WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church.

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 If you missed Sunday school this morning,

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 you missed a great lesson about the American pilgrims and Puritans,

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 but in their honor of our spiritual forebears,

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 the sermon this morning will be three hours long.

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 I'm kidding.

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 Oh, if only we had the kind of passion and fervor for God's Word

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 that some of our spiritual forebears did.

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 Well, we're actually looking at Revelation 20 this morning,

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 so would you turn with me to Revelation 20?

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 That's page 976 in the Pew Bible.

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 Revelation 20, we'll be considering verses 1 through 10 today.

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 976, Revelation 20.

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 Let me pray for us, and then I'll read.

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 Father in heaven, what a gift it is to us to have the Scriptures.

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 Lord, as we think about our pews and our homes and our bookstores,

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 it's embarrassing, God, how easy it is for us

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 to get a hold of your life-giving Word and read it

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 and meditate upon it,

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 to memorize it, to study it,

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 to worship you and pray to you with it.

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 Lord, what a great treasure it is.

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 And we know that we neglect it, God,

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 so we ask for your forgiveness,

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 but we thank you for this morning

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 when we can realign our hearts to it again.

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 We admit, God, that without your Spirit,

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 our reading and our preaching and our studying

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 would be to no avail.

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 So, Jesus, we look to your Holy Spirit

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 in these moments to come

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 and enliven our hearts and our minds

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 to be receptive to your Word

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 and to do the work that only you can do

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 to conform us to the image of Christ

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 so that we might be image-bearers

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 and witness-bearers as you've ordained us to be.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 All right, Revelation 20, 1 through 10.

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 John writes this,

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 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven,

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 holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit

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 and a great chain.

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 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent,

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 who is the devil and Satan,

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 and bound him for a thousand years.

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 And threw him into the pit

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 and shut it and sealed it over him

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 so that he might not deceive the nations any longer

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 until the thousand years were ended.

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 After that, he must be released for a little while.

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 Then I saw thrones,

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 and seated on them were those

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 to whom the authority to judge was committed.

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 Also, I saw the souls of those

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 who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus

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 and for the Word of God,

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 and those who had not worshipped the beast

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 or its image and had not received its mark

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 on their foreheads or their hands.

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 They came to life and reigned with Christ

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 for a thousand years.

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 The rest of the dead did not come to life

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 until the thousand years were ended.

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 This is the first resurrection.

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 Blessed and holy is the one who shares

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 in the first resurrection.

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 Over such, the second death has no power,

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 but they will be priests of God and of Christ,

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 and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

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 And when the thousand years are ended,

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 Satan will be released from his prison

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 and will come out to deceive the nations

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 that are at the four corners of the earth,

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 Gog and Magog,

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 to gather them for battle.

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 Their number is like the sand of the sea.

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 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth

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 and surrounded the camp of the saints

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 and the beloved city,

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 but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

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 And the devil who had deceived them

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 was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur

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 where the beast and the false prophet were,

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 and they will be tormented day and night

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 forever and ever.

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 So, one of the things about studying

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 the book of Revelation

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 is that as you work your way through the book,

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 you'll often read in various commentaries

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 or you'll hear teachers say things like,

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 this passage is a difficult one to interpret,

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 or historically, Christians have differed

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 over the meaning of this text.

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 You see that kind of again and again

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 in almost every passage of this book.

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 But when you come to Revelation 20,

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 that sentiment raises to a whole new level.

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 One writer put it this way,

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 the interpretation of this chapter, he says,

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 comprises what is arguably the chief controversy

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 in eschatological studies,

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 if not in all evangelical theology.

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 Wow.

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 Now, I think he's overstating things a little bit.

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 I wouldn't say that this is the chief controversy

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 in all evangelical theology,

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 but you get the point.

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 When it comes to John's vision

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 of the 1,000 years in Revelation 20,

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 faithful Christians have consistently come

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 to different conclusions

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 about what exactly this refers to.

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 So before we walk through this passage,

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 section by section as we normally do,

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 I want to briefly mention

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 the three major approaches,

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 and then I want to draw out

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 a pastoral point from that

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 that's very relevant for our life

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 as a local church.

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 Now, I know some of you

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 have been waiting for the day

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 in our series in Revelation

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 when we'd finally get down into the weeds

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 and maybe pull out some charts

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 and some graphs

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 and compare the different approaches

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 and just go for it.

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 Well, you'll probably love today's sermon.

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 This one's for you.

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 But some of you,

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 having perhaps been subjected

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 to a sermon series in Revelation before,

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 have been dreading the moment

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 when we talk about this view

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 or that view,

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 and you've struggled to see

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 why any of that actually matters.

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 Well, let me assure you

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 that we will spend some time

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 considering why Revelation 20 matters.

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 And we're going to see

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 that no matter what your view

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 of this passage,

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 Revelation 20 is really good news

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 for the church today.

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 So as I mentioned,

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 there are broadly speaking

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 three ways to understand this text.

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 And each view is commonly given a name

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 based on how this 1,000-year period

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 or millennium

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 relates to the return of Christ.

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 But what we'll also see

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 is that each of these views

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 also sees the nature

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 of that 1,000-year period

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 or millennium differently.

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 And it's that,

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 the different nature

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 of the 1,000 years,

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 that's a really significant difference

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 between the three views.

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 So let's just kind of walk through.

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 The first view that we might consider

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 is called the pre-millennial position.

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 Now this view would say

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 that Christ returns to earth in glory

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 before the 1,000 years.

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 Hence, it's called pre-millennial.

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 Makes sense.

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 And the 1,000 years itself

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 is understood

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 to be a literal earthly reign of Christ

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 with the resurrected saints

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 over the nations

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 during that 1,000 years.

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 And after the 1,000-year reign is over,

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 Christ will defeat evil once and for all

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 and then establish the new heavens

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 and new earth

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 or what's sometimes called

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 the eternal state.

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 Now, it's pretty easy to see

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 why folks take this view, isn't it?

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 After all, in Revelation 19,

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 the chapter right before,

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 we see a picture of Jesus

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 returning in glory

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 and defeating the beast

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 and the false prophet.

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 Revelation 20 just seems to be

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 the next step in the story.

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 Jesus reigns on earth

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 for 1,000 years

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 with the resurrected saints.

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 And at the end of that time,

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 Satan is defeated

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 and thrown down

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 to join the beast

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 and the false prophet

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 where they already are.

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 Pretty straightforward, right?

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 And this view has a very impressive pedigree.

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 Justin Martyr from the 2nd century,

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 Charles Spurgeon,

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 Francis Schaeffer from the 20th century,

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 and many other faithful,

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 Bible-believing pastors and theologians

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 have held this pre-millennial view.

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 But then there are others who would say

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 that the return of Christ in glory

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 happens not before,

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 but after the millennium.

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 So this view has come to be called

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 the post-millennial view

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 because Christ returns

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 after the millennium.

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 And the 1,000 years itself

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 is actually referring to,

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 in this view,

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 not a sort of literal

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 earthly reign of Christ,

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 but a coming time in history,

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 towards the end of history,

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 a coming time of powerful

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 gospel advance

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 before Jesus returns.

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 Through the preaching of the gospel

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 and the pouring out of the spirit,

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 this view would see,

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 Satan will be bound

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 and there will be a massive

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 global spiritual flourishing.

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 And then at the end

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 of this golden age of the gospel,

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 Christ will return in glory,

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 defeat evil once and for all,

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 and establish the new heavens

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 and new earth.

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 We're going to find

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 they all sort of end the same way, right?

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 Now admittedly,

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 this view,

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 this post-millennial view,

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 is probably the least popular today.

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 But there have been

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 some weighty

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 and godly teachers

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 who have held

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 to a post-millennial view.

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 John Owen,

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 perhaps the greatest

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 English-speaking theologian.

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 Jonathan Edwards,

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 who many consider

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 the greatest American theologian.

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 Charles Hodge,

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 the great Princeton defender

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 of orthodoxy

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 in the 19th century.

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 All these,

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 and many, many more,

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 were post-millennial

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 in their view.

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 So, you know,

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 even if many aren't

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:18.940
 fully persuaded

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 by this view today,

00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:20.960
 we still have to pause

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 and realize that there must be

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 something to it, right?

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 And perhaps,

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 if we had lived

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 through the great revivals

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 of Jonathan Edwards' day,

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 and seen the power

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 of the gospel

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 like that firsthand,

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 or perhaps,

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 if we had the sort of confidence

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 in God's powerful grace,

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 even through trials

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 and suffering,

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 like a John Owen did,

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 well, maybe we too

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 could believe

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 that God could bring about

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 a dramatic,

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 worldwide movement

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 of the gospel

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 that would usher in

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 the return of Christ.

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 Okay, so that's

00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:54.860
 post-millennialism.

00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:57.300
 Lastly, there's a third view,

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 a third view called

00:09:58.040 --> 00:09:58.960
 amillennial,

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 that holds that

00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:01.519
 the thousand years

00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.320
 is neither

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 a literal earthly reign

00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.100
 of Christ

00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:06.759
 after his return,

00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:08.139
 nor would it say

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 that it's a sort of

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 golden age of the gospel

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 before Christ's return.

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 Rather,

00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:12.360
 this view would say,

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 like so much else

00:10:13.160 --> 00:10:14.019
 in the book of Revelation,

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 this third view

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 would say that

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 the thousand years

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 is a symbol.

00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:19.200
 Specifically,

00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.080
 the thousand years

00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:20.840
 is taken to be

00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:22.120
 a symbolic expression

00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:23.539
 for the church age,

00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:24.960
 the entire time

00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:25.659
 between Christ's

00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.659
 first and second coming.

00:10:27.820 --> 00:10:28.939
 So Revelation 20,

00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:29.700
 in this view,

00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:31.439
 is yet another perspective,

00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:32.879
 another camera angle,

00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.159
 another portrait

00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.120
 in the art gallery

00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.500
 of the same stretch of time,

00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:37.419
 the same events

00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.200
 that we've seen

00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:38.879
 again and again

00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.299
 in Revelation.

00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:40.980
 According to this view,

00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:42.039
 because of Christ's death

00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:42.740
 and resurrection

00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:43.820
 at his first coming,

00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:45.519
 Satan has been bound,

00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:46.659
 much like we saw

00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:47.500
 in Revelation 12,

00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:48.500
 when Satan was cast

00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.139
 down from heaven

00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:50.720
 upon the advent of Christ,

00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:51.879
 the first advent of Christ.

00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:53.600
 And while the gospel

00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.799
 goes forth in this view,

00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:56.159
 the saints and martyrs

00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.080
 are seen as reigning

00:10:57.080 --> 00:10:58.159
 with Christ in heaven.

00:10:58.720 --> 00:10:59.340
 That's much like

00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.240
 Revelation 6,

00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.039
 where we saw a vision

00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.279
 of the martyred saints

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.539
 in heaven rejoicing

00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:04.580
 before the throne of God.

00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:06.720
 And when the church age

00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.240
 is complete,

00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:08.220
 Christ will return

00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:09.240
 to defeat Satan

00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:10.019
 once and for all

00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:10.919
 and establish

00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:11.419
 the new heavens

00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:11.879
 and new earth.

00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:12.799
 Like I told you,

00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:13.580
 they all end the same,

00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:13.879
 right?

00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:15.840
 So this battle

00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.980
 in verses 7 through 10

00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:17.899
 and the amillennial view

00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:19.039
 is seen as a parallel

00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.759
 description to the many

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.200
 other scenes of Christ's

00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.060
 return and the defeat

00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:23.920
 of evil that we've seen

00:11:23.920 --> 00:11:24.560
 throughout the book.

00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:25.639
 Again,

00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:27.200
 it's another camera angle

00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:28.379
 on the same events.

00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.800
 That's the amillennial view.

00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:31.759
 It sees these thousand years

00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.560
 as a symbol

00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:33.300
 for the church age.

00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:34.480
 And again,

00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:35.920
 this view also has

00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:37.000
 an impressive pedigree.

00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:37.680
 Augustine,

00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:38.519
 Calvin,

00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:39.840
 J.I. Packer

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:40.639
 in the 20th century

00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.720
 and many other faithful

00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:42.639
 men and women

00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.580
 have taken this view.

00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.259
 Okay,

00:11:45.900 --> 00:11:46.600
 there you go.

00:11:47.040 --> 00:11:47.639
 And there are

00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.139
 hundreds of variations

00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.240
 on these three views

00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.280
 depending on who you talk to.

00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:52.740
 Now,

00:11:52.780 --> 00:11:53.259
 what do we take

00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:53.940
 from the fact

00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:54.680
 that good,

00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:56.100
 faithful Christians

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.540
 can take such different

00:11:57.540 --> 00:11:59.360
 views of the same passage?

00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:01.920
 Well,

00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:03.000
 I think it ought to be

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.420
 a lesson for us

00:12:04.420 --> 00:12:05.620
 in charity.

00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:09.280
 There are some doctrines

00:12:09.280 --> 00:12:10.720
 which are essential

00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.680
 to Christianity

00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:12.339
 and the gospel.

00:12:13.339 --> 00:12:14.000
 Doctrines which are

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.919
 abundantly clear

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:15.379
 in scripture

00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:16.939
 such that if you

00:12:16.939 --> 00:12:17.719
 visited a church

00:12:17.719 --> 00:12:18.639
 in the first century

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.099
 or in the 10th century

00:12:20.099 --> 00:12:21.339
 or in the 21st century

00:12:21.339 --> 00:12:21.759
 today,

00:12:21.859 --> 00:12:22.599
 we would hold them

00:12:22.599 --> 00:12:23.039
 in common

00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:23.699
 whether you were

00:12:23.699 --> 00:12:24.699
 in Africa

00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.339
 or Asia

00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:26.219
 or North America.

00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:27.679
 Doctrines like

00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:28.679
 the deity of Christ,

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.059
 the triune nature

00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:30.579
 of God,

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:31.879
 the atoning death

00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.339
 of Jesus,

00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.839
 the bodily resurrection

00:12:33.839 --> 00:12:34.279
 of Jesus,

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.319
 the bodily return

00:12:35.319 --> 00:12:35.839
 of Jesus,

00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:37.000
 the personhood

00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:37.839
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:12:38.099 --> 00:12:38.639
 the authority

00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.279
 of the scriptures.

00:12:39.719 --> 00:12:40.639
 These are the doctrines

00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:41.759
 that are primary

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.519
 and essential

00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:43.419
 to historic

00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:44.720
 biblical faith.

00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:45.480
 Those are the doctrines

00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.480
 that make Christians

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.039
 Christians.

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.340
 And those are the doctrines

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.500
 that are worth struggling for,

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:51.840
 worth battling for

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.960
 because they're at the heart

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.939
 of the good news.

00:12:54.819 --> 00:12:55.960
 The heart of the good news

00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:57.120
 that the God

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.480
 who created all things

00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.519
 loved the world

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:01.460
 and sent his son

00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.879
 to die for our sins

00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:04.139
 and rise again

00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:04.759
 on the third day

00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:05.679
 so that everyone

00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:06.500
 who believes in him

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.360
 from every tribe

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.419
 and every nation

00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.480
 and every language

00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.740
 might be forgiven

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.539
 of their sins,

00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.600
 granted new spiritual life

00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.420
 by the Holy Spirit

00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:15.240
 and assured

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.740
 of eternal life.

00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.279
 These are the primary

00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.940
 things that we hold.

00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:23.960
 But there are other doctrines

00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:25.659
 that are not primary.

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:27.820
 There are doctrines

00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:29.200
 where faithful Christians

00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:29.759
 disagree.

00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:31.700
 Doctrines that are not

00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.800
 essential to the gospel

00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:33.480
 or essential

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.480
 to biblical holiness.

00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.420
 And the temptation,

00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:36.879
 temptation, though,

00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.459
 is to approach

00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.299
 these primary

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:40.659
 or even tertiary,

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.019
 that is,

00:13:41.099 --> 00:13:42.319
 third order doctrines,

00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:44.639
 with the same passion

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.240
 and fight

00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.500
 as the primary ones.

00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.819
 That's the temptation.

00:13:50.339 --> 00:13:51.000
 Of course,

00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:51.639
 it's good

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.339
 to develop

00:13:52.339 --> 00:13:53.459
 your convictions

00:13:53.459 --> 00:13:54.459
 about those things.

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.179
 But when our swords

00:13:57.179 --> 00:13:57.819
 come out

00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:59.139
 over the millennium

00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.480
 or spiritual gifts

00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.879
 or church polity,

00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.579
 what happens?

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:06.840
 Well, then a local church

00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.220
 becomes known more

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:09.440
 for its stance

00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.860
 on the end times

00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:11.600
 or what have you

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.520
 than its joyful

00:14:13.520 --> 00:14:14.780
 embrace of the gospel.

00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:16.500
 And that's what

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.500
 we want to be known for.

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.220
 That's the thing

00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.120
 that gives us life

00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:20.379
 and energizes us.

00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:22.960
 In other words,

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.400
 you know,

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.320
 what is it that we want

00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.660
 to define ourselves?

00:14:26.780 --> 00:14:28.000
 Do we want to be defined

00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.800
 by the center

00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:30.060
 that we hold in common?

00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.860
 Or do we want to be defined

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.900
 by the boundaries

00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.679
 of the secondary

00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:34.860
 and tertiary issues

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:36.199
 that we've come to?

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:38.720
 I think developing

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.600
 this wisdom

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.519
 to discern what's primary

00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.159
 and secondary

00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.199
 and even tertiary

00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:44.319
 and then to show

00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.480
 appropriate charity

00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.419
 toward those

00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.379
 with whom we disagree

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.559
 on secondary

00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.620
 and tertiary issues

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:51.279
 is critical for us today.

00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.819
 It's critical

00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:53.799
 for our life together

00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:54.799
 and it's critical

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.399
 for our witness

00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.179
 to the world.

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.799
 Justin Martyr,

00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:00.279
 the second century apologist

00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.240
 that I mentioned earlier,

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.340
 was a premillennialist,

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:02.580
 right?

00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.440
 But he realized

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:05.080
 that Christians,

00:15:05.280 --> 00:15:06.620
 even in the second century,

00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:07.680
 didn't all agree

00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.280
 on the details

00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:09.100
 of the end times.

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:10.639
 And he's actually

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.700
 a really good model for us.

00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.300
 In one place,

00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:12.759
 he writes,

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.920
 I and many others

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:15.780
 are of this opinion

00:15:15.780 --> 00:15:16.780
 and believe

00:15:16.780 --> 00:15:18.160
 that such will take place

00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:19.840
 as you are assuredly aware.

00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.320
 So he says,

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:20.500
 look,

00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.320
 this is what I believe,

00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:21.860
 as you know.

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.040
 Then he goes on

00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:23.500
 to say this,

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.860
 but on the other hand,

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:26.740
 I signify to you

00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.279
 that many who belong

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.940
 to the pure

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.919
 and pious faith

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.659
 and are true Christians

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:34.120
 think otherwise.

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.700
 Did you catch that?

00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:36.779
 He says,

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:38.960
 many who are true Christians

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.539
 think otherwise.

00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:42.960
 Friends,

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.200
 beware of a teacher

00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:45.779
 or a website

00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:48.220
 or a theological movement

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.040
 that makes secondary

00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:51.920
 or tertiary issues

00:15:51.920 --> 00:15:53.440
 a litmus test

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.560
 for orthodoxy.

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.620
 We ought to have

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.759
 a closed hand

00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.639
 around the core

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.279
 of our faith,

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.759
 the essential teachings

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.420
 of the gospel,

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.560
 the clear teachings

00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:04.500
 of biblical holiness

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.139
 and ethics,

00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.019
 and an open hand

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:08.320
 to the non-essential ones.

00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.519
 Develop your convictions.

00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:11.060
 Yes.

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.620
 Have hearty conversations.

00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:13.279
 Yes.

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.860
 And some of those

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.700
 secondary issues

00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.500
 like baptism

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.540
 or church polity,

00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:19.059
 that may mean

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.579
 that we choose

00:16:19.579 --> 00:16:20.079
 to attend

00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.099
 one local church

00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:21.939
 over another,

00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:22.319
 right?

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.959
 That's okay.

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.199
 But all of our

00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:26.299
 hearty conversations

00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.139
 about these topics

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.939
 should end

00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:29.779
 with love

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.159
 for your brothers

00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.240
 and sisters in Christ.

00:16:33.719 --> 00:16:35.299
 And in so doing,

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.219
 we,

00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.279
 as the church,

00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:39.059
 are modeling

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.120
 for the world

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.620
 the difference

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:43.299
 that God's grace

00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:43.839
 makes

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:45.139
 in our human interactions.

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.519
 Inside the church,

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.039
 we're embodying

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.620
 together

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:51.279
 a new way

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:51.960
 to be human.

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:54.079
 No longer

00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:55.439
 driven by anger

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.740
 or fear,

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:58.419
 but

00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.659
 by a deep

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.159
 conviction

00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.919
 for the truth,

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:01.379
 yes,

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.879
 and by a deep

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.000
 love for one another.

00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.680
 So the pastoral point

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.259
 of observing

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:08.960
 these different

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.500
 views of Revelation 20

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.299
 is a call

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.779
 to interpretive

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.279
 and communal

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:13.960
 humility

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.880
 and charity

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.400
 toward those

00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.220
 with whom we disagree

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.880
 and to do so

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:18.840
 for Christ's sake.

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:20.840
 Now,

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.039
 having said all that,

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.660
 you might be wondering,

00:17:24.340 --> 00:17:24.700
 okay,

00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.279
 but where does Trinity

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.140
 land on all this,

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:27.480
 right?

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.100
 Well,

00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:29.640
 you'll notice

00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.700
 if you go onto our website

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.259
 or if you've been

00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:31.819
 to Trinity 101,

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:33.539
 our doctrinal statement

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.039
 does not take a position

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:35.939
 on the question

00:17:35.939 --> 00:17:36.579
 of the millennium.

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.299
 So we don't require

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:38.839
 our members

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:40.159
 or our church officers

00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:41.399
 to believe one view

00:17:41.399 --> 00:17:42.059
 or the other.

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.359
 Now,

00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:43.779
 personally,

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.700
 I find myself

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:46.159
 slightly more convinced

00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:47.379
 by the amillennial view,

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.720
 but only slightly,

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.099
 actually.

00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:49.779
 There are days

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.980
 when I read the text

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.480
 and I think,

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:51.960
 you know,

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:54.079
 those premillennialists

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.179
 have to be right,

00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.599
 right?

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.179
 I would joke

00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.859
 with Pastor Matt

00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.439
 before he left

00:17:59.439 --> 00:18:00.019
 for sabbatical

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.579
 because I think

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.659
 he's a premillennialist.

00:18:02.959 --> 00:18:03.799
 I would joke with him,

00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.019
 I'd say,

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:04.319
 Matt,

00:18:04.399 --> 00:18:05.519
 I think I'm coming over

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.240
 to your camp.

00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:07.599
 I think I'm being convinced.

00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:10.599
 So anyway,

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.240
 Revelation 20,

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:12.759
 it teaches us

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.459
 a lesson in charity,

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:14.039
 but what else

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.059
 is it meant to teach us?

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:15.779
 What else?

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.740
 What was John

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.899
 hoping to convey

00:18:18.899 --> 00:18:20.879
 to the original readers

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.659
 of Revelation?

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.379
 Well,

00:18:23.459 --> 00:18:24.740
 as we take a step back

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.500
 and consider

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:27.019
 where we've come

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.339
 in this beautiful

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.880
 and bracing book

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.180
 that we call Revelation,

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.099
 it seems clear

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.660
 that Revelation 20

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.980
 is showing us

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.680
 sort of the climactic

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.980
 victory of Christ

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.779
 and his people

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:43.799
 over the great deceiver.

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.940
 This is the victory

00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:48.519
 of Christ over Satan,

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.160
 the one Revelation

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.920
 calls the dragon.

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.940
 If last week showed us

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.860
 the defeat of the beast

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:56.759
 and the false prophet,

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.279
 now the camera shifts

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.039
 and shows us

00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.480
 what about the dragon?

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:03.259
 And it shows us

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.840
 this victory

00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.920
 in three steps.

00:19:05.820 --> 00:19:06.240
 First,

00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:07.120
 it shows us

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:08.900
 that Satan's deception,

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.019
 because he's called here

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.960
 the great deceiver,

00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:12.580
 but first it shows us

00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.720
 that his deception

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.059
 will be restrained.

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.380
 That's verses 1-3.

00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:18.779
 Deception restrained.

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.279
 Satan is bound

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.420
 and locked away

00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.039
 and then we're told

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.340
 this beautiful good news,

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:25.279
 that the nations

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.880
 are deceived no more,

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.860
 so that the nations

00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:31.120
 might not be deceived

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.300
 anymore.

00:19:32.840 --> 00:19:33.680
 The darkness

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.779
 is lifting.

00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:36.500
 Now,

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.880
 the premillennial view

00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.539
 would see this

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.279
 as a time

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.779
 after Christ returns,

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.460
 and for a thousand years

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.660
 the lies of Satan

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.940
 will be locked away.

00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:47.400
 what joy

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:48.559
 that will be

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.220
 on earth.

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.500
 What freedom

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.539
 that will bring.

00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.740
 But can't we also say

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.799
 that something like this

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.100
 is true even today?

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.759
 In the amillennial view,

00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.440
 the thousand years

00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.140
 is the church age,

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.600
 as we said,

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.519
 and when you consider

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.360
 how the gospel

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:04.299
 has advanced

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.259
 over the last

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.420
 two thousand years

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.259
 from one corner

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.660
 of the world

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.180
 to the other,

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.180
 it would seem

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.100
 that Satan's power

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.100
 to deceive the nations

00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:12.200
 has been dealt

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.539
 a mighty death blow.

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:16.119
 Nancy Guthrie

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:17.019
 makes this observation

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:18.420
 in her excellent book

00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:18.980
 on Revelation.

00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:19.720
 It's one of the best

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.299
 I've been reading,

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:20.740
 actually,

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.579
 as we've walked

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.200
 through this series.

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.180
 She says this,

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.139
 she makes these observations,

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.539
 she says,

00:20:24.659 --> 00:20:25.500
 if we go back

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.079
 to the Old Testament

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.960
 and we remember

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:28.299
 after we read

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.879
 about the promise

00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.480
 to Abraham

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.379
 that through him

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.180
 all the families

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.619
 on the earth

00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:32.299
 shall be blessed,

00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:32.779
 remember that

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.440
 in Genesis 12?

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.399
 Well,

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:34.980
 when that happens,

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.099
 there's not an immediately

00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:37.539
 huge influx

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.440
 of the nations

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.139
 taking hold

00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:40.879
 of the covenant promises

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:41.339
 of God,

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:41.720
 is there?

00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.299
 We read about

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.859
 individuals

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:45.839
 or particular tribes

00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.659
 joining themselves

00:20:46.659 --> 00:20:47.559
 to the people of God

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.240
 in the Old Testament,

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.940
 but it's limited.

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.000
 But then,

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:53.379
 everything changes

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.480
 with the coming

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:54.960
 of Jesus

00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.779
 into the world

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:57.000
 and the sending

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.819
 of his spirit

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:59.039
 upon his ascension.

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.099
 We read in Acts

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.079
 how Pentecost

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.220
 ushered in an era

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.859
 of the gospel

00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:04.419
 being preached

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.039
 to Jerusalem,

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.619
 Judea,

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.279
 and Samaria

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:06.779
 and to the ends

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.200
 of the earth.

00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.819
 We read in the epistles

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.500
 about churches

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.680
 being formed

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.879
 throughout the known world.

00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:13.860
 what changed?

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:17.080
 What changed was

00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:17.800
 through the life,

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.500
 death,

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.420
 resurrection,

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.200
 and ascension

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.760
 of Jesus,

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.840
 Satan was bound

00:21:22.840 --> 00:21:24.200
 so that the nations

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:25.420
 are no longer deceived

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.660
 and they begin

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.800
 streaming in.

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.460
 And Satan remains bound

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.940
 until all who were chosen

00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:33.120
 in Christ for salvation

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:35.100
 from every people group

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.740
 of the world

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.860
 are safely brought

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.680
 into the fold.

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:41.700
 You know,

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.640
 Revelation has held up

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.440
 for us a vision

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.259
 again and again,

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:44.799
 hasn't it?

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.940
 That we as the church

00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.460
 are meant to be witness bearers.

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:49.380
 The church bears witness

00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.480
 through suffering

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.640
 to the true God

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.539
 who is the creator

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.140
 and redeemer.

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.340
 And in light

00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:55.980
 of this passage,

00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:56.799
 we should remain

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.720
 confident

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:59.120
 in this calling

00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:00.200
 that God has given us.

00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:02.440
 It may feel like

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:02.960
 the gospel

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.360
 is implausible

00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.160
 to so many

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.019
 around us,

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:08.379
 but the deceiver,

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:08.799
 friends,

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.559
 has been bound.

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.519
 He may roar

00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.720
 from time to time,

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.920
 but his lies

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.839
 have been exposed.

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.859
 And before the light

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.539
 of the gospel

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.759
 and the power

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.819
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.440
 the deceiver

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.420
 is no match.

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.960
 So that co-worker

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.039
 you've been praying for

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:28.240
 or that family member

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.799
 you've been sharing

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.819
 the gospel with,

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.240
 friends,

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.180
 don't get discouraged.

00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:33.319
 Don't think

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.639
 it's a lost cause.

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.980
 The gospel

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.780
 is a liberating power

00:22:37.780 --> 00:22:38.780
 and the lies

00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:39.220
 of Satan

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.340
 are no match.

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.420
 So stay faithful.

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.440
 Stay prayerful.

00:22:46.020 --> 00:22:47.660
 And pray for the nations.

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.900
 Pray for the people groups

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.700
 who've not yet

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.840
 heard the good news.

00:22:53.020 --> 00:22:53.880
 Satan binds them

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.380
 no longer.

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.060
 His deception

00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:56.140
 has been restrained.

00:22:57.560 --> 00:22:58.200
 Pray that God

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.120
 would raise up workers

00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.040
 for the harvest.

00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:02.440
 Perhaps he might

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:03.340
 even be calling you.

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:06.180
 In fact,

00:23:06.320 --> 00:23:07.120
 if I can go out

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.620
 on a limb,

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.660
 he is calling you.

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.120
 Because right here

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.700
 in New Haven,

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.860
 people from around

00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.780
 the world

00:23:15.780 --> 00:23:16.759
 are gathering.

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.100
 Do you think

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:20.060
 Satan enjoys

00:23:20.060 --> 00:23:21.320
 this result

00:23:21.320 --> 00:23:22.040
 of globalization,

00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:22.759
 right?

00:23:23.300 --> 00:23:24.140
 That people from

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.320
 around the world,

00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:25.820
 some of whom

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:26.680
 have never heard

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.180
 the gospel,

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.360
 end up

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.259
 in New Haven,

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:29.800
 Connecticut

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.899
 and can hear

00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.839
 about the saving

00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:34.359
 love of Jesus

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.740
 for the first time.

00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:37.980
 Think of the

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.519
 strategic location

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.519
 that God

00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.460
 has given us

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.559
 for the global

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.000
 advance of the gospel.

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.240
 We don't need

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.339
 to get into a plane

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.519
 to win the nations,

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.220
 although some of you

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.680
 might be called

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.200
 to do that.

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:51.500
 In fact,

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.139
 we don't even need

00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:53.240
 to get into our cars.

00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.480
 The field is white

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.139
 for the harvest.

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:59.400
 Will you lift

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.040
 your eyes

00:24:00.040 --> 00:24:01.180
 and see it?

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.000
 Will we pray

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.080
 for the Holy Spirit

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:05.680
 to move in power?

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:07.960
 Yes,

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:08.900
 Satan may be trying

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.200
 to do all he can,

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.680
 but his lies

00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:13.000
 are no match

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.840
 for the gospel.

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.220
 So the first paragraph

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.860
 shows us

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:19.680
 deception restrained.

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.360
 The next paragraph,

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.320
 verses 4-6,

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:22.920
 shows us

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:25.220
 deception overturned.

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.640
 Deception overturned.

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:26.779
 Now,

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.500
 what do I mean by that?

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:28.680
 Well,

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.759
 consider who

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:31.000
 John sees

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.620
 in this part

00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.059
 of the vision,

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.140
 verses 4-6.

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.000
 He sees the saints.

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.559
 Christians.

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.460
 Now,

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.100
 what did Satan

00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:39.860
 have to say

00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:41.140
 about these saints,

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.980
 about these Christians?

00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:43.339
 They refuse

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.100
 to worship the beast.

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:44.799
 They refuse

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.940
 to take the mark

00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.279
 of the beast.

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:46.759
 So according

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.839
 to worldly standards,

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.200
 right,

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.759
 they're fools.

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.100
 They're on the losing

00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:53.140
 side of history.

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:55.020
 And some of them

00:24:55.020 --> 00:24:56.300
 are even martyred

00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:57.200
 for their resistance

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.300
 to the idolatry

00:24:58.300 --> 00:24:58.840
 and greed

00:24:58.840 --> 00:25:00.140
 and oppressive power

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.720
 of the dragon

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.420
 and his beasts.

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.820
 They're dead.

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.500
 Doesn't that prove

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.120
 that Christianity

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:07.480
 is a lost cause?

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.759
 The godless powers

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.580
 put them to death.

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.420
 Does that not prove

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.140
 that the dragon

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:13.040
 and his beasts

00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:13.960
 are the ones

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.880
 really calling

00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:16.000
 the shots around here?

00:25:17.780 --> 00:25:18.700
 Shouldn't we just

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.180
 give in?

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:22.320
 Ah,

00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:23.360
 but John sees

00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.519
 a different reality.

00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:26.920
 Those saints

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.620
 and martyrs

00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:28.539
 who looked weak,

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.480
 who looked like fools,

00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:31.840
 who looked like

00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:32.519
 they were clearly

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.600
 on the wrong side

00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.279
 of history,

00:25:35.060 --> 00:25:36.460
 they came to life

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.620
 and reigned

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.259
 with Christ

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.900
 for a thousand years.

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.880
 Do you remember

00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.519
 when Frodo

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.180
 and Sam

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.140
 in The Lord of the Rings

00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.640
 first meet Strider

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:48.019
 in The Prancing Pony?

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.660
 Some of you are like,

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.379
 you lost me, Nick.

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.559
 That's like total geekdom.

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.119
 I'm out.

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.759
 So The Prancing Pony

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.539
 is the name of this inn

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.779
 and these two hobbits

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.259
 go there

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.779
 and there's this guy

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.379
 named Strider

00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:59.400
 and they meet him

00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:00.579
 and all they see,

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.379
 all they see

00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:04.579
 is a weather-worn wanderer.

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:05.920
 All they see

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.319
 is a suspicious vagabond.

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.819
 But what their untrained eyes

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.839
 could not see

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.859
 was that this weary

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.680
 and weathered

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.879
 and forsaken man

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.680
 was actually

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.700
 the true king.

00:26:21.780 --> 00:26:22.500
 John's making

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.620
 the same point here

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:25.220
 of every believer

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.140
 in Christ.

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.540
 The world may condemn,

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.860
 ridicule,

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.700
 even kill you,

00:26:30.760 --> 00:26:31.900
 but the truth is

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:34.220
 you are priests of God

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:36.000
 and you will reign with him.

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.500
 And whether this reign

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.000
 takes place

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.900
 in a literal kingdom

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:41.100
 after Christ returns

00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:42.100
 or whether this reign

00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:42.720
 is taking place

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.500
 now in heaven,

00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.400
 it makes little difference.

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.580
 whether the first resurrection

00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.500
 is a metaphor

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:49.180
 for the life of the saints

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.880
 right now

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.080
 before the throne of the Lamb

00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:52.420
 like we see in Revelation 6

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:54.140
 or whether the first resurrection

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:55.680
 is the bodily coming to life

00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.360
 of all Christians

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.360
 a thousand years

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.640
 before non-Christians.

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:58.920
 Again,

00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.180
 it makes little difference.

00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.680
 The point is the same.

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:04.840
 As Tolkien wrote,

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.220
 all that is gold

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.400
 does not glitter.

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.360
 Not all those who wander

00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.980
 are lost.

00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.980
 The old that is strong

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.860
 does not wither.

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.940
 Deep roots are not reached

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.740
 by the frost.

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.299
 From the ashes

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.740
 a fire shall be woken.

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.840
 A light from the shadows

00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:21.660
 shall spring.

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.279
 Renewed

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.060
 shall be the blade

00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:24.759
 that was broken.

00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:27.220
 The crownless again

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.560
 shall be king.

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:31.240
 The crownless again

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.619
 shall be king.

00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:34.559
 Christian,

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.299
 you

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:37.639
 are a co-regent

00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.539
 with Christ

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:40.279
 no matter what

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.539
 this world says about you.

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.460
 Even death

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.700
 cannot steal

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.899
 your dignity.

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.940
 The deceptions

00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.559
 of Satan,

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.440
 his lies about

00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.559
 who you are

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.720
 and what you are

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.559
 are overturned

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.559
 are overturned

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.879
 by the verdict

00:27:54.879 --> 00:27:55.679
 of God.

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:59.019
 So Christian,

00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:00.539
 when trials come,

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.880
 hold your head high.

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.700
 When the hurricane

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.660
 of trials

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:07.180
 and afflictions come,

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.200
 when the world

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.180
 does its worst,

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:09.900
 remember,

00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.820
 you are blessed.

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.200
 The crownless again

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.039
 shall be king.

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.340
 Let not the noise

00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:19.140
 of the world

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.299
 or the evil one

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:22.420
 silence your love

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.000
 for him

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:25.599
 or for one another.

00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:27.819
 Persevere

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.819
 in faithfulness,

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.859
 compassion,

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:30.980
 goodness.

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.299
 Let your reign

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.500
 fall on the just

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.200
 and the unjust

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.380
 just like your heavenly

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:36.859
 father.

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:39.079
 You will reign

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.640
 with the king.

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.980
 Or perhaps

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.720
 you've been considering

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.319
 Christianity

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.160
 for some time

00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.599
 but you've not yet

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.220
 given your life

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.700
 to Christ.

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.500
 You've been counting

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.000
 the cost

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.900
 of following him

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.720
 and that's good.

00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.920
 Jesus tells us

00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.940
 to count the cost.

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:56.500
 But friend,

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.240
 don't you realize

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.960
 that whatever you lose

00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.180
 for his sake

00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:01.779
 is nothing

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:03.759
 compared to what you gain?

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.400
 Even if you count

00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.880
 everything is lost,

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.539
 by comparison,

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:11.019
 you have nothing to lose

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.319
 and everything to gain.

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:15.380
 Our life is a short

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.960
 span of years.

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.299
 How long will we live?

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.660
 80 years?

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.160
 90 years?

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:25.840
 What is the reputation

00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:27.040
 of a moment?

00:29:28.040 --> 00:29:29.259
 What is the wealth

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.759
 of a passing hour

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.019
 compared

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.640
 to reigning

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.700
 with the king

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.259
 of glory?

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.700
 He stands

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.240
 at the door

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.040
 and knocks

00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:41.100
 and he knocks

00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.860
 even for you.

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.900
 Will you open

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.300
 the door

00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:44.980
 of your life

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.380
 and let him

00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:47.000
 come in

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.800
 and dine?

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:49.579
 will you surrender

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.039
 your life

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.399
 to him?

00:29:51.659 --> 00:29:52.519
 He surrendered

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:52.919
 his life

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:53.460
 for you,

00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:53.980
 you see.

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.639
 He gave up

00:29:55.639 --> 00:29:56.180
 his crown,

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.720
 he was crucified

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:59.159
 so that you

00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.680
 could take up

00:29:59.680 --> 00:29:59.980
 a crown

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.579
 and live forever.

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.379
 Is there any

00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.240
 better exchange

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.680
 than that?

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.559
 Than the gospel?

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.039
 Is there any

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.859
 better bargain

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.879
 than what Christ

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.639
 holds out for you?

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:08.240
 your sin

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.040
 for his righteousness,

00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:10.140
 your rebellion

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:10.660
 and shame

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.700
 for his crown

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.220
 and glory?

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.480
 So the call

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.900
 is clear.

00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:17.800
 Open the door.

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.800
 Let Christ

00:30:19.800 --> 00:30:20.880
 take your sins

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.120
 and let him

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.600
 put a crown

00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.140
 on your head

00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:24.800
 and anything

00:30:24.800 --> 00:30:25.560
 you lose

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:27.120
 will be nothing

00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:27.860
 compared to

00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:28.480
 what you gain.

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.820
 So John

00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:32.280
 shows us

00:30:32.280 --> 00:30:33.040
 then deception

00:30:33.040 --> 00:30:33.960
 restrained,

00:30:35.020 --> 00:30:35.360
 deception

00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:35.640
 overturned,

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.740
 and finally

00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.280
 deception

00:30:38.280 --> 00:30:38.960
 defeated.

00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:39.720
 This is verses

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.560
 7 through 10.

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.220
 Deception

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.940
 defeated.

00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.160
 And again,

00:30:43.280 --> 00:30:43.740
 here the point

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.240
 is the same

00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:44.880
 regardless of

00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.300
 your view.

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.280
 Satan's lies

00:30:46.280 --> 00:30:47.000
 will be exposed

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.700
 and removed

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.560
 once and for all.

00:30:49.340 --> 00:30:49.820
 John makes

00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:50.240
 an allusion

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.880
 to the prophet

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:51.660
 Ezekiel here,

00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.420
 Gog and Magog.

00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:54.920
 In Ezekiel 38

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.480
 and 39,

00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.700
 Gog is the

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.580
 name of a

00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.259
 terrible and

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.880
 great enemy

00:30:58.880 --> 00:30:59.759
 of God's people

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.080
 and Magog

00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:01.520
 is sort of

00:31:01.520 --> 00:31:02.100
 his land,

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.820
 his nation.

00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.500
 So Gog and

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:04.940
 Magog

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.540
 means something

00:31:05.540 --> 00:31:06.520
 like prince

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.200
 and people.

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:08.740
 And John

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.480
 is showing

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:09.960
 us here

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.660
 the ultimate

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.200
 fulfillment

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:12.940
 of Ezekiel's

00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.180
 shadowy vision.

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.619
 The dragon

00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.720
 leads his

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.500
 people to war

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:17.960
 against the

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.460
 camp of the

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:18.839
 saints.

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.079
 The saints

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.480
 who are

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.259
 God's beloved

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:21.660
 city,

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.319
 the church.

00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:23.940
 But in that

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.720
 final assault,

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.240
 the end

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.019
 comes swiftly.

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:27.799
 Satan and

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.200
 his lies

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.019
 are vanquished

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.940
 once and

00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:30.339
 for all.

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.440
 The spell

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.299
 of deception

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.259
 is finally

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.240
 broken.

00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.660
 I wonder

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:38.980
 if you can

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.660
 imagine a

00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:41.879
 world where

00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.960
 the lingering

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:44.200
 thoughts and

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.660
 the lingering

00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.980
 doubts that

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.559
 have haunted

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.640
 humanity since

00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.279
 the fall

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:49.680
 no longer

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.460
 plague us.

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:51.720
 Can you

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:53.200
 imagine a

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.680
 world like

00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:53.980
 that?

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.740
 The surfeit

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.440
 said in

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.180
 Genesis 3,

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.320
 did God

00:31:59.320 --> 00:32:00.340
 really say?

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.140
 Did God

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.960
 really say?

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.740
 Isn't that

00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.180
 not the

00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:07.360
 great lie,

00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:07.820
 the great

00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:08.600
 insinuation,

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.180
 the great

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:09.620
 deception?

00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:11.640
 Surely God

00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.299
 didn't say

00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.220
 that.

00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.480
 In other

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:15.660
 words,

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.620
 underneath that

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.180
 lie, that

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.880
 insinuation,

00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:19.100
 are the lies

00:32:19.100 --> 00:32:19.759
 that God

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.440
 isn't good,

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.779
 God can't

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.340
 be trusted,

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.539
 God doesn't

00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.019
 love you,

00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:25.160
 you have to

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.560
 find your

00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:25.980
 happiness

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.960
 somewhere else.

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.680
 You're on

00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.180
 your own,

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.039
 Satan says.

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.759
 But then

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.400
 ironically he

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:31.600
 says,

00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:31.880
 you're on

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.200
 your own,

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.660
 so follow

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:32.900
 me.

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:37.840
 And follow

00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.240
 him we

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.500
 did.

00:32:39.840 --> 00:32:40.480
 That's the

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.120
 history of

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:42.200
 humanity.

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.019
 And misery

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.460
 was the

00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:44.820
 result.

00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.620
 But imagine

00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:48.120
 the day

00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:49.519
 when the

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.039
 great lie

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.500
 is broken

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:50.960
 forever,

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.900
 when deception

00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.580
 is defeated,

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.440
 when the

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:55.900
 truth of

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.240
 God's

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:56.740
 goodness

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.680
 and love

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.160
 will be

00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.480
 the

00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.620
 unquestioned

00:32:59.620 --> 00:33:00.940
 and undeniable

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.720
 reality,

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.259
 not just at

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.620
 the bottom

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:03.440
 of everything,

00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.579
 but alive

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:04.859
 in our

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.480
 own hearts.

00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.180
 What a

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:09.539
 great day

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:09.839
 that will

00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.059
 be.

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:12.559
 And if

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:12.920
 that is

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.700
 the end,

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.059
 John seems

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.460
 to be telling

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:15.799
 us here in

00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.480
 Revelation 20,

00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.019
 live now

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.680
 in light of

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:18.900
 it.

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.660
 Don't let

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.339
 the spin

00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:21.680
 and the

00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.500
 half-truths

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:22.740
 of the

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.019
 world

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.579
 lull you

00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:24.220
 to sleep

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:25.179
 or make

00:33:25.179 --> 00:33:25.899
 you afraid

00:33:25.899 --> 00:33:27.079
 or spin

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:27.519
 you into

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.299
 a rage.

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.939
 I like how

00:33:30.939 --> 00:33:31.359
 Paul puts

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.559
 it in

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.240
 Colossians 3,

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.879
 1-4.

00:33:33.439 --> 00:33:33.879
 He says,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.619
 if then you

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:34.919
 have been

00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:35.539
 raised with

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.000
 Christ,

00:33:36.679 --> 00:33:37.179
 seek the

00:33:37.179 --> 00:33:37.559
 things that

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.039
 are above

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.679
 where Christ

00:33:38.679 --> 00:33:39.039
 is,

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:39.899
 seated at

00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:40.199
 the right

00:33:40.199 --> 00:33:40.539
 hand of

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:40.879
 God.

00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:41.879
 Set your

00:33:41.879 --> 00:33:42.599
 minds on

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.419
 things above,

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.359
 not on the

00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:44.699
 things that

00:33:44.699 --> 00:33:44.879
 are on

00:33:44.879 --> 00:33:45.159
 earth.

00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.279
 For you

00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:46.960
 have died

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.279
 and your

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.779
 life is

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.159
 hidden with

00:33:48.159 --> 00:33:48.720
 Christ and

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.099
 God.

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.339
 When Christ,

00:33:50.439 --> 00:33:50.720
 who is your

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.460
 life appears,

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.420
 then you

00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:53.000
 also will

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.559
 appear with

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:53.940
 him in

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.339
 glory.

00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:55.700
 Set your

00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:56.200
 mind on

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.059
 things above.

00:33:58.839 --> 00:33:59.380
 And again,

00:33:59.480 --> 00:33:59.860
 Paul says

00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.200
 this in

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.839
 Philippians 4,

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.319
 8-9.

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:01.600
 He says,

00:34:01.600 --> 00:34:01.960
 finally,

00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:02.500
 brothers and

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:02.759
 sisters,

00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.440
 whatever is

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:03.900
 true,

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.160
 whatever is

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:05.680
 honorable,

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:06.759
 whatever is

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.259
 just,

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.059
 whatever is

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.559
 pure,

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:09.720
 whatever is

00:34:09.720 --> 00:34:10.099
 lovely,

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:10.679
 whatever is

00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.519
 commendable,

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.380
 if there is

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.139
 any excellence,

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.579
 if there is

00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.220
 anything worthy

00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:15.000
 of praise,

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.059
 think about

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.900
 these things.

00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:18.920
 What you have

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.280
 learned and

00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:19.860
 received and

00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.280
 heard and

00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:20.659
 seen and

00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:20.779
 me,

00:34:20.879 --> 00:34:21.319
 practice

00:34:21.319 --> 00:34:22.079
 these things

00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.139
 and the

00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:23.460
 God of

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:23.859
 peace will

00:34:23.859 --> 00:34:24.199
 be with

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:24.440
 you.

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.059
 I think

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.500
 it's vital

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:27.839
 for the

00:34:27.839 --> 00:34:28.319
 church today

00:34:28.319 --> 00:34:28.659
 to take

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.079
 these verses

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.460
 to heart.

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:30.839
 Deception

00:34:30.839 --> 00:34:31.420
 will be

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:31.960
 defeated in

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.379
 the end,

00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:32.819
 but in

00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.279
 the meantime,

00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:34.079
 we need

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.399
 to set

00:34:34.399 --> 00:34:34.759
 our minds

00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:35.119
 on things

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.539
 above.

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.279
 We need

00:34:36.279 --> 00:34:36.579
 to set

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:36.920
 our minds

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.219
 on what's

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:37.819
 true and

00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.579
 honorable and

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.059
 just.

00:34:41.379 --> 00:34:41.940
 Are we

00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:42.299
 willing to

00:34:42.299 --> 00:34:43.139
 do some

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:44.199
 self-examination

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:44.980
 on this

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.259
 front?

00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:48.779
 Do you

00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:49.199
 spend as

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.859
 much time or

00:34:49.859 --> 00:34:50.399
 a comparable

00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:50.820
 amount of

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.420
 time reading

00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.139
 and meditating

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.760
 on scripture

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.920
 as you do

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.720
 consuming other

00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.220
 forms of

00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:55.519
 media?

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.800
 Is it any

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.380
 surprise that

00:34:59.380 --> 00:34:59.860
 Christians are

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.599
 blown and

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.539
 tossed by

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.380
 cultural movements,

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.019
 whether to the

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.840
 left or to

00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.400
 the right,

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.079
 given how much

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.980
 time we spend

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.039
 uncritically

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:10.400
 ingesting the

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.000
 world's media

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.700
 and how little

00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:12.539
 time we spend

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.220
 saturating

00:35:13.220 --> 00:35:13.820
 ourselves in

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.380
 God's word?

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:14.440
 food?

00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:17.400
 I'm not

00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:17.740
 saying we

00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:18.099
 should stick

00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.440
 our heads

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.720
 in the

00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.280
 sand and

00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:19.780
 be unaware

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.160
 of our

00:35:20.160 --> 00:35:20.500
 cultural

00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:20.840
 moment.

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.180
 Of course

00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:21.400
 not.

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.079
 Yes, we

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.340
 need to

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.900
 stay current

00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.400
 and be

00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:23.800
 involved.

00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:24.539
 We need

00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.300
 to contextualize

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:25.660
 the gospel

00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.119
 for our

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.480
 time and

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.000
 our place.

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:28.940
 But if

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.300
 you find

00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:29.619
 yourself

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.119
 watching the

00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.480
 news,

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.440
 for example,

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.280
 and getting

00:35:32.280 --> 00:35:32.920
 consistently

00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:33.660
 angry or

00:35:33.660 --> 00:35:34.200
 consistently

00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:34.740
 afraid,

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.900
 it might

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.340
 be a good

00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:37.800
 sign that

00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:38.099
 you're being

00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:38.640
 blown and

00:35:38.640 --> 00:35:39.840
 tossed by a

00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:40.180
 world that

00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:40.519
 wants to

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.079
 keep you

00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:41.940
 angry and

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.299
 afraid.

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.099
 And you

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.579
 may need to

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:45.940
 think about

00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:46.920
 recalibrating

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.739
 your daily

00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.299
 intake.

00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:49.739
 More time

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:50.259
 with God's

00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:50.619
 word,

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.739
 maybe a

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.139
 little less

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.619
 time with

00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:53.539
 human words.

00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.139
 Because

00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:56.539
 ultimately,

00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:57.539
 God's word

00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:57.880
 is what

00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:58.460
 will endure.

00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:00.539
 And that

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.860
 means we

00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.440
 never need

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:01.699
 to be

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.099
 ultimately

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.980
 angry or

00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.420
 afraid.

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:04.460
 There are

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:04.900
 some things

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.360
 that may

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.119
 rise in

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:06.299
 us,

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.259
 that righteous

00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:07.940
 anger,

00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:08.400
 right?

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.340
 That's fine.

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:11.140
 But friends,

00:36:11.200 --> 00:36:11.720
 so much of

00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.240
 our anger

00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:12.660
 and fear

00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:13.160
 is not

00:36:13.160 --> 00:36:13.660
 righteous.

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.420
 Only God's

00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:17.900
 word is

00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:18.240
 what will

00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:18.660
 endure.

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.380
 And if

00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:19.840
 we're rooted

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.440
 in him

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:20.720
 and in

00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.260
 his word,

00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:22.760
 then ultimately

00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:23.400
 we never

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.059
 need to be

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:25.559
 angry or

00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:26.079
 afraid in

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.700
 those ways.

00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:28.860
 So if we

00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:29.440
 take anything

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.100
 from Revelation

00:36:30.100 --> 00:36:30.820
 20, take

00:36:30.820 --> 00:36:31.260
 this,

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.039
 the true

00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.620
 king is on

00:36:33.620 --> 00:36:34.079
 the throne,

00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:36.000
 the evil

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.600
 one and all

00:36:36.600 --> 00:36:37.360
 his lies are

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:37.940
 bound and

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.320
 headed for

00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:38.860
 destruction,

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.620
 and the

00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:41.000
 church will

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.539
 be safe.

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.420
 And not

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.120
 just safe,

00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.320
 but they'll

00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:44.800
 reign.

00:36:45.780 --> 00:36:46.019
 The

00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:46.720
 crownless

00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:48.320
 again will

00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:49.039
 be kings,

00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:50.940
 priests who

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.420
 reign with

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.680
 Christ forever.

00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.280
 And as we

00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:56.559
 go to the

00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.019
 Lord's Supper

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.620
 this morning,

00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:58.420
 as we're

00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:58.700
 going to do

00:36:58.700 --> 00:36:59.160
 in just a

00:36:59.160 --> 00:36:59.320
 minute,

00:36:59.500 --> 00:36:59.860
 what do we

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:00.519
 see there

00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:01.579
 at the

00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:01.880
 table?

00:37:03.160 --> 00:37:03.320
 Well,

00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.000
 doesn't the

00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.460
 Lord's Supper

00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:06.000
 tell us who

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.960
 we are and

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.460
 whose we

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:07.780
 are,

00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:08.160
 right?

00:37:08.159 --> 00:37:09.379
 Who are

00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:09.539
 we?

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:09.839
 We're the

00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:10.339
 people for

00:37:10.339 --> 00:37:10.819
 whom Christ

00:37:10.819 --> 00:37:11.319
 died.

00:37:11.759 --> 00:37:12.219
 That's the

00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:12.739
 truth about

00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:13.099
 us.

00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:14.259
 And whose

00:37:14.259 --> 00:37:14.599
 are we?

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.239
 We belong

00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:15.559
 to the

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:15.920
 world's

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.559
 true king

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.279
 who died

00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:17.599
 and rose

00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:18.139
 again for

00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.500
 us and

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.159
 our salvation.

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:20.779
 You see,

00:37:20.879 --> 00:37:21.059
 at the

00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:21.500
 table,

00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:23.079
 the lies

00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:24.019
 are dispersed

00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.599
 as we

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:25.379
 remember his

00:37:25.379 --> 00:37:26.159
 body broken

00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:26.519
 and his

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.239
 blood shed.

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.179
 In other

00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:29.480
 words, we

00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.079
 see God's

00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.500
 truth at

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:30.799
 the table.

00:37:30.899 --> 00:37:31.119
 We see

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:31.500
 the truth

00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:31.719
 of the

00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:32.119
 gospel.

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.119
 We see

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.500
 the truth

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:34.799
 that our

00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:35.539
 sin was so

00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:37.199
 great that

00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:37.699
 Jesus had

00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:38.099
 to die

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.639
 for us.

00:37:39.899 --> 00:37:40.439
 But we

00:37:40.439 --> 00:37:40.719
 see the

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.019
 truth that

00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:41.559
 his love

00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:41.919
 for us

00:37:41.919 --> 00:37:42.399
 was so

00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:43.239
 great that

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:43.599
 he came

00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:43.879
 and was

00:37:43.879 --> 00:37:44.339
 willingly

00:37:44.339 --> 00:37:45.000
 glad to

00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:45.399
 die for

00:37:45.399 --> 00:37:45.639
 us.

00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:55.900
 and

00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:58.960
 to

00:37:59.219 --> 00:37:59.420
 him

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:02.079
 to

00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:02.420
 the