WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.420 I have a question for all of you. 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:28.379 How many of you like to go to the back of the book and read the last chapter to know how it ends? 00:00:28.379 --> 00:00:30.259 You don't have to raise your hands. 00:00:30.439 --> 00:00:31.379 I'm not going to out you. 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:35.320 But I know there are some of you. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:50.179 Usually, I prefer to let the story unfold, allowing the author and the storyteller to unfurl the movement of the drama. 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:57.679 To see where, to feel the tension points as it unfolds. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:01.040 Looking forward, always, to the end. 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:08.400 To see how it will resolve or not resolve, depending on how dystopian your novel is. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:20.280 But the one Bible that I like to read, or the one book that I like to read the end of, is the Bible, however. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:25.540 Because it answers all the questions like, where is this all going? 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.299 And what will the end of the world be like? 00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:32.680 And where do I fit into all of that? 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:46.540 When you look at the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, this was a book written, now 2,000 years ago, written to the church in Rome, suffering, persecution, and trial. 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:54.360 Going through a hard time when Christianity was not accepted and where people believed false things about them. 00:01:54.580 --> 00:01:57.900 And where they suffered cruelly and terribly. 00:01:57.900 --> 00:02:02.620 They were asking the questions, whose kingdom will really reign? 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:04.960 God's or Caesar's? 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:07.820 Who really has the greater power? 00:02:08.140 --> 00:02:10.800 The gospel or Rome? 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:11.800 God's or Caesar's? 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:13.620 And what will become of us? 00:02:14.160 --> 00:02:18.120 Because it sure feels like we're losing and dying. 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:26.880 Those may be feelings that connect with your life as well. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:34.439 You may be facing trials in your own life that make you feel like you're losing and dying and wondering. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.620 Is there a God who can help me? 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:44.620 Is his power great enough to actually rescue me from my current circumstances? 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:50.259 Some of you may be walking through trials like that right now. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:53.960 Some of them, some of you are not. 00:02:54.579 --> 00:02:55.659 You're in a good place. 00:02:56.460 --> 00:03:03.939 And yet to know these truths is to prepare you for inevitably the time that will come when you will walk through hard times. 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:05.400 And hard trials. 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:15.599 Personally, as I've thought through, as I've prepared this sermon, I've been encouraged to think through the last eight years of my own life. 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:24.500 As I've walked through my late wife's, Brandy's diagnosis of cancer, treatment, her going home to be with the Lord a few years ago. 00:03:25.079 --> 00:03:29.759 There certainly have been times when I couldn't see whose power was greater. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:32.620 I couldn't see the goodness in the moment. 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:38.319 There certainly are times when I thought, I don't know how I can make it through. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:46.319 And yet, it's the truths of the book of Revelation that kept me going. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:50.780 To know the end has carried me through to this point. 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:53.580 And continues to carry me through today. 00:03:53.580 --> 00:03:57.300 And I hope that this will be true for you as well. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.980 So we're going to turn today to the book of Revelation. 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:03.060 We're going to turn to chapter 21. 00:04:03.260 --> 00:04:06.040 That's page, I brought my bulletin this time so I remember. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:07.900 977. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.300 Turn to page 977 in your pew Bible. 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:13.700 And if you have your own Bible, that's great. 00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:16.479 If you didn't bring one, pick up that pew Bible today. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.579 Because we're going to be flipping around a little bit. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:19.979 We're going to read a passage. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:25.279 But we're going to be reading a few passages in the near vicinity of that as well. 00:04:25.339 --> 00:04:27.920 And I'd love to have you be able to read along with me. 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:30.800 And you may be wondering, why are we doing this? 00:04:31.939 --> 00:04:34.899 Why are we talking about Revelation and the end of the Bible? 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:41.679 Because we've been preaching for this fall on the book of Genesis and the book of beginnings. 00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:45.739 And how God began the world and his purposes in creating it. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:55.459 And what we want to do is to show you how the book of Genesis sets up this long storyline. 00:04:56.179 --> 00:05:01.159 And we're going to skip to the end and read in Revelation 21. 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:07.560 About how God ties up some major themes that he's raised in the series this fall. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.480 We're going to learn about what's the end of creation. 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:13.840 Where is this all going? 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:17.580 We're going to learn about the reality of sin and judgment. 00:05:17.760 --> 00:05:19.460 And where is that going to end? 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.740 And we're going to learn about the fate of humanity. 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:27.280 And this is what we're going to see as we look at Revelation. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:32.000 Revelation as the capstone of our series on the book of Genesis. 00:05:32.739 --> 00:05:33.979 So that's where we're going. 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:35.619 And that's what we're doing this morning. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:45.279 So let's go ahead and read together Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 through 8. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:06:15.259 Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 through 8. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.279 The dwelling place of God is with man. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:20.959 He will dwell with them and they will be his people. 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:25.399 And God himself will be with them as their God. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:29.659 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:32.159 And death shall be no more. 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:37.000 Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore. 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:38.899 For the former things have passed away. 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:43.099 And he who is seated on the throne said, 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:46.579 Behold, I am making all things new. 00:06:47.659 --> 00:06:52.120 Also he said, write this down for these words are trustworthy and true. 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:54.979 And he said to me, it is done. 00:06:55.379 --> 00:06:58.299 I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:04.359 To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:07.960 The one who conquers will have this heritage. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.240 And I will be his God and he will be my son. 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:16.080 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.720 As for the murderers, the sexually immoral. 00:07:19.580 --> 00:07:21.819 Sorcerers, idolaters and all liars. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:25.220 Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:28.660 Which is the second death. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:32.260 Will you pray with me? 00:07:37.260 --> 00:07:40.940 Lord, I praise you this morning for your word. 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:55.500 Lord, for how you inspired writers throughout decades and centuries to reveal yourself. 00:07:55.500 --> 00:08:03.720 Lord, how these voices from different times and places testify about you. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:05.920 And what kind of God you are. 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:13.660 Lord, I pray this morning that you would help us to see the beauty of you in all that you are. 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:18.379 And Lord, the wonderful gift that it is to have the Bible to know you. 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:24.379 God, I pray for your help this morning that you might give me clarity of thought and of speech. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:28.480 And Lord, for all of us that our hearts would be soft and receptive. 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:32.639 That as your spirit, Lord, works in us today. 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:36.679 That we would hear, Lord, and apply your word. 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:41.179 Jesus, we ask these things in your name. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.279 Amen. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:42.419 Amen. 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:42.459 Amen. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:59.279 So as we look at these eight verses as representative of a bit of there's actually about three chapters here where there's a lot going on. 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:02.979 And we spared you a long reading of apocalyptic literature. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:07.460 Which has lots of really interesting and fascinating and sometimes distracting imagery. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:17.159 We're going to try to focus on these three grand themes of Genesis and how they work themselves out in Revelation. 00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:20.720 And the first thing that we see is what happens with creation. 00:09:21.680 --> 00:09:23.440 Creation will be healed. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:26.980 Remember what we saw in Genesis. 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:30.100 That God began with a watery chaos. 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:36.820 And he took this watery chaos and he brought it into a form. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:38.540 He separated out. 00:09:38.640 --> 00:09:40.340 Remember night and day. 00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:41.740 Land and sea. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:44.060 Sky and earth. 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:47.600 He separated these things out to give form. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:50.100 And then he filled that form with life. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:53.620 Life in the sun and the moon and the sky. 00:09:53.800 --> 00:09:59.159 And life with plants and animals on the land and in the air and on the sea. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:05.240 And finally the pinnacle of life being humanity created in God's image. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:15.779 And yet then we see that this creation was cursed by the fall of man and the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden. 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:19.440 And so we wonder what happens. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.640 Because we've known nothing less than this our whole lives. 00:10:22.640 --> 00:10:25.540 We have known nothing less than a cursed creation. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:27.260 Where work is hard. 00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:34.120 And where the world we live in is full of sickness and death. 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:35.720 Of decay and disease. 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:38.560 Of the second law of thermodynamics for heaven's sakes. 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:41.140 That we tend towards chaos. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:48.179 Will it ever be good again? 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:51.480 Is the question that we ask about creation. 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:54.019 And Revelation steps in. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:56.319 And in Revelation 21.1 it says. 00:10:57.059 --> 00:11:02.199 This is the Apostle John receiving these visions from the Lord and writing them down. 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:02.539 He says, 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:17.860 What we see is that God rebuilds the forms anew. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:20.519 And the forms are different. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:21.759 Isn't it interesting? 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.039 There is no sea. 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:26.800 There is no watery chaos to be conquered anymore. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:32.560 In the eternal state there will be a world that will have this perfect form. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:35.599 That could never go back. 00:11:35.599 --> 00:11:37.599 And not only will there be no sea. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.939 As you see in verse 2. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:40.779 But also as we look further. 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:44.819 If you want to look down chapter 21 verses 23 and following. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:47.399 It talks about the fact there will be no sun. 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.299 And there will be no moon. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:54.559 And it says that there will be no more night. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:56.979 In chapter 22 verse 5. 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:03.620 And part of what we need to see is that the normal rhythms of life. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:06.819 That God had created in the original form. 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:10.059 Are not only going to be made new. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.740 They're going to be made new in a greater way. 00:12:13.099 --> 00:12:15.859 Because now instead of those things. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:19.159 Instead of a watery chaos or a sea. 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:21.059 There will be a river of life. 00:12:21.479 --> 00:12:24.859 Flowing through the place where God's people will live. 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:28.219 And instead of there being a sun and a moon in the sky. 00:12:28.859 --> 00:12:30.899 There will be God himself. 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:33.359 And he will be the light. 00:12:33.479 --> 00:12:36.620 That will light them in their lives. 00:12:40.219 --> 00:12:43.079 And this is the eternal state that we see. 00:12:43.199 --> 00:12:48.079 That God is renewing and making even greater these forms. 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:51.659 So there will be no more days. 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.199 But eternity. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:13:01.679 But these aren't just forms for their own sake. 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:04.219 But they're forms for the flourishing of life. 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:09.639 And so you see in verse 6 of the passage we read in 21.6. 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:15.940 To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:23.300 The invitation for all to come and to drink from God who is the source of all life. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:28.000 And who in this new creation has created a river that will never stop flowing. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:32.860 And a river that will always have life abundantly there. 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.639 And as you look ahead. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:38.480 Look with me at the beginning of chapter 22 really quickly. 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.720 Verses 1 and 2. 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:47.540 There's a river of the water of life bright as crystal flowing from the throne of God. 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.580 And the lamb. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:52.460 And through the middle of the... 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:54.879 It's flowing through the middle of the street of the city. 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:57.279 And also on either side of the river. 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:01.720 The tree of life with its 12 kinds of fruit yielding each... 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.420 Yielding its fruit each month. 00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:09.079 And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:17.079 Do you remember the tree of life that God had to guard, block off from sinful humanity? 00:14:17.839 --> 00:14:20.459 Because of their rebellion against him? 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:25.979 The tree of life that they might have eaten in the garden and enjoyed life forever but didn't? 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.559 Because of their rebellion? 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.439 In the new heavens and the new earth. 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:37.660 God creates a place where the tree of life lines the river of life. 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:41.320 And it bears fruit in every season. 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.800 This is where the apocalyptic imagery... 00:14:43.800 --> 00:14:46.460 We need to be a little careful to not overdo it. 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:48.140 Because I just said there are no seasons. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:50.400 And now there are seasons. 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.540 Because there are 12 months, right? 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:53.460 Well, let's go with it. 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:55.220 The apocalyptic literature, it's images. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:57.160 So what's the image trying to say? 00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:59.960 There will always be abundant fruit. 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:05.259 There will always be a fruit that will feed the people who are there forever. 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:07.600 And it will be a life-giving fruit. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:19.379 What had been barred off because of sin now is available for all who are in the people of God. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:23.480 And not only do we have life, but we see... 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.980 Go back to chapter 21, verse 7. 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:29.779 The second half of this. 00:15:30.420 --> 00:15:36.360 The one who conquers will have this heritage and I will be his God and he will be my son. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:39.980 And sonship here... 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:45.039 Yes, it's a gendered term, but it has a positional force to it. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:50.980 You will be the precious, honored, firstborn in my family. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:55.420 That would have been understood in a traditional context. 00:15:55.420 --> 00:15:58.460 And we need to see that we're gathering it up. 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:05.600 And we're saying that in God's son, Jesus, all of us, men and women, become his precious children. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.960 His precious sons and daughters. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:12.980 And his name will be written on our foreheads. 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:17.980 That's what chapter 22, verse 4 tells us. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.680 That we will actually have God's name. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.200 He will... 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:23.659 Again, imagery, right? 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.740 He's not branding us. 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:25.519 Imagery. 00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:26.720 That we... 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:30.940 He will say, you are mine and I am yours forever. 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:35.360 And we will finally have a family that we will not lose. 00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:38.860 And we will finally have a place to belong that we never had. 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:48.700 We will be restored fully in the image of God, male and female, to be his people forever. 00:16:50.740 --> 00:17:01.399 This new creation is characterized by a remaking where life flourishes eternally, without failure, without end, and with greater glory. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:08.319 So what are we to make of this? 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:11.019 How do we apply this to our life today? 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:14.819 There are so many applications to these principles. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:20.839 But, you know, one of the ones that struck me was, sometimes I think we're afraid that heaven will be boring. 00:17:22.939 --> 00:17:30.839 That harps and clouds and people wearing long white robes just looks really bland and really vanilla. 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:48.539 But what I want you to see is that what God is doing in recreating, making new the forms of his creation and the life-giving impulse is that we are going to experience life like we've never done it before. 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:54.500 Think even of just the way we experience creation. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.500 Have you been in Teton National Park? 00:17:56.500 --> 00:18:00.460 Have you been in Teton National Park? 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:08.019 And the warmth of the rays of the sun catch the tips of the snow-capped peaks in the morning? 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:10.740 It's thrilling. 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:13.640 Have you been in Teton National Park? 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:21.599 Have you been in a place where you've been able to see, whether it's Florida or California or Hawaii or some other part of the world, 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:25.059 where you've been able to watch the sun set over the ocean, 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:29.460 and the sky light up with a brilliant chromatic hues, 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:35.700 to be captivated by it? 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:45.859 And maybe even closer to Earth, have you just walked Hamanasset Beach and looked out at the greatness of the ocean? 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:53.119 Or hiked the hills in Chatsworth Hollow in the spring as the snow melt fills the streams? 00:18:55.059 --> 00:19:01.480 These are the little tastes of our creation now that thrill our hearts. 00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:10.720 Friends, we will only have this unending and with greater glory in heaven. 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:18.919 The Grand Canyon is not boring, nor will heaven be boring for us. 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:22.440 We've only tasted what is in store for us, 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:25.380 only sensed the greater beauty that awaits. 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:27.539 And it's not only us. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.580 Not just the natural world, but human creation. 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:33.620 Have you ever thought of the interesting thing? 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:36.680 God began his creation in a garden. 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:40.200 But at the end, there's a city. 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.100 And I think that part of that is to recognize that 00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:48.000 what God is doing is he's bringing his people together. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:51.779 It is from God for sure, but it is, there's a humanity. 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:57.779 There's a beauty in what God is doing through human beings. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:02.579 In our capacity to be creative, to make beautiful things, 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:05.680 and to have culture, and to have music, 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:09.920 and to have all the different ways in which we taste eternity, 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:12.299 even now in this fallen world. 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:16.440 And so what we will experience, 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:20.519 and the scripture isn't really detailed on this, 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:22.279 so I'm going out a little bit on a limb here, 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:26.980 but I think it's there that God is going to bring us into a place 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:29.700 where we're going to, all the things that we taste now, 00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:33.180 we will get an overwhelming abundance of, 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:34.619 and it will never grow old, 00:20:34.659 --> 00:20:36.399 and we will never grow tired of it, 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.280 and its beauty will be satisfying, 00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:43.900 because it will be seen to be reflecting God 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:46.380 in all of his beauty and glory, 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.019 in all that we do. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:51.680 And all that reflects God in part now, 00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:54.200 we will see in full then. 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:59.340 And so we're reminded of the words in 1 Corinthians 2, 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:01.840 what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:04.620 nor has the heart of man imagined, 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:08.139 what God has prepared for those who love him. 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.799 Friends, the renewal of creation is going to be awesome, 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:14.439 and we ought to be excited about it, 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.779 and look forward to it. 00:21:17.479 --> 00:21:18.779 But it's not just that. 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:22.379 It's not just a utopia to look forward to, 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.679 because it also, 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:27.539 Revelation also helps us understand 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:29.579 what happens to sin, 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.659 and judgment, 00:21:30.979 --> 00:21:31.619 and the fall. 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:37.859 What we see is that judgment is complete, 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:40.159 and sin is eradicated. 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.879 Remember what we saw in Genesis 3, 00:21:43.459 --> 00:21:44.839 and following all the way through. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.439 Genesis 3 was the beginning. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.199 Sin entered the world 00:21:48.199 --> 00:21:50.619 through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.179 It entered the world, 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.939 and it corrupted and broke everything. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:57.939 It broke God's relationship to man. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:22:00.600 It broke humanity's relationship to one another, 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.380 male and female. 00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:04.600 It broke our relationship to creation, 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.660 and all those ways. 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:08.820 And so the stain and the curse of sin 00:22:08.820 --> 00:22:10.380 went everywhere. 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:15.340 And when we saw from that, 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.019 remember, 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.160 with Cain and Abel, 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.279 and then with Lamech, 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:21.720 and then every purpose of man's heart 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:23.279 was always only evil. 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:24.600 Always. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:26.619 I think I added one in there, 00:22:26.719 --> 00:22:27.539 but that's the idea, 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.219 right? 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.279 In chapter 6, 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.359 it got so bad 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.579 that God judged the world 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.359 with a flood 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.599 that destroyed everybody 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:35.619 so that he might remake humanity 00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:37.719 in hopes of starting over. 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.819 And yet, 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.139 three chapters later, 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.819 they're building the Tower of Babel 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.219 and thinking, 00:22:42.419 --> 00:22:43.399 that's a great idea. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:46.299 Why don't we exalt ourselves 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.099 up to God 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:49.519 in rebellion against him? 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.439 And so we have this problem. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.480 Sin has persisted. 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.859 And the stain of sin 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.859 seems to be 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:58.819 one that you can't get out. 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:01.879 What will God do with that? 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.079 Well, 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:07.879 we see a couple of very hopeful things here. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.599 First, 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:12.139 is that in chapter 21, 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.839 verse 4, 00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.299 these beautiful words, 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:15.679 we see that the curse 00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:17.319 and the stain of sin 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.539 and the result of sin 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:20.359 is reversed. 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.439 Look with me at it. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.700 He will wipe away 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:26.779 every tear from their eyes 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:29.259 and death shall be no more. 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.380 Neither shall there be mourning 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.200 nor crying 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.519 nor pain of any more, 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.720 nor pain anymore 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:36.539 for the former things 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.860 have passed away. 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:40.980 Friends, 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.980 the older I get, 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.259 the worse death seems. 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:47.539 And yet, 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.559 the older I get, 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:50.160 the harder life seems. 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:53.079 It's a really terrible thing 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:55.200 to put those things together. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.519 Because you realize 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.660 that sin and death 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.440 is not the way 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.539 it was supposed to be. 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:03.960 Humanity was not made for this. 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.180 And yet, 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.220 they are such a constant presence 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.980 in our lives. 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.519 Some of you are 22 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.940 and really have tasted 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.779 little of this. 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.379 Praise God for that. 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.279 Enjoy it. 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.759 And be prepared 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.379 for the fact 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.180 that that will end. 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:23.019 I wish I could tell you 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.599 something better. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.279 I can't. 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.059 Sorry. 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.139 Sorry. 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:31.079 Begin to put these truths 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.000 into, 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.220 and these hopes 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.400 into your heart now. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:37.660 for when the reality 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.280 of sin 00:24:38.280 --> 00:24:39.860 and the reality 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.700 of death 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:44.440 hits you, 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.820 you will be prepared 00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:46.300 for them. 00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:49.000 The curse is reversed. 00:24:50.780 --> 00:24:51.740 There will be 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:53.120 no more sickness. 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.519 There will be 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.660 no more disease. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.140 There will be 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:59.180 no agonizing death. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:24:59.880 There will be 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:01.640 no tragic accidents. 00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.519 There will be 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.339 no more death. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.539 And there will be 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.859 no more mourning. 00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:10.759 There will be 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.720 no more weeping 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.440 and crying. 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.559 There will be 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.500 no more hurt 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.359 or pain. 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:17.379 Because all 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.519 of those things 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:20.859 that are so 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:22.000 much a part 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.259 of our lives today 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.440 are the fruit 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.079 of sin. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.339 And when God 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.500 makes the world new, 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:30.900 those things 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.839 will have passed 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.420 away. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.319 in chapters 22 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.039 verse 3 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.559 it says, 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.700 no longer 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.440 will there be 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.279 anything 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.000 accursed. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.200 So all 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.759 the ways 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.700 that the fallenness 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.200 has worked 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.900 its way out 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:47.920 into our world 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.940 with broken 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.200 societal systems 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.099 and broken 00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:51.859 relationships 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:52.619 and broken 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.220 bodies 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.019 and broken 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.339 ecology 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.079 and all 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.639 the broken 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.259 things 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.160 of the world, 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.240 no longer 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.059 will they be 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.359 there. 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:03.579 and even 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.240 more than that, 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:04.919 even in the 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.819 spiritual realm, 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:08.979 the liar 00:26:08.979 --> 00:26:09.859 and the deceiver 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.539 who wormed 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.039 his way 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.119 into the 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.599 hearts of 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.179 Adam and Eve 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:13.779 in the garden, 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.579 the great serpent 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.439 who if you go 00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:17.179 back and you look 00:26:17.179 --> 00:26:18.099 in chapter 12 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.279 is identified 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.019 as Satan 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.279 very clearly 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.679 there. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.779 We see in the 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.500 book of Revelation, 00:26:24.719 --> 00:26:25.719 I just didn't have 00:26:25.719 --> 00:26:26.319 time to give you 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.419 this whole storyline, 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.419 but we see in the 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.200 book of Revelation 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.640 that this enemy 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:32.300 will be defeated. 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:33.820 In chapter 20 00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.560 verse 10, 00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:35.980 Satan is finally 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.580 defeated. 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.360 He is pictured 00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.140 as a dragon 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.560 and he is thrown 00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:40.620 into a lake 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.200 of fire 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.500 which is a picture 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.480 of eternal 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.360 judgment 00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:45.420 where there is 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.360 no escape. 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.180 And not only 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.860 is Satan thrown 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.120 in there, 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.360 but in chapter 20 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.120 verse 14, 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.720 death and hell 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.340 itself 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:57.060 are also thrown 00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:58.279 into that lake 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.940 of fire. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.740 What we know 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.240 from this 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.799 is that the 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.379 enemies, 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.539 the spiritual 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.279 enemies of 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.160 God's people 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.799 who have sought 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.599 to attack 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.759 from the outside 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.980 to turn 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.639 God's people 00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.099 away, 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.539 they are judged, 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.139 they are condemned, 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.220 and they are 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.859 defeated. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.240 And they will 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.960 no longer 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.579 be a part 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.319 of our world. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:28.279 God will 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.779 remove 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.740 the things 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.460 that cause 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.399 us harm. 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.859 Now one of 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.500 the sobering 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.099 things about 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.500 this, 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.500 you probably 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.059 noticed it 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.480 because it's 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:41.859 striking, 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:43.279 verse 8, 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.480 and this is 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.240 repeated again 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.759 later in 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.720 chapter 22, 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:50.439 verse, 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.920 I didn't 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.299 write this 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:53.539 down, 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.759 verse 15, 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.380 twice in 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:57.799 these two 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.500 chapters with 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.279 this grand 00:27:59.279 --> 00:27:59.820 vision, 00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.200 it says, 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.220 but not all 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.160 will be there 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:06.580 because those 00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:07.519 who reject 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.100 God, 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.400 those who 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.180 choose their 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.980 sin and 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.840 refuse 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:15.100 to turn 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.940 towards God, 00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:17.559 those who 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:19.039 continue and 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.599 make their 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.839 life characterized 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.039 by rebellion 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:23.200 against God, 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.379 they will 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.099 not be in 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.740 this place. 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.200 They will 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.980 not enjoy 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.519 this new 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.159 heaven and 00:28:30.159 --> 00:28:30.920 new earth 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.440 and new 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:31.920 Jerusalem. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.000 They will 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.700 not drink 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.960 from the 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.420 river of 00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:35.839 life, 00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:36.920 nor taste 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.399 the fruit 00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:37.799 from the 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.339 tree of 00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:38.740 life. 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.899 There is 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.399 a judgment 00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.599 that is 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.440 coming on 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:45.960 all the 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:46.259 earth, 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.700 and it 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.059 will be 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.519 final. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.920 this is 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.359 why the 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:51.779 lake of 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.359 fire and 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:52.960 sulfur and 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.480 the second 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.000 death, 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.339 this apocalyptic 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.779 imagery is 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.500 pointing ahead 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.019 to this 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.619 reality, 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.779 that one 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.379 day when 00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:02.680 God redeems 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.420 the world, 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.559 it will 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.399 involve this 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:05.819 judgment. 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.659 It will 00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:08.500 involve 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:10.920 ending sin, 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.740 and for 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.299 those who 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.779 have made 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:14.519 sin their 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.659 marker, 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:16.940 the thing 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.580 that they 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.380 embrace, 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:22.200 they will 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.519 be caught 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.000 up in 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.620 this judgment, 00:29:24.820 --> 00:29:25.059 and they 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.600 will suffer 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.900 that judgment, 00:29:27.320 --> 00:29:28.660 and it 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:28.980 will be 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.440 terrible. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.940 So we 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.380 need to 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.820 know that 00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:37.320 evil will 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.160 not continue, 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.840 and this 00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:40.360 is a good 00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:40.700 thing, 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.200 friends. 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.080 Though it 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:43.380 is a 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:43.820 sobering 00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:44.180 thing, 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.500 it is a 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.140 good thing, 00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:47.279 and many 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.640 of you 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:48.060 sitting here 00:29:48.060 --> 00:29:48.600 this morning 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:49.279 know this. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.279 You know 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:50.880 it's good 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.320 when you 00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.000 watch your 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.820 family members 00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:54.220 suffer from 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.160 chronic pain, 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.000 or addiction, 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.440 or tragic 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.240 accidents, 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.420 when you 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.220 watch life 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.620 unravel in 00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.160 those you 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.539 love, 00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:03.980 and you 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.600 want the 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:04.960 evil, 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.400 and the 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:05.720 sin, 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.360 and the 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.900 pain to 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.320 end. 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:10.500 some of 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.000 you have 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.259 endured 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.579 injustice 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:15.220 tragically 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.019 in your 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.879 own lives. 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.279 You have 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.019 been abused, 00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.079 and there's 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.720 never been a 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.339 recompense. 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:22.939 There's never 00:30:22.939 --> 00:30:23.339 been a 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.759 reckoning. 00:30:26.179 --> 00:30:26.859 Some of 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.359 you look 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:27.819 out in the 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.240 world, 00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:28.919 and you 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.399 look at the 00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:29.740 great 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.299 suffering. 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:32.159 You look 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.399 at the 00:30:32.399 --> 00:30:32.939 persecution 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:33.379 of the 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.839 powerless, 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:34.339 and the 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:34.839 oppressed, 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.240 and those 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.900 that society 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.559 counts is 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.120 not worth 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:38.359 it. 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.099 And your 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.740 heart cries 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.140 out, 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.339 how could 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.120 this be? 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.380 God, 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.279 why won't 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:46.779 you end 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.220 this? 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:48.940 And part 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.220 of what 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.660 Revelation 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.319 tells us 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.700 is that 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.180 he will, 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:52.819 and that 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.380 he does. 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.500 He will 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.500 not allow 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.359 the guilty 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:57.819 to go 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.599 unpunished, 00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.680 and he 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.480 will end 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:02.299 sin by 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.079 justly 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:03.620 judging 00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:05.019 all. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:10.620 the 00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:10.920 book of 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.299 Revelation 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.759 was written, 00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:12.120 it was 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:12.480 written to 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:12.980 people who 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.460 were wondering 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.079 these things 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.400 too. 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:15.940 As the 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.779 corrupt nation 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.319 of Rome 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.099 got more 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:19.099 flagrant in 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:19.640 some of its 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.120 corruption, 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.200 and the 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.819 church wondered, 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.319 God, 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.240 how long, 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.079 how long 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.440 will this 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:24.779 last, 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.240 how long 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.640 will we 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.019 suffer, 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:26.740 the 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.200 righteous, 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.460 those who 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:28.980 seek you 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.400 and want 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:29.759 to know 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.120 you, 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.759 while the 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.200 world 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:34.500 enjoys the 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.120 pleasures of 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.639 its sin. 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.879 And Revelation 00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.939 reminds us, 00:31:39.879 --> 00:31:40.259 God will 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.579 win. 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.500 God will 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.039 win in the 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.399 end, 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.539 and he 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.199 will end 00:31:45.199 --> 00:31:46.019 the evil, 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.579 and he 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.159 will end 00:31:47.159 --> 00:31:48.159 the sin, 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:48.619 and he 00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.339 will end 00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:50.659 all of 00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.219 the things 00:31:51.219 --> 00:31:52.079 that we 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.000 rightly hate 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.399 in this 00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:54.159 world because 00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.979 they are 00:31:54.979 --> 00:31:55.419 evil. 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.559 And in 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.179 his judgment, 00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:58.639 he will 00:31:58.639 --> 00:31:59.039 make it 00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.359 right. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:03.539 now we 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:03.839 have to 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.279 stop and 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.559 think, 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:05.000 how will 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.339 he do 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:05.699 this? 00:32:06.699 --> 00:32:07.219 How will 00:32:07.219 --> 00:32:07.539 he do 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:07.939 this? 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.399 Many of 00:32:09.399 --> 00:32:09.679 you know 00:32:09.679 --> 00:32:10.299 this story, 00:32:10.439 --> 00:32:10.859 but just, 00:32:11.459 --> 00:32:12.119 it's only 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:12.699 hinted at 00:32:12.699 --> 00:32:13.000 here, 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.439 it's not 00:32:13.439 --> 00:32:14.179 explained in 00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:14.579 Revelation 00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.299 21 and 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.759 22, 00:32:15.939 --> 00:32:17.119 except that 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.779 with God 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.240 there is 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:18.819 this one 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.199 who is 00:32:19.199 --> 00:32:19.519 called 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.179 the Lamb. 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.359 And you 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.699 go back 00:32:22.699 --> 00:32:23.519 to Revelation 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.500 chapter 5, 00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:25.240 and you 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.699 see people 00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:26.240 worshiping 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:26.839 this Lamb, 00:32:26.979 --> 00:32:27.859 worthy is 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.399 the Lamb 00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:28.859 who was 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.439 slain, 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.559 for by 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.359 your blood 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.299 you ransomed 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.119 people for 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:33.559 God. 00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.779 We know 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.179 that the 00:32:38.179 --> 00:32:38.679 Lamb is 00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:39.099 Jesus, 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.819 and that 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.619 his death 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.759 is his 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.159 death on 00:32:43.159 --> 00:32:43.799 the cross, 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.759 and we 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.139 know that 00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:46.879 this Lamb 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.479 is God 00:32:47.479 --> 00:32:48.059 come to 00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.519 us. 00:32:48.939 --> 00:32:49.519 So Hebrews 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.000 2, 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.859 14 says 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.459 this about 00:32:51.459 --> 00:32:51.759 him, 00:32:52.479 --> 00:32:52.779 therefore 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.459 since the 00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:53.819 children, 00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:54.500 that is us, 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.079 children of 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.579 humanity, 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.459 share in 00:32:56.459 --> 00:32:57.039 flesh and 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.299 blood, 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.200 he himself 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.899 likewise 00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.579 partook the 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.359 same things 00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.440 so that 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.519 through death, 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:02.879 that is 00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.480 through his 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:03.980 death, 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.859 he might 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.639 destroy the 00:33:05.639 --> 00:33:06.059 one who has 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.619 the power 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.220 of death, 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:08.000 that is 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.440 Satan, 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.899 that is 00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.399 the devil, 00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.099 and to 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:12.059 deliver all 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.639 those who 00:33:12.639 --> 00:33:13.000 through the 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.359 fear of 00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:13.759 death were 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.460 subject to 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.059 a lifelong 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.759 slavery. 00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.279 Jesus 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.259 entered into 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.940 the curse 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.619 of humanity 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:20.419 and the 00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:21.059 judgment of 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.859 God upon 00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.460 the evil 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:22.919 that our 00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:24.119 sin wreaks 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:24.519 in this 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:24.960 world. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.000 He entered 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.359 in and 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.039 took that 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:28.000 for us 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:31.359 so that 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.879 all who 00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.199 are in 00:33:32.199 --> 00:33:32.679 him 00:33:32.679 --> 00:33:34.119 might be 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:34.719 redeemed 00:33:34.719 --> 00:33:35.699 and ransomed 00:33:35.699 --> 00:33:36.699 out of 00:33:36.699 --> 00:33:37.859 this broken 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:38.699 fallen world 00:33:38.699 --> 00:33:39.740 and into 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:41.919 this ark, 00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:44.619 this savior, 00:33:46.179 --> 00:33:46.559 this, 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:47.500 the promised 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.059 one, 00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:51.259 so that 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:51.699 all who 00:33:51.699 --> 00:33:52.039 are in 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:52.519 Christ, 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.599 as Daniel 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:54.279 said earlier, 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.119 there is 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:56.099 no condemnation, 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.460 but instead 00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:57.879 there is 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.279 life. 00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.319 And this 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:00.599 is the 00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:01.319 great divide, 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:01.720 and on 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.160 the last 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.399 day, 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:02.799 this will 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.139 be the 00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:03.700 great and 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.039 tragic 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:04.579 divide. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.399 For those 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:05.660 who are 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.200 in Christ, 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:06.519 they will 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.059 go into 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.539 eternity 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.259 with God 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:10.880 and enjoy 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.460 life with 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.119 God forever 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.559 and all 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.219 this beauty. 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:16.059 but for 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.459 those who 00:34:16.459 --> 00:34:16.919 are outside 00:34:16.919 --> 00:34:17.599 of Christ, 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.500 it will 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:18.799 be a 00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:19.079 terrible 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.519 day, 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:21.099 for the 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:21.679 hope of 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.119 redemption 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.139 will finally 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:24.819 extinguish 00:34:24.819 --> 00:34:26.379 and be 00:34:26.379 --> 00:34:26.899 no more. 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.139 Which is 00:34:29.139 --> 00:34:29.519 why the 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:29.759 Bible 00:34:29.759 --> 00:34:30.339 encourages 00:34:30.339 --> 00:34:30.839 us, 00:34:31.839 --> 00:34:32.219 today, 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:32.919 if you 00:34:32.919 --> 00:34:33.379 hear his 00:34:33.379 --> 00:34:33.799 voice, 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.359 turn to 00:34:34.359 --> 00:34:34.539 him. 00:34:34.919 --> 00:34:35.339 Today, 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.759 if you 00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:36.199 have not 00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:36.599 put your 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.059 faith in 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.459 Christ, 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.639 turn to 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.179 him today 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.679 while you 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:41.480 still can, 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.719 turn to 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.440 him and 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:44.960 find that 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.539 he is the 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.119 savior that 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.639 you've always 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.059 wanted, 00:34:48.359 --> 00:34:49.339 that he is 00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:49.879 the one who 00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:50.299 can deal 00:34:50.299 --> 00:34:50.659 with your 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:50.960 sin. 00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:54.059 Give your 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.480 life to 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.899 him and 00:34:55.899 --> 00:34:56.239 let him 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:56.940 free you. 00:34:57.859 --> 00:34:58.460 For as 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.099 Revelations 00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:00.119 1.18 says, 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.319 he was given 00:35:01.319 --> 00:35:02.139 the keys of 00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:02.599 death in 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.659 Haiti under 00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.440 his control 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.159 so that he 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:06.319 may defeat 00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:07.059 his enemies 00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:08.980 and give 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.819 freedom to 00:35:09.819 --> 00:35:10.460 those who 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:10.840 are in 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:11.179 him. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.119 So, 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:14.400 friends, 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:14.720 when you 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.740 face your 00:35:15.740 --> 00:35:16.220 struggle, 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:18.420 when you 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:18.980 struggle to 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.500 see the 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.059 pain and 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.519 the evil 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:21.860 in the 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.199 world, 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.920 know that 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:25.240 God has 00:35:25.240 --> 00:35:25.960 triumphed 00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.440 over it. 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.159 Look to 00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:27.740 the cross 00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:28.019 and to 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.440 the empty 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:28.860 tomb. 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:29.880 You may 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.740 not understand 00:35:30.740 --> 00:35:31.260 why your 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:32.300 particular shape 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:32.940 of evil has 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.360 come into 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:33.880 your life. 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:34.559 You may 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:35.300 not understand 00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:35.880 why you've 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:36.199 had to 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:36.800 suffer these 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:37.980 certain things, 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:39.000 but know that 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.880 they will not 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.280 have the 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:40.900 last word 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:41.260 in your 00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:41.680 life. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:42.940 And when 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.420 you look 00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:43.740 to the 00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:44.300 cross and 00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:44.599 when you 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.019 look to 00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.480 the empty 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:45.960 tomb, 00:35:46.180 --> 00:35:46.820 there is 00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.300 hope. 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.660 The victory 00:35:51.660 --> 00:35:52.380 is future, 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.660 but it is 00:35:53.660 --> 00:35:55.440 certain for 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.160 God's people. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.340 Which leads us 00:35:59.340 --> 00:35:59.880 into the last 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.280 question, 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.119 what about the 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.579 fate of 00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.099 humanity? 00:36:02.660 --> 00:36:03.420 As we've 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:03.820 seen in 00:36:03.820 --> 00:36:04.480 Genesis 1 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.140 through 12, 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:05.920 starting in 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.539 verse 3, 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.599 humanity has 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.880 been unerringly 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:10.179 lurching towards 00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:11.659 sin and 00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.559 deserving of 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:12.960 judgment. 00:36:14.299 --> 00:36:14.940 Though there 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.259 have been 00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.199 multiple times 00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:16.980 or opportunities 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:17.960 to turn back 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:18.559 to God, 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:20.179 only a few 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:20.599 have done 00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:20.980 so. 00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:22.480 And invariably, 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:23.460 all of humanity 00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:23.940 has moved 00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.179 away. 00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:25.400 So what is 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:25.819 going to 00:36:25.819 --> 00:36:26.279 happen? 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.440 At the 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.239 end of 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:28.980 chapter 11, 00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:29.519 remember the 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:29.880 Tower of 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.139 Babel? 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:30.679 God has 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.739 scattered the 00:36:31.739 --> 00:36:32.219 people and 00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:32.659 given them 00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.019 different 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.440 languages to 00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:35.559 confuse them so 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.059 they can't 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.920 unite in 00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.639 their sin 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.639 against God 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:39.340 and in 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:39.799 rebellion. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:42.699 So now the 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:43.159 people, 00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:43.820 humanity, 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.719 are scattered, 00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:46.039 confused, 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.900 at odds with 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.799 God and with 00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:49.400 one another. 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:50.019 What will 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.639 God do 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:51.460 here? 00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:54.019 Well, 00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:55.360 what we will 00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:55.980 see is that 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:56.639 God's people 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.059 will be 00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.920 gathered again. 00:36:58.699 --> 00:36:59.139 Look with 00:36:59.139 --> 00:36:59.340 me in 00:36:59.340 --> 00:37:00.340 Revelation 21, 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:01.460 verses 2 and 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:01.860 3. 00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.900 I saw the 00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.539 holy city in 00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:05.019 New Jerusalem 00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:05.759 coming down 00:37:05.759 --> 00:37:06.099 out of 00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:06.820 heaven from 00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.280 God, 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.519 prepared as 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.059 a bride 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.759 adorned for 00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.340 her husband. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:11.800 And I 00:37:11.800 --> 00:37:12.380 heard a loud 00:37:12.380 --> 00:37:13.099 voice from 00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:13.599 the throne 00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:13.960 saying, 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:14.599 behold, 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:15.739 the dwelling 00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.300 place, 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:16.960 which is the 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.539 same word as 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.340 tabernacle in 00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:18.679 case you 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:18.980 want to 00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.239 know. 00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:20.800 The dwelling 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.519 place of 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.099 God is 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.539 with 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:24.619 humanity. 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:25.860 And he 00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.340 will dwell 00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:26.739 with them 00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:27.159 and they 00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:27.519 will be 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.099 his people. 00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.179 And God 00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:30.059 himself will 00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.519 be with 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.820 them as 00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:32.800 their God. 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:35.060 again, 00:37:35.180 --> 00:37:35.560 God is 00:37:35.560 --> 00:37:36.380 creating a 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.160 form for 00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:37.940 humanity to 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.480 flourish and 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:38.960 it is a 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:39.260 city, 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.120 the holy 00:37:40.120 --> 00:37:40.460 city, 00:37:40.600 --> 00:37:41.060 Jerusalem, 00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:41.880 remade 00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:42.580 new and 00:37:42.580 --> 00:37:43.220 not built 00:37:43.220 --> 00:37:43.620 up from 00:37:43.620 --> 00:37:44.120 the bottom 00:37:44.120 --> 00:37:44.700 to try to 00:37:44.700 --> 00:37:45.260 reach God 00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:45.760 but coming 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.420 down from 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:46.720 heaven. 00:37:47.140 --> 00:37:47.940 God provides 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.560 for us the 00:37:48.560 --> 00:37:49.180 city that we 00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:50.039 longed for but 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:50.700 couldn't make 00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.340 on our own. 00:37:53.560 --> 00:37:54.260 And in 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.800 this city, 00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.960 God restores 00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.860 the intimacy 00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:58.220 of humanity 00:37:58.220 --> 00:37:59.140 in the garden 00:37:59.140 --> 00:37:59.740 where they 00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:00.539 walked with 00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:02.139 God in 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.559 the cool 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:02.920 of the 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:03.159 shade. 00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:03.599 And where 00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:05.019 the great 00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.739 gift of 00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:06.500 marriage, 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.920 the union 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:08.519 of male 00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:09.219 and female 00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:10.199 in this 00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:10.940 picture of 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:11.440 intimacy 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.940 is now 00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:13.599 to be seen 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.199 to be this, 00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.159 the fulfillment 00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:15.800 of that is 00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:16.420 the great 00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.000 intimacy, 00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:18.159 the union 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:19.000 of God 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.480 and his 00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:19.920 people 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:20.500 forever. 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:21.840 And we 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:22.199 will be 00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:22.820 known 00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:23.679 fully 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:24.960 and we 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.360 will be 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:25.960 loved 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:27.159 completely 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:28.340 and we 00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:28.980 will love 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:29.519 God 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:30.159 and it 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:30.599 will bring 00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:30.820 us 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.480 great 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.139 joy. 00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:34.940 The 00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.400 garden 00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.119 city 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:36.599 of this 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:36.900 new 00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:37.480 Jerusalem 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:37.880 will be 00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.360 the place 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:38.840 where we 00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.619 as humanity 00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:41.579 as God's 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:41.880 people, 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:42.460 those in 00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:42.880 Christ, 00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.699 will enjoy 00:38:45.699 --> 00:38:46.219 an intimacy 00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:47.079 with God 00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.460 greater than 00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:48.900 we can 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.320 imagine. 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:50.980 And it's 00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.659 striking in 00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:53.920 verse 22 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:55.019 of chapter 21 00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:55.480 it says, 00:38:55.480 --> 00:38:56.460 there is no 00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.199 more temple, 00:38:57.759 --> 00:38:58.420 right? 00:38:58.420 --> 00:38:59.200 For the 00:38:59.200 --> 00:38:59.740 Jews in 00:38:59.740 --> 00:39:00.039 the Old 00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:00.480 Testament, 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:01.340 the temple 00:39:01.340 --> 00:39:01.820 was the 00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:02.440 one place 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:02.720 where they 00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:03.200 could go 00:39:03.200 --> 00:39:03.579 and say 00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:04.300 God was 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:04.680 here. 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.280 And in 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:06.619 the new 00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:06.980 place, 00:39:07.220 --> 00:39:07.940 New Jerusalem, 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:08.320 there will 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:08.720 be no 00:39:08.720 --> 00:39:09.099 temple 00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:09.900 because they 00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:10.300 don't have 00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:10.659 to go to 00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.200 a building 00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:11.740 to find 00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:12.139 God 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.099 because God 00:39:13.099 --> 00:39:13.760 himself 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:14.820 will be 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.420 among 00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.800 them. 00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.159 The 00:39:19.159 --> 00:39:19.599 greater 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.400 glory of 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.099 this city 00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:22.039 garden 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.800 temple. 00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:24.099 Draw all 00:39:24.099 --> 00:39:24.720 those lines 00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:25.180 together 00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:26.019 throughout all 00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.539 of scripture 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:26.940 to say 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.639 this is 00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:28.000 what it's 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.259 heading 00:39:28.259 --> 00:39:28.759 for. 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:29.940 This 00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.579 incredible 00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.039 place 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:31.840 where God's 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:32.360 people will 00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:32.920 be gathered 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:34.059 to be 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:35.079 with God. 00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:36.480 And it 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:36.880 will have 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:37.559 this incredible 00:39:37.559 --> 00:39:38.239 diversity. 00:39:38.739 --> 00:39:39.079 One of the 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:39.539 remarkable 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:40.279 things about 00:39:40.279 --> 00:39:40.800 what God 00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:41.340 did at the 00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:41.739 Tower of 00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:42.079 Babel 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.860 is as he 00:39:42.860 --> 00:39:43.420 scattered 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:43.800 people, 00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.380 he created 00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:45.159 diversity. 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:46.719 He created 00:39:46.719 --> 00:39:47.599 diversity of 00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:48.840 nations and 00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.639 tribes and 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.119 tongues. 00:39:50.119 --> 00:39:50.239 tongues. 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.219 And then 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:53.559 he let 00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:54.699 them grow 00:39:54.699 --> 00:39:55.579 into the 00:39:55.579 --> 00:39:55.980 richness. 00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:57.299 Look around 00:39:57.299 --> 00:39:57.960 this room, 00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:58.500 look around 00:39:58.500 --> 00:39:59.159 this city, 00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.000 look around 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:00.539 the world 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:00.920 that we 00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:01.519 live in. 00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.619 God has 00:40:02.619 --> 00:40:03.739 created a 00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.359 humanity, 00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:05.000 even in 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:05.819 its fallenness, 00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:06.380 it has this 00:40:06.380 --> 00:40:06.960 incredible 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:08.199 richness and 00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:08.719 diversity. 00:40:09.179 --> 00:40:09.440 And what 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:10.299 God is doing 00:40:10.299 --> 00:40:10.759 at the end 00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:11.299 of days is 00:40:11.299 --> 00:40:12.279 gathering those 00:40:12.279 --> 00:40:13.480 people back 00:40:13.480 --> 00:40:14.059 together. 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:15.960 This is what 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:16.579 Revelation 00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:18.000 chapter 7 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:19.280 looks to. 00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:20.039 And then I 00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:21.139 saw people 00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.039 from every 00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:23.559 tribe and 00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:24.460 tongue and 00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:26.159 nation gathered 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:27.739 around the 00:40:27.739 --> 00:40:28.099 throne, 00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:30.219 worshiping God 00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:30.800 forever. 00:40:32.699 --> 00:40:33.119 And the 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:33.960 glory of Adam 00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.599 and Eve, 00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:35.719 intimate with 00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:37.420 God in the 00:40:37.420 --> 00:40:39.059 garden in the 00:40:39.059 --> 00:40:39.480 beginning, 00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:41.260 is now 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:42.559 multiplied and 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:44.639 magnified by 00:40:44.639 --> 00:40:45.820 us who 00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:46.239 will get to 00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:46.880 gather with 00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:47.300 him. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:49.320 in all the 00:40:49.320 --> 00:40:49.760 different 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:50.639 backgrounds that 00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:51.440 we have, 00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:52.820 all the 00:40:52.820 --> 00:40:53.099 different 00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:53.599 languages, 00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:54.340 all the 00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:54.860 richness of 00:40:54.860 --> 00:40:55.260 the culture 00:40:55.260 --> 00:40:55.599 that we 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:55.800 bring, 00:40:55.980 --> 00:40:56.340 and we 00:40:56.340 --> 00:40:56.820 bring them 00:40:56.820 --> 00:40:57.079 and we 00:40:57.079 --> 00:40:57.599 lay them 00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:58.000 at the 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:00.199 feet of 00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:00.820 our king 00:41:00.820 --> 00:41:01.199 and our 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:02.579 God at 00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.099 his throne 00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:03.699 and we 00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:04.440 honor and 00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:05.280 worship him. 00:41:07.639 --> 00:41:08.320 And we 00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:09.239 will see him 00:41:09.239 --> 00:41:10.039 face to 00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:10.480 face. 00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:13.699 Remember 00:41:13.699 --> 00:41:14.480 Moses up on 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:14.800 the mountain? 00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:15.659 He couldn't 00:41:15.659 --> 00:41:16.320 see God 00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:17.559 face to 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:17.880 face. 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.480 And live 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.079 because of 00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:19.539 his sin. 00:41:21.019 --> 00:41:21.700 But when 00:41:21.700 --> 00:41:22.400 sin is gone, 00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:22.960 we can see 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:24.240 God face 00:41:24.240 --> 00:41:24.840 to face. 00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:25.800 And what 00:41:25.800 --> 00:41:26.519 joy that 00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:27.000 will be. 00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.539 Maybe you 00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:28.880 know what 00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.619 it's like to 00:41:29.619 --> 00:41:30.340 be far away 00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:30.740 from a 00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:31.240 loved one 00:41:31.240 --> 00:41:32.619 for a while. 00:41:34.360 --> 00:41:34.820 And yeah, 00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.700 it's nice you 00:41:35.700 --> 00:41:36.140 can now 00:41:36.140 --> 00:41:37.099 WhatsApp them 00:41:37.099 --> 00:41:38.119 or FaceTime 00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:38.440 them. 00:41:38.440 --> 00:41:41.380 but to 00:41:41.380 --> 00:41:42.039 actually see 00:41:42.039 --> 00:41:42.559 them face 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.019 to face. 00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:43.720 What joy 00:41:43.720 --> 00:41:44.320 it is to 00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:45.599 be in 00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:46.440 the presence 00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:46.820 of the 00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:47.320 one that 00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:47.960 you love. 00:41:48.260 --> 00:41:48.800 The 00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.320 intimacy, 00:41:49.659 --> 00:41:50.280 the union, 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:51.599 the connection 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:52.079 that we 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.860 have with 00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:53.320 those. 00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:57.460 This is what 00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:57.980 we get with 00:41:57.980 --> 00:41:58.320 God. 00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:00.220 And when 00:42:00.220 --> 00:42:00.440 you're 00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:01.380 reunited with 00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:01.880 that loved 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:02.220 one, 00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:04.300 at least for a 00:42:04.300 --> 00:42:04.599 while, 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:05.200 you think, 00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:06.480 this is the 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:06.980 best ever. 00:42:07.879 --> 00:42:08.379 And then in 00:42:08.379 --> 00:42:08.879 our fallenness, 00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:09.419 we get bored 00:42:09.419 --> 00:42:09.960 and we go on 00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.319 with other 00:42:10.319 --> 00:42:10.639 stuff. 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.460 But in 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:11.639 heaven, 00:42:11.739 --> 00:42:11.980 we won't 00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:12.539 get bored 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:13.199 because we 00:42:13.199 --> 00:42:13.439 will be 00:42:13.439 --> 00:42:13.879 face to 00:42:13.879 --> 00:42:14.359 face with 00:42:14.359 --> 00:42:14.839 the infinite 00:42:14.839 --> 00:42:15.319 God. 00:42:16.539 --> 00:42:17.179 And we 00:42:17.179 --> 00:42:17.679 will worship 00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.119 him. 00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:19.819 And we 00:42:19.819 --> 00:42:20.339 will bask 00:42:20.339 --> 00:42:20.659 in his 00:42:20.659 --> 00:42:21.259 glory and 00:42:21.259 --> 00:42:21.559 we will 00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:22.279 enjoy his 00:42:22.279 --> 00:42:22.839 creation. 00:42:24.679 --> 00:42:25.239 And we 00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:25.639 will live 00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:26.319 this rich 00:42:26.319 --> 00:42:26.939 life 00:42:26.939 --> 00:42:27.939 forever. 00:42:31.159 --> 00:42:32.059 So God 00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:32.699 will gather 00:42:32.699 --> 00:42:33.359 his people 00:42:33.359 --> 00:42:34.739 and he 00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:35.179 will dwell 00:42:35.179 --> 00:42:35.839 with them 00:42:35.839 --> 00:42:36.239 and they 00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:36.779 will be 00:42:36.779 --> 00:42:37.940 his people 00:42:37.940 --> 00:42:38.839 and he 00:42:38.839 --> 00:42:39.739 will be 00:42:39.739 --> 00:42:40.500 their God. 00:42:42.659 --> 00:42:43.440 When we 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:43.940 feel like 00:42:43.940 --> 00:42:44.579 we're losing 00:42:44.579 --> 00:42:45.759 and when we 00:42:45.759 --> 00:42:46.259 feel like 00:42:46.259 --> 00:42:47.000 we're dying, 00:42:47.899 --> 00:42:49.579 this is a 00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.339 great promise. 00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:52.559 Because even 00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:53.539 if we die 00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:54.480 in this life 00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:55.079 and in this 00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:55.440 world, 00:42:56.239 --> 00:42:57.000 we know 00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:57.639 that that 00:42:57.639 --> 00:42:58.259 is where 00:42:58.259 --> 00:42:58.899 we are 00:42:58.899 --> 00:42:59.419 going in 00:42:59.419 --> 00:42:59.859 Christ. 00:43:00.279 --> 00:43:00.940 That God 00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:01.679 will gather 00:43:01.679 --> 00:43:02.179 his people 00:43:02.179 --> 00:43:02.659 together. 00:43:03.839 --> 00:43:04.719 And what a 00:43:04.719 --> 00:43:06.299 glorious day 00:43:06.299 --> 00:43:07.099 that will 00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:07.399 be. 00:43:09.319 --> 00:43:10.059 Almost broke 00:43:10.059 --> 00:43:10.359 out in a 00:43:10.359 --> 00:43:10.779 song there. 00:43:11.299 --> 00:43:11.799 When we 00:43:11.799 --> 00:43:12.279 all get to 00:43:12.279 --> 00:43:12.619 heaven, 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:14.579 the day of 00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:15.179 rejoicing it 00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:15.559 will be. 00:43:15.659 --> 00:43:16.279 When we all 00:43:16.279 --> 00:43:17.099 see Jesus, 00:43:17.839 --> 00:43:18.500 we'll dance 00:43:18.500 --> 00:43:19.000 and shout 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:19.599 the victory. 00:43:21.059 --> 00:43:21.619 Sing and 00:43:21.619 --> 00:43:21.819 shout? 00:43:22.059 --> 00:43:22.599 I don't know. 00:43:23.299 --> 00:43:23.759 It's close 00:43:23.759 --> 00:43:24.059 enough. 00:43:25.939 --> 00:43:26.779 So friends, 00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:29.260 how do we 00:43:29.260 --> 00:43:29.880 finish this? 00:43:29.980 --> 00:43:30.400 How do we 00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:31.840 wrap up this 00:43:31.840 --> 00:43:32.140 sermon? 00:43:32.300 --> 00:43:32.740 How do we 00:43:32.740 --> 00:43:33.840 live now? 00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:35.080 First, 00:43:35.640 --> 00:43:36.420 we need to 00:43:36.420 --> 00:43:36.980 cling to 00:43:36.980 --> 00:43:37.740 Jesus because 00:43:37.740 --> 00:43:38.380 all these 00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:38.820 hopes and 00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:39.340 all these 00:43:39.340 --> 00:43:40.019 promises are 00:43:40.019 --> 00:43:41.060 tied to 00:43:41.060 --> 00:43:41.840 being in 00:43:41.840 --> 00:43:42.320 him. 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:45.720 And with 00:43:45.720 --> 00:43:46.460 great joy, 00:43:46.580 --> 00:43:47.040 we know that 00:43:47.040 --> 00:43:47.519 he will 00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:48.380 cling to us. 00:43:49.040 --> 00:43:49.680 But he 00:43:49.680 --> 00:43:50.500 calls us 00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:51.800 over and 00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:52.420 over again. 00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:53.460 Turn to 00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:53.780 him. 00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:54.460 Choose this 00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:55.060 day whom you 00:43:55.060 --> 00:43:55.540 will serve. 00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:56.699 believe in 00:43:56.699 --> 00:43:57.019 me. 00:43:57.279 --> 00:43:58.039 Follow me. 00:43:59.400 --> 00:44:00.199 Pick up 00:44:00.199 --> 00:44:00.900 your cross. 00:44:03.279 --> 00:44:04.139 Cling to 00:44:04.139 --> 00:44:04.659 Jesus. 00:44:05.059 --> 00:44:05.880 Hold on to 00:44:05.880 --> 00:44:06.759 him through 00:44:06.759 --> 00:44:07.300 the hardest 00:44:07.300 --> 00:44:07.860 things of 00:44:07.860 --> 00:44:08.119 life. 00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:08.659 When you 00:44:08.659 --> 00:44:09.300 feel like 00:44:09.300 --> 00:44:10.079 it's not 00:44:10.079 --> 00:44:10.800 worth living, 00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:11.619 when you 00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:12.179 feel like 00:44:12.179 --> 00:44:12.679 all you're 00:44:12.679 --> 00:44:13.179 doing is 00:44:13.179 --> 00:44:13.800 losing and 00:44:13.800 --> 00:44:14.179 dying, 00:44:15.539 --> 00:44:16.159 turn to 00:44:16.159 --> 00:44:16.519 him. 00:44:18.579 --> 00:44:19.360 You will 00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:19.940 only know 00:44:19.940 --> 00:44:20.340 him in 00:44:20.340 --> 00:44:20.960 part in 00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:21.619 this life, 00:44:21.960 --> 00:44:22.820 but seek 00:44:22.820 --> 00:44:23.300 to know 00:44:23.300 --> 00:44:23.920 him more 00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:24.519 and more. 00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:25.679 read his 00:44:25.679 --> 00:44:28.380 word so 00:44:28.380 --> 00:44:28.699 that you 00:44:28.699 --> 00:44:29.139 might know 00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:29.699 him more. 00:44:30.320 --> 00:44:30.940 But also 00:44:30.940 --> 00:44:31.840 gather as 00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:32.400 his people. 00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:33.440 Because 00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:34.079 recognize, 00:44:34.300 --> 00:44:34.539 friends, 00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:35.559 that this is 00:44:35.559 --> 00:44:35.960 the down 00:44:35.960 --> 00:44:36.460 payment of 00:44:36.460 --> 00:44:37.019 heaven right 00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:37.340 here. 00:44:37.900 --> 00:44:38.440 What we're 00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.119 doing right 00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:40.099 now, this 00:44:40.099 --> 00:44:40.800 is why people 00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:41.539 have said this 00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.099 is the most 00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:42.880 important thing 00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:43.639 that happens 00:44:43.639 --> 00:44:44.300 in all of 00:44:44.300 --> 00:44:44.820 the earth. 00:44:45.340 --> 00:44:46.000 Not what 00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:46.519 happens in 00:44:46.519 --> 00:44:46.840 Washington, 00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:47.199 D.C. 00:44:47.199 --> 00:44:47.539 or what 00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:48.159 happens in 00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:49.000 New York 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:49.820 City or in 00:44:49.820 --> 00:44:50.780 Beijing or in 00:44:50.780 --> 00:44:51.300 London or 00:44:51.300 --> 00:44:51.719 wherever. 00:44:51.719 --> 00:44:51.819 forever. 00:44:53.879 --> 00:44:55.000 But this, 00:44:55.339 --> 00:44:55.899 the gathering 00:44:55.899 --> 00:44:56.480 of God's 00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:56.980 people is 00:44:56.980 --> 00:44:57.439 the most 00:44:57.439 --> 00:44:58.119 important thing 00:44:58.119 --> 00:44:59.059 because this 00:44:59.059 --> 00:44:59.679 is the down 00:44:59.679 --> 00:45:00.419 payment of 00:45:00.419 --> 00:45:00.779 what will 00:45:00.779 --> 00:45:01.439 be eternal. 00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:03.559 When we 00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:04.559 gather together, 00:45:05.059 --> 00:45:06.459 as imperfect 00:45:06.459 --> 00:45:07.099 as it is, 00:45:07.219 --> 00:45:08.019 and it is 00:45:08.019 --> 00:45:08.739 really imperfect, 00:45:09.399 --> 00:45:10.059 you guys may 00:45:10.059 --> 00:45:10.719 feel that, 00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:12.099 it is not, 00:45:13.299 --> 00:45:14.339 but this is 00:45:14.339 --> 00:45:14.959 the place where 00:45:14.959 --> 00:45:15.459 we get to 00:45:15.459 --> 00:45:16.839 taste the 00:45:16.839 --> 00:45:17.459 gathering of 00:45:17.459 --> 00:45:18.099 God's people. 00:45:18.099 --> 00:45:20.880 as we look 00:45:20.880 --> 00:45:21.279 around, 00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:22.079 recognize that 00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:22.599 these will be 00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:23.299 the people that 00:45:23.299 --> 00:45:24.000 you will worship 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:25.559 God with for 00:45:25.559 --> 00:45:26.380 all eternity. 00:45:27.239 --> 00:45:28.000 And you will 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:28.460 look at one 00:45:28.460 --> 00:45:29.299 another and say 00:45:29.299 --> 00:45:30.400 brother and 00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:31.279 sister and 00:45:31.279 --> 00:45:32.119 know that in a 00:45:32.119 --> 00:45:32.819 much deeper 00:45:32.819 --> 00:45:34.099 way than you 00:45:34.099 --> 00:45:35.679 do right now. 00:45:39.179 --> 00:45:40.380 So value it, 00:45:41.699 --> 00:45:42.279 treasure it, 00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:44.259 anticipate it, 00:45:46.219 --> 00:45:47.539 risk investing 00:45:47.539 --> 00:45:47.980 in it. 00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.980 It's worthwhile. 00:45:51.239 --> 00:45:52.179 And hold on 00:45:52.179 --> 00:45:52.579 to hope, 00:45:52.719 --> 00:45:53.019 friends. 00:45:54.159 --> 00:45:55.139 In this world 00:45:55.139 --> 00:45:55.639 you will have 00:45:55.639 --> 00:45:56.279 tribulation, 00:45:56.500 --> 00:45:56.960 but I have 00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:57.619 overcome the 00:45:57.619 --> 00:45:57.980 world, 00:45:58.079 --> 00:45:58.779 said Jesus. 00:46:01.179 --> 00:46:01.880 There is a 00:46:01.880 --> 00:46:02.500 greater glory 00:46:02.500 --> 00:46:03.259 awaiting those 00:46:03.259 --> 00:46:03.619 who are in 00:46:03.619 --> 00:46:04.019 Christ. 00:46:04.800 --> 00:46:05.639 The one who 00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:06.500 came and said, 00:46:06.659 --> 00:46:07.599 behold, I am 00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:08.159 making all 00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:08.719 things new. 00:46:09.719 --> 00:46:10.440 Let's pray. 00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:15.179 Lord, thank 00:46:15.179 --> 00:46:15.639 you for this 00:46:15.639 --> 00:46:15.980 word. 00:46:17.539 --> 00:46:18.659 Lord, thank 00:46:18.659 --> 00:46:19.300 you for the 00:46:19.300 --> 00:46:21.579 vision that 00:46:21.579 --> 00:46:22.279 you have given 00:46:22.279 --> 00:46:23.119 John, a 00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:23.980 glimpse even, 00:46:24.759 --> 00:46:25.279 for there are 00:46:25.279 --> 00:46:26.019 no words to 00:46:26.019 --> 00:46:26.779 describe the 00:46:26.779 --> 00:46:28.039 fullness of the 00:46:28.039 --> 00:46:28.659 beauty and the 00:46:28.659 --> 00:46:29.480 richness and the 00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:30.980 glory that we 00:46:30.980 --> 00:46:31.840 will have with 00:46:31.840 --> 00:46:32.800 you in eternity. 00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:38.599 Lord, I pray 00:46:38.599 --> 00:46:39.639 this morning that 00:46:39.639 --> 00:46:40.380 you would wean 00:46:40.380 --> 00:46:41.300 our hearts from 00:46:41.300 --> 00:46:43.579 our hope being 00:46:43.579 --> 00:46:45.559 in this life 00:46:45.559 --> 00:46:47.259 only, but 00:46:47.259 --> 00:46:47.719 Lord, that 00:46:47.719 --> 00:46:48.539 because you 00:46:48.539 --> 00:46:49.159 are a risen 00:46:49.159 --> 00:46:50.699 savior, that 00:46:50.699 --> 00:46:51.239 we would set 00:46:51.239 --> 00:46:51.799 our hope on 00:46:51.799 --> 00:46:54.259 heaven, set 00:46:54.259 --> 00:46:55.000 our hope on 00:46:55.000 --> 00:46:55.840 these eternal 00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:57.500 realities that 00:46:57.500 --> 00:46:58.000 are yet to 00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:58.360 come. 00:46:59.059 --> 00:46:59.639 And Lord, that 00:46:59.639 --> 00:47:00.380 by doing that 00:47:00.380 --> 00:47:01.019 you might give 00:47:01.019 --> 00:47:01.840 us hope to 00:47:01.840 --> 00:47:02.900 persevere in the 00:47:02.900 --> 00:47:04.380 present, to 00:47:04.380 --> 00:47:05.259 cling to you 00:47:05.259 --> 00:47:05.880 and to wait 00:47:05.880 --> 00:47:07.319 for you and 00:47:07.319 --> 00:47:08.119 trust ourselves 00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:08.679 to you. 00:47:10.199 --> 00:47:11.000 Lord, thank 00:47:11.000 --> 00:47:11.659 you for this. 00:47:11.659 --> 00:47:13.359 thank you that 00:47:13.359 --> 00:47:13.980 you are the 00:47:13.980 --> 00:47:14.920 overcoming one, 00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:15.440 that you are 00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:16.099 the conquering 00:47:16.099 --> 00:47:17.139 king, that 00:47:17.139 --> 00:47:18.019 you will be, 00:47:18.299 --> 00:47:18.980 Lord, our 00:47:18.980 --> 00:47:21.199 God, and we 00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:21.679 will be your 00:47:21.679 --> 00:47:22.019 people. 00:47:23.480 --> 00:47:24.480 We pray this in 00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:25.099 Jesus' name. 00:47:25.399 --> 00:47:25.719 Amen.