WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.740 Last week we started a study in the book of Revelation. 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:09.939 And what I want you to know, if you weren't there, and even if you were, 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.580 Revelation is not simply a manual on the end times. 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:24.359 Revelation is a manual on how to follow Jesus in the end times. 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:27.460 And we're living in the end times. 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:37.579 One of the themes through the book of Revelation is being a faithful follower to Jesus, 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:39.760 a faithful witness. 00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:45.640 The word witness comes from a Greek word that we get the word martyr from. 00:00:45.900 --> 00:00:51.560 And I'm guessing when you hear the word martyr, you're thinking of someone who dies for a cause, 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:55.020 someone who dies even for the faith. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:01.160 Well, back in the first century, martyr was simply used to bear testimony to something, 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:02.620 to bear witness. 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:06.799 And so if there was a police, there's an accident out here on 60th and Sheridan, 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:11.420 the police there would say, hey, we need some martyrs to give their accounts of what happened. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:18.159 Or if you go to court to bear witness, you go up into the martyr stand, the witness stand. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:28.439 What witnessing is, is bearing testimony to your Lord Jesus. 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:37.679 Being, bearing testimony to his exclusivity and his universality of his Lordship. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:41.560 Speaking of him. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:50.960 And we're often tempted to compromise our witness to Jesus. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:58.599 And there is a big reason why we tend to compromise in our witness to Jesus. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:01.459 We fear being ridiculed. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:08.199 We fear the possible consequences in job places of being looked over. 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:14.339 We fear being excluded from groups of people. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:24.019 We fear being resented, unfriended of even the awkwardness that can enter a relationship when you break the ice. 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:30.320 All of this has to do with a fear of rejection. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:41.000 And so our fear of rejection with other people can tempt us to quiet compromises, unspoken denials, 00:02:41.260 --> 00:02:45.320 and hushed unfaithfulness to the Lord of all. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:46.500 Our Lord. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:56.879 And so what the book of Revelation is, is one huge encouragement to stay faithful in your witness to Jesus, 00:02:57.460 --> 00:02:59.300 regardless of how hard it gets. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:01.860 Regardless of the consequences. 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:06.780 So what you need to hear this morning is this. 00:03:07.659 --> 00:03:11.520 In light of the God who is sovereign over all, 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:13.200 in light of Jesus, 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:15.500 and what he's done in your life, 00:03:15.600 --> 00:03:17.820 and what he's going to do when he comes back, 00:03:18.660 --> 00:03:20.000 don't shrink back. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:21.960 Step up. 00:03:22.540 --> 00:03:24.939 Count yourself as one of his kingdom. 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:27.219 Don't hide out, 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.800 but step into opportunities to bear witness to Jesus. 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:32.360 And definitely, 00:03:33.180 --> 00:03:34.080 don't give up. 00:03:35.480 --> 00:03:36.280 Stay true. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:40.020 Stay true to your Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:42.680 Because this morning, 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:43.540 what we're going to see, 00:03:44.260 --> 00:03:45.920 is that God is in control. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:48.620 Last week, 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:49.980 we looked at Revelation 1, 00:03:50.040 --> 00:03:50.640 1 through 3. 00:03:50.760 --> 00:03:51.219 This week, 00:03:51.320 --> 00:03:52.100 Revelation 1, 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:52.800 4 through 8. 00:03:53.920 --> 00:03:55.420 Would you read with me? 00:03:56.340 --> 00:03:58.320 I'm going to start in verse 1. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.000 The revelation of Jesus Christ, 00:04:00.100 --> 00:04:02.700 which God gave him to show to his servants, 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:05.120 the things that must soon take place, 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:08.420 he made it known by sending his angel to his servant, 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:08.819 John, 00:04:08.899 --> 00:04:12.019 who bore witness to the word of God, 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:14.139 and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:15.839 Even to all that he saw, 00:04:16.039 --> 00:04:18.839 blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, 00:04:19.419 --> 00:04:21.180 and blessed are those who hear, 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:23.199 and who keep what is written in it, 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:24.539 for the time is near. 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:26.620 John, 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:28.399 to the seven churches that are in Asia, 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:31.539 grace to you and peace from him who is, 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:32.639 and who was, 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:34.019 and who is to come, 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:36.819 and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 00:04:37.159 --> 00:04:38.539 and from Jesus Christ, 00:04:38.919 --> 00:04:40.180 the faithful witness, 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:42.079 the firstborn of the dead, 00:04:42.799 --> 00:04:44.879 and the ruler of kings on earth, 00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:46.439 to him who loves us, 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.839 and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 00:04:49.039 --> 00:04:50.060 and made us a kingdom, 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:52.399 priests to his God and Father, 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:55.439 to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. 00:04:55.659 --> 00:04:56.039 Amen. 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:56.240 Behold, 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:57.860 behold, 00:04:57.960 --> 00:04:59.060 he is coming with the clouds, 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:01.540 and every eye will see him, 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:03.620 even those who pierced him, 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:07.720 and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.379 Even so, 00:05:09.820 --> 00:05:10.220 amen. 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:12.759 I am the Alpha and the Omega, 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:13.820 says the Lord God, 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:14.900 who is, 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:16.000 and who was, 00:05:16.460 --> 00:05:17.439 and who is to come, 00:05:18.340 --> 00:05:18.960 the Almighty. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:24.840 This passage is in our Bibles, 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:28.879 in this abstract wing of our Bibles, 00:05:29.239 --> 00:05:31.979 to encourage your hearts, 00:05:32.619 --> 00:05:35.639 to give you strength to press on, 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.959 in a faithful witness to Christ. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:39.339 Don't compromise, 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:40.699 stay true, 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.039 because what you're going to see is God is in control. 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:45.419 So we're going to make four stops along the way here. 00:05:45.899 --> 00:05:46.620 The first is, 00:05:46.659 --> 00:05:49.179 the first stop is the seven churches, 00:05:49.179 --> 00:05:52.019 who are in a precarious position. 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:54.919 The second stop is the greeting itself, 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:56.240 in verses four and five. 00:05:56.620 --> 00:05:58.319 Grace and peace to you, 00:05:58.539 --> 00:06:00.379 from the triune God. 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:04.139 And then there's the pivot, 00:06:04.459 --> 00:06:05.740 in verses five through seven, 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:07.599 and it's a bit of a surprise. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:09.919 It's a pivot of praise, 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.060 from grace to you, 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:13.879 to glory to him. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:16.519 And then there's the approval, 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:17.240 in verse eight. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:20.079 God the Father essentially says, 00:06:20.460 --> 00:06:22.000 I am the Alpha and the Omega, 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.560 and I approve this message. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:28.519 So let's look at these seven churches. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:30.879 There's encouragement for you, 00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:31.800 brothers and sisters, 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:33.500 not to compromise, 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:36.120 not to shrink back, 00:06:36.780 --> 00:06:37.420 step up, 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:40.379 not to hide out, 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:41.040 step in, 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:42.680 not to give up, 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:43.860 but to stay true. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:47.100 We read, 00:06:47.400 --> 00:06:48.379 John to the seven churches, 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:49.259 that are in Asia. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:51.759 Now what first should catch your attention, 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:52.620 is the word seven. 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:54.160 Seven's all throughout, 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:55.060 the book of Revelation. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:57.040 And what seven is, 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:58.120 is a number that, 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.920 every Jew would understand, 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:01.879 represents completeness, 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:02.780 fullness, 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:03.879 kind of like the, 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:04.560 finally, 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:05.220 yes, 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:06.240 consummation. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:08.540 The number seven, 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:09.259 is to a Jew, 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:10.220 is what the number nine, 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:11.920 is to a pregnant woman. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:14.160 Finally, 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:14.780 fullness, 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:15.720 completeness. 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:20.860 And what we have here, 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:22.360 is a letter to the seven churches, 00:07:23.140 --> 00:07:23.699 in Asia. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:25.000 He's speaking of, 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:25.879 these churches, 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:26.800 and currently, 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:28.200 what is Western Turkey, 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.500 and they're all under the, 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:31.180 rule of the Roman Empire, 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:32.100 at the time. 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:33.400 And what they are, 00:07:33.520 --> 00:07:34.600 think of it as a, 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:35.700 representative, 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:37.160 complete sample, 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:38.420 for us. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:41.560 It represents the entire church. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.080 Now, 00:07:44.140 --> 00:07:45.259 there are very specific things, 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:46.439 going on in each of the churches, 00:07:46.520 --> 00:07:47.379 and we're going to see that, 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:48.360 in chapters two and three, 00:07:48.520 --> 00:07:49.819 when Jesus addresses, 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:51.439 each church personally. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:54.180 What you need to understand now, 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:54.520 is that, 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:56.040 what he is writing, 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.080 to the seven churches, 00:07:57.080 --> 00:07:58.060 in the first century, 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:00.200 he's speaking to us, 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:01.819 in the 21st century. 00:08:02.280 --> 00:08:03.400 We need to hear this. 00:08:05.080 --> 00:08:06.160 It's a representation, 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:08.720 of the entire church. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:11.780 Now, 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:13.400 here is some historical background, 00:08:13.580 --> 00:08:14.780 that will help you understand, 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:16.440 the precarious position, 00:08:16.580 --> 00:08:17.660 these seven churches were in. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.900 At this time, 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.000 late 90s A.D., 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:24.520 there was a guy, 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:25.360 who had become, 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:26.600 the Roman Emperor, 00:08:26.780 --> 00:08:27.800 his name was Domitian. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:31.160 And when he became Emperor, 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:33.040 he wanted to, 00:08:33.040 --> 00:08:35.180 unite his empire. 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:37.319 And so, 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:37.859 he commanded, 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:39.120 all of his citizens, 00:08:39.339 --> 00:08:40.139 and subjects, 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.039 of the Roman Empire, 00:08:43.359 --> 00:08:44.299 to worship him, 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:45.479 as quote unquote, 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:46.639 Lord and God. 00:08:48.979 --> 00:08:50.500 And he called himself, 00:08:50.859 --> 00:08:51.199 quote, 00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:52.579 everlasting king, 00:08:53.579 --> 00:08:54.259 end quote. 00:08:55.819 --> 00:08:56.579 And so, 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:57.879 all of these seven churches, 00:08:58.359 --> 00:08:59.319 at that time, 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:00.099 are living, 00:09:00.099 --> 00:09:01.519 under the requirement, 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:02.519 to pay, 00:09:02.819 --> 00:09:03.299 devotion, 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:04.079 worship, 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:04.920 homage, 00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:05.700 to Caesar. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.040 All the citizens, 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:09.720 and subjects, 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:11.080 had to go to a temple, 00:09:11.280 --> 00:09:12.300 built in the honor, 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:13.280 of Domitian, 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:14.860 take a pinch of incense, 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:16.040 throw it on the fire, 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:16.560 of the altar, 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:17.660 and as they're doing it, 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:18.259 they say, 00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:19.520 Caesar is Lord. 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:23.620 Now people, 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:26.680 could believe, 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:27.620 whatever they wanted to, 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:28.240 at the time, 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:30.040 just as long, 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:31.140 as they were, 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:33.080 confessing Caesar, 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:34.039 as Lord. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:35.899 They were in a polytheistic, 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:36.600 culture, 00:09:37.059 --> 00:09:38.039 a pluralistic, 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:38.840 culture. 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.039 And since so far, 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:40.779 they just doing that, 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:41.759 they could worship anybody, 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.019 or anything they wanted to. 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:45.539 Kind of sounds familiar, 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:46.179 don't you think? 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:52.299 I think this is attributed, 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:53.480 to Domitian himself. 00:09:54.419 --> 00:09:55.220 He called this, 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:56.559 act of worship, 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:57.779 as a quote, 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.259 little act of worship. 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:04.500 But you can imagine, 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.299 what this does, 00:10:05.359 --> 00:10:06.539 for a follower of Jesus, 00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:08.219 who confesses, 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:08.819 Jesus, 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:10.500 as their exclusive, 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:11.699 universal, 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.719 Lord of Lords. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.539 They find themselves, 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:17.559 having to, 00:10:17.979 --> 00:10:19.019 either be faithful, 00:10:19.439 --> 00:10:20.319 in their confession, 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.039 or compromise. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:25.139 There was pressure, 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:26.139 to conform, 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:27.199 to the, 00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:28.240 pluralism, 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:28.960 of the day. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.519 This little act, 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:35.100 of worship, 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.399 of confessing, 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:38.960 Caesar as Lord, 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:41.139 is nothing short, 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:42.240 of denying, 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:43.860 the exclusive, 00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:44.899 and universal, 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:45.539 Lordship, 00:10:45.699 --> 00:10:46.740 of Jesus Christ. 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:48.500 It's compromise. 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:50.779 That's the precarious, 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:51.879 position they were in. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:54.679 And we're not living, 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:55.740 under the Roman Empire, 00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:56.460 but we are, 00:10:56.539 --> 00:10:57.559 dealing with our own, 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:58.700 little acts, 00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:59.820 of worship today. 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:05.080 In the name of tolerance, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:08.200 don't make any big claims, 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:09.100 about your Jesus. 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.399 We can feel, 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.939 the cultural pressure, 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.940 and what we're tempted to, 00:11:15.940 --> 00:11:17.840 is to shrink back. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:20.960 Don't shrink back. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:22.759 Step up. 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:23.840 We can, 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:25.360 we can feel the pressure, 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.800 to hide out. 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.759 But we're not to hide out. 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:31.500 We're to step in. 00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:34.120 We can feel pressure, 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.320 just to give up. 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.940 But we're to stay true. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:42.700 Because we are the people of God. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:42.780 God. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.960 This is the situation, 00:11:46.140 --> 00:11:46.480 facing, 00:11:47.300 --> 00:11:48.340 the seven churches, 00:11:49.300 --> 00:11:50.520 that John was writing to. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.480 They're in a precarious, 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:51.980 position. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.600 And so are we. 00:11:53.640 --> 00:11:54.000 Because we're, 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.060 we're tempted regularly, 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:56.140 to compromise, 00:11:56.640 --> 00:11:57.379 our devotion, 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:58.680 to the one, 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:00.020 true Lord of Lords, 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.879 and King of Kings. 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:06.600 But we're not to compromise. 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:10.080 We're to stay true. 00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:13.180 And now, 00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:14.420 as we turn to the greeting, 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.620 from the triune God, 00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:17.500 you're going to see why. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.840 We're going to remain true to him, 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:23.320 because of who he is, 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.000 and what he's done. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.340 In verse four, 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:29.940 we read, 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.640 John to the seven churches, 00:12:31.640 --> 00:12:32.400 that are in Asia, 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:35.620 grace to you, 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.900 and peace. 00:12:39.400 --> 00:12:40.680 Grace is God's, 00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:41.640 saving power, 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:42.179 power, 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.600 directed at, 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.059 undeserving sinners, 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:46.919 because he is, 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.519 a gracious, 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.500 loving God. 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.000 And this, 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:52.779 gracious, 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:54.539 saving power, 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.240 is not just a, 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.100 get you saved power, 00:12:58.439 --> 00:12:59.120 it is a, 00:12:59.240 --> 00:12:59.960 get you saved, 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:01.279 and keep you saved, 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:01.819 power. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:03.699 God's grace, 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.960 is a persevering power, 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:06.980 for a Christian. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.019 He just doesn't, 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:09.720 give you grace, 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.860 grace to get you in, 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:12.040 and then it's no grace. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.500 He gives you grace, 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:14.860 to get you into his kingdom, 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:17.000 and then he keeps pouring his grace on you, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.139 to endure, 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.740 and to persevere, 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:23.399 to stay true. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:26.840 And the effect of grace, 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:28.639 in a Christian's life, 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.440 is peace. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:32.980 Flourishing. 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.420 Flourishing, 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.700 in your relationship with God, 00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:36.600 flourishing, 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.120 with your understanding of yourself, 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:39.100 flourishing, 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.460 in your relationship with others, 00:13:40.560 --> 00:13:41.360 and in creation. 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.820 But as soon as I say that, 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.659 I know what you're thinking, 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:43.980 you're like, 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.300 okay, 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.379 I don't experience that. 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:49.560 It's because we're living in between, 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:52.440 the first coming of Jesus, 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.820 and the second coming of Jesus. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.240 We're living in between, 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:56.420 the already and the not yet, 00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:57.919 and so we don't experience, 00:13:58.139 --> 00:14:00.179 fullness of peace yet. 00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:07.339 Grace to you, 00:14:08.079 --> 00:14:11.419 and peace from. 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:15.740 This is where things get really good. 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:19.179 There are three from's. 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:22.799 From he who is, 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:24.000 and who was, 00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:25.419 and who is to come. 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:27.919 It's a reference to the first person of the Trinity, 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.379 God the Father, 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.199 and that little phrase, 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.419 he who is, 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.599 is pulled verbatim, 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.219 from the Greek version, 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:39.219 of Exodus 3.14, 00:14:39.699 --> 00:14:43.319 where Yahweh is in this burning bush, 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.699 and Moses is like, 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.439 who are you? 00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.299 And he says, 00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.379 I am. 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:54.019 It's an allusion to Exodus 3.14. 00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:57.799 The great I am. 00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:59.500 And in that context, 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:00.620 Yahweh, 00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.259 God, 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:03.339 is speaking to Moses, 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.719 and getting him ready, 00:15:04.839 --> 00:15:05.899 to deliver his people, 00:15:06.099 --> 00:15:07.159 from the suffering, 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.159 in Egypt. 00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:13.240 He who is, 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.479 and who was, 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:15.379 and who is to come. 00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:18.500 He's the God of the present, 00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:19.719 the God of the past, 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.800 and the God of the future, 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.680 and he has grace to give. 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.340 Grace. 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.779 Grace for then, 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:30.200 grace for now, 00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:32.660 and grace for what's to come. 00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:38.220 I'm not sure if you noticed this, 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.300 but when he says, 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.320 he who is, 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.620 and who was, 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.740 and who, 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:44.180 were you kind of thinking, 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.180 who will be? 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:47.579 But he says, 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:49.459 who is to come? 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:52.879 And for those of us, 00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:54.019 who are feeling, 00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:55.539 a little fatigued, 00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:57.120 in need of endurance, 00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.859 this puts courage, 00:15:59.079 --> 00:15:59.719 in our hearts, 00:15:59.839 --> 00:16:00.559 because, 00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:01.759 we're starting to think, 00:16:02.079 --> 00:16:03.159 God's coming back. 00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:05.620 He's coming. 00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.459 And when he comes, 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.139 he's bringing the fullness, 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:10.639 of peace. 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:12.159 So the first person, 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.139 who this greeting of grace is from, 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.840 is from the Father, 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.679 the first person of the Trinity. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.080 And then the next from, 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:23.220 from the seven spirits, 00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:25.919 before the throne, 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.879 before his throne. 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.000 Now, 00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:34.679 we're going to see a lot of his throne, 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:35.980 throughout the book of Revelation. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.639 And when you see, 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:39.659 or hear that word throne, 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.559 it immediately brings ideas, 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.459 of sovereignty, 00:16:42.979 --> 00:16:44.179 and authority. 00:16:44.859 --> 00:16:47.199 And in Revelation chapter 4, 00:16:47.359 --> 00:16:49.019 you're going to get up close, 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:50.219 in personal view, 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.519 of the one, 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.579 who is seated, 00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:54.019 on his throne. 00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:56.959 And in verse 5 of chapter 4, 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:57.439 we read, 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.759 before the throne, 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:01.079 we're burning seven torches of fire, 00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:03.619 which are the seven spirits of God. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:05.119 It's the same expression here. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.059 The seven spirits, 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.139 before his throne. 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:10.979 What it is, 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.579 it's a reference, 00:17:11.719 --> 00:17:13.379 to Zechariah chapter 4, 00:17:14.239 --> 00:17:15.679 verses 1 through 6. 00:17:16.179 --> 00:17:16.459 Another, 00:17:16.459 --> 00:17:17.799 apocalyptic, 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.119 work, 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.079 in the Old Testament. 00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:23.139 Zechariah is given, 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.559 a vision of a golden lamp stand, 00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.539 with seven lamps, 00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:26.439 torches on it, 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:26.859 and there's, 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.279 a blaze. 00:17:29.459 --> 00:17:30.159 Zechariah asks, 00:17:30.239 --> 00:17:31.199 the angel who's with him, 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.779 what are these, 00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:33.180 my Lord? 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.900 The angel says, 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.019 do you not know what these are? 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.000 Zechariah says, 00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:37.740 no, my Lord. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.740 The angel says, 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:41.000 this is the word of the Lord, 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:41.900 to Zerubbabel. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.720 This is what they are. 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.240 Not by might, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.519 nor by power, 00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:51.580 but by my spirit, 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.019 says the Lord. 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:56.460 The seven spirits, 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.120 the seven flames, 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:01.080 on the seven lamp stands, 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.420 is the seven fold spirit of God, 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.279 in his fullness. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.340 It's a picture of, 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:11.019 omnipresence, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.720 the spirit among his churches, 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.080 the seven lamp stands. 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.480 And not just, 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.720 omnipresence, 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.080 but, 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.640 empowerment. 00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:23.920 God, 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:25.259 in the midst of us. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.960 And from the spirit, 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.400 comes grace and peace. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.920 And then there's the third from, 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.539 from Jesus Christ, 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:37.600 the second person of the Trinity. 00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:39.460 And in this passage, 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.319 what you see, 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.700 there are three titles. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.160 The faithful witness, 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.259 the firstborn of the dead, 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.640 and the ruler of the kings on earth. 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.920 The faithful witness. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:50.039 So, 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:52.060 if you are in Ephesus, 00:18:52.060 --> 00:18:53.400 in the first century, 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.180 and there is, 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:56.680 a certain degree of pressure, 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.539 and threat, 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.720 if you don't worship, 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.300 Domitian, 00:19:02.300 --> 00:19:04.660 and you come across, 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:05.960 this red, 00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:06.860 in your church, 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.860 that Jesus Christ, 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.740 is the faithful witness, 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.740 witness, 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.720 it starts making you think, 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:15.000 he was faithful, 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.079 all the way through. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.960 He was faithful, 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.259 in what he spoke, 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.559 about God, 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.579 and about God's kingdom of grace, 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.059 while he was on earth. 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.400 And you will not, 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.660 you will remember, 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.980 that he spoke, 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:29.160 these words, 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:31.339 even unto death. 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:34.740 He's a faithful witness. 00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:37.199 He's our example. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.959 And his faithful witness, 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.959 resulted, 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.399 in his death, 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.720 but he didn't stay dead. 00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.539 He's the firstborn, 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.079 from the dead. 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:48.959 He, 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:50.059 over, 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.000 came, 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.919 death. 00:19:53.459 --> 00:19:54.539 That word firstborn, 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.459 is a position, 00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:58.119 a position of preeminence. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.599 It's the idea, 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:02.099 that he is, 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.079 the king, 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.519 of those, 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.439 raised from the dead. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.119 Firstborn, 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:07.740 from the dead. 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:13.299 If you're facing threat, 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.139 for being a faithful witness, 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.740 to Jesus, 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.659 this is good news. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.279 Because Jesus, 00:20:21.439 --> 00:20:22.299 overcame death. 00:20:22.379 --> 00:20:23.419 He is the resurrection, 00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.359 and the life. 00:20:25.719 --> 00:20:27.259 And if you believe in him, 00:20:27.439 --> 00:20:28.119 you too, 00:20:28.199 --> 00:20:29.219 have the promise, 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:31.100 that you will live, 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.059 even when you die. 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.000 Be faithful, 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.500 as he, 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.819 is faithful. 00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:37.640 And he's not, 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.660 just the firstborn, 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.100 from the dead. 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.740 He's the ruler, 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.500 of the kings, 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.079 of the earth. 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:42.600 His death, 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.240 resurrection, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.059 ascension, 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.339 enthroned him, 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.180 in heaven, 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.259 and now he's, 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.940 reigning on high. 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.240 He was reigning on high, 00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:50.339 when this was written, 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.680 in the late 90s, 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.019 and he's reigning on high, 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.380 right now. 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.200 So what that means, 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.579 is this. 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.439 This is the statement, 00:20:56.439 --> 00:20:57.079 being made. 00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:58.759 John's writing, 00:20:58.879 --> 00:20:59.740 to the seven churches. 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.220 Jesus, 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:03.019 the faithful witness, 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:04.119 firstborn from the dead, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.159 the ruler, 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.939 of the kings, 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.919 of the earth, 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.579 even Domitian. 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.939 Jesus, 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.839 is his ruler. 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:15.500 Kublai Khan, 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.639 all the rulers, 00:21:16.699 --> 00:21:17.359 of the Ming dynasty, 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.879 in China, 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.319 the kings and queens, 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.199 of the British empire, 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.039 all the czars, 00:21:21.179 --> 00:21:21.619 in Russia, 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:22.759 whatever you call, 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.199 the people, 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.720 who did the Aztec empire, 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:26.380 he was ruling them all. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.940 And today too, 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.380 Putin, 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.799 Kim Jong-un, 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:40.600 the presidents, 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.539 of the United States, 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:46.880 he's reigning on high. 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.740 He's the ruler, 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.360 of the kings, 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.120 and presidents, 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.400 of the earth. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:56.000 He's reigning over, 00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:57.160 the already and not yet. 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.140 This is really good news, 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:02.840 for those who are facing, 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.799 difficulty, 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.680 and the temptation, 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.480 to compromise. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.039 It's a picture, 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.779 of Jesus, 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.680 in amazing fashion. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.600 It's a picture, 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.960 of the triune God, 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.400 who is poised, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.440 to grace, 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.420 his people, 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.539 to give them strength. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:25.659 So we don't shrink back. 00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.599 We step up. 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.659 We don't hide out. 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:30.779 We step in. 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.759 We don't give up. 00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:33.519 We stay true to Jesus, 00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:35.519 in light of the grace, 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.079 from the triune God. 00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.379 Now let's look at the pivot, 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.940 in verses five and six. 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:50.299 After describing, 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.600 these titles of Jesus, 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.559 John makes, 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.940 an interesting turn. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.860 You know, 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.519 in 1900, 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.720 the Army Corps, 00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.279 of Engineers, 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.820 they reversed the flow, 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.000 of the Chicago River. 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.660 Very interesting. 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.860 What we have going on here, 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.440 is a little bit, 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.820 of a reversal of flow. 00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:12.059 John has just been saying, 00:23:12.320 --> 00:23:12.840 to you, 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.259 seven churches, 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.980 to you, 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.000 Christ-thinking church, 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:16.920 to you, 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:18.339 be grace and peace, 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.500 from the triune God. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.700 And now, 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.700 we read, 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.220 to him, 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.700 to him, 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.940 grace to you, 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:30.420 turns to glory to him. 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:34.400 It's a reference, 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.059 to Jesus. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:39.940 And what John points us to, 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:42.440 in these verses, 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:44.799 is what he's done for us, 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.480 and what he will do. 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.860 Did you see, 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.019 to him who loves us? 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:55.200 It's a present tense verb. 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.380 What it means is this, 00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:58.220 he loves us now. 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.720 He loves us. 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.600 He loves you. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.220 Do you notice, 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:05.240 John includes himself now? 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:07.240 grace, 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.279 grace, 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.059 to you, 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.579 and then, 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.000 he goes to him, 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.819 who loves us, 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.640 and has freed us, 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.359 from our sins, 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.160 by his blood, 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.319 and made us, 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.859 a kingdom. 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.220 John is experiencing, 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:20.880 firsthand, 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.900 what he's talking about. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.839 Look at what he's done for us, 00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.859 out of his love for us. 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.480 He has shown his love, 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.359 for us, 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.900 by having freed us, 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:33.220 from our sins, 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.720 by his blood. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.360 It's what we've been saved from. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.319 We're talking gospel. 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.680 We're talking the cross. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.779 We're talking about, 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.039 what Christ has done, 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.279 to set us free. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.940 It's who we are now. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.240 Liberated from the power, 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.279 and penalty of sin. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.579 Freed from having to, 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.140 live for our own, 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.960 sinful passions. 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.740 And here's why this matters. 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.839 It's who you are. 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:05.160 You're no longer held captive, 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.740 by sin. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:09.019 You don't need to compromise. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.259 You've been freed, 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.480 from that temptation. 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.860 Freed from that power. 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.880 It's like this. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.779 Everyone in your world, 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:21.660 may be living for sin, 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:24.240 but because you have been set free, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:26.019 by the blood of Jesus, 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:30.079 you stay true to him. 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:36.360 Look at what you've been saved from, 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.539 by his blood. 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.240 Now look at what you've been saved for. 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.380 You were freed, 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.860 from your sin, 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.480 and you were made, 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.240 a kingdom. 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.799 Priests, 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.980 to his God and Father. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.759 There's another Old Testament, 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.500 allusion here. 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.420 It's to Exodus 19.6, 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:57.720 where, 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:00.819 Moses having brought his people, 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.519 God's people, 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.440 out of Egypt, 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.779 across the Red Sea, 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.299 to come to Sinai, 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.180 and at the mountain. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:08.220 And God commands Moses, 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.000 to say this to Israel, 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.539 Israel, 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.339 you shall be to me, 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.960 a kingdom of priests, 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:15.220 and a holy nation. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.940 Another way to say it is this, 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.039 you're my people, 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.140 I'm your God. 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.539 You serve me. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:27.599 Here's why this is significant for us. 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.519 It's multiple levels, 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.359 but here's the one thing I want to point out. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.619 Let's just take the church of Ephesus. 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:39.920 The church of Ephesus was not a Gentile Christian church, 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:42.980 nor was it a Jewish Christian church. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:48.359 The church of Ephesus was a mix of Jews and Gentiles, 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:52.619 who had been set free by the blood of Jesus from their sins, 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:55.839 and they had been made a kingdom of priests to God. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.519 Here's why this is significant. 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:03.740 It's going to help us understand some passages later in the book of Revelation. 00:27:07.979 --> 00:27:09.659 The people that he's writing to, 00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:11.419 both Jews and Gentiles, 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.559 had become Christians, 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:16.559 because they had believed in Jesus, 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:20.019 and confessed him as their one true Lord. 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:25.940 And God had made them part of his kingdom, 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:28.079 a kingdom of grace. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.720 The first coming of Jesus, 00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:35.200 his death, resurrection, 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.119 resulted in a whole new people of God, 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.960 a new kingdom, 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:42.480 the saving reign of God, 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.679 the kingdom of the redeemed, 00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:47.039 both of Jews and Gentiles. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:51.820 And Jesus is their only Lord and everlasting King. 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:55.580 We are a kingdom now of grace. 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.160 God's saving reign. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.900 But we're also priests. 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:08.140 Priests mediate the presence of God. 00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:10.440 Each of us in Christ 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:12.759 is now a priest to God. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.320 Everyone in this room, 00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:16.340 if you put your faith in Jesus, 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:19.400 you have been made a priest unto God. 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.920 The priesthood of all believers. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.840 It's who you are now. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:26.140 It's the new purpose for which God 00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:27.880 saved you. 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.980 He saved you from sin 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.660 in order to make you 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.740 his priest. 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:32.880 Christ. 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.759 We no longer live for ourselves, 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.400 but for him 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:41.200 who for our sake 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.440 died and was raised. 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:47.759 Before you were blood bought, 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:51.599 you were constrained by your own sin 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:53.480 to live for the world. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.319 But now, 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.720 having been redeemed by his blood, 00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.740 he's made you 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:02.400 you part of his kingdom of grace 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:04.700 to serve him, 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:07.099 to serve God, 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.339 your God, 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.420 your Father. 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:11.900 And the result is witness. 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.160 We see the impulse here. 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.940 To him be glory and dominion 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.700 forever and ever. 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.799 John is just picking up 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.460 where he started. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.980 The hymn is Jesus. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.819 We read, 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.579 to him who loves us 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:27.000 and has been freed from our sins 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.660 by his kingdom 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.539 and made us a kingdom, 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:30.159 a priest to his Father, 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.440 God and Father, 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.379 in him be glory, 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.839 that in him, 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.019 to him is Jesus. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.279 1 Peter 2.9 says, 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.299 but you, 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:41.980 Christians, 00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:43.700 are a chosen race, 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.759 a royal priesthood, 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.680 a holy nation, 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:47.839 a people for his own possession, 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:50.240 that you may proclaim, 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.759 bear witness 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.539 to the excellencies 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.720 of him 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.579 who called you 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.539 out of darkness, 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:56.920 sin, 00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:58.920 into his marvelous light, 00:29:59.080 --> 00:30:00.200 the kingdom of his grace. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.340 So what has he done? 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.380 By his blood, 00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:07.440 he has made us 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.880 a new people, 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.580 a kingdom of priests 00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:12.279 to proclaim his praises. 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:13.220 Amen, 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.220 John says. 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:15.940 Amen. 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.539 It's true. 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:21.859 So you don't need 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:23.159 to shrink back. 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.019 You step up. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:28.359 You don't need 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.119 to hide out. 00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:31.440 You belong to God, 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.579 Jesus. 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:34.639 So you step in. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:37.039 You don't give up. 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.359 God hasn't given up 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.879 on you. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.159 So you stay true. 00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:42.200 So you stay true. 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:48.480 What follows is 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.759 further praise 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.460 in verse 7 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.860 for what is going 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.400 to happen. 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.100 Jesus is going 00:30:54.100 --> 00:30:55.000 to come back. 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.140 And we see the allusion 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:59.080 to Daniel chapter 7 00:30:59.080 --> 00:31:00.200 when we read, 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:00.860 he is coming 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.819 with the clouds. 00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.940 The son of man 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.180 comes to the ancient 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.580 of days 00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.660 and has given dominion 00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.720 over all the nations 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.440 of the world, 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:09.720 fully realizing 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.680 his reign. 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:12.680 behold, 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:14.220 he's coming. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:14.720 Look, 00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:16.720 imagine with the eyes 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.360 of your heart 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.080 the coming 00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:19.640 of your Lord 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.779 and Savior Jesus. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.279 And when he comes back, 00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:26.860 every eye will see him. 00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:28.840 Every eye. 00:31:30.560 --> 00:31:31.539 No one's going to miss 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.820 his second coming. 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:35.200 Even those who pierced him. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:37.200 What that makes you think of 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.539 are the Roman soldiers 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:40.240 who pierced Jesus' side, 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.640 drove nails into his 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:42.480 wrists and feet. 00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.660 But it's also a reference 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.180 to Zechariah chapter 12. 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.960 All those who have 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.059 opposed Jesus 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:51.299 outrightly, 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.680 whether through indifference 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.799 or in ignorance, 00:31:54.120 --> 00:31:55.460 they're going to see him 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.279 when he comes. 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.539 And if you're a Christian 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.359 who's being tempted 00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.039 to compromise, 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:06.500 there's a vindicative 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.960 nature to this. 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.279 It's like, 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:08.440 yeah, 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.180 he's coming back. 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.599 There's a yes 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.240 to this. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.500 And it's just not 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.899 those who pierced him. 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.299 It's all the tribes 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.079 of the earth 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.920 will wail 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:27.339 on account of him. 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:27.799 Now, 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.579 there's some debate 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.539 on what that word 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.180 wail means, 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.940 whether that is 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.899 a mourning 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:33.039 of repentance 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:34.200 by the nations 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.039 on account of him, 00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:36.579 or whether it is 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:36.879 a, 00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.119 oh no! 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.899 He's come back. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.680 Just as those 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.460 faithful ones 00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.599 were proclaiming. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.420 I believe it's 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.379 a wail of, 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:52.960 oh no! 00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.440 And here's why. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:58.519 in Revelation chapter 16, 00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.140 there's the outpouring 00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:00.920 of wrath 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:02.059 symbolized by 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:03.299 seven bowls. 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:06.340 In the fifth bowl, 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.140 the fifth bowl 00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:07.820 is poured out 00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:08.380 on the earth. 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.840 And what do the people 00:33:10.840 --> 00:33:11.360 do? 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:14.380 They curse God 00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:16.200 and do not repent. 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.279 And then the sixth bowl 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.940 is poured out 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.799 onto all the earth. 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.460 And what do the people do? 00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:24.740 They curse God 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:26.059 and don't repent. 00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:28.340 And then the seventh bowl, 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.440 the final bowl, 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.319 poured out 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.180 on all the earth. 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.720 What do people do? 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.860 They don't humble themselves, 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.180 but they curse, 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:37.579 literally, 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.900 blaspheme God 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:42.380 and they don't repent. 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.900 When Jesus comes back, 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:49.299 publicly for all to see, 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:51.319 for those people 00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:53.019 who have cursed God, 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.619 refuse to repent 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.679 to the Lord Jesus, 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.539 when they see Him, 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:59.419 they are going to wail 00:33:59.419 --> 00:34:00.419 on account of Him 00:34:00.419 --> 00:34:02.059 because they're realizing 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.379 it's all true. 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.659 Now for those of us 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:12.480 who are followers of Jesus, 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:14.139 this is welcome news. 00:34:14.299 --> 00:34:15.539 Oh, come Lord Jesus, 00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.099 come. 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.380 But for those 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.440 who are outside 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.219 of the kingdom, 00:34:19.739 --> 00:34:20.759 this is a warning. 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:28.200 don't be wailing 00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:29.480 when Jesus comes back. 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:33.539 It compels us believers 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:35.320 to be about the work 00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:36.300 of bearing witness 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.880 to what Jesus has done 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:39.000 because there are people 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:40.760 in this city right now 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:42.620 who need to hear about Jesus 00:34:42.620 --> 00:34:44.440 because of the wrath to come. 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:51.440 Jesus is coming back. 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.960 What we see here 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.440 is who Jesus is 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:57.019 and then what He has done 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.320 and what He will do. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:59.380 He's going to come back. 00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.639 And John wraps it up 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.139 by saying, 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.179 even so, 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:03.880 amen. 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:04.940 Yes, 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.139 count on it. 00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:09.059 this kind of stuff 00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:10.079 gives us strength 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:10.559 to endure 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:11.519 because we know 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:13.339 what our Savior has said. 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.480 He's the faithful witness. 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.799 He's coming back 00:35:15.799 --> 00:35:19.279 to Him. 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.179 Be glory 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.239 and dominion 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:23.480 forever and ever. 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:26.359 What we see happening here 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.099 is this greeting 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:28.700 has now pivoted 00:35:28.700 --> 00:35:29.860 into praise. 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.340 And it's intended 00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.480 to give you courage 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.340 in your heart 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:38.519 to stay true to Jesus 00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:40.300 and not compromise. 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:43.059 In verse 8, 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.720 we have the great approval. 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.780 John comes full circle 00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:47.800 back to the Father 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:49.620 who is and who was 00:35:49.620 --> 00:35:51.079 and who is to come. 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:52.880 It bookends the passage 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:53.960 in verse 4, 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.660 He says that. 00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:55.400 In verse 8, 00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.079 it says that. 00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:57.340 And the effect is 00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:59.200 God in His glory 00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:01.099 is surrounding all of it, 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:01.980 which is true. 00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:05.599 But He says 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.480 He's the Alpha 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.500 and the Omega. 00:36:07.700 --> 00:36:08.800 I am the Alpha 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:10.480 and the Omega. 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.900 Those are the first 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:14.380 and last letters 00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:15.980 of the Greek alphabet. 00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.559 And the expression meant, 00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:17.940 hey, 00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.500 the first, 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:19.340 the last, 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.740 and everything in between. 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:21.960 It's like our expression, 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:22.519 hey man, 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:23.900 that guy is the A to Z. 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.239 God is saying, 00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:29.639 I am the A to Z, 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:30.960 the creator, 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:31.980 consummator, 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.759 and controller 00:36:32.759 --> 00:36:33.800 of everything in between. 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.320 What's amazing 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:38.400 is Jesus will use 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.280 the same language 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:39.900 of Himself 00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:42.199 throughout this book. 00:36:44.840 --> 00:36:46.539 Behind this is Isaiah 41, 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.500 44, 00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:48.320 48, 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:49.480 where God is making 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.420 these huge claims 00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:52.139 that He is the only one. 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:56.559 sovereign over all. 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.239 And then there's 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:57.840 this other title, 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.860 the Lord God, 00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:00.219 first person of the Trinity, 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:01.179 another claim of 00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.619 sovereignly reigning 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:03.340 over all. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:04.780 And then it closes 00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:06.099 with the Almighty. 00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:08.480 Another way of talking 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.539 about God 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:11.920 in His power 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.119 reigning on high 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:14.460 over everything. 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:18.199 So one can look at 00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:18.920 these titles 00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:19.980 and expressions 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.860 of God the Father 00:37:20.860 --> 00:37:21.079 and say, 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:21.240 well, 00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:22.099 those are very interesting. 00:37:23.220 --> 00:37:24.139 But you've got to understand 00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:24.840 how they're functioning. 00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:30.320 Think of verses 4 through 7 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:32.500 as a kind of campaign commercial 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.360 claiming Jesus 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.179 to be worthy 00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:35.860 of your exclusive devotion. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.420 Don't compromise. 00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.559 Stay true 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:40.480 in light of who He is 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.079 and what He's done 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:41.900 and what He will do. 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:43.780 And what verse 8 is 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:45.079 is like that line 00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:45.579 at the end 00:37:45.579 --> 00:37:46.880 of a campaign commercial 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:47.860 that says, 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.820 I am God over all, 00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:51.139 the Alpha and the Omega, 00:37:51.720 --> 00:37:53.960 and I approve this message. 00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:57.579 I approve this revelation. 00:37:59.059 --> 00:38:00.320 I approve this disclosure. 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:02.099 Stay true. 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:06.519 The only other place 00:38:06.519 --> 00:38:07.119 in Revelation 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.719 where the Father speaks 00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:09.839 is at the end 00:38:09.839 --> 00:38:11.099 in chapter 21 00:38:11.099 --> 00:38:12.480 starting in verse 3 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.500 moving forward 00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:15.559 and He is very keen 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.679 on telling us, 00:38:17.259 --> 00:38:18.019 I'm going to wipe away 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:19.119 every tear from your eye 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:19.880 when I come back. 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.559 God over all. 00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:27.920 The God over the already 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:28.980 and the not yet. 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:31.260 He is the God 00:38:31.260 --> 00:38:33.340 over every one 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:34.420 of our circumstances. 00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:37.699 He is the God 00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.519 in control. 00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:40.699 And He has grace 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:42.360 for us today. 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:44.219 He has peace 00:38:44.219 --> 00:38:45.480 for us today 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.699 as we live 00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:47.340 in between 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.019 the already 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:49.219 and the not yet. 00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.440 So don't shrink back. 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.960 Step up. 00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:55.980 Count yourself 00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:56.579 yourself 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.860 as one 00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:58.679 of the kingdom 00:38:58.679 --> 00:39:00.480 of God's grace, 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:01.579 a priest 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.639 of the living God. 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:04.699 Don't hide out 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.800 but step 00:39:05.800 --> 00:39:07.280 into situations 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.639 needing you 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.840 to bear witness 00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:11.960 even challenging 00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.719 circumstances. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:15.139 And don't give up. 00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:17.440 Stay put. 00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.960 Endure what you must 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:22.579 until you see Him 00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:23.760 whether 00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:23.800 either 00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:24.700 on the day 00:39:24.700 --> 00:39:25.260 of your death 00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:26.500 or on the day 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:28.300 of His second coming. 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.420 Step up. 00:39:29.640 --> 00:39:30.160 Step in. 00:39:30.740 --> 00:39:32.440 Stay true. 00:39:33.540 --> 00:39:34.740 Your triune God 00:39:34.740 --> 00:39:36.660 is in control. 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.800 We must take it to heart. 00:39:42.600 --> 00:39:43.400 Let's pray. 00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:47.740 Lord Jesus, 00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:53.380 there's no one 00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:53.820 like you. 00:39:56.220 --> 00:39:57.039 And I pray 00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:58.500 for us 00:39:58.500 --> 00:39:59.340 who are tempted 00:39:59.340 --> 00:39:59.840 regularly 00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:00.599 to compromise 00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:02.180 our devotion 00:40:02.180 --> 00:40:02.740 to you 00:40:02.740 --> 00:40:03.280 that in light 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:04.039 of who you are 00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:04.880 and in light 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:06.160 of the sovereignty 00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:06.900 of our great 00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:07.680 triune God 00:40:07.680 --> 00:40:09.059 that you would 00:40:09.059 --> 00:40:09.480 give us 00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.340 what we need, 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.059 the grace 00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:11.639 we need 00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:13.320 to stay true 00:40:13.320 --> 00:40:13.860 to you 00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:16.599 regardless 00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:17.840 of whatever 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:18.739 little act 00:40:18.739 --> 00:40:19.360 of worship 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.920 we're called 00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:21.599 to compromise 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:22.239 you with. 00:40:24.759 --> 00:40:25.440 Give us 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.239 strength to endure 00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:27.340 for the glory 00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:28.019 of your name. 00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:29.079 Amen. 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.239 Amen. 00:40:29.239 --> 00:40:29.299 Amen. 00:40:29.299 --> 00:40:31.239 Amen. 00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:31.380 Amen. 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:33.239 Amen. 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:33.299 Amen. 00:40:33.299 --> 00:40:35.320 Amen. 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:37.299 Amen. 00:40:37.299 --> 00:40:37.340 Amen. 00:40:37.340 --> 00:40:37.400 Amen. 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:39.139 Amen. 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:39.320 Amen. 00:40:39.320 --> 00:40:39.340 Amen. 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:39.380 Amen. 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:39.400 Amen. 00:40:39.400 --> 00:40:41.039 Amen.