WEBVTT

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 Have you ever seen a professional athlete, maybe they are a football quarterback or a hockey player or a boxer?

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 They're kind of been through the competition and they're kind of dazed.

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 Oftentimes you'll see them snort something, smelling salts, and it's designed to focus them.

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 You see it in boxing a lot, in the corner, the manager dealing with a beat-up boxer, snaps open this small vial and it just is a pungent odor.

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 And it wakes them up.

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 This morning we have turned to the second letter of the seven churches.

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 It's the letter, the message to Smyrna.

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 And it is smelling salts for us.

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 It's to focus us.

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 If Revelation 2, 8 through 11 were a kind of smelling salts, it would be this stark reminder of what the stakes are.

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 What one can lose for being a faithful follower of the risen, radiant, and reigning Jesus Christ.

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 So this passage, these four verses, smelling salts to our soul.

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 They would have been smelling salts to Smyrna, those Christians back in that first century.

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 And it's smelling salts to us.

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 Now don't get me wrong.

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 Well, there is a glorious, glorious picture of Jesus here.

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 And there is encouragement for our souls.

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 But it's against the backdrop of suffering, tribulation.

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 And these four verses are filled with words like tribulation, suffering, testing, prison, devil, dungeons, death, difficulty.

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 Jesus speaks right into it.

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 And this morning, Christ the King Church, on our fifth anniversary, God is providing us a sober reminder.

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 The stakes are high.

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 Jesus is worth it.

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 So be faithful to the end.

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 The stakes are high.

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 Jesus is worth it.

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 So be faithful to the end.

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 Last week, when we were looking at the letter to the church in Ephesus,

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 I showed you seven common components to all these seven layers.

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 There is this structure in each one of these seven letters that's common to them all.

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 It unifies them.

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 And this letter to Smyrna is no exception.

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 There's some little differences, though.

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 And so we're going to start by looking at, one, the address to this church.

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 It's to Smyrna.

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 I'll tell you a little bit about it.

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 And then John moves to addressing something about Christ.

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 Something about some aspects of who he is that are very purposefully highlighted for this church.

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 And then we move from church Christ to claim.

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 Jesus says, I know some things about you, Smyrna.

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 And from claim, he moves to commendation.

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 It's not as clear as the commendation to Ephesus.

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 Oh, but there is a commendation here.

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 Think parenthesis.

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 Jesus moves us from commendation then to speaking of a coming crisis.

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 This is where it differs from the other letters.

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 There's something about to happen to the Christians in Smyrna.

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 And Jesus tells them.

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 And in that coming crisis, he speaks a word, six point, of encouragement.

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 And it's been echoing through the church for millennia.

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 There's encouragement for us here, brothers and sisters.

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 And he closes with a closing call.

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 All these seven components are designed to be smelling salts to us.

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 To be a sober reminder that the stakes are high.

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 Your Jesus is worth it.

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 And we're to be faithful to the end.

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 And to be honest, I can't think of a better thing for us to hear on our anniversary Sunday.

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 So let's start with this church in Smyrna.

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 A little background.

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 This Smyrna was a city about 35 miles, 40 miles north of Ephesus.

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 And it was on this circuitous trade route that connected all these seven churches.

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 And so we're moving up to Smyrna.

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 And like Ephesus, it was a port on the Aegean Sea.

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 And it sat on a mouth to a river.

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 And so this city was an active trade city.

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 Ephesus was about 225,000 people in the first century.

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 Smyrna was about 200,000.

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 So it was a big place.

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 Two times the size of our city, Kenosha.

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 But here's what you need to understand about Smyrna.

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 They were staunchly, this city was staunchly pro-Roman.

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 Rome was the imperial authority of this time.

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 It was ruling over a huge amount of the earth at this time.

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 And Smyrna had hitched its wagon to the Rome pony hundreds of years before this letter was written to this church in Smyrna.

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 And so if you walked into the Agora, the marketplace of Smyrna, do you know what you would see?

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 You would see t-shirts.

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 Mia Roma!

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 You would see coffee cups.

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 Rome first!

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 This city was staunchly, enthusiastically behind the Roman agenda.

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 Now, let me just remind you.

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 About just a year or two earlier, the Emperor Domitian, who was the emperor when the Smyrna church was existing,

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 he required all of his citizen subjects in the entire Roman Empire to once a year go to an imperial temple,

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 walk in, take a pinch of incense, throw it on the altar, and then confess with your lips that Caesar is Lord.

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 He required it of everyone in the empire.

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 It was a way to unite the empire around him in worship.

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 So if you're a Christian living in this day, you know instantly that this is posing some kind of crisis.

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 You're going to have to decide whether or not you're going to do that.

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 Whether you're going to compromise and confess Caesar as your Lord,

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 or stay true to Jesus as your one and only Lord.

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 So you can imagine that if you're living in Smyrna in the first century,

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 with this requirement to worship the emperor,

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 you can bet on it that it would have been strictly enforced.

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 With one exception.

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 There was a group of people that this didn't apply to.

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 The Jews living in the Roman Empire of the time.

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 Now it's estimated there's five million Jews living in the world at this time.

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 Four million were living within the boundaries of the Roman Empire.

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 And Rome made a very shrewd political compromise with the Jews.

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 They said to the Jews living all throughout their empire,

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 Hey, you don't need to go to the temple.

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 You don't need to throw the pinch of incense.

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 You don't need to say Caesar is Lord.

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 We recognize that you are a monotheist.

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 We recognize you worship Yahweh alone.

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 So just pay us a tax.

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 We'll be happy.

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 And the Jews agreed.

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 Do you know why I'm telling you this history?

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 Here's why.

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 Romans viewed Christians as a sect of Judaism.

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 So our Christian brothers and sisters living in the first century,

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 from the Roman eyes, were considered kind of an offshoot of Judaism.

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 So they were grandfathered into this exception.

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 That they didn't have to worship Caesar.

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 Because they were seen as being part of the Jewish people.

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 Well, that's all well and good.

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 Until the Jewish people who reject Jesus as a crucified Messiah, rejected them.

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 And so when the Jews living in Smyrna, who rejected Jesus, rejected his church,

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 all of a sudden these Christians of the church of Smyrna have been pushed out of the umbrella of Judaism

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 and fully exposed to all penalties, death being one of them for not worshiping the emperor.

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 Our brothers and sisters in Smyrna, you're going to meet them someday.

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 They're in a precarious position.

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 What is Jesus going to say to them?

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 Let's now go from this church.

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 The stakes all of a sudden got real high, didn't they?

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 Let's go from this church now to looking at the Christ.

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 And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write,

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 The words of the first and the last who died and came to life.

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 There are two things that Jesus wants this Smyrna church to know about him.

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 Who he is, the first and the last, and what he's done.

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 He's no longer dead.

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 He's alive.

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 Both are very important.

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 Both are aimed at this church.

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 That little phrase, the first and the last,

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 well, it's a reference back to chapter 1, verse 17,

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 where Jesus puts his hand on the prostrate John,

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 and he says,

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 Fear not, I'm the first and the last, the living one.

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 It's a word of comfort.

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 But what you also need to understand is that that phrase,

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 first and last,

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 when a Jewish person would hear that,

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 or someone with a working understanding of the Old Testament,

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 you know what would be popping in their head right then?

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 First and last.

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 Where have I heard that?

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 First and last.

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 Oh, Isaiah 41.

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 Oh, Isaiah 43.

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 Oh, Isaiah 44.

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 Oh, Isaiah 48.

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 Yahweh claimed to be the first and last.

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 And in those passages,

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 in Isaiah 40,

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 Yahweh, the great I am,

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 he is saying,

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 I'm the first and last.

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 I am sovereignly reigning over all things.

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 And there's no one besides me.

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 It's a huge claim.

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 And so,

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 Jesus is claiming to be God.

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 And that he is sovereign over all,

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 and there's none besides him.

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 Not even the emperor.

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 It's a huge claim.

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 But he just doesn't stay there.

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 He talks about who he is,

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 the first and the last.

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 And if you're a Christian living at that time,

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 you'd be like,

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 okay, if he's the first and the last,

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 man, he is before me and after me.

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 He is bookending me.

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 He surrounds me,

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 just like it is true today.

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 But he moves on.

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 Not just saying who he is.

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 He talks about what he's done.

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 Who died and came to life.

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 You see that there?

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 Who died and came to life.

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 Our brothers and sisters in Smyrna,

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 when they heard that,

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 their hearts would have rose

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 in their hearts.

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 He's no longer talking about

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 sovereign control over all things.

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 He's not talking about

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 sovereign control over the devil,

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 or dungeons,

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 or difficulty,

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 or even death.

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 Well,

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 he is actually talking about death here.

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 He says it right there.

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 who died

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 and came to life.

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 Let me kind of translate

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 this intention.

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 Jesus is saying to this church,

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 you need not fear death

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 because

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 the one speaking to you

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 has overcome it

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 and has authority over it.

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 See?

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 Jingle, jingle.

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 I've got the keys

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 to death and Hades.

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 1.18.

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 Here's what Jesus is saying

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 in this church

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 who's facing persecution.

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 Even unto death.

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 Verse 10.

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 Here's what he's saying to them.

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 Hey,

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 my people,

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 I was dead

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 and now I'm alive.

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 I beat death

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 to death

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 with my death

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 and I'm going to throw death

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 into the second death.

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 death.

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 That's what he's saying.

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 I'm its victor.

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 I won

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 over death.

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 Jesus is speaking

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 to this church

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 as one

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 from the

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 other side

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 of death.

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 I've come through

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 and I'm going to bring you

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 through too,

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 Smyrna.

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 I've got you.

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 So how do you think

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 our brothers and sisters

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 in Smyrna

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 who are facing persecution

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 even unto death,

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 when they hear this letter

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 read to them,

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 how do you think

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 that they're going to respond?

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 I think they're going to respond

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 with the sense of,

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 okay, okay, okay.

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 He is in control.

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 He's won the victory

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 and that translates,

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 those truths

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 about Jesus

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 translate

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 into present hope

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 which translate

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 then into

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 present day courage

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 to press on.

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 imagine that one day

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 you're sitting

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 at the great

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 marriage feast

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 of the Lamb

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 and you're sitting

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 next to someone

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 never seen him before

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 and you're like,

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 hey, my name is Mike.

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 You know,

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 I'm 21st century

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 church of Kenosha

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 and he says back to me,

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 oh,

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 my name is Alexander

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 first century

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 church of Smyrna.

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 I'm like,

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 oh, man.

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 Alexander,

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 talk to me, man.

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 Talk to me.

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 What was it like

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 to get the letter?

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:38.379
 Mike,

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.040
 let me tell you,

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:41.740
 right up to that point

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:44.500
 before that messenger

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.220
 brought the book

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:45.800
 of Revelation

00:15:45.800 --> 00:15:46.759
 and Jesus spoke

00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.300
 those words,

00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:48.040
 I'll tell you what,

00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:50.160
 I was flipping out.

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.379
 I was freaking out.

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.720
 I was thinking,

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.460
 we're done.

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:56.060
 I cannot confess

00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:57.580
 Caesar as my Lord.

00:15:57.800 --> 00:15:58.660
 I can't go into

00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.220
 that temple.

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.500
 I can't throw a pinch

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.600
 of incense on that altar.

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.600
 I can't do it

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.580
 and because we got

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.560
 kicked out by the Jews,

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.900
 I can't do any of that.

00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:08.940
 So I'm flipping out.

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.720
 I'm thinking we got to move.

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.420
 I'm thinking we got to

00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:12.060
 get somewhere else.

00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:12.879
 What does this mean

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.519
 for my kids?

00:16:13.780 --> 00:16:14.200
 What does it mean

00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.860
 for my wife?

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.379
 What does it mean

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.120
 for my livelihood?

00:16:17.780 --> 00:16:19.060
 And then the messenger

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:20.519
 showed up with the book

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:23.500
 and Jesus spoke

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:25.019
 to our church

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:26.939
 and he said,

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.799
 he said,

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.460
 Smyrna,

00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:30.120
 my church in Smyrna,

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.740
 I'm in control.

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.939
 I'm the first

00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:35.679
 and the last.

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:38.120
 I've won the victory

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.939
 over death

00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:39.419
 and do you know

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:39.980
 what happened?

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:40.579
 Mike,

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:40.899
 do you know

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.279
 what happened?

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.179
 No, Alexander,

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:42.919
 tell me what happened.

00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.279
 He gave us strength.

00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:49.699
 Two months later,

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.379
 two of my friends

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:50.900
 got arrested.

00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:51.700
 One was killed.

00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:53.580
 We remained faithful

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.400
 to the end.

00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:55.879
 I didn't know

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.379
 what was happening

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.640
 but we were holding

00:16:57.640 --> 00:16:58.600
 on to Jesus.

00:17:01.640 --> 00:17:03.700
 Can you imagine that?

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.759
 These words meant

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.680
 everything to our

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.440
 brothers and sisters

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:08.940
 in Smyrna

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.620
 in the first century.

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:13.200
 Now here's the gap

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:13.860
 we need to bridge

00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:14.299
 right now.

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.059
 We hear these things

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.799
 and we're like,

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.180
 okay,

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.440
 they were persecuted

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:20.360
 intensely facing death.

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.180
 We don't really

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.799
 have to deal with it

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.240
 as Christians

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.340
 living in the 21st century

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:23.900
 here in America.

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.940
 Okay,

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.779
 that's good to know.

00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:27.480
 Let's move on.

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.420
 Well,

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.360
 let me ask you this.

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.060
 How do you think

00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:33.120
 the church of Ephesus

00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:35.400
 after hearing

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.640
 what Jesus said

00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.220
 to them,

00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.100
 return to me

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:39.900
 as your first love,

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:41.039
 how do you think

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.220
 they would have responded

00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.600
 when they heard

00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:45.019
 what the risen Christ

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.720
 said to the church

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.559
 of Smyrna

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:49.379
 because they would

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:49.920
 have heard it?

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.500
 Their brothers and sisters

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.339
 40 miles down the street.

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.379
 Do you think

00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.220
 they would have responded,

00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.480
 honey,

00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:58.799
 man,

00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:00.039
 man,

00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:00.740
 I'm glad we moved

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.299
 out of Smyrna

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.200
 14 years ago.

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.339
 Man,

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:03.960
 I'm glad we're out

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.599
 of that place.

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.319
 I mean,

00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:06.119
 Ephesus is looking

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.019
 really good right now.

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.839
 Maybe they would have

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.279
 said that

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.720
 but I think

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.079
 they would have

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:11.799
 eventually got,

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.920
 I think the pastors

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.579
 of the church

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.200
 of Ephesus

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.740
 would have said,

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.279
 hey,

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:15.860
 gang,

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.880
 we just heard word

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.519
 from Smyrna

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.340
 that they're facing

00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:19.039
 some hard stuff.

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:19.840
 We're calling

00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.720
 a prayer meeting.

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.840
 We're going to pray

00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.360
 for them.

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.380
 We're going to ask

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:28.259
 Jesus,

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.660
 who's our first love,

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.960
 that they would keep

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.519
 Jesus as their

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.299
 first love

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.900
 and that they would

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.840
 endure to the end.

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.240
 That they won't

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.319
 confess that Caesar

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:39.819
 is Lord

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.580
 because he's not.

00:18:42.580 --> 00:18:43.319
 That they would

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:43.900
 confess

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.980
 Jesus

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.920
 as their only

00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.580
 one Lord

00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:48.040
 and deal

00:18:48.040 --> 00:18:48.820
 with the consequences.

00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.480
 He's the first

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.180
 and the last.

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.900
 He died

00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.880
 and is now alive.

00:18:59.380 --> 00:18:59.740
 The stakes

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.320
 are high.

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.240
 Jesus

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.220
 is worth it.

00:19:05.540 --> 00:19:06.180
 Be faithful

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.000
 to the end.

00:19:07.560 --> 00:19:08.380
 This past week

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:08.660
 I

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:11.620
 saw a video,

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.519
 five minute video.

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.400
 If you want to

00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:14.079
 write this down,

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.940
 I would encourage you

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.599
 to write it down.

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.500
 The website is

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:18.740
 persecution.com.

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:19.859
 It's the website

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.500
 of the Voice

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.160
 of the Martyrs.

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.960
 And it's an organization

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.940
 committed to

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:26.379
 making known

00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:27.059
 the plight

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.079
 of the persecuted

00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:28.680
 church,

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.139
 our brothers and sisters

00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.920
 around the world

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.759
 who are suffering

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.940
 directly for

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.180
 confessing Jesus

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:34.980
 as their Lord

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:36.379
 and they are there

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.160
 to encourage

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.400
 the persecuted church.

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:39.440
 church.

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.900
 This past week

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:41.740
 I watched a video,

00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:42.460
 you'll see it

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.140
 if you go there,

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:44.880
 about

00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.660
 Christians,

00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:47.380
 four Christians

00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.160
 in Pakistan,

00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:49.040
 in Fassal,

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.700
 Pakistan.

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.040
 And what

00:19:52.040 --> 00:19:54.480
 they are having

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.460
 to live with

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.240
 because they're

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.420
 a minority group

00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.340
 in a predominantly

00:19:58.340 --> 00:19:59.640
 Muslim country.

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.820
 It's going to

00:20:02.820 --> 00:20:03.660
 sadden you,

00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:06.019
 but it is going

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.099
 to encourage you.

00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.139
 One of the things

00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:12.700
 that's going to be

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.319
 important for us

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.779
 as a church

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.480
 moving forward,

00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.119
 I think we're

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.400
 going to be

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:16.819
 dealing with

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.579
 our own persecution

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.200
 in the States,

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.079
 mildly,

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:21.379
 but we need

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.240
 to know what's

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.879
 going on with

00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:23.559
 our brothers and

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.160
 sisters around

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.599
 the world.

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.519
 We need to know

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.160
 what's going on

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.720
 in Pakistan,

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.359
 in China,

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.160
 North Korea,

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.200
 in Iran,

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.579
 and in Nepal.

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:36.439
 who he is

00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:38.419
 and what he's

00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:38.740
 done.

00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:42.019
 He's worth it.

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.439
 He's worth it.

00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.919
 And then we move

00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:47.199
 from that to the

00:20:47.199 --> 00:20:47.879
 claim.

00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:50.019
 This Jesus,

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:53.000
 he claims

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.559
 something.

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:54.819
 Verse 9,

00:20:54.939 --> 00:20:55.799
 I know,

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.019
 I know your

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.659
 tribulation,

00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.379
 I know your

00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:58.879
 poverty,

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.919
 I know your

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:01.159
 being slandered,

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.519
 he knows all

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.340
 these things.

00:21:04.080 --> 00:21:04.920
 He knows all

00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.440
 these things

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.600
 about that

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.060
 church,

00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:08.080
 and about the

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.560
 six other

00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:08.940
 churches,

00:21:09.320 --> 00:21:10.060
 and about all

00:21:10.060 --> 00:21:10.460
 the other

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:10.960
 churches at

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.420
 that time,

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.800
 and about every

00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:13.860
 church of every

00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:14.720
 time and every

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.840
 place since.

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.200
 He's dialed

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.660
 into his

00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:18.960
 people.

00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:21.259
 He knows

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.779
 what's going

00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.100
 on.

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.840
 He knows

00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:24.720
 the tribulation,

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.019
 the pressure

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.019
 that they were

00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.980
 experiencing

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.800
 because they

00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:30.779
 had confessed

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.899
 Jesus as

00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:32.339
 Lord,

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:32.940
 and they

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.720
 weren't going

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.559
 to waver

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.039
 on it.

00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.019
 He knows

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.920
 the crushing

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.420
 pressure,

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.299
 the suffocating

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:38.720
 pressure,

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.000
 the wilting

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.500
 pressure,

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:42.139
 the isolating

00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:43.279
 pressure that

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.899
 comes with that.

00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.079
 He knows,

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.519
 I know.

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.440
 He knows

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.119
 their poverty.

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.019
 He knows

00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.480
 that these

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.220
 Christians in

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.680
 Smyrna,

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.180
 he knows that

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.899
 doors were

00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:55.799
 closing of

00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.339
 opportunities for

00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.460
 his people in

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.000
 that city

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.079
 because they

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.759
 confessed him

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.279
 as Lord.

00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:01.960
 Could you

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.920
 imagine you

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.500
 walking in,

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.120
 you see on

00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.840
 the marketplace,

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.700
 help wanted,

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.519
 you walk in,

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.120
 you're like,

00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.779
 hey, I'd like

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.319
 the job,

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.079
 and it comes

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.640
 out that you're

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.100
 a Christian,

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:10.940
 and that

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:12.039
 shopkeeper says,

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.700
 well, position

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.799
 filled, only to

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.299
 find out the

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.299
 next day your

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:15.940
 friend who's not

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.519
 a Christian got

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.319
 the job after

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.620
 you.

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.079
 That's what was

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.579
 going on.

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.400
 No work,

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.460
 only indignified

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.559
 work.

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.679
 that voice of

00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:27.319
 the martyrs,

00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.279
 I almost showed

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.759
 it here this

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.079
 morning.

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.299
 What you will

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:32.619
 see will rend

00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.259
 your heart,

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.359
 but it will

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:35.919
 encourage your

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.220
 heart.

00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.480
 Poverty.

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.500
 Material poverty

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.679
 on account of

00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:43.019
 Jesus.

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.259
 Jesus knows.

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.000
 And Jesus knew

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.419
 that they were

00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:50.659
 being slandered.

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.759
 And the slander

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.599
 of those who say

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.339
 that they are Jews

00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:54.899
 and are not,

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.580
 but are synagogue

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.300
 of Satan.

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.420
 The Jews in

00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:00.880
 Smyrna of this

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.680
 time, who hadn't

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:03.019
 believed that Jesus

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.100
 is the crucified

00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:05.180
 and risen Messiah,

00:23:05.780 --> 00:23:07.860
 they were slandering,

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.680
 speaking falsely,

00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:11.080
 intending to hurt

00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:12.060
 with their words

00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:13.220
 our brothers and

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.620
 sisters living at

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.160
 that time.

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.680
 Think about this.

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.560
 Think about, like,

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.960
 the Roman governing

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.100
 officials in Smyrna.

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.280
 They had a 1-800

00:23:21.280 --> 00:23:21.900
 tip line.

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.360
 And that 1-800

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.160
 tip line was,

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.019
 hey, if you see

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.880
 anybody not

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.800
 worshiping Caesar

00:23:26.800 --> 00:23:27.880
 as Lord, you just

00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:28.960
 call us and we'll

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.700
 take care of that

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.500
 insurrectionist.

00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:33.240
 Well, there was a lot

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.740
 of anonymous Jewish

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.519
 people who had

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.380
 rejected Jesus,

00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:37.600
 calling that 1-800

00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.100
 number.

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.040
 And you know what?

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.740
 On the next day,

00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.539
 there was a lot of

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.279
 knocks on our

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.039
 brothers and sisters

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.480
 doors.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.259
 Hey, have you

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.899
 confessed Caesar

00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.259
 as Lord?

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.559
 Let's go together

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.559
 now to the temple

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:51.240
 and you can do the

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.599
 pinch of incense

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:54.240
 on the altar so

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.079
 that we can watch

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.579
 you confess Caesar

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.039
 as Lord.

00:23:59.139 --> 00:23:59.700
 Slander.

00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.079
 But Jesus knew.

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.759
 Jesus knew what

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.759
 was going on.

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:12.579
 these particular

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.859
 Jews who were

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.759
 claiming to be

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.859
 real descendants

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.859
 of Abraham.

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.940
 Jesus knew

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:21.240
 that they were

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.740
 not.

00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:24.659
 That's Jesus

00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.139
 speaking.

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.980
 Jesus knew

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.879
 that their

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:29.539
 hearts,

00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:30.720
 though they were

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.839
 professing to be

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:33.639
 devoted to

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.139
 Yahweh,

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:36.240
 they were far

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.960
 from Yahweh

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.659
 because they had

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.779
 rejected Him

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:40.660
 as the Messiah.

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.639
 Did you notice

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.180
 the connection

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.440
 between slander

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.639
 and Satan?

00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.160
 Satan,

00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.099
 the devil,

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.000
 the enemy of our

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.359
 soul,

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.299
 he is the

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.779
 accuser of the

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.259
 brethren.

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.259
 And what these

00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.099
 Jews who had

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.920
 rejected Jesus,

00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.319
 they were trying

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.700
 to say in the

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.779
 name of Yahweh,

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.000
 were actually

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.680
 opposing the

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.640
 God of the

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:10.019
 Bible by

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.480
 causing God's

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:11.940
 new people,

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.400
 the church,

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.180
 to suffer.

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.980
 They were

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.900
 doing Satan's

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.359
 work.

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.140
 That's why they're

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.859
 called a synagogue

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.500
 of Satan.

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.940
 But Jesus knew.

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.940
 He knows the

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.579
 pressure that they

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:26.900
 were under.

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:28.759
 He knows the

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.779
 impoverty, the

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.680
 impoverishment that

00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.339
 they were suffering.

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.619
 He knows the

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.259
 slander they are

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.940
 experiencing.

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:35.880
 He knows our

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.759
 last five years

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.480
 and all that

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.059
 went into it.

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.140
 He knows the

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.960
 next five years

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.559
 of Christ the

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.500
 King Church and

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.220
 all that will go

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.660
 into that.

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.700
 He knows what's

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.039
 coming.

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.880
 He knows what

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.680
 storms are brewing.

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.660
 He knows it.

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.720
 He knows.

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.240
 And He's the

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.860
 first and the

00:25:53.860 --> 00:25:54.299
 last.

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.360
 The one who

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:58.000
 died and is

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.779
 now alive.

00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.400
 Who gave

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.620
 Himself for us.

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:06.799
 He claims.

00:26:07.219 --> 00:26:07.879
 He knows.

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.339
 He knows

00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:10.799
 everything.

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.699
 For those

00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:15.199
 brothers and

00:26:15.199 --> 00:26:16.199
 sisters of ours

00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:17.319
 in Smyrna and

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.500
 currently in China

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.379
 and North Korea

00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.399
 and Nepal and

00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:22.819
 Iran, the stakes

00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.519
 are unusually

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:23.899
 high.

00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:26.319
 But Jesus is

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.699
 worth it.

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.739
 He knows.

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:30.799
 So we're to be

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.480
 faithful to the

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.759
 end.

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.900
 There's a

00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:36.200
 commendation in

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.799
 this text.

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.299
 It's

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.059
 parenthetical.

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.480
 I know your

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.240
 tribulation and

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.779
 your poverty.

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.460
 But you are

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:46.960
 rich.

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.500
 Rich in whose

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:49.859
 eyes?

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.980
 Rich in the

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.620
 eyes of Jesus.

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:54.880
 Not in the

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.339
 eyes of the

00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:55.599
 world.

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.720
 You are

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.740
 rich.

00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.319
 Jesus knows

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.059
 their tribulation.

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.220
 He knows their

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.079
 material poverty.

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.039
 He knows that

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.359
 they're being

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:04.880
 slandered.

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.799
 He knows what's

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.359
 around the

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:06.960
 corner, that

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.259
 they're going to

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.160
 be tossed into

00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.920
 prison by the

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.700
 devil and

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:09.980
 they're going to

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.519
 face death.

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.299
 He knows it

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.599
 all.

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.220
 And He also

00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:16.279
 knows that

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.200
 they are rich.

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.460
 What is Jesus

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.799
 talking about?

00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:21.200
 What kind of

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.380
 wealth is this?

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:26.460
 Jesus is

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.380
 describing a

00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:29.140
 characteristic of

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:31.100
 blessedness.

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.200
 Remember the

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.660
 Sermon on the

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:33.840
 Mount?

00:27:35.040 --> 00:27:35.600
 Matthew chapter

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.100
 5?

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.420
 Listen to Jesus'

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:37.920
 words.

00:27:38.760 --> 00:27:39.560
 Blessed are you

00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.040
 when others

00:27:40.040 --> 00:27:41.120
 revile you and

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:42.240
 persecute you and

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.320
 utter all kinds of

00:27:43.320 --> 00:27:44.080
 evil against you

00:27:44.080 --> 00:27:44.900
 falsely on my

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.280
 account.

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.500
 Slander.

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:48.819
 When that

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.319
 happens, rejoice

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.279
 and be glad for

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.019
 your reward is

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.900
 great in heaven.

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.720
 Your reward is

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.839
 great in heaven.

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.839
 But you are

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.299
 rich.

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.099
 For so they

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.819
 persecuted the

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.859
 prophets who

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.599
 were before you.

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.940
 You see, Jesus

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.400
 considers richness

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:11.220
 as faithfulness to

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:11.460
 Him.

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.079
 That's wealth.

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.180
 That's

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:18.320
 riches gained in

00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:18.660
 heaven.

00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.019
 That little

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.200
 parenthetical

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:23.539
 comment, but you

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:25.220
 are rich, is a

00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:26.740
 commendation from

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.680
 the first and the

00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.680
 last, the one who

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.779
 died and is alive,

00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:31.920
 to this suffering

00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.539
 church.

00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.900
 He knows that

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.660
 they're suffering

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.920
 for Him.

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.440
 And He's saying,

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.640
 oh, sweet

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:41.420
 church, in my

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.820
 eyes, you are

00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.180
 rich.

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.000
 The stakes are

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.320
 high.

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.680
 Jesus is worth

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:49.880
 it.

00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.680
 Be faithful to

00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.180
 the end.

00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.779
 We move from

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.400
 commendation now to

00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:56.600
 the coming crisis in

00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:57.160
 verse 10.

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.360
 Do not fear what you

00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.320
 are about to suffer.

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.380
 Behold, the devil is

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.220
 about to throw some of

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.820
 you into prison.

00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:05.960
 That you may be

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.680
 tested.

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.440
 And for 10 days you

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.440
 will have tribulation.

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:12.600
 Jesus knows the

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.960
 tribulation, poverty,

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.140
 slandering, their

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.720
 real wealth, and He

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.460
 also knows what's

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.140
 right around the

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.440
 corner.

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.820
 It goes again to

00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:20.779
 what He knows.

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.600
 Their situation is

00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.580
 about to get worse.

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.279
 Here Jesus is once

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.580
 again pulling back

00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:31.200
 the curtain and

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.700
 helping us to see an

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.840
 intersection between

00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:35.799
 what is seen and

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:37.500
 what is unseen in the

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.320
 spiritual world.

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.359
 world.

00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:40.559
 The devil is about to

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.919
 throw some of you in

00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:42.279
 prison.

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:43.939
 The devil.

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.259
 Satan is behind this

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:51.779
 imminent imprisonment

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.500
 of some of our

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.259
 brothers and sisters

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.980
 from Smyrna.

00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:56.839
 Now I seriously doubt

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.919
 that the synagogue in

00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.939
 Smyrna or the Roman

00:29:58.939 --> 00:30:00.179
 officials living in that

00:30:00.179 --> 00:30:01.439
 time, that they were

00:30:01.439 --> 00:30:03.059
 consciously aware that

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.359
 they were being used by

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.819
 Satan, but they were

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.079
 being used by Satan.

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.639
 He's the prince of the

00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:09.980
 power of the air, the

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.960
 ruler of this world, at

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.519
 least for the time

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:12.839
 being.

00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.939
 And the slander of

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:18.319
 these pseudo-Jews

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:22.079
 most likely was landing

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:23.599
 these Christian brothers

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.579
 and sisters of ours,

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:26.679
 some of them, in a Roman

00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:27.939
 prison in Smyrna.

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.240
 Here's what I want to

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.119
 help you think about.

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.879
 Here's what this means

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.360
 for us.

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.360
 Satan is real.

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.300
 He's active.

00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:40.340
 And he works on a scale

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:41.760
 that we tend not to be

00:30:41.760 --> 00:30:43.220
 aware of because we

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.040
 don't see it.

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.700
 He uses governments.

00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:48.120
 He uses religions.

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.940
 He uses economies.

00:30:50.260 --> 00:30:52.220
 All to oppress God's

00:30:53.040 --> 00:30:53.960
 people, the church.

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.360
 Jesus is out of reach for

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.040
 Satan now.

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.400
 And so what Satan does is

00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:01.259
 he takes the next best

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.080
 shot.

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.420
 The people Jesus has

00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.340
 bought with his blood.

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.920
 This is a sober reminder

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.759
 of what we find in

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.620
 Ephesians 6.

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.259
 Our battle is not against

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.259
 flesh and blood, but

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.100
 against the rulers,

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.560
 against the authorities,

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.080
 against the cosmic powers

00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:18.940
 over this present

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.440
 darkness, against the

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.700
 spiritual forces of

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.740
 darkness in the heavenly

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.360
 places.

00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:26.880
 And

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:31.200
 Jesus helps us to see

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.200
 things as they really

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.500
 are.

00:31:35.780 --> 00:31:37.340
 And Jesus knows it all.

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.220
 He sees it clearly.

00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.820
 Now when we talk about

00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:45.340
 Satan, I know that can

00:31:45.340 --> 00:31:46.580
 make some people feel a

00:31:46.580 --> 00:31:47.680
 little unsettled and a

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.620
 little uncomfortable, so

00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:50.340
 let me just remind you of

00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:50.680
 something.

00:31:52.560 --> 00:31:53.680
 Our risen Jesus, he's

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.380
 already been given

00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.580
 dominion over all things.

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.960
 It's every square inch of

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:59.040
 this planet is his.

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:02.140
 By virtue of his work on

00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:02.940
 the cross and his

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:04.680
 resurrection, it's all his

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:04.940
 now.

00:32:05.040 --> 00:32:06.080
 It's been handed to him.

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.160
 But the devil is real.

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.720
 And he's on a rampage

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.400
 right now.

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.320
 He knows his days are

00:32:11.320 --> 00:32:11.620
 numbered.

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.700
 So here's where we live

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.160
 right now.

00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.780
 The cosmic conflict between

00:32:16.780 --> 00:32:18.180
 God and the devil is

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:20.000
 real, but it's not a

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.420
 standoff between two

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:23.700
 equally matched opponents.

00:32:24.820 --> 00:32:25.759
 Jesus has already

00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:27.360
 decisively won the

00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:28.620
 victory over sin, death,

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.139
 and the devil.

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.819
 His kingdom of grace is

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.979
 boots on the ground now,

00:32:36.219 --> 00:32:37.919
 and his saving reign is

00:32:37.919 --> 00:32:39.500
 spreading to the nations.

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:43.880
 So his reign has already

00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:45.920
 begun, but his reign has

00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:46.980
 not yet been fully

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.000
 realized.

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:52.619
 But there's a coming a day

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.420
 when it will be.

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:56.059
 And we're living between the

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:57.099
 already and the not yet.

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:59.819
 And in the meantime, there is

00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:02.440
 a spiritual street fight

00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:05.000
 going on beyond our typical

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.200
 eyes can see.

00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:16.140
 The devil will not relinquish

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:18.539
 what once he thought was

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:18.960
 his.

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:23.160
 So here's what this means.

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:28.220
 Christ's church will suffer

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:30.779
 until Jesus returns.

00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.279
 That's what this means.

00:33:33.560 --> 00:33:35.019
 We're in a street fight.

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:38.580
 The stakes are high.

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.600
 Jesus is worth it.

00:33:43.320 --> 00:33:44.920
 Be faithful to the end.

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:47.640
 On one level,

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.140
 Satan is

00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:51.039
 wreaking real

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:52.380
 havoc on real

00:33:52.380 --> 00:33:52.920
 people,

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.539
 real churches,

00:33:56.060 --> 00:33:57.600
 because he hates

00:33:57.600 --> 00:33:59.080
 the church of Christ,

00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:00.080
 because he hates

00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:00.660
 Christ.

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.759
 But on another level,

00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:05.480
 God is using

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.640
 Satan's schemes

00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.480
 for his

00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:08.300
 kingdom

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.200
 purposes.

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.820
 Has anybody else

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.659
 been feeling something

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.619
 as we've been reading this?

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.719
 Maybe you just haven't

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.960
 put words on it.

00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:18.139
 It goes something like this.

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.440
 Okay, I'm reading

00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.960
 Jesus saying to this church,

00:34:21.279 --> 00:34:22.179
 do not fear what you're

00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.859
 about to suffer.

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.019
 Behold, the devil is about

00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:25.019
 to throw some of you into

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.299
 prison,

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.539
 that you may be tested,

00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.319
 and for ten days you'll

00:34:27.319 --> 00:34:27.900
 have tribulation.

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.900
 Be faithful unto death.

00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.639
 Can I just ask a question,

00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:31.960
 Jesus?

00:34:33.339 --> 00:34:34.460
 Why are you letting this

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:34.819
 happen?

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.380
 Why are you letting your

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.839
 people

00:34:38.839 --> 00:34:41.039
 be thrown into prison

00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.759
 by the devil

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:43.519
 and then face

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:43.900
 death?

00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:45.920
 Why are you letting

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.699
 this happen,

00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.099
 Jesus?

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.840
 Why do we have

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.699
 brothers and sisters

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.460
 right now

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.980
 in prison in China,

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:53.480
 North Korea,

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.539
 Iran,

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.340
 Nepal?

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.420
 Why?

00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.619
 Anybody want to know

00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:58.880
 why?

00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.300
 Why?

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:05.659
 The answer's in the text.

00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:13.219
 that you may be tested.

00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:16.259
 It's purposed.

00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:19.239
 There be imprisoned.

00:35:19.399 --> 00:35:20.440
 Jesus letting it happen

00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:22.319
 is purposed.

00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:25.019
 So let's take a step back

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.839
 and I want to help you

00:35:25.839 --> 00:35:26.639
 understand the purpose.

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:30.099
 Jesus was using the Jews

00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:30.699
 of Smyrna,

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.119
 the Romans of Smyrna,

00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:34.000
 even Satan's schemes

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.839
 in Smyrna

00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:36.460
 to carry out

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.239
 the advance

00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:38.079
 of his kingdom

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.739
 of grace.

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:40.679
 Here's what you need

00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:41.219
 to know.

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.819
 The suffering

00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:44.019
 of the church

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.639
 of Christ

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:46.420
 is not an obstacle

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.699
 to the advance

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:48.239
 of the kingdom.

00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:49.559
 The suffering

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.500
 of the church

00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:51.199
 of Christ

00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:52.579
 is a means

00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:53.599
 to the advance

00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.460
 of the gospel.

00:35:54.460 --> 00:36:14.480
 Our brothers and sisters

00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.380
 around the world,

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:19.900
 suffering,

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.880
 it's not taken

00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.860
 by Jesus' surprise.

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:25.860
 it's not outside

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.440
 of his will.

00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:30.639
 It's part of his purpose.

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.559
 The Lord orchestrating

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.199
 events

00:36:36.199 --> 00:36:37.960
 so that Christians,

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.079
 that their faith

00:36:39.079 --> 00:36:39.500
 in him

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.500
 proves true

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:42.480
 and as they remain

00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.340
 faithful to their

00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:43.820
 confession

00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.380
 that Jesus

00:36:44.380 --> 00:36:45.099
 is the Lord,

00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:45.860
 do you know

00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.559
 what happens?

00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:48.740
 Guards

00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:49.940
 hear the gospel.

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.260
 People

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.159
 in positions

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:53.840
 of authority

00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:55.519
 hear about Jesus.

00:36:59.240 --> 00:37:00.380
 If you follow

00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:01.180
 what happened

00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:02.120
 to Paul

00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:03.140
 in the book of Acts,

00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:03.820
 you will see

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.720
 that his suffering

00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:06.740
 served a kingdom

00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:08.519
 proclamation purpose.

00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:11.220
 Jesus uses

00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:11.940
 persecution

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:13.240
 of his people

00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:14.960
 in order to purify

00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:15.380
 them

00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.780
 and to proclaim

00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:17.420
 his kingdom.

00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:20.180
 it's a package.

00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:24.460
 Years ago,

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:25.000
 I was listening

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.800
 to WNBI

00:37:25.800 --> 00:37:27.940
 and I heard

00:37:27.940 --> 00:37:29.119
 it was either

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:29.820
 a Cambodian

00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:30.400
 or Vietnamese

00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:31.619
 pastor being interviewed.

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.740
 He was

00:37:32.740 --> 00:37:34.200
 for decades

00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.800
 a pastor

00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.760
 of a persecuted

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:37.180
 church in his country.

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:38.399
 He himself

00:37:38.399 --> 00:37:38.899
 had suffered

00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.399
 greatly

00:37:39.399 --> 00:37:40.919
 and his church

00:37:40.919 --> 00:37:41.440
 had suffered

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:41.859
 much

00:37:41.859 --> 00:37:42.699
 and when the host,

00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:44.139
 the American host

00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:45.659
 asked this man,

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:46.299
 hey,

00:37:46.339 --> 00:37:46.899
 what can we be

00:37:46.899 --> 00:37:48.119
 praying for you

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.559
 for?

00:37:49.379 --> 00:37:49.679
 Do you know

00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:50.440
 what this guy said?

00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:51.859
 I will never

00:37:51.859 --> 00:37:52.480
 forget it.

00:37:53.359 --> 00:37:54.639
 Don't ask God

00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:55.139
 to stop

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.960
 the persecution.

00:37:57.859 --> 00:37:58.460
 I'm like,

00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.919
 what is he

00:37:59.919 --> 00:38:00.659
 saying?

00:38:01.819 --> 00:38:02.419
 And then he said

00:38:02.419 --> 00:38:02.799
 this,

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:06.280
 God

00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:07.400
 uses

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.120
 the persecution

00:38:08.120 --> 00:38:09.060
 of his people

00:38:09.060 --> 00:38:10.900
 like the tightening

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.460
 of a violin string

00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.760
 so that the

00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:15.140
 persecuted church

00:38:15.140 --> 00:38:16.100
 could add

00:38:16.100 --> 00:38:17.560
 a minor key

00:38:17.560 --> 00:38:18.660
 to the praise

00:38:18.660 --> 00:38:19.820
 of the risen

00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:20.539
 and reigning

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:21.740
 Jesus Christ.

00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:26.060
 God

00:38:26.060 --> 00:38:27.340
 uses

00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:28.039
 persecution

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:29.400
 of his people

00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:31.220
 to prove

00:38:31.220 --> 00:38:31.440
 them

00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.300
 and purify

00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:32.660
 them

00:38:32.659 --> 00:38:33.559
 in order

00:38:33.559 --> 00:38:34.279
 for him

00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:35.139
 to proclaim

00:38:35.139 --> 00:38:35.859
 the kingdom

00:38:35.859 --> 00:38:36.699
 through them.

00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:41.159
 Do you know

00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.799
 what the pressure

00:38:41.799 --> 00:38:43.059
 of persecution

00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.779
 produces

00:38:43.779 --> 00:38:44.719
 in the people

00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.399
 of Christ?

00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.139
 Praise.

00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.759
 How glorious

00:38:50.759 --> 00:38:52.259
 and worthy

00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:53.379
 our risen

00:38:53.379 --> 00:38:53.940
 and radiant

00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.500
 and risen

00:38:54.500 --> 00:38:55.699
 Lord truly is

00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:56.099
 and when you

00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:57.440
 put that praise

00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:58.039
 and throw

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.659
 in the backdrop

00:38:58.659 --> 00:38:59.379
 of that

00:38:59.379 --> 00:39:00.719
 dungeons

00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:01.699
 and the devil

00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:02.519
 and difficult

00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:03.500
 and death

00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:04.500
 you've got

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:05.480
 a shocking

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:06.380
 testimony.

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:12.960
 Crisis is coming

00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:13.400
 church

00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:15.099
 saying to his

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.860
 Smyrna

00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.380
 Christians

00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:17.840
 this crisis

00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.860
 is actually

00:39:18.860 --> 00:39:19.619
 the risen

00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:20.659
 Christ

00:39:20.659 --> 00:39:21.940
 purifying

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:23.000
 his people

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:24.019
 and using

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.880
 them to

00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:25.579
 proclaim

00:39:25.579 --> 00:39:27.980
 his glory.

00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:32.319
 The stakes

00:39:32.319 --> 00:39:32.880
 are high

00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:35.759
 Jesus

00:39:35.759 --> 00:39:36.340
 is worth

00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:36.559
 it

00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:38.860
 be faithful

00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.639
 to the end

00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:43.199
 we come

00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:43.500
 to the

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:44.079
 encouragement

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:46.559
 verse 10

00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:47.400
 do not fear

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:47.960
 what you're about

00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:48.480
 to suffer

00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:50.299
 be faithful

00:39:50.299 --> 00:39:51.559
 unto death

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.259
 and I will give you

00:39:52.259 --> 00:39:53.199
 the crown of life

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.139
 he says

00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:55.059
 don't fear

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:57.819
 and we think

00:39:57.819 --> 00:39:58.399
 okay

00:39:58.399 --> 00:40:01.679
 okay

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.919
 there's

00:40:02.919 --> 00:40:04.179
 the difficulty

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.699
 there's

00:40:05.699 --> 00:40:06.679
 the devil

00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.239
 who's going to

00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:07.639
 throw us

00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:08.579
 into a dungeon

00:40:08.579 --> 00:40:09.719
 and then

00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:10.319
 there is

00:40:10.319 --> 00:40:10.679
 the whole

00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:11.419
 death thing

00:40:11.419 --> 00:40:12.419
 I mean really

00:40:12.419 --> 00:40:13.539
 what's not to fear

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:15.639
 what's not to fear

00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:17.399
 and Jesus says

00:40:17.399 --> 00:40:19.279
 do not be fearing

00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:21.500
 do not be fearing

00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:22.060
 what's coming

00:40:22.060 --> 00:40:23.540
 Jesus

00:40:23.540 --> 00:40:24.600
 why are we not

00:40:24.600 --> 00:40:25.200
 to be fearing

00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:25.760
 what's coming

00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:27.980
 he says

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.680
 be faithful

00:40:28.680 --> 00:40:29.560
 unto death

00:40:29.560 --> 00:40:32.580
 be faithful

00:40:32.580 --> 00:40:33.260
 to me

00:40:33.260 --> 00:40:35.000
 unto death

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:37.360
 to not compromise

00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:38.820
 to not

00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:40.000
 shrink back

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:40.600
 to not

00:40:40.600 --> 00:40:42.040
 step out

00:40:42.040 --> 00:40:42.700
 and hide

00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.300
 to not

00:40:43.300 --> 00:40:44.200
 compromise

00:40:44.200 --> 00:40:47.160
 to be faithful

00:40:47.160 --> 00:40:47.880
 unto Jesus

00:40:47.880 --> 00:40:48.600
 unto death

00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:49.920
 Jesus

00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:49.960
 Jesus

00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:50.319
 is our

00:40:50.319 --> 00:40:50.559
 king

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:53.579
 he rules

00:40:53.579 --> 00:40:54.219
 our heart

00:40:54.219 --> 00:40:56.039
 we're not

00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:56.440
 to fear

00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:56.980
 the devil

00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:57.799
 or difficulty

00:40:57.799 --> 00:40:58.480
 or dungeons

00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:59.239
 or death

00:40:59.239 --> 00:41:00.360
 because

00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:02.019
 because he

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:02.839
 is the first

00:41:02.839 --> 00:41:03.519
 and the last

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:04.639
 because he

00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.779
 has victory

00:41:05.779 --> 00:41:06.599
 over death

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:08.239
 and he

00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:09.259
 is promised

00:41:09.259 --> 00:41:10.339
 to give

00:41:10.339 --> 00:41:11.460
 the crown

00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:12.259
 of life

00:41:12.259 --> 00:41:13.739
 to all those

00:41:13.739 --> 00:41:14.980
 who are faithful

00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:16.339
 to the end

00:41:16.339 --> 00:41:17.299
 that crown

00:41:17.299 --> 00:41:17.759
 of life

00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:18.600
 was a laurel

00:41:18.600 --> 00:41:19.000
 wreath

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.580
 that we're

00:41:19.580 --> 00:41:20.080
 giving to

00:41:20.080 --> 00:41:20.760
 victors

00:41:20.760 --> 00:41:21.280
 in the

00:41:21.280 --> 00:41:21.960
 Olympic Games

00:41:21.960 --> 00:41:23.200
 you won a race

00:41:23.200 --> 00:41:23.860
 you get a

00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:24.320
 laurel

00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:25.180
 wreath

00:41:25.180 --> 00:41:25.680
 put around

00:41:25.680 --> 00:41:26.220
 your head

00:41:26.220 --> 00:41:27.580
 and so here's

00:41:27.580 --> 00:41:28.020
 what Jesus

00:41:28.020 --> 00:41:28.540
 is saying

00:41:28.540 --> 00:41:28.920
 here

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:29.740
 hey

00:41:29.740 --> 00:41:30.660
 if you

00:41:30.660 --> 00:41:31.920
 are to die

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:33.920
 in Smyrna

00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:34.980
 do you know

00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:35.500
 how I think

00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:36.060
 about that

00:41:36.060 --> 00:41:37.020
 Jesus thinks

00:41:37.020 --> 00:41:37.500
 about that

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:38.180
 as a W

00:41:38.180 --> 00:41:40.580
 as a win

00:41:40.580 --> 00:41:42.500
 for him

00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:44.340
 and the

00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:44.840
 reward

00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:46.219
 is a crown

00:41:46.219 --> 00:41:46.719
 of life

00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:48.739
 that word

00:41:48.739 --> 00:41:49.139
 life

00:41:49.139 --> 00:41:49.659
 describes

00:41:49.659 --> 00:41:50.320
 the nature

00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:50.760
 of the

00:41:50.760 --> 00:41:51.099
 crown

00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:52.159
 it is

00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:52.639
 everlasting

00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.559
 life

00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.159
 in

00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.119
 symbol

00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:59.059
 I've bought

00:41:59.059 --> 00:41:59.539
 you with my

00:41:59.539 --> 00:41:59.860
 blood

00:41:59.860 --> 00:42:00.860
 be faithful

00:42:00.860 --> 00:42:01.519
 to the end

00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:02.320
 and I will

00:42:02.320 --> 00:42:03.159
 crown you

00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:04.639
 with the life

00:42:04.639 --> 00:42:05.300
 I've promised

00:42:05.300 --> 00:42:08.460
 so when

00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:10.500
 remember who's

00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:11.059
 saying this

00:42:11.059 --> 00:42:13.239
 the first

00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:13.860
 and the last

00:42:13.860 --> 00:42:14.519
 he's sovereign

00:42:14.519 --> 00:42:15.059
 over all

00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:16.019
 even every

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:16.759
 persecution

00:42:16.759 --> 00:42:17.420
 on earth

00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.860
 he is the

00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:19.639
 one who died

00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:20.480
 and who came

00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:20.960
 to life

00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:22.539
 he is uniquely

00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:23.099
 qualified

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:24.460
 to hand out

00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:25.380
 a crown

00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:26.139
 of everlasting

00:42:26.139 --> 00:42:26.719
 life

00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:28.420
 he himself

00:42:28.420 --> 00:42:29.719
 died

00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:30.539
 and was

00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:30.900
 raised

00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:34.980
 this is

00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:35.500
 Christ's

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:35.960
 encouragement

00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:36.619
 to us

00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:37.840
 do not

00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:38.239
 fear

00:42:38.239 --> 00:42:40.299
 be faithful

00:42:40.300 --> 00:42:41.519
 to me

00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:42.680
 until

00:42:42.680 --> 00:42:43.440
 death

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:45.780
 happy

00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:47.360
 anniversary

00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:47.980
 Christ the

00:42:47.980 --> 00:42:48.120
 King

00:42:48.120 --> 00:42:48.580
 Church

00:42:48.580 --> 00:42:53.140
 the stakes

00:42:53.140 --> 00:42:53.620
 are high

00:42:53.620 --> 00:42:54.200
 Jesus is

00:42:54.200 --> 00:42:54.940
 worth it

00:42:54.940 --> 00:42:57.220
 be faithful

00:42:57.220 --> 00:42:58.039
 to the end

00:42:58.039 --> 00:43:00.500
 the closing

00:43:00.500 --> 00:43:01.039
 call

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.940
 verse 11

00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:04.420
 he who has an ear

00:43:04.420 --> 00:43:05.120
 let him hear

00:43:05.120 --> 00:43:06.220
 hear what the

00:43:06.220 --> 00:43:06.720
 spirit says

00:43:06.720 --> 00:43:07.340
 to the churches

00:43:07.340 --> 00:43:07.820
 the one who

00:43:07.820 --> 00:43:08.539
 conquers will not

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.060
 be hurt

00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:09.920
 by the second

00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:10.279
 death

00:43:10.279 --> 00:43:11.360
 first there's

00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:11.920
 the call

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:12.699
 to heed

00:43:12.699 --> 00:43:13.239
 what he's

00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:13.480
 saying

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.480
 take to

00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:14.900
 heart

00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:16.000
 what I'm

00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:16.380
 saying

00:43:16.380 --> 00:43:17.019
 church

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:19.440
 take to

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:19.759
 heart

00:43:19.759 --> 00:43:21.460
 be sobered

00:43:21.460 --> 00:43:22.039
 but be

00:43:22.039 --> 00:43:22.820
 encouraged

00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:24.360
 I'm risen

00:43:24.360 --> 00:43:24.820
 radiant

00:43:24.820 --> 00:43:25.440
 and rainy

00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:27.320
 but then

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:27.639
 there's the

00:43:27.639 --> 00:43:28.079
 call to

00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:28.599
 overcome

00:43:28.599 --> 00:43:31.099
 like the

00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:31.519
 crown of

00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:31.799
 life

00:43:31.799 --> 00:43:32.279
 it's got a

00:43:32.279 --> 00:43:32.679
 promise

00:43:32.679 --> 00:43:33.320
 attached to

00:43:33.320 --> 00:43:33.500
 it

00:43:33.500 --> 00:43:34.960
 the one

00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:35.719
 who conquers

00:43:35.719 --> 00:43:36.800
 the one

00:43:36.800 --> 00:43:37.139
 who is

00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:37.739
 faithful

00:43:37.739 --> 00:43:38.639
 unto death

00:43:38.639 --> 00:43:39.219
 unto the

00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:39.699
 end

00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:41.559
 will not

00:43:41.559 --> 00:43:42.260
 be hurt

00:43:42.260 --> 00:43:43.260
 by the

00:43:43.260 --> 00:43:43.960
 second death

00:43:43.960 --> 00:43:45.800
 last week

00:43:45.800 --> 00:43:46.500
 the one

00:43:46.500 --> 00:43:47.179
 who conquers

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.760
 in Ephesus

00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:49.280
 is the one

00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:50.119
 who keeps

00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:50.840
 Jesus

00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:52.099
 as their

00:43:52.099 --> 00:43:53.559
 first love

00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:53.880
 and they

00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:54.380
 will eat

00:43:54.380 --> 00:43:54.960
 of the

00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:55.460
 tree of

00:43:55.460 --> 00:43:55.840
 life

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:57.300
 in paradise

00:43:57.300 --> 00:43:59.280
 now the

00:43:59.280 --> 00:43:59.620
 one who

00:43:59.620 --> 00:44:00.240
 conquers

00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:00.720
 who's

00:44:00.720 --> 00:44:01.120
 faithful

00:44:01.120 --> 00:44:01.640
 to Jesus

00:44:01.640 --> 00:44:02.019
 in the

00:44:02.019 --> 00:44:02.400
 face of

00:44:02.400 --> 00:44:02.940
 persecution

00:44:02.940 --> 00:44:03.820
 all the

00:44:03.820 --> 00:44:04.080
 way to

00:44:04.080 --> 00:44:04.660
 the end

00:44:04.660 --> 00:44:05.940
 they are

00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:06.500
 promised

00:44:06.500 --> 00:44:07.019
 that they

00:44:07.019 --> 00:44:07.340
 will not

00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:08.100
 be hurt

00:44:08.100 --> 00:44:09.100
 by the

00:44:09.100 --> 00:44:09.980
 second death

00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.380
 now what

00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:10.680
 is the

00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:11.280
 second death

00:44:11.280 --> 00:44:12.420
 Revelation

00:44:12.420 --> 00:44:13.340
 chapter 20

00:44:13.340 --> 00:44:14.300
 verse 14

00:44:14.300 --> 00:44:15.800
 the second

00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:16.480
 death is

00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:16.860
 the lake

00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:17.340
 of fire

00:44:17.340 --> 00:44:18.860
 the ultimate

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:20.460
 eternal

00:44:20.460 --> 00:44:21.640
 death

00:44:21.640 --> 00:44:23.560
 and what we

00:44:23.560 --> 00:44:23.960
 learn from

00:44:23.960 --> 00:44:24.660
 chapter 20

00:44:24.660 --> 00:44:25.100
 in Revelation

00:44:25.100 --> 00:44:26.280
 is that the

00:44:26.280 --> 00:44:27.080
 devil in his

00:44:27.079 --> 00:44:27.500
 demons

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:28.340
 the false

00:44:28.340 --> 00:44:28.920
 prophet and

00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:29.400
 the beast

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.779
 the anti-trinity

00:44:30.779 --> 00:44:31.539
 they're going to

00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:32.079
 get tossed

00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:32.519
 into the

00:44:32.519 --> 00:44:32.819
 lake of

00:44:32.819 --> 00:44:33.099
 fire

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:35.259
 we also

00:44:35.259 --> 00:44:35.659
 learn that

00:44:35.659 --> 00:44:36.759
 death itself

00:44:36.759 --> 00:44:37.420
 gets thrown

00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:38.299
 into the

00:44:38.299 --> 00:44:38.940
 second death

00:44:38.940 --> 00:44:39.480
 the lake

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:39.860
 of fire

00:44:39.860 --> 00:44:41.460
 we also

00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:42.299
 learn that

00:44:42.299 --> 00:44:43.000
 all who

00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:43.400
 have not

00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:44.019
 bound the

00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:44.319
 knee to

00:44:44.319 --> 00:44:44.659
 Jesus

00:44:44.659 --> 00:44:45.380
 and have

00:44:45.380 --> 00:44:45.860
 not been

00:44:45.860 --> 00:44:46.519
 faithful to

00:44:46.519 --> 00:44:47.099
 the end

00:44:47.099 --> 00:44:47.980
 their names

00:44:47.980 --> 00:44:48.519
 are not in

00:44:48.519 --> 00:44:48.799
 the book

00:44:48.799 --> 00:44:49.360
 of life

00:44:49.360 --> 00:44:50.619
 they'll get

00:44:50.619 --> 00:44:51.039
 thrown into

00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:51.279
 the lake

00:44:51.279 --> 00:44:51.599
 of fire

00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:51.880
 too

00:44:51.880 --> 00:44:53.119
 in fact

00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:53.579
 do you know

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:53.840
 what else

00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:54.259
 gets thrown

00:44:54.259 --> 00:44:54.480
 into the

00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:54.719
 lake of

00:44:54.719 --> 00:44:54.960
 fire

00:44:54.960 --> 00:44:55.759
 all

00:44:55.759 --> 00:44:56.679
 dungeons

00:44:56.679 --> 00:44:57.359
 in the

00:44:57.359 --> 00:44:57.679
 old

00:44:57.679 --> 00:44:57.980
 earth

00:44:57.980 --> 00:44:58.739
 get thrown

00:44:58.739 --> 00:44:59.239
 into the

00:44:59.239 --> 00:44:59.559
 lake of

00:44:59.559 --> 00:44:59.839
 fire

00:44:59.839 --> 00:45:00.699
 because there's

00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:01.519
 no dungeons

00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:01.839
 in the

00:45:01.839 --> 00:45:02.000
 new

00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:02.460
 Jerusalem

00:45:02.460 --> 00:45:07.199
 but for

00:45:07.199 --> 00:45:07.559
 those of

00:45:07.559 --> 00:45:07.839
 us who

00:45:07.839 --> 00:45:08.199
 overcome

00:45:08.199 --> 00:45:10.960
 there is

00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:11.799
 no chance

00:45:11.799 --> 00:45:13.440
 no chance

00:45:13.440 --> 00:45:13.940
 whatsoever

00:45:13.940 --> 00:45:15.460
 that we

00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:16.159
 will be

00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:16.859
 thrown into

00:45:16.859 --> 00:45:17.179
 the lake

00:45:17.179 --> 00:45:17.619
 of fire

00:45:17.619 --> 00:45:18.440
 because we

00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:18.759
 got a

00:45:18.759 --> 00:45:19.159
 crown of

00:45:19.159 --> 00:45:19.819
 life on

00:45:19.819 --> 00:45:21.799
 it's been

00:45:21.799 --> 00:45:22.259
 given to

00:45:22.259 --> 00:45:22.940
 us by our

00:45:22.940 --> 00:45:23.219
 king

00:45:23.219 --> 00:45:24.000
 who's

00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:24.440
 victorious

00:45:24.440 --> 00:45:24.860
 over

00:45:24.860 --> 00:45:25.220
 death

00:45:25.220 --> 00:45:27.639
 the second

00:45:27.639 --> 00:45:27.920
 death

00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:28.619
 poses no

00:45:28.619 --> 00:45:29.079
 threat to

00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:29.480
 us

00:45:29.480 --> 00:45:31.260
 we're

00:45:31.260 --> 00:45:31.579
 destined

00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:32.059
 for a

00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:32.480
 city of

00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:32.900
 peace

00:45:32.900 --> 00:45:34.940
 the new

00:45:34.940 --> 00:45:35.380
 Jerusalem

00:45:35.380 --> 00:45:36.880
 and when

00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:37.240
 we get

00:45:37.240 --> 00:45:37.639
 there we're

00:45:37.639 --> 00:45:37.860
 going to

00:45:37.860 --> 00:45:38.300
 throw our

00:45:38.300 --> 00:45:39.200
 victor crowns

00:45:39.200 --> 00:45:39.659
 at his

00:45:39.659 --> 00:45:40.420
 glowing feet

00:45:40.420 --> 00:45:41.059
 and we're

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:41.280
 going to

00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:42.619
 say something

00:45:42.619 --> 00:45:43.679
 we're going

00:45:43.679 --> 00:45:44.220
 to say not

00:45:44.220 --> 00:45:44.720
 to us

00:45:44.720 --> 00:45:45.179
 oh lord

00:45:45.179 --> 00:45:45.760
 not to

00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:46.220
 us

00:45:46.220 --> 00:45:47.500
 but to

00:45:47.500 --> 00:45:48.300
 your name

00:45:48.300 --> 00:45:49.179
 give glory

00:45:49.179 --> 00:45:49.960
 for the

00:45:49.960 --> 00:45:50.340
 sake of

00:45:50.340 --> 00:45:51.320
 your steadfast

00:45:51.320 --> 00:45:51.880
 love and

00:45:51.880 --> 00:45:52.659
 faithfulness

00:45:52.659 --> 00:45:54.139
 in winning

00:45:54.139 --> 00:45:55.299
 our victory

00:45:55.299 --> 00:45:56.259
 over

00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:57.799
 sin

00:45:57.799 --> 00:45:58.420
 death

00:45:58.420 --> 00:45:58.799
 and the

00:45:58.799 --> 00:45:59.059
 devil

00:45:59.059 --> 00:46:01.420
 the second

00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:01.940
 death is

00:46:01.940 --> 00:46:02.559
 no threat

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:03.420
 to those

00:46:03.420 --> 00:46:06.039
 who are

00:46:06.039 --> 00:46:06.619
 faithful to

00:46:06.619 --> 00:46:07.099
 Jesus to

00:46:07.099 --> 00:46:07.559
 the end

00:46:07.559 --> 00:46:09.339
 in the

00:46:09.339 --> 00:46:09.739
 words of

00:46:09.739 --> 00:46:10.139
 one

00:46:10.139 --> 00:46:11.299
 LA pastor

00:46:11.299 --> 00:46:13.779
 those who

00:46:13.779 --> 00:46:14.219
 are born

00:46:14.219 --> 00:46:14.799
 once

00:46:14.799 --> 00:46:17.179
 die twice

00:46:17.179 --> 00:46:18.839
 but those

00:46:18.839 --> 00:46:19.159
 who are

00:46:19.159 --> 00:46:20.119
 born twice

00:46:20.119 --> 00:46:22.460
 die once

00:46:22.460 --> 00:46:23.960
 if you

00:46:23.960 --> 00:46:24.480
 belong to

00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:24.940
 Jesus

00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:25.940
 you've been

00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:26.880
 born twice

00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:28.579
 you need

00:46:28.579 --> 00:46:29.380
 not fear

00:46:29.380 --> 00:46:30.019
 the second

00:46:30.019 --> 00:46:30.539
 death

00:46:30.539 --> 00:46:32.139
 we're called

00:46:32.139 --> 00:46:33.000
 to overcome

00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:35.220
 brothers and

00:46:35.220 --> 00:46:35.820
 sisters the

00:46:35.820 --> 00:46:36.220
 stakes are

00:46:36.220 --> 00:46:36.679
 high

00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:39.539
 Jesus is

00:46:39.539 --> 00:46:40.059
 so worth

00:46:40.059 --> 00:46:40.720
 it

00:46:40.720 --> 00:46:43.000
 so be

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:43.920
 faithful to

00:46:43.920 --> 00:46:44.539
 the end

00:46:44.539 --> 00:46:46.460
 this is

00:46:46.460 --> 00:46:47.240
 smelling salts

00:46:47.240 --> 00:46:47.880
 for us

00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:48.500
 in the

00:46:48.500 --> 00:46:49.059
 21st

00:46:49.059 --> 00:46:49.440
 century

00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:50.960
 and I

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.179
 can't

00:46:51.179 --> 00:46:51.400
 think of

00:46:51.400 --> 00:46:51.659
 a better

00:46:51.659 --> 00:46:52.179
 word for

00:46:52.179 --> 00:46:52.500
 us to

00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:52.900
 hear on

00:46:52.900 --> 00:46:53.079
 this

00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:53.559
 anniversary

00:46:53.559 --> 00:46:54.099
 Sunday

00:46:54.099 --> 00:46:54.639
 in fact

00:46:54.639 --> 00:46:56.420
 let's

00:46:56.420 --> 00:46:56.940
 continue

00:46:56.940 --> 00:46:58.940
 celebrate the

00:46:58.940 --> 00:46:59.340
 victory

00:46:59.340 --> 00:47:00.800
 by coming

00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:01.200
 to the

00:47:01.200 --> 00:47:01.519
 table

00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:04.119
 reflecting on

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:05.280
 the death

00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:06.920
 Jesus won

00:47:06.920 --> 00:47:08.599
 his death

00:47:08.599 --> 00:47:09.980
 over death

00:47:09.980 --> 00:47:10.599
 let's pray

00:47:10.599 --> 00:47:12.320
 Lord

00:47:12.320 --> 00:47:12.900
 Jesus

00:47:12.900 --> 00:47:13.460
 Christ

00:47:13.460 --> 00:47:15.579
 you

00:47:15.579 --> 00:47:16.780
 are the

00:47:16.780 --> 00:47:17.039
 risen

00:47:17.039 --> 00:47:17.380
 one

00:47:17.380 --> 00:47:18.619
 you are

00:47:18.619 --> 00:47:19.059
 the first

00:47:19.059 --> 00:47:19.699
 and last

00:47:19.699 --> 00:47:20.820
 God

00:47:20.820 --> 00:47:21.179
 would you

00:47:21.179 --> 00:47:21.920
 sensitize

00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:22.460
 us to

00:47:22.460 --> 00:47:23.260
 make us

00:47:23.260 --> 00:47:23.659
 aware

00:47:23.659 --> 00:47:24.159
 even

00:47:24.159 --> 00:47:24.940
 break our

00:47:24.940 --> 00:47:25.260
 hearts

00:47:25.260 --> 00:47:25.579
 for our

00:47:25.579 --> 00:47:26.079
 brothers and

00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:26.720
 sisters around

00:47:26.720 --> 00:47:27.199
 the world

00:47:27.199 --> 00:47:28.720
 and God

00:47:28.720 --> 00:47:28.960
 would you

00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:29.420
 help us

00:47:29.420 --> 00:47:29.740
 to be

00:47:29.740 --> 00:47:30.260
 faithful to

00:47:30.260 --> 00:47:30.699
 the end

00:47:30.699 --> 00:47:31.880
 it's the

00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:32.159
 name of

00:47:32.159 --> 00:47:32.400
 Jesus

00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:32.960
 we pray

00:47:32.960 --> 00:47:34.139
 amen