WEBVTT

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 Good morning. It's good to be with you guys to worship.

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 If you would please turn your Bibles to Revelation chapter 1.

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 And if you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand and we'd love to give you a copy that you can have and you can use.

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 Just began this series in the book of Revelation two weeks ago.

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 We're in Revelation 1 verses 9 to 20 this morning.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father, we ask you this morning to reveal your son Jesus Christ to us in all his glory.

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 So that we know him and worship him as he really is.

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 Rather than the way we imagine him to be.

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 Lord, we don't want to reduce Jesus to our small categories.

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 We want our vision of our risen Lord Jesus to be enlarged this morning.

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 So we plead with you, Father.

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 By your spirit, speak to us.

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 From your word, address us.

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 Humble us and exalt the name of your son Jesus.

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 In his precious name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you're able, please stand for the reading of God's word.

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 This is the way we honor God as he addresses us from the scriptures.

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 Let me read from Revelation chapter 1 verses 9 to 20.

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 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus,

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 was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

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 I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying,

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 Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches,

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 to Ephesus and to Samyra and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

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 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands.

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 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.

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 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.

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 His eyes were like a flame of fire.

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 His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace.

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 And his voice was like the roar of many waters.

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 In his right hand he held seven stars.

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 From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword.

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 And his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

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 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

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 But he laid his right hand on me saying,

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 Fear not, I am the first and the last.

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 And the living one.

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 I died and behold, I am alive forevermore.

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 And I have the keys of death and Hades.

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 Write therefore the things that you have seen,

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 those that are and those that are to take place after this.

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 Ask for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand

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 and the seven golden lampstands.

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 The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.

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 And the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 If you try to picture Jesus or imagine Jesus,

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 what comes to your mind?

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 I know maybe some of you picture actor Jim,

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 what's his name, Jim Caviezel from The Passion of the Christ.

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 I know there's a lot of Chosen fans in our church.

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 Maybe some of you guys think of Jonathan Rumi from The Chosen series.

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 Or maybe you think of the famous painting

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 by the 20th century American artist Warner Salmon,

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 The Head of Christ.

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 While their portrayals of Jesus might be well-meaning

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 and perhaps even pious,

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 they can never come close to depicting the real Jesus.

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 Because Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

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 And it's not a coincidence that no portrait of Jesus

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 has been passed down to us from the first century.

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 Not one person in this whole world

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 knows exactly what Jesus looked like

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 because Jesus passed down to us his word,

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 not his picture.

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 But what if God himself,

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 in his infallible word,

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 were to give us a picture of Jesus?

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 Not as an exact representation of Jesus,

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 but as a symbolic revelation of what he is like.

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 His character,

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 his attributes,

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 his power.

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 That picture would be worth meditating on.

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 Thinking about over and over in our minds.

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 And that's exactly what we have here

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 in Revelation 1, 9 to 20.

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 God revealed this glorious vision of Jesus to John

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 and he instructed John to write it down

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 for us, for the church.

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 To remind us that we need not fear

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 in the midst of tribulation,

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 because Christ is the resurrected Lord

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 who reigns over the church.

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 That's the main point of this passage.

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 And we're going to first talk about our situation

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 that John paints,

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 and then about our Lord,

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 and finally what our response should be

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 because of that.

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 In verses 9 to 11,

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 John describes his situation

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 and the situation of the seven churches

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 that he is writing to.

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 He says in verse 9,

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 Before he gets into the tribulations,

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 John describes himself as a brother of the Christians

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 to whom he is writing.

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 This conveys the incredible reality

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 that we as Christians

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 are those who have been united by faith

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 to Jesus Christ,

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 God's only son,

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 his only begotten son.

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 And through that relationship union with Jesus,

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 we have been adopted as God's children,

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 his sons and daughters.

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 And it's because of that,

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 because we have God in common

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 as our heavenly father,

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 that we are now brothers and sisters

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 in the family of God.

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 So this is John's way of identifying

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 with the believers to whom he is writing.

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 He could have introduced himself

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 as the apostle John,

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 because he is an apostle.

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 He's one of the 12 apostles.

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 But instead,

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 he puts himself on the same level playing field

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 and introduces himself as John,

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 your brother.

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 This is John's way of saying to believers,

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 I am one of you.

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 I am with you.

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 Because we refer to each other

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 as brothers and sisters so often,

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 as Christians,

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 sometimes we don't grapple

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 with the significant reality that that is.

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 Do you remember what Jesus said

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 in Mark 3.35,

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 whoever does the will of God,

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 he is my brother and sister.

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 Romans 8.29 says

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 that Christians have been predestined

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 to be conformed to the image

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 of God's son, Jesus,

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 in order that he might be

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 the firstborn among many brothers.

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 Hebrews 2.11 says that Jesus

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 is not ashamed to call us

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 his brothers and sisters.

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 So do you realize then

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 what a stunning reality is

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 that when we refer to one another

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 as brothers and sisters in Christ,

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 we are saying

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 that the Lord God Almighty

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 is our Father,

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 and we're saying

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 that Jesus Christ,

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 the resurrected Lord,

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 whose name is above every name,

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 is our brother.

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 We're declaring

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 that we are heirs of God

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 in fellow heirs with Christ,

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 that all of God's heavenly inheritance

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 is ours

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 because we are God's adopted children,

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 and that we will reign forever

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 in God's kingdom

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 as co-heirs with Christ.

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 That's why John continues

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 in saying

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 that I am your partner

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 in the kingdom

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 that is in Jesus.

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 The kingdom of God

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 belongs to us

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 because we're brothers and sisters

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 in Christ.

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 We're royal heirs.

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 We're in the same family

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 bound together

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 by the blood of Christ.

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 It's of utmost importance

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 always to remember this,

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 but especially

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 when there's suffering,

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 tribulation,

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 and persecution,

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 spiritual warfare

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 that seek to divide us.

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 We need to remember

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 that we are a family

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 and that we are

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 in this together.

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 Our enemy is working

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 around the clock

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 to make us forget

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 this reality,

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 but we must not

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 forget this reality.

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 In addition to identifying

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 himself as a brother,

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 John himself identifies

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 as a partner

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 partners by definition

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 share in some kind

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 of endeavor together.

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 They're fellow partakers

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 in a common mission

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 or common thing.

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 So what is it

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 that we are partners in?

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 We already talked

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 about the kingdom,

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 which is a glorious reality,

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 but there are two other things

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 on this list

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 that we might not think

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 of as so glorious.

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 He says we are partners

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 in the tribulation

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 and the kingdom

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 and the patient endurance

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 that are in Jesus.

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 These three things

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 are wrapped up together.

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 You can't separate them.

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 You get the tribulation

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 along with the kingdom,

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 along with the patient endurance

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 that those two things require.

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 It's because Jesus

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 went through tribulation

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 with patient endurance

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 and it's because

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 Jesus' glorification

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 to the right hand

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 of the Father

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 came through his death

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 on the cross,

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 through his own tribulation.

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 That's why we also

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 must share in that glory

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 through death

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 and suffering.

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 Jesus lays out

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 the pattern right here

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 in Revelation 118.

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 I died

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 and behold,

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 I am alive forevermore.

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 It's only those

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 who die to themselves,

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 renounce their sins

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 and renounce their pride

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 and turn to Christ.

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 Those are the only ones

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 who can live forever

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 and enjoy the resurrection life

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 that God has won

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 for us in Christ.

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 That's why Jesus

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 says to his followers

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 in John 16, 33,

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 in the world,

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 you will have tribulation.

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 But take heart,

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 I have overcome the world.

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 Tribulation is just a,

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 it's just a fancy word

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 for acute distress

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 or suffering,

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 a severe trial.

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 Many of you are going through

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 different kinds of tribulations.

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 As you fight sin in your life,

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 as you battle our spiritual enemies

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 in your life,

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 as you face those

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 who oppose God

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 and persecute God's people,

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 you face the tribulation.

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 But the tribulation

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 that we face is normal.

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 We need to remember

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 that that's a part

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 of what God has promised

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 that we will have

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 to experience

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 because it's only

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 through patient endurance

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 that we can attain

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 that glory.

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 Times of peace

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 and prosperity

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 for the Christians

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 are the exception,

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 not the norm.

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 I've shared some

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 of these statistics

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 with you from previous years

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 of Open Door USA

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 about the suffering

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 of Christians

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 throughout the world.

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 This organization

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 publishes the World Watch List

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 every year,

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 which lists 50 countries

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 where the persecution

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 against Christians

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 is most severe.

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 And according to their

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 2023 report,

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 more than 360 million

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 Christians today

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 live in places

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 where they experience

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 high, very high,

00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:44.199
 or extremely high

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:45.379
 levels of persecution.

00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.040
 And that number

00:12:48.040 --> 00:12:49.320
 has been going up

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.980
 every single year

00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.700
 that I've been following

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.820
 this watch list.

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.240
 That's one in seven

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.280
 Christians in the world.

00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:59.140
 Over the last year,

00:12:59.280 --> 00:13:01.280
 5,621 Christians

00:13:01.280 --> 00:13:01.840
 were murdered

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.920
 for their faith.

00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:05.980
 2,110 church buildings

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:07.180
 were attacked,

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:08.940
 destroyed.

00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:11.879
 4,542 Christians

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.520
 were detained.

00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.639
 That means on average,

00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.179
 15 or 16 Christians

00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:19.559
 are killed

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:21.179
 for their faith

00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:23.279
 every single day.

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.340
 This day,

00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.860
 15 or 16 Christians

00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.919
 will die for their faith

00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.679
 somewhere in the world.

00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.319
 That's the reality

00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:33.100
 that many of the members

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.000
 of the body of Christ

00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.539
 live in.

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.299
 And most of them

00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:38.120
 don't make the news.

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.299
 For many Christians

00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:41.939
 around the world,

00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:42.840
 the cost of being

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.120
 a disciple of Jesus Christ

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.640
 is very, very high.

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.240
 And even though

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.240
 there is an overt

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.460
 persecution of Christians

00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.440
 in our society today

00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:53.180
 because we do not live

00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:55.100
 as citizens of earth,

00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:55.880
 but rather as citizens

00:13:55.880 --> 00:13:56.440
 of heaven,

00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:58.400
 and because we operate

00:13:58.400 --> 00:13:59.840
 with a very different

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.640
 set of purposes

00:14:00.640 --> 00:14:01.380
 and priorities

00:14:01.380 --> 00:14:02.020
 than the people

00:14:02.020 --> 00:14:02.780
 of this world,

00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.460
 sometimes we are looked at

00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.400
 as a strange

00:14:06.400 --> 00:14:07.860
 and a regressive

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:09.900
 and even ridiculous bunch.

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:14.459
 Jesus said this

00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:15.240
 in John 15

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.779
 that because the world

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.419
 hated him

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.860
 that it will also hate us

00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:20.079
 because we are not

00:14:20.079 --> 00:14:21.039
 of the world.

00:14:21.319 --> 00:14:22.539
 If we belong to the world,

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.459
 they would love us.

00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:25.480
 But because we don't

00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.980
 and because they don't

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.659
 understand,

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:30.799
 there is hatred

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.840
 from the world.

00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.519
 I am hoping

00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:34.960
 that this is

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.000
 a helpful adjustment

00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.500
 of the perspective

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.580
 that some of us

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.540
 Christians can have.

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.879
 God does not promise us

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.180
 a life free of suffering.

00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:45.100
 He never promised

00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:45.820
 that once you come

00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.440
 to faith in him

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:46.899
 that your life

00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.800
 will be smooth sailing.

00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:49.259
 Rather,

00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.399
 he promises us

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.220
 tribulation

00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:53.399
 and commands us

00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:54.620
 to patiently endure.

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:56.700
 John himself

00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.660
 was enduring this.

00:14:58.160 --> 00:14:58.740
 We could see that

00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.360
 because he says

00:14:59.360 --> 00:14:59.879
 that he was

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.100
 on the island of Patmos

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.539
 on account of the word

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:02.879
 of God

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.439
 and testimony of Jesus.

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.000
 This repeats

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.759
 what he said earlier

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.620
 in verse 2.

00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:10.200
 Patmos was a Greek island

00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.539
 on the Aegean Sea

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:13.039
 where the Romans

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:14.120
 back then

00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:15.340
 used as a destination

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.960
 for political exiles,

00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.320
 so political criminals.

00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.700
 So John is there

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.320
 in exile

00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:22.259
 because he faithfully

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.460
 bore witness to Jesus,

00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:24.740
 because he proclaimed

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:26.279
 the word of God

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:26.899
 and the testimony

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.559
 of Jesus,

00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:29.199
 because he proclaimed

00:15:29.199 --> 00:15:30.519
 that Jesus is king,

00:15:30.719 --> 00:15:31.719
 that he is the Messiah

00:15:31.719 --> 00:15:32.939
 and refused to bow down

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:34.099
 to the emperor cult

00:15:34.099 --> 00:15:35.500
 because he refused

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.799
 to worship the pagan gods

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.419
 of the Romans.

00:15:38.459 --> 00:15:39.279
 They saw him

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:39.919
 as an enemy,

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:43.459
 as an insidious influence

00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:44.579
 in their society

00:15:44.579 --> 00:15:45.539
 and they exiled him

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.339
 to this island.

00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:48.079
 And John's telling

00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:48.659
 the Christians

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:50.079
 not to lose heart

00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:51.579
 as a fellow sufferer

00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:52.099
 for the sake

00:15:52.099 --> 00:15:52.659
 of the gospel.

00:15:53.099 --> 00:15:53.599
 I, John,

00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.459
 am your partner

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.400
 in the tribulation

00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:57.379
 and the patient endurance.

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:59.700
 We are suffering together.

00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:01.759
 You're not alone.

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:03.080
 We are in this together,

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:04.600
 so don't lose heart.

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.519
 Keep on persevering

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:08.320
 and keep on bearing witness

00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.019
 to Jesus

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:10.220
 no matter what.

00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.700
 And having introduced himself

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:14.540
 and having identified

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.639
 with his hearers,

00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.700
 John then relays

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.420
 the vision

00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.000
 that he received

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.740
 from the Lord

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:21.220
 and he describes

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.519
 how he came to that vision.

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.259
 He says in verse 10,

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.340
 I was in the spirit

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:25.600
 on the Lord's day.

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.700
 That's referring

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.419
 to a prophetic vision.

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:30.039
 He's being carried along

00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:30.759
 by the spirit.

00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:32.059
 That's how people

00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:32.740
 receive prophecy,

00:16:32.819 --> 00:16:33.139
 as it says,

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:34.379
 2 Peter 1.21.

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.899
 And he is,

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.860
 so even though

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:38.220
 John's writing this letter,

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.860
 he is reporting

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.399
 revelation from God,

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.159
 something that God

00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:42.840
 has revealed to him

00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.439
 in the vision.

00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.480
 This happened

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.480
 on the Lord's day,

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.399
 which is Sunday,

00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.419
 the first day of the week,

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.799
 the day that our Lord Jesus

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:50.120
 was raised from the dead.

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.460
 And that's why

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.679
 Christians for thousands

00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.519
 of years have worshipped

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.359
 together on the Lord's day,

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.039
 on Sunday.

00:16:57.839 --> 00:16:58.819
 And he says in verses

00:16:58.819 --> 00:16:59.500
 10 to 11,

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.500
 and I heard behind me

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.219
 a loud voice

00:17:01.219 --> 00:17:02.319
 like a trumpet saying,

00:17:02.739 --> 00:17:03.639
 write what you see

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.200
 in a book

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.779
 and send it

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.639
 to the seven churches,

00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.539
 to Ephesus

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.279
 and to Smyrna

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.960
 and to Pergamum

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.720
 and to Thyatira

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.220
 and Sardis

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.779
 and to Philadelphia

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.559
 and to Laodicea.

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.619
 So this prophetic vision,

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.299
 he's relaying,

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.200
 he is serving

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.460
 as a messenger of this.

00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:17.919
 And here in verse 11,

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.659
 we see the seven churches

00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:20.679
 that are listed.

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.600
 They are the recipients

00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:23.799
 of this circular letter.

00:17:24.340 --> 00:17:25.080
 That's what most people

00:17:25.080 --> 00:17:26.160
 think Revelation was,

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.299
 that it was a circular letter

00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.320
 intended to circulate

00:17:28.320 --> 00:17:29.320
 in multiple locations.

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.900
 So he would have gone

00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:32.539
 likely in this order

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.380
 of the churches

00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:34.000
 that are listed.

00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:34.960
 He would have traveled

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.500
 from one location

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.039
 to the other

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.200
 to relay this message

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.920
 that God had given

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.720
 to John.

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.900
 So this is listed

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:42.640
 in kind of geographic order

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.360
 of the path

00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:44.860
 that a messenger

00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.400
 from Patmos

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.000
 would have taken.

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.519
 these,

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.039
 it's not,

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.220
 it's not,

00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.480
 we're not told here

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.920
 why these seven churches

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.039
 are specified

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.700
 that we're more

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.640
 than these seven churches

00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.519
 in Asia Minor.

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.319
 And there are also

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.579
 even other prominent churches

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.259
 in Asia Minor

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.119
 like Galatia,

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.200
 the church in Galatia

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.480
 that Paul wrote to,

00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.779
 the letter to the Galatians.

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:06.380
 So then why did John

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.519
 choose these seven churches?

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.440
 We don't know for sure,

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.140
 but it's possible

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.180
 that these seven churches

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.599
 formed a natural

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.539
 focal point of creation

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:14.039
 for the churches

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.740
 scattered throughout

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.700
 that geographic region.

00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:18.740
 And remember that also

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.519
 number seven,

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.740
 as Ed mentioned last week

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:22.200
 and as I said two weeks ago,

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.180
 is symbolically significant

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.039
 throughout the book

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.579
 of Revelation.

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.859
 Because seven days

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.920
 is what God took

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.599
 to create,

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.000
 to complete all of creation.

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:33.279
 It's used symbolically

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.180
 throughout scripture

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.779
 and especially

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.859
 in the book of Revelation

00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.460
 to represent completeness.

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:39.460
 So while these seven churches

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.740
 are specifically named

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.039
 and God does address

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.240
 the specific circumstances

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.240
 of these churches,

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.319
 they are also representative

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.960
 of the whole church,

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.140
 all of God's people.

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.720
 So the situation

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.859
 that this Revelation addresses

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:56.279
 is a persecuted church

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.559
 in the midst of tribulation

00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.099
 that must patiently endure

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:01.920
 and that's what John

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.579
 is writing to.

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.799
 That's the circumstance.

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.640
 And now having seen

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.279
 our situation

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:06.920
 as described

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.799
 in verses 9 to 11,

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.839
 let's look at our Lord.

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.519
 His description

00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.779
 in verses 12 to 16.

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:13.180
 After hearing the loud voice

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:13.759
 like a trumpet,

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.940
 John turns to see

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.379
 where the voice

00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:17.059
 is coming from

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.899
 and he sees,

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.319
 it says,

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.180
 on turning,

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.779
 seven golden lampstands.

00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.220
 And in the midst

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.039
 of the lampstands,

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:26.500
 one like a son of man,

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.200
 clothed with a long robe

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:30.000
 and with a golden sash

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.119
 around his chest.

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.579
 For those of you

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.359
 who are with us

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.319
 through our sermon series

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.139
 recently in the book

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:36.619
 of Exodus,

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.879
 this should immediately

00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.880
 make the light bulbs

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.600
 go off.

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.260
 Seeing some light bulbs

00:19:42.260 --> 00:19:43.180
 go off here.

00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:45.200
 Because a golden lampstand

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.400
 with seven lamps,

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.120
 no less,

00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:48.940
 right,

00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:51.040
 was one of the furnishings

00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:52.880
 within the tabernacle

00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.320
 of God.

00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.740
 The golden lampstand

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.380
 occupied a holy place,

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:59.360
 the dwelling place of God,

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.540
 along with the bread

00:20:00.540 --> 00:20:01.260
 of the presence

00:20:01.260 --> 00:20:02.440
 and it represented

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:03.680
 the presence of God,

00:20:03.760 --> 00:20:04.700
 God's gracious presence

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.380
 among his people.

00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:07.140
 Light and fire

00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:09.100
 are really appropriate

00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:09.940
 symbols for God

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.940
 and used throughout Scripture

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.740
 because God is described

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.660
 as the consuming fire.

00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.220
 Like fire,

00:20:16.540 --> 00:20:18.480
 the Lord God sanctifies.

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.520
 He burns up the dross,

00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.880
 leaving the precious ore.

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.380
 He purifies.

00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:24.780
 He consumes the wicked

00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:25.520
 in judgment,

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:28.280
 but he purifies his people.

00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.860
 1 John 1, 5 says

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.780
 that God is light

00:20:31.780 --> 00:20:32.300
 and in him

00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:33.820
 is no darkness at all.

00:20:34.280 --> 00:20:34.800
 The light,

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.619
 the seven lights

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.659
 that are on the lampstand

00:20:36.659 --> 00:20:37.659
 represent the fullness

00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:39.519
 of God's holy presence

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.419
 and is connected

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.980
 to the seven spirits

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.119
 that we saw earlier

00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:44.579
 mentioned in Revelation 1, 4.

00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.859
 That doesn't mean

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.319
 that there are

00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.659
 seven spirits of God.

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.079
 Rather,

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.839
 it represents

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.960
 the completeness

00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.119
 of the one spirit of God

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.200
 as Ed was talking about

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.240
 last week.

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.019
 There's no blood

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.879
 or imperfection

00:20:58.879 --> 00:20:59.500
 or darkness

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.419
 in God at all

00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:01.799
 because he is the light,

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.279
 the consuming fire.

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.720
 And the golden lampstand

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.980
 also signifies the fact

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.339
 that God sees.

00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:10.559
 Just as the physical light

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.539
 enables our eyes to see,

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:15.039
 it's the spiritual light,

00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:15.839
 the light of God

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.480
 that enables us

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.059
 to see spiritual realities.

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.960
 The golden lampstand

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.700
 of the tabernacle

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.279
 was designed

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.799
 to look like an almond tree

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.740
 and we know

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:25.359
 from Jeremiah 1, 11 to 12

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.359
 that an almond tree

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:26.879
 is a symbol

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:28.259
 of the Lord's watching

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.859
 because the word watching

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.500
 is very similar

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.299
 which is the word almond

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.940
 in Hebrew.

00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.519
 And so then

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.519
 the seven lamps

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.920
 of this almond tree,

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:37.680
 right,

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.220
 of the lamp

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.319
 convey unmistakably

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.019
 that the Lord

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.019
 is watching.

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.640
 There's nothing hidden

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.160
 from God.

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.119
 The deepest recesses

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:45.619
 of our hearts

00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.619
 are open to God.

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:48.000
 The hidden sins

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.460
 of sinners

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.039
 are exposed

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.779
 before God.

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.019
 God sees everything.

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.759
 The Israelites

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.400
 were to bring

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:53.819
 pure,

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.779
 beaten olive oil

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.220
 regularly

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.099
 to make sure

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.640
 that the light

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.460
 never goes out

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.259
 and it was the job

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.660
 of the Aaron

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.180
 and his sons,

00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.759
 the priests,

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.600
 to keep the light

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:01.960
 going,

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.840
 the lamp burning

00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:03.759
 at all times.

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.340
 It was never

00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:05.039
 to go out

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.380
 because it represented

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.480
 God's presence

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.200
 with his people

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.360
 and God never

00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:10.220
 goes on vacation.

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.779
 He never leaves,

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:12.640
 right?

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.680
 When you walk around

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.360
 East Cambridge

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:14.900
 at night

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.539
 and then you see

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.920
 light inside the houses,

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.039
 that's how you know

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.360
 there is someone home.

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.740
 Someone is there

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:23.380
 and you look

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.140
 to the tabernacle,

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.579
 the Israelites

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.500
 look to the tabernacle

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.279
 and see the light

00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:26.840
 of God burning

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.279
 the lampstand.

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:27.679
 They say,

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.959
 God is here.

00:22:29.439 --> 00:22:30.599
 He's with us.

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:32.379
 He goes with us.

00:22:36.459 --> 00:22:37.959
 We're told plainly

00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.679
 in verse 20

00:22:38.679 --> 00:22:39.500
 that the seven golden

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.459
 lampstands stand

00:22:40.459 --> 00:22:41.459
 for the seven churches

00:22:41.459 --> 00:22:42.619
 and the light

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.059
 and fire

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.679
 that lampstands

00:22:43.679 --> 00:22:44.579
 are meant to hold

00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:46.439
 represent the watchful

00:22:46.439 --> 00:22:47.419
 presence of God,

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.000
 his spirit.

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.079
 This is confirmed

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.399
 by Zechariah 4,

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.679
 which this passage

00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:53.720
 is also alluding to.

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.220
 There an angel

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.039
 shows Zechariah

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.439
 a vision

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.600
 of a golden lampstand

00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.259
 and this one's

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.400
 like a super lampstand.

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.500
 It's got seven lamps

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.420
 and each of the lamp

00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.279
 has seven lips

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.860
 or spouts.

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.640
 So it's like

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:05.059
 a seven times seven.

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.460
 This is like

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.299
 a super menorah.

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.480
 And in that vision,

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.940
 he sees two olive trees

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.039
 by it on either side,

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.680
 which supplies the oil

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:14.940
 to this lampstand.

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.480
 And then when asked

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.519
 to explain the meaning

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:17.940
 of this,

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.779
 the angel says

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.480
 to Zechariah,

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.759
 not by might

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.740
 nor by power,

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.819
 but by my spirit

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.539
 says the Lord,

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.880
 meaning that it represents

00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.980
 the spirit of God,

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.059
 the presence of God

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.460
 among his people,

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.559
 the lampstands,

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.620
 the light of God.

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.460
 And it says

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:33.980
 specifically

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.140
 in Zechariah 4.10

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.360
 that these seven,

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.559
 the seven lights

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.460
 on the lampstand

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.720
 are the eyes

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.440
 of the Lord

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.140
 which range

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.240
 through the whole earth.

00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:42.900
 So once again,

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.819
 it represents

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.579
 the same thing,

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.059
 the watchful presence

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.339
 of the living God,

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.240
 the spirit of God,

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.059
 the God who gives light

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.759
 and life

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.640
 to his people,

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.660
 the lampstands.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.759
 And this is a fulfillment

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:58.400
 of the Zechariah's prophecy,

00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.099
 of Zechariah's prophecy

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:01.880
 because in the Old Testament

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.799
 times in Zechariah,

00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:04.160
 the lampstand represented

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.380
 Israel, God's people,

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.359
 the Jews.

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.819
 But now in the New Testament,

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.620
 in the New Covenant,

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.220
 the lampstand represents

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.319
 all of God's people.

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.420
 Hence the seven lampstands

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.819
 represent the fullness

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.259
 that includes not only the Jews

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.440
 but also the Gentiles.

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.440
 And also in Zechariah 4,

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.680
 there were the two olive trees

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.680
 that supplies the oil.

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:25.519
 And most people interpret that

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.500
 to mean to stand for Joshua,

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.299
 the high priest,

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.420
 and Zerubbabel,

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.200
 the governor,

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.259
 who is from the royal line of David,

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.200
 basically a king.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:35.859
 And those two were at the time

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.720
 leading Israel

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.599
 and helping to lay again

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:40.039
 the foundation of Jerusalem

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.619
 and the temple

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:41.440
 that were destroyed.

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:44.059
 And so they're supplying the oil.

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:46.419
 But instead of having two people

00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:48.440
 tending to the lampstand,

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.460
 in John's vision,

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.379
 there's only one.

00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:52.940
 One like a son of man.

00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:56.779
 Clothed with a long robe

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.899
 and with a golden sash

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:59.159
 around his chest.

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:01.379
 This is a vision of Jesus

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:03.720
 because Jesus in himself

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:05.720
 combines both of those offices

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:08.039
 as high priest and king.

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.420
 And that's why it says

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.220
 he's clothed with a long robe

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.639
 and with a golden sash.

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:15.379
 The Greek word that's translated here

00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.240
 as long robe

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.480
 only occurs once

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.639
 right here in the New Testament.

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.920
 But if you search

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.740
 the Greek translation

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.659
 of the Old Testament,

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.379
 it occurs five times

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.619
 in the book of Exodus alone.

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.899
 And every single time

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:27.319
 it refers to the robe

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.259
 of the ifid

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.279
 that the priest wears.

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.759
 So it's a priestly robe.

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.359
 And the golden sash

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.399
 is a symbol of royalty

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:35.299
 and represents Jesus'

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.460
 kingly office.

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.140
 And as many of you

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.720
 already know,

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.360
 the phrase son of man

00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:42.240
 is Jesus' favorite phrase,

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.620
 the favorite title

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.759
 that Jesus takes upon himself

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.640
 throughout the Gospels

00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:47.559
 because it's an explicit allusion

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.420
 to Daniel 7 and Daniel 10

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:51.319
 where one like a son of man

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.940
 approaches the engine of days

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:55.120
 and receives everlasting dominion

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.519
 and glory and kingdom

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:58.420
 so that all peoples and nations

00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:59.880
 and languages worship him

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:00.460
 and serve him.

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.920
 It's a description

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.380
 of the messianic king

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:05.579
 who has God's authority,

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:07.519
 divine, eternal authority.

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.240
 And that's who Jesus is.

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.879
 He's better.

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.139
 He fulfills Zerubbabel

00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:13.139
 and Joshua the high priest.

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.579
 He is the great high priest

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.379
 and he is the ultimate king

00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.799
 in the line of David.

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:20.740
 And so he fulfills this prophecy

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.639
 in Zechariah 4

00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:22.799
 and he is the one

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.000
 who is now tending

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.259
 to God's people,

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.179
 the lamp of God,

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.460
 to make sure that the lamp

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:29.299
 does not go out,

00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.779
 that it continues to burn.

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.779
 This picture of the seven

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.559
 golden lampstands

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.460
 with the son of man

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.119
 behind it,

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.399
 in the midst of it,

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.440
 teaches us several

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.420
 important things.

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.759
 First, it teaches that we,

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:43.240
 the church of God,

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:45.000
 we're the lampstands.

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.579
 But God,

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.940
 the spirit of God,

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.720
 is the light

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.940
 or the fire.

00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.599
 Jesus is the light

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.039
 of the world

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.160
 and it says in verse 16,

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.319
 his face is like the sun

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.779
 shining in full strength.

00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:59.899
 We as the church,

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.399
 God's people,

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:02.139
 are merely the receptacles

00:27:02.139 --> 00:27:02.980
 of the light.

00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:06.240
 We are not the light itself.

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.879
 We are only the light

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.299
 of the world

00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.639
 insofar as we are reflecting

00:27:09.639 --> 00:27:10.500
 the light of Christ.

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.259
 So then we should be careful

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.660
 not to make ourselves

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:19.059
 the center of attention

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:21.339
 or center of our ministry,

00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.700
 of everything that we do,

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.440
 our lives.

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:25.180
 It's not about

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.660
 who has the platform

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:28.580
 or who gets to talk

00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:29.400
 in front of a crowd.

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.480
 It's not about

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.540
 who gets the credit

00:27:31.540 --> 00:27:33.519
 or who gets the acclaim

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:36.279
 because it's not about us.

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:39.840
 We exist to glorify God,

00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.920
 not ourselves.

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:45.340
 We exist to make much of God,

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:45.980
 not ourselves.

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.519
 We exist to tell people

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.279
 about God

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.600
 and not about ourselves.

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:53.560
 The church of all places

00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:54.640
 should not be a place

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.860
 where people are jostling

00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:57.080
 for the spotlight.

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.100
 Rather,

00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.259
 we shine the spotlight

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.240
 on Christ

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.320
 because He is the light.

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:05.180
 He is the consuming fire.

00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:07.259
 We're not the main show.

00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.180
 We're just the setting

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.780
 for the light of God.

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.100
 And secondly,

00:28:12.280 --> 00:28:12.620
 Jesus,

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.400
 it tells us,

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.200
 this picture tells us

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.660
 that Jesus is with us

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:17.940
 and that He is watching over us.

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.360
 This glorious and risen Lord

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:21.080
 that we're going to see

00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:21.640
 in a second,

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:24.620
 even as He sits and reigns

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.700
 at the right hand of the Father,

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:28.060
 His church and His people

00:28:28.060 --> 00:28:29.860
 are not out of sight

00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.680
 and out of mind.

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:35.900
 In the midst of the lampstands,

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.300
 He says,

00:28:36.520 --> 00:28:38.460
 there's one like a Son of Man.

00:28:38.540 --> 00:28:39.820
 Jesus is not far off.

00:28:40.540 --> 00:28:42.860
 He's in our very midst

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:45.580
 as our high priest and king.

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.600
 And He's carefully

00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.680
 and diligently

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.860
 tending to the lamp

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:50.559
 so that the fire of God,

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.439
 the Spirit of God

00:28:51.439 --> 00:28:52.479
 does not go out

00:28:52.479 --> 00:28:54.319
 in that lamp.

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.000
 And as I mentioned,

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.879
 this applies to all the churches.

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.579
 The seven churches

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.279
 are representative

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.059
 and that means

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.339
 it applies to us too.

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.219
 This small,

00:29:03.699 --> 00:29:04.079
 humble,

00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:05.219
 lowly church

00:29:05.219 --> 00:29:07.240
 in Cambridge, Massachusetts,

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.759
 the Son of God

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.719
 and the Son of Man

00:29:10.719 --> 00:29:11.579
 who has all authority

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.299
 in heaven and on earth

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.839
 is in our midst.

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:16.659
 And He is tending to us

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:18.680
 and caring for us

00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:20.300
 to make sure

00:29:20.300 --> 00:29:21.400
 that that light of God

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.400
 does not go out.

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:27.640
 That's an amazing promise.

00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:30.220
 So remember this,

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.740
 brothers and sisters,

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:32.560
 as you mortify your sins,

00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:34.080
 as you battle against

00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.940
 the evil one,

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.860
 as you endure

00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:37.120
 through persecution,

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:39.120
 this is the grounds

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:41.100
 for our patient endurance

00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.980
 through the tribulation.

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:44.040
 And this is what undergirds

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.579
 John's message

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.639
 or Jesus' message

00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.639
 to the seven churches

00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.799
 in chapters 2 and 3,

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.319
 telling Him to conquer,

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.680
 telling Him to endure,

00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.920
 telling Him to be faithful

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.619
 unto death.

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.799
 How can they do that?

00:29:55.159 --> 00:29:57.299
 Because Jesus is among us.

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.599
 And He says,

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.859
 you are not alone.

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.559
 I am with you.

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:03.159
 So stand firm.

00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:05.379
 Persevere till the end.

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.299
 And our strength

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:11.159
 and hope grow so much

00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:11.720
 as we see

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.539
 the further descriptions

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.099
 of Jesus.

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.720
 I love this description

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.779
 of Jesus

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.819
 in these few verses.

00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.200
 Verse 14 tells us

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:20.039
 that the hairs

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.940
 of His head

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.639
 were white,

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.399
 like white wool,

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.119
 like snow.

00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.960
 White hair is a sign of what?

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:35.139
 Age, old age, right?

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.139
 In our culture,

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:42.320
 old age is not looked at

00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:42.860
 as a good thing,

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:43.740
 but in many cultures,

00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.060
 actually,

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.460
 it's looked at

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.240
 as a very good thing

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:47.420
 because it signifies wisdom.

00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:51.040
 Gray hair is not something

00:30:51.040 --> 00:30:52.300
 to be ashamed of

00:30:52.300 --> 00:30:54.320
 because it signifies

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:55.920
 long life.

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.420
 And you can testify

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.380
 to the faithfulness

00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:58.820
 of God.

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:02.720
 And through that experience,

00:31:02.780 --> 00:31:03.500
 you gain wisdom.

00:31:04.300 --> 00:31:05.259
 Daniel 7, 9,

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.800
 this is an allusion

00:31:06.800 --> 00:31:07.620
 to Daniel 7, 9,

00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:09.299
 which describes God Almighty,

00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:10.579
 the Ancient of Days.

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.439
 It says that His clothing

00:31:12.439 --> 00:31:13.359
 was white as snow

00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:14.459
 and the hair of His head

00:31:14.459 --> 00:31:15.839
 like pure wool,

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.659
 just like here

00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.579
 with Jesus.

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.239
 John's trying to tell us

00:31:20.239 --> 00:31:21.519
 that Jesus is

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.679
 the Ancient of Days.

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.559
 He's the second person

00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.059
 of the Trinity.

00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:26.379
 He is the word

00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:26.879
 that was there

00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.559
 from the beginning.

00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:29.699
 He is wise.

00:31:31.439 --> 00:31:32.479
 This reminds me

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:34.480
 of Gandalf

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.960
 from The Lord of the Rings.

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.680
 Gandalf is ancient.

00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:41.019
 According to Tolkien Geeks

00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.920
 geeking out on Reddit,

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:44.000
 Gandalf is about

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.240
 55,000 years old

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.319
 by the end of the series,

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.339
 the book of The Lord of the Rings.

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.660
 And so he's ancient

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:53.620
 and he's equally wise.

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.440
 He's as ancient

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.140
 as he's wise.

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:57.900
 And he fights,

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:58.360
 right,

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.319
 as you guys know,

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.579
 I think it's in the two towers.

00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.460
 He fights against

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:03.199
 Balrog of Morgoth

00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:04.339
 and he gives his life

00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:05.339
 to save his friends.

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:07.159
 And then after he dies,

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.980
 he's given life again.

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.079
 He resurrects.

00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:11.899
 And then when he's raised,

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.599
 he's no longer

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:13.679
 Gandalf the Grey,

00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:16.439
 but he is Gandalf the White

00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:18.919
 with greater power,

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.379
 greater wisdom,

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.699
 and greater authority.

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.740
 And he's supposed to go

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.799
 and supplant

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:25.119
 the corrupted leader

00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.339
 of the White Council,

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.960
 the head of the Order

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.659
 of the Wizards,

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.279
 Saruman,

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.920
 because Gandalf

00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:32.160
 has surpassed him.

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.500
 He's now Gandalf the White.

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.359
 I love Gandalf

00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:36.160
 all throughout the series.

00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:37.359
 There's an amazing,

00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.139
 amazing scene

00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.859
 in the two towers

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:40.000
 when during the Battle

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.759
 of the Helm's Deep

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.279
 and they're losing.

00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:44.899
 And I'm sorry

00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:45.639
 if this is like,

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:50.119
 you gotta read the books

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:50.920
 if you haven't read it.

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.740
 And they're losing

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:56.299
 and then as the sun rises,

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.980
 Gandalf appears

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.960
 on the horizon,

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.980
 a white rider,

00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.740
 they call him.

00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:02.420
 And they said,

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.900
 there suddenly upon a ridge

00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.700
 appeared a rider

00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.539
 clad in white,

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.980
 shining in the rising sun.

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.339
 Behold,

00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:10.380
 a white rider,

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.220
 cried Aragorn.

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.720
 Gandalf is come again.

00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.839
 Can you imagine that?

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.799
 And then the tide turns.

00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:17.660
 Can you just imagine

00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.700
 being in that battle?

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.819
 You're losing.

00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:20.799
 You're losing hope

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.279
 and then you see that.

00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:24.339
 Like what strength

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:26.859
 that brings to your heart

00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:28.539
 and what hope

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.480
 that breathes

00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.639
 into your heart

00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:32.259
 and you see someone

00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.200
 so wise,

00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:35.399
 so ancient,

00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:37.659
 who's seen it all

00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:39.240
 and done it all come.

00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.919
 If that's the case

00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:43.639
 with Gandalf,

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.359
 how much more

00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:46.200
 to have Jesus

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:47.419
 on our side?

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:49.860
 the Ancient of Days

00:33:49.860 --> 00:33:50.779
 himself

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:52.800
 who's there

00:33:52.800 --> 00:33:53.740
 before the beginning

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.460
 of time,

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:56.460
 who knows all things.

00:33:57.560 --> 00:33:59.060
 You just behold him

00:33:59.060 --> 00:34:00.340
 and you see his wisdom.

00:34:01.600 --> 00:34:02.400
 He knows and sees

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.060
 all things.

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:08.900
 Amazing.

00:34:09.740 --> 00:34:10.840
 Verses 14 to 15

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.480
 also tells us

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.400
 that his eyes

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.539
 were like a flame

00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.240
 of fire.

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.559
 His feet

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.800
 were like burnished bronze

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.780
 refined in a furnace

00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.900
 and his voice

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.580
 was like the roar

00:34:19.580 --> 00:34:20.480
 of many waters.

00:34:20.560 --> 00:34:21.180
 This is an allusion

00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:22.220
 to Daniel's vision

00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:22.900
 of the Son of Man

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:24.180
 in Daniel 10 verse 6.

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.680
 His body was like barrel,

00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.760
 his face like the appearance

00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.360
 of lightning,

00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:28.600
 his eyes were like

00:34:28.600 --> 00:34:29.680
 flaming torches,

00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.840
 his arms and legs

00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.620
 like the gleam

00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.539
 of burnished bronze

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.320
 and the sound

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:33.840
 of his words

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.480
 like the sound

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.280
 of a multitude.

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.420
 What does it mean

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.000
 that his eyes

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.880
 were like a flame

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.660
 of fire?

00:34:40.080 --> 00:34:40.980
 Fire is often

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.220
 a symbol of judgment

00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:43.600
 and discernment.

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:46.159
 It separates

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:47.460
 the drowse

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.059
 from the oars.

00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.039
 Proverbs 28

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.659
 says this,

00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:50.699
 a king who sits

00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.119
 on the throne

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.659
 of judgment

00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:52.860
 winnows all evil

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:54.099
 with his eyes.

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:55.079
 I think that gets

00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.079
 close to the intended

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:57.199
 meaning of this

00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:57.860
 description.

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.659
 Jesus is a righteous

00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:00.299
 judge,

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.779
 an omniscient judge

00:35:01.779 --> 00:35:02.839
 who perceives

00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:03.659
 and sees

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.860
 all things.

00:35:05.319 --> 00:35:06.099
 Nobody can put

00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.739
 one over him

00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:08.299
 and nothing can

00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:08.960
 get past

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:09.960
 his all discerning eyes.

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.779
 He sees everything.

00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:12.060
 There's no ambush

00:35:12.060 --> 00:35:13.000
 and no trick

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:13.600
 that an enemy

00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:14.220
 can play

00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:15.680
 that can overcome him.

00:35:16.040 --> 00:35:17.019
 There's no sinner

00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:17.740
 who can hide

00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:19.900
 from his all-knowing

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.600
 perception.

00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:22.080
 He sees right

00:35:22.080 --> 00:35:22.760
 through people

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.860
 who are clean

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.540
 on the outside

00:35:24.540 --> 00:35:25.340
 but impure

00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:26.420
 on the inside.

00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:28.220
 That's Jesus.

00:35:29.580 --> 00:35:30.240
 His feet were

00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.360
 like burnished bronze

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:32.600
 refined in a furnace

00:35:32.600 --> 00:35:33.600
 it says in verse 15.

00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.360
 So refined

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.720
 polished bronze

00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:36.500
 is glossy

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.320
 and it gleams,

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.100
 it shines.

00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:40.739
 so that symbolizes

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.880
 Jesus' purity

00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:45.099
 but also

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:46.299
 it shows

00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.319
 Jesus' power

00:35:47.319 --> 00:35:48.019
 and authority

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:48.980
 because bronze

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.559
 is the hardest

00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:52.679
 of the precious metals

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:53.279
 that were commonly

00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:54.519
 used in the ancient world.

00:35:54.659 --> 00:35:55.639
 Gold, silver, and bronze.

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.519
 Bronze is the hardest

00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.279
 of them all.

00:35:58.619 --> 00:35:59.219
 With feet

00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:00.239
 like burnished bronze

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:01.719
 Jesus crushes

00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.539
 his foes

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:03.940
 underneath his feet.

00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.779
 No enemy

00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.980
 can resist him.

00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:08.240
 it just crumbles

00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:08.719
 underneath.

00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.760
 He's the victorious

00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.619
 conqueror.

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.320
 And his voice

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.119
 was like the roar

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:15.340
 of many waters.

00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.199
 It's amazing.

00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:17.280
 Try imagining that.

00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:18.559
 This is an allusion

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:20.099
 to Ezekiel 43.2

00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:20.920
 which describes

00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:21.460
 the sound

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:21.960
 of the coming

00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.380
 of the Lord

00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:22.940
 like the sound

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.920
 of many waters.

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.780
 Ezekiel 1.24

00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.340
 tells us

00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:26.880
 what the sound

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.579
 of many waters

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:28.400
 is like.

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.380
 It tells us

00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:29.940
 that I heard

00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:30.360
 the sound

00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:30.820
 of their wings

00:36:30.820 --> 00:36:31.400
 like the sound

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:32.559
 of many waters

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.820
 like the sound

00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.960
 of the Almighty

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.079
 a sound

00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.920
 of tumult

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.760
 like the sound

00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.820
 of an army.

00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:41.539
 So imagine

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.659
 the sound

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:44.159
 of a mighty host

00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.659
 tens of thousands

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.760
 hundreds of thousands

00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.300
 in the army

00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:48.860
 marching together

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.900
 the rumbling

00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:51.139
 the roar

00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:53.400
 listen to that sound

00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:54.720
 of his voice.

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:55.639
 So imagine

00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:58.119
 like the lush

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.900
 and full surround sound

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.740
 of the ocean waves

00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:01.619
 when you're at the beach.

00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:03.900
 or imagine

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:05.460
 the roaring flow

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.839
 of a large waterfall

00:37:06.839 --> 00:37:07.960
 like the Niagara Falls.

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:11.259
 I think the closest

00:37:11.259 --> 00:37:12.599
 human voice

00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.259
 comes to that

00:37:13.259 --> 00:37:13.719
 is probably

00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.179
 the voice

00:37:14.179 --> 00:37:15.400
 of Tim Storms.

00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:16.480
 You guys know

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:16.839
 about him?

00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:18.259
 I didn't know

00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:18.500
 about him

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.139
 until this weekend.

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:21.079
 He holds

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:22.019
 the Guinness

00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:22.980
 world record

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.420
 for both

00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.259
 the lowest note

00:37:24.259 --> 00:37:24.839
 ever produced

00:37:24.839 --> 00:37:25.519
 by a human being

00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.779
 and the widest

00:37:26.779 --> 00:37:27.519
 vocal range.

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.000
 He has a vocal range

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.960
 of ten octaves

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.159
 to give you

00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:32.199
 a glimpse

00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:32.480
 of that.

00:37:32.659 --> 00:37:33.440
 Mariah Carey

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:34.780
 sings five octaves.

00:37:35.239 --> 00:37:36.179
 That's crazy.

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:38.579
 And normal human beings

00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:38.920
 like you and me

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.460
 only sing two

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.159
 or three octaves.

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.079
 They say that

00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:42.099
 and this is like real

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.739
 they measure it

00:37:42.739 --> 00:37:43.760
 with scientific equipment.

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:44.960
 His lowest note

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.559
 is so low

00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.139
 that human beings

00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:46.840
 can't hear it.

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.519
 Only elephants

00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.179
 can hear it.

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.360
 Isn't that crazy?

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:51.420
 I'm not

00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:52.960
 and he's actually

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.539
 a Christian

00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:55.579
 and you can find

00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.300
 YouTube videos

00:37:56.300 --> 00:37:56.900
 of him singing

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.659
 some hymns

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:58.659
 and it's remarkable.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:00.300
 And you can look

00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:01.079
 that up later

00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.760
 and not now.

00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:04.079
 And he literally

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:05.519
 sounds like a full

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:07.059
 bass choir section

00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:07.820
 all by himself.

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.039
 And you're like

00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:09.780
 listening to this

00:38:09.780 --> 00:38:10.579
 and if you have

00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:11.199
 good headphones

00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:12.860
 you could feel

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.739
 the vibration

00:38:13.739 --> 00:38:15.519
 like an earthquake

00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:16.539
 like the rumbling

00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:18.360
 loud sound.

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.760
 And that's only

00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:21.300
 the voice

00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.699
 of one human being.

00:38:23.099 --> 00:38:23.739
 Can you imagine

00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:24.599
 the sound

00:38:24.599 --> 00:38:25.679
 of the almighty?

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:29.219
 How powerful

00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:30.539
 is the Lord God?

00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:32.819
 Imagine that sound.

00:38:34.359 --> 00:38:35.500
 The immensity

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:35.980
 of it.

00:38:36.259 --> 00:38:37.039
 The authority

00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.559
 of it.

00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:39.159
 Jesus is not

00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:40.259
 a puny deity.

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:44.079
 He's infinite

00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:44.839
 and almighty.

00:38:46.859 --> 00:38:47.419
 Verse 16

00:38:47.419 --> 00:38:47.859
 tells us

00:38:47.859 --> 00:38:48.699
 that in his right hand

00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:49.179
 he held

00:38:49.179 --> 00:38:50.440
 the seven stars.

00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.199
 In case you're

00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:52.659
 wondering what

00:38:52.659 --> 00:38:53.500
 the seven stars are

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:54.380
 John tells us

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:55.539
 exactly in verse 20

00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:57.119
 as for the mystery

00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:58.039
 of the seven stars

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.500
 that you saw

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.300
 in my right hand

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.239
 and the seven

00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:01.219
 golden lampstands.

00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:02.039
 The seven stars

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.679
 are the angels

00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:03.659
 of the seven churches

00:39:03.659 --> 00:39:05.199
 and the seven lampstands

00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:06.179
 are the seven churches.

00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:08.400
 In chapters 2 and 3

00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:09.320
 Jesus addresses

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:10.699
 the seven churches

00:39:10.699 --> 00:39:11.539
 and he addresses

00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.400
 the seven churches

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.360
 by addressing

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:14.239
 the angels

00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:16.139
 of the seven churches

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.639
 which shows

00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.420
 that these angels

00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:18.619
 are heavenly

00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.659
 representatives

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:21.019
 of the churches

00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.980
 that are on earth.

00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.940
 Some people think

00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:25.899
 that these angels

00:39:25.899 --> 00:39:26.819
 refer to human

00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:27.420
 representatives

00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:28.119
 maybe the lead

00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:29.259
 pastors of these churches

00:39:29.259 --> 00:39:31.000
 because the word

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:32.079
 angel simply means

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.539
 messenger

00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:33.259
 in the Greek.

00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.059
 However,

00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:34.819
 in Revelation

00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:36.039
 the word angel

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:37.219
 in all the subsequent

00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:37.679
 visions

00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:39.119
 exclusively refers

00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:40.199
 to a heavenly being

00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:41.599
 an actual angel

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:42.399
 as we think of it.

00:39:42.699 --> 00:39:43.059
 So I think

00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:43.960
 it's highly unlikely

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.759
 that this is referring

00:39:44.759 --> 00:39:46.119
 to a human messenger

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:47.899
 and this idea

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.660
 that there is

00:39:49.660 --> 00:39:50.820
 a heavenly angelic

00:39:50.820 --> 00:39:52.240
 representative of people

00:39:52.240 --> 00:39:53.599
 is not uncommon

00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:54.280
 throughout scripture.

00:39:55.039 --> 00:39:56.160
 In Matthew 18.10

00:39:56.160 --> 00:39:56.820
 Jesus says

00:39:56.820 --> 00:39:57.940
 of the children

00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:59.260
 see that you do not

00:39:59.260 --> 00:40:00.180
 despise one of these

00:40:00.180 --> 00:40:00.740
 little ones

00:40:00.740 --> 00:40:01.820
 for I tell you

00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:02.820
 that in heaven

00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:04.099
 their angels

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:05.720
 always see the face

00:40:05.720 --> 00:40:06.320
 of my father

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:06.880
 who is in heaven.

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:08.840
 These children

00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:09.559
 are precious

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.820
 disciples of Christ

00:40:10.820 --> 00:40:11.440
 are precious

00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:11.880
 why?

00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:12.539
 Because they have

00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:14.079
 heavenly representatives

00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:14.559
 angels

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.740
 before the presence

00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.220
 of God.

00:40:16.219 --> 00:40:18.579
 we see a similar

00:40:18.579 --> 00:40:19.559
 thing in Daniel 10

00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:21.739
 20-21

00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:23.379
 and Daniel 12

00:40:23.379 --> 00:40:24.039
 verse 1

00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:24.679
 they speak of

00:40:24.679 --> 00:40:25.399
 the nations

00:40:25.399 --> 00:40:26.299
 throughout the world

00:40:26.299 --> 00:40:27.339
 also having

00:40:27.339 --> 00:40:28.679
 angelic representatives

00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.879
 assigned to them.

00:40:30.859 --> 00:40:31.599
 So then these angels

00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:32.639
 are heavenly beings

00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:33.399
 that represent

00:40:33.399 --> 00:40:34.799
 before God's throne

00:40:34.799 --> 00:40:35.939
 the church is on earth.

00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:37.699
 This is an amazing

00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:38.179
 statement

00:40:38.179 --> 00:40:39.519
 about the significance

00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:40.379
 of the church.

00:40:41.259 --> 00:40:42.459
 Here on earth

00:40:42.459 --> 00:40:43.899
 the visible church

00:40:43.899 --> 00:40:44.859
 is imperfect.

00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:46.039
 there's wheat

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:46.940
 and there's weeds

00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:48.160
 mixed in together

00:40:48.160 --> 00:40:50.039
 but however imperfect

00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:51.140
 we may be

00:40:51.140 --> 00:40:52.079
 the church

00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:53.780
 is a heavenly reality.

00:40:55.780 --> 00:40:56.220
 And even

00:40:56.220 --> 00:40:57.059
 our small

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:58.160
 local church

00:40:58.160 --> 00:40:59.640
 has an angel

00:40:59.640 --> 00:41:01.519
 representing us

00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:02.360
 before the very

00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.099
 throne of God.

00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:05.480
 This is why

00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:06.300
 the book of Revelation

00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:07.360
 is punctuated

00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:08.039
 by visions

00:41:08.039 --> 00:41:09.320
 of heavenly worship

00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:10.380
 of the Lamb of God

00:41:10.380 --> 00:41:11.480
 because they are

00:41:11.480 --> 00:41:12.720
 a heavenly counterpart

00:41:12.719 --> 00:41:14.199
 to what we are

00:41:14.199 --> 00:41:15.439
 doing here on earth.

00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:17.439
 This is why

00:41:17.439 --> 00:41:18.279
 the corporate worship

00:41:18.279 --> 00:41:18.879
 of the church

00:41:18.879 --> 00:41:20.000
 is so important.

00:41:20.799 --> 00:41:21.959
 What we do here

00:41:21.959 --> 00:41:22.539
 together

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:23.339
 is not just

00:41:23.339 --> 00:41:24.419
 for here and now.

00:41:24.759 --> 00:41:26.159
 It rings out

00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:27.399
 through eternity.

00:41:28.339 --> 00:41:29.480
 It rings out

00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:30.199
 in heaven.

00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:34.000
 And in his right hand

00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:34.799
 it says Jesus

00:41:34.799 --> 00:41:36.839
 holds the seven stars.

00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:39.140
 Not only is Jesus

00:41:39.140 --> 00:41:40.519
 Lord over the seven churches

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:41.400
 represented by the

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:42.600
 seven lampstands

00:41:42.600 --> 00:41:43.720
 he is also Lord

00:41:43.720 --> 00:41:44.680
 over our heavenly

00:41:44.680 --> 00:41:46.340
 angelic counterparts.

00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:47.760
 He holds the seven stars

00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:49.120
 in his hand.

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:50.480
 When you hold

00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.539
 something in your hand

00:41:51.539 --> 00:41:52.220
 when something is

00:41:52.220 --> 00:41:52.880
 in your hand

00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:53.880
 it shows your power

00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:54.340
 over it.

00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:55.860
 Your authority over it.

00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:56.320
 So it shows

00:41:56.320 --> 00:41:57.460
 Jesus' sovereignty

00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:59.320
 over human history

00:41:59.320 --> 00:42:00.420
 and over all

00:42:00.420 --> 00:42:01.300
 of God's people.

00:42:02.260 --> 00:42:03.600
 We are in the hands

00:42:03.600 --> 00:42:04.900
 of the resurrected

00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:05.460
 Lord Jesus

00:42:05.460 --> 00:42:06.199
 and let this

00:42:06.199 --> 00:42:07.420
 be a comfort to you

00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:09.720
 that he is in full

00:42:09.720 --> 00:42:10.900
 control of your faith.

00:42:12.440 --> 00:42:13.500
 No matter what

00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:14.240
 disappointments

00:42:14.240 --> 00:42:14.800
 and setbacks

00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:15.300
 have happened

00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:16.199
 to you in your life

00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:18.240
 no matter how much

00:42:18.240 --> 00:42:18.980
 suffering you are

00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:20.119
 enduring right now

00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:22.539
 no matter how much

00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:23.079
 you despair

00:42:23.079 --> 00:42:24.460
 of even life itself

00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:26.460
 you are in the hands

00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:27.179
 of the resurrected

00:42:27.179 --> 00:42:28.460
 Lord Jesus.

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:29.880
 And as Jesus said

00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.599
 in John 10

00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:31.519
 27 to 28

00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:33.059
 my sheep hear my voice

00:42:33.059 --> 00:42:34.460
 and I know them

00:42:34.460 --> 00:42:35.699
 and they follow me

00:42:35.699 --> 00:42:37.300
 I give them eternal life

00:42:37.300 --> 00:42:39.059
 and they will never perish

00:42:39.059 --> 00:42:41.240
 and no one

00:42:41.240 --> 00:42:42.679
 will ever

00:42:42.679 --> 00:42:43.420
 snatch them

00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:44.360
 out of my hand.

00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:46.300
 That's what that

00:42:46.300 --> 00:42:47.000
 represents.

00:42:48.139 --> 00:42:49.240
 No one can ever

00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:50.400
 snatch you out of

00:42:50.400 --> 00:42:51.559
 the hand of the

00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:52.519
 sovereign Lord Jesus

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:54.039
 who holds the seven stars

00:42:54.039 --> 00:42:55.420
 in his right hand.

00:42:58.059 --> 00:42:59.559
 Verse 16 continues

00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:00.800
 to describe this glorious

00:43:00.800 --> 00:43:01.420
 Christ.

00:43:01.740 --> 00:43:02.500
 From his mouth

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:03.560
 came a sharp

00:43:03.560 --> 00:43:04.420
 two-edged sword.

00:43:04.600 --> 00:43:05.120
 This is an allusion

00:43:05.120 --> 00:43:06.340
 to Isaiah 11 4.

00:43:07.560 --> 00:43:08.780
 The rod from his mouth

00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:10.100
 he judges the wicked.

00:43:11.340 --> 00:43:12.440
 Ephesians 6 17

00:43:12.440 --> 00:43:13.560
 speaks of the word

00:43:13.560 --> 00:43:13.900
 of God

00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:14.640
 as the sword

00:43:14.640 --> 00:43:15.260
 of the spirit.

00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.900
 And Hebrews 4 12

00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:17.820
 famously says this

00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:18.560
 the word of God

00:43:18.560 --> 00:43:19.560
 is living and active

00:43:19.560 --> 00:43:20.840
 sharper than any

00:43:20.840 --> 00:43:21.680
 two-edged sword

00:43:21.680 --> 00:43:22.720
 piercing to the

00:43:22.720 --> 00:43:23.500
 division of soul

00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.080
 and of spirit

00:43:24.080 --> 00:43:24.580
 of joints

00:43:24.580 --> 00:43:25.280
 and of narrow

00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:26.400
 and discerning the

00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:27.260
 thoughts and intentions

00:43:27.260 --> 00:43:28.380
 of the heart.

00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:30.519
 Jesus' weapon

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.539
 is the two-edged sword

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:32.900
 of the word of God.

00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:34.000
 Scriptures.

00:43:35.079 --> 00:43:36.559
 It is not sharp

00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:37.320
 in the sense

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:38.360
 that it cuts people

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:38.800
 down

00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:40.280
 or brings them down

00:43:40.280 --> 00:43:41.440
 rather it's sharp

00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:41.900
 in the sense

00:43:41.900 --> 00:43:42.539
 that it cuts

00:43:42.539 --> 00:43:43.320
 to the heart.

00:43:44.900 --> 00:43:46.280
 It's not merely

00:43:46.280 --> 00:43:47.360
 an earthly weapon

00:43:47.360 --> 00:43:48.099
 that can cut

00:43:48.099 --> 00:43:49.160
 flesh and blood.

00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:50.380
 It's a spiritual weapon

00:43:50.380 --> 00:43:51.579
 that can cut the soul

00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:52.460
 and the spirit.

00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:53.640
 That can

00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:55.720
 cut through the weeds

00:43:55.720 --> 00:43:56.320
 and discern

00:43:56.320 --> 00:43:57.500
 the thoughts and intentions

00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.539
 of the heart.

00:43:58.599 --> 00:43:59.320
 It's a sword

00:43:59.320 --> 00:44:00.500
 that can slay

00:44:00.500 --> 00:44:01.460
 spiritual enemies

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:02.159
 that can slay

00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:02.659
 the devil.

00:44:02.860 --> 00:44:03.900
 It's a sword

00:44:03.900 --> 00:44:05.440
 that can cut open

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:06.800
 sin and expose it.

00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:07.900
 It's a sword

00:44:07.900 --> 00:44:08.760
 with which Jesus

00:44:08.760 --> 00:44:10.139
 will strike down

00:44:10.139 --> 00:44:10.739
 the nations

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:11.980
 who oppose him

00:44:11.980 --> 00:44:12.920
 as it says

00:44:12.920 --> 00:44:14.320
 in Revelation 19 15.

00:44:16.139 --> 00:44:17.000
 And lastly

00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:17.619
 verse 16

00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:19.320
 describes Jesus' face.

00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:22.320
 His face

00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:23.639
 was like the sun

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:24.659
 shining

00:44:24.659 --> 00:44:26.599
 in full strength.

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:30.400
 this reveals

00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:31.099
 that Jesus

00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:31.920
 is the radiance

00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:32.420
 of the glory

00:44:32.420 --> 00:44:32.880
 of God.

00:44:34.380 --> 00:44:35.699
 Jesus is the only

00:44:35.699 --> 00:44:36.579
 sovereign king

00:44:36.579 --> 00:44:37.039
 of kings

00:44:37.039 --> 00:44:37.940
 and lord of lords

00:44:37.940 --> 00:44:38.420
 who alone

00:44:38.420 --> 00:44:39.320
 has immortality

00:44:39.320 --> 00:44:40.019
 and who dwells

00:44:40.019 --> 00:44:41.199
 in unapproachable light.

00:44:43.099 --> 00:44:43.900
 Jesus revealed

00:44:43.900 --> 00:44:45.420
 this divine glory

00:44:45.420 --> 00:44:46.280
 briefly at the

00:44:46.280 --> 00:44:47.039
 transfiguration

00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:48.699
 in Matthew 17 2

00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:49.860
 and it described

00:44:49.860 --> 00:44:50.900
 his transfiguration

00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:51.219
 this way.

00:44:51.280 --> 00:44:51.800
 His face

00:44:51.800 --> 00:44:53.380
 shone like the sun.

00:44:54.420 --> 00:44:55.159
 We can't even

00:44:55.159 --> 00:44:55.880
 stare at him

00:44:55.880 --> 00:44:56.340
 directly.

00:44:57.300 --> 00:44:57.900
 That's how

00:44:57.900 --> 00:44:59.039
 gloriously bright

00:44:59.039 --> 00:44:59.640
 he is.

00:45:02.119 --> 00:45:02.720
 Pure,

00:45:03.519 --> 00:45:03.820
 holy.

00:45:05.820 --> 00:45:06.900
 This is the

00:45:06.900 --> 00:45:07.840
 cosmic

00:45:07.840 --> 00:45:08.860
 picture

00:45:08.860 --> 00:45:09.760
 of the risen

00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:10.260
 Jesus.

00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:11.460
 Isn't it amazing?

00:45:12.059 --> 00:45:12.599
 I think it's such

00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:13.599
 a beautiful description.

00:45:14.860 --> 00:45:15.900
 And it's that

00:45:15.900 --> 00:45:16.860
 glorious picture

00:45:16.860 --> 00:45:18.780
 that provides

00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:19.740
 the basis

00:45:19.740 --> 00:45:20.660
 for the main

00:45:20.660 --> 00:45:21.280
 command of this

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:21.579
 passage

00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:22.420
 in verses 17

00:45:22.420 --> 00:45:22.900
 18.

00:45:23.740 --> 00:45:24.320
 When I saw

00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:24.519
 him,

00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:25.019
 I fell at

00:45:25.019 --> 00:45:25.380
 his feet

00:45:25.380 --> 00:45:25.800
 as though

00:45:25.800 --> 00:45:26.180
 dead.

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:27.139
 But he laid

00:45:27.139 --> 00:45:27.740
 his right hand

00:45:27.740 --> 00:45:28.360
 on me saying,

00:45:28.920 --> 00:45:30.200
 fear not.

00:45:30.940 --> 00:45:31.740
 I am the

00:45:31.740 --> 00:45:32.480
 first and

00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:32.980
 the last

00:45:32.980 --> 00:45:33.639
 and the living

00:45:33.639 --> 00:45:33.920
 one.

00:45:34.180 --> 00:45:34.940
 I died

00:45:34.940 --> 00:45:35.420
 and behold,

00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:36.000
 I am alive

00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:36.599
 forevermore.

00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:37.059
 And I have

00:45:37.059 --> 00:45:37.599
 the keys

00:45:37.599 --> 00:45:38.139
 of death

00:45:38.139 --> 00:45:39.079
 and Hades.

00:45:39.500 --> 00:45:40.000
 So this

00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:40.460
 should be

00:45:40.460 --> 00:45:41.720
 our response.

00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:43.320
 Fear not.

00:45:44.460 --> 00:45:45.220
 This is once

00:45:45.220 --> 00:45:45.920
 again an allusion

00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:46.720
 to Daniel 10.

00:45:47.159 --> 00:45:47.720
 After Daniel

00:45:47.720 --> 00:45:48.340
 sees the vision

00:45:48.340 --> 00:45:48.760
 of the son

00:45:48.760 --> 00:45:49.159
 of man,

00:45:49.260 --> 00:45:49.700
 he loses

00:45:49.700 --> 00:45:50.619
 all strength

00:45:50.619 --> 00:45:51.920
 and he falls

00:45:51.920 --> 00:45:52.539
 into a deep

00:45:52.539 --> 00:45:52.880
 sleep.

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.139
 And Jesus,

00:45:54.380 --> 00:45:54.920
 son of man,

00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:55.779
 has to touch

00:45:55.779 --> 00:45:55.980
 him,

00:45:56.239 --> 00:45:56.799
 his right hand,

00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:57.559
 and strengthen

00:45:57.559 --> 00:45:58.000
 him and to

00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.539
 get him up.

00:45:58.839 --> 00:45:59.400
 And he tells

00:45:59.400 --> 00:45:59.579
 him,

00:45:59.819 --> 00:46:00.559
 fear not,

00:46:00.699 --> 00:46:01.259
 peace be with

00:46:01.259 --> 00:46:01.359
 you,

00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:01.920
 be strong

00:46:01.920 --> 00:46:02.380
 and of good

00:46:02.380 --> 00:46:02.859
 courage.

00:46:03.920 --> 00:46:04.599
 But why

00:46:04.599 --> 00:46:04.980
 is Jesus

00:46:04.980 --> 00:46:06.279
 telling John

00:46:06.279 --> 00:46:07.239
 to fear not?

00:46:07.400 --> 00:46:08.259
 To fear not

00:46:08.259 --> 00:46:08.659
 what?

00:46:09.799 --> 00:46:10.940
 I don't think

00:46:10.940 --> 00:46:11.940
 Jesus is primarily

00:46:11.940 --> 00:46:12.659
 referring to

00:46:12.659 --> 00:46:13.460
 fearing him.

00:46:14.420 --> 00:46:14.960
 And I think

00:46:14.960 --> 00:46:15.440
 we can tell

00:46:15.440 --> 00:46:15.900
 that from

00:46:15.900 --> 00:46:16.599
 the context

00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:17.980
 because Jesus

00:46:17.980 --> 00:46:18.559
 goes on to

00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:18.859
 say,

00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:19.659
 I am the

00:46:19.659 --> 00:46:20.059
 first and

00:46:20.059 --> 00:46:20.420
 the last

00:46:20.420 --> 00:46:20.659
 and the

00:46:20.659 --> 00:46:20.820
 living

00:46:20.820 --> 00:46:21.079
 one.

00:46:21.159 --> 00:46:21.599
 I died

00:46:21.599 --> 00:46:21.920
 and behold

00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:22.519
 I am alive

00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:23.019
 forevermore

00:46:23.019 --> 00:46:23.340
 and I have

00:46:23.340 --> 00:46:23.659
 the keys

00:46:23.659 --> 00:46:24.039
 of death

00:46:24.039 --> 00:46:24.639
 and Hades.

00:46:25.280 --> 00:46:26.300
 If John

00:46:26.300 --> 00:46:27.579
 was afraid

00:46:27.579 --> 00:46:28.280
 of Jesus

00:46:28.280 --> 00:46:30.000
 and he was

00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:30.300
 trying to

00:46:30.300 --> 00:46:30.820
 reassure him,

00:46:31.059 --> 00:46:31.500
 I don't think

00:46:31.500 --> 00:46:31.940
 I would tell

00:46:31.940 --> 00:46:32.659
 him this

00:46:32.659 --> 00:46:33.800
 because I think

00:46:33.800 --> 00:46:34.139
 this makes

00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:34.480
 him more

00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:34.920
 scary.

00:46:36.659 --> 00:46:37.780
 But the

00:46:37.780 --> 00:46:38.619
 threefold

00:46:38.619 --> 00:46:39.139
 formula,

00:46:39.320 --> 00:46:39.659
 I am the

00:46:39.659 --> 00:46:40.119
 first and

00:46:40.119 --> 00:46:40.519
 the last

00:46:40.519 --> 00:46:40.740
 and the

00:46:40.740 --> 00:46:41.180
 living one

00:46:41.180 --> 00:46:41.519
 mirrors

00:46:41.519 --> 00:46:42.079
 verses 4

00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:42.360
 and 8,

00:46:42.440 --> 00:46:42.740
 him who

00:46:42.740 --> 00:46:43.619
 is and

00:46:43.619 --> 00:46:44.139
 who was

00:46:44.139 --> 00:46:44.440
 and who

00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:44.900
 is to

00:46:44.900 --> 00:46:45.159
 come.

00:46:45.480 --> 00:46:45.940
 Or I

00:46:45.940 --> 00:46:46.200
 am the

00:46:46.200 --> 00:46:46.760
 alpha and

00:46:46.760 --> 00:46:46.980
 omega,

00:46:47.079 --> 00:46:47.440
 the beginning

00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:47.940
 and the end,

00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:48.579
 who is and

00:46:48.579 --> 00:46:49.400
 who was and

00:46:49.400 --> 00:46:50.019
 is to

00:46:50.019 --> 00:46:50.259
 come,

00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:50.800
 the almighty.

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.719
 Jesus is

00:46:51.719 --> 00:46:52.940
 here unmistakably

00:46:52.940 --> 00:46:53.759
 identifying himself

00:46:53.759 --> 00:46:54.119
 with the

00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:54.619
 ancient of

00:46:54.619 --> 00:46:54.840
 days,

00:46:55.019 --> 00:46:55.400
 the living

00:46:55.400 --> 00:46:55.719
 God,

00:46:55.780 --> 00:46:56.460
 eternal God

00:46:56.460 --> 00:46:57.119
 who has no

00:46:57.119 --> 00:46:57.699
 beginning and

00:46:57.699 --> 00:46:58.139
 no end.

00:46:58.820 --> 00:46:59.460
 Jesus rules

00:46:59.460 --> 00:47:00.199
 over the past,

00:47:00.300 --> 00:47:00.639
 the present,

00:47:00.719 --> 00:47:01.539
 and the future

00:47:01.539 --> 00:47:02.460
 and John's

00:47:02.460 --> 00:47:03.199
 supposed to write

00:47:03.199 --> 00:47:04.280
 of this reign

00:47:04.280 --> 00:47:04.840
 of Christ

00:47:04.840 --> 00:47:05.739
 and that's why

00:47:05.739 --> 00:47:06.280
 the commission

00:47:06.280 --> 00:47:06.960
 in verse 19

00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:08.199
 also is threefold.

00:47:08.599 --> 00:47:08.940
 Write there

00:47:08.940 --> 00:47:09.500
 for things that

00:47:09.500 --> 00:47:10.480
 you have seen,

00:47:10.880 --> 00:47:11.860
 those that are

00:47:11.860 --> 00:47:12.519
 and those that

00:47:12.519 --> 00:47:13.179
 are to take

00:47:13.179 --> 00:47:14.280
 place after this.

00:47:14.579 --> 00:47:15.119
 So John's a

00:47:15.119 --> 00:47:16.039
 witness to Christ's

00:47:16.039 --> 00:47:16.519
 reign in the

00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:17.179
 past, present,

00:47:17.179 --> 00:47:18.139
 and future.

00:47:18.679 --> 00:47:19.399
 And it's on

00:47:19.399 --> 00:47:20.299
 that basis,

00:47:20.819 --> 00:47:22.159
 Jesus seems

00:47:22.159 --> 00:47:22.519
 like,

00:47:22.819 --> 00:47:23.599
 Jesus is telling

00:47:23.599 --> 00:47:24.339
 us not to

00:47:24.339 --> 00:47:26.159
 fear because

00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:27.480
 he has risen

00:47:27.480 --> 00:47:28.199
 from the dead

00:47:28.199 --> 00:47:28.759
 and he has

00:47:28.759 --> 00:47:29.419
 the keys

00:47:29.419 --> 00:47:30.139
 to death

00:47:30.139 --> 00:47:30.599
 and Hades.

00:47:31.259 --> 00:47:32.099
 Jesus is saying

00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:32.599
 this because

00:47:32.599 --> 00:47:33.500
 he knows

00:47:33.500 --> 00:47:34.539
 the situation

00:47:34.539 --> 00:47:35.179
 that John

00:47:35.179 --> 00:47:35.779
 and the churches

00:47:35.779 --> 00:47:36.379
 are in.

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:37.799
 They're facing

00:47:37.799 --> 00:47:38.699
 tribulation,

00:47:39.119 --> 00:47:39.739
 they're facing

00:47:39.739 --> 00:47:40.500
 persecution,

00:47:40.899 --> 00:47:41.539
 they need to

00:47:41.539 --> 00:47:42.460
 patiently endure,

00:47:43.059 --> 00:47:43.679
 they have many

00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:44.500
 good reasons

00:47:44.500 --> 00:47:45.259
 to be afraid

00:47:45.260 --> 00:47:45.660
 for being

00:47:45.660 --> 00:47:46.160
 a Christian.

00:47:47.400 --> 00:47:48.060
 And that's

00:47:48.060 --> 00:47:48.600
 why Jesus

00:47:48.600 --> 00:47:49.000
 is saying

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:49.900
 fear not

00:47:49.900 --> 00:47:50.800
 because I

00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:51.660
 have defeated

00:47:51.660 --> 00:47:52.260
 death,

00:47:52.780 --> 00:47:53.760
 I am risen

00:47:53.760 --> 00:47:54.580
 from the dead

00:47:54.580 --> 00:47:55.620
 and I have

00:47:55.620 --> 00:47:56.340
 the keys

00:47:56.340 --> 00:47:57.340
 to death

00:47:57.340 --> 00:47:58.460
 and Hades.

00:47:59.720 --> 00:48:00.440
 This is

00:48:00.440 --> 00:48:01.380
 Jesus' way

00:48:01.380 --> 00:48:01.980
 of saying

00:48:01.980 --> 00:48:02.500
 what he said

00:48:02.500 --> 00:48:02.980
 earlier in

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:03.640
 his earthly life,

00:48:03.740 --> 00:48:04.160
 Matthew 10,

00:48:04.200 --> 00:48:04.540
 28,

00:48:04.660 --> 00:48:05.220
 do not fear

00:48:05.220 --> 00:48:05.560
 those who

00:48:05.560 --> 00:48:05.920
 can kill

00:48:05.920 --> 00:48:06.440
 the body

00:48:06.440 --> 00:48:07.160
 but cannot

00:48:07.160 --> 00:48:07.980
 kill the soul.

00:48:08.780 --> 00:48:09.400
 Rather fear

00:48:09.400 --> 00:48:10.100
 him who

00:48:10.100 --> 00:48:10.600
 can destroy

00:48:10.600 --> 00:48:11.260
 both soul

00:48:11.260 --> 00:48:11.920
 and body

00:48:11.920 --> 00:48:12.520
 in hell.

00:48:13.660 --> 00:48:14.140
 Jesus is

00:48:14.140 --> 00:48:14.640
 saying I've

00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:15.259
 got the keys

00:48:15.259 --> 00:48:15.679
 to death

00:48:15.679 --> 00:48:16.339
 so don't

00:48:16.339 --> 00:48:17.739
 fear death.

00:48:18.139 --> 00:48:18.359
 Don't fear

00:48:18.359 --> 00:48:18.779
 what man

00:48:18.779 --> 00:48:19.359
 can do

00:48:19.359 --> 00:48:20.000
 to you.

00:48:21.339 --> 00:48:21.940
 Think about

00:48:21.940 --> 00:48:22.339
 it this way,

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:23.000
 you don't get

00:48:23.000 --> 00:48:23.440
 the keys

00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:23.980
 to the house

00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:24.460
 until you

00:48:24.460 --> 00:48:25.159
 actually pay

00:48:25.159 --> 00:48:26.699
 for it

00:48:26.699 --> 00:48:26.859
 and you

00:48:26.859 --> 00:48:27.480
 close it.

00:48:28.179 --> 00:48:28.799
 You close

00:48:28.799 --> 00:48:29.299
 on the house.

00:48:29.819 --> 00:48:30.159
 They won't

00:48:30.159 --> 00:48:30.719
 give you the keys

00:48:30.719 --> 00:48:31.159
 until you

00:48:31.159 --> 00:48:31.619
 own it.

00:48:32.659 --> 00:48:33.099
 Before

00:48:33.099 --> 00:48:34.239
 you get

00:48:34.239 --> 00:48:34.599
 the key

00:48:34.599 --> 00:48:35.000
 you have

00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:35.299
 to be

00:48:35.299 --> 00:48:35.719
 courteous

00:48:35.719 --> 00:48:36.239
 to the

00:48:36.239 --> 00:48:36.539
 current

00:48:36.539 --> 00:48:36.980
 residents

00:48:36.980 --> 00:48:37.299
 in the

00:48:37.299 --> 00:48:37.639
 house,

00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:38.239
 you have

00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:38.699
 to observe

00:48:38.699 --> 00:48:38.920
 their

00:48:38.920 --> 00:48:39.299
 curfee,

00:48:39.379 --> 00:48:39.659
 you visit

00:48:39.659 --> 00:48:39.980
 at a

00:48:39.980 --> 00:48:40.159
 good

00:48:40.159 --> 00:48:40.539
 reasonable

00:48:40.539 --> 00:48:40.960
 hour

00:48:40.960 --> 00:48:41.319
 and you

00:48:41.319 --> 00:48:41.679
 can only

00:48:41.679 --> 00:48:42.219
 go with

00:48:42.219 --> 00:48:42.699
 permission.

00:48:42.699 --> 00:48:44.619
 but once

00:48:44.619 --> 00:48:44.980
 you have

00:48:44.980 --> 00:48:45.419
 the key,

00:48:46.019 --> 00:48:46.679
 you can

00:48:46.679 --> 00:48:47.159
 go in

00:48:47.159 --> 00:48:47.579
 and out

00:48:47.579 --> 00:48:48.379
 as you

00:48:48.379 --> 00:48:48.759
 please

00:48:48.759 --> 00:48:49.899
 because you

00:48:49.899 --> 00:48:50.579
 own it.

00:48:53.319 --> 00:48:54.099
 Jesus is

00:48:54.099 --> 00:48:55.119
 saying I

00:48:55.119 --> 00:48:55.759
 own

00:48:55.759 --> 00:48:56.460
 death.

00:48:59.460 --> 00:49:00.519
 So why

00:49:00.519 --> 00:49:01.219
 are you

00:49:01.219 --> 00:49:01.759
 afraid

00:49:01.759 --> 00:49:03.139
 of it?

00:49:07.699 --> 00:49:09.079
 Why fear

00:49:09.079 --> 00:49:09.599
 those who can

00:49:09.599 --> 00:49:10.199
 kill the body

00:49:10.199 --> 00:49:10.659
 but cannot

00:49:10.659 --> 00:49:11.339
 kill the soul?

00:49:11.439 --> 00:49:11.939
 Jesus can

00:49:11.939 --> 00:49:12.719
 unlock that

00:49:12.719 --> 00:49:13.839
 whenever he

00:49:13.839 --> 00:49:14.219
 wants.

00:49:17.659 --> 00:49:18.259
 We can

00:49:18.259 --> 00:49:18.839
 be persecuted

00:49:18.839 --> 00:49:19.379
 and we can

00:49:19.379 --> 00:49:19.719
 give our

00:49:19.719 --> 00:49:20.980
 life for

00:49:20.980 --> 00:49:21.659
 Jesus and

00:49:21.659 --> 00:49:22.379
 become martyrs

00:49:22.379 --> 00:49:23.159
 this day

00:49:23.159 --> 00:49:24.739
 and he

00:49:24.739 --> 00:49:25.519
 will raise

00:49:25.519 --> 00:49:26.219
 us with

00:49:26.219 --> 00:49:27.559
 him and

00:49:27.559 --> 00:49:27.839
 give us

00:49:27.839 --> 00:49:28.339
 eternal

00:49:28.339 --> 00:49:28.960
 resurrection

00:49:28.960 --> 00:49:30.939
 life when

00:49:30.939 --> 00:49:31.539
 he returns.

00:49:34.339 --> 00:49:35.480
 So fear

00:49:35.480 --> 00:49:36.079
 not.

00:49:36.079 --> 00:49:39.699
 I

00:49:39.699 --> 00:49:40.159
 mentioned to

00:49:40.159 --> 00:49:40.360
 you the

00:49:40.360 --> 00:49:40.980
 report from

00:49:40.980 --> 00:49:41.420
 Open Door

00:49:41.420 --> 00:49:41.920
 USA at

00:49:41.920 --> 00:49:42.299
 the beginning

00:49:42.299 --> 00:49:43.400
 and the

00:49:43.400 --> 00:49:44.279
 report from

00:49:44.279 --> 00:49:44.699
 this year

00:49:44.699 --> 00:49:45.360
 included a

00:49:45.360 --> 00:49:46.019
 testimony from

00:49:46.019 --> 00:49:46.980
 Pastor Marcos.

00:49:47.659 --> 00:49:48.219
 He was a

00:49:48.219 --> 00:49:48.880
 pastor leading

00:49:48.880 --> 00:49:50.019
 a church in

00:49:50.019 --> 00:49:51.019
 Adamawa state

00:49:51.019 --> 00:49:51.420
 in northern

00:49:51.420 --> 00:49:52.619
 Nigeria when

00:49:52.619 --> 00:49:53.400
 Boko Haram

00:49:53.400 --> 00:49:54.119
 attacked.

00:49:55.699 --> 00:49:56.380
 Villages were

00:49:56.380 --> 00:49:57.420
 ransacked and

00:49:57.420 --> 00:49:58.079
 church buildings

00:49:58.079 --> 00:49:59.000
 were burned and

00:49:59.000 --> 00:50:00.239
 many Christian

00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:00.599
 men and

00:50:00.599 --> 00:50:01.179
 women were

00:50:01.179 --> 00:50:01.559
 killed.

00:50:03.239 --> 00:50:03.679
 And he

00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:04.559
 says this

00:50:04.559 --> 00:50:05.139
 that at the

00:50:05.139 --> 00:50:05.619
 time in the

00:50:05.619 --> 00:50:06.239
 immediate aftermath

00:50:06.239 --> 00:50:06.839
 he says my

00:50:06.839 --> 00:50:07.579
 own spiritual

00:50:07.579 --> 00:50:08.019
 life was

00:50:08.019 --> 00:50:08.719
 greatly shaken

00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:09.199
 because I

00:50:09.199 --> 00:50:09.920
 was so afraid.

00:50:11.000 --> 00:50:11.859
 But still the

00:50:11.859 --> 00:50:12.500
 word of God

00:50:12.500 --> 00:50:13.279
 kept reminding

00:50:13.279 --> 00:50:14.259
 me that for

00:50:14.259 --> 00:50:15.059
 anyone who

00:50:15.059 --> 00:50:15.659
 puts their

00:50:15.659 --> 00:50:16.679
 trust in God

00:50:16.679 --> 00:50:18.400
 he will not

00:50:18.400 --> 00:50:19.119
 forsake them.

00:50:20.739 --> 00:50:21.819
 Initially after

00:50:21.819 --> 00:50:22.599
 the violence had

00:50:22.599 --> 00:50:23.179
 subsided the

00:50:23.179 --> 00:50:23.699
 people of his

00:50:23.699 --> 00:50:24.239
 church were

00:50:24.239 --> 00:50:25.199
 slow to come

00:50:25.199 --> 00:50:26.039
 back because

00:50:26.039 --> 00:50:26.579
 they were afraid

00:50:26.579 --> 00:50:28.079
 and so but he

00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:29.480
 patiently ministered

00:50:29.480 --> 00:50:30.219
 to them one by

00:50:30.219 --> 00:50:31.199
 one exhorting them

00:50:31.199 --> 00:50:31.839
 to renew their

00:50:31.839 --> 00:50:32.559
 faith in God and

00:50:32.559 --> 00:50:33.699
 eventually they all

00:50:33.699 --> 00:50:34.339
 returned and this

00:50:34.339 --> 00:50:34.920
 is what Pastor

00:50:34.920 --> 00:50:35.639
 Markos had to

00:50:35.639 --> 00:50:35.820
 say.

00:50:35.900 --> 00:50:36.599
 The persecution

00:50:36.599 --> 00:50:37.639
 quote has

00:50:37.639 --> 00:50:38.659
 become like a

00:50:38.659 --> 00:50:39.579
 fertilizer for the

00:50:39.579 --> 00:50:39.900
 gospel.

00:50:40.700 --> 00:50:41.539
 Our church had

00:50:41.539 --> 00:50:42.539
 only 200 members

00:50:42.539 --> 00:50:43.420
 before Boko Haram

00:50:43.420 --> 00:50:44.659
 came but now we

00:50:44.659 --> 00:50:45.900
 have 300 to 400

00:50:45.900 --> 00:50:46.519
 members.

00:50:47.180 --> 00:50:48.420
 We do not pray

00:50:48.420 --> 00:50:49.220
 that God will take

00:50:49.220 --> 00:50:50.039
 away the hardship

00:50:50.039 --> 00:50:51.599
 but that God

00:50:51.599 --> 00:50:52.360
 should give us the

00:50:52.360 --> 00:50:53.360
 grace to be able

00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:54.240
 to stand.

00:50:55.300 --> 00:50:56.180
 Since our

00:50:56.180 --> 00:50:57.680
 master Jesus went

00:50:57.680 --> 00:50:58.340
 through this

00:50:58.340 --> 00:50:59.980
 suffering we also

00:50:59.980 --> 00:51:00.800
 who have become

00:51:00.800 --> 00:51:02.099
 his followers will

00:51:02.099 --> 00:51:03.220
 go through it.

00:51:03.219 --> 00:51:05.919
 but in the end

00:51:05.919 --> 00:51:08.159
 we will be

00:51:08.159 --> 00:51:09.139
 victorious.

00:51:12.879 --> 00:51:14.500
 We need not

00:51:14.500 --> 00:51:15.459
 fear in the

00:51:15.459 --> 00:51:16.279
 midst of

00:51:16.279 --> 00:51:16.819
 tribulation

00:51:16.819 --> 00:51:18.439
 because Christ

00:51:18.439 --> 00:51:19.219
 is the

00:51:19.219 --> 00:51:20.099
 resurrected Lord

00:51:20.099 --> 00:51:21.359
 who reigns

00:51:21.359 --> 00:51:22.159
 over the

00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:22.500
 church.

00:51:23.559 --> 00:51:24.439
 Let's pray

00:51:24.439 --> 00:51:24.819
 together.

00:51:24.820 --> 00:51:32.200
 yes fathers

00:51:32.200 --> 00:51:32.840
 it is so

00:51:32.840 --> 00:51:33.900
 easy for us

00:51:33.900 --> 00:51:37.140
 to just

00:51:37.140 --> 00:51:37.860
 only pray

00:51:37.860 --> 00:51:38.220
 that you

00:51:38.220 --> 00:51:39.400
 remove the

00:51:39.400 --> 00:51:39.980
 tribulation.

00:51:40.539 --> 00:51:41.840
 You take away

00:51:41.840 --> 00:51:42.620
 the suffering

00:51:42.620 --> 00:51:43.300
 in our lives.

00:51:46.539 --> 00:51:47.420
 But Lord

00:51:47.420 --> 00:51:48.600
 you said to

00:51:48.600 --> 00:51:49.100
 us that in

00:51:49.100 --> 00:51:49.600
 this world

00:51:49.600 --> 00:51:50.420
 we will have

00:51:50.420 --> 00:51:50.980
 tribulation.

00:51:50.980 --> 00:51:51.980
 tribulation

00:51:51.980 --> 00:51:53.280
 and we pray

00:51:53.280 --> 00:51:53.699
 now in

00:51:53.699 --> 00:51:54.480
 accordance with

00:51:54.480 --> 00:51:55.380
 this word

00:51:55.380 --> 00:51:56.740
 that you'll

00:51:56.740 --> 00:51:57.400
 give us the

00:51:57.400 --> 00:51:58.639
 strength and

00:51:58.639 --> 00:51:59.219
 the courage

00:51:59.219 --> 00:52:00.219
 the faith

00:52:00.219 --> 00:52:01.719
 to stand

00:52:01.719 --> 00:52:04.059
 to stand

00:52:04.059 --> 00:52:04.559
 firm

00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:06.780
 to endure

00:52:06.780 --> 00:52:07.400
 patiently

00:52:07.400 --> 00:52:09.400
 to conquer

00:52:09.400 --> 00:52:10.659
 by being

00:52:10.659 --> 00:52:11.320
 faithful unto

00:52:11.320 --> 00:52:11.699
 death

00:52:11.699 --> 00:52:15.019
 so that we

00:52:15.019 --> 00:52:15.639
 might be

00:52:15.639 --> 00:52:16.880
 living pictures

00:52:16.880 --> 00:52:19.019
 of you

00:52:19.019 --> 00:52:19.460
 our Lord

00:52:19.460 --> 00:52:20.220
 Jesus Christ

00:52:20.220 --> 00:52:22.059
 who died

00:52:22.059 --> 00:52:22.539
 for our

00:52:22.539 --> 00:52:23.039
 sins and

00:52:23.039 --> 00:52:23.720
 was raised

00:52:23.720 --> 00:52:24.139
 from the

00:52:24.139 --> 00:52:25.039
 dead and

00:52:25.039 --> 00:52:25.539
 now lives

00:52:25.539 --> 00:52:26.460
 forevermore.

00:52:28.840 --> 00:52:29.659
 Our trust

00:52:29.659 --> 00:52:30.099
 is in you

00:52:30.099 --> 00:52:30.400
 Lord.

00:52:32.940 --> 00:52:33.579
 And in

00:52:33.579 --> 00:52:34.019
 your holy

00:52:34.019 --> 00:52:34.360
 name we

00:52:34.360 --> 00:52:34.559
 pray.

00:52:35.059 --> 00:52:35.400
 Amen.