If you would open up your Bibles to Revelation chapter 1, I'm going to read for us chapter 1 verses 9 through 20.
A vision of the Son of Man.
Hear the word of God.
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,
was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and I heard behind me a voice like a trumpet saying,
write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches.
To Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me.
And on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands.
And in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
The hairs of his head were white like wool, like snow.
His eyes were like a flame of fire.
His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace.
And his voice was like the roar of many waters.
In his right hand, he held seven stars.
From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword.
And his face was like the sun, shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
But he laid his right hand on me saying, fear not.
I am the first and the last and the living one.
I died and behold, I am alive forevermore.
And I have the keys of death and Hades.
I heard, I saw him, I was like the spirit of God.
And I said, I will say, the things that you have heard, that you have seen.
Those that are and those that are to take place after this.
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands,
the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.
And the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
our culture is changing
it's becoming more challenging to live out loud for Jesus Christ
if you've been around for a while
you would be aware of what I'm talking about
there's been dramatic change in our culture
over the last 5, 10, 15, 20 years
there are growing pressures in our culture
to keep our views on Jesus to ourself
there's confusion
of what we can and cannot say
in public, in our workplace, governance, schools
and when there's this kind of confusion
it opens the door to fear
and for those of us raising children and grandchildren
to take the Lord Jesus seriously
in every area of our lives
what does our changing culture mean for us?
what does our changing culture mean for our children
and the next generation of Christians in America?
when you have questions like this about the future
what does this mean?
things are changing the way they are
things are getting harder
what does this mean?
when we're asking questions like that
you become ripe to fear
fear the loss of relationships
you start living out loud for Jesus
and you start fearing losing relationships
of those who disagree with you
it's real
many of us in this room
have already lost
significant relationships
because of our following Jesus
we fear the loss of reputation
that our standing in the world's eyes
gets diminished
when they realize
we actually believe
in the risen Jesus
there's the fear of losing remuneration
because of
if I'm a follower at work
and I stand for Jesus
and I've got to say no to things
there's the fear of loss
not getting a promotion
getting passed over
fear of remuneration
there's the fear of unrealized dreams
because I am a follower of Jesus
I may not be able to live the American life
it's real
Isaac Newton
in amazing grace
there are dangers
toils and snares
for us to walk through
on our way
in Acts 14.22
the Apostle Paul
speaking to early disciples
tells them
through many tribulations
we must enter
the kingdom of God
Paul to Titus
who is doing work
in the church of Ephesus
at the time
he says to him
all who desire to live
a godly life
in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted
will suffer hardship
and then of course
there's the words of Jesus
John 16.33
in the world
you will have
tribulation
hardship
on account of Jesus
but then he says
but take heart
I have
I have overcome the world
and this morning
that's what you need to hear
take heart
fear
not
no matter what happens
in the next 5
10
15
20 years
in our country
no matter what happens
we fear not
and here's why
because our Jesus
is the risen
radiant
and reigning
son of man
right here
right now
he's with us
this morning
you need to hear
these two words
of encouragement
from the lips
of the risen Christ
fear not
in order to help us
fear not
you need to hear
what John
heard
in this passage
in order to fear not
you need to
see
what John
saw
in this passage
in order to fear not
you need to
feel
what John
felt
in this passage
who he heard
who he saw
whose hand
he felt
when he was
prostrate
and when you
hear
and see
and feel
you will find
courage
in your heart
because you've been
reminded
of the one
who's risen
radiant
and reigning
so let's
look
to our Bibles
let's hear
what John
hears
in chapter 1
verse 9
we learn that
the apostle
John
is on the
island
called
Patmos
it was
about
30 plus
miles
southwest
of
the
western
coast
of
Turkey
and he
wasn't
there
on a
vacation
he
wasn't
hanging
out
on a
condo
he
was
in
exile
for
what
verse 9
on account
of the
word
of God
and the
testimony
of
Jesus
God's
word
revealed
through
the
testimony
of
Jesus
that's
why
he
was
on
the
island
of
Patmos
you see
John
was
proclaiming
Jesus
as the
exclusive
unrivaled
universal
Lord
of
all
and it
was a
direct
contradiction
to the
gospel
according
to
Domitian
who is
the
Roman
emperor
of the
time
and who
called
himself
quote
unquote
Lord
and God
quote
unquote
the
everlasting
king
who had
commanded
all
citizens
and subjects
in the
Roman
empire
to
dash
a little
incense
on an
altar
and as
they're
doing it
in this
worship
center
unto
Domitian
they were
to say
Caesar
is
Lord
and here
is
John
exiled
to
Patmos
on
account
of
proclaiming
the
exclusive
lordship
of
Jesus
that's
why
John
begins
in
I
John
your
brother
and
fellow
partner
in
the
tribulation
in
the
kingdom
and the
patient
endurance
that is
in
Jesus
he
himself
is
suffering
tribulation
for
Jesus
he's
in
exile
on
this
rocky
outcropping
called
Patmos
no
dairy
queens
there
he's
a
citizen
of
the
kingdom
of
Jesus
he
is
seeking
to
endure
the
suffering
that
he
is
experiencing
for
Jesus
and
so
if
you
were
one
of
these
seven
churches
and
you
were
in
the
precarious
position
that
they
were
in
some
of
your
members
are
already
being
persecuted
for
Jesus
do
you
know
what
this
means
this
guy's
got
instant
street
cred
he's
writing
as a
fellow
sufferer
as a
brother
who's
enduring
the
hardship
himself
you want
to tune
your ears
to someone
like that
he's
not
a
recent
seminary
grad
he's
been
following
Jesus
for
60
plus
years
at
this
point
he's
the
one
called
the
beloved
disciple
he's
the
one
that
reclined
on
Jesus
chest
at
the
last
supper
he
is
the
one
Jesus
himself
entrusts
his
earthly
mother
to
take
care
of
that's
this
John
and
he's
exiled
he's
writing
to the
seven
churches
and he's
writing
to them
for a
reason
we learn
in verse
10
he was
in the
spirit
on
the
Lord's
day
that's
a
reference
to
Sunday
the
first
day
of
the
week
the
day
that
Jesus
was
raised
from
the
dead
Christians
in the
first
century
would
gather
on
that
day
and
he
was
in
the
spirit
it's
describing
an
awareness
of
the
presence
of
the
Holy
Spirit
so
on
this
particular
Lord's
day
while
on
Patness
exile
the
Holy
Spirit
impresses
on
John
something
profound
the
Holy
Spirit
was enabling
John
to hear
something
verse
10
and I
heard
behind me
a loud
voice
like a
trumpet
it would
have been
like that
the
1030
a.m.
Saturday
kind of
tornado
siren
sound
that
kind of
pronouncement
and
what
John
hears
right here
you gotta
understand
it's not
just in
his
head
he
really
hears
it
and what
does
his
voice
say
verse
11
it
says
two
things
write
what
you
see
in
a
book
and
this
book
is the
book
of
revelation
write
it
down
and
then
he
says
send
it
send
it
to
the
seven
churches
and
then
he
names
them
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamum
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
not
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Laodicea
now that
word
seven
is
in the
Jewish
mind
they would
think
very
quickly
of this
sense
of
completeness
and
fullness
and so
these
seven
churches
are a
complete
representative
of the
fullness
of the
entire
church
they
represent
us
all
of
Jesus
blood
bought
now
what you
need
to also
know
about
these
seven
churches
is
that
they
were
on
a
circuit
all
seven
churches
were
on
a
road
that
connected
them
all
about
30
35
miles
from
each
one
and
what
would
happen
is
messages
would
be
sent
out
and
so
the
ordering
of
these
churches
are
actually
ordered
according
to
where
they
are
on
the
circuit
and
so
John
is
said
being
told
to
write
in
a
book
what
you
see
and
send
it
to
the
churches
here's
what
this
means
for
us
John
was
descended
to
the
first
century
church
in
Ephesus
and
these
other
six
churches
and
even
back
then
our
great
God
knew
that
this
book
would
end
up
in
this
church
in
Kenosha
in
the
21st
century
what
he
sees
is
for
us
whose
voice
is
this
whose
trumpet
like
voice
is
this
we've
begun
to hear
what
John
hears
now
let's
see
what
John
sees
verse
12
John
turns
to see
the
voice
that
was
speaking
to him
all
of
us
would
have
been
done
the
same
thing
if
we
were
on
Pat
and
we
heard
this
voice
we'd
be
like
what
is
that
and
John
would
never
forget
what
he
saw
and
we
are
to
never
forget
what
he
saw
it's
this
is
designed
to
grab
your
imagination
this
is
designed
what
we're
about
to
read
is
to
capture
you
to
press
an
image
on
your
mind
for
you
not
to
forget
and
the
first
thing
that
John
sees
are
seven
golden
lampstands
seven
golden
lampstands
this
is
interesting
what
are
these
seven
golden
lampstands
well
Jesus
is
about
to
tell
us
but
what
you
need
to
understand
is
when
a
Jewish
person
would
hear
lampstand
golden
lampstand
they're
thinking
temple
they've
gone
they're
imagining
God's
temple
there
was
an
elaborate
menorah
in the
temple
but
these
are
seven
individual
lampstands
and
what
Jesus
says
in
verse
20
he
explains
that
mystery
to
us
in
verse
20
did
you
pick
up
on
that
if
you
look
to
verse
20
and
the
seven
lampstands
are
the
seven
churches
so
here's
what's
going
on
this
voice
tells
John
to
write
send
it
to
the
seven
churches
John
turns
to
see
the
voice
and
then
he
sees
seven
lampstands
the
seven
churches
that
he's
going
to
be
sending
the
letters
to
the
book
to
now
what
we
also
read
is
someone
is
in
the
midst
of
these
lampstands
verse
13
and
in
the
midst
of
the
lampstands
one
like
a
son
of
man
now
I
know
your
elementary
school
grammar
taught
you
that
when
you
read
see
that
word
like
one
like
a
son
of
man
you
want
to
start
thinking
okay
there's
a
comparison
going
on
here
that's
not
what
John
is
doing
this
is
not
a
comparison
John's
not
saying
this
one
I
saw
had
the
form
of
one
like
a
son
of
man
that's
not
what
he's
saying
John
is
quoting
Daniel
7
13
he
is
seeing
the
quote
one
like
a
son
of
man
the
one
who
would
come
to
the
ancient
of
days
in the
ancient
of
days
God
the
father
would
give
him
dominion
and glory
and an
everlasting
kingdom
without
end
that's
the one
like
a son
of man
that's
who
John
sees
we're
to be
thinking
Daniel
7
13
through
14
this
is
the
son
of
man
this
is
the
risen
Jesus
and
what
we
notice
here
is
something
very
profound
and we
can
cruise
over
it
really
quick
it's
important
to see
where
he
is
this
one
like
a
son
of
man
the
risen
Jesus
is
in
the
midst
of
the
lamp
stands
he's
among
the
churches
the
risen
son
of
man
who's
been
given
dominion
glory
and
everlasting
kingdom
and everlasting
kingdom
that's
Daniel
7
13
he's
in
the
middle
of
his
churches
it
should
make
you
think
of
Matthew
28
the
great
commission
go
make
disciples
and
he
closes
with
the
promise
and
I
am
with
you
always
even
to
the
end
of
the
age
so
here's
the
significance
for
us
Jesus
the
risen
son
of
man
the
king
of
God's
everlasting
kingdom
of
grace
he
is
with
us
right
here
and
right
now
he
was
with
those
seven
churches
in the
first
century
and
he's
with
Christ
the
king
church
in
the
21st
century
but
there's
more
John's
eyes
focus
on
what
the
risen
son
of
man
is
wearing
verse
13
he's
wearing
he's
clothed
with a
long
robe
and
with
a
golden
sash
around
his
chest
the
long
robe
was
most
likely
kind
of
a
priestly
vestment
garb
and
so
you're
thinking
okay
he
is
a
priestly
representative
and
we all
know
that
priests
back
in the
day
of the
temple
they
maintained
the
temple
and
they
mediated
God's
presence
the
golden
sash
some
commentators
think
that
represents
Christ
high
priestly
role
and
it
could
but
what
I
want
to
point
out
is
something
like
this
it's
made
of
gold
it's
a
gold
sash
it's
not
it's
not
like
a
sash
around
the
waist
that
you
see
those
guys
in
Spain
running
with
the
bulls
it's
not
one
of
those
things
it's
a
sash
that
draped
over
your
shoulder
came
over
your
chest
and
was
clasped
at
the
waist
it
would
you
couldn't
get
it
grabs
your
attention
it
grabbed
John's
attention
the
goldness
of it
when
we
get
to
the
end
of
the
book
of
Revelation
and
we
start
getting
glimpses
of
the
new
Jerusalem
that
comes
down
do
you
know
what
it's
made
of
it's
made
of
gold
in
Revelation
15
6
angels
come
to
pour
out
the
plagues
and
do
you
know
what
they're
wearing
white
linens
with
a
sash
across
their
chest
of
gold
it's
making
us
think
that
this
one
he
is
he's
from
the
new
Jerusalem
and
he's
in our
midst
as
our
high
priest
maintaining
his
temple
us
the
new
temple
of
God
and
mediating
God's
presence
but
there's
more
John
moves
from
what
he
is
wearing
to
what
his
body
is
radiating
his
sparkly
hair
the
hairs
of his
head
verse 14
were
white
like
white
wool
that's
white
like
snow
it's a
different
kind of
white
the
difference
between
wool
white
and
snow
white
is
when
it
snows
and you
walk
out
your
front
door
and you
see a
fresh
snow
in the
sunshine
what
happens
it's
like a
field
of
diamonds
they
glitter
sparkle
there's a
brilliance
this
white
was a
brilliant
white
and what
you need
to know
is that
this is
actually a
reference to
something
an attribute
of the
ancient of
days
from Daniel
chapter 7
who had
hair
white as
wool
so is
John saying
right here
that the
son of
man
is the
ancient of
days
he's not
saying
that
what
John is
seeing
communicating
is that
this
son of
man
amidst
the
lamp
stands
is
sharing
in one
of the
essential
attributes
of
the
ancient
of
days
wisdom
ageless
wisdom
it's a
vivid way
to communicate
the deity
of Jesus
in our
midst
he's got
sparkling
hair
brilliant
and
in his
eyes
verse 14
he's got
fire
eyes
his eyes
were like
a flame
of fire
again
it's
behind this
is a
reference
to Daniel
chapter 10
verse 6
look it up
later
what you need
to note
is this
his
eyes
were
radiating
light
and the
inference
is his
eyes
see
into
darkness
he knows
all
because he
sees
all
here's
where I want
to take a
step
outside of
our passage
and help
you anticipate
something
this
vision of
Jesus
that we
have in
9 through
20
it's
going to
show up
again
but in
parts
the 7
letters
that he
sends
to the
7
churches
that are
chapter 2
and chapter 3
all point
back to
one of
these
attributes
in this
vision
it's
all
connected
and what
we see
in the
7
letters
of the
7
churches
follow
with me
now
okay
his
flaming
eyes
chapter 2
verse 2
to Ephesus
I know
your works
Jesus
to Ephesus
2
9
to Smyrna
I know
your
tribulation
2
13
to Pergamum
I know
where you
dwell
2
19
let me find
it
Theotira
I know
your works
your love
and faith
and service
and patient
endurance
3
1
Sardis
I know
your works
you have a
reputation
of being alive
but you're
dead
to Philadelphia
and 3
8
I know
your works
behold
I have set
before you
an open
door
the church
of Laodicea
15
3
15
I know
your works
you're neither
cold
nor hot
he sees
all
those flaming
eyes
flaming
eyes
he sees
and knows
every
nook
and cranny
of
every
one
of his
people's
lives
in
every
nook
and cranny
of
every
church
that he's
purchased
with his
blood
and what
does fire
do
fire
purifies
I am
the official
splinter
remover
of
splinters
in my
children's
feet
it's a
fearful
operation
because I
start
by putting
a needle
over an
open
flame
to purify
it
to heal
my
kid
Jesus
is in
our
midst
looking
on us
with eyes
of fire
seeking
to purify
his people
now here's
the connection
revelation
is a series
of judgments
but judgment
begins with
the house
of God
that's the
seven letters
of the
seven churches
he sees
and knows
and so
brother and
sister
if you are
in this
room
and you're
secretly
hoping
nobody
finds
about
this
secret
lifestyle
sinful
lifestyle
that you
are living
you are
already
seen
he already
sees
all that
you are
you're
fully exposed
before
his
fire
eyes
that's
making you
feel a little
undone
or feel
a little
exposed
or maybe
a little
fearful
that's not
bad
Jesus has
a word
for you
moving on
in verse
15
not only does he
have fire
eyes
he has
glowing
feet
his feet
were like
burnished
bronze
refined
in a
furnace
bronze
was a
metal
that used
in that
day
was used
for many
weapons
making of
weapons
and so
there's
this
hint
of
warrior-ness
about
this
son of
man
in the
midst
of the
churches
but we
also know
that
that bronze
feet
depicts
stability
permanence
resilience
all things
have been
put under
the feet
of king
Jesus
he's ruling
over all
despite what
it may look
like
and they
are aglow
that's what
happens when
you put
bronze
in a heated
furnace
it glows
bronze
feet
aglow
his
radiating
light
of hair
his
fiery
eyes
it's all
radiating
light
and he's
in the
midst
of the
churches
he's in
the midst
he's right
here right
now with
us
this is
our
Jesus
John's
pulling
back
the
curtain
so we
can
see
him
and
then
his
Niagara
voice
in
verse
15
like
the
roar
of
many
waters
now if
you take
a ride
on the
maid
of the
mist
and you
get up
close and
personal
to Niagara
Falls
you're
going to
quickly
find out
that if
you're
with
somebody
you're
going to
have
a
communication
problem
because
that
mighty
cataracts
produces
a volume
of sound
that drowns
out
everything
the Niagara
voice of
Jesus
is to
drown
out
every
other
voice
back in
the day
it was
the voice
of the
emperor
Domitian
in our
day
there's a
lot of
voices
that his
voice
must
drown
out
his
voice
demands
our
attention
and
John
would
have
felt
the
thunder
of his
voice
there's a
loudness
theme
in
revelation
we saw
it in
the trumpet
voice
in verse
10
it is
overwhelming
in
his
right
hand
verse
16
seven
stars
he has
star
hand
and you
know what
stars
are
they're
brilliant
you see
them
sparkling
at
night
what
are
these
stars
well
Jesus
shows
us
that
mystery
in
verse
20
as
for
the
mystery
of
the
seven
stars
that
you
saw
in
my
right
hand
and
the
seven
golden
lamps
the
seven
stars
are
the
angels
of
the
seven
churches
angels
in
right
hand
in
our
bibles
is
often
used
to
refer
to
authority
and
power
dominion
and so
the risen
radiating
son of
man
who's
reigning
right
now
has
in
his
right
hand
the
angels
of
the
seven
churches
he's
saying
I
got
him
I'm
ruling
over
him
they
do
my
bidding
he
commands
his
angels
to
obey
and
they
obey
now
what
it
appears
here
is
that
Jesus
has
assigned
specific
angels
to
specific
churches
and so
the
implication
is
Christ
the
king
church
has
an
angel
now
I'm
not
sure
when
you
hear
that
you
start
getting
goosebumps
what
John
is
doing
is
he
he's
pulling
back
the
curtain
to
how
things
really
are
he's
helping
us
see
the
unseen
the
spiritual
world
with
angels
and
demons
and
he's
helping
us
to
see
yes
there
are
angels
of
the
churches
doing
the
bidding
of
the
Lord
Jesus
we're
being
given
a
glimpse
of
the
unseen
spiritual
world
and
if
you
were
in
the
precarious
position
of a
church
facing
tribulation
this is
really
good
news
Jesus
is
in
control
and
it
also
reminds
us
that
our
battle
is
not
against
flesh
and
blood
it's
against
spiritual
forces
and
powers
in
the
heavenly
places
so
what
we
see
here
is
the
risen
son
of
man
holding
the
angels
in
his
right
hand
and
it
would
have
been
brilliant
out
of
his
mouth
verse
16
comes
a
sharp
double
edged
sword
his
sword
mouth
this
is a
different
sword
than
Ephesians
chapter
6
it's
not
the
sword
of
the
spirit
that
was
a
Roman
soldier
sword
it
was
short
compact
meant
for
close
fighting
this
is
a
long
sword
broad
and
heavy
and
it
was
a
symbol
of
power
an
irresistible
judgment
and
it's
coming
from
his
mouth
it's
not
in
his
right
hand
it's
from
his
mouth
declarative
decisive
powerful
judgment
coming
from
Jesus
lips
he's
reigning
over
all
at
the
end
of
revelation
in
chapter
19
verse
21
all
of
those
who
oppose
Jesus
who
are
unrepentant
and
are
resistant
to
him
they
come
out
to
battle
him
one
last
time
and
what
we
read
in
21
is
that
Jesus
slays
them
by
this
sword
of
his
mouth
no
more
with
a
word
of
decisive
judgment
and
then
you
read
chapter
2
verse
16
to
the
church
in
Pergamum
therefore
repent
if not
I will
come
to you
soon
and war
against
them
with
the
sword
of
my
mouth
he's
bringing
the
sword
to
a
church
the
Nicolaitans
had
been
influencing
them
with
false
teaching
and
Jesus
is
saying
get
them
out
or
I'm
coming
to
get
them
out
sober
weighty
profound
doesn't
make you
feel a
little
uncomfortable
knowing
that the
risen
Christ
would
wage
war
on
one
of
his
own
churches
people
in
one
of
his
own
churches
with
the
sword
of
his
mouth
he
is
our
great
high
priest
who's
dwelling
in
our
midst
and
he's
maintaining
his
temple
keeping
it
pure
we
are
his
dwelling
place
and
this
all
climaxes
in
his
face
his
son
face
it's
the
last
feature
that
John
sees
his
face
the
face
of the
risen
reigning
and
radiating
son
of
man
you
know
he
could
not
have
been
seeing
this
without
squinting
he
described
his
face
like
the
sun
shining
in
full
strength
that's
the
noonday
sun
it's
the
sun
at
its
zenith
at
its
greatest
brightness
you
don't
want
to
look
into
the
sun
because
of
its
brightness
but
we
also
know
number
six
twenty
five
may
the
Lord's
face
shine
upon
you
bright
pure
holy
brilliance
that
brings
blessing
on
those
who
humble
themselves
below
him
what
John
witnesses
here
is more
like
a
multi
sensory
experience
brilliant
hair
fire
eyes
glowing
feet
Niagara
voice
star
hands
sword
mouth
sun
face
it
is a
Christological
rainbow
when you
take it
all
together
and it's
meant
to be
awe
inspiring
we're to
see what
John
saw
it should
remind you
of Daniel
chapter
10
Ezekiel
chapter
1
even
the
transfiguration
in Matthew
17
where we
read his
face
shown
like the
sun
it's
his
manifest
glory
who is
this
one
who
John
has
heard
who is
this
one
that
he's
turned
to
see
he is
the
risen
radiant
and
reigning
son
of
man
Jesus
and
he
is
right
here
and
he
is
right
now
and
so
you
are
not
to
fear
now
I want
you to
feel
what
John
felt
in
verse
17
we read
when I
saw
him
I
fell
at
his
feet
as
though
dead
it
would
have
popped
your
circuits
too
he's
so
terrified
so
overwhelmed
so
undone
he
falls
and
it's
very
reminiscent
of a
lot of
the
parallel
patches
of a
calling
of a
prophet
Isaiah
6
what
Kyle
was
talking
about
earlier
Ezekiel
chapter
1
Daniel
and
Daniel
10
these
men
see
God
in his
glory
and
they
fall
before
him
and
then
God
meets
him
there
fear
not
you
don't
have
to be
a
prophet
to
feel
what
all
these
prophets
felt
overwhelming
awe
in the
presence
of the
risen
Christ
it's
the
proper
response
the
right
response
when
you
see
him
when
you
sense
him
for
who
he
is
the
right
response
is
to
humble
yourself
before
him
we're
going to
see in
chapter 4
and chapter
5
all the
living creatures
who are
before the
throne
are
regularly
falling
down
and
worshiping
the
one
on
the
throne
ancient
of
days
and
the
lamb
who
was
slain
but
now
is
alive
falling
down
before
him
is
a
very
appropriate
response
to
who
he
truly
is
who
he
fully
is
when
the
curtain
gets
pulled
back
when
was
the
last
time
you
humbled
yourself
and fell
down
before
the
risen
radiant
and
reigning
son
of
man
who is
right
here
and
right
now
oh
lord
give
us
eyes
to
see
and
heart
to
respond
appropriately
to
you
but
that's
not
all
John
felt
the
same
right
hand
that
holds
the
seven
stars
the
same
right
hand
that
had
a
nail
pierced
scar
that
hand
of the
risen
radiant
reigning
Christ
in all
of its
authority
tenderly
placed
upon the
prostrate
John
and he
says
I'm not
sure if you
said this
with Niagara
voice
fear
not
fear
not
I
fear
not
fear
me
John
this
is
the
same
John
that
remember
reclined
on
Jesus
at
the
supper
we
all
need
to
hear
these
two
words
every
day
from
the
risen
radiant
reigning
king
fear
not
I
am
here
we
fear
not
this
son
of
man
because
he's
not
against
us
he
is
for
us
if
that
hand
that
was
nailed
for
us
is
the
hand
that
holds
the
seven
stars
for
us
we
fear
him
not
he's
with us
for
our
good
even
in
the
face
of
hardship
he's
with us
for
our
good
no
need
to
compromise
and
we
fear
not
the
tribulation
we
encounter
for
his
namesake
here's
why
he's
the
first
and
the
last
it's
another
way
saying
alpha
and
omega
from
chapter
from
1
verse
8
he
is
the
A
to
Z
and
everything
in
between
he's
eternal
deity
sovereign
over
all
he's
the
living
one
as
in
the
living
God
the
one
and
only
Isaiah
41
Isaiah
44
Isaiah
48
there
is
no
other
in
verse
18
he
elaborates
with
his
hands
still
on
John
he
says
I
died
and
behold
I'm
alive
forevermore
John
I
was
crucified
you
saw
me
crucified
and
I'm
alive
see
I'm
alive
feel
me
I'm
alive
and
his
death
and
his
resurrection
are
the
basis
for
what
he
says
next
and
I
have
the
keys
of
death
and
Haiti
I've
been
given
dominion
over
everything
keys
are a
symbol
of
authority
my
principal
at
Roaring
Brook
Elementary
School
in
Avon
Connecticut
man
did
he
have
a
set
of
impressive
keys
and
they
were
on
a
retractable
wire
attached
to
his
belt
and
he
could
get
into
any
room
in
my
elementary
school
because
he
had
been
entrusted
with
the
right
to
open
any
door
at
any
time
he'd
been
given
a
dominion
and
Jesus
has
been
given
dominion
he's
been
given
keys
to
the
things
that
we
fear
most
death
and
Hades
in
the
face
of
tribulation
whether
that's
fierce
persecution
or
faint
persecution
or a
pressure
to
conform
that
means
compromise
to
Jesus
we
do
not
fear
because
our
risen
king
he's
alive
and
he's
right
here
and
he's
right
now
and
jingle
he's
got
the
keys
Jesus
comes
full
circle
to
John
and
still
with
his
resurrected
hand
on
John
he
says
in
verse
19
write
therefore
the
things
that
you
have
seen
and
what
are
those
the
things
that
are
chapter
two
and
three
and
those
things
that
are
to
take
place
after
this
the
judgment
cycles
of
seven
which
starts
in
chapter
really
six
but
we'll
start
in
chapter
four
write
them
down
John
send
them
out
John
send
them
to
Christ
the
king
church
in
the
21st
century
give
them
this
for
their
good
to
steal
them
to
strengthen
them
to
put
courage
in
their
hearts
in
light
of
not
knowing
what's
going
to
happen
at
this
point
how do
you
think
John
fell
I
mean
he
had
just
folded
like
a
cheap
suit
by
the
end
here
we
can
anticipate
a
kindling
of
courage
a
strength
to
endure
because
the
hand
on
him
is
the
hand
of
the
risen
radiant
and
reigning
Jesus
we
don't
fear
Jesus
we
don't
fear
the
tribulation
that is
to
come
because
our
risen
king
is
radiant
right
now
reigning
right
now
and
with
us
right
now
so
Christ
the
King
church
hear
the
word
of
the
Lord
from
Jesus
fear
not
I
am
with
you
let's
pray
God
in
heaven
strengthen
us
Lord
give
us
courage
to
not
be
jerks
but
to
be
the
lamp
stand
you've
called
us
to
be
in
this
city
at
this
time
help
us
to
endure
because
we're
part
of
your
kingdom
fought
by
your
blood
and
we
live
now
for
the
glory
of
your
name
amen