Romans #13, 2:1-?

The Seven Vials During the Seven Church Ages

Sunday January 18, 1997

Brian Kocourek

For the past few weeks we have taken our study from Romans 1:18-28 where Paul is speaking of the wrath of God that will most certainly come upon all those who would be of such a nature as to withhold the Truth, or suppress it and hinder it by holding back from the people that which has been vindicated to be True by the very essence of God’s phaneroo absolutely declaring His Word.

[Romans] 1:18-26 18 For the wrath of God is revealed (apokolupsis - laid open, made known, uncovered) from heaven against all who lack reverence toward God and (un-right-wiseness) of men, who hold down hinder or suppress, the truth using un-right-wise-sness;

[19] For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God Himself has shown it to them) God hath phaneroo’d unto them. In other words, He has openly manifested in His True Character, and yet they still turn it down. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Now, had God done all these things in a corner, in hiding somewhere, they would not be held accountable. But they know what God has done and they turn away from it, therefore, they are without excuse.

Therefore, if they turn down God’s Mercy, there is nothing that can be left but God’s wrath as Paul tells us here. This then is the same as we see in Hebrews 6, where God shows forth Himself in a once for all enlightenment and they still turn it down flat. Then there is nothing left for God to do but send froth the plagues and His judgment.

(Therefore what we’re looking at in Romans 1:18-28 is the wrath of God. The judgments that God has determined upon those who would openly rebel and willfully turn away from the Truth, or as Paul put it, those who willfully withhold the Truth from others.)

[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, ( therefore, these men knew better, but they would not give Him the proper glory and respect. neither were they thankful; but they became vain (empty or worthless) (in their questioning of what is truth?), and their foolish hearts unintelligent without understanding, were clouded and darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed (substituted) the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind,( a mind that could not stand the test), to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, they become covenant breakers, (faithless) , without natural affection, implacable (unbending, unsatisfied, inflexible, rancorous and relentless) ,in other words - unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Now, we have shown quite extensively how God will deal with these people, and how God has dealt with those who turned Him down in every age. We showed on a time line how that every time God broke a seal in heaven, and a mystery was declared, a Gospel trumpet sounded, A Message went forth, and a spiritual war took place on earth. Then when the Message is rejected, God sends down the plagues as a temporary judgment for those who have rejected mercy. Showing in type the great judgments to come. We saw how that in each age an angel which is a messenger went forth with a trumpet and a vial full of the plagues which is the wrath of God.

Romans #13, 2:1-?

Paul	Irenaeus	Justin Martin	Columba	Martin Luther	John Wesley	William Branham
Ephesian CA	Smyrna	Pergamean	Thyatira	Sardis	Philadelphia	Laodicean
53 =========>	170 ========>	312 =======>	606 =======>	1520 =======>	1750 =======>	1906 =====>
White horse-bluff which is a lie	Red horse conquering	Black horse- death	Pale horse		Baptism of Holy Spirit rejected	7th angel 7 seals
Anti-Christ	False Prophet	Vicar Crowned	Bubonic Plague	Bubonic Plague	Spanish- Influenza	7 vials
Jerusalem sacked Matt 23	Bubonic plague Black death	Huns sack Europe	Black death1348 75 million die	2/3 of european cities perish 1700	kills 37-40 million 1 billion infected	7 plagues
starvation, ate children	begins in Asia Council Nicea, trinity	Bubonic Plague 90 % fatality 100million die	1/2 European die	Tuberculosis kills 1 in 4 people		1/3 world die

#32) 30 Seven Church ages 54-0512 When the sixth one sound... We'll get on that maybe the sealing away on Friday night. When the First World War, why, that Sixth Trumpet sounded exactly according to the time God spoke of it, exactly, geographically, following the seal before that. And when the mystery was revealed in there, for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and the people then, how the Church did not move up; and those who were moving refused to walk in Light, and went back; and the plague was opened at that time, and poured out upon the earth, which was influenza, that killed all the people as it did, the thousands times thousands... And then coming down into this last age where we are here... And just come and listen what the Lord has to say about it in His Word. Now, that isn't my makeup. I’m just reading it like a newspaper right out of the Word of God. So this is His direct revelation to the Church, to the Church: The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Church.

#33) 195 Revelations Chptr 5 Part 2 61-0618 When the first seal was opened up, the first trumpet sounded and the first plague fell. When the sixth seal opened up, the sixth sounded and the sixth plague fell. Just watch it; it's the most beautiful thing that you ever seen. And when I do, I'm going to get me a big, great big blackboard, bring it up here and just teach it right across here, so we just take plenty of time on each seal, and go back and take up the history and things, and prove just when it happened, and show right here in the Bible when It said it would take place, and right exactly when it happened, just the date and everything else. I got it (See?), got it from Him. That's right. There's the seals.

Þ [Revelations 15:1] And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Þ [Revelations 15:7] And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. Now, here we see more specifically that these last plagues are contained in seven golden vials.

#36) 420-4 {198} The First Seal 63-0323 He sent forth the first messenger, and he preached, and the trumpet sounded (as we pick it up after while); and then the trumpet was declaring war. Trumpet always denotes war. The messenger, the angel come on earth, the messenger of the hour, like Luther's, like any of the messengers that we've talked of. What does he do? He arrives, and a Seal opened, reveals; a trumpet sounds, war declared, and away they go. And then the messenger dies. He seals away this group; they're put in; and a plague falls upon those who rejected it. See? And then it goes on, then they organize, get another organization.

#34) 126-3 {61} The First Seal 63-0318 He come in the first age, the Ephesian Age, revealed, sent the messenger. Notice what happened as we go along. Here's the plan of it: The first thing happens, there is an announcement in the heavens first. What happened? A Seal is opened. What is that? A mystery is unfolded. See? And when a mystery unfolds, then a trumpet sounds. It declares a war. Or a plague falls, and a church age opened. See? What is the war part? The angel of the Church catches the mystery of God, not fully yet revealed, but when he does, he catches this mystery of God, and then he goes forth to the people (after the mystery has been given to him), goes forth to the people. What does he do out there? He begins to proclaim that message, and what does it start? A war, a spiritual war.

#35) 126-5 {65} The First Seal 63-0318 And then God takes His messenger with the elect of that age, and lays them away asleep, and then He drops a plague upon them who rejected it: a temporary judgment. And then, after that is over, then he goes on, and they denominate, and bring in denominations, and start off with that man's work like of Wesley and all the rest of them, and then it gets all in a scrapple again; and then another mystery comes forth. Then what happens?

Romans #13, 2:1-?

Another messenger arrives on earth for a church age. See? Then when he arrives, the trumpet sounds. He declares war. See? And then what happens? Finally then he's caught away. And then when he's laid away, then plague falls destroys them. Spiritual death hits the church and she's gone, that group. Then He goes on to another one. Oh, it's a great plan until it comes to that last angel. Now, he has no certain mystery, but he gathers up all that's been lost in them other ages, all the truths that wasn't truly revealed yet (See?), as the revelation come. Then he reveals those things in his day.

Notice he says, Here's the plan of it: The first thing happens, there is an announcement in the heavens first. What happened? A Seal is opened. What is that? A mystery is unfolded. See? And when a mystery unfolds, then a trumpet sounds. It declares a war. Or a plague falls

Now, the Plan is this: #1) A Seal is opened, right? What does a seal being broken do? It allows you to see what was kept previously from view. Therefore, by Faith we see what God is revealing, because Faith is the first thing, the foundation stone. Those who can’t receive the revelation for their hour are faithless.

#2) When the Seal is broken, It allows us to see, it seals us in. But by rejecting it, the others become sealed out. One group is locked in and the other is locked out which is God Separating His People, right?

#24) 59 The Token 64-0208 Likewise, we must remember that God is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. He always sends His signs, His wonders. And then when He gets ready to do anything, He separates the believer from the unbeliever. And notice then how He provided for His promised-land people. Look what He did for His promised-land people there, to be sure that they would not be mixed up in some kind of an ism. What did He do? He sent a prophet to them, Moses, with a message identifying God's Word. And to identify Moses, He sent a Pillar of Fire that hung over him. Amen. Then to give him the perfect assurance, He required a token. Amen. There's a messenger, the message, and the vindication, and the token, the perfect assurance that they had nothing to worry about. No matter how many plagues strike, what everybody else says they are sealed away.

The separation by revelation always begins a warfare, a Spiritual warfare. It always has. In the beginning Michael disputed with lucifer and then warfare broke out. Then on earth, Cain disputed with Abel. And really, who did He really dispute with? God! Then after the dispute, Cain killed Abel. Warfare! It’s been the same in every age. Look at Jacob and Esau. Revelation received by one and rejected by the other. A dispute, then warfare. Look at Joseph and His Brothers, Revelation received by one, the same revelation rejected by others. A dispute and then warfare. The same in Moses day, Revelation received by one, the same revelation rejected by others. A dispute and then warfare. Daniel’s day, the same. Elijah’s day, the same. David’s day, the same. In fact we find this example entirely throughout the scriptures from Genesis through Revelations. A Revelation, a dispute over that revelation, then warfare. Then what?

#3) Those who are sealed in are protected from the judgments that are to follow, and those who are sealed out, are fitted for destruction. They fit themselves. Notice [Romans 9:22] [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: Now, what does this word fitted to destruction mean? The word fitted to is a Greek word which means they are prepared for. If I fit something to something else, then what I am doing is preparing that thing to match the other. Then the judgment matches the judged? Remember, where there is a deep calling there is a deep to respond. Brother Branham said, that there couldn’t have been a fish with a fin until there had been first a water to swim in. Then who prepares them? God made them for destruction. But He has left them with a free moral agency to prepare themselves. And how do they do they prepare themselves for destruction? [Proverbs 14:12] says, There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. They take their own way above God’s way.

E-16 Preparation 53-1111 I believe that the people are in the preparation of the last great destruction this world will ever know. I believe we're at the end. You can speak to people; you could put a Billy Graham in every city in the United States; they'd drink whiskey and smoke cigarettes and laugh at you and everything else just the same. They are in the spirit of the last days. And God cannot send destruction before the people are in the spirit for destruction. God never did destroy anything. Man always destroys himself. The Message Trumpet is declaring, Grace and Mercy for all that would receive it, and to reject Mercy leaves only judgment.

Romans #13, 2:1-?

Þ Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Now, I would like to move on in this series as we will read from Romans chapter 2, beginning at verse 1.

[Romans 2:1] Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, (this word actually means without defense, or defenseless) and isn’t it strange that they not only left without an advocate or a defense as far as their justification is concerned, but I think that it I also interesting to note that the plagues that are coming forth are also plagues which affect the immune system which is the bodies defense system, leaving the victim defenseless and open or exposed. whosoever thou art that judgest: Now, the liberal would say that we should not judge, but that is not what Paul is saying here. Jesus never told us not to judge, but He said we should judge with righteous judgment. [John 7:24] Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment. [Luke 12:56] [Ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 12:57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? so we see therefore, that judging is not the issue, but how we judge is altogether the issue. And these people that the wrath of God is coming against because they without the Word are condemned for the way in which they judge, because they are using un-right-wise-ness to judge in complete disobedience to God’s command.

“for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. Here he is not saying that they are using the Word to judge wit, but they are looking at the outward appearance only and not at what the Word of God says. Notice how Paul clarifies this in the next verse. 2:2 But we are sure (What are we sure of?) that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (Therefore we find that God’s judgment stems forth from Truth. even Peter tells us that Michael the Archangel, when He was disputing with the devil, said, “the Lord rebuke thee”. In other words, it’s not my opinion, but it’s God’s opinion that counts. 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;

Now, what doe Paul mean when he says that these men despise the forbearance and long suffering of God? How is it that they despise God’s long-suffering? It is because they do not redeem the time that has been given to them to repent. That is why Paul says here), “not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Repentance is what God’s long-suffering is all about. That is why Paul tells them that they are not using the time allotted for the right thing. We should be using this time of God’s long-suffering to come to a repentance which is a change of the mind. Because it is not what we hold as valuable, or to be the right way, but it is what God holds to be valuable and the right way that counts.

Notice here that Paul tells us that these guys have hardened their hearts toward God and His Word. These are the guys who hold back His Word from the people by using a word which has been altered. A Word which is un-rightly-wise. 2:5 But after thy hardness (Stubborn, obstinate) and impenitent heart (impenitent means admitting no change of mind, unrepented) But after or according to thy own Stubborn, obstinate) and unrepented heart, treasurest up or store up, or prepare for yourself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

These guys don’t realize it, but what they sew is what they are storing up as payback, and that’s what they’re going to reap. 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (There’s your sewing and reaping). 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, (Your payback will be) eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, (Now this word does not mean one who likes to disagrees, but it actually means one who desires to put themselves forward and who courts distinction, one who electioneers, which means they are those who are looking for popularity) and notice their attributes that follow them, They “do not obey the truth, but they obey unrighteousness, (And what can these guys look forward too?) indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without or apart from the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned within the law shall be judged by the law;