WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.939 Father, we don't really like to admit before you that we are confused. 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:16.359 Father, we find it a lot easier to think that your word is confused and that ultimately you are confused. 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:21.679 So, Father, we're just being honest with you about that. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:29.679 We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would do a mighty work in our lives this morning as we think about your word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.840 We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would reveal to us our divided heart and our confusion. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:47.379 And at the same time, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would lead us to see the wisdom of your word, your great unsurpassed wisdom and justice and mercy. 00:00:47.380 --> 00:01:01.080 And we ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would incline our hearts, turn our hearts to you and to your wisdom and to your Son, wisdom made flesh, who died upon the cross for us. 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:06.280 And all this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:07.760 Amen. Please be seated. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:29.439 Nowadays, even people in their mid-20s can start being curmudgeons and can tell teenagers how much harder it was in high school than it was for them. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:30.439 Amen. 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:31.439 Amen. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:34.939 My youngest son in geography. 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:37.799 This is geography in grade nine. 00:01:39.659 --> 00:01:53.420 I can't remember now why, but in the unit where they were covering the continental drift, you know, the drift of the continents, as part of that in their class time, they watched the Ice Age III movie. 00:01:53.420 --> 00:02:00.099 For those of you who know that movie, it's an animated film about a chipmunk trying to get an acorn. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:13.719 At the same time, talking about global warming and climate change, they watched The Day After Tomorrow and the movie 2012, which, of course, is spectacularly ironic. 00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:17.319 It was based, of course, on Al Gore's book earlier. 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:24.620 And to watch it now for information when it's obviously been completely and utterly proven to be false, of course, is an even deeper irony. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:32.000 But that's actually part of what was happening in grade nine geography, at least in one particular school. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:46.379 And so now it is that people, many of you, a few years older than my son Tommy, can now start to tell people how harder it was in high school and how more rigorous it was for you than it is for the current generation. 00:02:46.939 --> 00:02:55.680 And so for those of us who are quite a bit past our early 20s, and we can even be more deeply ingrained in our curmudgeonly view of current education. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:58.860 But I mention all of this. 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:01.100 I mention Ice Age, for instance. 00:03:01.440 --> 00:03:06.560 Actually, just last night, you know, I'm always following high culture in movies. 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:14.860 And so we watched The Croods last night, which was about a Stone Age family dealing with catastrophes. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:21.580 And often, of course, movies that talk about something like the end of the Ice Age are really making comments about today. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:25.760 And Hollywood has movies about sort of the end of the world. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:30.419 I'm not trying to put them down just as according to Al Gore. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:44.759 But the fact is that on one hand, when us modern or postmodern people figure out what we are, listen to texts like Ken read just a few moments ago about Revelation chapter eight. 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:49.280 It can sound sort of problematic to us. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.459 Like, George, how on earth can the Bible talk about stuff like this? 00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:53.620 End of the world. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:54.699 Like, really? 00:03:55.359 --> 00:03:57.159 All these things are going to be happening. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:03:57.679 Come on. 00:03:57.739 --> 00:04:03.039 How on earth can we possibly take the Bible seriously? 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.840 Actually, the thing is that we need... 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:07.479 Here's the thing. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:09.459 If you could put the first point up, Andrew. 00:04:10.459 --> 00:04:11.780 Here's the thing. 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:17.060 We need to sort of have a bit of a thing to clear our minds a little bit as we start to listen to Revelation eight. 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:20.240 And the first thing that we need to understand is this. 00:04:20.719 --> 00:04:27.399 That the end of all things can be sensationalized or forgotten, but cannot be reasonably denied. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:56.599 I mean, actually, for many decades, there's different stories or tales of some type of imminent ecological catastrophe that's going to befall the planet. 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:00.979 And obviously, some of those, as some of them, are shown not to be the case. 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:05.259 And there's always, obviously, people who say, of course, we shouldn't trust these things. 00:05:05.359 --> 00:05:06.899 Human ingenuity will get over it. 00:05:07.219 --> 00:05:09.399 But, in fact, Hollywood talks about these things. 00:05:09.579 --> 00:05:19.399 And whether or not global warming and global climate change caused by our use of fossil fuels, whether or not that is correct, 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:24.500 the fact of the matter is that science, in fact, does say that there will be the end of all things. 00:05:24.679 --> 00:05:26.699 Like, that can't be denied. 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:31.139 But the second law of thermodynamics wins. 00:05:32.479 --> 00:05:40.639 And the second law of thermodynamics says that the amount of entropy, unusable sort of random energy in a system, is always increasing. 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:50.099 So whether it's a billion, billion, billion, billion years from now, eventually all the planets, all the galaxies, all the stars, there will be just entropy. 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:51.199 They will all come to an end. 00:05:51.219 --> 00:05:52.579 That's what science tells us. 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:58.539 And long before entropy wins, our own planet will be completely and utterly destroyed. 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:01.539 The sun is winding down. 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:04.700 The sun is winding down. 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:18.560 And at some point in time, as sufficient amount of it is burned up and its mass changes, the powers that keep the sun at its current size will start to weaken and the sun will expand. 00:06:18.659 --> 00:06:21.159 And as the sun expands, Earth will be burned to a crisp. 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:27.120 And how that will look in terms of how it's described, of course, I don't know how that will be. 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:39.500 But while we might not want to think about it or we might want to sensationalize it, the fact of the matter is that the end of all things cannot reasonably be denied. 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:57.560 And if we listen to Revelation 8 thinking that it can be reasonably denied and hence any type of talk about the end of all things is just completely and utterly foolish, showing how stupid the Bible is, 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:02.040 then we won't even begin to have any type of reasonable discussion or reading of the text. 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:13.460 We need to, in a sense, have, like, you know how sometimes, I've never been to one, but they talk about in wine tasting, you have something to cleanse the palate so you can taste something fresh. 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:18.400 We need to have that when we come to read such texts as Revelation chapter 8. 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:24.400 Something to sort of cleanse the palate in the mind and make us just pause for a second and say, okay, one moment. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:36.359 And before I sort of go all ballistic on this text, before I start rolling my eyes to the back of my head, let's just, the end of the world cannot reasonably be denied. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:49.019 In fact, actually, one of the very interesting things is to actually look at what the Bible is saying, comparing it to what everything else can possibly say. 00:07:49.019 --> 00:07:58.120 Like, what does a certain form of science typified by guys like Richard Dawkins, what does it have to say about the end of the world? 00:07:58.479 --> 00:08:07.219 What does Buddhism have to say, or Islam, or Hinduism, or the spirituality that we've cobbled together from bits and pieces to suit ourselves? 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:18.759 Like, the fact of the matter is, is that often people have problems when they look at the Bible, but they don't, we often forget as human beings that once we've asked a question, that question touches everything. 00:08:19.419 --> 00:08:34.139 It's not as if we can just ask a question of the Bible, which is, in a sense, implicitly a question that we can ask of Buddhism, or Islam, or Hinduism, or scientism, or naturalism, or empiricism, or a whole pile of other isms, or Marxism, or feminism, or queer theory. 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:51.600 Like, the fact is that, well, one moment, before we sort of maybe dismiss what the Bible says, how does it actually stack up compared to what a whole range of other things would actually say about the end of all things, given that the end of all things cannot be reasonably denied? 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.420 It cannot be reasonably denied. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:09:00.319 The timing of it can be talked about, but the end of it cannot be reasonably denied. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:08.019 So how is it actually that the Bible and Christianity fares if we actually start to just take another step back and look at things? 00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:11.699 And here, Andrew, if you could put up the next slide, here's the thing that I would suggest. 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:22.340 I can only have hope if the living God, the God of the Bible, is the one who brings all things to an end. 00:09:22.900 --> 00:09:30.860 I can only have hope if the living God is the one who brings all things to an end. 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:35.040 The second law of thermodynamics shows no mercy. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:40.000 This week on Monday, I had a physical. 00:09:40.579 --> 00:09:41.539 I'm a bad boy. 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:44.980 I haven't had a physical for like eight years, seven years. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.019 I know you're supposed to, when you get to be my age, have them every year. 00:09:48.079 --> 00:09:49.000 I finally had a physical. 00:09:49.839 --> 00:09:53.199 At the start of the physical, the doctor asked me how tall I was. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.059 So I told them, I used to be this height. 00:09:56.319 --> 00:09:57.360 I know I'm shorter. 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:00.099 I like telling my kids that gravity wins. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:08.600 And so I wasn't sure how much I've shrunk since I hit my peak at a particular age. 00:10:09.180 --> 00:10:22.940 But here's the thing about this particular text, that the second law of thermodynamics doesn't show any type of mercy and doesn't give us any type of hope. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:28.519 Now, we shouldn't choose a philosophy just because it gives us hope. 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:40.340 But on the other hand, we shouldn't dismiss hope as a clue in terms of the meaning of the universe and the meaning of life. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:44.039 Like, why is it that hope is so attractive? 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:49.299 Why is it that hope seems to be something which is deeply rooted in human beings? 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:59.839 Why is it that so many novels and movies, even The Crudes, that movie last night, part of it was about a system of rules and thinkings which extinguished hope in people? 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:05.000 Like, why is it that we understand that hope is something which is significant? 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:14.740 And if that's the case, well, then what exactly is it that Islam or Hinduism or Buddhism or secularism or this scientific discovery, like, how does that fit with hope? 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:18.779 And we shouldn't pick something just because of hope. 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:33.440 But on the other hand, a system of thinking, a text that talks about hope is something surely that fits in with part of the data that should be important to us when we're trying to figure out what actually is true 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:37.120 and what it is that we should be serving, loving, obeying, trusting, and hoping in. 00:11:37.760 --> 00:11:52.880 And the fact is that if, in fact, the living God is the one who will bring all things to an end, then, if we read the Bible, we understand that at least there can be some hope that we can call out to God for mercy, 00:11:53.380 --> 00:12:02.620 that God can do something, that if there is a living God who will bring all things to an end, then perhaps there is meaning in life. 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:05.799 Perhaps there is meaning even in suffering. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:22.759 Perhaps hope is a clue to the existence of the reality of the living God, the same living God who is revealed in Scripture and was most preeminently revealed in the person of Jesus and his death upon the cross. 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:32.039 Now, some of you might say, George, did you hear what Ken read? 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:37.480 A third of the earth, a third of the seas, a third of the fresh water. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:43.200 Like, George, how on earth do you think this text possibly talks about hope? 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:43.980 Let's look. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:48.360 So if you have your Bibles, hopefully you brought your Bibles, let's turn to Revelation chapter 8. 00:12:48.360 --> 00:13:01.360 And if you forgot your Bibles, there's always, there's just one left here, but if you go to that door over there, there's always a few extra Bibles and you're welcome to keep it or return it after the service. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:03.500 And let's turn to Revelation chapter 8. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:08.840 It's the last book in the Bible, if you're not familiar with where the Bible, where the book of Revelation is. 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:13.240 And we at Church of the Messiah were preaching through the book of Revelation. 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:20.740 That's part of the way, preaching through books of the Bible, that we want to help ordinary people be confident, joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:23.759 And so what we're going to do is we're not going to look at the beginning of Revelation 8. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:26.759 We're going to go right to the hard part in Revelation 8. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:31.379 All of these terrible things that come on the planet. 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.759 So start reading at verse 6. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.220 Verse 6. 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:39.419 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:46.460 The first angel blew his trumpet and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood. 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.939 And these were thrown upon the earth. 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:52.740 And a third of the fire, a third of the earth was burned up. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.840 And a third of the trees were burned up. 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:57.139 And all the green grass was burned up. 00:13:57.139 --> 00:14:00.299 Just sort of put your finger there for a second, just to sort of give you the context. 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:04.620 What happened earlier in the first five verses, we're going to look at those in a few moments. 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:09.259 But the Lamb is revealed. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.979 He opens the seventh seal. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.059 There's a half an hour of silence in heaven. 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:17.839 At the end of the half hour of silence of heaven, the seven angels come with trumpets. 00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:21.759 And then God gives an angel some incense. 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:26.319 And the incense is thrown on the fire of an altar before the throne of God. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:36.000 And as the incense rises, because it burns in the fire, the prayers of Christians rise to God. 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:45.080 And in response to the prayers of Christians rising to God, God sends the angel to the altar a second time. 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:54.660 And this time the altar, the angel grabs fire and hurls the fire from the altar before the throne of God. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.800 He hurls it at the earth. 00:14:56.700 --> 00:15:06.800 And how it appears on earth is in these seven different visions, these seven different scenarios. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:16.299 And so the first one is, as I just read, and then the second angel blows his trumpet, verse 8. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:21.699 And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.240 And a third of the sea became blood. 00:15:26.339 --> 00:15:28.839 A third of the living creatures in the sea died. 00:15:29.339 --> 00:15:32.639 And a third of the ships were destroyed. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.460 And just sort of pause here for a second. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.779 A couple of weeks ago, if you were here and you happen to remember, I talked about how one of the things, 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.919 the ways the book of Revelation is written, it's a little bit like Groundhog Day. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:49.819 It sort of talks about a scenario of judgment. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:57.879 And then it looks like it talks about a scenario of judgments leading up to the final judgment. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:01.259 But it sort of goes over the same territory, but in a different way. 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:03.200 And it's going to happen again another time in the book. 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:09.720 And a way to understand these scenarios is a little bit like this, I think. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:17.000 Imagine that I gave you seven pictures of my daughter, Victoria. 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:20.019 Maybe some of you have never met my daughter, Victoria. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.559 She goes to another church in Canada. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:26.759 And so I gave you seven pictures of my daughter, Victoria. 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:32.600 Victoria, maybe my wife and I look at these seven pictures thinking that if you get these seven pictures and you look at them, 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.620 you'll have a really good sense of Victoria. 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:40.340 Now, if you look at all seven pictures, you'll get a real good sense of Victoria. 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:46.019 But if you were to try to Photoshop all seven pictures and put them on top of each other, 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:50.419 well, the nose would be in seven different places, the ears in seven different places. 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:52.179 It would look like a Picasso painting. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:57.199 And you wouldn't have any vague idea if you took the seven pictures and superimposed them on each other. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:59.419 What on earth Victoria looked like? 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:02.620 It would be more confusing afterwards than before. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:08.339 And I think that's what's happening here with these seven different scenarios, 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.460 all describing the one throwing the fire on the earth. 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:17.900 That we're to take each one of them as a bit of a scenario and sort of be captivated by the image, 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:20.200 to think about the image, to meditate upon the image. 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.880 Then there's sort of another image. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.660 And if you look at all seven of them together, in some way, 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:28.480 it describes both things that go on in the planet right now. 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:33.400 Like I'm guessing that if you lived in Chernobyl in the Ukraine, 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:38.000 when the disaster happened, that you might have some resonance with this text. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:42.160 That maybe if you were a Christian living in Syria, parts of Syria today, 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:44.640 you would have some resonance with this text. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.619 If you were a persecuted Christian in China, 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:51.480 living in some area of unbelievable ecological devastation, 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:54.319 you might have some resonance with this text. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:59.079 We live in post-industrial, very safe, democratic, capitalist Canada. 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.880 We might not have the same type of resonance. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:05.279 But on one hand, the text describes things that go on in the planet today. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:14.299 And at the other hand, it will describe the end in some way that I don't know how all the seven images will fit together 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:16.359 when the end of all things come. 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:20.440 But we can take some confidence that when it all happens, if we are there, 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:26.099 that we can see how in some way all these seven things somehow fit with what happens at the end of all things. 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:34.579 But that we shouldn't get locked up into trying to nitpick how to put all of the seven images together, 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:39.879 just as if I gave you seven pictures of Victoria, you wouldn't impose them all on each other. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:45.199 Yet you look at each, and after you've looked at each and thought about it and meditated upon it, 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.179 you have some sense of the end. 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:51.420 So we've done the first trumpet, the second trumpet. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.519 The third trumpet is verse 10. 00:18:54.440 --> 00:19:00.200 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch. 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:04.680 And it fell on a third of the rivers, on the springs of water. 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:07.240 The name of the star is Wormwood. 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:12.900 A third of the waters became Wormwood, and many people died from the water because it had been made bitter. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.799 Just sort of pause. 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:19.899 So the first angel talks about the dry land. 00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:24.599 The second angel talks about the salt water. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.159 The third angel talks about fresh water. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.700 And now the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck. 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:40.079 In the original language, it's as if the angel of God hurls a plague. 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:43.299 Okay? Hurls a plague. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:51.159 And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so the third of their light might be darkened. 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:55.500 And a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. 00:19:55.659 --> 00:20:01.740 And there the idea is that for one, assuming you're at the equator and there's 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:04.720 it means that for four hours of the day there's complete and utter darkness. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.539 Complete darkness. 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:11.200 And for a third of the evening there's complete darkness. 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.559 No moon, no stars. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.720 None at all. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.299 Complete darkness in the sky. 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:18.419 And then verse 13. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:20.740 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:27.859 And it's sort of interesting, the eagle, we don't capture it, but an eagle in the Old Testament is an unclean bird. 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.440 Ritually unclean. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:37.000 Then I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.200 Woe! 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.259 Woe! 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.360 Woe! 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:40.839 Woe! 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:47.219 To those who dwell on the earth at the blast of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:59.919 Now, remember the original question is, I said in my second point that I can only have hope if the living God is the one who brings all things to an end. 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:03.839 And this passage describes terrible suffering. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:09.479 Even my analogy about how some parts of the world might have great resonance with this text. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:16.400 If you are a persecuted Christian in a part of China suffering terrible ecological pollution destruction. 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.740 If you're in a part of Syria, and we could go on. 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:22.259 We could go on to places of great famine and great war and hardship. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:31.539 There might be parts of the world that Christians gathered, maybe just in some hut somewhere or somewhere in the bush, hiding around a Bible. 00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:35.900 That a text like this might have profound resonance to what they're experiencing. 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:51.540 Whereas for us it becomes more of an intellectual puzzle influenced heavily by radio preachers who try to say, you know, the first thing is big oil and the second thing is, you know, whatever. 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:53.300 You know, nuclear waste or whatever. 00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:55.700 And then there's North Korea and all that. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:22:01.240 I actually think that's profoundly unhelpful and means we don't read the text very clearly. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:05.120 But how with all this suffering is there hope? 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.480 Here's the question. 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.580 Andrew, if you could put it on. 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.559 The Bible is posing us a question. 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:15.619 Does suffering lead me to exalt myself against God? 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:25.980 Or does suffering lead me to seek refuge in the immensity and sovereignty of the untamably good God? 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:55.880 Now, even by posing this question, remember I said that part of the problem we have when we read the book of Revelation is that we don't read the book of Revelation realizing 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:59.060 that it's an undeniable fact that all things will end. 00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:01.460 Like that's just undeniable. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:02.920 It's forgotten. 00:23:03.260 --> 00:23:04.020 It's ignored. 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:06.160 We amuse ourselves to death. 00:23:06.280 --> 00:23:08.820 But it's undeniable that all things will end. 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:19.700 And if we sort of just live in a state of constant amusement of ourselves and not thinking about it, then the things in the book of Revelation, we can't even begin to engage with them. 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:34.559 But if we realize that the end of all things is in fact undeniable and then we can look a little bit about how Marxism or how psychoanalysis or queer theory or Buddhism or spirituality of our guru, how does this talk about the end of all things? 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:39.500 Then all of a sudden there's a way for us to actually look at these things in a far different light. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:46.839 But here's the other thing is the fact of the matter is that many of us are deeply confused and conflicted about suffering without realizing it. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:55.420 It is not unusual for me to have a conversation with a person where something like this can happen within minutes of each other in the conversation. 00:23:55.740 --> 00:24:01.119 Where somebody can say, I will not worship a God who does not do something about evil and injustice. 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:06.579 And then two minutes later they can say, I will not worship a God who judges. 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.900 One moment. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:14.200 You don't want to worship a God because he doesn't judge injustice. 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.500 But now you want to worship a God who judges. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:26.079 And then two minutes later they might say, I abhor, I hate people who divide the world into good people and bad people. 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:33.400 Don't people understand that, you know, even with terrorists, even with what those people that, you know, our culture labels as terrorists, 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:35.920 that there is good and bad in every person. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:45.340 That in fact, Solzhenitsyn said, is that the line dividing good and evil does not come between groups of people and nations and ideologies, 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:51.160 but the line between separating good from evil goes right down the middle of every human being. 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:58.880 And then two minutes later they might say, how dare God judge me as doing evil? 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:06.580 Well, that's heavily conflicted thought. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:10.440 That's heavily conflicted thought. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:22.140 In fact, the irony is that we can go through this motion of how come God doesn't judge evil and injustice, 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:24.440 and then go through how come God judges? 00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.580 That's a terrible thing. 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:31.740 And how come we separate the world into good and evil when we should understand that good and evil sort of runs right through every individual. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:40.140 And then we say, how dare God judge me as if I have any evil about me or there's evil with me? 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:45.099 And then we think the Bible's confused and conflicted. 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:57.439 And we haven't understood that we have a deep confusion and confliction inside of us which is unrecognized 00:25:57.439 --> 00:26:01.899 and makes it hard for us to hear the Bible. 00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:09.759 And so the question of the text is, does suffering lead me to exalt myself against God, 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:16.360 or does suffering lead me to seek refuge in the immensity and sovereignty of the untamably good God? 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:19.019 And that comes through many ways in this text. 00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:23.540 The fact that in the first series of judgments it's a quarter, in the next it's a third. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.220 It's not total. 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:31.080 There's a chance that there's even a pause between each of them, 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:35.179 that at the end of all of these four, before we go into the final three, 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:42.659 that there's this creature which is unclean like you and I are in and of ourselves. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:45.139 It says, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:49.919 You know, it's like, I know it's a slightly different whoa, but it's still a warning. 00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:53.879 It's like, you know, if we see a, I don't know, you know, maybe after church, 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:57.519 you know, a little kid, a parent loses track of their little kid, 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:59.659 and then we see them starting to go hurtling down, 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:03.420 and, you know, maybe we think they're going to crash their head against that metal bar, 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:06.700 and we go, whoa, stop, and we try to grab them, like we warn them. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:11.240 Like all the way through the text, that there's not yet total type of destruction. 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:14.800 It's not as if it comes upon the human race without any type of warning. 00:27:15.320 --> 00:27:18.140 And at the same time, at a certain type of level, 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:21.300 we understand certain types of things about suffering. 00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:28.500 Like, if, like, you know, surely, for many of us, 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:34.700 for many of us, when we hear maybe about the death of a loved one or something like that, 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:38.860 and maybe in a very tragic or terrible situation far from home, 00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:42.800 and one of our terrors for that person was that they died alone, 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:46.980 that they suffered alone, that there was no one with them. 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:52.720 If there was to be something which we knew was going to happen all of a sudden to Ottawa, 00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:56.240 and we only had maybe a half an hour, an hour before it hit, 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:58.059 and that we didn't have time to run for it, 00:27:58.399 --> 00:28:03.799 surely for many of us, wouldn't we want to have someone with us at that time of anxiety? 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:07.859 So if, in fact, that is the case, even with a human being, 00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:10.819 that we understand how there's something about suffering 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:15.940 that makes us wish that there could be someone that we would suffer with, 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:23.399 why is it that we necessarily think that suffering will somehow incline our hearts away from God? 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:31.539 Is it, in fact, not possible that suffering can incline our hearts to God? 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:34.420 Neither choice is inevitable. 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:38.720 And that suffering could incline our hearts to God, 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:43.460 that, in fact, apart from the fact that we have a fundamental hardness 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:46.339 and rebellion against God, which is part of who we are, 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:50.200 on the other hand, we can understand that if, in fact, 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:52.139 we would want to have a person with us, 00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:54.899 why wouldn't we want to have God with us? 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:58.839 Remember my second point was that it's, 00:28:58.839 --> 00:29:06.480 I can only have hope if the living God is the one who brings all things to an end. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.699 Now, some of you might say, 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.659 okay, George, that's actually sort of interesting. 00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:12.980 Sort of interesting. 00:29:13.459 --> 00:29:15.099 But here's the problem, George. 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.899 You can't deny this, George. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.939 You know, isn't it the case that so many people, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:23.399 when they read books like the book of Revelation, 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:26.240 that it leads them to do nothing? 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:29.940 Don't you think it sort of leads too many people to say, 00:29:30.040 --> 00:29:32.040 oh, well, God's going to be in control of it, 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:34.540 so we don't have to do anything about ecological damage. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:36.120 Oh, God's going to do everything, 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:38.140 so we don't have to deal with tsunamis. 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.640 Oh, God's going to deal everything, 00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:43.880 so we don't have to deal with corrupt despots 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:47.500 that just plunder the country 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:50.980 and use their military to oppress the people. 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:54.539 Don't you think, George, that reading texts like this, 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.420 yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.620 it gives you sort of hope, 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:00.240 but it doesn't actually lead to any type of action. 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.740 Don't you think, George, 00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:04.980 that secular people have a far greater bias 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:09.240 towards fixing things and having action? 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:14.759 Well, obviously I can't deny 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:17.000 that there are people who read the book of Revelation 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:20.680 and are led to a complete and utter type of pietism 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.619 and quietism, 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.339 which means that we don't do anything at all. 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:25.299 I can't obviously deny that. 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:28.619 But are they getting it from the Bible? 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.380 Look again with me. 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.460 We're going to sort of jump a little bit. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:35.119 Look, remember all those bad things that happened. 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.839 I don't know if you noticed something about it, 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:38.359 but it's actually very significant 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:40.099 to thinking about this whole question. 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.920 Look at the first trumpet, 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:44.580 and look at the second half of verse, 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.560 look at verse seven. 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.860 The first angel blew his trumpet 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:49.180 and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.240 and these were thrown upon the earth 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:53.200 and a third of the earth was burned up 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.640 and a third of the trees were burned up 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.080 and all green grass was burned up. 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.560 But notice that. 00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.019 What does that mean? 00:30:57.060 --> 00:31:00.080 It means two-thirds of the earth wasn't burned 00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:01.560 and two-thirds of the tree wasn't. 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:04.140 Look at the same thing in the next verse. 00:31:04.320 --> 00:31:04.480 Verse eight, 00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:06.080 the second angel blew his trumpet 00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:08.080 and something like a great mountain burning with fire 00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:08.820 was thrown into the sea 00:31:08.820 --> 00:31:10.100 and a third of the sea became blood, 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.640 a third of the living creatures in the sea 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:13.640 died and a third of the ships were destroyed. 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.980 That means two-thirds weren't. 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:18.660 And you'll see the same thing with the third. 00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:21.140 The third angel is that, 00:31:21.320 --> 00:31:22.180 we'll go down to verse 11, 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:24.280 a third of the waters became wormwood 00:31:24.280 --> 00:31:25.840 and many people died from the water 00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.860 because it had been made bitter, 00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:28.460 but two-thirds wasn't. 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:30.900 And it's the same with the light and the dark. 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:34.320 And here's the thing. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:40.019 The first thing is, 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.599 I guess I'd always like to, 00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:45.720 I like to push back at my secular friends 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:49.919 who talk about the virtues of secularism 00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:51.019 and say, you know what, 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:55.159 Stalin's forced famine in Ukraine, 00:31:57.179 --> 00:31:58.139 look at Cambodia, 00:31:58.859 --> 00:32:00.720 what happened when Pol Pot was there. 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:04.180 Like, you can multiply examples that, 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.339 you know, 00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:07.259 secularism, 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.759 look at the whole history of the USSR, 00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:13.980 secularism does not guarantee action. 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:19.440 And it's even hard to understand 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:21.200 how within secularism, 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.900 that rooted within secularism, 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.559 are the roots 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:27.720 to say that that part of secularism 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.500 that doesn't act, 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.059 it's wrong. 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.579 In fact, 00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.700 often what happens 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:32.180 when we see that that's wrong, 00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:34.420 it's borrowed language 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:35.799 from the Christian faith. 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:37.960 That in fact, 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.259 the Christian faith, 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.720 the Bible text here, 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.480 gives us a bias towards action. 00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:47.240 Of not only having our hearts 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.319 inclined to God 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.279 during our suffering, 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.620 but it asks us 00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:52.180 another fundamental deep question. 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.360 Andrew, if you could put it on. 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:56.259 Does my health 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.579 and prosperity 00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.839 and safety 00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:00.559 deepen me 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.419 in idolatry? 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:05.379 Or does my health 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.139 and prosperity 00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.919 and safety 00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.799 deepen me 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.699 in habits 00:33:08.699 --> 00:33:10.039 which humbly 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.259 and gratefully 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.819 bring glory to God? 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.659 Does my health 00:33:15.659 --> 00:33:16.459 and prosperity 00:33:16.459 --> 00:33:17.279 and safety 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.199 deepen me 00:33:18.199 --> 00:33:19.399 in idolatry? 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.740 And at the heart 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.539 of idolatry 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.740 whether it's an idolatry 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.779 of Canada 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.799 or of big oil 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:28.259 or of socialism, 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.299 but there's always 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:30.139 rooted within that 00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:31.099 in making an idol 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.819 of ourselves, 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.779 seeing ourselves 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.460 as gods, 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.579 exalting ourselves. 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.019 Or does my health 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.659 and prosperity 00:33:36.659 --> 00:33:37.319 and safety 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.039 deepen me 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.599 in habits 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.720 which humbly 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.440 and gratefully 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.740 bring glory to God? 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:42.480 You know, 00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:44.000 I don't have time 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.319 to do it, 00:33:44.379 --> 00:33:45.079 but if you're interested 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.019 in the devotional thing, 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:46.960 it would be very interesting 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.500 to go back 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:49.079 and read chapter 2 or 3 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.059 of Revelation 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.879 and read about 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.899 the seven churches 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:53.380 and you read 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.300 those seven churches 00:33:54.300 --> 00:33:55.000 and you realize 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.980 that all the things 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.560 that are going on 00:33:56.560 --> 00:33:56.960 in the book, 00:33:57.040 --> 00:33:57.980 all the horrible things 00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.519 that are going on 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:58.840 in the book, 00:33:59.080 --> 00:34:00.040 they all affect 00:34:00.040 --> 00:34:00.980 different churches 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.759 differently. 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.800 So it is here. 00:34:04.040 --> 00:34:04.220 You know, 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:04.900 a few years ago 00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:05.340 there was that 00:34:05.340 --> 00:34:06.940 devastating event 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.759 that happened in Haiti 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:09.320 and it was very closely 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.460 followed by a devastating 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.420 effect in Japan. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.920 But in Japan, 00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:14.639 because of their 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.099 technological prowess 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.860 and their wealth, 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.400 it was cleaned up 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.300 very quickly. 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:19.940 It was dealt, 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.200 I mean, 00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:20.919 I'm not denying 00:34:20.919 --> 00:34:21.699 any of the death 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.599 or the real suffering 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:22.899 that happened, 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.619 but it was dealt 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.639 with far quicker 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.899 whereas the results 00:34:25.899 --> 00:34:26.439 of the earthquake 00:34:26.439 --> 00:34:26.819 in Haiti 00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:28.219 are still lingering 00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:29.079 and going on 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.779 and on and on 00:34:29.779 --> 00:34:31.219 and are unfixed 00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:32.619 and unrepaired. 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.839 And just think 00:34:33.839 --> 00:34:34.480 for a second 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.599 to ourselves, 00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:36.679 what would happen 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.980 if some of these 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.659 things happened 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.319 to Canada? 00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:40.839 Let's say 00:34:40.839 --> 00:34:42.119 it was a third 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.659 of the ocean. 00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:42.899 Well, 00:34:42.939 --> 00:34:43.619 the third of the ocean 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.799 happened to all be 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:46.179 around between 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.179 India and China. 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.199 Well, 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:48.539 that's fine. 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:50.519 It doesn't touch 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:51.159 Halifax 00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:52.279 and Vancouver Island. 00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:54.739 It doesn't touch 00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:56.039 me going to Florida 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.219 for a holiday. 00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.920 The ocean there 00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:58.440 is fine. 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.340 And let's say 00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:01.940 the image 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.880 of the fresh water 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.259 happens to Canada, 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.659 but it happens 00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.559 through the Great Lakes 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.840 and the St. Lawrence 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.900 and a river 00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.380 that flows 00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.380 into Hudson Bay. 00:35:10.779 --> 00:35:11.440 And then we can say, 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:11.579 well, 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.480 it sucks to live 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:12.980 in Toronto 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.659 and Montreal, 00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:15.619 but we're fine. 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.980 In fact, 00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:17.639 not only would 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:18.559 we be fine 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.699 if the water 00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:20.659 in the Great Lakes 00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:22.119 turned so poisonous 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:23.079 that they couldn't 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.359 drink, 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.000 they couldn't do 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.299 anything, 00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.799 it was going to 00:35:25.799 --> 00:35:26.380 affect Toronto 00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:26.920 and Montreal. 00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:27.819 In fact, 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:29.279 we would prosper. 00:35:30.839 --> 00:35:31.639 People from Toronto, 00:35:31.819 --> 00:35:33.319 businesses would move 00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:33.739 from there 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.880 to places like Ottawa. 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:37.039 My housing value 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:38.079 might double 00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.880 in a year. 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:41.259 I could be richer. 00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:44.600 You see, 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:45.720 if you're part 00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:46.960 of the two-thirds 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.280 not touched 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.920 by it, 00:35:50.660 --> 00:35:51.480 what's going 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.420 on with you? 00:35:54.180 --> 00:35:54.900 What's going 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.760 on with us? 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.880 If this was 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.500 happening all 00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:01.040 over the world 00:36:01.040 --> 00:36:01.560 and it would be 00:36:01.560 --> 00:36:02.640 devastating in a place 00:36:02.640 --> 00:36:03.380 like the Sudan, 00:36:03.560 --> 00:36:04.080 it might be 00:36:04.080 --> 00:36:05.580 unbelievably devastating 00:36:05.580 --> 00:36:06.180 in a country 00:36:06.180 --> 00:36:06.840 like Kenya, 00:36:07.100 --> 00:36:07.780 but even if it 00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:08.500 happened to a third 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.380 of the fresh water 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:09.920 in Canada, 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.180 we have lots 00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:12.019 of fresh water 00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.839 and we would be 00:36:12.839 --> 00:36:13.480 able to organize 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.839 tankers and pipelines 00:36:14.839 --> 00:36:15.839 and within no time 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:16.819 there'd be extra water 00:36:16.819 --> 00:36:17.659 from other sources 00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:18.899 in places like Toronto 00:36:18.899 --> 00:36:20.339 and places like Montreal 00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.859 and the population 00:36:21.859 --> 00:36:22.759 would relocate 00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:23.279 and it would be 00:36:23.279 --> 00:36:23.839 a bit farther 00:36:23.839 --> 00:36:24.440 from the water 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.399 and cities like Ottawa 00:36:25.399 --> 00:36:26.619 would prosper 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.239 and those of you 00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:27.940 who have businesses 00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.259 here, 00:36:28.339 --> 00:36:29.259 own houses here 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:30.899 and if you were 00:36:30.899 --> 00:36:31.519 a really smart 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.379 business person 00:36:32.379 --> 00:36:33.359 and you saw it happen, 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.159 you might quickly 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:34.899 buy up a few 00:36:34.899 --> 00:36:36.259 other properties 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:37.500 knowing that your 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.359 property values 00:36:38.359 --> 00:36:38.839 are going to go 00:36:38.839 --> 00:36:39.179 way up 00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:39.500 and you're going 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.319 to make a killing. 00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:43.319 And you might 00:36:43.319 --> 00:36:43.879 or might not 00:36:43.879 --> 00:36:44.980 spend any time, 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:46.279 I might or might 00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.419 not spend any time 00:36:47.419 --> 00:36:47.980 thinking about 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.519 what's happening 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.079 in Kenya 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:50.079 and the Sudan 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:51.019 or even what's 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.899 happening in Toronto. 00:36:53.899 --> 00:36:54.739 That in fact, 00:36:54.839 --> 00:36:55.619 my safety, 00:36:55.879 --> 00:36:57.519 health and prosperity 00:36:57.519 --> 00:37:01.019 could just deepen me 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:02.460 in the idolatry 00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.339 of capitalism 00:37:03.339 --> 00:37:04.579 or central planning 00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.799 or of my own health, 00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:08.480 of the fact 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.340 that I am like 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:09.920 a god. 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.460 But is that 00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:13.119 what the Bible, 00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:13.679 is that what 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:15.099 all this talk 00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:16.019 about woe 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.059 and judgment, 00:37:17.219 --> 00:37:17.900 is that what 00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:19.059 the text is meaning 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.920 for those of us 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.400 who are part 00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:21.179 of the two-thirds? 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.460 Surely, 00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.260 it's a call 00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:24.960 to us. 00:37:25.740 --> 00:37:26.099 Surely, 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:26.820 it's a call 00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.320 to me 00:37:27.320 --> 00:37:28.159 and a call 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:28.760 to you. 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.900 Surely, 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.639 that's at the 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.699 heart of this text 00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:34.899 that we should 00:37:34.899 --> 00:37:35.939 not just walk 00:37:35.939 --> 00:37:36.480 about with 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.559 even harder 00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:38.439 hearts 00:37:38.439 --> 00:37:40.139 at the problems 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.879 that befall 00:37:40.879 --> 00:37:41.399 people, 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.460 but that God 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.339 wants us 00:37:43.339 --> 00:37:44.059 to incline 00:37:44.059 --> 00:37:44.739 our hearts 00:37:44.739 --> 00:37:45.219 to Him 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:46.159 and in the face 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:46.819 of suffering 00:37:46.819 --> 00:37:47.079 say, 00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:47.599 Father, 00:37:47.739 --> 00:37:48.439 have mercy 00:37:48.439 --> 00:37:49.039 on those 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:49.659 who are suffering 00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:50.199 and Father, 00:37:50.299 --> 00:37:50.839 have mercy 00:37:50.839 --> 00:37:51.179 on me. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.679 Incline my heart 00:37:52.679 --> 00:37:53.319 to you. 00:37:53.799 --> 00:37:54.339 And Father, 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.819 as I enjoy 00:37:55.819 --> 00:37:56.480 the blessing 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.359 at this time 00:37:57.359 --> 00:37:58.239 of great trouble 00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:59.039 on the planet, 00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:00.439 my health 00:38:00.439 --> 00:38:01.559 and my prosperity 00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.599 and my safety, 00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:03.139 Father, 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.360 deepen in me 00:38:04.360 --> 00:38:05.119 habits 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:06.239 which humbly 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:07.380 and gratefully 00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.420 bring glory 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.460 to God. 00:38:12.279 --> 00:38:13.219 Some of those habits 00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:13.759 will be habits 00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:14.559 of compassion 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.799 and generosity 00:38:15.799 --> 00:38:18.820 and prayer 00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:20.759 and ascending. 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:23.360 You see, 00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:24.259 friends, 00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:25.719 this is one of those, 00:38:25.799 --> 00:38:26.559 if you're a guest here, 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.940 you can understand, 00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:29.039 this is part of why 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:29.960 the Bible talks 00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:30.820 about tithing, 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.740 for instance. 00:38:32.580 --> 00:38:32.820 Like, 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:33.420 how is it 00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:34.400 when we're prosperous 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.860 and every one of us 00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:36.200 in this room, 00:38:36.240 --> 00:38:36.640 let me tell you, 00:38:36.660 --> 00:38:37.360 I was in Nairobi 00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:38.539 a few months ago 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:40.800 and I'm not trying 00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.780 to denigrate 00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.760 any poor person 00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:43.180 here in Ottawa, 00:38:43.240 --> 00:38:43.800 I'm not trying 00:38:43.800 --> 00:38:44.360 to denigrate 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:45.260 how hard it is, 00:38:45.580 --> 00:38:46.039 if you're here 00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:46.420 this morning 00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.100 you're very poor, 00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:48.120 I am not trying 00:38:48.120 --> 00:38:48.539 to denigrate 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.039 your experience, 00:38:49.100 --> 00:38:49.860 but let me tell you, 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.980 compared to Kenya, 00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:53.120 there are no poor 00:38:53.120 --> 00:38:53.840 people in Ottawa. 00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:57.120 I mean, 00:38:57.220 --> 00:38:58.000 compared to what 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:58.500 you can see 00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.280 on the city streets 00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:00.079 in a place 00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:00.700 like Kenya, 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:02.260 there is no poverty 00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:03.000 compared to that. 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:05.539 And even a poor 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.480 person is rich 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:08.680 compared to the 00:39:08.680 --> 00:39:09.440 real poverty, 00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:10.579 the unbelievable 00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:11.600 poverty in certain 00:39:11.600 --> 00:39:12.340 parts of the world. 00:39:13.579 --> 00:39:14.140 And so you see, 00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:14.880 how is it? 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:15.120 Okay, 00:39:15.240 --> 00:39:15.559 so I, 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.000 if God wants, 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:18.940 if God is calling me 00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:20.240 not to have my heart 00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:21.220 get hardened 00:39:21.219 --> 00:39:23.119 and hardened 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:23.859 in idolatry 00:39:23.859 --> 00:39:24.339 and deepened 00:39:24.339 --> 00:39:25.059 in idolatry, 00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:26.419 if God is calling me 00:39:26.419 --> 00:39:27.799 that while I enjoy 00:39:27.799 --> 00:39:29.239 prosperity and safety 00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.439 and physical health 00:39:30.439 --> 00:39:30.819 and strength 00:39:30.819 --> 00:39:31.619 that I am to somehow 00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:33.079 develop habits 00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:34.219 that bring glory 00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:35.079 to God 00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:36.439 and have me trust 00:39:36.439 --> 00:39:36.719 in Him 00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:37.699 and hope in Him, 00:39:37.759 --> 00:39:37.939 and well, 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:39.459 what might that look like? 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:40.459 And for some of us, 00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:41.659 it might be that God 00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:43.019 calls us to be 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:44.139 a type of a missionary 00:39:44.139 --> 00:39:45.299 or a type of pastor 00:39:45.299 --> 00:39:46.339 that means that we give up 00:39:46.339 --> 00:39:48.059 100% of what we have. 00:39:49.419 --> 00:39:50.779 But for most of us, 00:39:50.780 --> 00:39:52.200 it might just mean 10%. 00:39:52.200 --> 00:39:56.180 10% gratefully received. 00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:56.800 My kids, 00:39:57.100 --> 00:39:57.680 many of you might 00:39:57.680 --> 00:39:58.340 don't remember this, 00:39:58.440 --> 00:39:59.440 but about five 00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:00.620 or six years ago, 00:40:01.140 --> 00:40:01.980 seven years ago, 00:40:02.060 --> 00:40:02.460 a Kuro, 00:40:02.700 --> 00:40:03.880 a priest from Nigeria 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.280 was here, 00:40:04.360 --> 00:40:05.120 and just before he left 00:40:05.120 --> 00:40:05.900 to go back to Nigeria, 00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:06.460 I let him do 00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:07.840 a Nigerian service 00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.440 in Canada. 00:40:09.220 --> 00:40:11.780 And I am dancing 00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:12.280 challenge, 00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:13.040 I can't dance 00:40:13.040 --> 00:40:13.900 to save my life. 00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:15.740 And he wanted us 00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.940 to do the offering 00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:18.200 the Nigerian way, 00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:18.960 which means that we 00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:20.440 sang a praise song 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:21.539 and everybody danced 00:40:21.539 --> 00:40:23.039 down the central aisle 00:40:23.039 --> 00:40:24.059 to put money 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.559 in the plate. 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:25.579 And he announced 00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:26.000 to everybody 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.539 that George 00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.300 would leave the way. 00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:32.159 And I still have 00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:33.019 fallen memories 00:40:33.019 --> 00:40:33.860 of Kendra 00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:35.659 and this guy 00:40:35.659 --> 00:40:36.000 who doesn't go 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.559 to our church anymore 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:37.000 because he moved, 00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:37.639 his name's Guy. 00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:38.639 And they obviously 00:40:38.639 --> 00:40:40.679 saw my huge distress. 00:40:40.679 --> 00:40:42.899 And so they came 00:40:42.899 --> 00:40:43.799 and linked arms 00:40:43.799 --> 00:40:44.460 with me 00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:45.199 and helped, 00:40:45.319 --> 00:40:46.339 they did all the dancing, 00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:47.500 I sort of did this, 00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.419 like Frankenstein 00:40:49.419 --> 00:40:51.440 walking down the aisle. 00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:52.579 But they actually 00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.099 danced 00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:53.879 and sort of covered 00:40:53.879 --> 00:40:54.339 for me 00:40:54.339 --> 00:40:54.980 and we went down 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:56.119 the aisle. 00:40:56.839 --> 00:40:57.579 And you see, 00:40:57.819 --> 00:40:58.599 that type of those 00:40:58.599 --> 00:41:00.839 habits of financial 00:41:00.839 --> 00:41:01.379 sacrifice, 00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:02.599 that's why disciplines 00:41:02.599 --> 00:41:03.480 like tithing 00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:04.099 are in the Bible. 00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:06.480 But then some of you 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:06.860 might say, 00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:07.219 George, 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.279 aha, 00:41:09.219 --> 00:41:09.659 aha, 00:41:09.819 --> 00:41:10.159 aha, 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:13.319 I knew you were 00:41:13.319 --> 00:41:13.679 going to get 00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:14.239 to these type 00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:15.079 of religious rules, 00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:16.079 these types of things 00:41:16.079 --> 00:41:17.059 that I just don't like 00:41:17.059 --> 00:41:18.139 about the Christian faith. 00:41:18.839 --> 00:41:19.679 And while the rest 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:20.639 of it's very challenging, 00:41:20.779 --> 00:41:21.460 you're starting to touch 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:21.980 on something 00:41:21.980 --> 00:41:22.679 which is very, 00:41:22.759 --> 00:41:22.920 very, 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.599 very dangerous. 00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:24.679 Is it just, 00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:25.239 okay, 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:28.739 it's just religion, 00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:29.339 George, 00:41:29.420 --> 00:41:29.779 and you know, 00:41:29.839 --> 00:41:30.819 religion is all 00:41:30.819 --> 00:41:32.339 about paying off God. 00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:34.140 It's about going 00:41:34.140 --> 00:41:35.140 through certain types 00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:35.860 of motions 00:41:35.860 --> 00:41:37.120 to pay off God. 00:41:37.220 --> 00:41:37.700 And that's why 00:41:37.700 --> 00:41:38.579 I choose to spend 00:41:38.579 --> 00:41:39.600 my Sunday mornings 00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:41.200 not paying off God, 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:42.380 but I have a nice 00:41:42.380 --> 00:41:43.059 sleep in, 00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.420 I go to a Starbucks, 00:41:44.620 --> 00:41:46.340 I have a nice latte, 00:41:46.620 --> 00:41:47.360 I read the paper, 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.300 I have some fun. 00:41:48.660 --> 00:41:48.840 Like, 00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:49.640 I'm not into doing 00:41:49.640 --> 00:41:50.519 all these religious 00:41:50.519 --> 00:41:51.559 things to pay off God. 00:41:51.620 --> 00:41:52.039 Isn't that what 00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:52.720 you're talking about? 00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:53.300 Not at all. 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:55.160 Let's look at the part 00:41:55.160 --> 00:41:55.840 of the Bible here 00:41:55.840 --> 00:41:56.559 which I hadn't read. 00:41:56.620 --> 00:41:57.380 Let's look at the first 00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.079 five verses. 00:41:58.480 --> 00:41:58.980 In closing, 00:41:59.700 --> 00:42:01.200 I see my time is up 00:42:01.200 --> 00:42:01.820 so we'll have to do it 00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:02.360 very quick. 00:42:03.120 --> 00:42:03.920 Look at Revelation 00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:05.500 chapter 8 verses 1 to 5 00:42:05.500 --> 00:42:07.080 and I ask yourself 00:42:07.080 --> 00:42:07.660 two things. 00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.640 First of all, 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.280 what are they going 00:42:10.280 --> 00:42:11.000 to be looking at 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.780 during the half hour 00:42:11.780 --> 00:42:12.380 of silence 00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:14.440 and what's going on 00:42:14.440 --> 00:42:14.940 in the altar? 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:17.260 When the Lamb 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:18.580 opened the seventh seal, 00:42:19.120 --> 00:42:19.920 there was silence 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:20.840 in heaven for about 00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:21.559 half an hour. 00:42:22.500 --> 00:42:23.420 Then I saw 00:42:23.420 --> 00:42:24.360 the seven angels 00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:25.500 who stand before God 00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:26.500 and seven trumpets 00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.340 were given to them 00:42:27.340 --> 00:42:28.580 and another angel 00:42:28.580 --> 00:42:29.280 came and stood 00:42:29.280 --> 00:42:29.760 at the altar 00:42:29.760 --> 00:42:31.059 with a golden censer 00:42:31.059 --> 00:42:32.099 and he was given 00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.799 much incense 00:42:32.799 --> 00:42:33.340 to offer 00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:33.920 with the prayers 00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:34.679 of all the saints 00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:35.799 on the golden altar 00:42:35.799 --> 00:42:36.599 before the throne 00:42:36.599 --> 00:42:37.719 and the smoke 00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:38.340 of the incense 00:42:38.340 --> 00:42:38.980 with the prayers 00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:39.500 of the saints 00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:40.519 rose before God 00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:41.059 from the hand 00:42:41.059 --> 00:42:41.619 of the angel. 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:42.860 Then the angel 00:42:42.860 --> 00:42:43.779 took the censer 00:42:43.779 --> 00:42:44.719 and filled it with fire 00:42:44.719 --> 00:42:45.340 from the altar 00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:46.259 and threw it on the earth 00:42:46.259 --> 00:42:47.099 and there were peals 00:42:47.099 --> 00:42:47.579 of thunder, 00:42:47.739 --> 00:42:48.059 rumblings, 00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:48.980 flashes of lightning 00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:50.199 and an earthquake. 00:42:51.259 --> 00:42:52.739 The first six seals 00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.299 have come. 00:42:54.820 --> 00:42:55.400 The seventh, 00:42:55.639 --> 00:42:56.299 the chapter 00:42:56.299 --> 00:42:56.799 which we read 00:42:56.799 --> 00:42:57.559 just before that 00:42:57.559 --> 00:42:58.579 is sort of an interlude 00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.079 where we look 00:42:59.079 --> 00:42:59.659 at the saints 00:42:59.659 --> 00:43:00.840 and at the end 00:43:00.840 --> 00:43:01.739 of that interlude 00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:03.219 we have this profound 00:43:03.219 --> 00:43:04.319 hymn of praise 00:43:04.319 --> 00:43:05.019 and thanksgiving 00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:05.599 to the lamb 00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:06.380 who was slain 00:43:06.380 --> 00:43:07.480 for what he does 00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:08.199 for his people, 00:43:08.319 --> 00:43:09.059 how he'll wipe away 00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:09.779 every tear, 00:43:09.900 --> 00:43:10.539 he'll cover us 00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:11.440 with his presence. 00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:13.539 It's a beautiful, 00:43:13.699 --> 00:43:15.319 beautiful hymn of praise 00:43:15.319 --> 00:43:16.159 to what the lamb 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:17.000 does for those 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:17.779 who put their faith 00:43:17.779 --> 00:43:18.659 and trust in him 00:43:18.659 --> 00:43:19.699 and then we see 00:43:19.699 --> 00:43:20.259 the lamb 00:43:20.259 --> 00:43:21.039 who was slain. 00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:23.759 And for half an hour 00:43:23.760 --> 00:43:25.420 all of heaven 00:43:25.420 --> 00:43:26.660 is completely silent 00:43:26.660 --> 00:43:28.740 because they look 00:43:28.740 --> 00:43:30.480 at Jesus, 00:43:31.740 --> 00:43:32.680 the lamb 00:43:32.680 --> 00:43:33.340 who was slain. 00:43:34.780 --> 00:43:36.060 And then when it comes 00:43:36.060 --> 00:43:37.120 time for the altar 00:43:37.120 --> 00:43:39.480 there's no sacrificial 00:43:39.480 --> 00:43:40.880 animal on the altar. 00:43:41.620 --> 00:43:42.340 The altar 00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:43.340 is empty. 00:43:44.800 --> 00:43:46.120 Why is it empty? 00:43:47.540 --> 00:43:48.760 Because the lamb 00:43:48.760 --> 00:43:49.680 who was slain, 00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:51.300 the one 00:43:51.300 --> 00:43:52.220 for all 00:43:52.220 --> 00:43:52.980 sacrifice, 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:53.880 the once for all 00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:54.719 lamb of God 00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:55.760 that came to take away 00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:56.500 the sin of the world, 00:43:56.940 --> 00:43:57.840 that sacrifice 00:43:57.840 --> 00:43:59.900 has already been made 00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.880 on Calvary. 00:44:02.599 --> 00:44:03.260 And that's why 00:44:03.260 --> 00:44:04.460 there is no animal 00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:05.800 on the altar 00:44:05.800 --> 00:44:06.619 to be sacrificed. 00:44:06.820 --> 00:44:07.400 There's nothing 00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:08.099 on the altar 00:44:08.099 --> 00:44:08.920 to be sacrificed. 00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:11.039 And so for the first 00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:11.740 half hour 00:44:11.740 --> 00:44:13.019 they just all look 00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:14.139 at the lamb 00:44:14.139 --> 00:44:16.099 and then when it comes 00:44:16.099 --> 00:44:16.599 to the altar 00:44:16.599 --> 00:44:17.659 the altar is empty. 00:44:18.039 --> 00:44:18.619 See here's what 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:19.679 the Bible is teaching us 00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:20.559 before it goes into 00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:21.760 this teaching on suffering. 00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:24.060 It goes into this 00:44:24.060 --> 00:44:24.860 teaching on suffering 00:44:24.860 --> 00:44:25.960 knowing that in our 00:44:25.960 --> 00:44:27.140 pagan hearts 00:44:27.140 --> 00:44:29.540 in our pagan hearts 00:44:29.540 --> 00:44:30.980 we see always 00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:32.060 two options. 00:44:32.680 --> 00:44:33.700 And one option 00:44:33.700 --> 00:44:35.480 is to thumb our nose 00:44:35.480 --> 00:44:36.000 at God 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.760 and live an 00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:37.540 irreligious, 00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:38.580 unspiritual, 00:44:38.780 --> 00:44:39.800 materialistic, 00:44:40.300 --> 00:44:41.260 secular life. 00:44:41.620 --> 00:44:42.660 And the other option 00:44:42.660 --> 00:44:43.400 is to do a lot 00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:44.140 of that stuff 00:44:44.140 --> 00:44:45.700 but tip God 00:44:45.700 --> 00:44:47.440 by little sacrifices. 00:44:47.660 --> 00:44:48.720 A few dollars 00:44:48.719 --> 00:44:49.299 in the plate 00:44:49.299 --> 00:44:50.139 an appearance 00:44:50.139 --> 00:44:50.779 at church 00:44:50.779 --> 00:44:51.819 periodically 00:44:51.819 --> 00:44:53.459 or whatever it is 00:44:53.459 --> 00:44:54.559 to learn a mantra 00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:55.419 to learn how to do 00:44:55.419 --> 00:44:56.039 Tai Chi 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:57.199 to learn how to do this 00:44:57.199 --> 00:44:58.399 a little sacrifice 00:44:58.399 --> 00:44:59.239 that we offer 00:44:59.239 --> 00:45:00.779 to pay off God. 00:45:01.139 --> 00:45:02.039 But what the text 00:45:02.039 --> 00:45:02.659 is saying 00:45:02.659 --> 00:45:03.559 when it's going to be 00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:04.179 calling us 00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.980 and asking us 00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:05.799 whether suffering 00:45:05.799 --> 00:45:06.859 will incline our hearts 00:45:06.859 --> 00:45:07.259 to Him 00:45:07.259 --> 00:45:08.379 or away from Him 00:45:08.379 --> 00:45:09.719 or how we will use 00:45:09.719 --> 00:45:10.559 our prosperity 00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:11.139 and health 00:45:11.139 --> 00:45:12.539 all the way through it 00:45:12.539 --> 00:45:14.179 it sets the stage 00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:14.599 for that 00:45:14.599 --> 00:45:16.579 by first suggesting this 00:45:16.579 --> 00:45:17.439 if you could put it up 00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:17.800 Andrew. 00:45:19.220 --> 00:45:20.800 God is not waiting 00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:22.159 for me to make 00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:22.960 a sacrifice. 00:45:24.400 --> 00:45:25.360 He is waiting 00:45:25.360 --> 00:45:26.420 for me to humbly 00:45:26.420 --> 00:45:27.460 turn to Him 00:45:27.460 --> 00:45:28.840 and be gripped 00:45:28.840 --> 00:45:30.139 by the once for all 00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:31.099 sacrifice made 00:45:31.099 --> 00:45:31.720 by Jesus. 00:45:33.740 --> 00:45:34.900 In the suffering 00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:36.760 in the prosperity 00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:38.679 in the pauses 00:45:38.679 --> 00:45:39.200 between 00:45:39.200 --> 00:45:41.280 in the warning 00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:43.079 in all of that 00:45:43.079 --> 00:45:44.760 God's desire 00:45:44.760 --> 00:45:45.599 is not that I 00:45:45.599 --> 00:45:46.260 figure out 00:45:46.260 --> 00:45:46.760 some way 00:45:46.760 --> 00:45:47.640 to thumb my nose 00:45:47.640 --> 00:45:48.040 at Him 00:45:48.040 --> 00:45:48.820 or some way 00:45:48.820 --> 00:45:49.780 to make a sacrifice 00:45:49.780 --> 00:45:51.080 a religious act 00:45:51.080 --> 00:45:52.420 that will pay Him off. 00:45:53.320 --> 00:45:54.160 He wants me 00:45:54.160 --> 00:45:54.940 to join 00:45:54.940 --> 00:45:56.240 with the saints 00:45:56.240 --> 00:45:56.780 in heaven 00:45:56.780 --> 00:45:57.840 and all the angels 00:45:57.840 --> 00:45:58.680 and archangels 00:45:58.680 --> 00:46:01.400 and not think 00:46:01.400 --> 00:46:03.180 that I can make 00:46:03.180 --> 00:46:03.820 a sacrifice 00:46:03.820 --> 00:46:05.040 He is waiting 00:46:05.040 --> 00:46:06.040 for me to humbly 00:46:06.040 --> 00:46:07.120 turn to Him 00:46:07.120 --> 00:46:08.660 and be gripped 00:46:08.660 --> 00:46:09.900 by the once 00:46:09.900 --> 00:46:10.580 for all 00:46:10.580 --> 00:46:11.520 sacrifice 00:46:11.520 --> 00:46:12.480 made 00:46:12.480 --> 00:46:13.880 by Jesus. 00:46:13.880 --> 00:46:16.019 God's wrath 00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:17.300 that I deserved 00:46:17.300 --> 00:46:18.519 on Him. 00:46:20.940 --> 00:46:21.780 You see 00:46:21.780 --> 00:46:22.240 as we 00:46:22.240 --> 00:46:23.660 look upon 00:46:23.660 --> 00:46:24.460 the once for all 00:46:24.460 --> 00:46:25.019 sacrifice 00:46:25.019 --> 00:46:26.160 made by Jesus 00:46:26.160 --> 00:46:27.940 as that 00:46:27.940 --> 00:46:29.160 grips us 00:46:29.160 --> 00:46:31.940 as it grips us 00:46:31.940 --> 00:46:34.180 it will push us 00:46:34.180 --> 00:46:35.180 into new life. 00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:37.619 It will shape us 00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:38.960 in terms of 00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:40.140 an understanding 00:46:40.140 --> 00:46:40.640 of a need 00:46:40.640 --> 00:46:41.519 for compassion 00:46:41.519 --> 00:46:42.500 in new life. 00:46:43.440 --> 00:46:44.239 The vision 00:46:44.239 --> 00:46:44.619 that it's 00:46:44.619 --> 00:46:44.980 the end 00:46:44.980 --> 00:46:45.500 of all things 00:46:45.500 --> 00:46:46.679 will draw us 00:46:46.679 --> 00:46:47.780 to new life 00:46:47.780 --> 00:46:48.880 and new habits. 00:46:50.159 --> 00:46:50.820 And the once 00:46:50.820 --> 00:46:51.139 for all 00:46:51.139 --> 00:46:51.860 nature of it 00:46:51.860 --> 00:46:52.679 and the historical 00:46:52.679 --> 00:46:53.639 nature of it 00:46:53.639 --> 00:46:55.280 grounds us. 00:46:57.179 --> 00:46:58.420 What about you? 00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:00.739 What about you? 00:47:01.280 --> 00:47:02.079 Is this text 00:47:02.079 --> 00:47:03.219 hardening your heart 00:47:03.219 --> 00:47:04.759 or softening it? 00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:05.820 Is it 00:47:05.820 --> 00:47:06.719 hardening you 00:47:06.719 --> 00:47:07.500 towards God 00:47:07.500 --> 00:47:08.739 or softening 00:47:08.739 --> 00:47:09.500 you and me 00:47:09.500 --> 00:47:10.139 towards God? 00:47:10.139 --> 00:47:11.179 Let's stand. 00:47:25.739 --> 00:47:26.420 Father, 00:47:28.099 --> 00:47:32.639 it's hard for us 00:47:32.639 --> 00:47:33.119 to admit 00:47:33.119 --> 00:47:34.239 that there is 00:47:34.239 --> 00:47:34.980 a confusion 00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:36.159 and lack of clarity 00:47:36.159 --> 00:47:37.279 and a selfishness 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:39.300 and a self-centeredness 00:47:39.300 --> 00:47:40.400 and an idolatry 00:47:40.400 --> 00:47:41.120 within us 00:47:41.120 --> 00:47:41.620 that makes 00:47:41.620 --> 00:47:42.280 your word 00:47:42.280 --> 00:47:42.980 unclear 00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:46.480 that confuses us 00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:48.120 about what 00:47:48.120 --> 00:47:48.560 your word 00:47:48.560 --> 00:47:49.260 talks about. 00:47:49.960 --> 00:47:50.760 We thank you, 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:51.040 Father, 00:47:51.120 --> 00:47:51.940 for your word. 00:47:52.280 --> 00:47:52.960 We thank you, 00:47:53.080 --> 00:47:53.280 Father, 00:47:53.380 --> 00:47:54.040 for the once 00:47:54.040 --> 00:47:54.940 for all sacrifice 00:47:54.940 --> 00:47:55.660 of your Son 00:47:55.660 --> 00:47:56.540 upon the cross. 00:47:57.140 --> 00:47:57.720 We ask, 00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:58.120 Father, 00:47:58.200 --> 00:47:59.140 that in your mercy 00:47:59.140 --> 00:48:00.120 and in your kindness 00:48:00.120 --> 00:48:01.120 your Holy Spirit 00:48:01.120 --> 00:48:02.019 would be deeply 00:48:02.019 --> 00:48:02.700 poured out 00:48:02.700 --> 00:48:03.820 within me, 00:48:03.940 --> 00:48:04.900 within each one 00:48:04.900 --> 00:48:05.460 who is here. 00:48:05.460 --> 00:48:06.220 we ask, 00:48:06.420 --> 00:48:06.579 Father, 00:48:06.679 --> 00:48:07.320 in your mercy 00:48:07.320 --> 00:48:08.139 and your kindness 00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:09.199 that your Holy Spirit 00:48:09.199 --> 00:48:09.960 would be deeply 00:48:09.960 --> 00:48:11.460 poured out upon us 00:48:11.460 --> 00:48:13.220 to soften our heart 00:48:13.220 --> 00:48:14.159 towards you, 00:48:14.740 --> 00:48:16.679 to incline our hearts 00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:17.480 and minds 00:48:17.480 --> 00:48:18.720 and wills 00:48:18.720 --> 00:48:19.619 towards you, 00:48:19.820 --> 00:48:21.760 to turn our eyes 00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:22.579 to the once 00:48:22.579 --> 00:48:23.500 for all sacrifice 00:48:23.500 --> 00:48:24.119 of Jesus 00:48:24.119 --> 00:48:25.179 upon the cross 00:48:25.179 --> 00:48:26.900 so that as we 00:48:26.900 --> 00:48:28.619 think upon that, 00:48:28.780 --> 00:48:29.360 that it will 00:48:29.360 --> 00:48:30.980 so grip us 00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:31.720 to push us 00:48:31.720 --> 00:48:32.500 into new life, 00:48:32.500 --> 00:48:33.860 so grip us 00:48:33.860 --> 00:48:34.780 to draw us 00:48:34.780 --> 00:48:35.599 into new life, 00:48:36.039 --> 00:48:37.099 so grip us 00:48:37.099 --> 00:48:38.239 to shape us 00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:38.940 in new life, 00:48:39.079 --> 00:48:40.420 and so grip us 00:48:40.420 --> 00:48:41.679 to ground us 00:48:41.679 --> 00:48:43.860 and be the basis 00:48:43.860 --> 00:48:45.239 for all new life 00:48:45.239 --> 00:48:46.219 that we enter into. 00:48:46.599 --> 00:48:47.139 And, Father, 00:48:47.219 --> 00:48:48.000 it is the cry 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:48.739 of our hearts 00:48:48.739 --> 00:48:49.860 that your Holy Spirit 00:48:49.860 --> 00:48:51.599 would so turn 00:48:51.599 --> 00:48:52.760 our eyes 00:48:52.760 --> 00:48:53.980 towards your Son. 00:48:55.300 --> 00:48:56.179 And this we ask 00:48:56.179 --> 00:48:57.179 in the name of Jesus, 00:48:57.380 --> 00:48:57.980 your Son, 00:48:58.139 --> 00:48:58.840 and our Savior. 00:48:59.519 --> 00:48:59.880 Amen. 00:48:59.880 --> 00:49:00.019 Amen.