WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.440 This past week, I had an idea for a whole new product line. 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:06.000 Now, let me show you what it is. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:13.019 I was driving, and I was behind this SUV, and we're at a stop sign, so I'm looking at this SUV, 00:00:13.019 --> 00:00:21.140 and in this sticker on the back left bottom of the rear window was this little three kind of line logo that says, 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.100 Life is Good. 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:24.280 Have you guys seen those? 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:27.760 Life is Good, and there's Life is Good t-shirts. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.500 And so I'm sitting there at the stop sign. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:33.439 I'm like, is life good? 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:45.520 I know God is good, and I know that this life has moments of goodness, but is life good? 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:52.240 And so that was all I needed to start developing my own product line. 00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:54.680 So here's my t-shirt. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:59.820 On the front, life is hard. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.019 On the back, come Lord Jesus. 00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:10.140 On the front, life is hard. 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:12.680 We're living in the birth pains. 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:17.420 On the back, come Lord Jesus. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:20.219 He's one day closer. 00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:28.579 When we talk about, or you hear the word, those words, come Lord Jesus, 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:33.939 we're talking about the bodily return of Jesus Christ. 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:36.760 The second coming of Jesus. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:42.500 And we're going to be looking at Matthew 24 this morning, where Jesus himself talks about his return, 00:01:42.580 --> 00:01:45.500 and he talks about himself in the third person as the Son of Man. 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:50.420 Here's what I'm interested in right now. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:56.160 As those words fall upon your ears, come Lord Jesus. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:58.879 How does that strike you? 00:02:00.479 --> 00:02:02.519 What's going on inside of your heart right now? 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:08.340 When you hear those words, what do they conjure up? 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.359 Let's just say that Jesus comes back tomorrow. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:16.379 When he comes back, what will be going on inside of you? 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:18.960 Will you be afraid? 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:23.759 Afraid because you know you have not been following Jesus? 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:28.419 That you know he's made these offers and you've rejected them because you want to live your own way? 00:02:30.079 --> 00:02:31.019 Will you be afraid? 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.840 Will you be ashamed? 00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:42.039 Because you've professed to be a follower of Jesus, 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.199 but your profession and your practice are quite at odds. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:50.739 And so if he were to come back tomorrow, you would be like a dog with a tail between your legs saying, 00:02:50.839 --> 00:02:53.899 I'm glad you're here, but I don't really want to talk about it. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:58.859 Or maybe you're not afraid or ashamed. 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:03.280 You're just disappointed because when Jesus comes back, you start thinking things like, 00:03:03.899 --> 00:03:07.659 Oh, man, I was going to go on a vacation in three weeks. 00:03:08.579 --> 00:03:11.939 Oh, man, I've been saving for decades for my retirement. 00:03:12.739 --> 00:03:14.439 I've been wanting to travel the world. 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:16.139 I'm not married yet. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:17.479 I don't have kids yet. 00:03:18.219 --> 00:03:20.300 There's a great movie coming out in December. 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:26.600 So the prospect of Jesus coming out is more like disappointed, 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:31.840 like his coming back is not going to be the greatest thing that ever happened to you, 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:34.340 or for some of us. 00:03:38.260 --> 00:03:41.320 Or maybe you're just going to be flat out delighted when he comes. 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:44.699 You're going to see him coming in the air. 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:47.319 It's going to be a panoramic arrival. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:51.759 And you're thinking, finally, you're back. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:55.479 Finally, you've come for me. 00:03:55.699 --> 00:03:57.060 You've come for us. 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:00.919 He's come to make all wrongs right. 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:04.280 Finally, justice prevails. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:10.000 Finally, this earth under its strain of sin will be released. 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:13.020 And we'll be in a new heavens and a new earth. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:13.680 Finally. 00:04:15.020 --> 00:04:18.699 And your heart will just sing at the moment you see him. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:23.939 Life is hard. 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:27.100 We're living in the birth pains. 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:30.300 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.379 He is nearer than he has ever been. 00:04:36.900 --> 00:04:40.439 This morning, I want to impress upon you that we're one day closer. 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:43.560 The window's not getting longer. 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:45.080 It's not getting wider. 00:04:45.580 --> 00:04:46.860 It's getting smaller. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:48.740 We're one day closer. 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:52.360 We're going to learn next week that the Father has set a date on his calendar. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:54.780 He's used permanent marker on it. 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:57.020 The day is set when Jesus comes back. 00:04:57.980 --> 00:04:59.180 Only he knows it. 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:00.460 And we're one day closer. 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:08.379 In light of that, we've got to recognize the fact that life is hard. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:15.140 And we're in this moment where our hearts cry, must be, come, Lord Jesus. 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:16.960 And so here's how we're going to proceed this morning. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.740 We're going to look at Matthew 24. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:23.879 And we're going to take a good chunk of it. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:26.640 I know Billy preached 4 through 14 last week. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:27.199 And I heard it. 00:05:27.219 --> 00:05:28.120 He did a great job. 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:33.259 I need to come back to that a little bit just to kind of frame some things that I need to cover this morning. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:35.159 So life is hard. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:37.860 We're going to look at that in verses 4 through 28. 00:05:38.419 --> 00:05:39.680 I'm going to breeze through that. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:44.780 And then we're going to look at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in verses 29 through 35. 00:05:45.780 --> 00:05:49.620 And then what I want to do is help you think through what this means for us today. 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:56.680 So if your Bibles aren't already open, would you open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 24. 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:02.560 And I'm just going to read through Matthew 24, 4 through 28. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:08.740 And Jesus answered, see that no one leads you astray. 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:11.740 For many will come in my name saying, I am the Christ. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:13.920 And they will lead many astray. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:16.379 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:18.439 See that you're not alarmed. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:19.840 For this must take place. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:21.340 But the end is not yet. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:24.420 For nation will rise against nation. 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:25.920 And kingdom against kingdom. 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:29.560 And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:31.139 Does that sound familiar? 00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:37.240 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.660 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:45.600 And you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 00:06:46.340 --> 00:06:49.399 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.620 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 00:06:52.840 --> 00:06:57.819 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:02.139 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:09.500 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:11.319 And then the end will come. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:17.300 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.839 Standing in the holy place. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:20.920 Let the reader understand. 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:25.519 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:30.459 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.979 And let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:38.919 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days. 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:42.659 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 00:07:43.599 --> 00:07:45.959 For then there will be great tribulation. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:50.099 Such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:51.639 No and never will be. 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:56.079 And if those days had not been cut short no human being would be saved. 00:07:56.779 --> 00:08:00.360 But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:05.279 Then if anyone says to you look here's the Christ or there he is. 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:06.360 Do not believe it. 00:08:07.219 --> 00:08:12.279 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders. 00:08:12.539 --> 00:08:15.479 So as to lead astray if possible even the elect. 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:18.019 See I have told you beforehand. 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:22.240 So if they say to you look he's in the wilderness. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:23.680 Do not go. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:24.779 Do not go out. 00:08:25.219 --> 00:08:26.939 If they say look he's in the inner rooms. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.539 Do not believe it. 00:08:29.479 --> 00:08:32.939 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west. 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:35.220 So will be the coming of the son of man. 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:36.620 Wherever the corpse is. 00:08:37.439 --> 00:08:38.980 There the vultures will gather. 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:41.720 In verse 8. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:50.300 Jesus talks about these hardships that we will all experience as birth pains. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:56.440 All these things are but the beginning of the birth pains. 00:08:56.820 --> 00:08:58.259 Life is hard. 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:03.480 He kind of explains what some of these birth pains are. 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:07.659 He talks about the international birth pains. 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:12.419 He describes it as wars and rumors of wars. 00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:14.799 North Korea barking. 00:09:15.459 --> 00:09:16.699 America barking back. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.360 There's been a missile launch into Saudi Arabia. 00:09:21.219 --> 00:09:24.379 We're hearing about threats from this country to the next country. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:25.500 We're living in it. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:30.659 And then there are not just wars and rumors of wars. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:34.179 Nations rising above nations and kingdoms against kingdoms. 00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:40.519 But we are experiencing today all sorts of natural birth pains. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:42.440 Natural disasters. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:45.220 Jesus identifies too. 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:51.159 He talks about there being famines and earthquakes in verse 7. 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:53.179 But he's not being exhaustive there. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:55.779 It includes hurricanes. 00:09:58.079 --> 00:10:04.339 Has it occurred to anybody that Harvey and Irma, do you know what they are? 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:06.879 Birth pains. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.679 It's part of it. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.639 We're living through it. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.759 I don't know where you come down on global warming. 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:17.360 I don't know where you're at on terms of what's the cause of it. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:22.220 But I think it's safe to say it's part of the birth pains. 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:24.220 This is the first time. 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:25.220 It's the first time. 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:26.220 It's the first time. 00:10:28.300 --> 00:10:36.840 These international and natural birth pains are something that we will all go through together with everybody else. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:42.779 So Christians are not exempt from kind of hearing wars and rumors of wars and wondering what's going to happen. 00:10:42.920 --> 00:10:46.399 We're not exempt of going through natural disasters. 00:10:49.180 --> 00:10:51.519 But we see another kind of birth pain too. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:53.919 And that's uniquely for Christians. 00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:58.600 Verse 9, then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death. 00:10:58.699 --> 00:11:02.939 And you will be hated by all nations for my namesake. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:07.559 So the world is going to experience hardships. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.860 They're going to experience pain. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.879 We're going to experience that with them. 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:13.879 And on top of that, we're going to have another kind of pain. 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:16.299 We're going to be hated for Jesus' sake. 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:22.740 Jesus calls these birth pains. 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:27.379 Lindsay was up front this morning. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.679 I'm not sure if you noticed. 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:35.359 We actually talked this week about what's the backup plan. 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:37.519 If her water breaks, what do we do? 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.839 If we're in the first song and her water breaks, what do we do? 00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:46.339 Well, we didn't have anything brilliant. 00:11:48.739 --> 00:11:51.019 Lindsay is within days of giving birth. 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:55.439 And we're all looking forward to the arrival of Kingston. 00:11:57.199 --> 00:12:01.379 But we all know that Lindsay has some hard work in front of her. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:06.659 In order to deliver this baby, she's going to go through some pain. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.759 Birth pains. 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.759 Birth pains. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.480 Contractions. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.879 The pain of delivery. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:19.939 Jesus uses those words, birth pains, to describe the hardship that we are encountering for a reason. 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:24.000 Birth pains are not random pains. 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:27.200 Birth pains are purposed pains. 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:33.580 Moms endure birth pains in order to deliver a baby. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:36.879 And then joy takes over. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:44.480 Do you know why Jesus chooses the words, birth pains, to describe the hardships that we're all going through? 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:47.200 Because history is pregnant. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.039 History is expecting. 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:56.200 All of these things are moving towards a birth of sorts. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:03.679 Jesus is likening his second coming to a birth on historic proportions. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:14.799 And so we endure these hardships like Lindsay will endure the hardships to come for this one to come. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.179 These are birth pains. 00:13:20.479 --> 00:13:31.519 And what Jesus is making clear throughout this section is that these birth pains are going to be normal between his first coming and his second coming. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.460 It will lead all the way up to his second coming. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.899 We're going to go through them together. 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:43.720 We are going through them together. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.699 What Jesus spoke of is happening. 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.399 And we're in the middle of it. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:56.419 Now Jesus speaks about these general birth pains in chapter 24, 4 through 14. 00:13:56.819 --> 00:14:00.059 And he comes back to it in 22 through 28. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:06.000 But there's this section that's very interesting in verses 15 through 21. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.600 Would you notice this? 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:19.000 Jesus starts by saying, so when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place, let the reader understand. 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:21.759 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:35.460 So these kind of large scale events that we'll all be experiencing in terms of nation against nation, kingdom rising against kingdom, natural disasters, suffering for Jesus' sakes. 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:36.860 That's normative. 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:40.419 That's going to be the norm all the way up to Jesus coming back. 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:47.799 But what Jesus starts talking about here in verse 15 is a very acute and specific birth pain. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:51.159 He's got something very specific in mind. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:54.519 He quotes Daniel. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:15:05.120 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, the abomination of desolation, that phrase is repeated four times in the book of Daniel. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:07.099 Daniel chapter 8 verse 13. 00:15:07.599 --> 00:15:09.219 Daniel chapter 9 verse 27. 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.419 Daniel chapter 11 verse 31. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.179 And Daniel chapter 12 verse 27. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:24.599 And this phrase is pointing to a time when God's sanctuary, his temple, it will be abominated. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:31.979 It will be rendered unholy and made desolate, abandoned. 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:39.379 And Jesus is quoting this and saying, okay guys, it's going to happen. 00:15:39.959 --> 00:15:41.799 In fact, did you notice what he says? 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:48.579 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel. 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:53.079 He's talking to his disciples and he's saying, you're going to see it happen in your lifetime. 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:57.979 You're going to see something happen in Jerusalem in the temple. 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:02.379 An abomination of desolation that's going to fulfill Daniel. 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:13.740 Now what's interesting is up until this point, Jews had thought that the abomination of desolation was fulfilled in 167 BC. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:25.320 When Antiochus Epiphanes, a foreign king, came into Jerusalem and he set up a temple to Zeus in the temple of God. 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:27.840 And he sacrificed pigs on it. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.460 Did that profane it? 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:30.220 Oh yeah. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:30.340 Yeah. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.860 But here's what Jesus is saying. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.320 Hey, that was bad. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.620 But that is going to be fully fulfilled. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.720 And you're going to see it to his disciples. 00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:45.919 He's speaking specifically to them. 00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:48.480 Notice the particularity. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.679 He says, so when you see the abomination of desolation. 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:54.919 He's not speaking to us living 2,000 years later. 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:57.580 He's speaking specifically to his disciples there. 00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.480 You're going to see this happen. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.700 And then notice how specific it is. 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:06.019 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.660 Specific people. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.700 A specific place. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:16.019 And I want to try to convince you at a specific time. 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:19.000 70 AD. 00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:25.400 The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:30.900 Jesus is speaking these words somewhere like 30, 33 AD. 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:37.560 And so if it's true that he's pointing to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:39.900 He's talking just a few decades away. 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:44.200 Within the lifetimes of the disciples he's speaking to. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:49.860 So if you're not familiar with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.160 Here's what happened. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:55.440 In about 66, 67 there was a Jewish revolt against Rome. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:02.380 And Rome responds by sending Vespasian to go after and quell this rebellion. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:04.740 It started up in the north in Israel. 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:10.319 And then the revolters, these Jewish revolters came down south into Jerusalem. 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:12.339 And they took over the city. 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:15.420 And they kind of blocked themselves in. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:17.920 And they kicked out anybody that opposed them. 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:21.200 And so what happened, they were about 69, 70. 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:24.920 Is that these Jewish revolters were in the city of Jerusalem. 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:26.359 And they blocked themselves in. 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.200 And what happened? 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:30.120 Vespasian, the Roman general, came down with his legions. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:32.799 They surrounded the city of Jerusalem. 00:18:32.939 --> 00:18:33.799 And they besieged it. 00:18:35.239 --> 00:18:36.939 And it was horrific. 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:41.899 Josephus, who is a Jewish historian at the time. 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:45.559 If he's anywhere accurate, you know what he says? 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:49.059 It was the worst thing that has ever happened. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.159 Never seen anything like it. 00:18:51.219 --> 00:18:52.819 You'll never see anything like it. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:56.279 It sounds a lot like what Jesus is saying here. 00:18:56.479 --> 00:18:57.679 In verse 21. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.420 And for then there will be great tribulation. 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:03.019 Such has not been from the beginning of the world until now. 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:04.900 And no, it never will be. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:12.799 Jesus is talking about the fall of Jerusalem as being a great tribulation. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:16.799 It's not the tribulation that all of us are endearing now. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:23.120 It's a specific, unique, great tribulation that happened at 70 A.D. 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:26.920 And he calls his people, if you're there, you get out of there. 00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:28.440 Flee. 00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:30.539 Flee to the mountaintops. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.279 Don't grab your cloak. 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.680 Don't go back for anything. 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:36.440 Oh, woe is you if you're a pregnant woman. 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:39.039 It's going to be really hard on you. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:45.859 If this is true. 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:49.279 And there's debate over whether or not this is what actually Jesus is talking about. 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:52.000 But if it's true, do you know what we can learn from this? 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:58.180 If this is the abomination of desolation, if this is the fulfillment, Jesus was right. 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.940 His words proved true. 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.980 He was right about it. 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.220 It happened. 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:12.620 And so this happens early on in this age of birth pains. 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:19.119 And we can learn from it that Jesus is true to his words. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:28.899 But what I want to now show you is what happens in this passage after this specific event. 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:32.779 Would you read with me, starting in verse 22? 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:38.779 And if those days had not been cut short, I believe those days are talking about these general times of persecution. 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:42.899 If those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. 00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:46.480 But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:53.220 Everybody benefits because God cut short these hard days for the sake of his elect. 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:55.740 Those who are truly followers of Jesus. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:02.120 And then he says in verse 22, and if those days had not been cut short, no human being, I just read that. 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:07.079 Verse 23, then if anyone says to you, look, here's the Christ, or there he is. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.160 Do not believe it. 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:12.279 For false Christ and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders. 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:14.380 Now look up at verses 4 and 5. 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:17.980 Jesus says, see that no one leads you astray. 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:21.060 For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ. 00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:22.660 And they will lead many astray. 00:21:22.800 --> 00:21:23.600 Look at verse 11. 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:26.700 And many false prophets will rise and lead many astray. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.020 Here's the deal. 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:32.760 What happens to you when things get hard for you? 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:36.540 Things get tough, what do you start doing? 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.780 Here's what I start doing. 00:21:38.300 --> 00:21:39.100 I start looking. 00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:43.820 I start looking for things like, how long is this going to last? 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:50.860 I want to set my heart on something outside of this situation to deliver me. 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:56.860 I want, I'm craving something that will help me through this hard time. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:02.200 Do you know what happens when hardship comes on this scale? 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.140 These birth pains? 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.340 Do you know what people start doing? 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.620 They start wanting hope. 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:11.179 They start looking for things. 00:22:11.959 --> 00:22:14.099 They start looking for a deliverer. 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:18.339 They like, start looking for something that's going to help them in their pain. 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:24.599 And we've got all sorts of peddlers of hope around us. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:27.099 False prophets. 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:29.240 False Christs. 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:33.519 Peddling a false hope that doesn't help. 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:35.279 It leads to destruction. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:44.920 This time of birth pains gets exploited by the devil. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:51.740 The devil knows that people are going to be longing for something in the midst of hardship. 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.099 Life is hard. 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:57.339 And so he puts out false teachers all over the place. 00:22:58.659 --> 00:23:06.439 And if you notice the wording very carefully, these false prophets and false teachers, they point to a present hope. 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.279 Notice. 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.659 In verse 24. 00:23:14.719 --> 00:23:15.839 Excuse me, 23. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.519 Look, there is the Christ. 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:22.199 There he is. 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.259 Verse 26. 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:27.319 So if they say to you, look, he is in the wilderness. 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.240 Do not go out. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:31.299 If they say, look, he is in the inner rooms. 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:40.259 The classic mistake, one of the smells that gives off of a false prophet or a false Christ is, hey, deliverance has come right now. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:47.220 And what Jesus is going to call us to is a deliverance that is coming. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.779 A future hope. 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:56.519 When people suffer, they want to futurize their faith. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:06.119 They want to trust in something that's down the line that they can set their hearts on that they know will make things better for them. 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:10.839 The devil exploits it. 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.939 God uses it. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:21.059 God uses it to expose people's need for the one true hope. 00:24:22.179 --> 00:24:22.579 Jesus. 00:24:23.699 --> 00:24:25.019 The living hope. 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:27.219 He's alive. 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.819 And he will come back. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:38.759 So when we look at these birth pains, what we need to realize is that we're all going to go through them together. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:41.259 We're living in them now. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:48.839 And as Christians, we're going to experience a unique kind of birth pain because we're going to suffer for the name of Jesus. 00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:55.379 We learn something from the sacking of Jerusalem that Jesus is faithful to his words. 00:24:55.380 --> 00:25:06.420 And so when we ask ourselves and experience hardship and we start craving hope, we start telling each other, life is hard. 00:25:07.800 --> 00:25:08.820 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:13.200 So let's look at the coming of the Lord Jesus. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:21.580 In verses 29 through 35, we have that spelled out. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:27.940 I'm going to reach back into verse 27 because there's something in verse 27 and 28 that's significant. 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:38.180 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, as will be the coming of the Son of Man, wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.539 Very interesting proverb. 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:47.039 Immediately after the tribulation of those days, specifically the birth pains that we're all in right now. 00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:57.420 Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 00:25:58.039 --> 00:26:02.940 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man. 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:11.380 And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:21.380 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other from the fig tree. 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.600 Learn its lesson. 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:28.900 As soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:34.940 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near. 00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:50.080 At the very gates, truly I say to you, this generation, this generation of disciples he's speaking to will not pass away until all these things, all these things take place. 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:54.540 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 00:26:54.539 --> 00:27:24.519 Heaven and earth will pass away. 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:31.960 First in verses 27 and 28, Jesus is responding to these false teachers that talk about, hey, he's here right now. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:35.220 Jesus is saying, you know what, don't believe that. 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:41.700 But if you're wondering if you're going to miss the boat, if you're going to miss his coming, Jesus says, no. 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.859 His coming is panoramic. 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:56.500 He says this, for as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:59.119 His coming is going to be public. 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.379 Nobody's going to miss it. 00:28:01.979 --> 00:28:06.159 It's going to be announced in the sky like lightning that goes from the east to the west. 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:08.899 The whole world will know when he comes back. 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:13.080 It's a panoramic declaration of his return. 00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:18.440 And not only is it panoramic, it's powerful. 00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.519 Look at verse 29. 00:28:20.280 --> 00:28:26.519 The return of Jesus, his coming back, it's going to take place after the tribulation of those days, the days that we're now in. 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:28.540 And look it, the sun will be darkened. 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:29.780 The moon will not give its light. 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:32.660 The stars will fall from heaven, which means they're darkened. 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:35.000 And the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:39.339 What kind of stuff goes with that? 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.339 Do you know what kind of power it takes for that to happen? 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.099 Think about it this way. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:48.139 Think about a drama, a play. 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:50.839 And the lights drop. 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:55.359 And then there is the spotlight on the one. 00:28:56.259 --> 00:29:01.599 When Jesus comes, the lights of creation drop. 00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:05.019 And he is the one everyone will see. 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:08.699 He shakes the heavens. 00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:14.059 His return is cosmic. 00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:18.799 His return rattles everything. 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:21.099 It changes everything. 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:25.919 And it's announced with the darkening of creation. 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.980 It's a powerful return. 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:35.559 And not only is it a powerful return and a panoramic return, he's returning in person. 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.899 He's not Skyping in. 00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:41.379 He's not sending a representative. 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:48.440 Jesus himself is coming back in his glory. 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:57.520 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man. 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.460 What's that sign? 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:01.900 The actual appearing of the Son of Man. 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:06.640 With power and great glory. 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:10.120 All throughout the witness of the New Testament. 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:12.059 1 Thessalonians 4. 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:13.759 Titus chapter 2. 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.559 2 Peter 3. 00:30:15.959 --> 00:30:17.519 Revelation 19. 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:20.359 Declaration after declaration. 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:23.799 When he comes back, he's coming back in person. 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.839 Bodily. 00:30:25.219 --> 00:30:28.859 And when he comes back in person, you know what Revelation 19 pictures him as? 00:30:29.479 --> 00:30:31.239 He's coming back on a war horse. 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.759 And he's got four names. 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:34.199 Faithful and true. 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.539 The word of God. 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:37.439 A name that nobody else knows. 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.500 Because we can't get our minds around him fully. 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:43.140 And on his thigh is written, King of kings. 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.220 Lord of lords. 00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:49.539 And when he comes on his war house, wars, that's going to be right at eye level for you. 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:54.740 He's coming back in person. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.379 You'll see him. 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:58.079 You'll hear him. 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.680 You'll smell him. 00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.099 You'll feel him. 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.339 He's coming back. 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.879 The birth pains don't last forever. 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:10.579 They are leading up to his return. 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:13.420 And his coming back is prophetic. 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:17.560 Do you see how the son of man, that phrase is used three times? 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:21.340 We see it used in verse 27. 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:23.820 For the lightning comes from the east. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:27.460 As the lightning comes from the east, it shines as far as the west. 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:30.220 So it will be the coming of the son of man. 00:31:31.060 --> 00:31:31.460 30. 00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:34.560 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the son of man. 00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:39.460 And they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.820 Do you know what Jesus is talking about? 00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:44.559 Daniel chapter 7 verses 13 through 14. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:49.460 When the one like the son of man comes before the ancient of days. 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:57.639 And the ancient of days gives this son of man all dominion forever over all things. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:32:02.379 When he comes back, the kingdom is consummated. 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:06.839 He will reign on earth as he does in heaven. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:11.319 There will be, it will be a consistent, faithful, and full reign. 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:14.000 It will be absolutely glorious. 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:19.220 And what Jesus is saying here is, hey, I am the one of Daniel 7. 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:22.879 And when I come back, it all becomes full. 00:32:23.199 --> 00:32:24.819 It consummates everything. 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:27.599 And not just that. 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:31.779 Not only is it panoramic, powerful, and person, and prophetic. 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.200 It's provocative. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:40.480 When he comes back, it provokes a response. 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:43.899 Global response. 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:46.259 Look at verse 30. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:50.620 Then will appear in the heaven the sign of the son of man. 00:32:51.060 --> 00:32:54.140 And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:33:00.480 Do you remember back in Matthew chapter 24 verse 14? 00:33:00.820 --> 00:33:03.340 Remember what must happen in order for the end to come. 00:33:03.800 --> 00:33:07.500 The gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to the entire world. 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:10.259 And so you know what's going on right here? 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.879 Jesus comes back. 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:14.799 The world has been made known of him. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:18.119 And so when he comes back in his glory, 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:20.920 and those in the world see him, 00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:24.599 and they start to realize that they were wrong. 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:27.640 They will mourn. 00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:30.400 They will mourn. 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.480 They know what it means. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:42.000 But it's just not those who have not believed 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.660 and bowed the knee to Jesus who will mourn. 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:45.200 There's another group of people, 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.620 and it's not explicit here, 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.620 but I'm guessing I know what's going on. 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.200 If you look at verse 31, 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:54.759 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call. 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:57.140 Do you know on 10.30 a.m. on Saturday mornings, 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.140 do you know what happens around here? 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.440 The sirens go. 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.539 And it goes on. 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:05.160 I'm usually writing a sermon at the time. 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.540 And I'm like, okay, 10.30, all right. 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.120 Good to know. 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:11.360 The trumpet call of the return of Jesus 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:13.579 is going to be that on steroids. 00:34:14.180 --> 00:34:17.000 The whole earth will hear it. 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:19.720 And everyone will know 00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:22.480 something cataclysmic is happening. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:27.460 And then at the sound of the trumpet, 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:31.219 Jesus sends out his angels, 00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:33.539 and they gather his elect, 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:35.059 all of his true followers, 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:36.460 from the four winds. 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.800 It's a picture of the compass, 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:39.000 north, south, east, and west, 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:41.780 from all over, all over the world, 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:43.639 from one end of heaven to the other, 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:45.320 and they're all gathered to him. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.360 You know when he comes back, 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.440 if you're a follower of Jesus, 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.300 you know what you're going to be doing? 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:50.220 One, rejoicing. 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.740 You know what's going to be going on 00:34:52.740 --> 00:34:53.780 in the face of the planet 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.960 when Jesus comes back? 00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:58.260 There's going to be mourning, 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:00.340 and there's going to be rejoicing. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.300 It's going to be a mixed response, 00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:05.180 but it's provocative. 00:35:09.560 --> 00:35:11.460 In verse 32, we see that 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:13.960 Jesus says this, his coming, 00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:16.180 learn the lesson from the fig tree. 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:17.199 It's predictable. 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:21.139 As soon as its branch becomes tender 00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:22.339 and puts on its leaves, 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:24.000 you know that summer is near. 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:26.619 So also, when you see all these things, 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:28.079 you know that he is near, 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:29.359 at the very gates. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:31.639 One of the ways that we can start 00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:33.279 to figure out how close Jesus is 00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:33.879 is coming back, 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:35.099 we don't know specifically 00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:35.699 the day or hour. 00:35:35.799 --> 00:35:36.639 We'll learn that next week. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.980 But one of the things is, 00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.839 okay, where are we at 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:41.359 in terms of global evangelization? 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:44.399 There's this website 00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:45.799 called the Joshua Project, 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:48.019 and what they're tracking is 00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:50.400 the number of unreached people groups 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.060 on the planet, 00:35:51.180 --> 00:35:52.820 all seven and a half billion people. 00:35:53.700 --> 00:35:55.500 And right now, it's got us at, 00:35:55.700 --> 00:35:59.640 there's 42% left unreached. 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.240 We're over halfway there. 00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:03.560 If that's any indicator, 00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:05.180 we got work to do 00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:06.440 before Jesus comes back. 00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:11.480 We got to be on mission. 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:14.400 But it's predictable. 00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.719 We're in the birth pains. 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:18.320 The gospel's going forth. 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:21.139 We're living in the last days. 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:23.860 Welcome to the last days. 00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.740 We're in it together. 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.579 It's predictable. 00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:30.380 His coming is pending. 00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:34.860 When we read here that, 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:37.099 so also when you see 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.760 all these things, 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:39.240 you know that he is near 00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:40.200 at the very gates. 00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:43.240 He's one day closer. 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:46.059 The day of his return 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:47.240 is fixed by the Father, 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.000 and we're one day closer. 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:51.320 Tomorrow, if you wake up 00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:52.240 and he's not back, 00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:53.300 you're one day closer. 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.740 We're one day closer 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:57.240 to his return. 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.679 His panoramic, 00:36:58.819 --> 00:36:59.259 powerful, 00:36:59.419 --> 00:36:59.899 in-person, 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.459 prophetic, 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.119 provocative, 00:37:01.359 --> 00:37:02.259 predictable return. 00:37:05.759 --> 00:37:06.759 And I want you to see 00:37:06.759 --> 00:37:07.819 now that it's promised. 00:37:08.299 --> 00:37:09.039 Verse 35. 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.339 Heaven and earth 00:37:11.339 --> 00:37:12.079 will pass away, 00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.259 but my words 00:37:13.259 --> 00:37:14.059 will not pass away. 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:15.779 You can bank 00:37:15.779 --> 00:37:16.379 on what he's saying. 00:37:17.459 --> 00:37:18.219 He was true 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.859 about Jerusalem. 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.899 He was right about that. 00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:21.619 He's right about the fact 00:37:21.619 --> 00:37:22.459 that we are enduring 00:37:22.459 --> 00:37:24.119 all sorts of wars 00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:25.019 and rumors of wars. 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:26.199 He was right in the fact 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.799 that we're dealing 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.480 with all kinds of 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.620 natural disasters. 00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:30.060 He's right in the fact 00:37:30.060 --> 00:37:31.700 that many of his followers 00:37:31.700 --> 00:37:32.400 are suffering 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.260 for his name's sake. 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.300 He's been right. 00:37:35.780 --> 00:37:36.400 And so when he says, 00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.240 I'm coming back, 00:37:38.160 --> 00:37:39.400 you can bank on it. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:42.220 You can bank on it. 00:37:43.640 --> 00:37:44.960 And when he comes back, 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:46.420 he's going to make 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.200 all wrongs right. 00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:48.120 He's going to bring 00:37:48.120 --> 00:37:49.140 judgment with him. 00:37:49.720 --> 00:37:50.800 Matt Sear's going to preach 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:52.480 on the final judgment 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:53.280 in a few weeks. 00:37:54.240 --> 00:37:55.480 But he's also going to 00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.120 bring with him 00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.239 the renewing 00:37:57.239 --> 00:37:57.880 of the heavens 00:37:57.880 --> 00:37:58.460 and the earth. 00:37:58.739 --> 00:37:59.380 He's going to make 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.380 all things new 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:02.059 for us to dwell 00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:03.299 with him in his place. 00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.859 The first, 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.900 the front of the t-shirt, 00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:10.400 life is hard. 00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:11.299 We're in the birth pains, 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:11.539 right? 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:13.299 Back of the t-shirt, 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:14.179 you say it with me. 00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.920 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:18.579 Now let's spend 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:19.199 a couple minutes 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:19.679 on saying, 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.319 so what does this mean 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:21.859 for us today? 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:24.360 How do we respond? 00:38:26.680 --> 00:38:27.760 Four E's. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:30.920 Expect, 00:38:31.240 --> 00:38:31.640 engage, 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:32.220 endure, 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:32.760 encourage. 00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:38.000 I hope that you 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:38.820 are at a point 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:39.720 this morning 00:38:39.720 --> 00:38:40.760 where you're realizing 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:42.000 that the return 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.440 of Jesus 00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:43.360 is not something 00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:44.099 that you just 00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:45.000 agree with 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.760 doctrinally. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:48.000 I hope you've 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:48.740 come to the point 00:38:48.740 --> 00:38:49.660 where the doctrine 00:38:49.660 --> 00:38:50.180 of the return 00:38:50.180 --> 00:38:50.700 of Jesus 00:38:50.700 --> 00:38:52.460 changes the way 00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:52.860 you live. 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.480 The first E 00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.460 is expect 00:38:57.460 --> 00:38:58.160 his coming. 00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:00.740 Are you thinking 00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:01.900 about Jesus coming? 00:39:03.040 --> 00:39:03.720 Is his coming 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.440 on your mind? 00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.820 Are you afraid 00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:07.400 of his coming? 00:39:07.680 --> 00:39:08.320 Are you afraid 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:09.060 you're going to mourn 00:39:09.060 --> 00:39:09.760 when he arrives? 00:39:11.100 --> 00:39:11.760 You know what you 00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:12.340 just need to do? 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.520 You just need to bow 00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:14.420 to him today. 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:16.639 Just repent 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.320 of your sin, 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.159 turn to him, 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:18.900 confess him 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.659 as your Lord, 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:20.539 and you have 00:39:20.539 --> 00:39:21.280 nothing to fear 00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:21.800 on that day. 00:39:23.300 --> 00:39:24.059 If you think 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:24.440 you're going to be 00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:25.599 ashamed of his 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.599 coming because 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.739 you know right now 00:39:27.739 --> 00:39:28.699 that your life 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.460 is inconsistent 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:30.559 with your profession, 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:32.139 you just repent. 00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:33.059 You confess that 00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:33.500 to him. 00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:35.460 Let the return 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.000 of Christ 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.159 purify you. 00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:40.199 If you're 00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:40.759 disappointed 00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.300 at the thought 00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:41.880 of his coming, 00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:42.900 you just need 00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:44.059 to regather yourself. 00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:45.539 You need 00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:46.160 to reset 00:39:46.160 --> 00:39:46.860 your heart 00:39:46.860 --> 00:39:47.380 on things 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:48.039 that are passing 00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:48.420 away, 00:39:48.680 --> 00:39:49.320 on the thing 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:50.160 that's coming 00:39:50.160 --> 00:39:51.619 of eternal 00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.260 importance. 00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:55.400 Realize 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.420 his coming 00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:56.860 and what he 00:39:56.860 --> 00:39:57.619 brings with you, 00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:58.740 him is better 00:39:58.740 --> 00:39:59.460 than any 00:39:59.460 --> 00:40:00.320 vacation 00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:01.420 or retirement 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.139 or anything 00:40:02.139 --> 00:40:02.599 you've got 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:03.180 on your calendar 00:40:03.180 --> 00:40:03.740 right now. 00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:10.460 God wants us 00:40:10.460 --> 00:40:10.960 to be eager 00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:11.440 for Jesus' 00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:11.940 return. 00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:14.980 He knows 00:40:14.980 --> 00:40:15.740 life is hard. 00:40:17.260 --> 00:40:18.260 He wants us 00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:19.160 to live 00:40:19.160 --> 00:40:19.840 in the promise 00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:20.300 of Jesus' 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:20.940 words that 00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:21.380 he's coming. 00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:22.079 We live 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:23.519 eagerly expecting 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.240 Jesus coming 00:40:24.240 --> 00:40:24.619 back. 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:25.539 Our words 00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:26.019 are similar 00:40:26.019 --> 00:40:26.579 to the words 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.079 of Revelation 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:28.000 2220. 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.579 Come Lord 00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:29.880 Jesus. 00:40:31.340 --> 00:40:31.800 Come Lord 00:40:31.800 --> 00:40:32.099 Jesus. 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:34.500 Not only do we 00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.340 expect his coming, 00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.340 we engage 00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:37.380 in his ministry. 00:40:38.180 --> 00:40:38.720 When you start 00:40:38.720 --> 00:40:39.260 thinking about 00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:40.000 yourself and 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.500 thinking about 00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:41.660 the return of 00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:42.259 Jesus and 00:40:42.259 --> 00:40:42.539 you're like 00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:42.799 thinking, 00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:43.239 okay, 00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:45.799 I've got a 00:40:45.799 --> 00:40:46.539 growing excitement 00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:47.159 for him coming. 00:40:47.899 --> 00:40:48.339 Do you know 00:40:48.339 --> 00:40:48.739 what's going to 00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:49.019 happen? 00:40:50.319 --> 00:40:50.960 Here's what's 00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.420 going to happen. 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:52.739 When you start 00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:53.259 thinking about 00:40:53.259 --> 00:40:53.960 Jesus coming 00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:54.639 and how you're 00:40:54.639 --> 00:40:55.119 going to respond 00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:55.539 to him, 00:40:55.899 --> 00:40:56.599 it's within a 00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:57.179 couple minutes 00:40:57.179 --> 00:40:57.679 that you're 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:57.940 going to start 00:40:57.940 --> 00:40:58.599 saying something 00:40:58.599 --> 00:40:59.159 like this. 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:00.679 What about 00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:01.319 my dad? 00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:02.739 What about 00:41:02.739 --> 00:41:03.299 my boss? 00:41:04.299 --> 00:41:05.119 What about 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.899 my neighbor? 00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:07.619 what will 00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:08.119 happen to 00:41:08.119 --> 00:41:08.619 them when 00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.139 he comes? 00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:10.960 You see, 00:41:11.180 --> 00:41:11.820 the return 00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.559 of Jesus 00:41:12.559 --> 00:41:14.280 purifies 00:41:14.280 --> 00:41:15.300 our sense 00:41:15.300 --> 00:41:15.940 of mission. 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:17.880 It refocuses 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.300 us. 00:41:18.720 --> 00:41:19.840 It's smelling 00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:21.260 salts for 00:41:21.260 --> 00:41:22.099 God's people. 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:23.380 Here's how 00:41:23.380 --> 00:41:24.059 to think about 00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:24.800 our church. 00:41:25.700 --> 00:41:26.579 We are a 00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:28.240 mission outpost 00:41:28.240 --> 00:41:29.160 for the kingdom 00:41:29.160 --> 00:41:29.960 of God 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:30.860 in this city. 00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:33.260 Who else 00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:33.619 is going to 00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:34.340 tell this city 00:41:34.340 --> 00:41:34.800 that Jesus 00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:35.660 is coming back? 00:41:36.740 --> 00:41:37.460 Who else 00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:37.780 is going to 00:41:37.780 --> 00:41:38.519 tell this city 00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:40.059 that their 00:41:40.059 --> 00:41:41.099 present hopes 00:41:41.099 --> 00:41:42.119 are hopeless 00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:43.980 and that their 00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:44.700 only hope 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:45.420 is the living 00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:46.079 hope who's 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:46.700 promised to 00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:47.000 come? 00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:50.420 When we 00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:51.320 engage in 00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:51.920 his mission 00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:52.539 to go make 00:41:52.539 --> 00:41:53.220 disciples of 00:41:53.220 --> 00:41:53.760 the nations, 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:54.760 you know what? 00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:55.240 Some people 00:41:55.240 --> 00:41:55.579 are going to 00:41:55.579 --> 00:41:56.260 respond to 00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:56.519 that. 00:41:57.220 --> 00:41:57.500 They're going 00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:57.960 to respond 00:41:57.960 --> 00:41:58.500 in repentance 00:41:58.500 --> 00:41:58.900 and faith. 00:41:58.980 --> 00:41:59.220 We have 00:41:59.220 --> 00:41:59.760 people in 00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:00.240 our room 00:42:00.240 --> 00:42:00.680 right now 00:42:00.680 --> 00:42:00.980 that have 00:42:00.980 --> 00:42:02.119 responded in 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:02.460 the last 00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.039 year to 00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:03.440 that. 00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:06.280 But some 00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:06.680 won't. 00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:09.160 Some will 00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:09.780 hate you 00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:10.300 for it. 00:42:12.240 --> 00:42:12.880 And so 00:42:12.880 --> 00:42:13.400 when someone 00:42:13.400 --> 00:42:14.019 hates you 00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:14.500 for that, 00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:15.380 you know 00:42:15.380 --> 00:42:16.500 what zone 00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:16.880 you're in 00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:17.240 right now? 00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:18.480 You're in 00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:18.880 the suffer 00:42:18.880 --> 00:42:19.260 zone. 00:42:20.460 --> 00:42:21.059 And you 00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:21.320 need to 00:42:21.320 --> 00:42:21.660 endure. 00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.500 When we're 00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:24.980 in our life 00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.599 groups together 00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:26.099 or in 00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:26.559 informal 00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:27.280 conversations 00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:28.059 and then 00:42:28.059 --> 00:42:28.500 you start 00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:28.920 to hear 00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:29.440 somebody 00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:30.260 who's 00:42:30.260 --> 00:42:30.760 suffering 00:42:30.760 --> 00:42:31.100 the 00:42:31.100 --> 00:42:31.560 hardship 00:42:31.560 --> 00:42:31.980 of 00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:32.960 following 00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:33.660 Jesus, 00:42:35.100 --> 00:42:38.120 we tell 00:42:38.120 --> 00:42:38.540 them this, 00:42:38.680 --> 00:42:38.880 hey, 00:42:39.520 --> 00:42:40.180 you're right, 00:42:40.260 --> 00:42:40.660 life is 00:42:40.660 --> 00:42:40.940 hard. 00:42:41.140 --> 00:42:41.460 You're being 00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:41.940 faithful. 00:42:43.380 --> 00:42:43.820 He's coming 00:42:43.820 --> 00:42:44.240 back. 00:42:45.540 --> 00:42:46.000 Don't give 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:46.220 up. 00:42:47.300 --> 00:42:47.740 Don't give 00:42:47.740 --> 00:42:47.940 up. 00:42:48.640 --> 00:42:49.000 Press 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:49.380 through. 00:42:50.520 --> 00:42:50.800 It's 00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:51.120 true. 00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:53.380 Don't 00:42:53.380 --> 00:42:53.980 believe 00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:54.500 lies. 00:42:55.880 --> 00:42:56.180 A day 00:42:56.180 --> 00:42:56.720 is set. 00:42:57.460 --> 00:42:57.740 Live for 00:42:57.740 --> 00:42:58.240 what matters 00:42:58.240 --> 00:42:58.700 most. 00:42:58.699 --> 00:43:00.759 that will 00:43:00.759 --> 00:43:01.059 get them 00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:01.339 through. 00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:02.480 That will 00:43:02.480 --> 00:43:02.839 help. 00:43:05.879 --> 00:43:06.359 Expect, 00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:07.039 engage, 00:43:07.299 --> 00:43:07.699 endure 00:43:07.699 --> 00:43:08.319 hardship. 00:43:09.779 --> 00:43:10.399 When you 00:43:10.399 --> 00:43:10.779 live on 00:43:10.779 --> 00:43:11.139 mission, 00:43:11.779 --> 00:43:12.079 you'll 00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:12.599 suffer for 00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:12.779 it. 00:43:15.119 --> 00:43:15.599 Finally, 00:43:15.759 --> 00:43:16.299 encourage one 00:43:16.299 --> 00:43:16.579 another. 00:43:18.339 --> 00:43:19.319 In 1 Thessalonians 00:43:19.319 --> 00:43:19.960 4, at the 00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:20.379 end of this 00:43:20.379 --> 00:43:20.779 passage, 00:43:20.919 --> 00:43:21.960 Paul's been 00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:22.439 talking about 00:43:22.439 --> 00:43:22.839 the return 00:43:22.839 --> 00:43:23.279 of Jesus. 00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:24.079 And after 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:24.699 he explains 00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:25.039 to them 00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:25.439 what to 00:43:25.439 --> 00:43:25.899 expect, 00:43:25.980 --> 00:43:26.099 do you 00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:26.279 know what 00:43:26.279 --> 00:43:26.579 he tells 00:43:26.579 --> 00:43:27.179 this church? 00:43:27.179 --> 00:43:29.039 encourage one 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:29.559 another with 00:43:29.559 --> 00:43:30.159 these words. 00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:32.299 Encourage one 00:43:32.299 --> 00:43:32.739 another that 00:43:32.739 --> 00:43:33.199 Jesus is 00:43:33.199 --> 00:43:33.839 coming back. 00:43:34.759 --> 00:43:35.619 When we 00:43:35.619 --> 00:43:36.259 live for 00:43:36.259 --> 00:43:36.980 him on 00:43:36.980 --> 00:43:37.639 mission, 00:43:37.859 --> 00:43:38.539 we'll have 00:43:38.539 --> 00:43:39.379 to endure. 00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:40.659 And we 00:43:40.659 --> 00:43:42.199 encourage one 00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:43.399 another by 00:43:43.399 --> 00:43:44.119 putting the 00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:44.919 truth of 00:43:44.919 --> 00:43:45.539 Christ's 00:43:45.539 --> 00:43:46.539 return into 00:43:46.539 --> 00:43:47.179 each other's 00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.599 hearts. 00:43:48.759 --> 00:43:49.579 He's coming 00:43:49.579 --> 00:43:50.019 back. 00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:51.239 He's one 00:43:51.239 --> 00:43:51.919 day closer. 00:43:52.339 --> 00:43:52.779 It's going 00:43:52.779 --> 00:43:53.259 to happen. 00:43:53.259 --> 00:43:53.299 It's going 00:43:53.299 --> 00:43:53.319 to happen. 00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:58.480 Let me 00:43:58.480 --> 00:43:58.920 just close 00:43:58.920 --> 00:43:59.460 by saying 00:43:59.460 --> 00:43:59.820 this. 00:44:02.400 --> 00:44:03.360 Life is 00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:03.640 hard. 00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:05.519 Jesus said 00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:05.980 as much. 00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:09.940 Jesus is 00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:10.660 coming back. 00:44:11.220 --> 00:44:11.640 He's one 00:44:11.640 --> 00:44:12.240 day closer. 00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:13.920 So we 00:44:13.920 --> 00:44:14.160 say, 00:44:14.400 --> 00:44:14.720 come Lord 00:44:14.720 --> 00:44:15.019 Jesus. 00:44:17.160 --> 00:44:17.960 And as 00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.460 we live 00:44:18.460 --> 00:44:18.800 in light 00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.080 of his 00:44:19.080 --> 00:44:19.420 coming, 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:21.600 we call 00:44:21.600 --> 00:44:22.140 other people 00:44:22.140 --> 00:44:22.620 to him. 00:44:23.320 --> 00:44:24.660 to find 00:44:24.660 --> 00:44:25.000 hope. 00:44:26.059 --> 00:44:26.480 Let's 00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:26.760 pray. 00:44:29.100 --> 00:44:29.780 God in 00:44:29.780 --> 00:44:30.000 heaven, 00:44:30.160 --> 00:44:32.180 we recognize 00:44:32.180 --> 00:44:34.340 that your 00:44:34.340 --> 00:44:34.820 word is 00:44:34.820 --> 00:44:35.860 all authoritative. 00:44:36.019 --> 00:44:36.300 Jesus, 00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:37.260 your words 00:44:37.260 --> 00:44:38.000 are words 00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:38.519 we live 00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:38.820 by. 00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:40.240 And I 00:44:40.240 --> 00:44:40.720 pray for 00:44:40.720 --> 00:44:41.059 us, 00:44:41.160 --> 00:44:41.600 Christ the 00:44:41.600 --> 00:44:41.760 King 00:44:41.760 --> 00:44:42.200 Church, 00:44:42.240 --> 00:44:42.780 that you 00:44:42.780 --> 00:44:43.440 would help 00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:43.920 us to 00:44:43.920 --> 00:44:44.420 live in 00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:44.860 light of 00:44:44.860 --> 00:44:44.980 your 00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.380 coming. 00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:47.460 That we 00:44:47.460 --> 00:44:47.880 would long 00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:48.380 for it. 00:44:49.500 --> 00:44:50.340 And that we 00:44:50.340 --> 00:44:50.920 would suffer 00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.480 for it. 00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:53.139 and would 00:44:53.139 --> 00:44:53.599 we do 00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:54.460 that together 00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:56.119 in the 00:44:56.119 --> 00:44:56.840 full joy 00:44:56.840 --> 00:44:57.400 of knowing 00:44:57.400 --> 00:44:58.579 that you 00:44:58.579 --> 00:44:58.880 will be 00:44:58.880 --> 00:44:59.320 exalted. 00:45:00.760 --> 00:45:01.420 And on 00:45:01.420 --> 00:45:02.139 that day, 00:45:03.059 --> 00:45:03.599 it's a day 00:45:03.599 --> 00:45:04.039 of great 00:45:04.039 --> 00:45:04.639 rejoicing. 00:45:05.740 --> 00:45:06.579 Pray this in 00:45:06.579 --> 00:45:07.199 Jesus' name. 00:45:08.119 --> 00:45:08.380 Amen. 00:45:08.380 --> 00:45:08.519 Amen. 00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:09.380 Amen. 00:45:09.800 --> 00:45:10.139 Amen. 00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:10.900 Amen. 00:45:11.400 --> 00:45:11.800 Amen. 00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:12.099 Amen. 00:45:12.119 --> 00:45:13.099 Amen. 00:45:25.340 --> 00:45:25.619 Amen. 00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:26.320 Amen. 00:45:26.320 --> 00:45:28.280 Amen. 00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:29.460 Amen. 00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:30.320 Amen. 00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:30.480 Amen. 00:45:30.500 --> 00:45:31.039 Amen. 00:45:31.759 --> 00:45:31.880 Amen. 00:45:31.880 --> 00:45:32.059 Amen. 00:45:32.099 --> 00:45:32.539 Amen. 00:45:32.960 --> 00:45:33.559 Amen. 00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:33.900 Amen. 00:45:34.099 --> 00:45:34.380 Amen. 00:45:34.380 --> 00:45:35.320 Amen. 00:45:35.659 --> 00:45:36.920 Amen. 00:45:37.519 --> 00:45:37.980 Amen. 00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:38.440 Amen.