WEBVTT

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 It's the last book in your Bible, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

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 We are starting a series in this book.

00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:10.099
 We won't be going through the whole book.

00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:13.080
 We might do that some other time.

00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:14.800
 This summer we'll be looking at the first few chapters

00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:18.500
 and at least getting, digging into it,

00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:20.760
 starting to look into its message.

00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.800
 So let me read Revelation chapter 1,

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 verses 1 to 8,

00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:27.740
 and we're looking at tonight.

00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:34.039
 Revelation chapter 1, starting verse 1.

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 The revelation of Jesus Christ,

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 which God...

00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:46.539
 ...by sending his angel to his servant John,

00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:49.459
 who bore witness to the word of God

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 and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw.

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 Blessed is the one who reads aloud

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 the words of this prophecy,

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 and blessed are those who hear

00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:02.679
 and who keep what is written in it,

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 for the time is near.

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 John,

00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:08.719
 to the seven churches...

00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:10.459
 ...do and peace

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 from him who is

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 and who was

00:01:13.340 --> 00:01:14.359
 and who is to come

00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:16.180
 and from the seven spirits

00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:17.319
 who are before his throne

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 and from Jesus Christ,

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 the faithful witness,

00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:21.140
 firstborn of the dead

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 and the ruler of kings on earth.

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 ...

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 kingdom,

00:01:30.800 --> 00:01:33.320
 priests to his God and Father,

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 to him be glory.

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 Behold,

00:01:39.440 --> 00:01:43.380
 even though

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 all tribes of the...

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 ...one of him...

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 ...the Alpha

00:01:51.240 --> 00:01:52.440
 and the Omega,

00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:53.820
 says the Lord God,

00:01:53.880 --> 00:01:54.820
 who is and who was

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 and who is to come.

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 Well, ever since the early church,

00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:04.200
 we have had, I think,

00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:05.660
 two opposite reactions

00:02:05.660 --> 00:02:07.219
 to the book of Revelation.

00:02:08.040 --> 00:02:09.120
 On the one hand,

00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:11.319
 some Christians have been fascinated

00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:12.500
 by this book.

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 And on the other hand,

00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:15.379
 other Christians have kept

00:02:15.379 --> 00:02:16.740
 their distance from it.

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 So back in the second century,

00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:21.000
 early church history,

00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:22.039
 there was this group of Christians

00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:23.159
 called the Montanists

00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:24.960
 who were really into

00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:25.800
 the book of Revelation.

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 And they had their own

00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.159
 really special interpretation

00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:30.199
 of what it meant.

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 They believed

00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:32.580
 that the new Jerusalem

00:02:32.580 --> 00:02:35.199
 was going to come down from heaven

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 in western Turkey

00:02:36.860 --> 00:02:38.379
 in two cities

00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:39.219
 where they set up

00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:40.780
 their sort of headquarters.

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 And they were known

00:02:43.740 --> 00:02:44.699
 for prophesying,

00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:46.000
 speaking in tongues,

00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:47.240
 having visions

00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:48.439
 and ecstatic experiences,

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 or so they claimed.

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 Now, other Christians

00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:53.219
 at the time

00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:54.879
 didn't like these guys at all.

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 They sort of looked at them

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 and they're like,

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 we don't want to be like that.

00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.139
 And they said,

00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:03.379
 you know,

00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:05.159
 these guys are giving Christianity

00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:05.960
 a bad name

00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:07.879
 because of their weird behavior.

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 And so many other Christians

00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:11.219
 weren't that excited

00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:12.340
 about the book of Revelation

00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:13.859
 and some people at that time

00:03:13.859 --> 00:03:14.699
 even questioned,

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 should it really be included

00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:17.379
 in the Bible?

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 And the same pattern

00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:20.639
 has sort of continued

00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:21.400
 throughout history.

00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:25.579
 Back in the 1970s,

00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.099
 my wife's aunt and uncle

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 became Christians

00:03:28.419 --> 00:03:29.439
 here in Connecticut

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 and they joined this group

00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:32.379
 called The Move.

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 and they lived on a farm

00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:36.199
 in Massachusetts

00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.120
 and they were waiting

00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:39.159
 for Jesus to come again.

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 And then they decided

00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:41.579
 that they should

00:03:41.579 --> 00:03:43.379
 really go off the grid

00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:44.759
 and so they went

00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:45.759
 to the Alaskan wilderness

00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:48.240
 and went to the middle of nowhere

00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.280
 and lived off the land

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 and they survived.

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 I mean,

00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:52.039
 it was pretty amazing.

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 Like,

00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:53.840
 they were able to do it.

00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:56.379
 They worked really hard

00:03:56.379 --> 00:03:57.340
 and,

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 but eventually

00:03:58.379 --> 00:03:59.319
 the group that started

00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:00.319
 as sort of an intentional

00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:01.439
 Christian community

00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:03.219
 coming out of the Jesus movement,

00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:03.840
 stuff like that,

00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:04.939
 sort of turned into something

00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:06.079
 a little more like a cult

00:04:06.079 --> 00:04:07.299
 and so thankfully

00:04:07.299 --> 00:04:08.719
 my wife's aunt and uncle left.

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 And,

00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:11.000
 now many of us

00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:12.039
 look at groups like that

00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:12.560
 and say,

00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:13.919
 you know,

00:04:13.959 --> 00:04:15.219
 we don't want to be like that.

00:04:16.139 --> 00:04:16.399
 Right?

00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:17.579
 Revelation's full of

00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:18.800
 weird imagery

00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:19.939
 and confusing symbols

00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:20.939
 and scary visions

00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:21.800
 and the people

00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:22.980
 who really get into the book

00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:24.060
 seem to become weird

00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:25.300
 and confusing and scary.

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 And so we sort of

00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:29.180
 keep our distance,

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 right?

00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:30.360
 Now,

00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:32.500
 Christians have basically

00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:33.919
 agreed that Revelation

00:04:33.919 --> 00:04:35.399
 is part of the inspired

00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:36.099
 word of God.

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 You know,

00:04:37.219 --> 00:04:37.399
 yes,

00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:37.839
 there were a couple,

00:04:38.019 --> 00:04:38.379
 there were people

00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:39.060
 who raised questions

00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:39.740
 about it at the beginning,

00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:40.919
 but the church has,

00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:41.219
 I think,

00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:42.979
 rightly understood

00:04:42.979 --> 00:04:43.899
 that the Holy Spirit

00:04:43.899 --> 00:04:45.019
 was inspiring John

00:04:45.019 --> 00:04:45.860
 and it should be included

00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:46.360
 in the Bible.

00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:48.139
 But I think many of us

00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:50.259
 just don't dig deep

00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:50.819
 into it.

00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:51.800
 Right?

00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:52.599
 You're fascinated

00:04:52.599 --> 00:04:54.159
 or you're sort of

00:04:54.159 --> 00:04:55.599
 hesitant.

00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.500
 So I don't know

00:04:58.500 --> 00:04:59.000
 what you are,

00:04:59.400 --> 00:05:00.180
 if you fit into

00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:00.900
 one of those categories

00:05:00.900 --> 00:05:01.260
 or not.

00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:02.840
 But tonight,

00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:04.740
 we're going to dig

00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:05.160
 into it.

00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:06.240
 Because we believe

00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:06.700
 here at Trinity,

00:05:06.820 --> 00:05:07.540
 we believe that God

00:05:07.540 --> 00:05:08.820
 did inspire John

00:05:08.820 --> 00:05:10.560
 to write this book.

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 And in the Bible

00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:14.340
 it says,

00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:15.100
 all scripture

00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:15.900
 is useful,

00:05:16.140 --> 00:05:17.340
 is inspired by God

00:05:17.339 --> 00:05:18.500
 and useful

00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:22.479
 for teaching,

00:05:22.979 --> 00:05:23.339
 correcting,

00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:24.199
 rebuking,

00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:25.159
 and training in righteousness

00:05:25.159 --> 00:05:26.459
 so that the man

00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:27.179
 or woman of God

00:05:27.179 --> 00:05:27.959
 may be equipped

00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:29.639
 for every good work.

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 And we think

00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:31.539
 the revelation

00:05:31.539 --> 00:05:32.839
 is part of that.

00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.039
 What God has given us

00:05:35.039 --> 00:05:35.979
 to equip us

00:05:35.979 --> 00:05:37.219
 for every good work

00:05:37.219 --> 00:05:38.179
 that he wants us

00:05:38.179 --> 00:05:38.879
 to accomplish.

00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:40.259
 So,

00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:41.039
 tonight we're looking

00:05:41.039 --> 00:05:41.819
 at the opening verses

00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:42.279
 of the book

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 and I want to ask

00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:44.599
 three basic questions.

00:05:45.459 --> 00:05:45.839
 First,

00:05:46.019 --> 00:05:47.099
 who is this book for?

00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:48.560
 Second,

00:05:48.679 --> 00:05:49.819
 who is this book from?

00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:50.959
 And third,

00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:52.000
 what's this book about?

00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:56.019
 Each of these questions

00:05:56.019 --> 00:05:56.519
 are addressed

00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:57.479
 in these opening verses.

00:05:57.579 --> 00:05:57.899
 So first,

00:05:57.979 --> 00:05:58.879
 who is this book for?

00:05:59.339 --> 00:05:59.899
 Verse one,

00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:01.099
 the revelation

00:06:01.099 --> 00:06:02.000
 of Jesus Christ

00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:03.359
 which God gave him

00:06:03.359 --> 00:06:05.739
 to show to his servants

00:06:05.739 --> 00:06:06.559
 the things

00:06:06.559 --> 00:06:07.679
 that must soon take place.

00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:09.039
 So this book is for

00:06:09.039 --> 00:06:10.639
 the servants of Jesus.

00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.719
 That means everyone

00:06:12.719 --> 00:06:13.879
 who belongs to Jesus

00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:15.479
 and who knows him

00:06:15.479 --> 00:06:16.959
 as Savior and Lord.

00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:18.819
 Now,

00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:19.500
 if you're here tonight,

00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:20.439
 if you're not a Christian,

00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:20.919
 if you're just

00:06:20.919 --> 00:06:22.119
 exploring Christianity,

00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:23.919
 I hope that you'll see

00:06:23.919 --> 00:06:25.659
 more about who this Jesus is.

00:06:26.479 --> 00:06:27.000
 But you know,

00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:27.819
 if you have a friend

00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:29.199
 who's interested

00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:30.319
 in exploring Christianity,

00:06:30.679 --> 00:06:31.599
 don't tell them

00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:32.539
 to start with this book.

00:06:34.419 --> 00:06:34.819
 Okay?

00:06:35.679 --> 00:06:36.919
 Start with a book like

00:06:36.919 --> 00:06:38.079
 the Gospel of John

00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:39.039
 or the Gospel of Mark

00:06:39.039 --> 00:06:40.079
 which were actually written

00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:40.779
 in order,

00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:41.659
 partly in order

00:06:41.659 --> 00:06:42.559
 to introduce people

00:06:42.559 --> 00:06:43.000
 to Jesus

00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:43.939
 for the first time

00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:45.139
 and actually explain

00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:45.740
 who he was,

00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:46.379
 what he did,

00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.120
 and the central message

00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:48.699
 of his life.

00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:50.360
 So start there

00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:51.980
 and then

00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:54.199
 when you read the Gospels

00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:55.100
 and then read the Old Testament,

00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:56.060
 then you'll be able

00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:56.639
 to understand

00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.100
 this last book of the Bible

00:06:58.100 --> 00:06:58.980
 a bit better.

00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:01.240
 You need some background.

00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:02.759
 You know,

00:07:02.779 --> 00:07:03.240
 one of the things

00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:03.920
 about Revelation

00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.339
 is it has over

00:07:05.339 --> 00:07:06.920
 300 references

00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:08.480
 to the Old Testament

00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:09.000
 in it.

00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:10.439
 and none of them

00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:11.439
 are actual quotes.

00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:12.959
 So that's what makes

00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:13.839
 it even more challenging.

00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:14.699
 Okay?

00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:15.319
 You can't just look

00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:15.600
 and say,

00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:15.920
 oh,

00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:16.819
 here's the quotation

00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:18.519
 from the Old Testament.

00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:19.339
 No,

00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.379
 it's just woven

00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:21.100
 into the language

00:07:21.100 --> 00:07:21.620
 of the book.

00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:23.120
 But the way

00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:23.800
 that you'll understand

00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:24.759
 what this book means

00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:25.600
 is by understanding

00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:26.639
 what he's referring back to.

00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:27.920
 Right?

00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:28.519
 Sort of like,

00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:30.800
 well,

00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:31.939
 I can't give a good example.

00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:33.720
 Someone who's,

00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:34.620
 I was trying to think

00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:35.279
 of like a song

00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:36.819
 that quotes another song.

00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:38.379
 Maybe if you know,

00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:40.860
 you can give a good example

00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:41.220
 of that.

00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:42.759
 But I can't think

00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:43.480
 of a good one right now.

00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:43.800
 Anyway,

00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:45.339
 so,

00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:46.199
 this book is for

00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:47.019
 the servants of Jesus.

00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:48.259
 More specifically,

00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:49.480
 verse 4 says,

00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:50.600
 John was writing to

00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:51.839
 the seven churches

00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:52.879
 that are in Asia.

00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:54.120
 Now,

00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:54.939
 that's not what we think

00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:55.459
 of as Asia.

00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:56.480
 It's the Roman province

00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.199
 of Asia Minor,

00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:58.040
 which is today

00:07:58.040 --> 00:07:59.420
 Western Turkey.

00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:00.819
 Now,

00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:01.819
 chapter 2 through 3,

00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:03.360
 we have specific messages

00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:04.060
 for each of these

00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:04.699
 seven churches.

00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:05.920
 We'll be looking

00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.480
 at each of those

00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:07.240
 one by one.

00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:08.980
 But at the end,

00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:09.899
 of each of those

00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:10.379
 messages,

00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:11.720
 so if you look down

00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:12.579
 like in chapter 2,

00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:13.240
 verse 7,

00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:14.480
 it says,

00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:15.540
 he who has an ear,

00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:16.800
 let him hear

00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:17.600
 what the Spirit

00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:19.800
 says to the churches.

00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:21.819
 In other words,

00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:22.379
 there's a book

00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:23.379
 for each church,

00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:25.620
 but we're all

00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:26.339
 supposed to listen

00:08:26.339 --> 00:08:27.300
 to all the messages.

00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:29.000
 In other words,

00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:30.180
 the messages are relevant.

00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:31.699
 Jesus wants

00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:32.539
 all of his servants

00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:33.059
 to listen to

00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:33.879
 all the messages.

00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:36.539
 And, you know,

00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:37.240
 you might ask,

00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:37.399
 well,

00:08:37.439 --> 00:08:38.039
 why does John

00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:38.840
 write to seven

00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:40.179
 churches in Asia?

00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:41.960
 There are actually

00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:43.179
 more than seven cities

00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:44.279
 in Asia that had churches.

00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:44.879
 For example,

00:08:44.939 --> 00:08:45.659
 we know the city

00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:46.419
 of Colossae.

00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:47.439
 Paul actually wrote

00:08:47.439 --> 00:08:47.860
 a letter,

00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:48.799
 Colossians,

00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.600
 to that church.

00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:50.480
 That's also

00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:51.399
 in that same province.

00:08:51.939 --> 00:08:52.860
 John doesn't mention

00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:53.360
 it in Revelation.

00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:55.100
 Well,

00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:55.720
 I think he writes

00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:56.580
 to seven churches

00:08:56.580 --> 00:08:57.659
 because seven

00:08:57.659 --> 00:08:58.419
 was the number

00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:00.179
 throughout the Bible

00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:00.840
 and especially

00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:01.320
 in Revelation

00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:02.180
 that symbolizes

00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:02.780
 completion.

00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:04.600
 And so the seven

00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:05.600
 churches in Asia,

00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:07.820
 they're sort of

00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:08.960
 representing all

00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.020
 Christians and all

00:09:10.020 --> 00:09:10.860
 churches everywhere.

00:09:12.420 --> 00:09:13.020
 And so, again,

00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:14.080
 it reinforces that message.

00:09:14.180 --> 00:09:15.300
 This book is for all

00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:16.720
 the servants of Jesus

00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:18.100
 wherever they are

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:19.000
 scattered throughout

00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:19.840
 the world.

00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:22.200
 And this book is also

00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:23.060
 for the benefit

00:09:23.060 --> 00:09:24.600
 of Jesus' servants.

00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:25.620
 It's not primarily

00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:26.660
 intended to be

00:09:26.660 --> 00:09:28.080
 weird and confusing.

00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:29.560
 In fact,

00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:30.220
 the Bible says

00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:30.980
 God is not a God

00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:31.539
 of confusion

00:09:31.539 --> 00:09:32.300
 but of order

00:09:32.300 --> 00:09:33.000
 and peace.

00:09:33.920 --> 00:09:34.700
 Now, it's true

00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:35.899
 that Revelation

00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:36.860
 can be confusing

00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:37.519
 for a whole bunch

00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.139
 of reasons.

00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:39.740
 Partly it's written

00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:40.440
 in a style

00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:40.879
 that we're,

00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:42.139
 for the most part,

00:09:42.180 --> 00:09:43.080
 not familiar with.

00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:44.639
 Partly it has

00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:45.300
 some symbols

00:09:45.300 --> 00:09:46.680
 that we might not

00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:47.539
 always understand

00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:49.060
 at the first read.

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.680
 But God has given

00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:51.240
 us this book

00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:51.940
 for our good.

00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.259
 And he's given

00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:54.860
 us this book

00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:55.920
 not to just

00:09:55.920 --> 00:09:57.420
 make things

00:09:57.420 --> 00:09:58.220
 really mysterious

00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:00.160
 and unclear

00:10:00.160 --> 00:10:01.120
 but actually

00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:02.139
 to show us

00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:03.680
 something important.

00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:05.860
 Verse 1 says,

00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:06.879
 this is

00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.899
 the revelation

00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:08.899
 of Jesus Christ.

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:09.540
 And that word

00:10:09.540 --> 00:10:10.240
 means

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.340
 unveiling

00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:13.379
 or unfolding.

00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:14.639
 Right?

00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:15.660
 Opening up.

00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:16.500
 Disclosing.

00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:19.040
 God gave

00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:20.500
 Jesus this revelation

00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:21.759
 in order to show

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:22.740
 something to

00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.399
 his servants.

00:10:23.680 --> 00:10:24.680
 In order to make

00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:25.559
 it known to us.

00:10:25.859 --> 00:10:26.819
 Keep us in the dark.

00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:27.799
 Not to hide

00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:28.739
 himself from us.

00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:29.779
 Not to just

00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:30.299
 make us

00:10:30.299 --> 00:10:31.879
 confused and

00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.419
 wondering what

00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:32.759
 in the world

00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:33.359
 does it mean.

00:10:33.459 --> 00:10:34.039
 But actually

00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.059
 he knows our needs

00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:36.500
 and he's given

00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.039
 us this book

00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.779
 for our benefit.

00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:39.559
 And verse 3

00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:41.319
 specifically

00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:42.279
 reminds us of that.

00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:43.419
 Verse 3

00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:44.299
 gives a blessing

00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:45.639
 to those who

00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:46.359
 read this book

00:10:46.359 --> 00:10:47.620
 aloud and those

00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:48.359
 who hear it

00:10:48.359 --> 00:10:49.740
 and keep it

00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:50.799
 or hear and obey.

00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:56.459
 You might wonder

00:10:56.459 --> 00:10:56.959
 why does it say

00:10:56.959 --> 00:10:57.579
 read aloud.

00:10:57.699 --> 00:10:58.079
 Well most

00:10:58.079 --> 00:10:59.599
 Christians in the

00:10:59.599 --> 00:11:00.000
 ancient world

00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:00.939
 didn't own books.

00:11:01.359 --> 00:11:01.799
 Books were very

00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:02.219
 expensive.

00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.219
 You had to copy

00:11:03.219 --> 00:11:03.979
 them by hand.

00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:04.919
 You had to preserve

00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:06.159
 them in the midst

00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.399
 of all kinds of

00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:08.219
 difficult weather

00:11:08.219 --> 00:11:10.939
 and leaky roofs

00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:11.639
 and houses that

00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.699
 weren't as stable

00:11:12.699 --> 00:11:13.299
 as those that we

00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:13.879
 have today.

00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.399
 And so most people

00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:16.139
 didn't own books.

00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:17.479
 And so the way

00:11:17.479 --> 00:11:17.959
 that Christians

00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:18.639
 came together

00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.279
 the way that

00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:19.879
 Christians read

00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:20.379
 the Bible

00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:21.439
 was they met

00:11:21.439 --> 00:11:22.340
 together and

00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:22.899
 read it aloud

00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:23.500
 to one another.

00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:24.939
 And that's still

00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:26.299
 even today when

00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:26.740
 you can read

00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.360
 your Bible on

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:27.860
 your phone

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.919
 or in your

00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:29.580
 own room

00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:32.059
 or almost

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:32.600
 anywhere in the

00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:33.820
 world there's

00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:34.419
 still something

00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.019
 unique and

00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:35.639
 there's a blessing

00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.480
 that God bestows

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.340
 on us when we

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.019
 come together

00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:39.179
 and read his

00:11:39.179 --> 00:11:39.840
 word aloud

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.240
 and hear it

00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:41.840
 and take it

00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.179
 to heart.

00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:47.639
 So this book

00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.100
 is for Jesus'

00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:49.000
 servants and

00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.779
 for our benefit.

00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:52.700
 second, who

00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:53.139
 is this book

00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:53.539
 from?

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.220
 Well, on a

00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:55.659
 human level

00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:56.059
 it's from

00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:57.720
 John who

00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.879
 introduces himself

00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.460
 as a servant

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.519
 of Jesus Christ.

00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:02.799
 Most likely

00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:03.279
 this was the

00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.059
 Apostle John,

00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.220
 the Gospel of

00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:05.879
 John and the

00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:06.460
 Three Letters

00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:07.000
 of John.

00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.059
 Now it's true

00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:08.620
 John doesn't

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.360
 call himself an

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.039
 apostle right

00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:11.439
 here, but he

00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:12.100
 writes as someone

00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:12.539
 who would have

00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:13.200
 been well known

00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:13.840
 to his readers.

00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:16.120
 And it seems

00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.340
 to be this

00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:17.840
 that, you

00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.220
 know, this

00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:19.080
 John who

00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:19.580
 would introduce

00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.259
 himself without

00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:21.259
 really clarifying

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:22.780
 who he is

00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:24.399
 would have been

00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.000
 already most

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.639
 well known to

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:27.580
 them because he

00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:27.940
 was that

00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:28.259
 apostle.

00:12:29.540 --> 00:12:31.580
 So it's from

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.139
 John, but in

00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:32.680
 the bigger picture

00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:33.259
 it's ultimately

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:34.480
 from God.

00:12:35.540 --> 00:12:36.040
 And verses

00:12:36.040 --> 00:12:36.840
 four to five

00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:37.980
 elaborate more

00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:38.420
 on this.

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:39.860
 So look down

00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.440
 at those verses.

00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:42.240
 He says,

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.020
 grace to you

00:12:43.020 --> 00:12:43.720
 and peace

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:46.120
 from him

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.660
 who is

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.340
 and who was

00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:47.800
 and who is

00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:48.300
 to come

00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.860
 and from

00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:50.700
 the seven

00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:51.240
 spirits who

00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:51.540
 are before

00:12:51.540 --> 00:12:52.120
 his throne

00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.000
 and from

00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.120
 Jesus Christ

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:54.540
 the faithful

00:12:54.540 --> 00:12:54.880
 witness,

00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.180
 the firstborn

00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:56.580
 of the dead

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.020
 and the ruler

00:12:57.020 --> 00:12:57.520
 of kings

00:12:57.520 --> 00:12:59.060
 on earth.

00:13:00.660 --> 00:13:01.400
 So there's

00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:03.200
 three clauses

00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:03.560
 here.

00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.380
 From, from,

00:13:04.520 --> 00:13:04.720
 from.

00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:05.120
 Right?

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:05.880
 First, from

00:13:05.880 --> 00:13:06.540
 he who is

00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:07.240
 and who was

00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:07.700
 and who is

00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:08.140
 to come.

00:13:09.140 --> 00:13:09.560
 And again,

00:13:09.640 --> 00:13:10.100
 here's one of

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.720
 these echoes

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.300
 of the Old

00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:11.680
 Testament.

00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:12.500
 It's not a

00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:12.920
 quotation.

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.720
 But what do

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.399
 you think of

00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:17.580
 the God who

00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.720
 is and who

00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.159
 was?

00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.080
 You might

00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.620
 think back to

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.019
 when God

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.580
 revealed himself

00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:24.139
 to Moses.

00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.580
 And how did

00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:26.080
 God reveal

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:26.560
 himself to

00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:26.840
 Moses?

00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:27.360
 In the burning

00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.159
 bush he said,

00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:30.560
 I am who

00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:32.340
 I am.

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.180
 Or it could

00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:34.820
 be translated,

00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:35.779
 I will be

00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:37.300
 what I will

00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:37.680
 be.

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:39.560
 Right?

00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.500
 This God

00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:40.799
 who has

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:41.259
 always

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:41.779
 existed

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:43.519
 and who

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.479
 always is.

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:45.679
 And who

00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.219
 is eternal.

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:48.899
 Glorious.

00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:49.579
 Who's not

00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:50.119
 limited by

00:13:50.119 --> 00:13:50.599
 our space

00:13:50.599 --> 00:13:51.219
 or time.

00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:53.959
 And the

00:13:53.959 --> 00:13:54.319
 one who

00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:54.699
 is to

00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:55.039
 come.

00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:56.859
 So he

00:13:56.859 --> 00:13:57.339
 emphasizes

00:13:57.339 --> 00:13:57.799
 just as

00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.159
 God has

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.579
 come to

00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:58.959
 his people

00:13:58.959 --> 00:13:59.199
 in the

00:13:59.199 --> 00:13:59.639
 past,

00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:00.419
 he will

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:00.659
 come

00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.000
 again.

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:03.000
 So,

00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:03.679
 from God,

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.599
 who is and

00:14:04.599 --> 00:14:04.979
 who was and

00:14:04.979 --> 00:14:05.299
 who is to

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:05.559
 come.

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.159
 Second,

00:14:06.359 --> 00:14:06.699
 from the

00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:07.379
 seven spirits

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.659
 who are

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:08.179
 before his

00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:08.459
 throne.

00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:08.820
 Now,

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:10.000
 here's a

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.400
 phrase that

00:14:10.400 --> 00:14:10.720
 you might

00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.100
 read and

00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:12.400
 you might

00:14:12.400 --> 00:14:12.720
 say,

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.420
 hmm,

00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:14.940
 what does

00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:15.480
 that mean?

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.639
 Seven spirits

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:17.900
 who are

00:14:17.900 --> 00:14:18.620
 before God's

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:18.879
 throne.

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:20.800
 You know,

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.139
 you might

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:21.300
 say,

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:21.540
 well,

00:14:22.180 --> 00:14:22.580
 is that

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:23.740
 seven angels

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.120
 who are

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.740
 before God's

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:24.960
 throne?

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:25.420
 There are

00:14:25.420 --> 00:14:26.139
 seven angels

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:26.680
 who come

00:14:26.680 --> 00:14:27.200
 later in

00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:27.620
 Revelation,

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.400
 who blow

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:29.000
 the trumpets

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.400
 and pour

00:14:29.400 --> 00:14:29.680
 out the

00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:30.019
 bowls of

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:30.320
 God's

00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:30.600
 judgment

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.519
 and carry

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.040
 out God's

00:14:32.040 --> 00:14:32.480
 judgment on

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:32.879
 the earth.

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:33.759
 You might

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:33.920
 say,

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.440
 is it that?

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:37.700
 Or is it

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.320
 something else?

00:14:39.420 --> 00:14:39.740
 So,

00:14:39.900 --> 00:14:40.520
 let me use

00:14:40.520 --> 00:14:40.900
 this as an

00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:41.360
 example,

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:42.760
 and I want

00:14:42.760 --> 00:14:43.120
 to try to

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.820
 show you

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:44.620
 how you can

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.260
 figure out

00:14:45.260 --> 00:14:46.240
 what a

00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:46.660
 confusing

00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:47.620
 phrase means,

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:48.600
 or what a

00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.060
 phrase that

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:49.460
 you read it

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:49.860
 at first and

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.060
 you say,

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.640
 seven spirits

00:14:50.640 --> 00:14:51.140
 before God's

00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:51.260
 throne,

00:14:51.300 --> 00:14:51.540
 what does

00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:51.920
 that mean?

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:52.860
 Let me show

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.320
 you how to

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:53.960
 figure that

00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:54.220
 out.

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.580
 And sometimes

00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.020
 you'll have a

00:14:56.020 --> 00:14:56.460
 clearer answer

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:56.880
 than others,

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.420
 but here's a

00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:58.900
 few questions

00:14:58.900 --> 00:14:59.420
 you can ask.

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.039
 Number one,

00:15:01.459 --> 00:15:01.899
 does the

00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.179
 book of

00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:02.579
 Revelation

00:15:02.579 --> 00:15:04.899
 explain what

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.539
 this phrase

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.360
 means directly

00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:06.860
 somewhere?

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.099
 So,

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:08.679
 look down at

00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:09.240
 verse 12,

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:09.819
 here's another

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.299
 example.

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.379
 Verse 12,

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.879
 John says,

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.439
 then I turned

00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:15.919
 to see the

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.339
 voice that

00:15:16.339 --> 00:15:16.719
 was speaking

00:15:16.719 --> 00:15:16.979
 to me.

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.439
 On turning,

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:18.279
 I saw seven

00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:19.740
 golden lampstands.

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.019
 You might

00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.240
 wonder,

00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:20.479
 okay,

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:20.939
 what are the

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.459
 seven golden

00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:22.199
 lampstands?

00:15:22.199 --> 00:15:22.459
 Well,

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.360
 verse 19,

00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:24.599
 sorry,

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.219
 verse 20,

00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:26.659
 gives you the

00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.039
 answer.

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.459
 The end of

00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:28.939
 verse 20,

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.360
 the end of

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:29.800
 the chapter,

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:30.260
 says,

00:15:30.380 --> 00:15:30.760
 the seven

00:15:30.760 --> 00:15:31.820
 lampstands are

00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:32.720
 the seven

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.280
 churches.

00:15:33.760 --> 00:15:34.020
 So,

00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:34.600
 there are some

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.740
 symbols in

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.140
 the book of

00:15:36.140 --> 00:15:37.360
 Revelation that

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.080
 the book actually

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:39.240
 directly explains

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.880
 what they mean.

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:41.120
 The seven

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.940
 lampstands are

00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:42.320
 the seven

00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.760
 churches.

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:43.380
 So,

00:15:43.380 --> 00:15:43.560
 you say,

00:15:43.640 --> 00:15:43.900
 okay,

00:15:44.140 --> 00:15:45.080
 that's clear.

00:15:45.880 --> 00:15:46.100
 Now,

00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:46.600
 what about the

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.160
 seven spirits

00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:47.860
 before God's

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.160
 throne?

00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:49.620
 Well,

00:15:50.140 --> 00:15:50.940
 the same

00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.720
 phrase appears

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.300
 in two other

00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:52.860
 places in

00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:53.300
 Revelation.

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:54.700
 Okay,

00:15:54.760 --> 00:15:55.520
 and if you

00:15:55.520 --> 00:15:56.020
 want to find

00:15:56.020 --> 00:15:56.220
 it,

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.580
 if you have

00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:57.980
 a computer,

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.400
 you have a

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:58.580
 phone,

00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.100
 go online,

00:15:59.180 --> 00:15:59.360
 go to

00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.920
 Bible Gateway,

00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:00.940
 and type

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:01.180
 in the

00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:01.580
 phrase.

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.160
 It's called

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:02.580
 a keyword

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.160
 search,

00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.139
 and you'll

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:04.500
 find the

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:06.379
 places that

00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:06.820
 that same

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.520
 phrase appears

00:16:07.520 --> 00:16:08.300
 elsewhere.

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.480
 So,

00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:09.860
 if you do

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.240
 that with

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.860
 seven spirits,

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.340
 you'll find

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:11.580
 that it

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.060
 appears in

00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:12.639
 chapter 4,

00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.480
 verse 5.

00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:14.520
 So,

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:14.780
 look at

00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:15.240
 chapter 4,

00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:15.920
 verse 5.

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:17.600
 It says,

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.159
 before the

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.340
 throne of

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:19.820
 God,

00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:21.220
 there were

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.259
 burning seven

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:23.220
 torches of

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:23.680
 fire,

00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.279
 or other

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:25.940
 translations say

00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:26.879
 seven blazing

00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.460
 lamps,

00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:29.980
 which are

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.759
 the seven

00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.259
 spirits of

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.620
 God.

00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.120
 And then

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.420
 look at

00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:34.980
 chapter 5,

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.659
 verse 6,

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:37.659
 which is the

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.340
 other reference.

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:49.540
 Now you

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:49.920
 might say,

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.639
 this just

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.000
 seems to get

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.600
 more confusing.

00:16:52.280 --> 00:16:52.840
 What are the

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.420
 seven spirits?

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:53.899
 Are they the

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.580
 seven eyes of

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.420
 God sent out

00:16:55.420 --> 00:16:55.860
 into all the

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.100
 earth,

00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:56.680
 or are they

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:57.820
 the seven

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.600
 blazing lamps?

00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:01.100
 And what does

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.519
 that mean?

00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:02.480
 Okay,

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:02.700
 see,

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.280
 so it's not

00:17:03.280 --> 00:17:03.720
 giving us a

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.259
 direct answer,

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:04.579
 but it's

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.160
 making a

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.799
 connection

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.879
 between three

00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:07.440
 symbols.

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.539
 Spirits,

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.039
 lamps,

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.640
 eyes.

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.079
 So,

00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:12.799
 the first

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.420
 question is,

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.299
 does the

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:14.539
 book of

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:14.859
 Revelation

00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.440
 explain what

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:15.819
 it means?

00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.099
 And so we've

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:17.500
 seen it makes

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.019
 this connection,

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.259
 but we might

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:19.740
 say, hmm,

00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:20.440
 not totally

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.220
 sure what to

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.660
 make of that.

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.259
 Second

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.680
 question,

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.480
 does this

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.259
 phrase appear

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:25.180
 somewhere in

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:25.879
 the Old

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.500
 Testament?

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.079
 Now if you

00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.440
 type in

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.119
 seven spirits,

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.079
 it doesn't.

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.200
 But if you

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.720
 type in

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.839
 seven eyes,

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:36.519
 or seven

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.119
 lamps,

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.039
 it does.

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.220
 So go to

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:42.400
 Zach 4.

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.019
 Because that

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:51.119
 is the

00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:51.559
 reference.

00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.539
 It is page

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.720
 794.

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:55.700
 A few

00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.019
 Bible.

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.140
 So Zachariah

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.900
 chapter 4,

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.539
 verse 2.

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:04.319
 So Zachariah

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:04.680
 chapter 4,

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:04.899
 it's a

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.200
 vision.

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.379
 Okay,

00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:06.980
 Zachariah's

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.319
 having a

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.539
 vision,

00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.099
 just like

00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:09.139
 John is

00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:09.539
 having a

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:09.759
 vision.

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.240
 And he

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.480
 says,

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:11.920
 the angel

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.379
 who talked

00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:12.740
 with me,

00:18:13.159 --> 00:18:13.759
 I'll start

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.059
 at chapter

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:14.299
 4,

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:14.639
 verse 1,

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.000
 the angel

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.599
 woke me up

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.059
 like a man

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.480
 who's awakened

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:16.879
 out of his

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.079
 sleep,

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:17.279
 and he

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.579
 said to

00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:17.720
 me,

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.039
 what do

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.460
 you see?

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.240
 I said,

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.680
 I see and

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.139
 behold a

00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:20.799
 lampstand,

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:21.740
 all of gold,

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.099
 with a bowl

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.700
 on top of it

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.279
 and seven

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.399
 lamps on it.

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:27.539
 Okay,

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:27.819
 so we have

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.480
 seven lamps.

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:28.799
 So he's

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.799
 with seven

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.559
 lamps.

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.559
 In other

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:31.720
 words,

00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.099
 seven

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.740
 torches

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.279
 of fire.

00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.419
 Then as

00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:37.700
 you go

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.119
 through the

00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:38.440
 chapter,

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.279
 verse 4,

00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:39.679
 he says,

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:39.859
 well,

00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:40.159
 what are

00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:40.579
 these?

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.740
 And the

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.279
 angel doesn't

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.099
 answer directly

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.659
 at first.

00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.319
 He at first

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:46.480
 says,

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:46.759
 don't you

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.019
 know?

00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.419
 He says,

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:48.720
 nope.

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.079
 Verse 6,

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:50.339
 then he

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:50.599
 said to

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:50.720
 me,

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.019
 this is

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:51.279
 the word

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.480
 of the

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:51.659
 Lord,

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.139
 not by

00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:52.619
 might nor

00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.119
 by power,

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:53.899
 but by

00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:54.879
 my

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.980
 spirit,

00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:57.119
 says the

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.759
 Lord of

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.200
 hosts.

00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:00.039
 And he

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.819
 goes on to

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.539
 promise that

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.059
 by the

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:02.519
 power of

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:02.940
 the Holy

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:03.620
 Spirit,

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.600
 God's

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.080
 temple will

00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:07.100
 be rebuilt

00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:07.740
 and God's

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.220
 people will

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.799
 be renewed

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.340
 and God's

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:09.900
 grace will

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.319
 be poured

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:10.600
 out.

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.039
 Now look

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.279
 down at

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:11.740
 verse 10.

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:12.840
 And this

00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:13.059
 is where

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.279
 it might

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.600
 start to

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.019
 come together

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.460
 for you.

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.160
 Verse 10,

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.600
 he says,

00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.340
 these seven

00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:17.880
 are the

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.500
 eyes of

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:18.900
 the Lord

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.539
 which range

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:19.900
 through the

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.660
 whole earth.

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:21.900
 Aha!

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:23.559
 Right?

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.420
 So in

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.180
 Zechariah we

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.580
 have,

00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:26.180
 so right,

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.600
 Revelation,

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.059
 we have seven

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.440
 lamps,

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.120
 seven

00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:28.580
 spirits,

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.160
 seven

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.620
 eyes.

00:19:30.580 --> 00:19:30.980
 In

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.559
 Zechariah we

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.120
 have seven

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.580
 lamps,

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:33.279
 seven

00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:33.799
 eyes,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:36.039
 and by

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.440
 my

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:36.880
 spirit.

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.480
 The

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:38.860
 spirit of

00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.140
 God.

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.160
 The

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.320
 Holy

00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:40.720
 Spirit of

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:40.940
 God.

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.259
 So that

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.539
 would seem

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.000
 to indicate

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.460
 that the

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:44.779
 seven

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.700
 spirits could

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.039
 be a

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.539
 reference to

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.000
 the Holy

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.559
 Spirit of

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.860
 God who

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.600
 renews God's

00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:50.080
 people and

00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:50.559
 pours out

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.059
 his grace

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:51.600
 upon them.

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.640
 And that

00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:54.200
 also makes

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:54.620
 sense,

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.720
 if you go

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.019
 back to

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.420
 Revelation,

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.220
 in verse

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.559
 four and

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:58.980
 five.

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.000
 Because you

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.440
 have grace

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:00.820
 and peace

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:02.380
 from God

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:02.880
 who is and

00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:03.299
 was and

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.620
 will be,

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.000
 and from the

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:06.420
 seven spirits

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:06.779
 and from

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.480
 Jesus Christ.

00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.140
 So you have

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.460
 God the

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:08.820
 Father,

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.900
 Jesus Christ the

00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.120
 Son,

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.539
 and God the

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.019
 Holy Spirit,

00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:11.400
 so that would

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:11.799
 seem to make

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.200
 sense.

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:14.480
 But then you

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:14.759
 might say,

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.700
 well, why does

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.480
 he say seven

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:16.920
 spirits?

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.420
 Right?

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:17.799
 Why does he

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.580
 make it confusing

00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.160
 for us?

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.259
 Why doesn't

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.960
 he just say

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.559
 from the

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.160
 Holy Spirit?

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:27.840
 Well, look

00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:28.100
 at verse

00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:28.420
 four.

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.019
 John, to

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.480
 the seven

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.840
 churches that

00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:32.140
 are in

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:32.480
 Asia.

00:20:34.560 --> 00:20:34.900
 Right?

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.340
 The seven

00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.240
 churches are

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.620
 the servants

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.019
 of Jesus

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.860
 Christ gathered

00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.680
 together everywhere.

00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:41.259
 The seven

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:43.580
 spirits, I

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:43.960
 think is a

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.680
 reference to

00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.600
 the spirit of

00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:46.680
 Jesus powerfully

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:48.259
 at work among

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:48.860
 his people

00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:49.519
 everywhere.

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.920
 the seven

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.599
 churches

00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:53.619
 represent God's

00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:54.599
 people everywhere.

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.759
 The seven

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.680
 spirits, it's

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.039
 sort of an

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.920
 image of God's

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.599
 Holy Spirit

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.619
 resting upon

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.379
 his people

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.400
 everywhere as

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:01.920
 they gather

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.660
 together.

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:05.879
 Right?

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.359
 And it goes

00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.960
 along with the

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.799
 lampstand imagery,

00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.160
 right?

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.799
 If the seven

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.960
 lampstands are

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.420
 the seven

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.299
 churches, think

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.799
 of that, think

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.980
 of our church,

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:14.920
 our group of

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.279
 people who

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.940
 gather together,

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:16.759
 right?

00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.059
 We're a

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.599
 lampstand.

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.319
 And on

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.099
 top of it is

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.819
 that blazing

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:22.000
 torch of the

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.719
 Holy Spirit's

00:21:22.719 --> 00:21:23.619
 presence who's

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.179
 among us.

00:21:25.199 --> 00:21:25.759
 So that's what

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.219
 he's saying.

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.519
 And I think

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:28.959
 that's a little

00:21:28.959 --> 00:21:29.480
 bit of how we

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:29.839
 can sort of

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.439
 figure out some

00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:31.740
 of these phrases

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.259
 in Revelation

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.199
 that seem a

00:21:33.199 --> 00:21:33.839
 little confusing

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.259
 at first.

00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.740
 And again, it

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.139
 takes a little

00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:36.439
 while, right?

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:36.899
 Sometimes you've

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:37.439
 got to dig deep

00:21:37.439 --> 00:21:37.859
 into the Old

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.159
 Testament and put

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.500
 some things

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:39.899
 together.

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.419
 But it makes

00:21:41.419 --> 00:21:41.879
 sense.

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:48.280
 that the

00:21:48.280 --> 00:21:48.880
 Holy Spirit

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.860
 is that

00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:50.580
 burning lamp,

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:51.220
 that shining

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:51.760
 light who

00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:52.820
 comes among

00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:53.480
 us, who

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.200
 descends upon

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.060
 us, and who

00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:55.860
 empowers us to

00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.820
 shine with

00:21:56.820 --> 00:21:58.660
 God's glory as

00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:00.200
 we faithfully

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.880
 witness to Jesus

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.440
 Christ throughout

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.860
 the world.

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.220
 So that's the

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.800
 spirits.

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.920
 The Holy

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.480
 Spirit upon

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:11.599
 God's

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:11.920
 churches.

00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:14.400
 All right,

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:14.900
 going on.

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.440
 Verse 5,

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:15.900
 from Jesus

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:17.500
 Christ, Jesus

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.860
 is described as

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.279
 the faithful

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:21.339
 witness, the

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.059
 firstborn of the

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.660
 dead, and the

00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.180
 ruler of the

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.920
 kings on earth.

00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:25.059
 And all these

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.779
 three titles of

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.279
 Jesus,

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:30.360
 characteristics of

00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:30.960
 who he is,

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.640
 are going to

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.099
 come back.

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.599
 We'll see them

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.400
 more as we go

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.099
 through Revelation.

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.960
 So Jesus is the

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.539
 faithful witness.

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.579
 He was faithful to

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.039
 the point of

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.380
 death.

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.140
 And he's the

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.599
 one who

00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:42.039
 strengthens us

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.000
 to faithfully

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.920
 witness to him

00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:45.279
 wherever we go.

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.599
 Jesus is the

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.240
 firstborn from

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.620
 the dead.

00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.079
 He's the one

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:50.180
 who's the first

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.880
 one who has

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:51.660
 triumphed over

00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.200
 death in his

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.960
 resurrection, and

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.519
 he's the one who

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.380
 promises and

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:56.039
 guarantees that

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.759
 we who believe

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.920
 in him will be

00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.599
 raised with him

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:58.940
 forever.

00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.140
 And the ruler of

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:00.680
 the kings on

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.220
 earth, Revelation

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.759
 was written to

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.200
 people who were

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.079
 persecuted under

00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.920
 the Roman Empire.

00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:08.180
 And he says to

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.080
 them, Jesus

00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:10.039
 Christ is the

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.580
 ruler of the

00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.120
 kings on earth.

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.279
 He is more

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.120
 powerful and

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.039
 more enduring, and

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.920
 his authority will

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:16.420
 endure forever more

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.759
 than any human

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.700
 government, more than

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.640
 any human leader,

00:23:20.560 --> 00:23:21.220
 more than any

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.880
 regime that's

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.759
 persecuting you.

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.519
 So it's, it's, he's

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.200
 giving a word of

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.380
 comfort, but also a

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:30.120
 call to be faithfully

00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:31.400
 and unswervingly loyal

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.519
 to Jesus above

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.460
 everything else.

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:35.860
 All right.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.440
 So who's this book

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:37.740
 for?

00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:38.400
 It's for all the

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.039
 servants of Jesus

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.519
 everywhere.

00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.120
 Who's this book

00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:40.559
 from?

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.600
 God the Father, Son,

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.620
 and Holy Spirit.

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.700
 And third, what's

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.220
 this book about?

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.640
 All right.

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.620
 Now, verse one

00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:52.519
 says, God gave

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:54.440
 Jesus this revelation

00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.500
 to show to his

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.559
 servants the things

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.480
 that must soon take

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:57.840
 place.

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.519
 Now this is sort of

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.299
 one of the big

00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.180
 debates in the book

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.059
 of Revelation is,

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.279
 what are these things

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.180
 that must soon take

00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:04.619
 place?

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.399
 And what does that

00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.240
 mean since John was

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.960
 writing almost 2,000

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.500
 years ago?

00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:11.279
 I mean, he said it

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.859
 was supposed to be

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.240
 soon.

00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.500
 As he, you know, so

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.299
 some people say,

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.799
 some people say,

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.500
 John was talking

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:20.319
 mostly about events

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.339
 that were just about

00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:23.059
 to happen in his

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:25.379
 time, in the first

00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.160
 century.

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:29.160
 In the book, we

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.680
 really have to

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.240
 understand the

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.799
 ancient context and

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.980
 ancient history and

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.620
 the world that John

00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.079
 lived in.

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.640
 So that's the main

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.420
 interpretation of

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.839
 Revelation.

00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.519
 Most people, I

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:41.140
 think, take another

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.960
 view and say

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.299
 Revelation is mostly

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:46.240
 about future events

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.799
 and particularly about

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.500
 the things that are

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.160
 going to happen

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.960
 immediately leading up

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.480
 to the return of

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.740
 Jesus.

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.019
 Right?

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.120
 We all agree how it

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.860
 ends, right, with

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:58.059
 Jesus comes again.

00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.380
 Right?

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.460
 But many people say

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.700
 most of Revelation is

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.279
 about those things

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.480
 that are in the

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.640
 generation or so

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:06.160
 before Jesus returns.

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.100
 And so people often

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:09.000
 try to be guessing,

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.340
 and people have

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:10.940
 always done this

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.160
 throughout history,

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.960
 is try to say,

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:16.200
 hmm, maybe the

00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:17.660
 beast is this.

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.700
 Or maybe 666 is,

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.580
 you know, this

00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:21.960
 political leader today.

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.420
 Other people say

00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.220
 Revelation is more

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.640
 symbolic.

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.360
 And it sort of

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.440
 reflects patterns that

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:30.860
 often happen throughout

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.559
 history.

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.619
 And so it's not

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.599
 meant to be a sort

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.599
 of chronological thing

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.319
 and it's not to be

00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.259
 only for one time

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.599
 or another.

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.559
 So you might say,

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.119
 well, what one of

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.819
 those views is the

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.299
 best one?

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.779
 In some sense, I'm

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.419
 going to say there's

00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:44.219
 some truth in all

00:25:44.219 --> 00:25:44.899
 three of them, right?

00:25:44.979 --> 00:25:46.199
 John was writing to

00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:46.879
 people in the first

00:25:46.879 --> 00:25:47.299
 century.

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.079
 And God inspired him

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.579
 to write a letter

00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.139
 that would be

00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.639
 encouraging them to

00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:53.819
 stand firm and

00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.119
 stand fast despite

00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.979
 persecution and

00:25:55.979 --> 00:25:56.319
 hardship.

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:57.899
 And so whatever

00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.740
 Revelation means,

00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:00.199
 it has to be

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.500
 something that

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.000
 would have meant

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.660
 something to the

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.460
 people back then

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:05.059
 and that would

00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.620
 have encouraged

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.720
 them and pointed

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.220
 them to be

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.980
 faithful to Jesus.

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.900
 And so that's the

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.720
 truth in the first

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.259
 view.

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.120
 Truth in the second

00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:14.539
 view is

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:17.299
 Revelation, it has

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:19.400
 to be not only for

00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:20.100
 the first century but

00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:21.100
 also for God's people

00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:22.680
 throughout history.

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:23.980
 Right?

00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:25.000
 Not only in

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.440
 John's time, not

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.120
 only in the last

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.160
 generation before

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.019
 Jesus returns, but

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.700
 for all God's

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.140
 people throughout

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.540
 history.

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:32.880
 And of course it

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:34.019
 will be for the

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.860
 last generation of

00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.440
 Christians who see

00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.080
 Jesus return in

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.320
 person.

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.680
 So some of you

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:40.019
 are like, ah, he's

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.940
 avoiding the question.

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.820
 He's just saying

00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.519
 there's some truth in

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.380
 all three views.

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.980
 We'll get into this

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.279
 more.

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.320
 You can ask in the

00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:49.600
 we'll have Q&A

00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:50.940
 tonight so you can

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:52.320
 ask more questions.

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:55.779
 But again, there's a

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.300
 verse from the Old

00:26:56.300 --> 00:26:57.259
 Testament that sheds a

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.920
 little bit more light

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.440
 on this.

00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.379
 So John talks about

00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.099
 the things that must

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.180
 soon take place, or

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.619
 if you look at

00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:05.200
 chapter 4 verse 1, he

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.160
 uses a similar

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.879
 phrase.

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.259
 I will show you

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.579
 what must take

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:12.119
 place after this.

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.980
 If you go back to

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.619
 Daniel chapter 2,

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.460
 I'm just going to do

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.519
 this as the last

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.019
 Old Testament

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.599
 reference.

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.339
 But Daniel is

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:27.000
 pretty key in a lot

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.439
 of things.

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.459
 Daniel chapter 2,

00:27:28.959 --> 00:27:30.759
 page 739, if you're

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.259
 looking at a few

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.579
 Bible.

00:27:32.459 --> 00:27:33.539
 So basically, King

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.319
 Nebuchadnezzar has a

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:36.599
 dream about four

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.919
 successive world

00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:38.639
 empires.

00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.159
 His own, the

00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:41.459
 Babylonian, and then

00:27:41.459 --> 00:27:42.639
 the Persians, and then

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.319
 the Greeks, and the

00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.619
 Romans.

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.259
 And if you look at

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:49.039
 verse 44, it says,

00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:49.959
 in the days of those

00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:50.939
 kings, particularly the

00:27:50.939 --> 00:27:52.559
 fourth kingdom, the

00:27:52.559 --> 00:28:03.059
 God will break in

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.740
 pieces all these

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.399
 kingdoms, and bring

00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:05.200
 them to an end, and

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.779
 it shall stand forever.

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.259
 And then at the end

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.139
 of verse 45, it says,

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.240
 a great God has made

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.039
 known to the king

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.980
 what shall be after

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.480
 this.

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.519
 So what he's talking

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:18.440
 about, first of all,

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.019
 he's talking about the

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:20.079
 coming of Jesus Christ.

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:22.740
 Christ came into this

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.299
 world, 2000, at the

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:24.859
 time of the Roman

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.379
 Empire.

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.139
 And so Daniel was

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:28.259
 prophesying and looking

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.559
 forward to the coming

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.939
 of Jesus Christ, who

00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:32.000
 established God's

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:33.199
 kingdom on earth.

00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:35.119
 But he also says that

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:36.179
 that kingdom that Jesus

00:28:36.179 --> 00:28:38.399
 established is going to

00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:41.079
 endure forever, and

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.119
 that it will bring all

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:43.139
 other kingdoms to an

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:45.119
 end, and it will stand

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:45.539
 forever.

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:45.659
 forever.

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:49.180
 And verse 45 uses that

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.420
 phrase, what shall be,

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.599
 God has made known to

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.579
 the king, what shall be

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.420
 after this.

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.539
 And that's the same

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.940
 phrase that John uses in

00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.720
 the book of Revelation.

00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.480
 So you might say, well,

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.379
 what's the connection, and

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:02.059
 why does he make that

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.420
 connection?

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.240
 Why does he use that?

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.559
 Well, he's using that

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.940
 phrase because what he

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.960
 wants to say is, first of

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:09.000
 all, Daniel's prophecy has

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.539
 come true.

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:12.619
 That Jesus Christ is the

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.839
 Messiah, he's come into

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.819
 the world, and by his

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.879
 life and death and

00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:17.619
 resurrection, he's

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:19.000
 established God's kingdom

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.899
 on earth among his

00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.220
 people.

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.799
 And John's also saying

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:25.000
 that that kingdom that

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.740
 Jesus established, where

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:28.419
 he rules and reigns and

00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:30.079
 brings life and healing

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.119
 and salvation to his

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.819
 people, that kingdom is

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:34.139
 going to remain forever,

00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:35.959
 and it's going to be

00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:36.779
 established in his

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.659
 fullness when he comes

00:29:37.659 --> 00:29:38.039
 again.

00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:40.519
 And right now, we're

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:42.139
 living between that

00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.199
 first coming of Jesus,

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.240
 and that second coming

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:45.679
 of Jesus.

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.480
 And what John is saying

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:50.240
 is, it's sort of like

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.240
 we're living in sudden

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.319
 death over time.

00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:55.740
 Okay, I grew up playing

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.240
 ice hockey.

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:58.539
 The way it goes in the

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.859
 playoffs of ice hockey is

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:01.319
 you play, and if you're

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.619
 tied, you go into sudden

00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:03.500
 death over time.

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:05.799
 And sudden death over time

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.799
 could actually go on for a

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:09.579
 long time, but the minute

00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:10.959
 somebody scores a goal, it's

00:30:10.959 --> 00:30:11.399
 all over.

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:13.480
 The game's over.

00:30:13.840 --> 00:30:14.860
 And it could be over at

00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:15.400
 any time.

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:17.519
 And so whenever you go out

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.280
 there, you play your

00:30:18.280 --> 00:30:21.200
 hardest, because you know

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:24.980
 that the end could come

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.680
 any time, and the end is

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.600
 near, and you're in sudden

00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:28.940
 death.

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.300
 And that's basically what

00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:32.900
 John is saying.

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.759
 All right, at the end of

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.740
 verse 1, he says the time

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.120
 is near.

00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:39.679
 In 1 John, John's first

00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:43.419
 epistle, 1 John 2, 18, he

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:44.419
 says, children, this is the

00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.179
 last hour.

00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.339
 He doesn't even say it's the

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.619
 last day or year.

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.419
 He says this is the last

00:30:49.419 --> 00:30:49.759
 hour.

00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:51.839
 And he says, as you've heard

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:54.419
 that Antichrist is coming,

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:56.059
 so now many Antichrists have

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.959
 come, therefore we know it's

00:30:56.959 --> 00:30:57.639
 the last hour.

00:30:58.219 --> 00:30:59.739
 So he sort of, you know,

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.599
 there's going to be a lot of

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.299
 things that are going to be

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:04.079
 happen sort of in this,

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:05.759
 between Jesus' first coming

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:07.759
 and his second coming, but

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.759
 the end is always near.

00:31:10.439 --> 00:31:12.759
 And we need to live knowing

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.139
 that that's true.

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:18.359
 And live giving our full

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:20.939
 allegiance to Jesus, and

00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:22.480
 trusting that he's in

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:25.500
 control, and living our lives

00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.419
 fully and unreservedly for

00:31:27.419 --> 00:31:27.619
 him.

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:31.179
 And that's, you know, that's

00:31:31.179 --> 00:31:32.399
 sort of the main point of

00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:32.799
 Revelation.

00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:35.779
 He's saying, things are in

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:38.119
 God's hands, and Jesus is

00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:40.019
 going to win, so stand firm,

00:31:40.439 --> 00:31:42.399
 and don't waver.

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.159
 And don't grab onto something

00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:47.199
 else as your ultimate hope.

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.659
 But stand firm and hold onto

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:51.579
 Jesus, because he's going to

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:51.779
 win.

00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:55.279
 And he says he's brought us

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.960
 into his kingdom.

00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:58.759
 This is verse 5 in Jesus.

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:01.319
 He's freed us from our sins by

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.819
 his blood.

00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:03.519
 He's that ultimate Passover lamb

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:06.279
 who's the sacrifice, who's paid

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.119
 the price for us.

00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:08.779
 He's made us a kingdom and

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:10.779
 priests, just like God made

00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:12.059
 Israel in the Old Testament a

00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:14.179
 kingdom and priests, just as

00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:16.879
 God called Adam and Eve to be

00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:18.859
 rulers and priests, rulers over

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:21.059
 his creation, and priests

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.500
 worshiping before his throne.

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:26.519
 Christ has come and through him,

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.500
 we can fulfill that.

00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:34.079
 And verse 7, so again, verse 6

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:36.000
 talks about what Christ has done in

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.839
 establishing his kingdom.

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:38.440
 Verse 7 talks about that he's going

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.000
 to come again.

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.500
 He'll come with the clouds, every

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.879
 eye will see him, even those who

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.299
 pierce him.

00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:45.339
 All tribes of the earth will wail on

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:45.980
 account of him.

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.779
 He will reign over the nations, and

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:50.339
 the response is, even so, amen.

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:50.480
 Amen.

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.699
 So what's Revelation about?

00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:58.019
 It's about the time between Jesus'

00:32:58.199 --> 00:32:59.459
 first and second coming.

00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:03.139
 But it's not just about a time, or

00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:04.619
 about events, or about things that

00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:05.559
 are going to happen, it's about the

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.879
 person of Jesus himself.

00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:10.679
 It's about the person of God, the

00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:12.000
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:17.000
 And that's what shines through, right,

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:19.339
 in this introduction, and really

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.119
 throughout the book.

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:24.819
 And so I want to encourage you, you

00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:26.720
 know, if you're someone who's

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:29.380
 fascinated by Revelation, maybe you're

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:32.259
 sort of wondering, ooh, what does he

00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.160
 think about the rapture?

00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.599
 What does he think about the

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.099
 tribulation?

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.680
 What does he think about the

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:38.059
 millennium, and the mark of the beast,

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:40.619
 and 666, and let me remind you, this

00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.980
 book is primarily not about the

00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:44.759
 details, but the book is primarily

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:46.319
 about King Jesus.

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:49.120
 And it's meant to lead us to worship

00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:49.740
 at his throne.

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.980
 So we can talk about the details, but

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.180
 don't lose the forest for the trees.

00:33:57.680 --> 00:34:00.759
 It's about King Jesus, and leading us

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:03.279
 to worship at his throne, and to say

00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:06.960
 praise and glory be to the only God who

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:10.119
 is and was and who is to come, to him

00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.880
 be glory and dominion forever and ever,

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:14.119
 amen and amen.

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.199
 Amen.

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.159
 Let's pray.

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:22.400
 Father, we thank you for this book.

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:27.059
 Lord, we thank you that for how you've

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:30.039
 revealed yourself to us in your word, and

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:36.199
 how this book just wraps up your great

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:39.980
 revelation throughout the Bible, and how it

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.840
 shows us your glory.

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:42.000
 Lord, we pray that you would open our

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.139
 eyes as we study it.

00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:48.260
 Lord, we pray that we would not shy away

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:52.380
 from it out of fear, or out of past

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:54.980
 confusion, or even bad experiences, or...

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.559
 But Lord, we pray that we would not be

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:59.659
 fascinated in an unhealthy way with the

00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:03.399
 details, and miss the main point.

00:35:11.339 --> 00:35:14.980
 As our Savior, as our great God.

00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:24.440
 Lord, we pray that we would also see your work

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:26.619
 more fully, the work of the Father, and the

00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:29.500
 Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the way that you

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:34.800
 work in harmony, as one God in three persons.

00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:39.320
 And Lord, we pray all these things in Jesus' name.

00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:39.980
 Amen.

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.119
 Amen.

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:40.619
 Amen.

00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:41.219
 Amen.

00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:41.880
 Amen.

00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.019
 Amen.

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.519
 Amen.

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:42.960
 Amen.

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.460
 Amen.

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:43.579
 Amen.

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:43.960
 Amen.

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:45.019
 Amen.

00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.559
 Amen.

00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.079
 Amen.

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.179
 Amen.

00:35:46.279 --> 00:35:46.460
 Amen.

00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.299
 Amen.

00:35:47.299 --> 00:35:49.440
 Amen.

00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:51.980
 Amen.

00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:53.539
 Amen.

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.000
 Amen.

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:56.039
 Amen.

00:35:56.359 --> 00:35:58.000
 Amen.

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.059
 Amen.

00:35:58.059 --> 00:36:02.019
 Amen.

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.239
 Amen.

00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:02.460
 Amen.

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:03.639
 Amen.

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:05.920
 Amen.

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:07.259
 Amen.

00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:09.159
 Amen.

00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:09.380
 Amen.

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.099
 Amen.