WEBVTT

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 The first reading is from Revelation chapter 21.

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 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

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 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

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 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

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 prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

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 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

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 Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.

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 They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

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 He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

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 There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

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 He who was seated on the throne said,

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 I am making everything new.

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 Then he said,

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 Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

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 He said to me,

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 It is done.

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 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

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 To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

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 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

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 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral,

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 those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars,

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 their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

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 This is the second death.

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 One of the seven angels, who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues,

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 came and said to me,

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 Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

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 And he carried me away in the spirit to a mountain great and high,

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 and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

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 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel,

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 like a jasper, clear as crystal.

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 It had a great high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.

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 On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.

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 The wall of the city had twelve foundations,

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 and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

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 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city,

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 its gates and its walls.

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 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide.

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 He measured the city with the rod, and found it to be twelve thousand stadia in length,

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 and as wide and high as it is long.

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 He measured its wall, and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using.

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 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.

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 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.

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 The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third calcindony,

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 the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian,

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 the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz,

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 the tenth chrysiprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

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 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.

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 The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

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 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

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 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it,

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 for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

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 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it.

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 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.

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 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it.

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 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,

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 but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

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 And continuing on.

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 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal,

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 flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city.

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 On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,

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 yielding its fruit every month.

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 And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

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 No longer will there be any curse.

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 The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

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 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

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 There will be no more night, they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,

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 for the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign for ever and ever.

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 The angel said to me,

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 These words are trustworthy and true.

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 The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.

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 Behold, I am coming soon.

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 Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.

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 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

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 And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.

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 But he said to me,

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 Do not do it.

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 I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with all who keep the words of this book.

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 Worship God.

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 And then he told me,

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 Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.

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 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong.

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 Let him who is vile continue to be vile.

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 Let him who does right continue to do right.

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 And let him who is holy continue to be holy.

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 Behold, I am coming soon.

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 My reward is with me.

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 And I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

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 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

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 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life,

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 and may go through the gates into the city.

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 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts.

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 The sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

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 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.

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 I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.

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 The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.

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 And let him who hears say, Come.

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 And whoever is thirsty, let him come.

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 And whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

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 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book,

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 if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

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 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy,

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 God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city,

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 which are described in this book.

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 He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon.

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 Amen.

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 Come, Lord Jesus.

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 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people.

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 Amen.

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 Will you join with me in prayer?

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 Gracious Lord and Heavenly Father, thank you for your word

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 and that wonderful promise that brings the future into the present.

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 We pray that by your spirit, you might enliven that word in our hearts once again.

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 Amen.

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 Give us hope that we might put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to obey him.

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 We pray, Father, that your kingdom might come this morning as we respond to that word.

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 And we pray these things, Father, so that you might be glorified in your son.

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 And in his name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 We have been travelling through the whole of the Bible in the last few weeks

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 and we are close to the end of our journey.

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 You will recall that we have been looking at the story of the Bible,

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 which we have argued is the story of the kingdom of God.

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 And if you have been with us, it has been a great story with great ideas.

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 But if that is all it is, I want to suggest to us this morning

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 that it is completely irrelevant to us and to the world.

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 For if the Bible is simply a story, it would stand, as it were, against other stories.

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 It is not real.

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 But hopefully, as we read from the Bible, we have seen that it claims to be more than just a story.

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 It claims to be real.

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 It claims to be the history of God's dealing with the human race in time and space.

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 So if you were living in Ur 5,000 years ago, you would have met Abraham.

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 You would have heard of his encounter with God and the promises that were made to him.

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 The Bible is more than just a series of ideas.

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 It is not just a fairy tale.

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 But I also want to say that the Bible is more than just history.

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 For if the Bible is simply history, it is, again, just as irrelevant to us.

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 It is irrelevant for most of us that Victoria was the Queen of England some time ago.

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 It was relevant, perhaps, to her generation.

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 But to us now, today, in Australia, in Sydney, hundreds of years later.

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 The story of the Bible is history.

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 In other words, it is real.

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 It happened in time and space.

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 But it is history that has a future.

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 It extends into the future.

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 And therefore, it is relevant to us and the world.

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 Even those who might not be followers of Jesus.

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 Unless it has a future, let me reiterate that point, it has no relevance.

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 But because it has a future, it is deeply relevant to all of us.

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 I suggested in the first week that as we approach the Bible, particularly the Old Testament,

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 there are four questions that we can ask.

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 What is the story so far?

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 So it is an unfolding story, and we need to see it in its context.

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 We've read a part of the story, and we need to ask ourselves,

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 well, what is this particular part about?

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 But it's more than just description.

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 It tells us something about God and us and the world and the future.

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 And so we need to ask that question.

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 What does this, in the context of the unfolding story,

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 tell us about God and us and the universe?

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 And lastly, the question is, well, what difference does Jesus make to what we've read?

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 Well, the first question, I'll apply the same methodology to Revelation 21 and 22.

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 Well, the story so far, what is the story so far?

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 What is the story of the kingdom?

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 I like to characterize it as a story of tension.

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 It is a story of conflict.

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 For the world we live in is not right.

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 We, deep inside of us, yearn to have a better world.

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 We want the future to be better than today.

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 We yearn for a world where there is no tears, no pain, no mourning, no death.

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 The Bible explains that the reason why we live in this world of tension

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 is because at the very beginning of the history of the human race,

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 we decided that God is irrelevant,

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 that we would do a better job running this world and our lives than him,

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 that we would do a better job being the one who decides what is good and what is bad,

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 what is right and what is wrong.

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 And early on in the history of God's dealing with the human race,

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 we read that God has promised that he would reverse that,

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 that he would reverse the cursedness, the world of tension that we live in,

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 and that he would do it through one man and his family.

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 And as we trace through the story of the Bible and the working out of that promise,

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 we see that the climax of this story is again in one man,

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 a carpenter from Galilee.

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 That the whole of human history and his resolution of the tensions that we feel

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 focus on this one man and his execution as a criminal

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 and ultimately his victory over death.

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 And yet I think the question that is raised through the story,

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 as we read the story, even now as we stand, is it true?

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 For we still live in a world of tension.

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 If God has made a promise that he would fix the world,

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 that he would reverse the effect of human rebellion and sin

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 and curse and death,

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 why do we still live in a world of pain, of tears, of death?

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 And if you experience it,

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 you might hear that this is the question that the rest of the world asks.

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 You claim that there is a God who has promised all these things,

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 but where is he?

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 Does he really care?

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 You know, that is one of the big questions against Christianity

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 and the claims of the Bible.

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 If there were a God and he's powerful and he's loving,

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 why does suffering exist in this world?

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 Does he really care?

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 How is he going to act to fix the world?

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 Even now, we experience that tension,

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 that world of evil and tragedy,

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 in a world that seems God is uninvolved.

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 And therefore, increasingly,

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 us who are worshippers of this God in the name of Jesus

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 become irrelevant.

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 That our voice disappears

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 because of the overwhelming,

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 I guess, nature of those questions.

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 The same question,

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 where is God in all this,

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 in this world of tension,

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 if he's promised to rectify it all?

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 I think this is the story of the Bible so far.

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 And this is the point at which we have come to.

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 And we come to this episode in Revelation 21 and 22.

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 And unfortunately,

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 we won't have time to look at every single detail.

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 It is a fascinating picture and a very encouraging one.

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 But I'll just draw out some salient points

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 from these two chapters.

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 Well, what is this particular episode about?

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 It is clearly a picture of the kingdom of God.

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 For what we are shown in, in this episode,

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 is the throne room of God.

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 We're taken to the very seat of God.

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 What do we see in this picture,

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 in the kingdom of God?

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 We see God and his anointed on the throne.

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 Okay, this is a world,

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 the world in the first century

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 is no different to our world today.

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 It is a world of chaos,

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 of sickness and evil.

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 What was shown to John,

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 who wrote this book,

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 is that God was and is still king.

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 Despite of everything that we experience

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 and that is apparent to us.

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 Well, what is this king doing

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 in this world of chaos and suffering?

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 Chapter 21, verse 5.

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 He's the pronouncement from the throne.

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 And this is what he says,

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 I am making everything new.

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 In the sovereignty of this God,

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 what he is doing is a recreation of the world.

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 Everything is being made new,

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 completely new.

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 And as part of that process,

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 he will destroy all the corruption

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 and evil of the old world.

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 And this is why in chapter 21, verse 8,

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 the new world is one that is without evil

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 or anyone who does evil.

00:19:10.820 --> 00:19:13.820
 There is no possibility in a new world

00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:15.420
 that it would be corrupt again.

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:18.840
 He's a difference to the garden.

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:22.240
 There is possibility in a garden

00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.880
 that there would be a fall.

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.620
 In this new world,

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:28.580
 in this picture of the new world,

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.120
 there is no possibility.

00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.480
 The new world is described,

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.640
 in verse 2,

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.420
 as a city

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:38.519
 and as a bride.

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:41.420
 His picture language, of course,

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.480
 he's seeking to capture

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:44.720
 something of the experience

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.820
 of this new world.

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.440
 It is a beautiful bride,

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.620
 a pure,

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.840
 adorned for her wedding.

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.700
 It is a magnificent,

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.779
 glorious city.

00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:59.440
 A city not just made of bricks and mortar,

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:01.880
 but of gold and pearls.

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:03.680
 But of course,

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:06.100
 a city is more than just brick and mortar.

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:10.500
 What makes Chastwood a great city to live in,

00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:11.960
 if you live in Chastwood or elsewhere,

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:14.900
 is not because of the building,

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.400
 hopefully,

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.340
 but because of the people.

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:24.100
 A city is ultimately a network of relationship.

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:28.260
 Here is God making a new city,

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:28.820
 in other words,

00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:30.059
 a new human race,

00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.619
 for his new world.

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.839
 A magnificent,

00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:35.119
 glorious people.

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.619
 Pure.

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:39.299
 A don for her husband.

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.759
 But the most significant thing,

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.220
 I think,

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.579
 of this picture of the city,

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:47.099
 isn't what is there,

00:20:47.919 --> 00:20:48.799
 we are told,

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.599
 but what isn't there.

00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:51.960
 I don't know if you notice

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.339
 the curious thing.

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.779
 There is no evil.

00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.159
 Yes,

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.879
 that is true.

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.740
 But in verse 22,

00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:59.599
 did you notice what else is in there?

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.559
 Have a look.

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:06.240
 There is no temple.

00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:07.779
 That's right.

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.559
 Now,

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:11.220
 that might not surprise you,

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.200
 but I think for a first century Jew,

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.920
 it would be very surprising indeed to hear

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:19.720
 that the new Jerusalem has no temple.

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.359
 It would be like me saying,

00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:24.420
 I've seen a new Sydney,

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.620
 in the new heavens and the new earth,

00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.959
 and it is glorious.

00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:30.559
 It is much better than the old Sydney,

00:21:30.719 --> 00:21:32.779
 except there is no harbour.

00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:36.139
 And there is no opera house,

00:21:36.219 --> 00:21:37.519
 and there's no harbour bridge.

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.839
 And you think,

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:42.159
 what is Sydney without the harbour?

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:44.819
 It would just be Melbourne.

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.819
 Melbourne.

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:50.740
 And what is so great about that?

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.079
 See,

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:56.039
 each city in our world

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.599
 have their own distinctive identification.

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:03.359
 If I were to mention the Big Ben,

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.919
 you would know which city I'm talking about,

00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.619
 or the Eiffel Tower.

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:12.939
 If I were to mention the temple of God,

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:15.779
 you would think Jerusalem.

00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:21.719
 The temple is what makes Jerusalem the city of God.

00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:25.819
 For the temple symbolises the very presence of God.

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:28.419
 And yet, in this new Jerusalem,

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.139
 there is no temple.

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:32.720
 And we are told why.

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:36.740
 Because there is no need for a temple in a new Jerusalem.

00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.060
 In a new Jerusalem,

00:22:38.540 --> 00:22:39.940
 the Lord God Almighty

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:43.020
 and the Lamb are his temple.

00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:48.259
 For the Lord will be present with his people.

00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:50.480
 Again, I want to take you through

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:52.660
 the story of the Bible so far.

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:55.420
 Go back a little bit to Exodus 19,

00:22:55.520 --> 00:22:55.960
 you remember,

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.520
 as part of our series.

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.059
 Exodus 19,

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:03.059
 Israel was being prepared to meet God face to face

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.460
 on Mount Sinai.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:07.019
 There was lightning and thunder.

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.859
 A terrifying picture.

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.519
 And what they were told

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.599
 is that don't come near.

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:16.900
 If anyone were to even touch the mountain,

00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:20.099
 he or she or it must be put to death.

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:23.660
 No one can come near into the presence of God.

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:26.079
 Even in Israel itself,

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:27.720
 there was the temple.

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:30.059
 But people were excluded.

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.639
 There were only a select few

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:34.960
 who could come inside the temple.

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.220
 And even when that were to happen,

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:39.139
 there has to be a massacre.

00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:42.359
 A slaughter of animals

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:44.599
 and blood were to be spilled.

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:49.619
 But here is different.

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:52.459
 In a city of God,

00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:55.619
 where all of the people of God is present

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:58.359
 and God is in the midst of her,

00:23:59.199 --> 00:24:04.039
 people are to be in fellowship with God face to face.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.439
 It reminds us, of course,

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.859
 of Eden and Genesis 1.

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:12.059
 Of Adam and Eve walking, as it were,

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.399
 side by side,

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:15.799
 talking face to face with God.

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.099
 Here it is.

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:20.799
 Again, the future of the kingdom of God.

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:23.839
 Where all of us, not excluded,

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:26.339
 but in the presence of God,

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:30.359
 never with the possibility of being excluded again.

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:34.779
 Of course, what stands between Exodus 19

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.379
 and the life Israel

00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:38.819
 and Revelation 21 and 22

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:41.959
 is Jesus.

00:24:42.959 --> 00:24:43.899
 We know that.

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:48.179
 Jesus is the one who has made the difference.

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.179
 Do you remember,

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:52.839
 as we go towards Easter,

00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:55.919
 you probably hear this passage again,

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.400
 Mark 15,

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:59.019
 at Jesus' death,

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:02.180
 when he finally breathed his last breath,

00:25:02.560 --> 00:25:04.340
 one of the things that happened was

00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:07.060
 this enormous curtain in the temple

00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:09.500
 was torn in half.

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:15.660
 Not so much that people now have access to God,

00:25:15.820 --> 00:25:17.860
 but rather God come

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:21.039
 into the midst of sinful people.

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:24.240
 Hebrews 10,

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:26.480
 Jesus is the high priest

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.339
 who has offered up

00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.380
 the sacrifice

00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:30.940
 of his own life

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.759
 once and for all time

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:34.140
 to give us access

00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:36.319
 to the throne room of God.

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:38.000
 There has been a massacre.

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:40.160
 There has been a slaughter

00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:41.759
 and a spilling of blood.

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:44.000
 And it is God himself

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.559
 who has died

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:47.319
 in order to bring us

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:49.920
 into his presence forever.

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:53.559
 Never to be excluded.

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.859
 And as a result,

00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:56.279
 chapter 24,

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.700
 verse,

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.179
 sorry,

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.700
 21,

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.419
 verse 4,

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:01.240
 there will be no more tears,

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:03.079
 no more mourning,

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.019
 no crying,

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.179
 no pain.

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.559
 There is rather,

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.519
 in contrast,

00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.519
 a life

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.500
 in abundance.

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:12.919
 Life

00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:13.740
 in this

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.980
 new world,

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.259
 in the kingdom of God,

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.319
 is pictured

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.720
 as a river.

00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.120
 to those who are thirsty,

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.339
 verse 6,

00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:25.319
 God has promised

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.440
 the water of life

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.620
 without cost.

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.579
 The image is expanded

00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.759
 in chapter 22.

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.839
 He's a river.

00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:35.799
 Of course,

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.799
 if you're living

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.779
 in the Middle East,

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.680
 in a desert,

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.960
 you can really feel

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:42.539
 the force of that image.

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:45.180
 Water represents life.

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.380
 No water,

00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.220
 no life.

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.440
 Here it is,

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.779
 life in abundance.

00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:53.600
 The people of God

00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.180
 has access

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.420
 to the

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.420
 true of life,

00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.240
 which is set

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.299
 on either side

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.960
 of the river,

00:26:59.580 --> 00:26:59.900
 bearing

00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:01.019
 12 crops.

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.720
 In other words,

00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:03.039
 every month,

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.880
 every year,

00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:05.140
 there is a crop

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.160
 of fruit

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.340
 from the tree

00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.060
 of life.

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.519
 In other words,

00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:10.120
 there's life

00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.799
 forever.

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.860
 The river flows

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.900
 through the city.

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.620
 In other words,

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:16.100
 everyone in the city

00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:17.259
 has access

00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:19.220
 to the tree of life.

00:27:19.280 --> 00:27:20.680
 There is no curse,

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.759
 verse 3.

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.000
 The lamb

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.080
 has overcome

00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:25.160
 the curse.

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.940
 Those whose name

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.640
 are written

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.700
 in his book

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.620
 can come

00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.759
 and feast

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.820
 on the tree

00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:32.420
 of life

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.200
 forever.

00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.540
 This is the picture

00:27:36.540 --> 00:27:37.480
 of the kingdom,

00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:40.360
 of God's rule,

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.220
 of life

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.200
 in abundance.

00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.400
 His people

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:45.200
 resting in safety.

00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:46.400
 What the whole

00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.580
 of history

00:27:47.580 --> 00:27:49.279
 and the story

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.059
 of the Bible

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.059
 has been looking

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.900
 forward to

00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.880
 and now

00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.860
 come to

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.900
 completion,

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.200
 the reality.

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:58.039
 And what will

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.819
 God's people

00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.440
 do

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:01.100
 in this place,

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.779
 in God's

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.460
 kingdom,

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.960
 in His presence?

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.299
 Chapter 22,

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.559
 verse 3.

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.639
 They do

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.359
 what they

00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:09.980
 were created

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.579
 to do.

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.480
 They

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.779
 worship Him.

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.220
 They

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.500
 serve Him.

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:17.960
 And in doing

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.259
 so,

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.019
 verse 5,

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.440
 they reign

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.059
 with Him.

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.759
 It is true

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.359
 to say

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.339
 that heaven,

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:24.819
 the kingdom

00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:25.359
 of God,

00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.419
 is going to be

00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.200
 one long

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:28.220
 church service.

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:32.000
 as it

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.400
 should be.

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.480
 In our

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:38.120
 fallenness,

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.539
 when we

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.079
 think of

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.660
 the kingdom,

00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:42.259
 when we

00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:42.600
 think of

00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.220
 the future,

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.079
 we tend

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.640
 to think

00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:46.039
 of us

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.720
 in it.

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.579
 That we

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.000
 are the

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.980
 center of

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.640
 this kingdom.

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.279
 That we

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.660
 are the

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.620
 center of

00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.259
 our future.

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:53.980
 I remember

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.420
 having a

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:54.940
 conversation

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.120
 with my

00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.539
 kids in

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:56.960
 the car,

00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:57.899
 and I

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.420
 explained to

00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:58.759
 them what

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.599
 heaven would

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.000
 be like,

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.240
 and they

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.599
 were really

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.279
 quite upset.

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.480
 One of

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.599
 them,

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:02.960
 in fact,

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.099
 said,

00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:03.379
 I don't

00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.659
 want to

00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:04.059
 be there.

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:04.899
 Part of

00:29:04.899 --> 00:29:05.319
 the reason

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.200
 is that

00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.319
 somebody has

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.659
 told them

00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:08.420
 they thought

00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.799
 that the

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.339
 kingdom of

00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:10.779
 God in

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.279
 the future

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.139
 would be

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.379
 like

00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:12.700
 Lunar

00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.159
 Park,

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.720
 endless

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.339
 rides.

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.819
 In our

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.700
 sinfulness,

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.940
 we have

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.379
 sort of

00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.759
 deconstructed

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.259
 and

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.079
 reconstructed

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.379
 kingdom

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.099
 in our

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:23.480
 image.

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:25.940
 No wonder

00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.820
 the idea

00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.200
 of one

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.559
 long

00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:27.799
 church

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.180
 service

00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:28.779
 is so

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.799
 unappealing.

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.380
 The

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:32.759
 kingdom,

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.519
 the future,

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.240
 rather,

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.019
 is laid

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:35.539
 out for

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:35.960
 God,

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.200
 and us

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.980
 in the

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.200
 proper

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:38.740
 place,

00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:39.940
 worshipping

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.380
 God,

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.500
 enjoying

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:41.960
 him

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.559
 forever.

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.600
 He is

00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.180
 the center

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.059
 of the

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.420
 future.

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.740
 He is

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.220
 Revelation

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.740
 21 and

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.220
 22.

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.539
 The story

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.240
 so far,

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:52.840
 what this

00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.200
 episode,

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.600
 but what

00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.039
 does this

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.700
 tell us

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.619
 about God

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.379
 and us

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:57.920
 and the

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.500
 universe

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.059
 and the

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.579
 times?

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.019
 Well,

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:03.019
 one of

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.619
 the realities

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.200
 which the

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.720
 Bible keeps

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.259
 coming back

00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.399
 to is the

00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:08.119
 fact that

00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:08.480
 there is

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:08.960
 the kingdom

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.700
 of God

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.639
 and Jesus

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.259
 is the

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.480
 king,

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:11.879
 that he

00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.879
 is Lord.

00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.460
 That

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.980
 Jesus is

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.700
 Lord is

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.079
 more than

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.420
 just an

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:18.839
 idea.

00:30:19.879 --> 00:30:20.339
 It is

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:20.859
 real.

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.139
 It has

00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:23.139
 happened in

00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:23.619
 time and

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:23.920
 space.

00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.680
 when Jesus

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.640
 rose from

00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.340
 the dead,

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.460
 he was

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.700
 crowned the

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.480
 king of

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.120
 the world.

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:32.980
 And that

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.620
 is what is

00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.220
 in store

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.120
 for the

00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.320
 future.

00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:35.680
 In other

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:35.860
 words,

00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.480
 there is

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.019
 a future.

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.580
 There is

00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:39.080
 a future

00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:40.019
 in this

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.180
 world.

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.500
 There is

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:40.840
 a future

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.420
 for all

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.840
 of us.

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:42.539
 The future

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.120
 is not

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:44.100
 hopeless.

00:30:45.560 --> 00:30:45.940
 I read

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.320
 during the

00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:47.000
 week a

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.640
 quote from

00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.340
 Augustine,

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:48.759
 one of the

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:50.740
 great theologians

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:52.039
 of our

00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.600
 church in

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.139
 the past.

00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:53.879
 He says,

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.500
 there,

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.559
 there,

00:30:55.699 --> 00:30:56.039
 in the

00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:56.519
 future,

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.639
 we shall

00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:58.779
 rest and

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.379
 see,

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.639
 see and

00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:02.179
 love,

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.719
 love and

00:31:03.719 --> 00:31:04.419
 praise.

00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:05.740
 This is

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.379
 what shall

00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.159
 be in

00:31:07.159 --> 00:31:07.859
 the end

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.359
 without

00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:09.179
 end.

00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.099
 For what

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.779
 other end

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.099
 do we

00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:11.759
 propose to

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.219
 ourselves

00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:12.939
 than to

00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.939
 attain to

00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:14.500
 the kingdom

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.199
 of which

00:31:15.199 --> 00:31:15.959
 there is

00:31:15.959 --> 00:31:16.679
 no end?

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:18.859
 A

00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.259
 kingdom

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:21.359
 of rest,

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.779
 of the

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.579
 presence of

00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:23.960
 God,

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.119
 of love,

00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.359
 of worship.

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.819
 There is

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.559
 a future.

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.680
 It is a

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.200
 wonderful

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.819
 future.

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.680
 Again,

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.200
 I've been

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.619
 reading a

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:35.839
 little bit

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.440
 about future

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.740
 this week

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.279
 and it

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:38.980
 occurred to

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.319
 me how

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.099
 important it

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:40.900
 is to

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:41.460
 the present.

00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:44.960
 Unless you

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.359
 have a

00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:45.779
 future,

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.379
 you don't

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.540
 have any

00:31:48.540 --> 00:31:50.660
 meaning in

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:51.300
 the present.

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.740
 Another word

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.420
 for meaning

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:54.920
 is a

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.280
 point.

00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:56.240
 When you're

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.700
 reading a

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.180
 story,

00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:57.980
 when you're

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.960
 watching a

00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.280
 movie,

00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.980
 there's an

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.600
 allusion to

00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:01.120
 movie,

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:01.700
 when you're

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.380
 watching a

00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:02.840
 movie or

00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:03.300
 reading a

00:32:03.300 --> 00:32:03.800
 story,

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.780
 it's all

00:32:04.780 --> 00:32:05.100
 very

00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:05.960
 interesting

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:09.280
 but it

00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:10.120
 means nothing

00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:11.260
 unless there

00:32:11.260 --> 00:32:11.600
 is a

00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:11.860
 point,

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.340
 there is a

00:32:12.340 --> 00:32:12.860
 destination,

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.720
 there is an

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.260
 end.

00:32:15.060 --> 00:32:15.940
 This is why

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.360
 it's actually

00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:17.240
 quite difficult

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.940
 if you're

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.220
 in the

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.539
 middle of

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.140
 a story

00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.359
 to know

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:20.740
 what the

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.279
 story is

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.099
 really about.

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.599
 It's just a

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.380
 meandering,

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.079
 a putting

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.000
 together of

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.500
 facts.

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.480
 Unless there

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:28.759
 is a

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.240
 destination,

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:29.819
 unless there

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.160
 is a

00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:30.640
 point,

00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:31.660
 unless there

00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:32.039
 is an

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.880
 end point,

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.160
 everything

00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.599
 that you

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.240
 experience

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.579
 in the

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.019
 middle of

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.819
 the story

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.700
 doesn't

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.720
 make sense.

00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:40.680
 This is

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.000
 why it's

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.660
 so important

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.440
 when God

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.460
 deals with

00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.279
 the human

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.759
 race,

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:47.039
 that he

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.740
 shows us

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.460
 a picture

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.279
 of the

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.980
 destination.

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.660
 For the

00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.319
 destination

00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.539
 makes sense

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.559
 of everything

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.059
 that we

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.819
 experience

00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.640
 now.

00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.099
 If you

00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.500
 know the

00:32:59.500 --> 00:32:59.819
 end,

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:00.940
 you know

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:02.359
 what everything

00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.160
 that you

00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:03.859
 see and

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.799
 experience and

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.460
 understand and

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.500
 heard is

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.500
 going towards.

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:08.759
 The full

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.279
 picture,

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.339
 as Deb has

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:10.980
 alluded to,

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.700
 or mentioned,

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:12.619
 has been

00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.359
 shown to

00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:13.519
 us.

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.139
 It makes

00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:15.299
 sense of

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.839
 everything.

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.019
 But we

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.539
 have to be

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.000
 careful,

00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:22.180
 for the

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.099
 present is

00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:23.500
 not the

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:23.799
 future.

00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.879
 We read

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.460
 of this

00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.079
 kingdom of

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:27.500
 God,

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.319
 of this

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.259
 river of

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.720
 life,

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.440
 of life in

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.000
 abundance,

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.740
 of an

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.859
 experience that

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.279
 is without

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.900
 tears and

00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:34.339
 pain and

00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.579
 mourning and

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.200
 death.

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.599
 And we

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.279
 read that

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.859
 Jesus is

00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.200
 Lord.

00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.099
 Is Jesus

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.700
 Lord in the

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:41.920
 present?

00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:42.359
 Yes,

00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:42.759
 he is

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.220
 Lord.

00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:45.319
 And we

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.660
 sort of

00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.079
 jump from

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.779
 there into

00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.420
 the future

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:47.759
 and we

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.440
 confuse the

00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:48.759
 two.

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.240
 And when

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:50.779
 we do,

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.500
 I think what

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.299
 happens is we

00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.400
 become terribly

00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.319
 disappointed.

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.000
 You know,

00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:58.400
 if we are in

00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.160
 the kingdom and

00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.740
 Jesus is

00:33:59.740 --> 00:33:59.960
 Lord,

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:01.839
 surely our

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.700
 experience as

00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.400
 the people of

00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:05.059
 God should

00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:05.839
 be won without

00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.980
 pain or

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.819
 tears or

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.460
 mourning or

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.179
 sickness or

00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:09.980
 retrenchment or

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.500
 divorce.

00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.539
 There should be

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.239
 no sin.

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:15.119
 we must

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.860
 not confuse

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:17.039
 the future

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.900
 with the

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.320
 present for

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:18.940
 the future

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.820
 is not

00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.239
 yet.

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.599
 The future

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.119
 is future,

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:22.539
 the present

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:23.039
 is present.

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:23.940
 The future

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.719
 has broken

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:26.780
 in to

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.599
 the present.

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:27.980
 Yes,

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.119
 we experience

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.960
 the future

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:32.480
 in a very

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.199
 real way

00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.679
 by faith,

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.179
 but it is

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:36.719
 veiled

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.119
 just like the

00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.400
 cross.

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:40.680
 when you

00:34:40.680 --> 00:34:41.059
 look at the

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.440
 cross of

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:41.860
 Christ,

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.160
 you see the

00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:43.880
 glory of

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.280
 God,

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.000
 you see the

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.559
 Son of God

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.440
 being crowned

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.059
 as the King

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.599
 of the world.

00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:48.360
 But what do

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:48.880
 you see?

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.099
 You see a

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.840
 naked Jewish

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:52.019
 man being

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.320
 hung on an

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:53.960
 instrument of

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.300
 torture by the

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:55.980
 Romans being

00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:56.559
 executed.

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.800
 But when you

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.320
 have the eyes

00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.840
 of faith,

00:35:00.160 --> 00:35:00.740
 you will see

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.579
 that it is

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.360
 there that

00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.099
 the Lamb

00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:05.920
 is redeeming

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.619
 the world.

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:07.680
 He is

00:35:07.680 --> 00:35:08.820
 washing us

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.480
 clean by

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:09.900
 that very

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.300
 very act.

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.740
 The present

00:35:11.740 --> 00:35:12.559
 is the

00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:12.860
 present.

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.440
 The future

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.099
 is the

00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:14.500
 future.

00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.680
 We do

00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:16.400
 experience

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.079
 the future

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:18.599
 but in a

00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:19.200
 real way

00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:20.420
 by faith.

00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:20.920
 The fullness

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.700
 of the future

00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:23.039
 is still

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.559
 to come.

00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:24.260
 Now is

00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:24.880
 the time

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.740
 of now

00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.519
 and not

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:26.880
 yet.

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.420
 We must

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:29.960
 not confuse

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.200
 the truth.

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:30.940
 What does

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.320
 it mean

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:31.820
 for us?

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.099
 Yes,

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.599
 there is a

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:33.920
 future.

00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:34.500
 It makes

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:34.880
 sense of

00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:35.440
 the present.

00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:37.240
 The present

00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:37.579
 is now.

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.440
 What is

00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:38.800
 happening

00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.659
 now?

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:40.340
 Well,

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:40.820
 the first

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.119
 thing that

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.639
 we see

00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:42.680
 is,

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.380
 I suppose,

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.300
 the sobering

00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:46.500
 thought that

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:48.200
 some will

00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:48.900
 not have

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.400
 a future

00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:49.980
 with Jesus.

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.180
 Chapter

00:35:51.180 --> 00:35:51.599
 20,

00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:54.420
 21,

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.039
 verse 8.

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.740
 There will

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.380
 be some

00:35:57.380 --> 00:35:58.180
 who will

00:35:58.180 --> 00:35:58.760
 be shut

00:35:58.760 --> 00:35:59.019
 out,

00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.139
 excluded.

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.180
 Their

00:36:01.180 --> 00:36:01.860
 destiny,

00:36:02.180 --> 00:36:02.639
 according to

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.139
 this picture

00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:03.740
 of the future,

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.840
 is the

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.240
 second

00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:05.680
 death.

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:08.099
 having a

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:09.000
 future that

00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:09.659
 is coming

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.440
 and imminent

00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.900
 carries a

00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.400
 warning.

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:13.619
 Chapter 22,

00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:14.420
 verses 7

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.720
 to 10.

00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.680
 Jesus says

00:36:16.680 --> 00:36:17.420
 he's coming.

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.220
 It has

00:36:19.220 --> 00:36:19.800
 present

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.820
 implication,

00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.320
 for the

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.420
 present is

00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.380
 a moment

00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:25.680
 of opportunity

00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:26.880
 not to be

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.340
 missed.

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:30.280
 I'm doing

00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:30.800
 some study

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.059
 at the

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.380
 moment.

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:33.960
 There is a

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.360
 future.

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.000
 It's the

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.680
 first of

00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:37.100
 April.

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.480
 One of my

00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.360
 papers is due.

00:36:40.680 --> 00:36:41.280
 The

00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:42.320
 opportunity to

00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:42.660
 get the

00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:43.360
 paper done

00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:43.800
 and not

00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:44.180
 fail the

00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.519
 course,

00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:45.480
 I have to

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:45.800
 say,

00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:47.300
 is dwindling

00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:47.780
 and getting

00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.620
 smaller and

00:36:48.620 --> 00:36:49.640
 smaller by

00:36:49.640 --> 00:36:50.120
 the minute.

00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.380
 Every day

00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:52.079
 that passes,

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.320
 that window

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:54.240
 of opportunity

00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.819
 gets smaller.

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:58.079
 It is with

00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.459
 Jesus.

00:36:58.919 --> 00:36:59.739
 Jesus is

00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:00.219
 Lord.

00:37:00.919 --> 00:37:01.279
 He will

00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:01.979
 come back

00:37:01.979 --> 00:37:02.659
 to establish

00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.659
 the kingdom

00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.719
 of God.

00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:05.919
 The

00:37:05.919 --> 00:37:06.639
 opportunity

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.859
 to be

00:37:07.859 --> 00:37:08.559
 included

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.339
 as that

00:37:09.339 --> 00:37:09.759
 part of

00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.219
 their kingdom

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.099
 is getting

00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:12.219
 smaller and

00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:13.279
 smaller as

00:37:13.279 --> 00:37:13.919
 the day

00:37:13.919 --> 00:37:15.179
 continues.

00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.299
 Once he

00:37:17.299 --> 00:37:18.059
 comes,

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.919
 that opportunity

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:21.159
 is gone.

00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:21.980
 And so

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.559
 there is

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.380
 an invitation

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:24.340
 in verse

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.180
 17 of

00:37:25.180 --> 00:37:25.980
 chapter 22.

00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:27.619
 Take the

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.559
 opportunity

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.760
 while it

00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:30.340
 is still

00:37:30.340 --> 00:37:31.260
 available

00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:32.420
 to you.

00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.559
 If you

00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:36.360
 are one

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:37.139
 who does

00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:37.980
 not know

00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:39.119
 of Jesus,

00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:41.440
 who has

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:43.159
 no hope

00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:43.880
 of this

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.559
 future,

00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.519
 what the

00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.159
 kingdom of

00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:48.200
 God is

00:37:48.200 --> 00:37:49.139
 taking you

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:49.859
 and I

00:37:49.859 --> 00:37:50.239
 to,

00:37:50.859 --> 00:37:51.319
 is the

00:37:51.319 --> 00:37:52.000
 conclusion

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.619
 that there

00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:52.960
 is an

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.420
 opportunity

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.460
 now.

00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:55.719
 And that

00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:56.440
 opportunity

00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.579
 has to be

00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:58.659
 taken while

00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.420
 it is still

00:37:59.420 --> 00:37:59.679
 there.

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:01.000
 Take the

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.379
 opportunity

00:38:01.379 --> 00:38:02.359
 to receive

00:38:02.359 --> 00:38:03.359
 salvation.

00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:06.000
 There might

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.440
 be people

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:06.920
 in your

00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.699
 life that

00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:08.460
 you care

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:08.879
 about,

00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:10.119
 that you

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:10.699
 might want

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:12.759
 to avail

00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:13.960
 that opportunity

00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.460
 to.

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.019
 Invite

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:17.079
 them to

00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:17.619
 come into

00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:18.039
 the kingdom,

00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:18.539
 not to come

00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.139
 to church

00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:20.420
 per se,

00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.199
 but invite

00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:22.000
 them into

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.880
 a relationship

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:24.099
 with Jesus.

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.039
 Invite

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.699
 them to

00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:28.519
 be blessed

00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:30.639
 by God.

00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:31.940
 You know,

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.300
 one of the

00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:32.599
 things that

00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:32.940
 we've been

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.960
 saying in

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.800
 the story

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.279
 of the

00:38:35.279 --> 00:38:35.880
 kingdom is

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:36.360
 that God

00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:38.000
 has promised

00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:39.119
 blessing to

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.779
 the world.

00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.099
 You recall

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.400
 that.

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:42.239
 Well,

00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:42.759
 where's the

00:38:42.759 --> 00:38:43.380
 blessing in

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:43.619
 this?

00:38:45.259 --> 00:38:45.619
 Revelation

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.279
 chapter 1

00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:47.400
 verse 3.

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.280
 Revelation,

00:38:50.620 --> 00:38:51.260
 the point

00:38:51.260 --> 00:38:51.600
 of writing

00:38:51.600 --> 00:38:52.140
 Revelation

00:38:52.140 --> 00:38:52.900
 is so

00:38:52.900 --> 00:38:53.200
 that we

00:38:53.200 --> 00:38:53.620
 might be

00:38:53.620 --> 00:38:54.660
 blessed.

00:38:55.660 --> 00:38:56.280
 We might

00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:56.860
 be blessed

00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.820
 by reading

00:38:57.820 --> 00:38:58.920
 this word,

00:38:59.160 --> 00:39:00.019
 this picture

00:39:00.019 --> 00:39:00.580
 of the

00:39:00.580 --> 00:39:00.980
 future.

00:39:01.900 --> 00:39:02.460
 This is the

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:02.860
 time of

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.060
 blessing.

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:03.840
 What does

00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:04.340
 it mean to

00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:04.740
 be blessed

00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:04.980
 by God?

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:05.280
 What does

00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:05.740
 it mean

00:39:05.740 --> 00:39:06.280
 when you

00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:07.040
 read this

00:39:07.040 --> 00:39:07.660
 picture of

00:39:07.660 --> 00:39:08.140
 the kingdom?

00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.660
 It's akin

00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:12.740
 to me

00:39:12.740 --> 00:39:13.220
 making a

00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:14.380
 very important

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:14.900
 piece of

00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:15.200
 warning.

00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:15.860
 If I

00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.160
 were to

00:39:16.160 --> 00:39:16.619
 say to

00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:16.960
 you,

00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.579
 news has

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.079
 come to

00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:20.140
 me that

00:39:20.140 --> 00:39:22.140
 there is a

00:39:22.140 --> 00:39:22.539
 bomb in

00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:22.920
 the building.

00:39:25.160 --> 00:39:25.820
 It's an

00:39:25.820 --> 00:39:26.640
 important piece

00:39:26.640 --> 00:39:27.140
 of news.

00:39:28.220 --> 00:39:28.900
 And there

00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.200
 are two

00:39:29.200 --> 00:39:29.760
 choices that

00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:30.240
 you have.

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.019
 You can

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:31.579
 either heed

00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:32.320
 that news

00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:33.420
 and start

00:39:33.420 --> 00:39:33.800
 running,

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:34.920
 or you can

00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.559
 ignore that

00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:35.840
 news.

00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:36.680
 Here's an

00:39:36.680 --> 00:39:37.220
 impending

00:39:37.220 --> 00:39:37.980
 danger.

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:38.880
 If you

00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.480
 listen to

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.119
 the warning,

00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:41.000
 you will

00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:42.260
 be blessed

00:39:42.260 --> 00:39:43.920
 because you

00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:44.620
 will escape

00:39:44.620 --> 00:39:45.340
 the explosion

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:46.240
 and live.

00:39:47.560 --> 00:39:48.740
 Here's a

00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:50.200
 picture of

00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:51.060
 the future

00:39:51.060 --> 00:39:52.000
 kingdom that

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.580
 is coming.

00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:53.700
 And there

00:39:53.700 --> 00:39:54.020
 are two

00:39:54.020 --> 00:39:54.960
 responses to

00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:55.080
 it.

00:39:55.280 --> 00:39:55.560
 You can

00:39:55.560 --> 00:39:56.980
 either believe

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.820
 that word of

00:39:57.820 --> 00:39:58.320
 the warning

00:39:58.320 --> 00:39:59.780
 and flee the

00:39:59.780 --> 00:40:00.420
 coming wrath

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:02.380
 and hold on

00:40:02.380 --> 00:40:02.900
 to Jesus

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.940
 for salvation,

00:40:04.140 --> 00:40:04.640
 or you can

00:40:04.640 --> 00:40:05.280
 ignore it.

00:40:05.700 --> 00:40:06.220
 And if you

00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:06.860
 heed that

00:40:06.860 --> 00:40:07.840
 word, you

00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.240
 will be

00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:08.620
 blessed.

00:40:09.520 --> 00:40:10.000
 Now is

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.540
 the time

00:40:10.540 --> 00:40:11.360
 for blessing.

00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:12.579
 blessing means

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:13.720
 heeding that

00:40:13.720 --> 00:40:14.860
 word, believing

00:40:14.860 --> 00:40:16.240
 what the

00:40:16.240 --> 00:40:17.480
 gospel says.

00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:19.980
 The second

00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:20.400
 thing now I

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:20.599
 want to

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:21.620
 mention is

00:40:21.620 --> 00:40:22.220
 that Jesus

00:40:22.220 --> 00:40:23.640
 is Lord.

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:25.680
 This book,

00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:28.160
 along with

00:40:28.160 --> 00:40:29.039
 the rest of

00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:29.740
 the Bible,

00:40:30.220 --> 00:40:30.720
 have been

00:40:30.720 --> 00:40:31.220
 written to

00:40:31.220 --> 00:40:31.740
 the people

00:40:31.740 --> 00:40:32.340
 of God.

00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:33.480
 And one

00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:33.700
 of the

00:40:33.700 --> 00:40:34.079
 things that

00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:34.400
 you will

00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:35.160
 see in

00:40:35.160 --> 00:40:35.579
 the history

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:35.900
 of the

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.400
 people of

00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:37.180
 God is

00:40:37.180 --> 00:40:37.380
 that

00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:38.280
 consistently

00:40:38.280 --> 00:40:39.720
 they are

00:40:39.720 --> 00:40:40.240
 losers.

00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:42.680
 If you're

00:40:42.680 --> 00:40:42.960
 not a

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.320
 Christian,

00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:45.700
 truth in

00:40:45.700 --> 00:40:46.160
 advertising,

00:40:46.840 --> 00:40:47.280
 you become

00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:48.059
 a Christian,

00:40:48.300 --> 00:40:48.579
 you'll be

00:40:48.579 --> 00:40:48.940
 a loser.

00:40:50.680 --> 00:40:51.200
 Consistently,

00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:52.180
 they look

00:40:52.180 --> 00:40:52.780
 like they're

00:40:52.780 --> 00:40:53.280
 defeated.

00:40:54.220 --> 00:40:54.800
 The world

00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:55.200
 is just

00:40:55.200 --> 00:40:55.920
 too strong.

00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:56.440
 The enemies

00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:57.220
 of God

00:40:57.220 --> 00:40:57.760
 are just

00:40:57.760 --> 00:40:58.420
 too clever

00:40:58.420 --> 00:40:59.059
 for us.

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:00.180
 And we

00:41:00.180 --> 00:41:01.539
 get smashed

00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:02.820
 every time.

00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:04.680
 And if

00:41:04.680 --> 00:41:04.940
 you're a

00:41:04.940 --> 00:41:05.099
 Christian,

00:41:05.200 --> 00:41:05.500
 I wonder

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:06.140
 whether you

00:41:06.140 --> 00:41:06.820
 feel that

00:41:06.820 --> 00:41:07.220
 all the

00:41:07.220 --> 00:41:07.660
 time.

00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:08.500
 You sort

00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:08.940
 of win a

00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.240
 battle,

00:41:09.239 --> 00:41:10.319
 but you

00:41:10.319 --> 00:41:10.759
 feel like

00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:11.019
 you're

00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:11.419
 losing

00:41:11.419 --> 00:41:12.000
 the

00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:12.679
 war all

00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:12.839
 the

00:41:12.839 --> 00:41:13.039
 time.

00:41:13.239 --> 00:41:13.699
 What this

00:41:13.699 --> 00:41:14.619
 picture of

00:41:14.619 --> 00:41:15.119
 the future

00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:15.939
 kingdom shows

00:41:15.939 --> 00:41:16.739
 us is that

00:41:16.739 --> 00:41:17.439
 although we

00:41:17.439 --> 00:41:18.519
 live like

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.859
 people who

00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:20.759
 seem defeated,

00:41:21.639 --> 00:41:22.299
 if Jesus

00:41:22.299 --> 00:41:23.539
 is Lord,

00:41:24.239 --> 00:41:24.739
 as he's

00:41:24.739 --> 00:41:25.799
 demonstrated at

00:41:25.799 --> 00:41:26.699
 the resurrection,

00:41:27.259 --> 00:41:27.679
 then the

00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.879
 future belongs

00:41:28.879 --> 00:41:29.939
 to him,

00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:32.539
 despite of

00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:33.179
 all that is

00:41:33.179 --> 00:41:33.899
 apparent to

00:41:33.899 --> 00:41:34.219
 us.

00:41:34.939 --> 00:41:35.559
 And if the

00:41:35.559 --> 00:41:36.299
 future belongs

00:41:36.299 --> 00:41:36.919
 to him,

00:41:37.299 --> 00:41:38.259
 it belongs to

00:41:38.260 --> 00:41:38.780
 those of

00:41:38.780 --> 00:41:39.220
 us who

00:41:39.220 --> 00:41:40.060
 belong to

00:41:40.060 --> 00:41:40.340
 him.

00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:41.640
 You

00:41:41.640 --> 00:41:42.180
 remember what

00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:42.780
 Jesus says

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:43.320
 in Matthew

00:41:43.320 --> 00:41:44.720
 on the

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:45.040
 Sermon on

00:41:45.040 --> 00:41:45.140
 Mount,

00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:45.820
 blessed are

00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:46.380
 the poor.

00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:47.800
 The world

00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:48.240
 does not

00:41:48.240 --> 00:41:48.840
 look like

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.280
 they belong

00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:49.640
 to the

00:41:49.640 --> 00:41:49.960
 poor.

00:41:50.340 --> 00:41:50.960
 The world

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:51.880
 belongs to

00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:52.260
 the rich,

00:41:52.360 --> 00:41:52.900
 the powerful,

00:41:53.040 --> 00:41:53.580
 the clever,

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.660
 the articulate.

00:41:56.240 --> 00:41:56.620
 But the

00:41:56.620 --> 00:41:57.820
 Bible shows

00:41:57.820 --> 00:41:59.220
 us clearly

00:41:59.220 --> 00:41:59.720
 that if

00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:00.520
 Jesus is

00:42:00.520 --> 00:42:01.000
 Lord,

00:42:01.520 --> 00:42:02.240
 it belongs

00:42:02.240 --> 00:42:02.840
 to those

00:42:02.840 --> 00:42:03.640
 who belong

00:42:03.640 --> 00:42:04.240
 to him.

00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:05.120
 Even

00:42:05.120 --> 00:42:05.600
 though at

00:42:05.600 --> 00:42:06.320
 this time

00:42:06.320 --> 00:42:06.920
 we look

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:07.340
 like the

00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:07.660
 poor,

00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:07.739
 people,

00:42:07.859 --> 00:42:08.239
 we look

00:42:08.239 --> 00:42:08.739
 like people

00:42:08.739 --> 00:42:09.139
 who are

00:42:09.139 --> 00:42:09.579
 grieving.

00:42:10.799 --> 00:42:11.219
 For in

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:12.579
 reality we

00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.259
 are kings

00:42:13.259 --> 00:42:14.500
 and priests.

00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:17.480
 The third

00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:18.079
 point I will

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:19.179
 make in

00:42:19.179 --> 00:42:19.559
 terms of the

00:42:19.559 --> 00:42:20.239
 implication for

00:42:20.239 --> 00:42:21.500
 us is now

00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:22.359
 and not yet.

00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:23.619
 We still

00:42:23.619 --> 00:42:24.819
 experience a

00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:25.199
 world of

00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:25.859
 pain and

00:42:25.859 --> 00:42:26.319
 suffering.

00:42:26.679 --> 00:42:27.259
 We still

00:42:27.259 --> 00:42:28.319
 experience

00:42:28.319 --> 00:42:29.199
 sin.

00:42:30.359 --> 00:42:30.960
 In

00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:31.519
 Revelation

00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:32.059
 21,

00:42:32.179 --> 00:42:32.559
 22,

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:33.440
 it says

00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:33.839
 that the

00:42:33.839 --> 00:42:34.139
 future

00:42:34.139 --> 00:42:34.719
 kingdom of

00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:34.960
 God

00:42:34.960 --> 00:42:35.739
 belongs to

00:42:35.739 --> 00:42:36.199
 those who

00:42:36.199 --> 00:42:36.679
 are pure.

00:42:37.659 --> 00:42:38.960
 And for

00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:39.319
 those of

00:42:39.319 --> 00:42:39.819
 us on

00:42:39.819 --> 00:42:41.339
 this side

00:42:41.339 --> 00:42:41.799
 of heaven,

00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:42.639
 we yearn

00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:42.920
 to be

00:42:42.920 --> 00:42:43.259
 pure.

00:42:43.940 --> 00:42:44.359
 None of

00:42:44.359 --> 00:42:44.819
 us are

00:42:44.819 --> 00:42:45.179
 pure.

00:42:45.779 --> 00:42:46.159
 When I

00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:46.399
 look at

00:42:46.399 --> 00:42:46.719
 myself,

00:42:46.819 --> 00:42:47.039
 when I

00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:47.319
 look at

00:42:47.319 --> 00:42:47.599
 you,

00:42:48.420 --> 00:42:48.819
 I don't

00:42:48.819 --> 00:42:49.519
 see people

00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:49.899
 who are

00:42:49.899 --> 00:42:50.219
 pure.

00:42:51.579 --> 00:42:51.980
 I

00:42:51.980 --> 00:42:52.460
 experience

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:52.960
 my own

00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:53.279
 sin.

00:42:54.859 --> 00:42:55.440
 But the

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.299
 reality of

00:42:56.299 --> 00:42:56.719
 who we

00:42:56.719 --> 00:42:57.739
 are will

00:42:57.739 --> 00:42:58.079
 become

00:42:58.079 --> 00:42:58.659
 apparent

00:42:58.659 --> 00:42:59.539
 at that

00:42:59.539 --> 00:43:00.000
 time.

00:43:01.399 --> 00:43:02.059
 Now is

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.699
 the time

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.719
 of

00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:05.159
 now and

00:43:05.159 --> 00:43:05.779
 not yet.

00:43:06.439 --> 00:43:06.759
 When

00:43:06.759 --> 00:43:07.059
 Jesus

00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:07.719
 return,

00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:08.480
 you and

00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:09.099
 I will

00:43:09.099 --> 00:43:09.279
 be

00:43:09.279 --> 00:43:09.960
 transformed

00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:10.719
 into

00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:11.159
 his

00:43:11.159 --> 00:43:11.839
 likeness.

00:43:12.839 --> 00:43:13.099
 And at

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.659
 that time,

00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:14.259
 we will

00:43:14.259 --> 00:43:14.419
 be

00:43:14.419 --> 00:43:14.879
 welcomed

00:43:14.879 --> 00:43:15.519
 into the

00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:16.239
 city because

00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:16.699
 we have

00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:16.879
 been

00:43:16.879 --> 00:43:18.199
 purified by

00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:19.000
 the blood

00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:19.719
 of Jesus.

00:43:21.279 --> 00:43:21.799
 In the

00:43:21.799 --> 00:43:22.219
 meantime,

00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:23.119
 we've grown

00:43:23.119 --> 00:43:23.739
 along with

00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:24.359
 the rest

00:43:24.359 --> 00:43:24.980
 of creation

00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:25.699
 for the

00:43:25.699 --> 00:43:25.939
 coming

00:43:25.939 --> 00:43:26.319
 kingdom.

00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:28.599
 Lastly,

00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:30.579
 where is

00:43:30.579 --> 00:43:31.079
 the kingdom

00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:31.519
 to be

00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:31.920
 seen

00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:32.659
 now?

00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:33.420
 Where is

00:43:33.420 --> 00:43:33.840
 the kingdom

00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:34.659
 visible?

00:43:35.199 --> 00:43:35.799
 If it is

00:43:35.799 --> 00:43:36.299
 veiled,

00:43:36.799 --> 00:43:37.460
 where can

00:43:37.460 --> 00:43:38.059
 we see

00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:38.480
 the kingdom?

00:43:38.799 --> 00:43:39.119
 I want

00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:39.599
 to suggest

00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:41.860
 that in

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:42.420
 the kingdom,

00:43:42.940 --> 00:43:43.219
 what will

00:43:43.219 --> 00:43:43.500
 be the

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.940
 people doing?

00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:45.739
 So what

00:43:45.739 --> 00:43:46.039
 will we

00:43:46.039 --> 00:43:46.400
 be doing?

00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:47.699
 We'll be

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:48.139
 worshipping

00:43:48.139 --> 00:43:48.519
 God.

00:43:49.079 --> 00:43:49.539
 We'll be

00:43:49.539 --> 00:43:49.860
 serving

00:43:49.860 --> 00:43:50.279
 him.

00:43:51.059 --> 00:43:51.739
 We'll be

00:43:51.739 --> 00:43:52.480
 ruling

00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:53.139
 with God.

00:43:54.059 --> 00:43:54.420
 And that

00:43:54.420 --> 00:43:55.039
 is exactly

00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:55.840
 where we

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:56.279
 see the

00:43:56.279 --> 00:43:56.799
 kingdom of

00:43:56.799 --> 00:43:57.279
 God at

00:43:57.279 --> 00:43:58.159
 work at

00:43:58.159 --> 00:43:58.659
 this point

00:43:58.659 --> 00:43:59.239
 in time.

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:00.500
 We see

00:44:00.500 --> 00:44:01.000
 the kingdom

00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:01.639
 most

00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:02.719
 visible when

00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:03.280
 the people

00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:03.900
 of God

00:44:03.900 --> 00:44:04.900
 are worshipping

00:44:04.900 --> 00:44:05.260
 God,

00:44:05.639 --> 00:44:06.500
 serving him.

00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:06.980
 And that

00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:07.440
 is what we

00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:07.840
 have come

00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:08.440
 together to

00:44:08.440 --> 00:44:08.739
 do,

00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:09.900
 is it not?

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:11.179
 We have

00:44:11.179 --> 00:44:11.880
 come together

00:44:11.880 --> 00:44:12.760
 in the name

00:44:12.760 --> 00:44:13.400
 of Christ

00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:14.320
 to sing

00:44:14.320 --> 00:44:15.139
 praises to

00:44:15.139 --> 00:44:16.039
 God and

00:44:16.039 --> 00:44:16.679
 to love

00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:17.559
 one another.

00:44:18.719 --> 00:44:20.159
 This is

00:44:20.159 --> 00:44:20.980
 the reality

00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:21.539
 of the

00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:21.900
 kingdom

00:44:21.900 --> 00:44:22.880
 now.

00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:26.599
 Ruling

00:44:26.599 --> 00:44:27.559
 the world,

00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:28.380
 the kingdom

00:44:28.380 --> 00:44:28.940
 of God,

00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:30.360
 isn't talking

00:44:30.360 --> 00:44:31.200
 about being

00:44:31.200 --> 00:44:31.940
 in charge.

00:44:32.140 --> 00:44:32.519
 We might

00:44:32.519 --> 00:44:32.880
 not have

00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:33.440
 any political

00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:34.019
 power,

00:44:34.320 --> 00:44:34.620
 but that's

00:44:34.620 --> 00:44:35.180
 irrelevant.

00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:36.940
 We

00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:37.680
 participate

00:44:37.680 --> 00:44:38.700
 in the

00:44:38.700 --> 00:44:39.440
 rule of

00:44:39.440 --> 00:44:40.180
 King Jesus

00:44:40.180 --> 00:44:41.220
 by worshipping

00:44:41.220 --> 00:44:41.700
 him,

00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:44.160
 by proclaiming

00:44:44.160 --> 00:44:45.620
 his kingship,

00:44:46.660 --> 00:44:47.640
 by deferring

00:44:47.640 --> 00:44:48.500
 our needs

00:44:48.500 --> 00:44:49.260
 for the sake

00:44:49.260 --> 00:44:49.860
 of others

00:44:49.860 --> 00:44:50.660
 so that they

00:44:50.660 --> 00:44:51.160
 might know

00:44:51.160 --> 00:44:51.680
 Christ.

00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:52.680
 When we

00:44:52.680 --> 00:44:53.400
 do that,

00:44:53.720 --> 00:44:54.840
 we experience

00:44:54.840 --> 00:44:55.300
 the kingdom.

00:44:55.420 --> 00:44:55.860
 When we

00:44:55.860 --> 00:44:56.300
 do that,

00:44:56.579 --> 00:44:57.200
 the kingdom

00:44:57.199 --> 00:44:58.219
 becomes

00:44:58.219 --> 00:44:59.179
 visible.

00:45:02.599 --> 00:45:03.679
 The story

00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:04.219
 of the

00:45:04.219 --> 00:45:04.559
 Bible

00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:05.139
 is the

00:45:05.139 --> 00:45:05.739
 story of

00:45:05.739 --> 00:45:06.179
 the kingdom.

00:45:07.099 --> 00:45:07.659
 It is

00:45:07.659 --> 00:45:08.059
 more than

00:45:08.059 --> 00:45:08.539
 just a

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:08.879
 bunch of

00:45:08.879 --> 00:45:09.599
 good ideas.

00:45:10.019 --> 00:45:10.460
 It is

00:45:10.460 --> 00:45:11.199
 more than

00:45:11.199 --> 00:45:12.159
 just history,

00:45:12.439 --> 00:45:13.119
 although it

00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:13.919
 did happen.

00:45:15.139 --> 00:45:15.779
 It is

00:45:15.779 --> 00:45:16.439
 history

00:45:16.439 --> 00:45:17.139
 with a

00:45:17.139 --> 00:45:17.739
 trajectory,

00:45:18.299 --> 00:45:18.639
 with a

00:45:18.639 --> 00:45:19.239
 pathway

00:45:19.239 --> 00:45:20.179
 towards the

00:45:20.179 --> 00:45:20.739
 future.

00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:21.719
 It is a

00:45:21.719 --> 00:45:22.099
 certain

00:45:22.099 --> 00:45:22.699
 thing.

00:45:23.419 --> 00:45:23.779
 Jesus

00:45:23.780 --> 00:45:24.980
 is the

00:45:24.980 --> 00:45:25.580
 Lord.

00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:26.420
 He is

00:45:26.420 --> 00:45:27.280
 Lord now.

00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:29.040
 He will

00:45:29.040 --> 00:45:29.800
 come again

00:45:29.800 --> 00:45:30.580
 and the

00:45:30.580 --> 00:45:31.160
 kingdom will

00:45:31.160 --> 00:45:31.740
 be visible

00:45:31.740 --> 00:45:32.660
 at that

00:45:32.660 --> 00:45:33.280
 time.

00:45:34.440 --> 00:45:35.160
 In the

00:45:35.160 --> 00:45:35.519
 meantime,

00:45:35.880 --> 00:45:36.260
 he is

00:45:36.260 --> 00:45:36.580
 still

00:45:36.580 --> 00:45:37.080
 Lord.

00:45:37.480 --> 00:45:38.080
 We are

00:45:38.080 --> 00:45:38.680
 to proclaim

00:45:38.680 --> 00:45:39.560
 him as

00:45:39.560 --> 00:45:39.820
 Lord.

00:45:40.040 --> 00:45:40.500
 We are

00:45:40.500 --> 00:45:41.260
 to live

00:45:41.260 --> 00:45:42.200
 as people

00:45:42.200 --> 00:45:42.620
 of the

00:45:42.620 --> 00:45:42.980
 kingdom

00:45:42.980 --> 00:45:43.980
 with him

00:45:43.980 --> 00:45:45.000
 as the

00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:45.320
 Lord.

00:45:47.420 --> 00:45:48.100
 Let me

00:45:48.100 --> 00:45:48.800
 encourage you

00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:49.580
 with those

00:45:49.580 --> 00:45:49.860
 words.

00:45:50.120 --> 00:45:50.280
 Will you

00:45:50.280 --> 00:45:50.560
 join me

00:45:50.560 --> 00:45:50.920
 in prayer?

00:45:52.200 --> 00:45:52.580
 Gracious

00:45:52.580 --> 00:45:52.740
 Lord,

00:45:52.820 --> 00:45:53.019
 Heavenly

00:45:53.019 --> 00:45:53.300
 Father,

00:45:53.300 --> 00:45:53.900
 thank you

00:45:53.900 --> 00:45:54.620
 that Jesus

00:45:54.620 --> 00:45:55.300
 is the

00:45:55.300 --> 00:45:55.880
 Lord of

00:45:55.880 --> 00:45:56.039
 the

00:45:56.039 --> 00:45:56.380
 world.

00:45:57.100 --> 00:45:57.539
 Thank you

00:45:57.539 --> 00:45:57.920
 that you

00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:58.440
 have given

00:45:58.440 --> 00:45:59.700
 us a

00:45:59.700 --> 00:46:00.180
 hope,

00:46:00.800 --> 00:46:01.440
 a word

00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:01.860
 of what

00:46:01.860 --> 00:46:02.420
 the future

00:46:02.420 --> 00:46:03.039
 holds and

00:46:03.039 --> 00:46:03.740
 what reality

00:46:03.740 --> 00:46:05.019
 is now.

00:46:05.700 --> 00:46:06.340
 We pray,

00:46:06.620 --> 00:46:06.700
 Father,

00:46:06.700 --> 00:46:07.100
 that we

00:46:07.100 --> 00:46:07.880
 might live

00:46:07.880 --> 00:46:08.840
 in light

00:46:08.840 --> 00:46:09.160
 of that

00:46:09.160 --> 00:46:09.580
 hope,

00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:12.680
 seeing all

00:46:12.680 --> 00:46:13.019
 of our

00:46:13.019 --> 00:46:14.360
 life in

00:46:14.360 --> 00:46:15.260
 the context

00:46:15.260 --> 00:46:15.960
 of that

00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:16.320
 coming

00:46:16.320 --> 00:46:16.820
 kingdom,

00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:17.780
 the

00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:18.480
 priorities,

00:46:19.039 --> 00:46:19.720
 the meaning,

00:46:20.060 --> 00:46:20.180
 the

00:46:20.180 --> 00:46:20.860
 relationships.

00:46:21.320 --> 00:46:21.820
 We pray,

00:46:22.080 --> 00:46:22.160
 Father,

00:46:22.240 --> 00:46:22.840
 that in our

00:46:22.840 --> 00:46:23.420
 priorities,

00:46:23.620 --> 00:46:23.900
 in our

00:46:23.900 --> 00:46:24.340
 lives,

00:46:24.700 --> 00:46:24.960
 in our

00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:25.620
 proclamation,

00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:26.460
 in our

00:46:26.460 --> 00:46:26.900
 worship,

00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:28.240
 that the

00:46:28.240 --> 00:46:28.980
 world and

00:46:28.980 --> 00:46:29.460
 us might

00:46:29.460 --> 00:46:30.160
 see clearly

00:46:30.160 --> 00:46:30.760
 that Jesus

00:46:30.760 --> 00:46:31.519
 is Lord

00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:32.620
 and in

00:46:32.620 --> 00:46:33.280
 doing so,

00:46:33.660 --> 00:46:34.440
 all glory

00:46:34.440 --> 00:46:35.440
 might go to

00:46:35.440 --> 00:46:35.740
 him.

00:46:36.140 --> 00:46:36.460
 And we

00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:37.120
 pray this

00:46:37.120 --> 00:46:37.860
 for his

00:46:37.860 --> 00:46:38.059
 sake.

00:46:38.120 --> 00:46:38.360
 And we

00:46:38.360 --> 00:46:38.900
 pray along

00:46:38.900 --> 00:46:39.380
 with John,

00:46:40.440 --> 00:46:40.940
 come Lord

00:46:40.940 --> 00:46:41.240
 Jesus,

00:46:41.440 --> 00:46:41.700
 come.

00:46:41.700 --> 00:46:42.760
 Amen.