WEBVTT

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 Revelation chapter 21.

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 You know, heaven's going to be amazing

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 for all of those who are in Christ Jesus

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 when we leave this life.

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 I believe that'll be instantaneous

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 based on what Scripture tells me.

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 To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

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 And I believe it'll be glorious.

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 I believe it'll be beyond our imagination

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 and it'll be better than whatever it is you expect.

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 It's going to be better.

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 It's better than any language can describe.

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 I want you to understand when Christ

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 or when God through his word

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 tries to tell us

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 how dark wickedness is

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 or how glorious heaven is

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 or how abundant, abundant life is,

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 it's limited

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 to our vocabulary

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 and our frail, fallible minds.

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 So we only get a glimpse

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 of the darkness as well as the light

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 because there's only so much

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 that we can fathom.

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 And it's important that we understand that

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 when we turn to a book like Revelation

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 and especially Revelation 21

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 because if you want to know

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 what we can know

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 about heaven here,

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 Revelation 21 is the best place to go.

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 And I began sharing that last week

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 and today I want to share with you

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 my favorite part of it.

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 There are a lot of thoughts about heaven

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 that are not biblical.

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 They're kind of cutesy.

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 They may be comforting.

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 They're just not biblical.

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 No one has ever died

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 because God wanted another angel

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 in his garden.

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 If that gives you comfort, I'm glad.

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 It's just not true.

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 It's not true.

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 Because we don't become angels

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 when we die.

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 You are not angelic here.

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 And if you don't believe me,

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 ask whoever you rode with.

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 And you will not be there.

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 We'll be complete.

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 We'll be perfected.

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 But we will not be angels

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 or as some people spell it, angles.

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 We will not be.

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 If you are a child of God,

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 you'll be glorified

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 and you'll be changed.

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 If you're a child of God,

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 you have something that angels do not have.

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 And that is redemption.

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 An old hymn says,

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 holy, holy is what the angels sing.

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 And I expect to help them

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 make the courts of heaven ring.

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 But when I sing redemption story,

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 they'll fold their wings

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 for angels never felt the joy

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 that our salvation brings.

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 We've got something they don't.

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 Instead, as Psalm 40, verse 2 and 3 tell us,

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 we sing the song of the redeemed.

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 That he drew me out

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 from the pit of destruction,

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 out of the miry bog,

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 set my feet upon a rock,

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 making my steps secure.

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 He put a new song in my mouth,

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 a song of praise to our God.

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 Many will see and fear

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 and put their trust in the Lord.

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 The song of the redeemed

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 can only be sung by the children of God.

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 And you don't want to die

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 and become an angel.

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 And that's good

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 because you're not going to be.

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 Instead, the imperfect saint

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 will be made perfect,

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 glorified in the presence of God

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 with all of the advantages

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 that come with the promise of eternity.

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 But let's read about it.

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 Last week, we read the entirety,

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 I believe, of Revelation 21,

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 or at least, no, not all of it,

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 but almost all of it.

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 I just want to read a portion

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 this morning, though.

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 It's Revelation 21,

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 beginning in verse 22,

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 and it says this,

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 And I saw no temple in the city,

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 for its temple is the Lord God,

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 the Almighty, and the Lamb.

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 And the city had no need

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 of sun or moon to shine on it,

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 for the glory of God gives its light.

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 And its lamp is the Lamb.

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 By its light will the nations walk,

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 and the kings of the earth

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 will bring their glory into it.

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 And its gates will never be shut by day,

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 and there'll be no night there.

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 They will bring into it

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 the glory and the honor of the nations.

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 But nothing unclean will ever enter it,

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 nor anyone who does

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 what is detestable or false,

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 but only those who are written

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 in the Lamb's book of life.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord Jesus, I ask today

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 that you will give comfort

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 to the Christian today.

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 There may be some who are struggling,

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 dear God.

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 I pray, dear God,

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 that our future will be a comfort

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 even today.

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 Lord, for anyone here

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 who's never accepted you

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 as his or her personal Lord and Savior,

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 may today be the day,

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 oh God,

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 when you rip the veil off their eyes

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 and help them to see

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 what they can have

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 when they have you.

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 Lead us, Lord, today.

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 Help us to respond to you in obedience.

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 In Jesus' precious name.

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 Amen.

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 The promise of eternity

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 includes the beauty

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 of the heavenly city.

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 Verse 11 says,

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 the glory of God shines in that place.

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 Like Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration,

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 we shall shine like the sun

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 and be clothed in beaming white

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 due to the glory of God.

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 The gates of pearl

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 that I described last week,

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 the walls of precious stone,

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 12 stones, by the way,

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 all make for a scene

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 too beautiful for us to imagine.

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 The walled city,

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 look at the size

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 of that walled city.

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 It says that it is

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 12,000 stratia.

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 I told you that's about,

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 it is,

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 1,380 miles.

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 It's a cube

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 of sorts.

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 And described that way.

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 But I also talked about,

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 a little bit about numerology,

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 and I want to dig a little deeper

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 into that

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 just to,

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 just to wet you whistle,

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 and then I'm going to run from it.

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 But,

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 I mentioned four numbers

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 that are brought up,

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 at least in multiples,

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 multiple times in Revelation.

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 Three,

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 which represents the Trinity.

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 Seven is perfect

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 because it's creation.

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 Without the seventh day of rest,

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 the sixth,

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 six is,

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 makes it an unholy number,

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 and it's tripled at one point,

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 at least used triple times.

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 We don't do good enough math

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 to triple it six times,

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 so,

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 you just put six,

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 six, six,

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 but it means ultimate evil

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 is what it speaks of.

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 Ten speaks of the Ten Commandments,

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 represents,

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 symbolizes the Ten Commandments

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 because the Ten Commandments are,

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 it's not all the law,

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 but,

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 but when you think of the law of God,

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 you think of the Ten Commandments.

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 It was summarized that way

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 when Moses came down

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 with it off that mountain.

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 And then 12 is that number

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 that is complete

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 because it represents

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 the 12 tribes,

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 the complete people of God.

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 And so,

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 when you look at the,

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 in the count of the tribes,

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 it's 12,000

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 per tribe.

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 earlier in the book,

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 it mentions 12,000.

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 You add those 12 tribes together,

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 12 times 12

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 times 10

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 times 10

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 times 10

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 is 144.

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 when you look at 12,000 stratia,

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 the size of heaven,

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 it's 12

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 times 10

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 to the third power.

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 So it's 10,

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 12 times 10

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 times 10

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 times 10.

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 Do you get the,

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 the,

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 the,

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 the multiplicity

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 of complete numbers

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 being used over

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 and over

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 and over

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 and over

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 again?

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 The book of Revelation

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 is a coded

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 book.

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 It was written

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 to seven churches

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 in Asia Minor,

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 which represented

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 because of seven churches

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 and they encompass

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 most of Asia Minor,

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 it,

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 it really represents

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 the church.

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 it was written

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 to them

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 to give them hope

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 for the day

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 in which they lived.

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 It was not written

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 over 2,000 years ago,

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 almost 2,000 years ago

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 in order for America

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 to have a blueprint

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 of what's going to happen

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 tomorrow.

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 Okay?

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 Because if that was the case,

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 it wouldn't have wrote it

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 to seven churches

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 in Asia Minor

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 under the persecution

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 of the Roman Empire.

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 it was to give them hope

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 for that day.

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 And it was written

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 in a coded language

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 and they do a better job

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 of cracking that code

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 than we do,

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 but we can look back

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 into it and see

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 what those things represent.

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 So when we see,

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 I said all that to say,

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 12,000 stratia,

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 12 times 10,

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 times 10,

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 times 10.

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 Don't think it's,

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 it's ironic

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 that there's 12,000

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 in each tribe

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 that's represented as well

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 and that every gate

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 on the walls

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 of heaven

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 has a tribe

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 named over it.

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 The point is

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 there's room, folks.

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 There's room

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 for everybody there.

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 That's the point.

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 It is perfect.

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 That,

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 that walled city

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 is secure.

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 Those walls are thick.

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 The only way

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 you can get through them

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 is through that gate of pearl

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 and,

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 and they're beautiful

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 and they're open.

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 It says they're always open.

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 Open to all God's children

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 redeemed by the blood

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 of Christ

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 by their personal surrender

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 to his lordship.

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 There's room for all.

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 It's perfectly sized

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 for all.

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 So if you're a child

00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.300
 of God,

00:10:29.040 --> 00:10:29.900
 your reservation

00:10:29.900 --> 00:10:31.060
 is safe.

00:10:31.180 --> 00:10:32.160
 There is a place

00:10:32.160 --> 00:10:33.240
 that is saved

00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.460
 for you.

00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.220
 And if you have

00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:37.540
 never been saved,

00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:39.900
 I encourage you

00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:41.680
 to surrender your life

00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:43.020
 to the Lord Jesus today

00:10:43.020 --> 00:10:44.520
 and you can rest

00:10:44.520 --> 00:10:45.360
 in the security

00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.340
 of your eternity.

00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:48.340
 Now I want you

00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:49.220
 to understand something.

00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:52.720
 If this was all there is,

00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.240
 I mean that we died

00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.100
 and went away

00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.660
 and nothing was there

00:10:57.660 --> 00:10:59.360
 at all.

00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:01.600
 That was it.

00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:04.399
 It would be worth it

00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.840
 to give your life

00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:08.280
 to Christ today

00:11:08.280 --> 00:11:09.920
 and live the rest

00:11:09.920 --> 00:11:10.700
 of your days

00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:11.820
 for the honor

00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:12.740
 and the glory of God,

00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.840
 for what he gives us

00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:15.539
 in this life.

00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:18.000
 And that will always

00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.740
 be my focus

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.799
 is the abundant life

00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:22.899
 that he offers us

00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:24.080
 in this life

00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:25.720
 unless I'm preaching

00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.200
 a series on heaven

00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:28.639
 and then I'm going

00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:29.460
 to talk about heaven.

00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:30.480
 But I'm telling you

00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:31.159
 it's worth it

00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:31.740
 to give your heart

00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.500
 and life to Christ

00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:33.940
 in this life.

00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:34.919
 But oh, my friend,

00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:37.480
 what you get with that

00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:39.840
 is an eternal package

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.480
 because all of heaven

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:44.840
 is given to us

00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:45.899
 and all of it's lit

00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:46.740
 by the glory

00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:48.320
 of God and Christ,

00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.639
 the lamp of his glory.

00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:52.940
 There is no sun there.

00:11:53.060 --> 00:11:54.519
 There is no stars there.

00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:57.360
 There is no night there.

00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.460
 We'll get into this

00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:00.040
 a little later,

00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:02.460
 but there's no sun

00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:03.160
 and no night.

00:12:03.540 --> 00:12:05.259
 There's no chronology either.

00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:06.740
 Figure that one out.

00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:08.660
 Eternity is not just

00:12:08.660 --> 00:12:09.400
 lasting forever.

00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:10.439
 It's a whole different

00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:11.720
 echelon of sorts.

00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:13.639
 Heaven is open.

00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:15.279
 Gates are open

00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.480
 to receive beautiful

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.399
 beyond measure

00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:20.120
 and the light shines eternal

00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.459
 because the Lord

00:12:21.459 --> 00:12:22.600
 is all the light it needs.

00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:24.959
 Take a moment,

00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.379
 if you would,

00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:27.860
 to imagine

00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:29.779
 the beauty

00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:31.539
 of heaven.

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:39.779
 Now, the reality

00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:40.740
 is that silence

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.199
 is enough

00:12:41.199 --> 00:12:41.879
 uncomfortableness

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.799
 for us, okay?

00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:46.000
 But my point

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.559
 is this.

00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.959
 You can dream it up

00:12:48.959 --> 00:12:49.839
 all you want to

00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:51.059
 and you'll never

00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:51.699
 get a glimpse

00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:53.199
 of how wonderful

00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:53.759
 and glorious

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.500
 heaven is.

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:56.740
 Period.

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.759
 I remember

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.460
 years ago,

00:12:59.060 --> 00:13:00.360
 I was watching

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.519
 WGGS

00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:03.659
 and somebody

00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.039
 on there,

00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:05.060
 they were raising

00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:05.820
 money that day

00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:07.960
 and somebody

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.740
 was on there

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:10.620
 and had

00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.799
 painted pictures

00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:14.500
 based on revelation

00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.879
 and based on some

00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.659
 things in the

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.120
 gospels

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.399
 of what heaven

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:18.860
 looked like

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.259
 and what hell

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:19.799
 looked like

00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:21.419
 and you could

00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:22.059
 buy these

00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.299
 for just a

00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:24.019
 monthly gift

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.639
 and get these

00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:26.099
 paintings

00:13:26.099 --> 00:13:30.099
 and maybe

00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:30.620
 that

00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:32.659
 was when I

00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:33.379
 realized

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:35.740
 fella,

00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.359
 you ain't got

00:13:36.359 --> 00:13:36.819
 a clue

00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:40.339
 and then I

00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:40.819
 realized

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.699
 in reality

00:13:41.699 --> 00:13:43.919
 even by the

00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:44.519
 power of the

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.319
 Holy Spirit

00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:46.539
 inspiring John

00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:47.099
 on the island

00:13:47.099 --> 00:13:47.679
 of Patmos

00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:48.419
 to give us

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:48.959
 the images

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:49.879
 that he does,

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.060
 we still

00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:51.580
 don't have

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:51.980
 a clue.

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:53.080
 It is beyond

00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:54.540
 what we

00:13:54.540 --> 00:13:55.920
 can imagine.

00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.440
 That's the beauty

00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:56.840
 of the city.

00:13:56.900 --> 00:13:57.280
 There's also

00:13:57.280 --> 00:13:57.900
 this beautiful

00:13:57.900 --> 00:13:58.759
 reunion of the

00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.280
 church.

00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:01.820
 It's described

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.259
 in Revelation

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.360
 21 verse 3

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.440
 as us dwelling

00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.160
 with him

00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:06.040
 and I spoke

00:14:06.040 --> 00:14:06.560
 last week

00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:07.180
 of an intuitive

00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:07.780
 knowledge

00:14:07.780 --> 00:14:09.060
 that we gain

00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:10.400
 when we

00:14:10.400 --> 00:14:11.400
 are made

00:14:11.400 --> 00:14:12.240
 like him,

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:12.940
 when we are

00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:14.500
 beyond this

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.000
 world.

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:16.680
 1 Corinthians

00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:17.860
 13 verse 12

00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.540
 says now

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:19.099
 we see

00:14:19.099 --> 00:14:19.679
 but a poor

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.439
 reflection

00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:22.120
 as in a

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.019
 mirror dimly

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.519
 but then

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.559
 face to face

00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:25.860
 now I know

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.379
 in part

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.120
 then I shall

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.779
 know fully

00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:29.059
 even as I

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:29.360
 have

00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.259
 am fully

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:30.759
 known.

00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:32.620
 We shall

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.219
 know each

00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:33.519
 other.

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.339
 We shall

00:14:35.339 --> 00:14:35.980
 know more

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.599
 of him

00:14:36.599 --> 00:14:37.519
 and we shall

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.319
 as the old

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:38.839
 song says

00:14:38.839 --> 00:14:39.620
 understand it

00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.480
 by and by.

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.240
 Scripture

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.019
 is clear

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.439
 that the

00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:43.099
 Christian will

00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:43.719
 dwell with

00:14:43.719 --> 00:14:44.120
 the Lord

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.059
 worshiping

00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:45.319
 him.

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.360
 we shall

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:47.360
 be together

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.480
 and thank

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.240
 God for the

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.700
 Christian

00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.640
 heaven will

00:14:50.640 --> 00:14:51.379
 be a reunion

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.300
 like we've

00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.240
 never seen.

00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:55.820
 I talked

00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:56.680
 about all

00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:56.980
 of that

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:57.760
 last week.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:02.460
 I want to

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:02.799
 share with

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.179
 you the best

00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:03.860
 part today.

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.299
 I didn't

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:06.720
 take the

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.059
 time to

00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:07.340
 share it

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:07.980
 last week.

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:08.980
 I took

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.580
 enough time

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:11.639
 but I want

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:11.879
 to share

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.279
 with you the

00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:12.860
 best part

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.279
 and what is

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:13.879
 my favorite

00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.299
 part.

00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.139
 I believe

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.879
 the real

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.779
 beauty of

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:18.639
 heaven and

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.559
 that is our

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.919
 unhindered

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:23.179
 encounter with

00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:23.600
 the Lord.

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:27.399
 our heavenly

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:27.960
 father is

00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:28.240
 there.

00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.220
 The

00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:30.759
 creator

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.340
 Jehovah

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.139
 mighty God

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.700
 Jesus said

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.139
 our father

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:33.659
 which art

00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:34.100
 in heaven

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:34.600
 how it be

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.080
 thy name.

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.500
 Unable to

00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:37.860
 see him

00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:38.840
 now there

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.340
 we will

00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:40.060
 bow before

00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:40.560
 his very

00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:41.019
 throne.

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:42.080
 Not only

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.500
 that but

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.340
 Christ is

00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:43.720
 there.

00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.460
 Hebrews 9

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.159
 verse 24

00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.019
 says for

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:47.879
 Christ has

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.399
 entered not

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:49.920
 into holy

00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:50.480
 places made

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:50.980
 with hands

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.379
 which are

00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:51.879
 copies of

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.160
 the true

00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:53.139
 things but

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.860
 into heaven

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.539
 itself now

00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.319
 to appear

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:56.699
 in the

00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:57.299
 presence of

00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:58.100
 God on

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.240
 our behalf.

00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:00.500
 He is

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.019
 there and

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.319
 he is

00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:02.120
 interceding

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.559
 on our

00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.039
 behalf.

00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:04.279
 Hebrews 7

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.019
 verse 25

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.759
 says consequently

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.819
 he is able

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.480
 to save to

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.600
 the uttermost

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.439
 those who

00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.360
 draw near to

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:11.980
 God through

00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.659
 him since

00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:13.419
 he listen to

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:13.980
 this I love

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:15.120
 this always

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.539
 lives to

00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.319
 make intercession

00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:17.899
 for them.

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.279
 So not

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.059
 only does

00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:21.899
 Christ

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.980
 represent

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.639
 us

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.439
 advocate

00:16:25.439 --> 00:16:26.459
 for us

00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:27.319
 pray on

00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:28.199
 our behalf

00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.319
 he lives

00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:29.740
 to do

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:29.959
 it.

00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:30.860
 That's what

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:31.220
 gets him

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.679
 excited

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.139
 is to

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.659
 bring us

00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:34.519
 before the

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:34.860
 throne of

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.179
 God.

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.100
 Now it's

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:37.759
 exciting to

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.199
 think about

00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:38.679
 the glories

00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:39.039
 of heaven

00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:39.679
 and I get

00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.299
 excited to

00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:40.799
 think about

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.819
 seeing my

00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.840
 loved ones.

00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:43.720
 I get

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.379
 excited about

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.860
 the crown

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.360
 that I can

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.079
 lay at the

00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.740
 Lord's feet

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.259
 and by the

00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:47.759
 way and I'll

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.179
 get to this

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.000
 later but any

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.819
 reward you get

00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.319
 in heaven you're

00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:50.639
 just going to

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.100
 lay it at his

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.759
 feet so don't

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.460
 get braggadocious

00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:52.860
 okay.

00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:54.659
 It all goes to

00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:54.940
 him.

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.600
 He gets all

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.060
 the credit.

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.080
 But the

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.820
 people and the

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.540
 rewards of

00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.120
 heaven don't

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:00.879
 even measure

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.620
 when we

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:04.480
 see Christ.

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.099
 Man that's

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:06.400
 where it's

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:06.660
 at.

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:09.980
 Honestly I

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.599
 believe when we

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.259
 see Christ

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.720
 everything else

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.559
 will pale so

00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.220
 in comparison.

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.360
 We won't be

00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:15.980
 concerned about

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.720
 the furniture or

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.660
 the architecture or

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.360
 the people around

00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:18.680
 us.

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.900
 we'll be so

00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.400
 enamored with

00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:20.860
 the cause of

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.220
 Christ.

00:17:22.840 --> 00:17:23.860
 Revelation 7

00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.779
 9 through 12

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.400
 says this.

00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:27.279
 This image,

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.340
 this vision that

00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:30.259
 God gave to

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.180
 John of heaven

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.279
 says after this I

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.000
 looked and behold a

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.840
 great multitude that

00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:34.820
 no one could

00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:36.340
 number from

00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.180
 every tribe,

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.019
 from all the

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.519
 tribes and people

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.400
 and languages

00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.120
 standing before the

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:42.759
 throne and before

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.440
 the Lamb clothed

00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.840
 in white robes with

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:47.259
 palm branches in

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.660
 their hands and

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:50.039
 crying out with a

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.779
 loud voice,

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.740
 salvation belongs

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.960
 to our God who

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.160
 sits on the throne

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.440
 and to the Lamb.

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.779
 And all the angels

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.619
 were standing around

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.440
 the throne and

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.500
 around the elders and

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.059
 the four living

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:01.579
 creatures.

00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.779
 And they fell on

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:06.379
 their faces before

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.240
 the throne and

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:09.039
 worshipped God.

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.700
 Now I want you to

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.400
 listen to this because

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.359
 this is used again and

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.460
 again in Revelation.

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.539
 It is a seven, get

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.559
 the number, a

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:17.920
 seven-fold exaltation

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.839
 of praise.

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.639
 He said, amen,

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:23.339
 blessing and glory and

00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.819
 wisdom and thanksgiving,

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.859
 honor and power and

00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:28.720
 might be to our God

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.920
 forever and ever.

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:31.980
 Amen.

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.200
 Ann Ross' cousin wrote

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.259
 it beautifully when she

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:39.559
 said, the bride eyes,

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.940
 not her garment, but her

00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:43.539
 dear bridegroom's face.

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.519
 I will not gaze at

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.940
 glory, but on my king

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.620
 of grace.

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.779
 Not at the crown he

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:51.279
 giveth, but on his

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.019
 pierced hand.

00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.820
 The Lamb is all the

00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:55.600
 glory of Emmanuel's

00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.039
 land.

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.299
 I'm like that little

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.279
 boy who was trying to

00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:02.620
 learn Psalm 23 when he

00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.580
 was supposed to say, the

00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:04.600
 Lord is my shepherd, I

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.299
 shall not want.

00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:07.500
 He said, the Lord is my

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.440
 shepherd, that's all I

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:08.740
 want.

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:08.799
 Amen.

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:14.360
 When I get to heaven, the

00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.500
 victory, the glory, and

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.820
 the majesty will be

00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:18.180
 Jesus.

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.720
 Paul got a glimpse of

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:21.840
 it.

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.420
 Paul got a glimpse of

00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:27.740
 his majesty on the road

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.480
 to Damascus.

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.259
 And you can understand

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.440
 why he wrote that he had

00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.759
 a desire to depart and be

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.220
 with Christ, which is far

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.320
 better than anything this

00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:37.059
 life offers.

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.340
 Christ Jesus is the

00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:41.400
 entrance to heaven.

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:44.259
 that gate of pearl.

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.880
 He is the beauty of

00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.160
 heaven.

00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:49.940
 He is the glory of

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.240
 heaven.

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.799
 You may look at me this

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.500
 morning and say, preacher,

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.860
 you know, if heaven's that

00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:55.940
 grand, I don't deserve to

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.259
 go.

00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.900
 And you may expect me to

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.200
 say, oh, but you're a dear

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.400
 saint of the Lord.

00:20:04.080 --> 00:20:05.220
 You're a fine person.

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:08.580
 You may be fine, folks, but

00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.519
 you don't deserve heaven.

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:15.119
 You will not go to heaven

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.379
 because you deserve it.

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:19.400
 Because not a one of us

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:19.859
 does.

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:23.180
 You will go because you

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.779
 accept it as a gift from

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.259
 God.

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:28.000
 I've received a lot of

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.379
 gifts in my life that I do

00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.079
 not deserve.

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.879
 They were given out of love.

00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:34.320
 However, I've never received

00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:36.740
 such a precious gift as

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.860
 life eternal through Christ

00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.760
 Jesus, my Lord.

00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:43.520
 D.L.

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:47.620
 Moody was a probably the

00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:49.300
 greatest evangelist, arguably

00:20:49.300 --> 00:20:50.800
 the greatest evangelist of the

00:20:50.800 --> 00:20:51.660
 19th century.

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:55.279
 What God did to a man who

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.740
 wasn't at school was

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.820
 absolutely amazing how God

00:20:58.820 --> 00:21:01.160
 used him really across the

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.480
 world in a time when it was

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.860
 difficult to get across the

00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.160
 world.

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:07.000
 There's a plaque on Court

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:10.240
 Street in Boston that shows

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.060
 where he got saved, working in

00:21:14.060 --> 00:21:16.200
 a shoe store when a fellow came

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:18.140
 and shared Christ with him.

00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:20.220
 God did a work in D.L.

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:23.220
 Moody's life and empowered him

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.540
 with the Spirit of God and used

00:21:24.540 --> 00:21:25.800
 him mightily.

00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:29.060
 Traveled across the country,

00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:32.180
 leading folks to the Lord,

00:21:33.540 --> 00:21:35.100
 established what is now called the

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:37.040
 Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:39.580
 What we know of Sunday school

00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:41.140
 largely came from D.L.

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:44.400
 Moody, promoting it, bringing it

00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.800
 forth.

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:48.040
 Wonderful man, used eye

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.379
 God.

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.839
 He went to London.

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.059
 Spurgeon used him some.

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.839
 He was in London and was

00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.960
 preaching and there was a little

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:03.240
 boy that had heard that D.L.

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:05.799
 Moody, the great preacher, was

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:09.000
 going to preach nearby in that

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.740
 big city.

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:13.180
 That little boy walked all the way

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:16.680
 across London that day in order to

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.519
 go see D.L.

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:18.820
 Moody and to hear him preach.

00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:22.539
 When he finally got to the church

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.120
 where D.L.

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.820
 was to preach, he looked up on the

00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:26.640
 hill and that church was sitting on

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.580
 the hill and the sun was glowing

00:22:28.580 --> 00:22:32.240
 off of those windows and he could

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.420
 hear the voices singing inside.

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:36.840
 He could hear the instrumentalist play.

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:40.060
 He forgot how tired he was from that

00:22:40.060 --> 00:22:42.100
 journey and he ran up those steps and

00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:44.300
 he got to the front door and as he

00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:46.460
 reached for the front door, a big hand

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:48.160
 put his hand on his shoulder.

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.360
 Turned him around.

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:55.759
 What do you think you're doing, boy?

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.399
 He told him how he had traveled all

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:04.339
 day to be able to hear D.L.

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:08.299
 Moody and the doorman looked down at

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:12.539
 his matted, sweaty head, his unwashed

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:20.159
 clothes and his shoeless feet, his

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.180
 unwashed face and those raggedy clothes

00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:26.700
 and he said, no, sonny, you're too

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.060
 dirty.

00:23:28.320 --> 00:23:29.080
 Be gone.

00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:35.880
 Little boy was, took back, needless to

00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:38.680
 say, and went back down those steps but

00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:42.560
 as little boy would do, he said, there's

00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:43.460
 got to be a way in here.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.759
 So he went around back and looked and

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.420
 checked every window and every door to

00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:52.680
 find some way to get in and there wasn't

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.060
 another way to get in.

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:59.120
 Dejected and beaten down and tired, he

00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.740
 sat down on the front step of that

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.180
 church.

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:07.539
 Just sat there crying.

00:24:10.060 --> 00:24:11.840
 Just then a carriage pulled up.

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.940
 Beautiful carriage and a stately man

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:20.940
 stepped out of that carriage, got out and

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:23.420
 marched quickly up those steps and as he

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:25.440
 got to where the boy was sitting, he

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:28.200
 stopped and looked at the boy and ask him,

00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:29.140
 what's the matter, boy?

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.200
 Little boy explained how he had traveled so

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.960
 far to come and how they wouldn't let him in

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.360
 because of the state of his circumstances

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:38.539
 and the gentleman extended his hand to him

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:40.680
 and he said, here, put your hand in mine.

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.899
 And he walked in that church.

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.299
 When they entered the back door of that

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:50.240
 church, they walked down the aisle and

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:52.379
 continued down to the front aisle until he

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:57.000
 set the boy on the front row and then he

00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:01.519
 walked in up to the stage to get ready to

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:01.920
 preach.

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:06.800
 It was Dr. Dwight L. Moody.

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:20.539
 When I die, I don't have the merit on my own to

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.940
 walk through the gates of glory.

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:25.779
 I wish I did.

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.980
 But I won't.

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.799
 I've not done enough.

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:39.340
 No matter how long God allows me to live, I'll

00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:42.279
 never do enough to deserve heaven.

00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:49.299
 I will not approach the throne on my

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:51.259
 perfection because I'm far from it.

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:56.860
 I'm just a nasty, barefoot, wore-out youngin'

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.960
 at the gate of glory.

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:05.580
 However, there'll be one on a white horse

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:08.620
 ride up called the Prince of Peace.

00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:13.840
 He'll get off and take my hand in his nail-scarred

00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:18.340
 hand and walk me to the very throne of God

00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:27.220
 on his shed blood, on his perfection as his gift for me.

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.679
 Do you know him?

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:37.960
 Have you ever put your hand in his?

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:44.680
 Have you ever surrendered your life to him?

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:51.600
 All of heaven waits for those who've given their heart and

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:53.259
 life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:26:53.259 --> 00:27:04.960
 But if you haven't, and you don't, you'll have hell to pay.

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:16.180
 With every head bowed and every eye closed, I ask this morning, do you know that you know?

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:19.500
 Have you ever given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus?

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:24.359
 I want you to know there's always an open invitation.

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.579
 My number's on the front of the bulletin.

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:28.220
 You can contact me anytime you want to.

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:35.539
 But I want you to know today's the day of salvation.

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:44.660
 If you'll admit your sin to the Lord and ask him to empower you and change your life,

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:47.160
 you'll forever be changed in this life and in the next.

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.500
 If you don't know the Lord or you're uncertain,

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:56.579
 don't leave this room without taking care of those matters.

00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.859
 Maybe you're here and you're a Christian today.

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:06.359
 But the reality is there's people all around you who do not know the Lord and they don't

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.759
 know the difference from your life.

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:13.240
 There's things in your life, whether they be private or public, that are shameful before

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.759
 the Lord that you need to clear up.

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.380
 And you can't do that on your own.

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.660
 You have to surrender that to the Lord.

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:24.759
 I encourage you to make what's wrong right in your life today by simply asking God to

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.420
 do the same.

00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:29.080
 If I can help you with that, I'll be happy to.

00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:33.300
 Maybe you're here this morning and God's drawing you to this congregation.

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:39.100
 You know that this is the place where God would have you to be, would have you to serve.

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.519
 God's telling you that.

00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:42.680
 Don't you put that off a bit.

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:44.800
 You come.

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:46.640
 We'd love to guide you in that process.

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:52.480
 Last week we celebrated several being baptized in a neat, wonderful service.

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:59.000
 If you've acknowledged the Lord privately, but you've never done that publicly and never

00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:03.120
 acknowledged that through baptism, well, you come and we'll line that up.

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.040
 We'll set that up.

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:09.240
 It'll be the first step of obedience in your Christian walk that you need to take.

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:14.980
 I have no idea what God's speaking to you about or what he's telling you, but I know this,

00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:19.960
 that you'll never be satisfied until you do exactly what he tells you to do.

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:23.620
 And so I'll never ask you to do more than he tells you to do.

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.819
 I'll never ask you to do less.

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:28.859
 Just simply be obedient today as he speaks to your heart and life.

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:33.380
 Lord Jesus, thank you for the clarity in which you give us.

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:38.260
 It's as good as we can understand it about eternity, God.

00:29:39.520 --> 00:29:44.180
 I'm thankful also that you make it very clear how we get there.

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:52.800
 And God, I pray today that Christians will celebrate their eternity by living their life for you.

00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:57.940
 And that those without you, dear God, will surrender their life to you, Father.

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:04.059
 And that today we'll all be stronger because God's people have been obedient as you spoke to us.

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:08.559
 Lead and work right now as we sing.

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:11.700
 In Jesus' precious name, amen.