. The current series I’m listening to started in October 2018. It’s an expository study on the book of Revelation by Pastor Justin Myers.

In week 24 of the book Revelation Pastor walked us through chapter 9:1-12 and he had my pencil taking a lot of notes, and I was thrilled I had the ability to pause and backup. At this point on my journey walking through Revelation I’ve learned we are currently living in the church age and the believers will be raptured before the tribulation begins. I’ve gleaned what will happen when each seal is broken on the scroll and I’m currently learning about the trumpets that follow the 7th seal.

Revelation 9:4 tells us:

And they (locusts) were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men [who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads]. (emphasis mine)

I remembering hearing that Satan will mark the people who choose to follow him, which comes later in the book. What stopped my forward progress on verse 4 was the fact God had marked men and they did not get raptured up with the churches. My research sent me back to Revelation 7 where I was reminded of the 144,000 that God had sealed from every tribe in Israel. Further research suggested many believe they were not raptured so they could evangelize and witness during the tribulation.

My curiosity was satisfied with that explanation and I remembered that believers will be spared the wrath that is yet to come. They won’t experience the wrath, but they will experience heartache as they witness the torture of unbelievers and loved ones.

I pray daily for my loved ones not yet saved.