WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.780 Father, we confess before you that we have longings and yearnings and desires that we 00:00:13.780 --> 00:00:19.679 turn away from and that we have longings and yearnings and desires that are not truly of 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:19.859 you. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:27.019 We ask, Father, that you would put to death in us desires that are not of you and that 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:32.320 you would fan into flame within us longings and yearnings that do truly come from you. 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.399 And, Father, we acknowledge before you that not only do we need your Holy Spirit to do 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:43.460 this, but we cannot do it at all by our own effort and apart from thinking about your 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:43.760 Son. 00:00:44.739 --> 00:00:50.219 So we ask, Father, that as we reflect upon your word and as we are open to your Holy 00:00:50.219 --> 00:00:57.019 Spirit, that you would make us disciples gripped by the gospel, living for your glory. 00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:01.100 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:01.960 Amen. 00:01:02.519 --> 00:01:03.399 Please be seated. 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:13.000 I have to confess that every time I read a text like the gospel text, which I just read 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:14.460 a few moments ago, I smile. 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:16.799 I don't know how many of you noticed me smile at a certain part. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:23.539 And that's because quite a few years ago, I led a young man to faith that he did a lot 00:01:23.539 --> 00:01:28.759 of drugs, mainly just soft drugs, marijuana, but exclusively just soft drugs. 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:35.359 And he had a hard time after he became a Christian, believing that he wasn't supposed to keep smoking 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:35.700 up. 00:01:36.539 --> 00:01:39.179 And back in those days, they call marijuana grass. 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:43.979 And I still remember the day he came to me all excited, saying the grass is in the Bible, 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:50.200 so it must be all right, because God made the grass of the fields for human beings. 00:01:50.600 --> 00:01:55.260 And so every time I see the word grass in a text, I think of this young man and how he 00:01:55.260 --> 00:01:58.760 would get all excited, thinking that it was showing that the Bible was giving him permission 00:01:58.760 --> 00:01:59.740 to smoke marijuana. 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:04.740 It's actually a good introduction to the talk today. 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:06.859 That was quite a reading by Helen. 00:02:06.859 --> 00:02:06.900 Helen. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:13.599 I was joking with Jeremiah the other day, and again, just before the service. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:18.580 I said, I'm really curious to see what music you've picked to go with a scripture text on 00:02:18.580 --> 00:02:21.000 the great prostitute and the beast. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:25.099 And because that's what we're going to talk about today. 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:29.680 And I have to confess, this has been one of the hardest chapters in the book of Revelation 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:31.139 for me to come to terms with. 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:38.039 I don't know what you were thinking when you were hearing the text, but it was a hard text 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:40.259 for me to get my mind around. 00:02:41.019 --> 00:02:47.579 Part of it is that there's certain parts of the part of the way it's written makes my 00:02:47.579 --> 00:02:48.879 eyes glaze over. 00:02:49.779 --> 00:02:53.319 When I hear there were five, and then there's one, and then there'll be another one, and 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:54.279 then there's an eighth like it. 00:02:54.279 --> 00:03:00.039 When I hear that it was and was not and is and my eyes, it just makes my eyes glaze over. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:00.799 That's part of it. 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:08.079 And part of it is it's just, it's a really, really difficult text. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:12.819 So what we're going to do today is if you get your Bibles, we're going to just, I'm going 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:14.979 to try to help you slowly read through the text. 00:03:15.739 --> 00:03:18.879 You see, the problem I have with the text is I could give you a two-hour lecture on the 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:19.219 text. 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:21.739 But what does that do? 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:23.259 I mean, the big question is, so what? 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:23.599 You know? 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:24.199 Now what? 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:27.539 I could give you a long lecture, but what we're going to do is we're going to look at the 00:03:27.539 --> 00:03:27.879 text. 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:32.299 And I actually think that there's some very powerful lessons for us to learn that can 00:03:32.299 --> 00:03:35.319 affect how we live our day-to-day lives from the text. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.079 So it's Revelation chapter 17, and I invite you to turn to it. 00:03:41.239 --> 00:03:46.079 And it's the text about the great prostitute and the beast. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:49.620 You know, if we had a church sign, we could put that. 00:03:49.699 --> 00:03:52.039 Our sermon this Sunday is on the great prostitute and the beast. 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:54.539 I'm sure it would just draw in the crowds, even in a snowstorm. 00:03:55.780 --> 00:03:58.060 Just a burning question that most people ask. 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:02.599 I mean, this is apart from the fact that it's unbelievably politically incorrect to use the 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:03.379 word prostitute. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.039 But that's what the word that the Bible uses. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:09.539 So here's how it goes. 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:16.000 Then one of the seven angels, Revelation 17.1, one of the seven angels who had the seven 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:22.920 bowls came and said to me, come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:28.120 is seated on many waters with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:33.800 and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on the earth have become drunk. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:35.319 Now just sort of pause. 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:43.519 One of the things about difficult texts is that we have to often slow down and notice the flow, 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.539 the pauses in the text. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:53.099 And here we see that the angel is telling John what he's going to do. 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:59.539 He's going to give John a vision or a showing so John can see something. 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:06.479 And he tells John what he's going to see in sort of a very, very brief description. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:14.740 And we can see here that he said you're going to see a beast sitting on many waters. 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:19.520 And at the very, very end, maybe if you were listening carefully when Helen was reading 00:05:19.520 --> 00:05:22.540 or if you were following along and you noticed it because you're a very attentive reader, 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:29.160 you're going to see that the many waters, that the text itself tells you that it represents 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:32.400 peoples, people groups and languages and nations. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:38.819 And it shows the beast in a sense over, sitting them is, over them is an image of possession, 00:05:39.099 --> 00:05:40.279 of control. 00:05:41.099 --> 00:05:44.560 And he said you're going to see this woman and she's the great prostitute 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:49.560 and you're going to see people drunk with what it is that makes her who she is. 00:05:50.179 --> 00:05:51.939 They get so excited over this. 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.139 It's like a type of drunkenness. 00:05:54.139 --> 00:06:00.459 They drink more and more of this and it overwhelms them. 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:02.959 And that's what you're going to see. 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:11.579 And as well as that, as we're going to see at the end, the prostitute is the great city. 00:06:12.599 --> 00:06:13.740 The great city. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:22.780 Just the other day, I was reading the Saturday papers and I was reading a columnist and one 00:06:22.780 --> 00:06:29.699 of the op-ed writers in the paper and they just made a casual reference about New York 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:31.480 and central Ohio. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:38.540 And the way she wrote about it, it was just very obvious that we would understand that 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:41.699 New York City is an important place. 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:48.420 It's a cultured place and that a place like Dayton, Ohio or central Ohio isn't very important. 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:49.599 It's not sophisticated. 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:52.740 It's not like a leading city. 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:55.939 It's a place where people who don't matter as much live. 00:06:57.159 --> 00:07:00.639 And the way she wrote, she didn't say it in those words. 00:07:00.699 --> 00:07:05.480 She just made a comment about Manhattan and New York and she made a comment about central 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:05.939 Ohio. 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:10.659 And she wrote it in such a way that every one of the readers she assumed would automatically 00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:11.259 get it. 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:12.899 And we do get it. 00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:18.779 We do understand on one level that there's a type of superiority to certain cities. 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:25.099 That if we were to announce that there was a political symposium, if there was a fashion 00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:31.659 symposium of the latest designs from Dayton or Billings, Montana, it would not have quite 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:37.660 the same as if it's from New York and London and Paris. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:55.300 That if we were to get the leading political thinkers from Billings, Montana or Dayton, Ohio, it would not have the same type of impact as people from New York and Washington, London and Paris. 00:07:55.300 --> 00:08:08.660 So we understand on one level something about why it is that a city is going to be used to be a bit of an image for a certain way that we understand the world naturally. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:20.180 It might look odd at first, but if we think about it, we already think in those terms that there are cities which are somehow important and significant and others that don't. 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:26.280 In Canada, Toronto wishes it was a combination of New York City and Los Angeles. 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:32.019 And it laments that it laments that it's not Washington, that politics is in Ottawa. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:46.539 And maybe politicians in Ottawa lament that they are an unimportant, relatively unimportant country and city compared to Washington and Moscow and London and Paris. 00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:52.279 So the angel tells John, I'm going to show you a vision. 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:54.639 And this is what you're going to see. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:58.259 And he's going to have the vision. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:04.819 And then the rest of the chapter is going to be different comments on aspects of the vision to explain it and make it clear. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:08.439 So it is the vision that he actually has. 00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:10.120 The vision begins in verse 3. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:12.340 And it goes like this. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:17.899 And the angel carried me away in the Holy Spirit into a wilderness. 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:24.120 And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:27.139 And it had seven heads and ten horns. 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:33.439 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold. 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:37.279 Actually, in the original language, it says golded with gold. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:49.759 It was golded with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:10:00.039 And on her forehead was written the name of the mystery, Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations. 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:06.620 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. 00:10:07.579 --> 00:10:08.599 Just sort of pause there. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.299 That's the vision. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.860 But before we talk about the vision, I just want to draw a little bit of an aside. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:17.939 Maybe for you, this will be the important point of the day. 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:21.280 And you'll say, okay, God, I got what I need to get out of this sermon. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.620 Now my eyes can glaze over and I'll fall asleep for the rest of it. 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:27.740 Hopefully you won't say that, but maybe for some of you, you will. 00:10:28.180 --> 00:10:32.100 This is the last time in the book of Revelation that the wilderness is mentioned, I believe. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.900 Maybe I'm wrong about it, but I believe it's the last time. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:35.920 So I just wanted to draw you out a thing. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:50.059 For Christians, in the book of Revelation, the wilderness is a place of protection where you can see and learn things that you can't see and learn other places. 00:10:51.979 --> 00:10:55.259 And this is actually a really important thing for us. 00:10:56.079 --> 00:10:59.599 Because every Christian has times when they're in the wilderness. 00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:02.379 And we hate being in the wilderness. 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:04.379 We find it depressing. 00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:07.399 And we often find it full of despair. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:14.860 But in the book of Revelation, the wilderness is a place where we experience God's provision. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.759 Obviously, the wilderness is the wilderness. 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:21.080 It means that there's a whole pile of things that we usually would like to have that we don't have. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:25.159 And it means that there's power that we would like to have that we don't have. 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:28.759 And that there's delights and pleasures that we would like to have and we don't have. 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:29.960 It's the wilderness. 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:32.120 There's a whole pile of things that we don't have. 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:36.580 But in the book of Revelation, wilderness is the place of God's provision. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:47.259 And the question in the book of Revelation is always, while you're in the wilderness, what can you now see and hear from God that you could not see and hear anywhere else? 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:55.460 And for an aside, for some of us, if you're at all like me, when you're in the wilderness, you hate being in the wilderness. 00:11:56.419 --> 00:12:01.659 And often when I'm in the wilderness, all I think of is my lacking, all the things I'm lacking. 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:15.199 But the text is inviting me to understand that sometimes when I'm in the wilderness, what I should first of all be doing is looking and seeing how is it that God is providing for me even while I'm in the wilderness. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:23.420 And then to say to him and ask to him in prayer, what is it you would like me to see and hear while I am in the wilderness? 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:26.779 Just a bit of an aside. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:30.019 But it's maybe an important one for some of you. 00:12:30.099 --> 00:12:32.099 Maybe you've come here today and you're in the wilderness. 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:34.339 You feel like you're in the wilderness. 00:12:36.099 --> 00:12:39.519 And all you're feeling is despair and anxiety. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:46.559 And the book of Revelation has a very, very, it's a consistent lesson every time the wilderness comes up. 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:48.379 I don't know if I've mentioned it very much before. 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:52.379 I wanted to mention it before we moved away and the wilderness would not turn. 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.159 But what about the beast? 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:58.559 So that John is taken by the angel into the wilderness. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:02.100 And in the wilderness, he's able to see and hear. 00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:07.340 Here's the angel and he sees the beast and the great prostitute. 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:11.480 And it's a very, very odd vision. 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:15.759 And at first, it doesn't seem like it's a very helpful vision. 00:13:16.300 --> 00:13:19.780 Because how on earth will we ever see something like the great prostitute? 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:24.379 How can that actually be something which is helpful for us? 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.560 Well, what we see in the vision is this. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.440 The first thing is we see a great mistake. 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:42.240 Remember I said that John is told by the angel that he's going to see a great prostitute sitting on many waters. 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:50.880 And the image usually of sitting on something is an image of control, of dominance. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:56.539 And so what we see is we see the woman sitting on the beast. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:07.580 And the beast is described as having seven heads and ten horns so that the person who's been reading all the way through the book of Revelation will understand that even though it now is a little bit different because it's a different color, 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:17.020 it's the same beast that the dragon, which is an image of the devil, has called out of the abyss to do the dragon's bidding upon earth. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:23.159 And the beast is a person, an empire. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:31.620 He's evil, completely and utterly under the domination of the dragon. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.039 And so he's a different color. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.100 He's scarlet. 00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:38.759 In the ancient world, scarlet is the color of wealth. 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:42.039 And all that wealth can buy. 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:44.600 All of the luxury that he can buy. 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:48.580 And there's a great mistake here. 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.720 And John's going to be caught up in it. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.840 We're going to talk about that in a moment. 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:54.580 But by the end of the image, you'll understand the great mistake. 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:58.340 There's an old blues song that has a line. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.040 Don't give the devil a ride. 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:03.440 He only wants to drive. 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.460 It's an old blues song. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.379 Don't give the devil... 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.200 I try to sing it. 00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:14.240 Actually, my voice sounding the way it is, it maybe sounds like I've been drinking cheap whiskey and smoking unfiltered cheap cigarettes. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:19.980 And maybe I could, with Jeremiah up here, maybe I could imitate a blues singer singing this particular line. 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.960 But I'll spare you it. 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:23.100 Don't give the devil a ride. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.860 He only wants to drive. 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:29.139 And so the great prostitute, which is the great city. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:35.700 The great city organized in rebellion and contempt of God. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.300 That's what the image of the great prostitute is. 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:40.280 It's an image of the great city. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.100 The great city. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.100 The New York. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.220 The Los Angeles. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.540 The Paris. 00:15:45.800 --> 00:15:46.300 The London. 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:47.080 The Washington. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.200 The Milan. 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.259 The Moscow. 00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:51.800 The Beijing. 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:58.160 The great city organized in contempt against the living God. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:01.159 organized to do whatever it wants. 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:04.100 Organized around political power and wealth. 00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:06.319 To be its own boss. 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:09.860 And it rides upon and sits upon the beast. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.339 And the great city thinks that it sits upon the beast. 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:15.819 That creation of the dragon. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.559 And therefore it controls it. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:23.799 But the great city does not understand that you do not give the devil a ride. 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:25.939 Because it only wants to drive. 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.419 And by the end of the story. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:33.079 You will see that the great prostitute thinks it controls the beast. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.879 But the beast controls the great city. 00:16:36.859 --> 00:16:40.759 And the beast will see the great city by the end of the chapter. 00:16:41.479 --> 00:16:42.119 Devoured. 00:16:43.359 --> 00:16:44.079 Destroyed. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.859 Completely and utterly. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:50.000 Because that is the nature of the beast. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.580 And the woman herself. 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:58.820 She is portrayed as wearing clothing of purple and scarlet. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.460 And in the ancient world as I already mentioned. 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:04.759 Scarlet is the color that indicates great wealth. 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:11.759 And purple is the color that indicates great political power and prestige and authority. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:17.220 And so this woman is representing the great city. 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:19.200 Where political power. 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:21.039 And with it all of the. 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.279 And great wealth. 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:27.359 And all of the persuasive and cultural power that flows. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:30.559 All of it in a sense the social mysticism. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.200 And spirituality. 00:17:32.879 --> 00:17:37.740 Which is so deeply and utterly connected to political power. 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.359 And wealth. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:46.000 And the adoration that goes along with people who adore such great political power and great wealth. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.740 And it's united in her. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.720 And she's golded with gold. 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.099 And she's covered with jewels. 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:53.059 And she sits drunk. 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.819 And what is she drunk with? 00:17:54.819 --> 00:18:00.880 She's drunk on the fact that so many kings and peoples come to do her bidding. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.460 To come to have a dalliance with her. 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:05.420 And she casually. 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:10.660 And she's not only does she casually be completely and utterly contemptuous of the living God in his ways. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.380 But with impunity. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:17.000 She will kill those who bear witness to Jesus. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.420 And delight in the fact that their blood is shed. 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.160 Now before I go any further. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:29.640 You see this is where the book of Revelation can sometimes be very very difficult for us. 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.440 In the 70s. 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:34.800 I know a lot of you weren't born in the 70s. 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.080 And just so you're clear. 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.940 I'm talking about the 1970s. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.640 Not the 1870s or 1770s. 00:18:41.020 --> 00:18:45.560 But in the 1970s there was a very very powerful book called The Late Great Planet Earth. 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:50.600 It sold more books in the 70s than any other book in North America. 00:18:51.540 --> 00:18:55.280 It was almost completely and utterly wrong about everything it said. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:01.180 And at the time there were 10 countries in Europe that made up the European Union. 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:05.759 And so they imagined that somehow or another Rome or whatever it was. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.859 Was the seat of the Antichrist and the beast. 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:10.339 And this new thing would all happen. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.899 All just talking about the future. 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.259 Just all talking about the future. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:17.039 But the book of Revelation is fundamentally a book about Jesus. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.379 It's a book about Jesus. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.160 What he's done. 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:21.099 What he's doing. 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.099 And what he will do. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.000 The book of Revelation is a book about Jesus. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.720 What he's done. 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.640 What he's doing. 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.460 And what he will do. 00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:28.720 And that means that whenever we read the Bible. 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.380 Whenever we read Revelation 17. 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.200 There's two types of things that are going on. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:38.259 On one hand it's talking about something which exists in the future for us. 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:41.960 Unless we are just days away from the end of time. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.680 I don't know if we are. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.700 I don't believe we are. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.940 But we might very well be. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.700 We might very well be. 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:54.240 And so part of what's being described is something which is describing the very, very end of the end. 00:19:55.580 --> 00:19:59.580 And part of it's describing what we live right now. 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:07.240 And it's not just that the Bible is sort of a series of symbols for us to help to understand what we're living right now. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:13.720 Because everything in the book of Revelation will somehow or another at some point in time be completely and utterly fulfilled. 00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.980 Jesus will come back. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.679 Things will come to an end. 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:19.099 But when we read parts like this we don't know. 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:21.179 I mean obviously we're not going to see a woman see a beast. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.039 But maybe we will. 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.579 I don't know. 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.679 I don't know. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:30.759 Because in advance we won't know what parts are symbolic and we don't know what parts are literal in advance. 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:38.200 But the most important thing is for us to have the words of scripture firmly in our minds and in our hearts. 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:44.340 So that if we are alive when that time comes we'll recognize the signs. 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:52.600 See my problem I have with most radio preachers who talk about the book of Revelation and most popular authors. 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:57.779 is they purport to understand what's symbolic and what's literal. 00:20:58.339 --> 00:21:01.799 And be able to tell you precisely what every one of the details means. 00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:08.799 And I have to confess before you that when I listen to them I think to myself only God can know that. 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:15.399 And you might be a very good man and you might be a very wise man but you're not God. 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:19.240 So you can't be so definite about these things. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:22.740 But what matters is that we remember the words. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:31.640 As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago there's a whole genre of fantasy novels and fairy tale type stories. 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:35.640 And often in this whole genre there's some type of a quest. 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:40.519 And on the quest usually there's something maybe it's a written document. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.240 Maybe it's some words of a seer. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:48.359 And there's certain types of signs that they have to recognize to fulfill the quest. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:57.819 And a great challenge within the course of the story is to actually remember the wording, the precise wording of the signs. 00:21:57.819 --> 00:22:03.200 And if you know the story you'll know that people forget them. 00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:04.539 They get caught up. 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.419 They get confused. 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.700 They don't recognize them. 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:09.379 Maybe the reader doesn't even recognize it at first. 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:13.179 But often the reader does because the narrator will help us to know. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:19.299 And in a sense what the book of Revelation is doing is inviting us on one hand to understand that some of this which is future. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:22.899 The main thing for us to do is to remember the words. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.899 And if we remember the words we remember the signs. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.159 Then when the time actually comes. 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:30.099 When the time actually comes. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:33.859 And we'll maybe be able to recognize what was symbolic and what was literal. 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:38.460 And how the different signs all coalesce around a particular event. 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:43.180 But to try to figure that all out in the future in advance. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:45.279 I just think that's just not very helpful. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:52.779 But at the same time everything in the word refers to things that we can be experiencing right now. 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:57.559 And the very, very first thing that the text is going to do. 00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:58.379 We now have the vision. 00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:01.680 So John in verses 1 and 2 he's told by the angel that we're going to have this vision. 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.920 In verses he goes to the wilderness. 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:07.259 In verses 3 to 6a he has the vision. 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:12.859 But then look at the very, very puzzling thing that happens to John in response to the vision. 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:16.000 And it's at the very last part of verse 6. 00:23:16.459 --> 00:23:22.240 And most of your Bibles, you know, verse 6 is broken up and a new paragraph begins. 00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:25.419 At the very end of verse 6 it says this. 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:29.159 When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:33.119 Now this should give us all pause. 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.839 He liked her. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:39.919 He was attracted to the great prostitute. 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:44.079 He was blown away by the great prostitute. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.459 The great prostitute spoke to something inside of him. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:54.159 And this is a profound warning for every one of us. 00:23:56.959 --> 00:24:01.459 That there is in fact something attractive about evil. 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:09.259 Even this city, this preeminent city that's organized in complete and utter contempt of God. 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:17.819 And that will casually, willfully, whenever it pleases, put to death those who speak of the living God. 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.799 And speak of Jesus. 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:21.960 And John, an apostle in the presence of an angel. 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:25.840 Find something marvelous and attractive about it. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:32.000 And if that can happen to John, it will happen to you and me. 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:37.980 It's one of the reasons we need to read the Bible and guard our hearts. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:41.199 And ask that God will be kind to us. 00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:50.259 That God will purge from us and put to death within us any desire that we might have for such great evil. 00:24:50.259 --> 00:25:03.200 That he would put to death within us anything within us that would have such a longing and yearning to see such a great city exist. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:06.279 And he knows the Bible. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.000 God knows our hearts. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.160 And so there's this warning to us in it. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:16.779 John has the angel snap him out of it. 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.819 It's in verse 7. 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:21.079 But the angel said to me, 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.819 Why do you marvel? 00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:26.659 It's almost like a slap on the side of the face. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.659 John, what are you doing? 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.839 That's the great prostitute. 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:35.279 That's the city organized in contempt against God. 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:37.559 And in rebellion against God. 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:40.439 Seen itself as in complete and utter control. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.700 Why are you marveling? 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:46.819 I will tell you the mystery of the woman. 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:49.420 And of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns. 00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:50.200 It carries her. 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:55.720 And now he'll start to take the image and explain the different parts of it. 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:57.180 First, the beast. 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.720 Verse 8. 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:07.519 The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to rise from the bottomless pit, the abyss, and go to destruction. 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:14.360 The dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast. 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:17.159 Because it was and is not and is to come. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:18.479 Right? 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:24.559 He's saying here that those who are not followers of Jesus will marvel to see the beast. 00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:29.159 But just a few words earlier, John marveled. 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:41.939 There's something within us that finds humanity organized in rebellion against God and contemptuous against the living God, attractive. 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:47.059 And I'm going to talk more about the beast in a moment. 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:55.440 But John is just reminding him that this is the same beast that you just saw earlier in Revelation 13. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:27:04.160 This is the same beast that the dragon called out of the abyss to be the one that would bring all earth under its sway. 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:11.840 This is the same beast that would have an apparent resurrection that would cause all of the world to find it marvelous. 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.620 It's powerful. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.860 But as we'll see in a moment, it's not a true resurrection. 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:22.860 It's a deadly, deathly resurrection that only leads into bondage away from freedom. 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.900 Verse 9. 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.360 This calls for a mind with wisdom. 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:31.500 The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:34.759 They are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen. 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:36.700 One is, the other has not yet come. 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:39.960 And when he does come, he must remain only a little while. 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:44.779 Well, as for the beast that was and is not, it is an eight, but it belongs to the seven. 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:46.440 And it goes to destruction. 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.920 Doesn't that sound like a lot of fantasy novels? 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.079 Doesn't it? 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.600 And fairy tales with that language. 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:54.579 I have to confess my mind glazes over. 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:59.180 And what it's going to mean in the future, I don't know because I'm not God. 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.940 I'm not God. 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.380 I don't know what it will mean in the future. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:05.100 I don't know what it will mean when the end finally comes. 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:06.319 I don't know what it means. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.719 I don't know which parts will be symbolic and which parts will be literal. 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:18.379 But I hope that if I am here in the days just before the day that Jesus arrives, just before the world's last night, 00:28:18.439 --> 00:28:22.399 I hope I will remember this text and understand what I'm seeing. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:29.740 But one of the things that we can understand is that the text is saying that God is in control and that there's a process of kings. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:34.480 And that there's going to eventually be like a king and then a king and then it's over. 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:40.880 And that throughout all of that, whatever it is that's happening, that God is the one who's completely and utterly in control. 00:28:42.560 --> 00:28:43.980 And that's what's going on. 00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:46.720 And that the beast, in a sense, isn't just coming out of nowhere. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:56.779 In a sense, today, right now, the parts of Washington and Moscow and Ottawa and London and Paris and Rome, 00:28:58.519 --> 00:29:04.740 parts of all of these great cities that are already organized in rebellion and contempt of the living God, 00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:10.539 that when that final great city comes, it will be understood that it did not come out of nowhere, 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:17.220 that it emerged out of something that had already been going on for a long time on the earth 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:21.539 and that you and I already have to deal with on some level, 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:27.259 not to the same level and degree that those who are here for the world's last night will have to deal with it, 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:32.500 but that there is already something in the great cities of the world 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:36.000 and our desire for the great cities of the world. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:45.539 That's already part of a process that will one day culminate in the great city made in contempt of the living God. 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.140 Verse 12, 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:53.000 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:57.779 but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour together with the beast. 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:03.259 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast, 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:07.740 and they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:11.940 free as Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called. 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:17.720 Actually, in the original language, there's the definite article before each of the three last words. 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:20.019 It should actually say literally, 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:25.519 And those with him are the called and the chosen and the faithful. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:29.539 Makes sort of awkward English, but that's what the original language is. 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:33.940 They will make war on the Lamb, verse 14, and the Lamb will conquer them, 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:41.200 for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are the called and the chosen and the faithful. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.899 They're going to make war on the Lamb, and they're going to lose. 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.440 I don't know what the ten kings means. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.839 I don't know what it means. 00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:55.599 But, you know, we see something about it, 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:58.339 and we're going to see it because it's all coming to a close. 00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:59.759 We can see something about it right now. 00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:02.879 You know, as I was reading this, I was thinking a lot about what happened to Alison Redford, 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:05.179 the former premier of Alberta. 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.500 I'm not trying to make any political points. 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:10.919 I'm not trying to say that she's the beast or anything like that. 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.720 I'm really not, okay? 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:15.500 But everybody in her party and her cabinet loved her 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:17.399 when she beat the Wild Rose Alliance, didn't they? 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:21.800 But they're also very quick to throw under a bus, aren't they? 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:25.580 Like, isn't that how politics works? 00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:29.860 And, you know, you see with the insight, 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:33.660 and the politicians involved with the insight, 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:37.680 am I saying the right word, the thing in the east side of Vancouver, 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.980 and living lavish lives. 00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:43.880 And we see with Alison Redford, and we see with other politicians 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:46.300 that they have a desire to live lives of luxury. 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:49.140 And to be heavy-handed in politics. 00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:54.540 And they think they have their cabinet and their party with them with one mind. 00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:58.120 And the party and the cabinet will throw you under the bus 00:31:58.120 --> 00:32:00.200 as quick as the blink of an eye. 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:03.220 On one hand, what you see here with the Ten Kings, 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:06.980 we see in the papers all the time, all the time, all the time. 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:11.200 It's saying something which is true 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:15.440 about those who worship power for power and wealth for wealth. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:18.779 Well, it's saying something true. 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:23.779 In fact, as we'll see in a moment, it's saying something also very, very true, 00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:29.559 that on one hand, the way that the lamb will beat the great prostitute 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.660 is by doing nothing. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:36.519 Because the very, very kings that are also alive with the beast 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:40.080 will turn on the great prostitute and completely and utterly destroy her. 00:32:41.060 --> 00:32:45.680 That all evil has within itself something which is self-destructive. 00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:49.340 That all evil has something which is its own punishment. 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:55.119 I had friends when I was in high school and in university 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:57.259 who got involved in drugs, hard drugs. 00:32:58.500 --> 00:33:01.119 And several of them, their lives were completely and utterly 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.539 and irreparably ruined. 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:04.980 It ruined their minds. 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.480 It ruined their IQs. 00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:08.659 It ruined their relationships with their family. 00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:16.820 And no prison and no jail sentence could punish them more than drugs punished them. 00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:24.420 Being completely and utterly under the grip of pornography is its own punishment. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:29.180 It ruins relationships with real women. 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.800 It ruins your time. 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:35.539 In a sense, it is its own punishment. 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:40.000 Worshiping power for the sake of power, 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:44.579 it seems like it's something that is good for you and it helps you, 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:47.879 but it ultimately becomes its own punishment. 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:51.139 That there's something about evil which destroys us. 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:55.720 And that's what this text is trying to make clear to us. 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:57.279 That we might repent. 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.440 Look how it finishes. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.680 Verse 15. 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.759 And the angel said to me, 00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:04.980 The waters that you saw where the prostitute is seated 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:07.299 are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:09.239 And the ten horns that you saw, 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:12.279 they and the beast will hate the prostitute. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.800 They will hate the great city. 00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:17.000 They will make her desolate and naked 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:19.279 and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire. 00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.800 For God has put into their hearts 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:23.400 to carry out his purpose by being of one mind 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:25.719 and handing over their royal power to the beast 00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:27.000 who will destroy them 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.539 until the words of God are fulfilled. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:32.400 The woman that you saw is the great city 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:34.139 that is dominion over the kings of the earth. 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:38.099 Now, just to wrap it up, 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:41.239 how does this affect us? 00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:45.219 Maybe already the text has spoken to your lives in different ways, 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:48.300 but the text talks about yearning and desire. 00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:51.699 And to understand it, we need to look at another text. 00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:56.439 And that is that the great prostitute is, 00:34:56.759 --> 00:35:01.179 the great city is ultimately in contrast with another city. 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:05.899 And to see it, you have to turn with me to Revelation chapter 21. 00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:10.099 And if you turn to Revelation 21, 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:12.119 you'll see another woman 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:14.239 and you'll see another city 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:16.960 in a very, very different context. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:21.179 You see, as we read the story of Revelation 17, 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.460 we have to understand 00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:27.119 that all evil is a bending or a twisting 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:29.980 of something which is good. 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:33.900 That evil is a bending or a twisting 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:35.199 of something that's good. 00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:38.740 The devil can actually not create anything. 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:41.480 Evil doesn't create anything. 00:35:42.420 --> 00:35:45.519 Evil bends and twists the good. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:48.900 So what is the bending or the twisting 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.960 of the great prostitute, 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:51.900 the great city and rebellion against God? 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:53.239 It is a bending and twisting 00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:56.920 of a city that we were made to long for. 00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:00.780 Verse 1 of chapter 21, 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:02.500 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:05.599 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:08.500 and the sea was no more. 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:12.320 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:14.280 coming down out of heaven from God. 00:36:14.280 --> 00:36:18.240 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:22.240 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:26.600 Behold, the dwelling place of God 00:36:26.600 --> 00:36:29.300 is with man and woman. 00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:32.320 He will dwell with them, 00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:35.560 and they will be his people. 00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:40.140 And God himself will be with them as their God. 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:43.859 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:46.679 and death shall be no more. 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:49.139 Neither shall there be mourning, 00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:51.099 nor crying, nor pain anymore, 00:36:51.319 --> 00:36:54.299 for the former things have passed away. 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:58.480 See, Revelation 17 poses to us, 00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:00.219 to you and me, this question. 00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:06.639 Do I long to rule in hell 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.639 or serve in heaven? 00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:12.519 Do I long 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:15.259 to rule in hell 00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:17.319 or serve in heaven? 00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:22.240 Do I long 00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:24.440 for that city 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:26.700 which is humanity organized 00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:30.740 under the redemptive care of God, 00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:33.539 where God is present, 00:37:34.700 --> 00:37:37.940 and I behold him face to face without shame, 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:40.900 and I delight in his presence, 00:37:41.080 --> 00:37:42.420 I delight in his face, 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:44.940 I delight that he sees me, 00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:49.340 I delight that I stand always naked before him, 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.559 and that that is a great joy. 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.500 Is that the cry 00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:55.059 and the longing of my heart? 00:37:55.740 --> 00:37:56.900 Or is the cry 00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:58.300 and the longing of my heart 00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:59.119 for that city 00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:00.639 where God is not welcome 00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:02.039 unless I bid him? 00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:08.680 Which is the longing 00:38:08.680 --> 00:38:10.139 and the yearning of my heart? 00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:11.079 Which is the longing 00:38:11.079 --> 00:38:12.500 and the yearning of your heart? 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:17.400 And if I long 00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.019 and yearn 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:18.900 for that city, 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.599 that time, 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:20.239 that place 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:21.359 where God is distant, 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.379 where he only comes 00:38:22.379 --> 00:38:23.000 at my bidding, 00:38:23.319 --> 00:38:24.239 he only sees 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:25.259 what I want him to see, 00:38:25.339 --> 00:38:26.039 he only does 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:26.980 what I want him to do, 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.900 he only knows 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:29.500 what I want him to know, 00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.779 he only shows up 00:38:30.779 --> 00:38:31.759 if I feel like 00:38:31.759 --> 00:38:33.059 spending some time with him, 00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:34.339 do I in fact 00:38:34.339 --> 00:38:35.699 have within myself 00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:36.279 the desire 00:38:36.279 --> 00:38:36.879 that even though 00:38:36.879 --> 00:38:37.859 I might not be able 00:38:37.859 --> 00:38:39.119 to rule all of hell, 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:40.699 I just desire 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.159 and long 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.659 to be able 00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:42.139 to rule 00:38:42.139 --> 00:38:43.599 some tiny part of hell. 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:48.099 And it's connected 00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:49.259 to another fundamental 00:38:49.259 --> 00:38:50.319 longing and yearning. 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:51.799 You see, 00:38:51.880 --> 00:38:52.679 do I long 00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:53.380 and yearn 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:54.519 to tower 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.679 over situations? 00:38:56.339 --> 00:38:57.179 Do I long 00:38:57.179 --> 00:38:57.599 and yearn 00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:58.039 to tower 00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:59.019 over situations 00:38:59.019 --> 00:38:59.759 spiritually 00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:01.039 or with my mind 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:02.259 or with my looks 00:39:02.259 --> 00:39:04.199 or with my position 00:39:04.199 --> 00:39:05.519 or my influence 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:06.579 or my affluence? 00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:07.440 Do I long 00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:08.299 to tower 00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:09.480 over situations? 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.219 And if I live 00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:11.719 in a world 00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:12.400 where I always 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.340 long to tower 00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:14.319 over situations, 00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:16.000 there's this 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.460 ever deepening desire 00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:18.139 to tower 00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:18.880 more and more 00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:19.199 and more 00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:19.500 and more 00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.319 because the only 00:39:20.319 --> 00:39:20.980 option is 00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.619 if I am not 00:39:21.619 --> 00:39:22.400 towering, 00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:23.340 then somebody 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.659 else is towering 00:39:24.659 --> 00:39:25.519 and if somebody 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:26.860 else is towering, 00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:27.900 then I am 00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.880 cowering 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:30.019 before them. 00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:31.719 And so, 00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:32.500 is the desire 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:33.079 of my heart, 00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.819 is the dreams 00:39:33.819 --> 00:39:34.559 that come in my heart, 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.039 as I think 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:35.880 about situations 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:36.779 with my boss 00:39:36.779 --> 00:39:37.519 or in my workplace 00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.360 or with my neighbors 00:39:38.360 --> 00:39:39.259 or with my kids 00:39:39.259 --> 00:39:40.360 or with my wife 00:39:40.360 --> 00:39:41.199 or with my friends, 00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:42.039 am I thinking 00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.659 about how they 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:43.460 said this to me 00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:44.099 and how they got 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:45.759 their way over me 00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.519 and how I wish 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.139 that I had been able 00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:47.980 to say this 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.179 or do this 00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:50.179 or have accomplished 00:39:50.179 --> 00:39:51.539 this or possess 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.739 this or owned 00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:54.059 this so that I 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:55.199 could tower over them 00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:55.940 all for their good. 00:39:58.099 --> 00:39:59.239 But is the desire 00:39:59.239 --> 00:39:59.639 and the dream 00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.139 of my heart 00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:00.699 to tower? 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.380 Is it even 00:40:02.380 --> 00:40:03.639 impossible for me 00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:04.379 to imagine 00:40:04.379 --> 00:40:05.339 any alternative 00:40:05.339 --> 00:40:06.119 to towering 00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:06.819 or cowering? 00:40:07.759 --> 00:40:08.460 And the Bible 00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:09.739 paints the picture 00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:10.480 that once we're 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:11.440 redeemed by Jesus 00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:12.519 that the dream 00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:13.019 and the longing 00:40:13.019 --> 00:40:13.900 of our heart 00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.019 should be the 00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:16.059 doulos of Jesus, 00:40:16.759 --> 00:40:17.420 the servant 00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.059 of Jesus, 00:40:18.679 --> 00:40:19.639 that there's 00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.359 an option 00:40:20.359 --> 00:40:21.619 in redemption 00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:22.480 that's separate 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.379 from towering 00:40:23.379 --> 00:40:24.139 or cowering 00:40:24.139 --> 00:40:24.900 and it's serving 00:40:24.900 --> 00:40:25.799 Jesus in that 00:40:25.799 --> 00:40:26.420 situation. 00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:29.440 Is that the dream 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:29.980 and the yearning 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:30.819 of my heart? 00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:33.680 Is that how 00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:34.320 I bring 00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:35.280 the different 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:35.680 memories 00:40:35.680 --> 00:40:36.440 and desires 00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.360 and imaginations 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:38.080 of my heart 00:40:38.080 --> 00:40:38.780 to God? 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:40.140 Do I bring them 00:40:40.140 --> 00:40:41.019 to him in terms 00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:41.800 of how I can 00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:43.380 tower and my 00:40:43.380 --> 00:40:44.620 fear that if 00:40:44.620 --> 00:40:45.500 he doesn't show 00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.080 up and put 00:40:46.080 --> 00:40:46.920 those other people 00:40:46.920 --> 00:40:47.460 to defeat, 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:48.360 I will tower? 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:49.980 Or am I asking 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.900 him to show me 00:40:50.900 --> 00:40:51.920 how I might be 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.840 his doulos 00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:54.840 where I am? 00:40:56.720 --> 00:40:57.980 Do I secretly 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.920 long to rule 00:40:58.920 --> 00:40:59.400 in hell 00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:00.280 rather than serve 00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:00.720 in heaven? 00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:02.700 And therefore 00:41:02.700 --> 00:41:03.420 do I long 00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:04.200 for that city 00:41:04.200 --> 00:41:06.120 where God 00:41:06.120 --> 00:41:07.160 is in subjection, 00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:08.660 is treated 00:41:08.660 --> 00:41:09.380 with contempt? 00:41:11.940 --> 00:41:12.680 Very, very 00:41:12.680 --> 00:41:13.180 briefly 00:41:13.180 --> 00:41:14.900 in closing, 00:41:16.220 --> 00:41:16.519 you know, 00:41:16.580 --> 00:41:16.900 if you look 00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:17.300 all the way 00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:17.740 through the book 00:41:17.740 --> 00:41:18.400 of Revelation, 00:41:18.760 --> 00:41:19.320 the beast 00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:20.059 that appeared 00:41:20.059 --> 00:41:20.620 to have died 00:41:20.620 --> 00:41:21.140 but is risen 00:41:21.140 --> 00:41:21.640 to the dead, 00:41:21.700 --> 00:41:22.240 what does he do? 00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:23.100 He destroys 00:41:23.100 --> 00:41:23.580 people. 00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:25.720 What does 00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:26.420 Jesus do? 00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:29.039 He saves 00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.480 people. 00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:30.900 He frees 00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:31.300 people. 00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.460 He makes 00:41:32.460 --> 00:41:33.360 people whole. 00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:34.480 He makes 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:35.599 people themselves. 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:37.380 He brings 00:41:37.380 --> 00:41:38.240 freedom and 00:41:38.240 --> 00:41:38.760 peace, 00:41:39.320 --> 00:41:40.139 peace within 00:41:40.139 --> 00:41:40.619 and peace 00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:41.219 with God. 00:41:42.159 --> 00:41:42.539 You see, 00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:44.360 the beast's 00:41:44.360 --> 00:41:45.199 apparent death 00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:45.860 and resurrection 00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:46.980 was just 00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:48.740 a coming to 00:41:48.740 --> 00:41:49.139 life 00:41:49.139 --> 00:41:50.159 to be more 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:52.440 completely 00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:53.199 and utterly 00:41:53.199 --> 00:41:53.940 in rebellion 00:41:53.940 --> 00:41:54.760 against God 00:41:54.760 --> 00:41:55.320 and to be 00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:56.060 more completely 00:41:56.060 --> 00:41:56.500 and utterly 00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.340 embroiled 00:41:57.340 --> 00:41:59.280 in a contempt 00:41:59.280 --> 00:42:00.000 against God. 00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:01.100 But the Bible 00:42:01.100 --> 00:42:01.800 portrays that 00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:02.340 when Jesus 00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:03.020 dies, 00:42:03.600 --> 00:42:04.740 he conquers 00:42:04.740 --> 00:42:05.280 death by 00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:06.060 conquering that 00:42:06.060 --> 00:42:07.500 which causes 00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:07.940 death, 00:42:08.020 --> 00:42:08.480 which is our 00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:08.860 rebellion 00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:09.600 against God. 00:42:09.680 --> 00:42:10.240 So that's why 00:42:10.240 --> 00:42:11.040 on the cross, 00:42:11.080 --> 00:42:11.680 when he dies 00:42:11.680 --> 00:42:12.540 upon the cross 00:42:12.540 --> 00:42:13.540 and he says, 00:42:13.640 --> 00:42:14.020 my God, 00:42:14.100 --> 00:42:14.520 my God, 00:42:14.600 --> 00:42:15.540 why have you 00:42:15.540 --> 00:42:16.280 forsaken me? 00:42:16.520 --> 00:42:17.500 He's taking 00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:18.740 upon himself 00:42:18.740 --> 00:42:20.240 our rejection 00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:20.820 of God. 00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:21.540 He's taking 00:42:21.540 --> 00:42:22.520 upon himself 00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:23.400 all that 00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:24.119 keeps us 00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:24.599 completely 00:42:24.599 --> 00:42:24.960 and utterly 00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.900 separate from 00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:26.219 God. 00:42:26.699 --> 00:42:27.219 And in his 00:42:27.219 --> 00:42:27.699 death and 00:42:27.699 --> 00:42:28.219 tasting all 00:42:28.219 --> 00:42:28.579 there is to 00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:28.900 death and 00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:29.159 in his 00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:29.639 resurrection, 00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:30.920 what we see 00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.320 in his 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:31.699 death and 00:42:31.699 --> 00:42:31.940 in his 00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:32.300 resurrection 00:42:32.300 --> 00:42:32.880 is we see 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.519 first and 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.159 foremost a 00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:35.840 defeat of 00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:36.440 our evil 00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:36.739 and our 00:42:36.739 --> 00:42:37.179 rebellion 00:42:37.179 --> 00:42:38.079 against God. 00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:39.259 And because 00:42:39.259 --> 00:42:39.980 he defeats 00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:40.420 this, 00:42:41.259 --> 00:42:41.880 he is able 00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:42.420 to defeat 00:42:42.420 --> 00:42:42.820 death. 00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:44.559 And so he 00:42:44.559 --> 00:42:45.280 stands on the 00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:46.019 far side of 00:42:46.019 --> 00:42:46.340 death, 00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:47.840 offering to 00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:48.699 us life and 00:42:48.699 --> 00:42:49.300 freedom and 00:42:49.300 --> 00:42:49.980 wholeness, 00:42:51.219 --> 00:42:51.679 and a way 00:42:51.679 --> 00:42:52.259 of being so 00:42:52.260 --> 00:42:52.880 gripped by 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:53.500 the gospel 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:53.880 that it's 00:42:53.880 --> 00:42:54.460 not just a 00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:54.920 matter that 00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:55.600 I, by my 00:42:55.600 --> 00:42:56.260 willpower, 00:42:56.400 --> 00:42:56.800 try to 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:57.480 imagine now 00:42:57.480 --> 00:42:57.860 that I will 00:42:57.860 --> 00:42:58.480 change my 00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:59.140 longings and 00:42:59.140 --> 00:42:59.600 yearnings. 00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:01.460 But that as we 00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.280 understand how 00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:03.260 Jesus tasted all 00:43:03.260 --> 00:43:03.620 there is to 00:43:03.620 --> 00:43:04.260 taste of death 00:43:04.260 --> 00:43:04.960 and tasted all 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:05.460 there is to 00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.080 taste of that 00:43:06.080 --> 00:43:06.800 which causes 00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:08.000 death, and 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.720 he took it all 00:43:08.720 --> 00:43:09.420 upon himself 00:43:09.420 --> 00:43:10.700 for us and 00:43:10.700 --> 00:43:11.540 emerged on the 00:43:11.540 --> 00:43:12.540 far side of 00:43:12.540 --> 00:43:12.940 that which 00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:13.700 causes death, 00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:15.280 which is human 00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:15.940 evil and our 00:43:15.940 --> 00:43:16.820 evil, and 00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:17.420 death itself. 00:43:17.520 --> 00:43:17.980 And he emerges 00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:18.620 on the far 00:43:18.620 --> 00:43:19.500 side of that, 00:43:19.820 --> 00:43:20.280 willing to 00:43:20.280 --> 00:43:21.000 share his 00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:21.760 life and his 00:43:21.760 --> 00:43:22.800 triumph and 00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:23.920 his status as 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:24.720 God's son 00:43:24.720 --> 00:43:25.320 forever, and 00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:26.000 we become his 00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:26.620 son or daughter 00:43:26.620 --> 00:43:27.580 forever, and he 00:43:27.580 --> 00:43:28.360 shares that with 00:43:28.360 --> 00:43:29.440 us, and as that 00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:32.160 grips us, it 00:43:32.160 --> 00:43:33.100 pushes us and 00:43:33.100 --> 00:43:33.920 prods us into 00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:35.040 new desires and 00:43:35.040 --> 00:43:36.000 to recognize that 00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:36.820 our desire to 00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:38.860 rule in hell is a 00:43:38.860 --> 00:43:39.980 fell desire that 00:43:39.980 --> 00:43:41.280 will only unmake 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:44.400 us, and that the 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:45.400 true desire that we 00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:46.100 should have is to 00:43:46.100 --> 00:43:47.540 be the doulos of 00:43:47.539 --> 00:43:48.980 the one who died 00:43:48.980 --> 00:43:49.960 to redeem us. 00:43:51.380 --> 00:43:53.239 The beast emerges 00:43:53.239 --> 00:43:54.500 from death into 00:43:54.500 --> 00:43:56.380 deeper death and 00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:57.480 emerges from death 00:43:57.480 --> 00:44:00.119 into deeper evil, and 00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:01.619 those who marvel are 00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:02.759 led into deeper 00:44:02.759 --> 00:44:04.099 death and deeper 00:44:04.099 --> 00:44:04.480 evil. 00:44:05.539 --> 00:44:07.699 The lamb emerges 00:44:07.699 --> 00:44:09.500 triumphant over that 00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.619 which is evil and 00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:11.920 causes death and 00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:12.619 death itself. 00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:14.619 And when we put our 00:44:14.619 --> 00:44:16.099 hand out to him and 00:44:16.099 --> 00:44:18.679 his hand takes ours, it 00:44:18.679 --> 00:44:21.000 is life, it is 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:22.059 reconciliation with 00:44:22.059 --> 00:44:23.779 God, it is 00:44:23.779 --> 00:44:25.519 wholeness, it is 00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:26.579 restoration to our 00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:27.139 humanity. 00:44:28.059 --> 00:44:29.000 That is what we 00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:29.819 receive from his 00:44:29.819 --> 00:44:31.219 hand and to which 00:44:31.219 --> 00:44:31.839 we are to bear 00:44:31.839 --> 00:44:32.339 witness. 00:44:33.239 --> 00:44:33.920 Please stand. 00:44:43.219 --> 00:44:44.279 Bow your heads in 00:44:44.279 --> 00:44:44.539 prayer. 00:44:46.099 --> 00:44:51.699 Father, first of all, we 00:44:51.699 --> 00:44:52.659 ask that you grant 00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:54.179 within us a mind of 00:44:54.179 --> 00:44:55.759 wisdom so that we 00:44:55.759 --> 00:44:56.839 might understand and 00:44:56.839 --> 00:44:58.139 see within us what 00:44:58.139 --> 00:44:59.599 our true desires are. 00:45:01.299 --> 00:45:02.539 Help us to recognize, 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:04.000 Father, how often we 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:05.239 desire to rule in 00:45:05.239 --> 00:45:06.900 hell rather than to 00:45:06.900 --> 00:45:07.599 serve in heaven. 00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:09.500 And how often, 00:45:09.739 --> 00:45:10.779 Father, we desire and 00:45:10.779 --> 00:45:12.019 yearn to keep you far 00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:12.339 away. 00:45:13.380 --> 00:45:14.279 And how often we 00:45:14.280 --> 00:45:16.840 desire, Father, to 00:45:16.840 --> 00:45:17.400 treat you with 00:45:17.400 --> 00:45:17.880 contempt. 00:45:19.380 --> 00:45:20.300 And we ask as well, 00:45:20.400 --> 00:45:21.060 Father, that you 00:45:21.060 --> 00:45:22.280 fend flame within us 00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:23.260 those longings and 00:45:23.260 --> 00:45:25.760 yearnings to serve in 00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:28.400 heaven, to be with you 00:45:28.400 --> 00:45:29.500 and to see you face to 00:45:29.500 --> 00:45:30.600 face and to have you see 00:45:30.600 --> 00:45:31.560 us face to face. 00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:33.140 But, Father, we 00:45:33.140 --> 00:45:34.100 confess that it's not 00:45:34.100 --> 00:45:35.160 just a matter of us 00:45:35.160 --> 00:45:35.900 changing our 00:45:35.900 --> 00:45:36.320 yearnings. 00:45:36.320 --> 00:45:38.440 we ask, Father, that 00:45:38.440 --> 00:45:39.200 you would make us 00:45:39.200 --> 00:45:40.500 followers of Jesus 00:45:40.500 --> 00:45:41.980 gripped by the 00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:43.660 gospel, gripped by 00:45:43.660 --> 00:45:44.680 what Jesus has done 00:45:44.680 --> 00:45:45.559 for us on the cross. 00:45:45.680 --> 00:45:46.539 And, Father, we ask 00:45:46.539 --> 00:45:47.660 that what he has done 00:45:47.660 --> 00:45:48.519 for us on the cross, 00:45:48.860 --> 00:45:49.620 that that will so 00:45:49.620 --> 00:45:51.519 grip us that it will 00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:52.880 push us slowly, 00:45:53.400 --> 00:45:54.440 maybe quickly, but 00:45:54.440 --> 00:45:56.180 push us into new 00:45:56.180 --> 00:45:57.640 yearnings, true 00:45:57.640 --> 00:45:59.300 yearnings, original 00:45:59.300 --> 00:46:00.880 yearnings, the 00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:02.000 yearnings that you 00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:03.620 created within us to 00:46:03.620 --> 00:46:04.820 see you face to face. 00:46:04.820 --> 00:46:07.280 And to joyfully serve 00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:07.900 you in heaven. 00:46:08.700 --> 00:46:09.660 And to be the 00:46:09.660 --> 00:46:11.080 doulos, the servant 00:46:11.080 --> 00:46:12.059 of your son Jesus, 00:46:12.780 --> 00:46:13.660 on this side of the 00:46:13.660 --> 00:46:15.280 grave, until we see 00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:16.120 him face to face. 00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:17.800 Father, come, Lord 00:46:17.800 --> 00:46:20.000 Jesus, send him soon. 00:46:20.900 --> 00:46:21.980 And help us to be 00:46:21.980 --> 00:46:23.160 gripped by the 00:46:23.160 --> 00:46:24.900 gospel, living for 00:46:24.900 --> 00:46:25.420 your glory. 00:46:26.220 --> 00:46:27.220 And all this we ask 00:46:27.220 --> 00:46:28.080 in the name of Jesus, 00:46:28.240 --> 00:46:29.480 your son, and our 00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:29.820 savior. 00:46:30.539 --> 00:46:30.920 Amen.