WEBVTT 00:00:00.700 --> 00:00:08.419 I have a confession to make. That is when I was mapping out the series in the book of Revelation a few months ago. 00:00:08.779 --> 00:00:14.339 It did not occur to me that we would be preaching on the four horsemen of the apocalypse on Mother's Day. 00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:19.300 So I apologize for that. Happy Mother's Day, by the way. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:21.940 I actually think it fits. 00:00:24.500 --> 00:00:25.420 I do. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:30.320 I do. Strife, famine, pestilence. 00:00:31.060 --> 00:00:33.039 Sounds like being a mother of a preschooler. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.079 Sounds like a typical day in the life. 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:38.620 We are looking at the book in Revelation. 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:40.620 We've been looking at it for a few weeks. 00:00:40.760 --> 00:00:46.100 I want to start this week with a reference to somebody that some of you probably are familiar with. 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:50.640 Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist who was alive during World War II 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:55.060 and experienced firsthand the horrors of the concentration camp. 00:00:55.420 --> 00:01:00.179 And being a psychiatrist, one of the things that he noticed during his time there 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:09.340 was that there was a vast disparity between how people responded to and handled the horror and the suffering of those camps. 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:16.480 He saw people who were smart and strong and tough crumble into dust. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:27.180 And he saw other people, very unlikely people, actually not only survive but in a few cases thrive in inexplicably horrible conditions. 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:33.120 And one such young woman he talks about in his book, which is Man's Search for Meaning. 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:38.560 A young woman who was cut off from her family, had been taken, separated from them. 00:01:38.940 --> 00:01:43.180 She had been subjected to all kinds of torture and horrible experiences. 00:01:43.580 --> 00:01:47.140 And she knew that she would probably be dead within the week. 00:01:48.300 --> 00:01:49.780 Nevertheless, she was cheerful. 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:53.519 And he realized that she was in her right mind. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.799 And so he asked her, how could you possibly be cheerful? 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:03.219 And she said, well, it's because I've had what can only be described as a spiritual awakening. 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:08.759 I'm alive, spiritually alive in a way that I've never been before in my life. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.500 I never even thought something like this was possible. 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:16.180 And she said, it's only possible because of the suffering that I've endured. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.719 And it led to a great realization in Viktor Frankl's life. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.800 And that is this, that suffering is inevitable. 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:30.319 But the thing that makes the difference between whether suffering crushes us 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:37.099 or leads to our not only surviving but possibly even thriving, 00:02:37.099 --> 00:02:41.579 it doesn't matter how smart you are, how strong you are, how tough you are. 00:02:42.019 --> 00:02:46.060 The thing that matters most is this, how do you answer the question of meaning? 00:02:47.419 --> 00:02:51.740 When you look at the suffering that you're experiencing in your life, what does it mean? 00:02:53.379 --> 00:02:56.659 Some religions say that suffering is divine punishment. 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:00.199 Some religions say that suffering is merely an illusion. 00:03:01.139 --> 00:03:04.159 Secular humanism in the West says that there is no meaning. 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:06.159 It's all meaningless suffering. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.340 Christianity says something very, very, very different. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:13.620 Christianity says that it is only possible to make sense of our suffering, 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.800 it's only possible to make sense of our story, 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:19.879 by looking at God's story. 00:03:21.079 --> 00:03:25.939 By seeing how our story and our experience fits into this much bigger story. 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:27.620 That's the only way we can do it. 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:30.599 And that's why we're looking at the book of Revelation, 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:34.340 because this is where we see the story laid out. 00:03:34.340 --> 00:03:38.200 Revelation was written to people who were suffering. 00:03:38.200 --> 00:03:39.879 They were facing persecution. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:43.180 They really felt as though they were powerless in their society. 00:03:43.180 --> 00:03:48.140 They felt as though the end was near, that there was really no hope for them. 00:03:48.140 --> 00:03:53.620 And Revelation is written poetically, with vivid imagery, 00:03:53.620 --> 00:03:56.099 because it's aimed at the imagination. 00:03:56.099 --> 00:04:01.139 Revelation is, it's meant to help people who are suffering and struggling, 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:04.859 reimagine that suffering in light of God's story. 00:04:06.079 --> 00:04:09.519 It's meant to reveal the truth about what is really going on, 00:04:09.740 --> 00:04:11.280 despite appearances. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:16.620 It's meant to help us make meaning out of the suffering that we experience. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.040 And so that's why we're looking at it. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.700 And this week we're going to be looking at Revelation 6, verse 1 through 8, verse 5. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:28.240 We heard most of that read beautifully by Ellen a little while ago. 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:32.939 We had to omit some of it for the sake of time, but we'll cover all of it. 00:04:33.320 --> 00:04:37.520 And this is the place in Revelation where the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, 00:04:37.640 --> 00:04:42.920 has taken the scroll, which is the purpose of God in the world, God's will, 00:04:43.140 --> 00:04:46.480 and the Lamb has begun to break the seals open. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.060 Seven seals. 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:51.160 And you know, in the book of Revelation, seven is a very important number. 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:55.060 It's structured all around multiple series of sevens, 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:57.020 just like the seven days of creation. 00:04:57.660 --> 00:05:02.800 And so what we have here in the seals is the summation of the history of God's people. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.540 This tells us the whole story. 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:07.540 Past, present, and future. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.680 And this is a pattern that we look at, and we might think of it like this. 00:05:11.840 --> 00:05:14.500 This is the life cycle of Christians. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:18.899 It's the life cycle of the church, beginning, middle, and end. 00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:21.220 And it's the life cycle that plays out all through history, 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:25.379 but it's also a cycle that plays out in the life of every Christian. 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:30.379 It's a cycle that was mirrored in the life and ministry of Jesus himself. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:33.079 And so as we look at these seals being opened, 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:36.980 we're going to see six phases of the Christian life cycle. 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:39.060 First, there is victory. 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:41.699 It all begins with victory. 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:43.860 And then there is conflict. 00:05:44.979 --> 00:05:45.979 Conflict ensues. 00:05:46.599 --> 00:05:48.959 And then that leads to martyrdom and death. 00:05:50.039 --> 00:05:53.560 And then that ultimately gives way to resurrection. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:58.539 And then lastly, this all produces worship, Sabbath worship. 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:01.459 So those are the six phases of the Christian life cycle. 00:06:01.579 --> 00:06:03.779 Let's pray, and then we'll open God's Word together. 00:06:03.779 --> 00:06:06.219 Lord, we thank you for your Word. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:14.000 And we thank you that there are places in Scripture aimed not only at our intellect, 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:15.379 not only at our hearts, 00:06:15.679 --> 00:06:19.399 but that there are entire sections of Scripture aimed squarely at the imagination. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:25.119 Your Word tells us that you're a God who's able to do far more abundantly than we can ask or imagine. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:33.259 And so we need bigger imaginations so that we will be able to fathom all that is possible with a God like you. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:35.280 It's in your Son's name that we pray. 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:35.980 Amen. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:40.079 So first we look at victory. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:48.459 The first four seals that are opened, each of the first four seals releases one of the famous four horsemen, 00:06:48.599 --> 00:06:50.419 so-called four horsemen of the apocalypse. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:53.360 Now these are very well known in pop culture. 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:56.339 Sadly, I think that they're often misunderstood. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:02.319 The key to understanding the four horsemen is to understand the context. 00:07:02.719 --> 00:07:09.319 If you were here last week, we saw that all of this is taking place in a great heavenly worship service. 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:13.500 And previously, what we looked at last week in chapter 5, 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:16.680 the Lamb of God has just ascended to the throne. 00:07:16.779 --> 00:07:23.379 Remember, all heaven was waiting and then the Lamb arrives and all heaven breaks out singing in worship. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:27.639 And we said, this is the ascension of Christ from the perspective of heaven. 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:37.159 Jesus died, He rose, He appeared to His disciples, and He ascended into heaven. 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:39.620 But before He ascended, He made a promise. 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:44.520 He promised that after He departed, another would come. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.560 The Comforter, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:53.420 And so the key to understanding the four horsemen is to understand this. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:58.300 If Revelation chapter 5 shows us the ascension from the perspective of heaven, 00:07:58.560 --> 00:07:59.960 what comes after the ascension? 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:00.959 Pentecost. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:01.959 Pentecost. 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:06.620 The four horsemen are Pentecost. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:10.639 This is the unleashing of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:17.659 These are heavenly warhorses of the Spirit-filled church going out into the world to proclaim the gospel. 00:08:17.779 --> 00:08:19.240 And you say, well, that's an odd image. 00:08:19.479 --> 00:08:23.000 But it's not if your mind is saturated with Old Testament imagery. 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:31.540 And you thought back perhaps to Zechariah, the prophet, who had a vision, a strange vision of God turning His people into His warhorse. 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:33.940 That's exactly what's happening here. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:41.659 God's warhorse, His people, His Spirit-filled church going out into the world to proclaim and enact the victory of the gospel. 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:44.860 And we see that very clearly with the white horse. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:46.580 It says in verse 2, 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:49.240 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:51.240 And its rider had a bow. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.080 And a crown was given to him. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:56.259 And he came out conquering and to conquer. 00:08:56.440 --> 00:09:02.660 You know, back in the days of Noah, after the flood, God promised that He would never bring that kind of judgment again. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:08.520 And to give His people a symbol of His promise, He hung His warbow in the sky. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:12.759 He's taken that warbow back down again. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.039 He's taken the crown. 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:17.720 And He's gone out as a conquering king. 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:21.539 And the gospel will be proclaimed to the four corners of the earth. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:29.600 And if there was any doubt that this white horse is not the victorious Christ, we see the white horse show up again in Revelation chapter 19. 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:34.240 This is the victorious Christ announcing the victory of the gospel. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.580 And it's very important for us to remember this. 00:09:37.220 --> 00:09:41.019 That the Christian life begins with victory. 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:45.419 I know some of you are struggling right now. 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:47.039 You feel hopeless. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.480 The great battle has already been won. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.500 Everything that we do as Christians, 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.460 everything that we face, everything that we experience, 00:09:59.299 --> 00:10:02.059 is done in the light of a victory that has already been accomplished. 00:10:02.059 --> 00:10:07.559 We're living between the victory and the culmination, 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:12.259 when the victory has been fully enacted in every corner of the universe. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.759 It all begins with victory. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.839 Everything we do is a response to that victory. 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:17.519 So that's the white horse. 00:10:17.619 --> 00:10:18.619 This is the victory. 00:10:19.339 --> 00:10:20.579 The beginning of the Christian life. 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:23.219 Now, what do we do with the remaining horses? 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:25.399 You say, well, it's easy to do that with the white horse. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:32.500 But are you really going to say that these other three horses are the spirit-filled church going out into the world? 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:34.620 And I would say, absolutely. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:41.500 If we look at the victory, the victory then leads to conflict. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:47.439 All of God's people should expect conflict in our lives. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:48.980 This is part of our story. 00:10:49.899 --> 00:10:50.980 It's part of the story. 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:58.860 The red horse comes as the seal is broken and takes away peace and brings a sword to divide people. 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.259 Jesus himself said in Matthew 10, 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.519 Do not think that I've come to bring peace. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:06.019 I've not come to bring peace. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.519 I bring a sword. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.019 Jesus divides people. 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:14.100 The gospel divides people. 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.659 The gospel divides friends. 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:17.440 It divides families. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.680 It divides governments. 00:11:18.680 --> 00:11:20.820 It divides institutions. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:22.620 The gospel divides. 00:11:23.420 --> 00:11:24.899 And that's good news. 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:30.680 Because Jesus is shaking up all the old alliances. 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:33.600 He's shaking up all the old loyalties. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:41.100 He's turning families and racial groups and ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes and political alignments. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:43.899 He's turning all of that upside down. 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:47.039 And the reason is what we see in the next chapter. 00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:53.179 It's because his plan is to build one great worldwide global family. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:12:00.579 And so those old loyalties and alliances, they have to give way to the new global family of God. 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:08.720 So the gospel brings division and strife between people. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.840 Then the black horse is released. 00:12:10.920 --> 00:12:13.340 And the black horse carries scales. 00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:16.340 And there's a reference to wheat and barley prices. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:19.720 And then there's a reference to oil and wine being left untouched. 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:23.040 And it seems kind of odd until you understand the context. 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:25.800 This is describing a kind of famine. 00:12:26.300 --> 00:12:27.300 A partial famine. 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:37.740 Where it costs so much to buy wheat or barley that an entire day's wages will only buy enough food for that day. 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:46.319 So this is describing a kind of subsistence, hand-to-mouth existence of just scraping by, barely having enough to eat. 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:51.039 And yet the stores of wine and oil remain untouched. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:59.459 This is describing the situation that we're in now that God has released the Spirit-filled church into the world. 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:03.000 There is a choice that every human being has to make. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:11.059 Do I live apart from that reality and subsist and scrape by, hand-to-mouth, hoping just to break even? 00:13:11.459 --> 00:13:20.120 Or do I come into the church, the place of anointing, the place where God's people are anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit? 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:25.100 Because in the church, at God's table, the Lord's table, there is plenty to go around. 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.639 There's plenty of wine. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:32.779 There's plenty of subsistence for people who come hungry. 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.659 There's a place for you at the table. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:38.860 And so the choice that we're given with this horse is famine or feast. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.600 Which will it be? 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:47.039 Famine outside on your own or come into the church and feast at the Eucharistic table. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.360 And then, of course, after that, there is a pale horse who comes. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:56.459 The pale horse named, the rider's name is Death and Hades. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:14:02.839 In chapter 1, we see that the risen Christ holds the keys of Death and Hades. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:04.480 They are under His control. 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:09.719 And the hard truth that we need to face, Christian or not, 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:16.879 is that the gospel is not simply a set of propositions, a belief system, a way of making sense of life. 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:21.779 The gospel and how we respond to the gospel is life or death. 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:29.200 People who respond by accepting Christ awaken to new life. 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:35.200 The people who reject Christ and the message of the gospel face only death. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:38.160 It's life or death. 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:43.780 And so in all of these ways, these first four seals, the four horsemen, 00:14:43.900 --> 00:14:46.640 show us that wherever the church proclaims the gospel, 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.420 wherever the gospel is announced, 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:52.200 conflict inevitably follows. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.500 You know, I remember when I first became a Christian when I was 22, 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:59.200 I actually thought it would make my life easier. 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:01.620 I actually thought it would be easier. 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:03.220 I thought, well, now that I have a church, 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:04.580 and now that I have Christian friends, 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.080 and now that I can pray, 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:09.080 and now that I am reading the Bible and doing all of this, 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.899 and now that I know that I belong to God, 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:12.660 certainly my life's going to get easier. 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.960 And it's been the exact opposite. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:18.080 From the moment, I would say from the moment that I became a Christian, 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.300 my life has been significantly harder. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.500 And it's remained harder. 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:26.879 It disrupted many of my friendships. 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:30.860 It disrupted my whole plan that I had worked out for my life. 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:33.240 It disrupted my sense of identity. 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.960 It brought an enormous amount of disruption. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:38.279 And anybody who says that when you follow and obey Jesus, 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:42.800 that brings peace into your heart is misreading that Bible verse. 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:47.340 Following Jesus is extraordinarily challenging most of the time. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.480 It requires painful sacrifice. 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:52.039 It makes our life harder. 00:15:52.180 --> 00:15:56.519 It brings conflict because Jesus doesn't brook competition. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:16:01.639 Jesus brings conflict into our lives because we have to choose. 00:16:02.319 --> 00:16:04.220 Am I aligned with Him or not? 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:06.220 Do I want feast or famine? 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:08.699 Do I want to choose resurrection life or death? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.740 That's the kind of conflict that follows the gospel. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:18.899 And there's great opposition outside and within our own hearts 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:21.600 to the message of the kingdom 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:24.060 because it means our kingdom has to crumble 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:26.060 to make way for His. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.820 So the gospel brings conflict, 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.259 but it doesn't stop there. 00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:34.460 The next phase of the Christian life cycle is martyrdom. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:38.279 And the fifth seal, as it is cracked open, 00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:41.639 reveals the souls of martyrs. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:44.960 And they begin to cry out the souls of the martyrs. 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.940 And it says that these are people, quote, 00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:49.320 who had been slain for the word of God 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.540 and for the witness they had borne. 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:55.240 The martyrs cry out for justice and vindication. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.440 When will you come? 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:58.060 When will you bring us justice? 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.880 And look how God responds. 00:17:02.260 --> 00:17:02.740 Verse 11, 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:04.600 Then they were each given a white robe, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:07.059 or you could translate it stole, white stole, 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.240 and told to rest a little longer 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.480 until the number of their fellow servants 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.620 and their brothers should be complete, 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:16.979 who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:18.459 You know what this is saying? 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:20.539 Vindication has to wait 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:23.119 because there are more martyrs. 00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:26.119 More people are going to be martyred. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.259 And you must wait 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.619 until everyone who is going to be martyred 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:32.000 has been martyred. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.939 Who's this talking about? 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.059 It's talking about us. 00:17:37.659 --> 00:17:38.559 It's talking about us. 00:17:40.479 --> 00:17:42.579 Jesus Himself said in John 12, 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:44.299 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.480 unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.919 and dies, it remains alone. 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:51.899 But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.879 And listen, He was not just talking about Himself. 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.740 He was talking about His people. 00:17:57.699 --> 00:17:59.480 He was talking about all of His people. 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.139 You know, martyrdom, 00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:05.139 which means dying for your faith 00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.119 and for your witness, 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:10.740 martyrdom is not just one possible fate 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.839 of Christians. 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:15.779 It is the only possible fate 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.900 of Christians 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.240 because to follow Jesus 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.079 is to walk the road to Calvary. 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:25.420 And there is no other way. 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:27.339 There is no fork in that road. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.220 There's one road 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.319 and it leads to the cross. 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.359 So that's why He said, 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.359 if you want to follow Me, 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.460 you need to count the cost 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:37.000 and you need to be willing 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.039 to take up your cross 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.960 because I'm going to Calvary. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.400 So it may be, in your life, 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.380 a physical death. 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:47.140 That's not totally out of the question, 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:49.380 like the innumerable countless people 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.360 over the centuries 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:51.640 who have been killed for their faith. 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:54.500 Or it may be, as Paul says, 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:58.000 living your life as a living sacrifice, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.000 a living martyr. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.079 It may be the kind of death 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.919 that the first disciples had to die 00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:06.279 when they left their job 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.079 and their friends 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:08.039 and their family 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.799 to follow Jesus 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.279 wherever He took them. 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.299 It could be the kind of death 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:16.079 of being disowned by your family 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.839 because you've become a Christian. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.599 Some people in our church 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.079 have experienced that. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.179 It could be the kind of death 00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:24.980 of giving up the possibility 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:27.059 of ever having a family. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.500 Some people in our church 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.039 have experienced that. 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:31.439 It may be the kind of death 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.400 of losing your social standing 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.320 or your reputation, 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:36.120 which some people in our church 00:19:36.120 --> 00:19:37.220 have experienced. 00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:38.220 It may be the death 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.320 of passing up 00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:41.200 a professional opportunity 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.600 because it would call you 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.640 to compromise 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:46.160 your faith and your values, 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:48.019 as some people in our community 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.360 have experienced. 00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:50.740 But one way or another, 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.380 the Christian life 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:55.640 is a path of martyrdom. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.900 And I think perhaps 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.539 maybe one of our biggest needs 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:01.159 as Christians in this country, 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:03.579 specifically at this point in history, 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:06.680 is to recover a theology of martyrdom. 00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:09.879 You know, 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:11.480 between our prosperity gospel 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.339 and our persecution complex, 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.700 we simply assume 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:18.039 that everything should be great, 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:21.019 that we should live lives 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.379 that are largely pain-free. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.259 We're woefully out of touch 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.579 with the vast majority of Christians 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:28.699 who have lived across the centuries 00:20:28.699 --> 00:20:29.980 when we think that, 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.559 when we think that 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.579 that should be normative. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.879 I think we've lost sight, perhaps, 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:37.639 of what discipleship really means. 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.240 You know, 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:40.059 it reminds me of Dietrich Bonhoeffer 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.220 who was a martyr. 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.000 He was hung. 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.279 And he said, 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.759 when Christ calls a man 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.839 or a woman, 00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:49.359 he bids him come and die. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:53.059 So if you're a Christian 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.179 and you're here 00:20:54.179 --> 00:20:56.379 and your faith feels flat 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:58.039 or fruitless 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:00.559 or uninspired 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.619 or empty, 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.919 if you feel like it's waning, 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:04.219 if you're feeling a sense 00:21:04.219 --> 00:21:05.899 of disconnection from church 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:07.419 or from your Christian life 00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:08.059 and you're just kind of 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.779 not quite sure 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.679 what you believe, 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.619 I want to suggest, 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:11.479 and this may not be true, 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.199 but I want to suggest 00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:13.000 that the problem 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.079 may not be intellectual. 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:16.479 It may not necessarily be 00:21:16.479 --> 00:21:17.579 the church that you go to. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.500 It may not necessarily be 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.660 anything that you're doing 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.319 or not doing. 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:23.440 The problem could be 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:27.279 your self-preservation instinct. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.700 Is it possible 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.299 that you're trying 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.079 to have your cake 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.140 and eat it too? 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.799 Is it possible 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.380 that you're trying 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.539 to buffer yourself 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.440 against the cost 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.779 of discipleship? 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.480 Is it possible 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.079 that you're that grain of wheat 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.779 that has not yet 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.980 fallen to the ground 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.559 that is safe 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.779 and not vulnerable 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.720 and well-protected, 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:49.000 but it's alone 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.819 and it's fruitless? 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.160 Is it possible 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:53.960 that you need to fall 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.440 to the ground 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:56.880 and die in your faith? 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.160 Allow yourself 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:00.079 to be martyred for Christ. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.559 If your faith 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.480 has not cost you anything, 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.480 how could it be worth 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.740 anything to you? 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:10.319 The good news is 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.900 that the road leads 00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.579 to Calvary, 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.920 but it doesn't end 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.720 at Calvary. 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:17.039 The road goes 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.160 through Calvary 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.000 and it keeps 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.680 right on going 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:21.720 because after martyrdom, 00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:22.720 the next phase 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.960 in the Christian life cycle 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:26.560 is the glorious resurrection. 00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:28.240 And this is what we see 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.680 during the opening 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.720 of the sixth seal. 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.140 At first, 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.240 it doesn't seem like 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.940 good news. 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.600 It seems like 00:22:34.600 --> 00:22:35.620 the entire world 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:37.200 is falling apart. 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.880 The stars are falling 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.640 out of the sky, 00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:40.240 earthquakes, 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.560 the sky being rolled up 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.159 like a scroll. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.200 This is the famous 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.720 apocalyptic language 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.339 from Revelation. 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.599 But we know 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.339 that even though 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.440 it seems like 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.279 the end of the world, 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.339 it is not the end 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:52.819 of the world. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.220 And the reason we know that 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.720 is because this language 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.319 exactly parallels 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.159 Jesus' own teaching. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.579 What we heard 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.519 in our gospel lesson, 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:01.980 what we call 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:03.059 the Olivet Discourse. 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.440 Jesus talks about 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.399 the stars falling. 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.299 He talks about wars 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.220 and rumors of wars. 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.119 And here's what he says. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.019 Verse 6, 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.639 You will hear of wars 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.680 and rumors of wars. 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.600 See that you're not alarmed. 00:23:15.040 --> 00:23:17.040 The end is not yet. 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.980 Verse 8, 00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:19.259 All of these 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.740 are but the beginning 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:23.000 of the birth pains. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.720 He says, 00:23:24.040 --> 00:23:25.320 It seems like 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:26.320 the end of the world. 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.259 What's going to happen 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.600 will seem like the end, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.860 but it's not the end. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.740 It's the beginning. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.320 It's the beginning 00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:33.420 of something new. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.500 And so what seems 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.580 like the end of the world 00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:37.520 is simply the end 00:23:37.520 --> 00:23:38.560 of a world. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.980 It's the end 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.480 of the old world order. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.059 It's the end 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:43.000 of the old way 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.900 of doing things. 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.680 It's the end 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.700 of the old covenant. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.039 It's the end 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.839 of the temple 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.279 sacrificial system. 00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:49.900 The priests, 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.640 as the author 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.680 of Hebrews tells us, 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:53.079 serving day in 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.759 and day out, 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.819 offering sacrifices 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:56.039 that never atone 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.559 for the sin 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.860 they claim to atone for. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.319 The ineffectual 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.620 way of religion. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.740 That's crumbling 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.400 to the ground. 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.200 And of course, 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.140 in the Olivet Discourse, 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.460 Jesus is specifically 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.299 talking about 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.799 the cataclysmic, 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:09.759 earth-shaking event 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.259 of A.D. 70, 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.720 the destruction 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.240 of the temple 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.759 in Jerusalem. 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.379 Which, if you were 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.019 a Jewish person, 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.619 that was the end 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.200 of the world. 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.099 It was the end 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.079 of everything you knew. 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.819 That was it. 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.740 The temple comes 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.819 crashing down. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.579 Not one stone 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.619 left on the other. 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.480 These are all 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.359 birth pangs, 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.819 however, 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.079 because they're signs 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.839 that God is bringing 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.980 something new 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.000 into the world. 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.539 So even though 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.639 it seems like the end, 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.779 it's not. 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.659 And here's what 00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:43.339 we discover. 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.659 The angel cries out, 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:46.199 do not harm the earth 00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:47.039 or the sea 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.679 or the trees. 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.619 So it seems like 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.159 everything is going 00:24:49.159 --> 00:24:49.699 to be swept away 00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:50.319 and the angel says, 00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:50.740 stop! 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.500 We have to seal 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.220 the servants 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.159 of our God. 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:58.019 We have to seal them 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.000 on their foreheads. 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:00.819 And then something 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.939 amazing happens. 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:04.460 John hears 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:06.320 one thing 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:08.100 and then he sees 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:09.440 something else. 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:09.860 Remember, 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.519 for those of you 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.920 who were here 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.420 last week 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.340 in chapter 5, 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.680 John heard 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.420 the announcement 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:17.460 that the conquering 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.680 lion had arrived 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.400 and when he turned, 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:19.980 what he saw 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.720 was not a lion 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.860 but a lamb 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.980 standing as though 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.840 it had been slain. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.880 And we are meant 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.740 to surmise 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.720 that the lion 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.200 and the lamb 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.080 are the same thing. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:30.140 The exact same thing 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.900 happens here. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:32.640 John hears 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:34.940 144,000 Israelites 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.019 have been sealed. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.340 Right? 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.960 That's the complete number 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.480 from all of the 12 tribes. 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:40.660 They've all been sealed. 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.720 All of Israel 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.519 is here. 00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.160 So he hears 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.960 and then he expects 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.580 that when he turns 00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.400 he's going to see 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.180 Israelites, 00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:47.300 old covenant Israelites. 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:47.860 And then he turns 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:48.259 and he looks 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.259 and what does he see? 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.900 Not Israelites, 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.780 not only 144,000, 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.460 he sees 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:56.360 an innumerable 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:57.420 multitude 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.519 of people 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.859 from every tribe, 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.559 tongue, 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.400 and nation. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.039 And what are we meant 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.000 to surmise from this? 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:04.480 They're the same thing. 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.420 Israel, 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.639 the true Israel, 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.819 has now gathered. 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.039 They've been sealed. 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.539 And it's not just Israelites, 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:11.799 it's everybody. 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.279 It's people 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.259 from every country, 00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.980 every language, 00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:14.639 every tribe, 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.759 every religious background. 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:16.740 They're all here. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.059 They're all here. 00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:20.299 This is the true Israel. 00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:22.339 The true children 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.879 of Abraham 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.799 by faith. 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:23.879 faith. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.019 They've all come. 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.180 And it says 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.019 of these people 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:30.039 that they have washed 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.240 their robes 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.599 and made them white 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.460 in the blood 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.039 of the Lamb. 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:35.059 This is an army 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.379 of martyrs 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.799 wearing white robes 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.700 that have been washed 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.519 in the blood 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.200 of the Lamb. 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.339 Anyone who wants 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.019 to be a part 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.899 of God's great 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:46.019 global family, 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.500 there's only one thing 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.059 that matters. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:51.379 The old covenant 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.519 has been done away with. 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:54.319 The covenant of works. 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.759 The covenant of sacrifice. 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.740 It's been done away with. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.539 There's only one thing 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.200 that matters. 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:02.420 Have you been washed 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:04.119 by the blood 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.639 of the Lamb? 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.480 Have you been washed 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.920 by the blood 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.400 of the Lamb? 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:09.460 There was a thread 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.779 on Reddit recently 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:12.220 that got attention 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.420 and was actually 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.000 written about 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.900 in the Washington Post. 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.139 Somebody posted 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:17.420 in D.C., 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:19.079 where are good places 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.819 to cry 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:22.420 in D.C.? 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.560 And what's interesting 00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:24.360 and kind of touching 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.519 is that this was 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.340 a question 00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:27.380 just kind of put up there 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.480 like a lot of things are 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.880 on a site like Reddit, 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:31.039 but it got a lot 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.740 of very poignant responses. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.279 People actually 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.519 had a lot of thoughts 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.800 about the best 00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:37.640 public places 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.220 to cry 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:40.519 in Washington, D.C. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.400 But what, 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.080 if you began 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:43.039 to read the posts, 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:43.700 you realize 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:45.080 that this got 00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:46.160 a big response 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.920 because a lot of people 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.300 live a lot of their life 00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:49.840 in this city 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.419 feeling like 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.079 they want to cry 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.939 and needing a place 00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:53.379 to go 00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:54.699 where they can cry 00:27:54.699 --> 00:27:56.740 because people posted 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.579 about the difficulty 00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.319 and the pressure 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.299 of living 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:01.480 in Washington, D.C. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.399 And a lot of it 00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.039 is connected 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.039 to the kind 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.079 of drivenness, 00:28:05.459 --> 00:28:06.980 the success-oriented 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.339 meritocracy, 00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:10.799 the achievement culture 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.559 where you're only 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.159 as good 00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:14.240 as your last accomplishment, 00:28:14.459 --> 00:28:15.519 where you always feel 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.019 like everyone around you 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.679 is smarter 00:28:17.679 --> 00:28:18.639 and more successful, 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.520 where you feel like 00:28:19.520 --> 00:28:21.120 your job doesn't matter, 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.940 where you feel like 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.740 you don't matter, 00:28:24.020 --> 00:28:24.700 where you're constantly 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.600 having to produce 00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.280 and it's a kind 00:28:26.280 --> 00:28:26.980 of never-ending 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.140 hamster wheel 00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:29.140 of achievement. 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.080 And that makes people 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.759 want to cry. 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.480 And so there are a lot 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.259 of people who cry 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.960 in parks 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.400 and in open, 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.160 empty churches 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:40.060 and on street corners 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:41.740 and in the basement 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.520 of Macy's 00:28:42.520 --> 00:28:44.480 and all kinds of things. 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.100 There are people 00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:45.620 who go 00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.620 and they cry 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:49.399 because of the hopelessness 00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.039 of living 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.859 in such a culture. 00:28:50.979 --> 00:28:51.399 And what we need 00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:51.979 to see here 00:28:51.979 --> 00:28:53.279 is that when the angel 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.639 opened the sixth seal, 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:56.199 when all the world 00:28:56.199 --> 00:28:57.359 seemed to be crashing down, 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.479 that was the world 00:28:58.479 --> 00:28:59.119 that was crumbling. 00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:00.539 It's the world 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:01.219 that says you were 00:29:01.219 --> 00:29:01.819 only worth 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.579 what you can accomplish. 00:29:02.979 --> 00:29:03.519 It's the world 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.059 that says you're 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.719 only worth 00:29:04.719 --> 00:29:05.639 what you've achieved 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.439 or what your resume 00:29:06.439 --> 00:29:07.500 says you're worth. 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.299 That world 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.359 came crumbling down. 00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:11.039 The world 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.479 of earning 00:29:11.479 --> 00:29:12.139 and striving 00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.219 and proving ourselves 00:29:13.219 --> 00:29:13.839 to God, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.919 to other people, 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.980 is no more, 00:29:16.060 --> 00:29:16.779 not one stone 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.600 left upon another. 00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:19.539 In God's kingdom 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.840 only one thing matters. 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.680 Have you been washed 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.160 in the blood 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.680 of the Lamb? 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.860 In our baptismal liturgy 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:28.000 we say to kids 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.640 who have been baptized, 00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:29.620 we baptized some kids 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.160 this morning, 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:32.720 you've been marked, 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.900 you've been sealed, 00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.519 you've been sealed 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.380 with the Holy Spirit 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.720 and you're marked 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.800 as one of Christ's own 00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:40.160 forever. 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.180 What we're saying is 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.380 you will be standing 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.560 in that great multitude, 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.940 not because of 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.440 what you've done 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:45.899 but because of 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.639 what Jesus Christ 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.159 the Lamb 00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.379 has done for you. 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.799 And this leads finally 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.000 to the seventh seal 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.700 because of course 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.960 this gives way 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.099 and gives rise 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:56.679 to the seal of worship, 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.839 the culmination 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:00.379 of the Christian life cycle, 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.500 what it is all for. 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:03.039 Everything stops 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.619 in the heavenly worship service, 00:30:04.899 --> 00:30:06.019 the liturgy pauses 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:07.500 and there's this period 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.019 of silent reflection 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:10.000 in chapter 8 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.940 on the awe 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.279 and the grandeur of God 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.180 and then get this, 00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:15.519 the prayers of the saints 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.619 are mingled 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.940 with incense 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:19.099 and they're lifted up 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.960 before the Lord 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.940 and this shows us 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:22.559 that the Holy Spirit 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:24.720 intercedes for us, 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.099 gathers our prayers 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:27.399 and brings them 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:29.019 into the heavenly throne room 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:30.299 before the Lord. 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.000 The Spirit, 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.379 knowing what we know, 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.160 praying what we need to pray 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:36.160 even when we don't know 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.819 what to pray, 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.160 that the Spirit intercedes 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.759 for us, 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.700 guarantees 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:41.120 that our prayers 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:42.000 are heard 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.900 by the Lord. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.860 This is one of the reasons 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:44.740 we like to have 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.299 incense from time to time 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.880 in our service. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.640 It's one of the things 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.100 this does. 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.120 It reminds us 00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:50.240 that as we are gathered here 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.360 praying and singing 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:52.140 and confessing 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:53.220 that the Holy Spirit 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.160 is interceding, 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.460 that our prayers 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.100 are being heard, 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:57.039 they're going to heaven, 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.559 right? 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.620 It's a symbol. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.460 And then something 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.720 even more amazing happens. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:02.980 The censer, 00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:03.940 all of the prayers, 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.340 the censer is filled 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:05.920 with fire 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.720 and then that fire 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.380 in response 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.440 to the saints' prayers, 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:09.980 that fire is cast down 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.480 on the earth. 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.500 God answers the prayer. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:16.000 The prayers of the saints 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.100 are effectual. 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.720 They are powerful. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.740 The prayer of God's people, 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.779 when we gather together 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.900 and when we pray, 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.460 all hell trembles. 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.940 All hell trembles. 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:31.259 The most important thing 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:33.519 that we do as God's people, 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.960 our greatest resource, 00:31:35.860 --> 00:31:36.860 is prayer. 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:40.360 And when we pray, 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.120 this shows us 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:42.080 we should be bold. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:43.920 Bold in our prayer. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.299 We should know 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.380 that God hears us. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.980 We should know 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.700 the truth of James 5.16. 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:51.360 The prayer of a righteous person 00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.600 has great power 00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.620 as it is working. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.900 And by the way, 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.600 Revelation as a whole, 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.660 this entire book, 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:00.759 is about the Lord's prayer 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.779 being answered. 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.779 We pray it every week. 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:07.519 Our Father who art in heaven, 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.680 hallowed be your name. 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:12.319 Thy kingdom come, 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.379 thy will be done 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:15.299 on earth as it is in heaven. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:16.399 That's Revelation. 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:20.119 God's kingdom coming. 00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:22.279 God's will being done 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:24.879 here as it has eternally been done 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:26.579 in the heavenly realm. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:30.419 So this is the life cycle 00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:31.399 of the church. 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.559 It's the life cycle 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.759 of every Christian. 00:32:33.919 --> 00:32:34.500 This is something 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.939 that is not only enacted 00:32:35.939 --> 00:32:36.759 throughout history 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.619 across the centuries, 00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.720 but it's something 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.960 that we experience 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.720 in our own walk of faith. 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.299 In some of us, 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.299 it's a cycle 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.519 that plays out again 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.299 and again 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.119 and again. 00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:48.359 It begins with victory. 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.599 The victory that Jesus Christ 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.279 has accomplished 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.079 and our willingness 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.279 to accept that. 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:56.660 it leads to conflict. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:00.660 It leads to the kind of conflict 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:02.079 that forces us to choose 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.700 where our loyalties really lie. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.720 That gives way 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.000 to the call for martyrdom. 00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:07.799 It's not enough 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:09.259 just to acknowledge Jesus. 00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:10.779 He calls us to Calvary 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:12.579 to be that grain 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.519 that falls to the ground 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.039 and dies 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:16.039 so that it can bear much fruit. 00:33:16.399 --> 00:33:16.819 Ultimately, 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.220 martyrdom is not the end. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:20.619 We have the resurrection promise. 00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:21.740 Out of death, 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:24.759 God brings resurrection life, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.380 renewal, 00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:27.120 and then that new life 00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:28.920 produces worship 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:30.920 and effectual prayer. 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.460 This is the shape 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.980 that Jesus' ministry takes 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.079 and it's the shape 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.599 that His church 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:39.839 in her ministry will take 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.859 and it's the shape 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.620 that our lives 00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.759 in our ministry will take. 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:45.079 So it's worth asking yourself 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.680 as we prepare to move on 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.400 in our service, 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.599 where do you find yourself 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.920 in this cycle? 00:33:50.380 --> 00:33:50.920 If you're somebody 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.380 who's here 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:52.300 and you're not sure 00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:52.840 what you believe, 00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:54.420 you wouldn't consider yourself 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.180 to be a Christian, 00:33:56.080 --> 00:33:57.200 perhaps you're considering 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.740 whether or not 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:59.080 this is a victory 00:33:59.080 --> 00:34:00.380 that has been accomplished 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:01.620 on your behalf. 00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:04.180 That Jesus Christ 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.900 has overcome sin and death 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:07.740 and desires to overcome 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.440 sin and death 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.180 in your life. 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.420 Maybe you're a Christian 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.320 but you're facing 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:14.539 massive conflict. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.320 Don't think that God 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.059 has abandoned you. 00:34:17.180 --> 00:34:17.840 Don't think that God 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.720 doesn't hear your prayer. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:20.259 Don't think that all of this 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:20.899 is for naught. 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.519 If you're experiencing 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.619 conflict as a Christian, 00:34:23.759 --> 00:34:24.759 it means you're right 00:34:24.759 --> 00:34:25.599 where you belong. 00:34:25.819 --> 00:34:27.000 This is exactly what 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.119 the story tells us 00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.199 is going to happen. 00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:30.099 That's what it means. 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:31.639 That's all it means. 00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:34.119 Are you in a place 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.799 of martyrdom 00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:35.739 where God is trying 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:36.379 to put something 00:34:36.379 --> 00:34:37.359 in your life to death? 00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:41.719 He's trying to kill 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:43.559 something in your life. 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:45.759 Are you holding on to it, 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.319 protecting it, 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.559 or will you let him take it? 00:34:49.680 --> 00:34:50.820 Because one of the things 00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.860 that we recognize 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:54.720 as we see this story unfold, 00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:57.300 here's what the story shows us. 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.640 We all want resurrection life. 00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:01.400 We all want effectual prayer. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.980 We all want authentic worship. 00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.000 We all want the joy 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.900 that comes with that. 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.940 But resurrection life 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.519 and worship, 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.740 effectual prayer, 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.780 those are things 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:10.820 that are only found 00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:12.100 on the far side 00:35:12.100 --> 00:35:13.240 of conflict 00:35:13.240 --> 00:35:14.320 and martyrdom. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:16.160 That's the road 00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:16.920 that we're called 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.820 to walk. 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.059 Let's pray. 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.160 Amen. 00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:20.000 Let's pray.