WEBVTT

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 We'll be reading from Matthew 24, the first 35 verses.

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!

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 But he answered them, You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

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 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be?

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 And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

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 And Jesus answered them,

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 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

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 And the end of the day will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations.

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 And then the end will come.

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 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place, let the reader understand,

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 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

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 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house.

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 And let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

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 And alas, for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days.

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 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

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 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now.

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 No, and never will be.

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 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved.

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 But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

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 Then if anyone says to you,

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 Look, here is the Christ, or there he is, do not believe it.

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 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders,

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 so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

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 See, I have told you beforehand.

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 So if they say to you,

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 Look, he is in the wilderness, do not go out.

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 If they say,

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 Look, he is in the inner rooms, do not believe it.

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 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west,

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 so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

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 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

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 Immediately after the tribulation of those days,

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 the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light,

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 and the stars will fall from heaven,

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 and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

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 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man,

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 and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,

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 and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven

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 with power and great glory.

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 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call,

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 and they will gather his elect from the four winds,

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 from one end of heaven to the other.

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 From the fig tree, learn its lesson.

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 As soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves,

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 you know that summer is near.

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 So also, when you see all these things,

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 you know that he is near at the very gates.

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 Truly I say to you,

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 this generation will not pass away

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 until all these things take place.

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 Heaven and earth will pass away,

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 but my words will not pass away.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 Well, before we get into the passage,

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 this is Chris and Jess Brown's final Sunday with us.

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 Chris, you've been in this church your entire life, right?

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 Yeah, wow.

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 And Jess meeting Sam Jenkins at uni,

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 and then Chris eating broccoli in church,

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 and coming into this church, coming to the Lord.

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 We're going to miss you both so much.

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 You've been faithfully serving.

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 I'm not going to list them all,

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 because I'm going to forget all the ways

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 you've been serving in the church over the years.

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 What came into my mind was even quench back in the day.

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 But, anyway, many years of relationship.

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 So please grab them before they leave today,

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 because, yeah, they're going to Taree.

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 Chris has got a full-time job there.

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 So, yeah, let me pray for you now,

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 and pray for us as we come to God's Word as well.

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 Yeah, Father, we thank you for Chris and Jess,

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 and just more than friendship there,

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 our brother and sister in the Lord Jesus.

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 And every goodbye hurts,

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 even when it's for good reasons.

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 And so I pray that you would comfort them in this change.

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 Thank you that we have...

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 We know that there is a great reunion when you return,

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 when we'll never have to part ways again.

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 We pray that you'll give them a Bible-based church

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 that they can flourish in and serve in.

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 So we just ask that you'll go before them in this new season.

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 And, Father, I pray for us now as we come to sit under your Word.

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 Give us understanding.

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 Give us belief.

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 And I pray that we will be changed from your Word,

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 what we hear today.

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 In Jesus' name I pray it.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, the late Pastor Tim Keller,

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 many people, many Christians use some of his phrases

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 and they don't even realise it.

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 And one person calls them Kellerisms.

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 People just use his phrase, they don't realise it.

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 I want to start today with a quarterwoodism.

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 Major on the majors and minor on the minors.

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 Now, he's not having a go at little children.

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 But I pray that that phrase,

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 or at least the principle of that phrase,

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 we never lose sight of

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 because we're going to unravel as a church if we do.

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 When it comes to unity in this church

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 and unity with other gospel-believing churches

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 in doctrine and in church practice,

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 we need a major on the major doctrines

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 and keep the minor details,

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 keep them in their proper place.

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 We get that reversed

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 and we get ourselves in all sorts of trouble.

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 Some Christians die on this hill

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 of end times theology called eschatology

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 and we can divide much too quickly on this.

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 Minoring on this doesn't mean you ignore these passages

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 and become a pan-millennius

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 that is just going to all pan out somehow in the end.

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 We're meant to study all these passages

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 but we need a major on what all Christians believe

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 and we express it in the ancient creeds.

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 Christ will return.

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 And the ultimate result,

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 as we heard in the children's talk,

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 is judgment

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 and rest for his people

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 in the new heavens and earth.

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 We all believe in that.

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 We need a major on that

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 and all the details we need a minor on.

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 For the average secular person,

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 the future is uncertain.

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 It is filled with the prospect of death and decay.

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 The present is big.

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 That's all that matters.

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 The present is big, future, uncertain.

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 But the Christian, it's the other way around.

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 It's the present.

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 That's small and uncertain.

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 But our future is massive and bright.

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 The Christian life is always,

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 it's like tiptoeing over the edge

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 of the threshold of eternity.

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 Not in a panic,

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 but there is an urgency

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 that these days are short,

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 are small.

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 We can't think too often about the hope

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 that scripture gives us.

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 You can't think too often about it

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 because it's that hope

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 that fuels us being faithful to Christ

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 and persevering.

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 We need to think about it often.

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 So, where we're up to in Matthew's Gospel,

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 Jesus has just pronounced judgment

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 on the Pharisees.

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 And until he goes to the cross,

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 his attention is now turning to his disciples.

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 He's preparing his people

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 for how we're to live

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 until he returns.

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 Now, his disciples are looking

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 at the beautiful temple

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 and they might have expected

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 significant reform,

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 really profound reform,

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 but what he says shocked their expectations.

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 Verse 2,

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 Truly I say to you,

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 there will not be left here

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 one stone upon another

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 that will not be thrown down.

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 Now, in 70 AD,

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 Jewish national zealots

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 to make Israel prominent,

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 they rebelled against Rome,

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 they murdered their own people

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 and they installed false priests.

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 And that precipitated the Romans coming in,

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 besieging the city on all sides.

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 No one could get out.

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 There was such a famine

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 that historians record

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 they ate their own defecation.

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 Mothers were boiling.

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 I'm not going to finish that sentence.

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 Some escaped to a place called Masada

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 and the Roman army pursued them

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 and utterly destroyed them.

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 Now, there have been horrific persecutions

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 of the Jewish people

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 under Hitler and Stalin,

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 but what's terrifying

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 about what happened at 70 AD,

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 no one,

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 no one escaped.

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 Now, that happened

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 within a generation

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 of Jesus' prophecy here.

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 And there's historical evidence

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 that Christians heeded this warning.

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 When they saw

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 these events starting,

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 they got out of there.

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 Now, there's three,

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 I've come across three main ways

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 of interpreting Matthew 24.

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 And there's so many

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 little offshoot variants

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 of how to interpret this

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 that I'm not going to go into all that.

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 I want to avoid confusing today.

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 So I want to just ask,

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 when do Christians,

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 reading Matthew 24,

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 where do they see

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 the 70 AD happening?

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 Because that might help us

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 understand these three views.

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 The first view

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 for understanding Matthew 24

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 is that 70 AD,

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 the temple destruction,

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 happened in verse 2 alone.

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 So when Jesus said,

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 not one stone will be left on another.

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 And they see the rest

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 as literal events

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 that are still to come

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 at the end of history

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 with a seven-year

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 great tribulation.

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 That view means

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 that verse 15

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 is talking about

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 another literal temple

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 is going to be built.

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 Now, a problem

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 I see with this view

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 is that it stretches

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 the meaning of generation

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 in verse 34.

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 Truly, I say to you,

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 this generation

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 will not pass away

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 until all these things

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 take place.

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 The natural reading of that

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 is those who are

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 hearing his words.

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 So that's the first view.

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 The second view,

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 so you see 70 AD

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 from verse 15

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 all the way through

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 to the end of verse 35.

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 So it's taking

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 verse 29 to 31 there

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 as symbolic.

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 Not as Jesus' second coming

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 but as symbolic

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 of the destruction

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 of the temple.

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 Now, the advantage

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 of that view,

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 let's see if I'm losing,

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 trying to read body language here

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 if I'm losing you,

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 the advantage of that view

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 is that it all took place

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 in that first generation then.

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 But those phrases

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 in verses 29 to 31

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 really do sound like

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 the second coming of Christ,

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 especially when you see

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 those same phrases

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 in other New Testament passages

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 and it's about

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 the second coming of Christ.

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 I know I'm not doing

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 these views justice.

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 There's probably some

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 just wriggling in their seats,

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 want to cry out this moment,

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 but by all means,

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 talk about it over morning tea.

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 just keep that quarterwoodism

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 front and centre

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 in our minds

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 as we talk about it.

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 I'm leaning heavily here

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 on Don Carson.

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 He's co-founder

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 of the Gospel Coalition.

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 So a third view is

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 verse 15 to 21

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 is talking about 70,

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 what happened at 70 AD.

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 It's a one

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 and a thankfully done

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 sign.

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 The abomination

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 that causes desolation

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 was that murder

00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:19.080
 and installment

00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.939
 of false high priests

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:22.799
 causing the destruction

00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.320
 of the temple.

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.120
 And the remaining signs

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:26.820
 in this chapter

00:15:26.820 --> 00:15:28.240
 happened in that

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:28.960
 first generation.

00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:30.879
 But they also happened

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.159
 in every other generation,

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.139
 including our own.

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:38.159
 As the New Testament

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.019
 elsewhere says,

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.379
 since Christ's death,

00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.379
 resurrection and ascension,

00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:44.199
 we are in the last days.

00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.399
 There are many things

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.980
 that can make life

00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:56.299
 feel uncertain.

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.919
 As a parent now,

00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.439
 I'm starting to fear

00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:02.540
 for my children

00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:03.820
 what world

00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.620
 they're coming into.

00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.700
 There's so many things,

00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:07.980
 aren't there?

00:16:08.140 --> 00:16:09.420
 The political tensions,

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.220
 just the social

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.400
 and moral breakdown,

00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:14.480
 AI.

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:16.640
 There's so many things

00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:17.440
 that are just

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.220
 unsettling.

00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:23.820
 A guy called

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.520
 Gavin Ortland

00:16:24.520 --> 00:16:25.180
 in the US

00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:25.780
 says that there's

00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.660
 a growing trend

00:16:26.660 --> 00:16:28.080
 of evangelicals,

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.600
 Christians,

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:30.159
 converting to

00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.540
 Eastern Orthodoxy,

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:34.040
 especially young men,

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.639
 for whatever reason.

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.080
 Now, this isn't like

00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:38.540
 a Baptist

00:16:38.540 --> 00:16:39.420
 becoming Prezi

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.460
 or Anglican.

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.180
 They must renounce,

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.820
 publicly renounce,

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:49.379
 Protestantism,

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.379
 that it's heresy.

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.580
 And one of the converts

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:54.060
 to Eastern Orthodoxy

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:55.940
 suggested a reason

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.440
 why the trend.

00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.240
 What's the attraction?

00:16:59.159 --> 00:16:59.759
 Here's what they said.

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.899
 Everything's changing.

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.779
 Protestant churches

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.440
 are changing.

00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.720
 The Catholic church

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.319
 is changing.

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.740
 The culture is changing.

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.339
 The government

00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.140
 is changing.

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.279
 People want something

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.259
 that is historic

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:12.039
 and not going to change.

00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.079
 They want something

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.000
 that's stable

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.240
 and solid

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.660
 and is not built

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.460
 on sand.

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:18.740
 And so,

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:20.620
 the liturgy of

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:23.680
 it's so ancient

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.019
 in Eastern Orthodoxy,

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:27.019
 it feels

00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:29.079
 unchanging.

00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.579
 That desire

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.559
 for stability

00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.480
 and security

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.599
 that doesn't change,

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.480
 that is good.

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.099
 Don't you have that desire?

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.379
 We all have that desire.

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.139
 Nothing wrong

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.799
 with that desire.

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:41.740
 But there's only one thing

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:43.240
 that can't change.

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.420
 It is not

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.440
 man-made tradition.

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:52.740
 Jesus tells us

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.200
 these things

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.820
 ahead of time

00:17:53.820 --> 00:17:54.420
 so that we have

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.080
 an anchor

00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:56.299
 for our lives

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.340
 into something

00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:59.799
 that is rock solid.

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:01.980
 more solid than rock.

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.559
 He's telling us

00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:05.960
 these things

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.819
 ahead of time

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.440
 so that we won't

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.279
 be led astray.

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:10.119
 We won't latch on

00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:10.859
 to something else

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.379
 that says,

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.099
 put your life on me

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.039
 because I'm unchanging.

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.980
 He's telling us

00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.639
 these things

00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:18.000
 to give us an anchor.

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.139
 So,

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.700
 verse 8

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.480
 describes

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.500
 how we're to

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.539
 interpret these

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.099
 distressing things

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.619
 we see

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.559
 that rock us

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:33.399
 and give us

00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.139
 that sense of

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.000
 distress.

00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.279
 All these

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.460
 are but the beginning

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.940
 of the birth pains.

00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.259
 Like a woman

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.059
 going into labour,

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.099
 there's joy

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.779
 to look forward to.

00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.220
 Labour pains

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.180
 are evidence

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.960
 that the end

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.720
 is close.

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:51.139
 There is permanent

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:52.599
 lasting joy

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.480
 up ahead.

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.740
 But it could be

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.359
 that the labour

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.480
 lasts one hour

00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.519
 and she barely

00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:00.980
 makes it

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.579
 to the hospital.

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.940
 Or the longest

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.779
 recorded labour

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:06.240
 is 75 days.

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:07.660
 Poor.

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.259
 We might

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.019
 pray for Lauren

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.779
 it's not that long.

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:17.839
 Jesus

00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:20.880
 is preparing us

00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.779
 to face

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:23.339
 pitch black times

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:25.000
 and interpret them

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.720
 with hope.

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.939
 Like a woman

00:19:29.939 --> 00:19:31.000
 can persevere

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.099
 through the pain

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.759
 because she knows

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.099
 joy

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:36.319
 is so

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:37.119
 close.

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.759
 He's telling us

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.339
 these things

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.759
 so that we can

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.679
 interpret events

00:19:41.679 --> 00:19:42.179
 in hope.

00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:43.579
 So,

00:19:43.679 --> 00:19:44.500
 let's go through

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.139
 what the pains

00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:45.379
 are,

00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:46.199
 the birth pains.

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:49.140
 the end times

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:50.000
 are characterised

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.920
 by international

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.580
 rivalry,

00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.360
 wars,

00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:53.920
 the world wars

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.620
 of last century,

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.700
 hundreds of millions

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.019
 killed.

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.980
 So many Christians

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.819
 were talking about

00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:00.100
 this is evidence

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:01.380
 of the end of history

00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.500
 and you can understand

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:02.880
 why.

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.140
 But there was also

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:06.620
 huge upheaval

00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:08.019
 in the sacking

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.660
 of Rome

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:12.080
 around the 400s,

00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:14.379
 the fall

00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:15.059
 of the empire.

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.000
 When we read

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.579
 these events,

00:20:17.699 --> 00:20:18.399
 when we see them,

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:18.939
 Jesus says

00:20:18.939 --> 00:20:20.059
 the end is not

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.759
 yet.

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.679
 Verse 7,

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.339
 we've got natural

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.139
 disasters like

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:26.879
 the 2004

00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.579
 Boxing Day

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.059
 tsunami.

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.879
 Over 200,000

00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:30.960
 people killed.

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.179
 Some speak

00:20:34.179 --> 00:20:34.699
 of climate

00:20:34.699 --> 00:20:35.480
 change as

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.439
 we're about

00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:37.199
 to annihilate

00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:37.720
 ourselves.

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.299
 This panic

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.000
 but there was

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.680
 also a massive

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.159
 earthquake

00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:45.259
 in the

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.720
 Philadelphia

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.240
 area

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.399
 in AD 64.

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.680
 The Apostle

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.359
 Paul raised

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.159
 funds for the

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:51.659
 famine in

00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.019
 Jerusalem

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.480
 because

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.940
 the crops

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.440
 in Egypt

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:54.899
 failed.

00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:56.659
 If we were

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.039
 living in

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.379
 Myanmar

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.379
 with what

00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:58.819
 they're going

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.079
 through,

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:00.779
 you can

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.220
 understand

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.639
 why you'd

00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.379
 feel hopeless.

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.659
 The earthquake,

00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:07.619
 civil war

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.159
 and all the

00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:09.059
 social effects

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.159
 things.

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.279
 But they're

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.819
 just birth

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.119
 pains.

00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:17.799
 Then we've

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.500
 got spiritual

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.240
 afflictions on

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.740
 the church.

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.119
 We've got

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.099
 persecutions,

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.799
 verse 9.

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.759
 There's still

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.700
 many Christians

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.319
 being killed

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:26.759
 around the

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.279
 world today.

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.379
 Last century,

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.139
 we had more

00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.839
 martyrs than

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.259
 all the

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.639
 previous

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.240
 centuries

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.240
 combined.

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:36.620
 You can't

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.400
 live a

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.759
 godly

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.680
 life of

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.220
 integrity

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:42.839
 and not

00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.819
 get insulted

00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:45.660
 or not

00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.279
 feel left

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.740
 out or

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.420
 kicked out.

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.400
 You can't.

00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.700
 We shouldn't

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.640
 expect religious

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.259
 freedoms to

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:55.680
 continue.

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:59.240
 by all

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.840
 means use

00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:01.240
 the avenues

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.200
 to say

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.700
 they should

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.759
 but it

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.320
 is not

00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:05.840
 the norm

00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.600
 in history.

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.779
 What he's

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.160
 saying here,

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.519
 we shouldn't

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.100
 expect it.

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.680
 It gets

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.080
 worse.

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.900
 We should

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.340
 expect

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.140
 apostasy.

00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:17.840
 Verse 10.

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.620
 Jesus

00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.720
 himself warns

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.360
 that public

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:22.320
 declarations of

00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:22.740
 faith of

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.779
 individuals and

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.100
 teachers and

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:25.619
 churches,

00:22:25.939 --> 00:22:26.719
 some will

00:22:26.719 --> 00:22:27.279
 renounce

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:27.939
 their faith.

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:30.939
 The

00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:31.619
 definition of

00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:31.959
 a Christian

00:22:31.959 --> 00:22:32.379
 from the

00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:32.959
 New Testament

00:22:32.959 --> 00:22:33.599
 is someone

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.339
 who endures

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:34.679
 to the

00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:35.039
 end.

00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:37.839
 There's

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.359
 such a

00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:39.419
 work on

00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:39.899
 the inside

00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.359
 that they're

00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.099
 born again.

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:41.659
 They're

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.480
 breathing in

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:42.939
 the gospel

00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:43.699
 truths in

00:22:43.699 --> 00:22:44.179
 their local

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:44.579
 church.

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.279
 Divine

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.279


00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.819
 Grace is

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.139
 causing

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.480
 them to

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.139
 repent of

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:48.599
 their sins

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.199
 regularly.

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.319
 All these

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.059
 things mean

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.439
 they will

00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:52.179
 persevere to

00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:52.500
 the end.

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:53.639
 That's the

00:22:53.639 --> 00:22:54.179
 definition of

00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:54.519
 a Christian.

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.220
 they will

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:55.720
 persevere.

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.879
 So as

00:22:57.879 --> 00:22:58.759
 distressing as

00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.200
 it is when

00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.619
 someone

00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:00.539
 renounces,

00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.759
 that too is

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.139
 a birth

00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:04.420
 pain.

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.819
 It's just a

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.379
 spiritual

00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:08.440
 attack on

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.960
 the church.

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.200
 Love will

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.220
 grow cold.

00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.799
 Many people

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.720
 feel that

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.299
 society is

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.879
 getting morally

00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.279
 worse.

00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:20.879
 I think most

00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.759
 generations say

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.000
 that.

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.000


00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.619
 some

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.019
 believers

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.380
 won't

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.059
 apostatize

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.779
 dramatically

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:30.099
 but

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:33.160
 their love

00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:33.599
 for God

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:33.900
 and love

00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.180
 for one

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.660
 will grow

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.359
 cold.

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.059
 It's the

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.859
 lawlessness

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.400
 that will

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:38.759
 do it.

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.259
 It's being

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.539
 inoculated to

00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.319
 wickedness

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:45.700
 that creeps

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:45.940
 in.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.960
 I think

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.080
 I find

00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:49.420
 myself

00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.180
 laughing

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.080
 with TV

00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.920
 series that

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.980
 have got

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.660
 an agenda

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.840
 of

00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:56.080
 trying to

00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:56.660
 say you

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.240
 should embrace

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.000
 this wickedness

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.580
 and I laugh

00:23:58.580 --> 00:23:58.960
 along.

00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:03.640
 we're letting

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.220
 our kids

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.559
 breathe in

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.799
 these movies

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.660
 saying ultimate

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.640
 truth is found

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.559
 inside you.

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.960
 It's just being

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.319
 inoculated to

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:16.620
 the wickedness.

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.180
 It's like a

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.940
 frog in water

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.920
 slowly rising

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.519
 to the boil

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.240
 which I know

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:22.940
 is reversing

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.360
 the metaphor.

00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.200
 It's growing

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:24.740
 cold.

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.480
 It's this

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.700
 hypothermia

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.380
 setting in.

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:30.900
 But we

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.420
 should expect

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:31.900
 that sort of

00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.140
 thing to

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.360
 happen.

00:24:33.540 --> 00:24:33.840
 It's a

00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:34.280
 warning to

00:24:34.280 --> 00:24:34.820
 us but we

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.360
 should expect

00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:35.620
 it to

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:35.880
 happen.

00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:39.580
 These

00:24:39.580 --> 00:24:40.200
 birth pains

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.760
 are all

00:24:40.760 --> 00:24:41.440
 bracketed at

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.960
 the start

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.560
 and finish

00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:43.680
 by the

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.160
 warning of

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.620
 false

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.580
 Christ and

00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.100
 false

00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:46.700
 prophets.

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.600
 Verse 5

00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:52.080
 For many

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:52.480
 will come

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.100
 in my name

00:24:53.100 --> 00:24:53.820
 saying I

00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:54.120
 am the

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.440
 Christ and

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:55.640
 they will

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.240
 lead many

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.040
 astray and

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.359
 you will

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.779
 hear of

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:59.500
 verse 6.

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.339
 And then

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.480
 verse 23

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.379
 to 26.

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.279
 Look here

00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.559
 is the

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.000
 Christ.

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:06.799
 Don't

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.259
 believe it.

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.420
 This age

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.980
 this time is

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.440
 marked by

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.139
 false teaching.

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.099
 Don't expect

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.639
 that false

00:25:15.639 --> 00:25:16.399
 teaching to

00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:19.420
 come out

00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.079
 obviously

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.980
 going here

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.559
 I am I'm

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.240
 false teaching.

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:24.000
 It sneaks

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.319
 in.

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.079
 Half

00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.619
 truths.

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.339
 Human

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:26.819
 reasoning

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:28.419
 that just

00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:28.819
 twists

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.579
 scripture and

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.599
 relegates

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.099
 scripture to

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.599
 the side.

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.019
 Now there

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.699
 could well be

00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.559
 an intensification

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.299
 of all these

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.939
 things at the

00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.519
 very end of

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:38.859
 history.

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.720
 There could

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.299
 well be

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:42.199
 a ramping

00:25:42.199 --> 00:25:44.339
 up at the

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:44.939
 very end

00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:47.439
 including an

00:25:47.439 --> 00:25:48.240
 antichrist.

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:48.939
 But here

00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:49.559
 Jesus is

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.019
 warning of

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.480
 many.

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.519
 Many.

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:55.180
 There

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.779
 haven't been

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.359
 many who

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.799
 have claimed

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.099
 to be

00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.599
 Christ in

00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.059
 the flesh.

00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.639
 There's

00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:58.900
 been a

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.160
 few.

00:25:59.660 --> 00:25:59.839
 Some

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:01.079
 devastating

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.740
 cults.

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.379
 There have

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.099
 been some.

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.299
 We could

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.059
 potentially

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:08.200
 apply this

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.639
 broader.

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.940
 Anyone who

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.660
 claims this

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.400
 unique

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.900
 connection to

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.259
 God.

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.160
 This

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.900
 special

00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.139
 empowering.

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:18.940
 If you

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.560
 don't follow

00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:21.180
 them, you

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.520
 are not

00:26:21.520 --> 00:26:21.920
 part of

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.180
 God's

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.500
 kingdom.

00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.160
 Be

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.680
 suspicious

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.280
 of anyone

00:26:27.280 --> 00:26:27.840
 who claims

00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.440
 a unique

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.060
 authority.

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:31.680
 A special

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.300
 relationship

00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:32.720
 with God.

00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:33.860
 One, this

00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.280
 person is

00:26:34.280 --> 00:26:34.500
 going to

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.160
 fix the

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.580
 church.

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:35.800
 They're

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.060
 going to

00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:36.580
 fix the

00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:36.900
 world.

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.340
 If only

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.800
 everyone

00:26:37.800 --> 00:26:38.220
 got on

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.620
 board

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:38.880
 with

00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:41.700
 that kind

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.320
 of talk.

00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.120
 These

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:46.180
 self-appointed

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.019
 prophets,

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:50.180
 often

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.720
 inducing

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.480
 fear, like

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.060
 that South

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:53.680
 African guy

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.380
 just recently.

00:26:55.040 --> 00:26:55.519
 The rapture

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:55.900
 was meant to

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.460
 be two

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:56.980
 Wednesdays

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.220
 ago.

00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.580
 But their

00:26:58.580 --> 00:26:59.800
 reach online

00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:00.360
 to people

00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:01.480
 here is

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.980
 incredible.

00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:03.880
 Causing

00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:08.260
 lots of

00:27:08.260 --> 00:27:08.720
 bad

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:08.980
 things.

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.380
 But not

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:12.640
 just

00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.220
 self-appointed

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:13.620
 prophets,

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.640
 but I

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.160
 think any

00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:15.740
 Christian

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.520
 institution

00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:17.860
 or Christian

00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.580
 so-called

00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:19.000
 teachers,

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:19.640
 we've looked

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.240
 at recently,

00:27:20.760 --> 00:27:21.340
 that says

00:27:21.340 --> 00:27:22.180
 Christ and

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.680
 his cross

00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.000
 isn't

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.340
 enough.

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.020
 You need

00:27:24.020 --> 00:27:24.440
 to add

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:24.820
 something.

00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.180
 You need

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:26.540
 to add

00:27:26.540 --> 00:27:27.080
 works.

00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:27.560
 You need

00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:27.980
 to add

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.440
 rituals.

00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:29.340
 You need

00:27:29.340 --> 00:27:30.140
 spiritual

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.580
 gifts.

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.220
 You need

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.520
 another

00:27:31.520 --> 00:27:32.580
 book besides

00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.000
 the Bible.

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:33.500
 You need

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.000
 a human

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.980
 tradition and

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.779
 institution.

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.720
 You need

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.160
 enough

00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:38.700
 repentance.

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.400
 You need

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:41.519
 anything that

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.799
 adds to

00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.519
 his cross

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:46.720
 and simple

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:51.140
 faith and

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.480
 lead us

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.839
 astray.

00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.039
 I don't

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.579
 like thinking

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.059
 about all

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.279
 this.

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:57.500
 I don't

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:57.819
 know about

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:57.980
 you.

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.279
 Are you

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:58.700
 sick of

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.680
 me saying

00:27:59.680 --> 00:27:59.960
 all this?

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.740
 Jesus loves

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.099
 us too

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.460
 much.

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:06.019
 He's

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.440
 preparing

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.880
 us.

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.779
 He's

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.259
 telling us

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.480
 these

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:13.740
 birth

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.180
 signs so

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.559
 that we're

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.059
 anchored

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.359
 to

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.019
 something,

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.319
 to

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:17.920
 someone

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.460
 more

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:18.960
 rock

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.480
 solid

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:21.660
 than

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.200
 the earth

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.960
 itself.

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.980
 Verse 35,

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.099
 heaven and

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:25.920
 earth will

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.900
 pass away

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:28.660
 but my

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.420
 words

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:31.420
 will not

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.160
 pass away.

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:33.540
 God

00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:34.160
 will not

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.440
 change.

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.180
 His word,

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.519
 his gospel,

00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.840
 all about

00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:40.240
 him is the

00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:41.080
 only thing

00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:41.820
 that cannot

00:28:41.820 --> 00:28:42.640
 change.

00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:44.940
 His church

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.600
 can change

00:28:45.600 --> 00:28:49.620
 but his

00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.080
 word,

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.680
 his gospel

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.460
 is the only

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.779
 rock solid

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.320
 thing.

00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:55.319
 God

00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:55.839
 please

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.339
 don't

00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:56.700
 settle

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:56.980
 for

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.460
 anything

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:57.919
 less

00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.220
 than

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.519
 that.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.319
 He

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.899
 tells us

00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.119
 these

00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:06.579
 things ahead

00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.099
 of time.

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.519
 We may

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.679
 not

00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:08.279
 understand

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.539
 his

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.019
 reasoning

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:12.339
 but he's

00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:12.960
 told us.

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:13.839
 He's

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.200
 ruling.

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:15.399
 He

00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:15.759
 knows.

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:16.679
 I don't

00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:16.859
 know.

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.480
 He knows

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:17.679
 though.

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:19.920
 And he

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.400
 even says

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:20.880
 he's cut

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.360
 these days

00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.600
 short so

00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:22.840
 that we

00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.360
 all make

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.820
 it to

00:29:23.820 --> 00:29:24.200
 the end.

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.480
 I think

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:29.840
 like a

00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.299
 jeweller

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.420
 getting a

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.039
 diamond ring

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.500
 out of the

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:32.880
 cabinet,

00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.460
 they don't

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.000
 just place

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.340
 it on the

00:29:35.340 --> 00:29:35.620
 bench,

00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:36.060
 they'll

00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:36.560
 place a

00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:36.880
 black

00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:38.940
 mat so

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.279
 that the

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.620
 diamond

00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:41.039
 shines all

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.460
 the more.

00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:42.340
 You've got

00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.000
 all these

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.920
 distressing

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.660
 pains.

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.400
 And then

00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:47.200
 verse 14,

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.019
 it just

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.039
 shines really

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.640
 bright in

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:51.960
 the midst

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.340
 of this.

00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.140
 And this

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.960
 gospel of

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.440
 the kingdom

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.480
 will be

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.019
 proclaimed

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.660
 throughout the

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.360
 whole world

00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.700
 as a

00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.519
 testimony to

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.320
 all nations.

00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:04.200
 And then

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.620
 the end

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.000
 will come.

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.660
 This is

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.100
 what God

00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:09.480
 is doing

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:09.820
 in this

00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:10.080
 era.

00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:12.820
 Which is

00:30:12.820 --> 00:30:13.460
 why I think

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.360
 eschatology is

00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.060
 that make us

00:30:15.060 --> 00:30:15.700
 focus on

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.340
 interpreting

00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:17.000
 day or

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.440
 hour,

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.420
 literal

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.320
 events or

00:30:19.320 --> 00:30:19.759
 filling

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.600
 politics and

00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:21.980
 media and

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.700
 businesses with

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.100
 Christians.

00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:23.600
 It's

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.400
 distracting from

00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.060
 God's agenda.

00:30:27.320 --> 00:30:28.100
 God's agenda

00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:28.660
 is this

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.180
 gospel,

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:30.799
 this good

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.380
 news,

00:30:32.100 --> 00:30:34.880
 the victory

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.480
 of the good

00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.920
 news going

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.380
 to all the

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:37.660
 world.

00:30:38.820 --> 00:30:39.720
 This isn't an

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.360
 instruction to

00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:40.600
 us.

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.039
 He's just

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.220
 saying,

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.440
 that's his

00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.660
 agenda,

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.100
 he's going to

00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:43.460
 do it.

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:44.940
 We can get on

00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.420
 board with that

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:45.759
 or not.

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.180
 I hope we

00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.340
 do.

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.039
 Well, we

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.279
 are.

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.180
 Let's do it

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.480
 more and

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:49.680
 more.

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.460
 There were

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:57.019
 apparently two

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.720
 Scottish

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.900
 prisoners of

00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.460
 war in

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.700
 Germany in

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.160
 World War

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.420
 II.

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.720
 There was

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.340
 two camps

00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:04.740
 side by

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:04.980
 side.

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:05.660
 One was

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.000
 with the

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.160
 British and

00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:07.500
 one with

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.180
 the American

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.060
 POWs.

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:09.880
 They acted

00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:10.600
 as chaplains.

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.079
 They were

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.699
 allowed to

00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.919
 meet at

00:31:12.919 --> 00:31:13.399
 the fence

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:13.659
 in the

00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:15.519
 middle every

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.000
 so often.

00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:16.919
 They realised

00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.339
 the German

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.359
 guards didn't

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.219
 know Gaelic.

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.379
 They could

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.819
 share news

00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:23.299
 with each

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:23.500
 other.

00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.339
 One of the

00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.859
 soldiers had

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.399
 a secret

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:26.259
 radio.

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:30.139
 One of

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:30.659
 these chaplains

00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.119
 told the

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.539
 other one,

00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:33.059
 Germany has

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.480
 surrendered.

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.439
 It was so

00:31:36.439 --> 00:31:37.199
 broken down,

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.980
 the communication.

00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.519
 The guards

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.099
 didn't know

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.459
 that yet.

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.340
 It took

00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.299
 three days

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.840
 for the

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.559
 guards to

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:43.880
 know that.

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.200
 But when

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.680
 the other

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.180
 chaplain went

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.120
 back and

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:46.700
 reported the

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.600
 news, there

00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:47.880
 was just

00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:48.620
 this cheer

00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.100
 that went

00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:50.160
 up and

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.579
 they didn't

00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.220
 complain about

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.740
 the food

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.539
 anymore.

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.360
 They weren't

00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:54.840
 complaining

00:31:54.840 --> 00:31:55.279
 anymore.

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.600
 They had

00:31:56.600 --> 00:31:57.240
 rifles in

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:57.779
 their faces

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.420
 and they were

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.220
 smiling at

00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.779
 the guards.

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:00.860
 They were

00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:01.500
 walking around

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:01.900
 like it was

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.440
 a party,

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.340
 they said.

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.640
 The chaplain

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.680
 said we

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.559
 were liberated

00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.120
 by the

00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:11.439
 news before

00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:12.039
 we were

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.139
 liberated by

00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:13.799
 the guards.

00:32:15.479 --> 00:32:16.239
 That's the

00:32:16.239 --> 00:32:16.759
 power of the

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.799
 good news of

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.279
 the kingdom,

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:21.139
 of Christ's

00:32:21.139 --> 00:32:21.719
 cross and

00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:22.399
 resurrection and

00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:23.019
 ascension.

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:23.939
 He is on the

00:32:23.939 --> 00:32:24.879
 throne amidst

00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.779
 such hardships

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.739
 and change and

00:32:26.739 --> 00:32:27.259
 uncertainty.

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:29.079
 We can

00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:32.819
 smile at the

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.299
 guards.

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:37.220
 Christians can

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.180
 even willingly

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:39.220
 enter more

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.879
 affliction

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:42.059
 sharing this

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.919
 good news with

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:43.700
 those sitting

00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.399
 in darkness

00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:46.759
 because of

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.559
 this news.

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.740
 It liberates.

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:52.500
 It feels like

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.059
 the spiritual

00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:54.420
 war is raging.

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.200
 It can even

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.319
 get us down

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:59.180
 that God's

00:32:59.180 --> 00:32:59.640
 agenda is

00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.200
 losing.

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.120
 But the

00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:02.700
 war has been

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.620
 decisively won

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.420
 2,000 years

00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:04.740
 ago.

00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.019
 That's the

00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.599
 good news.

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.599
 When he died

00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.059
 and rose

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.819
 victorious,

00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:12.880
 Satan,

00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:14.059
 he's done.

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.279
 Our sin is

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.620
 done.

00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:19.559
 The world

00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:20.619
 is done.

00:33:21.739 --> 00:33:22.479
 Death is

00:33:22.479 --> 00:33:22.799
 done.

00:33:22.979 --> 00:33:23.519
 It is

00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.339
 decisively

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.759
 won.

00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:25.739
 It's

00:33:25.739 --> 00:33:26.159
 finished.

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.019
 We're

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:31.579
 living in

00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.119
 between the

00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:33.039
 times of

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:35.000
 that decisive

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.059
 victory and

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.739
 just the

00:33:36.739 --> 00:33:37.339
 wrapping up.

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:38.879
 Someone's

00:33:38.879 --> 00:33:39.179
 used the

00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:39.599
 illustration,

00:33:39.719 --> 00:33:40.159
 another World

00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:40.500
 War II

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.059
 illustration,

00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.159
 is when the

00:33:42.159 --> 00:33:42.859
 Allied troops

00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.579
 landed on

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.039
 Normandy,

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.919
 once they

00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.119
 got

00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:48.000
 conquered

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.419
 there.

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.239
 The war

00:33:50.239 --> 00:33:50.959
 was decisively

00:33:50.959 --> 00:33:51.239
 done.

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:52.079
 Everyone knew

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.359
 that.

00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:53.859
 Germany knew

00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.119
 that.

00:33:54.699 --> 00:33:55.159
 The Allies

00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:55.779
 were advancing

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.339
 on the

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:56.919
 Western Front.

00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:57.539
 Russia was

00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.139
 pushing on the

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.539
 Eastern Front.

00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.059
 It was done.

00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:00.879
 But the war

00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:01.599
 was still raging.

00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:02.959
 People were

00:34:02.959 --> 00:34:03.579
 still dying.

00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:05.699
 But the

00:34:05.699 --> 00:34:06.379
 victory was won.

00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.619
 The cross and

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.359
 resurrection is

00:34:10.359 --> 00:34:11.079
 our D-Day.

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.139
 day.

00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:12.920
 We're just

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.460
 waiting for

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.340
 that V-E

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:16.139
 day when

00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:16.759
 we're just

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.059
 going to be

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.940
 shouting and

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.619
 celebrating in

00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.159
 the streets

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.440
 when all the

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.079
 rifles are put

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.440
 down.

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.460
 Like the

00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:25.219
 birth pains,

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.880
 to mix

00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.400
 metaphors,

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:29.420
 we can look

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:30.599
 at all these

00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:31.779
 distressing,

00:34:32.319 --> 00:34:33.039
 changing

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:35.059
 things and

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.559
 we can go,

00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.559
 joy is so

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.099
 soon.

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:44.659
 which brings

00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:44.980
 us to

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.619
 verse 27

00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.239
 to 31.

00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:49.179
 They

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.940
 describe the

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.659
 obvious,

00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.420
 indisputable,

00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.380
 glorious

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.019
 appearing,

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.139
 coming of

00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:55.579
 Christ.

00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.139
 I don't

00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.299
 know about

00:34:58.299 --> 00:34:58.420
 you,

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.440
 sometimes I

00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.099
 see lightning

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:01.059
 in the sky

00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.639
 and I start

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:02.239
 counting in

00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.799
 my head to

00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.339
 work out how

00:35:04.339 --> 00:35:05.059
 far it is.

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.059
 Sometimes I

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.420
 just keep

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:07.980
 counting because

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.260
 I never

00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:08.619
 hear the

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:08.940
 thunder.

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.559
 That's not as

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.099
 close as I

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.340
 thought it

00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:12.559
 was.

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.880
 It's just so

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.440
 far away.

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.579
 That's the

00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.000
 point of this

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.699
 lightning metaphor.

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.179
 When Christ

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.599
 comes,

00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.659
 everyone will

00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:20.099
 see it.

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:21.099
 East and

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:21.280
 west,

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.260
 everyone will

00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:22.619
 see it.

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:23.920
 I won't have

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.380
 to tell you,

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:24.980
 you won't have

00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:25.480
 to tell me.

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:28.219
 It will be

00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.599
 obvious,

00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.119
 you won't

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.460
 miss it.

00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.280
 I think that's

00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:30.639
 the point of

00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.079
 the vulture

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.619
 thing too.

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.360
 When there's

00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:32.860
 a carcass,

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.699
 no vulture

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.059
 is missing

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.639
 out on that.

00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.300
 Everyone will

00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:36.500
 know.

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:39.380
 After this

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.280
 whole era from

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:40.739
 that first

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.579
 generation where

00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:42.079
 all those

00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.539
 signs were

00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.219
 taking place

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:44.719
 through to

00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:45.260
 our day

00:35:45.260 --> 00:35:45.539
 today,

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.159
 all these,

00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.320
 immediately

00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:49.940
 after the

00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.719
 tribulation of

00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:51.199
 those days,

00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.920
 the sun will

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.579
 be darkened

00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:53.260
 and the moon

00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:53.960
 will not give

00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.519
 its light

00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:55.780
 and the stars

00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:56.500
 will fall from

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.059
 heaven and the

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:57.780
 powers of the

00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:58.340
 heavens will be

00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:58.719
 shaken.

00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.239
 Then will

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:00.900
 appear in heaven

00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:01.800
 the sign of the

00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:02.400
 Son of Man.

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.980
 Then all the

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.679
 tribes of the

00:36:04.679 --> 00:36:05.119
 earth will

00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:06.699
 mourn and

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:06.980
 they will

00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:07.559
 see the

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:07.960
 Son of Man

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.579
 coming on the

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.179
 clouds of

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:09.599
 heaven with

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:10.760
 power and

00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:11.940
 great glory.

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.320
 And he will

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.039
 send out his

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.760
 angels with a

00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:15.380
 loud trumpet

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.820
 call and they

00:36:16.820 --> 00:36:17.579
 will gather his

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:18.440
 elect from the

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:19.440
 four winds from

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.039
 one end of

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.860
 heaven to the

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.079
 other.

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.740
 This is the

00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.380
 winding up of

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:23.840
 the universe.

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.360
 He's not

00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:25.059
 riding on a

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.800
 donkey anymore.

00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:27.599
 He's coming

00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:28.460
 victorious.

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.300
 There's a

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:31.400
 banner, there's a

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:31.960
 loud trumpet

00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.360
 call.

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:35.019
 All authority

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.880
 is his right

00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.460
 now but it's

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.280
 contested.

00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:38.539
 On that day

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.139
 there's no

00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:39.720
 contest.

00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:45.139
 And those

00:36:45.139 --> 00:36:45.800
 who have placed

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:46.780
 their joy and

00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:48.039
 their hope here

00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:48.920
 in this world

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:50.159
 rejecting Jesus

00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:53.280
 will mourn.

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.119
 And there's a

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.659
 poem that

00:36:58.659 --> 00:36:59.420
 captures this.

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:03.179
 I dream that

00:37:03.179 --> 00:37:03.579
 the great

00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:04.579
 judgment morning

00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.659
 had dawned and

00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:06.380
 the trumpet had

00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:06.800
 blown.

00:37:07.539 --> 00:37:08.380
 I dream that

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:09.240
 the nations had

00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:10.099
 gathered to

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:11.260
 judgment before

00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:12.260
 the white throne.

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:14.260
 The rich man

00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.519
 was there but

00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.940
 his money had

00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:18.019
 melted and

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.019
 vanished away.

00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:20.760
 A pauper he

00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.340
 stood in the

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:21.679
 judgment.

00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.619
 His debts were

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.940
 too heavy to

00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.240
 pay.

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.240
 The great man

00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.000
 was there but

00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:28.539
 his greatness.

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:30.019
 When death

00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:30.740
 came was left

00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:31.559
 far behind.

00:37:31.919 --> 00:37:32.459
 The angel

00:37:32.459 --> 00:37:32.959
 that opened

00:37:32.959 --> 00:37:33.579
 the records

00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:34.519
 not a trace

00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:35.039
 of his

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:35.519
 greatness

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:37.019
 could find.

00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:43.459
 But for the

00:37:43.459 --> 00:37:44.099
 believer that

00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:45.219
 same moment,

00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:46.739
 oh that

00:37:46.739 --> 00:37:47.639
 celebration,

00:37:49.339 --> 00:37:50.059
 he's sending

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.179
 his armies of

00:37:51.179 --> 00:37:52.119
 angels to keep

00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:53.479
 us safe and

00:37:53.479 --> 00:37:54.099
 gather us.

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:57.299
 one of the

00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:57.920
 effects of this

00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.579
 passage on me

00:37:58.579 --> 00:37:59.079
 is just

00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:01.579
 thankfulness

00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:03.819
 for my

00:38:03.819 --> 00:38:04.319
 salvation.

00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:04.920
 Not that I

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.699
 chose him but

00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:08.079
 that he is.

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:08.940
 I would have

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.480
 been mourning

00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.579
 on that day but

00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:11.819
 now I can lift

00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:12.440
 my head looking

00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.219
 forward to it.

00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:20.079
 well the

00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:20.739
 disciples asked

00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:21.199
 when will

00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:21.699
 these things

00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:22.279
 be and

00:38:22.279 --> 00:38:22.539
 some

00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:23.000
 Christians,

00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:23.299
 some

00:38:23.299 --> 00:38:23.679
 teachers,

00:38:23.779 --> 00:38:24.239
 they use

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:24.879
 this passage

00:38:24.879 --> 00:38:27.759
 to do the

00:38:27.759 --> 00:38:28.579
 exact opposite

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.459
 of Jesus'

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.439
 stated purpose.

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:32.179
 They point to

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:32.579
 all these

00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.239
 events and

00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:33.879
 they're trying

00:38:33.879 --> 00:38:34.759
 to stir up

00:38:34.759 --> 00:38:36.559
 alarm among

00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:38.279
 believers but

00:38:38.279 --> 00:38:38.819
 Jesus says,

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.419
 see that you

00:38:39.419 --> 00:38:39.879
 are not

00:38:39.879 --> 00:38:40.559
 alarmed.

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:42.719
 for this

00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:43.239
 must take

00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:43.739
 place but

00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.099
 the end

00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.440
 is not

00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:44.799
 yet.

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.579
 These are

00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.239
 the beginning

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.199
 of the

00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:51.779
 birth pains.

00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:54.480
 But that

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:57.219
 not being

00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:58.320
 alarmed is

00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:59.119
 balanced by

00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:00.119
 verse 32

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:00.679
 to 35

00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:02.360
 of the

00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:02.880
 fig tree

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.279
 lesson.

00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.119
 All these

00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:05.799
 things which

00:39:05.799 --> 00:39:06.599
 doesn't include

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.000
 Christ's

00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:07.320
 returns,

00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:07.759
 all these

00:39:07.759 --> 00:39:08.279
 signs,

00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:09.699
 that doesn't

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.360
 include Christ's

00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:10.880
 return because

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.420
 if he's

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:11.720
 back,

00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:13.820
 he's back.

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.120
 You don't

00:39:14.120 --> 00:39:14.480
 need a

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:14.740
 sign.

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.280
 All these

00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:16.740
 things,

00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.980
 we can

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.519
 know he's

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.320
 really near.

00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:20.680
 He's at

00:39:20.680 --> 00:39:21.260
 the very

00:39:21.260 --> 00:39:21.980
 gates about

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.360
 to come

00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:22.559
 in.

00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:25.760
 So Jesus

00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:26.039
 in the

00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:26.380
 New Testament

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:28.440
 is calling

00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.000
 for a

00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:29.840
 proper balance

00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:30.200
 here.

00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:31.420
 Don't be

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.039
 too quick

00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:33.519
 to say

00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.039
 the end

00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:35.840
 is really

00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:36.320
 close.

00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:37.740
 If it

00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:38.579
 distracts you

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:39.220
 from God's

00:39:39.220 --> 00:39:39.680
 agenda,

00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:41.379
 proclaiming

00:39:41.379 --> 00:39:41.819
 the gospel,

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.219
 it can

00:39:42.219 --> 00:39:42.719
 create a

00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:43.039
 sense of

00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.619
 panic and

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:44.359
 uncertainty.

00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:45.839
 We're meant

00:39:45.839 --> 00:39:46.099
 to be

00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:47.039
 anchored in

00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:47.679
 his word.

00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.239
 He's told

00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:49.599
 us ahead

00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:50.079
 of time.

00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:52.819
 But

00:39:52.819 --> 00:39:54.879
 there's

00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:55.899
 this pulsating

00:39:55.899 --> 00:39:56.399
 hope.

00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:57.279
 There's

00:39:57.279 --> 00:39:57.619
 this,

00:39:58.319 --> 00:39:58.839
 he could

00:39:58.839 --> 00:39:59.319
 come back

00:39:59.319 --> 00:40:01.079
 any moment

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.500
 in my

00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.059
 lifetime.

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:08.779
 there's

00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:09.279
 this tension

00:40:09.279 --> 00:40:09.619
 there,

00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:12.400
 this

00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:12.920
 balance.

00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:15.579
 Now,

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:15.820
 if you're

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.360
 feeling like

00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:16.679
 this will

00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:17.239
 never happen,

00:40:19.279 --> 00:40:19.820
 I'm sure

00:40:19.820 --> 00:40:20.400
 Noah's

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:21.219
 contemporaries

00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:22.199
 were pretty

00:40:22.199 --> 00:40:23.039
 skeptical too

00:40:23.039 --> 00:40:23.820
 when it

00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.139
 took a

00:40:24.139 --> 00:40:24.699
 hundred years

00:40:24.699 --> 00:40:25.099
 to build

00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.559
 that boat.

00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:29.059
 it

00:40:29.059 --> 00:40:29.440
 happened.

00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:32.440
 I'm

00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:32.639
 sure

00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:33.299
 Jeremiah,

00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:34.759
 when he

00:40:34.759 --> 00:40:35.000
 said

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:36.179
 Babylon is

00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:36.500
 coming,

00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:38.599
 they said

00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:39.119
 the temple,

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.119
 the temple

00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:41.539
 God would

00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:41.779
 never.

00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:46.219
 He's

00:40:46.219 --> 00:40:46.539
 coming.

00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:47.440
 2 Peter 3

00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:47.759
 9,

00:40:47.760 --> 00:41:05.500
 So I'll

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:05.960
 just finish

00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:07.280
 with how

00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.520
 then should

00:41:08.520 --> 00:41:08.920
 we be

00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:09.500
 living with

00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.140
 this balance?

00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:14.740
 Some

00:41:14.740 --> 00:41:15.200
 Christians

00:41:15.200 --> 00:41:15.880
 pray and

00:41:15.880 --> 00:41:16.400
 talk as

00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:16.680
 if

00:41:16.679 --> 00:41:18.000
 we're

00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:18.319
 meant to

00:41:18.319 --> 00:41:19.179
 rise above

00:41:19.179 --> 00:41:19.639
 all the

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:20.259
 pains in

00:41:20.259 --> 00:41:20.839
 this life.

00:41:25.759 --> 00:41:26.359
 That's

00:41:26.359 --> 00:41:26.679
 not the

00:41:26.679 --> 00:41:26.940
 Christian

00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:27.319
 way.

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:27.679
 We're

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.079
 meant to

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:31.259
 endure

00:41:31.259 --> 00:41:32.619
 the

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.139
 distress.

00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:33.980
 We're

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:34.500
 still in

00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:35.039
 the world.

00:41:38.759 --> 00:41:39.339
 Nor

00:41:39.339 --> 00:41:39.779
 should we

00:41:39.779 --> 00:41:40.819
 fixate on

00:41:40.819 --> 00:41:41.379
 reading

00:41:41.379 --> 00:41:42.679
 political

00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:43.239
 events

00:41:43.239 --> 00:41:43.879
 and

00:41:43.879 --> 00:41:44.480
 prophetic

00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:46.920
 things

00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:47.219
 people

00:41:47.219 --> 00:41:47.619
 say.

00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:51.940
 It is

00:41:51.940 --> 00:41:52.380
 also

00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:53.159
 crazy

00:41:53.159 --> 00:41:54.280
 to place

00:41:54.280 --> 00:41:54.740
 our hope

00:41:54.740 --> 00:41:55.139
 here.

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:57.000
 Now I'm

00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:57.599
 convicted by

00:41:57.599 --> 00:41:57.800
 this

00:41:57.800 --> 00:41:58.240
 myself.

00:41:59.400 --> 00:42:00.039
 It's

00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:00.900
 crazy

00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.039
 to make

00:42:02.039 --> 00:42:02.699
 the present

00:42:02.699 --> 00:42:03.260
 big

00:42:03.260 --> 00:42:04.420
 when it's

00:42:04.420 --> 00:42:04.760
 not

00:42:04.760 --> 00:42:05.400
 big.

00:42:06.320 --> 00:42:06.940
 It's so

00:42:06.940 --> 00:42:07.519
 uncertain.

00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:08.240
 It will

00:42:08.240 --> 00:42:09.519
 pass away.

00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:12.579
 there are

00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.460
 things not

00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:13.880
 to do.

00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:15.420
 I think

00:42:15.420 --> 00:42:15.900
 this passage

00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:16.360
 is pushing

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.039
 us to

00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:17.739
 make our

00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:18.380
 priority as

00:42:18.380 --> 00:42:18.699
 a local

00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.639
 church his

00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:20.059
 priority,

00:42:20.280 --> 00:42:20.659
 what he's

00:42:20.659 --> 00:42:20.920
 doing,

00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:21.900
 which is

00:42:21.900 --> 00:42:22.420
 verse 14.

00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:22.900
 This

00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:23.739
 gospel of the

00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:24.199
 kingdom will

00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:24.780
 be proclaimed

00:42:24.780 --> 00:42:25.239
 throughout the

00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:26.019
 whole world.

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.639
 Knowing he's

00:42:31.639 --> 00:42:32.300
 ruling now,

00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:33.119
 knowing he's at

00:42:33.119 --> 00:42:33.980
 the very gates,

00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:35.219
 let's get on

00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:35.579
 board with

00:42:35.579 --> 00:42:36.820
 his agenda.

00:42:36.820 --> 00:42:38.280
 seeing his

00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:39.500
 word take

00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:40.340
 deeper root in

00:42:40.340 --> 00:42:40.820
 each other's

00:42:40.820 --> 00:42:41.200
 lives,

00:42:41.720 --> 00:42:42.860
 raising and

00:42:42.860 --> 00:42:43.680
 training and

00:42:43.680 --> 00:42:44.600
 sending up

00:42:44.600 --> 00:42:45.660
 more gospel

00:42:45.660 --> 00:42:46.280
 workers from

00:42:46.280 --> 00:42:46.640
 this church.

00:42:46.700 --> 00:42:47.260
 Let's pray

00:42:47.260 --> 00:42:49.200
 that missionaries

00:42:49.200 --> 00:42:49.820
 will come from

00:42:49.820 --> 00:42:50.720
 our own church

00:42:50.720 --> 00:42:51.220
 to go to

00:42:51.220 --> 00:42:51.820
 places where

00:42:51.820 --> 00:42:52.300
 there is not

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:53.039
 a church yet.

00:42:55.100 --> 00:42:55.700
 That's going

00:42:55.700 --> 00:42:56.360
 to cost us.

00:42:57.080 --> 00:42:57.660
 That's going

00:42:57.660 --> 00:42:58.120
 to cost us

00:42:58.120 --> 00:42:58.880
 financially and

00:42:58.880 --> 00:42:59.559
 relationally.

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.740
 All those

00:43:00.740 --> 00:43:01.460
 things in our

00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.059
 life that we

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:03.280
 call non-negotiables

00:43:03.280 --> 00:43:04.360
 that we need to

00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:05.460
 actually put aside

00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.559
 for the sake of

00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:06.800
 this.

00:43:07.820 --> 00:43:08.539
 It's going to

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.180
 cost us.

00:43:11.720 --> 00:43:12.600
 Year 12, so

00:43:12.600 --> 00:43:14.300
 you guys, if I

00:43:14.300 --> 00:43:16.160
 can just briefly

00:43:16.160 --> 00:43:16.860
 talk to you

00:43:16.860 --> 00:43:17.420
 guys, you're

00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:18.000
 entering an

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:19.420
 uncertain world.

00:43:19.820 --> 00:43:21.180
 A HSC result is

00:43:21.180 --> 00:43:21.760
 not a great

00:43:21.760 --> 00:43:22.360
 foundation.

00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:24.740
 As much as the

00:43:24.740 --> 00:43:25.400
 world is telling

00:43:25.400 --> 00:43:26.180
 you that, his

00:43:26.180 --> 00:43:27.019
 word is the

00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:27.539
 foundation.

00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:28.360
 I know where

00:43:28.360 --> 00:43:29.120
 you all are, I

00:43:29.120 --> 00:43:29.720
 should be looking

00:43:29.720 --> 00:43:30.460
 both ways here,

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:33.920
 but his word is

00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:35.620
 the foundation to

00:43:35.620 --> 00:43:36.280
 build your life

00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:36.460
 on.

00:43:36.460 --> 00:43:37.840
 Living for his

00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:38.659
 word in his

00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:39.420
 church and his

00:43:39.420 --> 00:43:40.579
 mission, that's

00:43:40.579 --> 00:43:42.860
 a life well

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:43.179
 lived.

00:43:46.079 --> 00:43:47.159
 The present is

00:43:47.159 --> 00:43:47.960
 small, the

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.900
 future is big,

00:43:49.500 --> 00:43:50.340
 the victory is

00:43:50.340 --> 00:43:50.679
 won.

00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:53.019
 His word is

00:43:53.019 --> 00:43:53.980
 unchanging, not

00:43:53.980 --> 00:43:56.000
 some liturgy, his

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:56.659
 word is

00:43:56.659 --> 00:43:57.159
 unchanging.

00:43:58.940 --> 00:44:00.360
 Let's smile at

00:44:00.360 --> 00:44:00.920
 the guards.

00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:05.380
 these are the

00:44:05.380 --> 00:44:06.119
 very gates.

00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:09.220
 Will you pray

00:44:09.220 --> 00:44:09.480
 with me?

00:44:09.639 --> 00:44:10.000
 Let's pray.

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:10.019
 Let's pray.

00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:23.400
 Father, I pray

00:44:23.400 --> 00:44:32.320
 that the hope you

00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:33.739
 have purchased for

00:44:33.739 --> 00:44:35.179
 us in the blood of

00:44:35.179 --> 00:44:36.419
 Christ would fill our

00:44:36.419 --> 00:44:38.519
 imagination much,

00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:41.139
 much more so

00:44:41.139 --> 00:44:44.980
 that we will be

00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:46.119
 faithful to you

00:44:46.119 --> 00:44:49.139
 and we will show

00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:51.199
 a hope that is

00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:52.139
 deeper than what

00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:53.279
 anyone else in this

00:44:53.279 --> 00:44:54.980
 world has so that

00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:56.879
 we can display the

00:44:56.879 --> 00:44:57.599
 beauty of the good

00:44:57.599 --> 00:44:58.519
 news of the gospel.

00:44:58.519 --> 00:44:59.519
 people and I pray

00:44:59.519 --> 00:45:00.159
 that you would use

00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:01.059
 us as a church to

00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:01.840
 get on board with

00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:02.500
 your agenda.

00:45:03.579 --> 00:45:04.400
 I pray these things

00:45:04.400 --> 00:45:05.079
 in Jesus' name.

00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:05.480
 Amen.