WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.080 Good morning, especially if you're visiting or new here for the first time, good morning. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:08.740 I'm Tommy. 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:10.279 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:12.560 This is an exciting morning. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:17.640 It's a beautiful morning, but I'm particularly excited because we are coming to the end of 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:23.400 a series that we started all the way back just after Easter, looking at this very mysterious, 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:29.980 fascinating, beautiful, at times frustrating book, the last book of the Bible called Revelation. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.899 Revelation, or the Revelation of St. John, or the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:39.600 And we are in the final chapter of the book of Revelation. 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:41.340 So this is it, the last chapter. 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:43.200 And I'm very excited. 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:44.659 It's been an amazing journey. 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:51.140 As we have said time and time again, this is a book that most people are familiar with, 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:54.920 and yet very few people really understand. 00:00:54.920 --> 00:01:01.140 It's gotten a lot of attention in pop culture from the inspiration of the Left Behind series 00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:09.099 to speculations about the precise timing and dating of the end time to speculations over 00:01:09.099 --> 00:01:11.159 who the Antichrist might be. 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:14.439 All of these things have captured popular imagination. 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:16.939 So what's this book actually about? 00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:18.680 That's what we've been looking at. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:23.000 John is writing to Christians in the first century. 00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:28.660 And the people that John wrote this book to have faced suffering. 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:31.320 They have faced horrendous persecution. 00:01:32.380 --> 00:01:36.040 They are people who feel hopeless and powerless. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:42.600 And at the time that John is writing this, he is in exile on the prison island of Patmos. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.000 And so that's the context. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:52.680 And this book seems outlandish to us because it has all kinds of crazy images of the heavens opening up 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:58.120 and dragons and beasts coming up out of the sea and stars falling out of the sky. 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:02.379 So when we read it from our vantage point, it seems like wild stuff. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:09.199 And yet what we have hopefully realized is that if we were first century Christians 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:16.119 and we were immersed in the Jewish Scriptures as they undoubtedly would have been, 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:24.099 we would immediately recognize that Revelation makes reference to virtually every book in the Old Testament. 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:31.839 Almost the entire Old Testament canon shows up in the book of Revelation. 00:02:32.739 --> 00:02:34.239 And here's what's so amazing. 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:37.199 John is not simply quoting the Old Testament. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:43.359 He is reinterpreting all of Scripture through the lens of Jesus Christ. 00:02:44.079 --> 00:02:51.599 One of the things that Revelation shows us is that the life of Jesus is the exegesis of the Old Testament. 00:02:52.819 --> 00:03:00.319 So everything that happens, the entire story of the Old Testament is told through the lens of Jesus Christ. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:05.579 And so Revelation, because John is first and foremost a pastor and a poet, 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:11.560 his approach is to aim at our hearts and our imaginations. 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:19.519 And so every chapter brings wave after wave of Christ-saturated imagery 00:03:19.519 --> 00:03:22.219 crashing on the shores of our imagination. 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:33.919 John is retelling the story of God's people again and again and again with each successive wave, 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:37.479 a new retelling of our story, 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:43.599 because he's laying out a vision of what was and what is and what is to come. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:49.239 And the purpose of this entire book is to show us the way things really are, 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:56.699 to pull back the veil and allow us to see reality for what it is. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:01.359 He uses the extraordinary to reveal the ordinary 00:04:01.359 --> 00:04:05.500 and enable us to see it as it's meant to be seen. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:11.120 So this book is meant to teach us how to see, you know, to truly see ourselves, one another, 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:14.960 the world, and especially God, as revealed in Jesus Christ. 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:18.720 And so what we're going to do now is we're going to look at chapter 22, 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:23.839 but seeing as how we've just spent months looking at all of the preceding chapters, 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.079 we're going to pull some of that in as well. 00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:31.139 So what I want to do is to briefly draw out seven, which is very appropriate for Revelation, 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:36.360 seven major themes that we have seen over the course of this study. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.399 And then once we've done that very briefly, we're going to ask the most important question. 00:04:41.599 --> 00:04:44.740 Anytime we're looking at Scripture, the most important question, so what? 00:04:46.019 --> 00:04:47.439 What difference does this make? 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:50.199 What do we do with this information that we've been given? 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:52.800 So let's pray, and then we'll dive into God's Word. 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:59.659 Lord, we thank you for your Word, and we thank you for the times when it is clear and straightforward. 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:06.900 But we also thank you for the times when it seems obscure or hard to understand or unclear, 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:12.420 because we know those times remind us that our only hope, 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:18.960 our only hope of really seeing what you want us to see and hearing what you want us to hear 00:05:18.960 --> 00:05:22.440 is if your Holy Spirit makes that possible. 00:05:23.320 --> 00:05:24.760 So Lord, we hold out our hands. 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:27.139 We depend on you. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:32.399 We cry out to you to be the God who fulfills your promise to speak and to be in our midst 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:35.659 and to bring us face to face with the living Word, Jesus Christ. 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:38.120 And it's in his name that we pray. 00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:39.219 Amen. 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:44.300 So seven themes that we have seen over the course of this study. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:47.699 So if this is your first time with us, you'll get a little bit of a review. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:51.659 And if you want to go back and listen to the sermons, you can do that on our website. 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:58.700 But for now, the first theme that I want to talk about briefly is the theme of the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:03.600 In the opening chapter, we see Jesus as he truly is. 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:06.360 We see the risen Christ. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:13.680 And what's so striking about this is he's no longer the meek, soft-spoken Galilean 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.879 that we have so many paintings of in church basements. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:20.260 He's a towering and fearsome king. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:26.980 In Revelation, he is a towering and fearsome king, awesome to behold, 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.259 the Lion of Judah who refuses to be domesticated. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:35.819 And right off the bat, John sets the tone, this is a very different Jesus, 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:40.000 not in his heart or in his character, but in his role. 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.860 He is no longer the suffering servant. 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:43.319 He's taken the throne. 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:50.540 And because of that, the message to us is this, that no matter what your life may look like, 00:06:50.599 --> 00:06:56.420 no matter how out of control or random it may seem, Jesus is always in control. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:59.420 He's always in control because he sits on the throne. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.759 So it reveals Jesus as he truly is. 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:07.480 The next thing we see in Revelation is that it inspires... 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:12.959 There's craziness happening up here. 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:15.339 It inspires our worship. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.039 Revelation inspires our worship. 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:22.740 There's this amazing place in chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation where John is disoriented. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.540 He's suffering. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:25.420 He's in exile. 00:07:25.840 --> 00:07:30.579 And God reorients him, not by giving him lots of explanations and answers and spreadsheets, 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.840 but by inviting him to a heavenly worship service, 00:07:34.280 --> 00:07:38.560 showing us that the purpose of worship, one of the main reasons we gather here, 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:44.199 is to be reoriented around what truly matters, the throne of God. 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:49.620 And it shows us that every time Christians gather, whether it's thousands in a megachurch 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:52.339 or just a few men and women around a kitchen table, 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:59.480 we are joining in to eternal heavenly worship where all things are centered around the throne of God. 00:08:00.219 --> 00:08:01.560 So it inspires our worship. 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:02.699 That's what's happening right now. 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:07.639 We're joining in to something that's always happening in the heavenly sanctuary. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:15.579 The next thing we see in Revelation is Revelation shows us how Jesus sees the church. 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:17.180 Right? 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:22.039 Chapters 2 and 3, we see these letters that Jesus writes to his church. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:27.019 And it's amazing to see Jesus' perspective on us. 00:08:27.599 --> 00:08:29.419 And here's what matters about that. 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:41.159 Jesus knows better than we do how broken, how imperfect the church is. 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:47.480 He knows better than we do how flawed the church is. 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:49.240 Right? 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:56.180 And no matter how much you think you might have been hurt by the church, 00:08:56.179 --> 00:09:02.379 and I say that with an enormous amount of respect because I know a fair number of you have been hurt by the church. 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:05.519 And that's real pain. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:09.219 And there are a lot of people out there who would never darken the door of our church 00:09:09.219 --> 00:09:13.279 because they've been hurt by some other church somewhere, the church. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:19.039 No matter how bad we may have been hurt by the church, Jesus has been hurt worse. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:25.959 And yet what we see in Revelation is that Jesus loves his church as his bride. 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:29.759 He is eternally committed to his church. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.919 He gives his life for his church. 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:43.980 And he will not stop until his church is fully restored, perfected, beautified, and made whole. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:50.840 And I look at this who had my own struggles with the church, believe it or not. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:55.440 And I say, well, if it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me. 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:59.220 So it shows us how Jesus views the church. 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:08.120 Revelation also exposes the true nature of evil, which is very important in this day and time. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:14.299 It shows us images of the dragon or the beasts. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:18.679 And it reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:23.820 So the true battle that needs to be fought is not ideological. 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.360 It's not sociological. 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:28.340 It's not political. 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:34.120 Even though those feel like the ultimate battles, the true battle is none of those things. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:41.419 The true battle being fought is a spiritual battle against spiritual evil, spiritual enemies. 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:48.279 And that kind of battle has to be fought with spiritual weapons like prayer and the Word of God. 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:54.320 We could spend a lot of time on that, but something just to think about. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:11:01.000 We need to fight fewer battles online and more battles on our knees. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:04.379 If we really understand the nature of evil. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:13.980 The fifth thing that we see in Revelation is Revelation announces the good news of God's judgment. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.340 Which I know is a funny way to phrase it. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:22.039 But when you read Revelation, you see why God's coming judgment is actually such good news for the world. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:30.779 God's coming judgment confirms that sneaking suspicion we all have that our actions actually matter. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:36.259 That there is such a thing out there as right and wrong. 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:46.080 But beyond that, the coming judgment of God means that God loves the world so much that He can't turn a blind eye to evil. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:50.120 He can't look, for instance, at the genocide in Rwanda. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.639 A country tearing itself apart. 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:55.159 And just shrug it off. 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:55.240 God's love. 00:11:56.839 --> 00:12:01.159 God's love compels Him to bring justice. 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:06.059 God's love compels Him to respond. 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.519 And Revelation promises us that one day justice is going to be done. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:13.199 One day victims are going to be vindicated. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.860 One day creation will be renewed. 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.939 So it's good news. 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:29.340 The sixth theme we see in Revelation is that it emboldens the church's witness. 00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:33.040 It emboldens our witness in the world. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.680 One of the strongest themes in Revelation is the role of the church. 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:40.940 And again and again and again, we are referred to as martyrs. 00:12:42.020 --> 00:12:46.020 And the word martyr originally simply meant to bear witness. 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:54.279 But because so many Christians were killed for bearing witness, we've come to associate that word with dying. 00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:58.720 And Revelation pulls all of those themes together. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:06.360 You're called to bear witness and very possibly that will cost you your reputation, your job, or your life. 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:11.279 It will bring lots of discomfort into your daily experience. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:21.159 But what we recognize is that if Christ is coming to judge and renew the world, we should stop at nothing to make the gospel known to everyone, everywhere. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:25.620 We talked about the various views of eschatology. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.500 And we don't have time to get into that now. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:31.019 But the various Christian views on the end times. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.459 And one of the things we said at the end was, regardless of your view, one thing is clear. 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:38.860 We need to be proclaiming the gospel to anyone who will listen. 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:42.360 The good news that Jesus has come and what he has done for us. 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:44.180 Right? 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:54.460 And then the seventh theme that we see is that Revelation promises the victory of Christ over suffering and evil and death. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:59.460 We started this church in the neighborhood Columbia Heights. 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:04.460 God willing, if we're able to buy a building, we may end up there again. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:07.160 But we started this church there. 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:10.259 And I don't know if you read a few days ago, there was a shooting in Columbia Heights. 00:14:11.420 --> 00:14:12.460 Several people were injured. 00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:14.440 One person was killed. 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:17.080 We should grieve that. 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:25.139 We should stand in solidarity with the people who are suffering as a result of the violence in our city. 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:40.519 And yet we do that with hope because we know if Revelation is true, one day Jesus himself will wipe away the tears shed over that violence. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:45.039 And one day violence like that will be no more. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:54.059 Zechariah's description of the New Jerusalem is of a city where the streets are filled with the sounds of children playing. 00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:56.939 It's safe. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.839 It is secure. 00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:58.919 It is peaceful. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.279 It's a great place to live. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.699 It's a great place to grow up. 00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:04.699 Right? 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.079 So these are themes we could talk about so much more. 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:12.980 But these are, I think, some of the major themes that we focused on over the course of our time together. 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:19.600 So Revelation 22 brings all of this together and it asks the $64,000 question. 00:15:20.900 --> 00:15:28.180 John is saying, now that you've seen behind the curtain, now that you've seen things as they really are, what are you going to do with that knowledge? 00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:30.120 What are you going to do with it? 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:40.500 In John's mind, the worst thing we could do, the worst thing we do would be to tamper with this. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.539 He makes it very clear. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.940 Don't add anything to it. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.980 Don't take away anything from it. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:50.440 Verses 18 and 19, don't touch it. 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:58.620 And, of course, you know, this helps us understand that even though there was a lot more context and things may have made more sense in certain ways, 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:04.440 it was no easier for God's people to read God's Word in the first century than it is in our century. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:09.179 In other words, there are always things that are going to be comforting and inspiring and uplifting and encouraging 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:14.759 and things that are going to be downright challenging and offensive and frustrating and troubling. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:22.779 And there's always a temptation to add or subtract, to say, if I could just clarify this part, 00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:27.779 or if I could just cut this part out, then I could believe it. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:31.519 If I could just skip over this place, then I could believe it. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.060 John's saying, no, no, no, don't touch it. 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.580 Why? 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:46.740 Well, if you believe in an eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent creator being who brought all of this into existence, 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:51.860 and that being so happens to agree with you on every issue, 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:56.440 that being is probably a figment of your imagination. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:01.419 If you're dealing with a real God who really made all of this, 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:06.880 chances are that God is going to have certain positions that you find challenging. 00:17:07.860 --> 00:17:13.180 But John says, are you interested in knowing the God that you made up, that you created in your image, 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:17.840 or do you want to have a chance at knowing the God who made you in his image? 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.640 Don't touch it. 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.519 The worst thing we could do would be to tamper. 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:26.799 The second worst thing we could do, this is what we'll spend the remainder of our time on, 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:30.980 would be to read this and then to say, well, you know, that was very interesting. 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.480 What's next? 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:39.620 Interesting study, interesting book, interesting points, things to think about. 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.479 What's next? 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:47.519 John wants us to see, and he wants us to see things as they really are. 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:53.079 And he writes chapter 22 with this sense of urgency, right? 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.699 This book was written for a purpose. 00:17:56.019 --> 00:18:01.359 John is hoping for and actually calling out of us a response. 00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.699 What are you going to do with this? 00:18:03.199 --> 00:18:05.899 You know, some things, once you see them, you can't unsee them. 00:18:06.959 --> 00:18:08.479 Some things demand a response. 00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:12.099 And C.S. Lewis famously said, 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:15.419 I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen. 00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:20.599 Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:23.319 And John wants us to take that approach with Revelation. 00:18:23.719 --> 00:18:26.159 By it I now see everything else. 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:30.519 And that's why the divine messenger in chapter 22 comes to John, 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:33.659 and he says, these words are trustworthy and true. 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.119 And then he says, 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:39.219 Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:44.000 And by keep, what this messenger means is, 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:51.659 allow this book to help frame and make sense of our lives, past, present, and future. 00:18:52.219 --> 00:18:56.500 In other words, map our lives onto these themes. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:59.420 Because this is what human beings do. 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:04.420 We live life, and we have brains that are hardwired to make meaning out of our experiences. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:08.019 And John says, when you go to make meaning out of your experiences, 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:10.200 this is where you should go. 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:14.619 So what does that look like in our past, present, and future? 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.900 With the time we have left, we'll look briefly at each of those. 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:19.920 So I'll ask you this question first. 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:24.860 When you look back in your life, what do you see? 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:31.480 In other words, is your life just random and meaningless? 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:36.220 Is it just disconnected events with moments of serendipity here and there? 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:39.540 Or can you see a thread? 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:42.460 Can you see divine fingerprints? 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:48.220 Can you recognize the sovereign presence of God in your story? 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:53.220 Because this shows us that no matter how it might seem, 00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:55.200 Jesus is always in control. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.460 You know, 20 years ago, Laura and I had a plan. 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:01.920 I had, I, we recruited some friends, 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:05.100 and I wanted to go across country in the car. 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.660 I wanted to move out to Seattle. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.240 I had a job lined up. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.460 We had some friends going out. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:11.980 We were going to have a couple of houses of people we knew. 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:14.500 And I wanted to build a life there. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.860 I was Seattle bound. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.980 I was hoping to get into university out there 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:21.460 and get a PhD in psychology. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.539 And this was my post-grad plan. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:26.740 And we're driving, and we made it as far as Iowa, 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:29.160 and we had a horrendous accident. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:33.480 And we lost control of our suburban, 00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:35.160 which was loaded with everything we owned. 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:38.839 And we rolled three times into a cornfield. 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.680 All the glass was shattered. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:43.519 All of our stuff shot out of the car like popcorn. 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:46.460 It just went all over the highway, all over everything. 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:50.120 So all of our clothes, you know, electronics, all of that, 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:52.539 getting smashed by cars on the highway 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.880 as everybody's coming to a halt. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.400 You know, highway patrol came. 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.940 People assumed we were dead. 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:00.759 We miraculously survived, Laura and I, 00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:03.299 and then my friend who was asleep in the back seat. 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:07.059 I've never really felt like I could ever make that up to him. 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:12.519 I'm so sorry you woke up as the car was rolling into a cornfield. 00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.839 That's not a good way to wake up. 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.919 I don't think you can fall asleep in cars anymore. 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:18.539 And I felt horrible about that. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.659 But we had this horrible accident. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.940 The car was totaled. 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:26.159 We lost all of our, most everything we owned was destroyed, 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:28.099 covered in mud, torn apart. 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:33.019 It took what remaining money we had to get back to North Carolina. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:36.279 Suffice to say, I never made it out to Seattle. 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.939 And I was deeply depressed that summer 00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:40.679 because life felt meaningless. 00:21:41.219 --> 00:21:43.019 And worse, it felt like I had meaning, 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.759 but life had then been derailed. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.879 I don't know if you feel like that, 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.199 that you're going along, 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:50.179 and at some point you feel like you're kind of on track, 00:21:50.459 --> 00:21:52.279 and then at some point you look back and you say, 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.899 I think I got derailed somewhere. 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:56.599 And you sort of feel like your life does not look like 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.759 what you thought it would look like, 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.339 like maybe God was doing this, 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.220 but you weren't listening, 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:02.180 or maybe there is no God, 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.700 maybe God doesn't care about you, 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.940 and you're just sort of like wandering in the wilderness. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.799 That's how I felt. 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:10.379 And I had no idea what I was going to do, 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:12.480 and I was deeply, deeply, deeply depressed. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.640 I think I even was on antidepressants. 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.700 Just I couldn't, I could hardly get out of bed. 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:20.420 But because I was in North Carolina, 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.940 instead of Washington State, 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:27.240 my pastor convinced me, 00:22:27.360 --> 00:22:28.519 against my better judgment, 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.180 to go to, 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:32.840 to take part in a ministry internship 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:35.519 that was being started at our church. 00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:35.860 And I said, 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:37.080 well, I don't want to go into ministry. 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.160 Why would I do this? 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:38.559 And he said, 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.580 what else are you doing? 00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:42.420 I mean, that's pretty good. 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:42.820 I was like, 00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:43.539 okay, 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.519 you got me. 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:47.380 So I started doing this ministry internship. 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:50.520 They had me serving 00:22:50.520 --> 00:22:52.140 and trying to teach 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:55.100 and love middle school kids in our church. 00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:57.120 And I had been a Christian about a year. 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:00.220 So I had no idea what I was doing. 00:23:01.040 --> 00:23:03.020 But because of this ministry internship, 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:05.560 that actually led me to decide to go to seminary 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.980 because I loved it so much 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:08.800 that I thought I'd go to seminary. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.000 And so a few years later, 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:11.120 I go to seminary, 00:23:11.280 --> 00:23:13.540 which never otherwise would have happened. 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:15.580 And because I went to seminary, 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:17.339 I discovered the Anglican tradition 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.679 and fell in love with it. 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.199 And the Anglican tradition 00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:22.259 led me to come to Washington, D.C. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:24.539 And that's what led me to begin meeting 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:27.000 with a group of a couple of dozen men and women 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.720 in a little house in Columbia Heights 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.859 on Friday nights. 00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:32.919 And those meetings then gave rise 00:23:32.919 --> 00:23:35.759 to the church that became Church of the Advent. 00:23:36.179 --> 00:23:37.859 And if you think of Church of the Advent, 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.119 if you think of all the people 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.299 who have come to faith here, 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.199 all of the people 00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:42.899 who have been strengthened in their faith here, 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:45.640 all of the friendships that have been formed here, 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:48.340 all of the married couples who met here, 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.360 all of the children who were born 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:52.740 as a result of those marriages in this church, 00:23:52.800 --> 00:23:53.900 if you think about all that, 00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:57.160 praise God for that wreck. 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:59.460 And praise God, 00:23:59.580 --> 00:24:00.860 praise God, 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:04.100 praise God that I am not in control. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:07.900 And praise God that things sometimes 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:10.820 have to get utterly derailed 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:13.220 because what's happening is 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.800 is that I'm on the wrong rail. 00:24:16.300 --> 00:24:17.180 And God says, 00:24:17.280 --> 00:24:18.340 no, no, no, I want you over here. 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:21.040 And praise the Lord 00:24:21.040 --> 00:24:25.360 that we get to be together as a family this morning 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:29.840 as a result of the fact that Jesus is in control. 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.660 Right, so when you look back, 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.900 is it just random and meaningless 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:37.340 or do you see some thread that maybe God is there 00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:39.360 and maybe Jesus is in control 00:24:39.360 --> 00:24:41.300 and maybe good things and bad things 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.440 and random things are happening 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:44.280 and yet somehow it makes sense 00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:45.360 in the divine mind of God? 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.140 Is that possible? 00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:49.560 Look at the present in your life, 00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.640 this moment right here. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.140 Right, when we all think about things 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.980 that we most care about in this church, 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.400 right, when we think about racial tension, 00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.880 we look around this church 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:02.019 and we realize how racially divided 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:03.319 the church still is, 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.879 especially in Washington, D.C. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.779 And we grieve that. 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:11.960 Right, when we look at the political division, 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.539 when we look at school shootings, 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.400 you know, is this all just human evil 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:20.900 or is this, as revelation reveals to us, 00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:25.279 symptomatic of deeper underlying spiritual forces? 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.720 You know, when we look at our own hearts, 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:32.200 when you look at your own insecurities 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:34.299 or struggles that you're sitting with right now, 00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:35.839 the things that are needling away at you, 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.759 the things that when you lay down at night 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.100 and it's dark and you can't sleep, 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:43.220 the things that come into your mind, 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.980 what is that? 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.400 What are you thinking or feeling 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:48.620 in the early hours of the morning? 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.860 What haunts you? 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:55.500 Whatever that is, 00:25:55.939 --> 00:25:57.179 how do we make sense of it? 00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:02.059 Is it just that we need to read some self-help? 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:04.899 Is it just that we need to dig deeper 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:06.059 into our Enneagram type? 00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:09.519 Is it just that we need a little counseling? 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.939 Now, all of those things are good, 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.199 minus the self-help. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.559 Counseling is great. 00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:15.639 You know I love the Enneagram. 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:15.800 Enneagram. 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.720 But is there more to it? 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:25.100 Is there something real and malignant 00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:27.700 at work in our lives? 00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:31.820 When I look at the things that I value most, 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.280 the things that cause me to say 00:26:33.280 --> 00:26:35.560 and do things that aren't me, 00:26:37.300 --> 00:26:37.620 right? 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.680 You know, 00:26:40.800 --> 00:26:43.759 is it possible that we allow good things 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.180 to become ultimate things in our lives? 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.500 Is it possible 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:48.380 that maybe what the Bible says 00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:49.660 about idolatry is true 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:51.660 and that we can take things like success 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:53.140 or comfort or approval 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:54.480 or our own kids 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:56.600 or our ideals about marriage 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.780 and enthrone them, 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:59.400 allow them to become idols that we worship? 00:26:59.780 --> 00:27:00.080 We say, 00:27:00.280 --> 00:27:01.060 unless I have that, 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:02.259 my life is not worth living. 00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:04.540 Twice in Revelation, 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.000 including here in chapter 22, 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.580 John sees an angel 00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:09.040 and then what does John do? 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.820 He sees the messenger of God 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:12.120 and then he falls on his face 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:14.460 to worship the angel as God. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.840 And it's amazing, 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:17.079 as soon as John does it, 00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.180 the angel rebukes him. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.799 The angel says, 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.039 you must not do that. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.680 I'm a fellow servant 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:24.299 with you and your brothers, 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:24.900 the prophets, 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.900 and with those who keep the words 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.539 of this book. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.259 And then he says, 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.240 worship God, 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.079 not me. 00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.259 Get up off your feet. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.700 This is a great picture 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.660 of the human condition. 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:40.340 This is a room full of smart, 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:41.860 well-educated, 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:43.620 sophisticated people. 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:47.320 We have minds that are full of knowledge 00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:49.800 and we're highly educated 00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:52.779 and we have gullible hearts. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.820 Wise, well-educated, 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.100 even cynical minds, 00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.320 gullible hearts. 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:01.939 I'll go after anything 00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:04.960 if it even half promises me 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:06.139 a good life. 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:09.359 Right, so this is what Revelation 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:10.559 shows us about the present. 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.279 Now, lastly, 00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.599 just let's take a couple of minutes 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.359 and look at the future. 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.720 How do we see our future? 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:20.740 What matters as we look into the future? 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.279 What are the things 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.339 that we're focused on? 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:25.099 One of the things 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:25.899 that happened to me 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:27.159 soon after I moved to D.C. 00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:29.059 is I was in Columbia Heights 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.119 and I was at the metro station 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.899 at Columbia Heights 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:32.659 and I wanted to take the metro 00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:33.579 down to Navy Yard. 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.539 And I wasn't really paying attention 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.759 and so I just jumped 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:38.539 on the first train I saw. 00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:40.359 And as I'm going down, 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.839 I realize I'm heading south, 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.279 good, 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.139 and I'm seeing all the right stops. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.299 I'm seeing, you know, 00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:47.480 stops like U Street 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.240 and Mount Vernon 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.899 and Archives 00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.399 and I'm like, 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.899 okay, I'm headed 00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.579 in the right direction. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.299 But then something 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.220 really weird happened. 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.539 Then I'm seeing daylight 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:56.019 and then I'm looking down 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:57.179 and I'm going over 00:28:57.179 --> 00:28:58.139 the Potomac River 00:28:58.139 --> 00:29:00.000 and I'm leaving, 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.720 I'm looking, 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.099 I'm like, 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.899 we're leaving the city. 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.799 And I start looking around 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.559 and then I start seeing 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.699 these bizarre stops 00:29:06.699 --> 00:29:07.279 like Pentagon 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.019 and Pentagon City 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.299 and Crystal City. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.759 It was terrifying. 00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:15.079 And it turns out 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.659 what had happened 00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.619 is that I had gotten 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:18.099 on a yellow line car 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:20.399 instead of a green line car 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:22.380 and it seemed fine 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:22.980 at first. 00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:24.200 It seemed like we were headed 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.940 in the right direction 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.980 but at some point 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.340 the tracks diverged 00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:28.320 and I ended up 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:29.580 in a very different place 00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:30.240 than I expected. 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.900 And I think that 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:34.440 one of the things 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.980 that Revelation shows us 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:38.300 is that all of this, 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.300 all of life, 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.860 is going somewhere. 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:44.799 All of history 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:46.959 is progressing inexorably 00:29:46.959 --> 00:29:48.859 somewhere. 00:29:49.959 --> 00:29:50.279 Right? 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.000 And right now 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.819 we're all moving 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:53.219 through history together. 00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.879 We're all together 00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:56.139 and it doesn't really 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.819 seem like it matters much 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.759 what we believe. 00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.719 It really, 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.479 that's a matter 00:30:00.479 --> 00:30:01.439 of personal preference. 00:30:01.719 --> 00:30:02.979 Most people are not 00:30:02.979 --> 00:30:04.259 really paying attention. 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.459 But John's trying 00:30:06.459 --> 00:30:07.359 to wake us up 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:07.919 to the fact that 00:30:07.919 --> 00:30:09.059 one day the tracks 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.659 are going to diverge. 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:12.860 And if we're not 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:13.759 paying attention 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:16.000 we might end up 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.860 in Northern Virginia. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.800 Just kidding. 00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:24.240 If we're not 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.000 paying attention 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.259 we may end up 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.620 in a place 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.440 that we don't want to be. 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.519 The image 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:35.580 Send all emails 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:36.120 to admin 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:37.460 at adventdc.org 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:41.160 The image 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.660 of the end 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.400 that we really need 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.120 to focus on 00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:45.360 is of this great city. 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:46.759 The New Jerusalem. 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:49.220 And the New Jerusalem 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.980 is breathtaking. 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.759 It's illuminated 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.539 by the glory 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.720 of God Himself. 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.079 The streets 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.700 are filled 00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.380 with the sounds 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.400 of children playing 00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.360 of laughter 00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:59.400 and singing. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:01.019 The tree of life 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:02.380 stands in the center 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.360 with leaves 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:04.039 for the healing 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.799 of the nations. 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:06.899 A river of life 00:31:06.899 --> 00:31:07.720 is flowing 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:09.139 where you can come 00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:09.680 and drink 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.460 without price 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.599 as much as you want. 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.180 And verse 14 says 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.680 Blessed are those 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.119 who wash their robes 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.139 so that they may 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.960 have the right 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:20.240 to the tree of life 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.240 and that they may 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.099 enter the city 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.119 by the gates. 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.859 And this is making clear 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.500 that anyone 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.379 and everyone 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.339 who desires 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:29.460 to have their robes washed 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:29.919 who desires 00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.799 to be cleansed 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.899 of all of their sin 00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:34.079 everyone who knows 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:35.059 they need the mercy 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.539 of God. 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.460 Everyone who's willing 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.119 to come to God 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.519 and say 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.659 I don't have it. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:40.379 I can't earn this. 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:42.139 I can't repay this. 00:31:42.419 --> 00:31:43.539 I'm simply asking you 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.299 to give it to me 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.220 out of the goodness 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:45.960 of your heart. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.619 Everybody who's willing 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.359 to do that 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.480 is welcomed 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.059 into the city. 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.099 And here's the thing 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.619 that's striking 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.279 about this image. 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.159 In the previous chapter 00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:55.019 it tells us 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.740 the gates of the city 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.879 are never shut. 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.179 The gates of the city 00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:01.099 stand open. 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.279 There's never a point 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.919 at which the door 00:32:02.919 --> 00:32:03.579 is slammed. 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.899 The gates of the city 00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:06.960 remain open 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.539 and yet there are 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.839 still people outside. 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.199 They're outside the city. 00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:15.299 At some point 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.720 they thought 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.119 they were moving 00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:16.779 in the right direction 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.819 and then at some point 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.759 the track went 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.480 in a different direction 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.139 and at some point 00:32:20.139 --> 00:32:20.799 they realized 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.099 they were not going 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:22.559 into the city 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.359 they were going 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.779 outside of the city. 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.059 And we see 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.619 that these are 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.500 all of the people 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:31.859 who refuse to admit 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.939 they need to be washed. 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.279 These are people 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.920 who refuse 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:37.519 to accept mercy. 00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:40.279 People who hold 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.220 on to their pride. 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:41.820 People who 00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:42.519 as it says 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.860 hold on to falsehood. 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:45.539 I prefer this way 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.440 of seeing reality 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.519 not this way 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.279 of seeing reality. 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:50.259 I prefer my take. 00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:53.779 People who are demanding 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.480 what they believe 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.080 they're owed. 00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:55.920 You know 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:57.080 I read this passage 00:32:57.080 --> 00:32:57.740 and I can't help 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.200 but think 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.539 of the prodigal son. 00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:00.779 You know 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.220 the ending 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:01.920 that we read 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.779 a little while ago. 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.339 At the end 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.819 of the story 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.660 the younger brother 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.139 is 00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:07.639 you know 00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:08.559 the prodigal son 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:10.160 has washed his robe. 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.180 You know 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.299 he comes to his father 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:13.299 he falls on his knees 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.799 and he says 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:15.180 I've sinned against God 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:15.839 and against you. 00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:17.139 I'm not even worthy 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.899 to be a servant 00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:18.599 in your house. 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.420 And the father 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:21.480 before he could even 00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.099 get the words out 00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:23.079 wraps his arm around him. 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.700 The father who 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.859 when he saw him coming 00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.279 ran in a very 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.480 undignified way 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.420 down the road 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.519 to embrace his son 00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.200 before his son 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:32.019 can even utter a word 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:33.759 he's wrapped his arms 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.599 around his son. 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:35.980 He's drawn him 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.660 to himself 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:38.500 and this son 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.339 who slapped him 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:39.920 in the face 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.680 who gave him 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.359 one of the gravest 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.480 insults possible 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:43.420 in the ancient world 00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.539 who took his inheritance 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.339 and basically said 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:45.839 to his father 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:47.259 I wish you were dead. 00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:48.740 Give me what I'm owed. 00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:51.500 When his son 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.180 comes back 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.019 he wraps his arm 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.460 around him 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.639 he puts a ring 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.319 on his finger 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.139 and a robe 00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:57.000 around his shoulders 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.980 saying 00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:59.079 you're right 00:33:59.079 --> 00:34:00.119 you'll not be 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.480 a servant 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.179 in my house 00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:02.599 you'll be a son. 00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:04.699 And he throws him 00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:05.659 a lavish feast. 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.559 And the elder brother 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.480 at the end of the story 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.480 the real point of the story 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.460 is standing outside 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.079 the party. 00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.319 There's a great feast 00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:13.059 going on inside 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.059 the doors are open 00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:15.000 the elder brother 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.519 is outside 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.539 and the father 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.579 comes out 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.759 to the elder brother 00:34:18.759 --> 00:34:19.159 and he 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.579 it says 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.739 entreats him 00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:22.019 he begs him 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:22.980 to come into the party 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:24.119 but the older brother 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:25.119 remains outside 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.900 and he's refusing 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.519 to go in 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:28.159 because he believes 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:29.380 that because he has 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.360 lived such a good life 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.619 because he's been faithful 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.920 he's owed something. 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:37.199 Give me what I'm owed 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.659 father 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:39.699 give me what I deserve 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.440 God 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:43.300 and he remains outside 00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:46.119 because of his pride. 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:49.000 So all of history 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.719 our past 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.199 present 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:50.880 and future 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.780 all of history 00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.860 is moving 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.739 inexorably 00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:54.500 toward this 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:56.299 final scene. 00:34:57.859 --> 00:34:58.779 So I think 00:34:58.779 --> 00:34:59.979 here is the message 00:34:59.979 --> 00:35:00.679 of revelation 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:01.819 to the world. 00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:05.379 If we could summarize 00:35:05.379 --> 00:35:06.099 all of this 00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.919 in one sentence 00:35:06.919 --> 00:35:10.919 one day soon 00:35:10.919 --> 00:35:13.299 Jesus 00:35:13.299 --> 00:35:15.039 is going to come 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.679 to us. 00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:18.099 That's the final cry 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.979 come Lord Jesus. 00:35:20.979 --> 00:35:21.719 And so now 00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.479 is the time 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.460 for us 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:23.820 to come 00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.240 to him. 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.260 Let's pray. 00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:29.000 Lord we thank you 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.619 we thank you 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.280 for your word 00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:31.360 and we thank you 00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:32.059 for your son 00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:33.400 and we thank you 00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.199 for your spirit 00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:35.619 and we ask 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.219 that that spirit 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:36.740 would now 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:37.559 parse 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.500 our words 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.500 out from yours 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:41.460 and do what you will 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:42.579 with this offering. 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:44.340 That as we 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:45.159 will see 00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:45.840 with the bread 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.480 and the wine 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.099 in a little while 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.559 you would take 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.159 these words 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:49.019 and bless them 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.960 and break 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.420 them 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:52.920 and then 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.900 give them to us 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:54.960 as 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.639 you see fit 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.759 in your son's name. 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.159 Amen. 00:35:58.159 --> 00:36:00.039 God bless 00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:07.519 and созд 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:09.039 you 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.139 and