WEBVTT

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 Polycarp was born in the year 69, about 1900 years before me.

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 His name means much fruit.

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 He occupies a very important place in the history of the Christian church,

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 and particularly the early Christian church.

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 He is among the earliest Christians whose writings still survive today,

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 nearly 2,000 years later.

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 According to one scholar, Polycarp may have been the one who compiled and edited

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 and published the New Testament for the first time.

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 He was an elder of an important congregation,

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 which has a large contributor to the founding of the Christian church

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 and the spreading of the Christian gospel in the very early days.

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 His ministry was also crucial in its timing because after the apostles had died,

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 a number of new teachings flooded into the early church,

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 and it was Polycarp who was regarded as the most significant defender of the apostolic faith,

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 the orthodox Christian faith in the second century.

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 He is, however, most famous not for his life but for his death,

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 and his death at the hands of the Roman Empire.

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 He initially managed to escape the authorities once he heard that they were after him.

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 He was discovered by a child.

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 Soldiers came and arrested him, and when they came to arrest him,

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 he cooked a feast for them, put on a big banquet for them.

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 They sat and scoffed the food down while he spent.

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 He got permission to spend an hour in prayer, but his prayer was with such fervency,

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 and they obviously had lots to eat, and they allowed him to pray for two hours.

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 And in the process of him praying while they were eating,

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 and they could hear it all, the soldiers who came and arrested him were absolutely stricken

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 by the fact that they were arresting such a godly and fervent man,

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 someone who they held in high esteem, and in fact they repented of that,

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 but they ended up taking him nevertheless to the Roman proconsul,

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 kind of like a judge guy, and he was condemned to be burned at the stake.

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 So Polycarp, the Roman proconsul, when he was there talking to Polycarp,

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 he encouraged him to save his life and to denounce Jesus.

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 And Polycarp answered with his now famous statement,

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 The proconsul then threatened him a number of times.

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 He threatened to throw him to the wild beasts,

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 but apparently those gains were over, so it was illegal for him to do that.

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 And so the crowd insisted that Polycarp be burnt to the stake.

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 And Polycarp says, away you go.

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 He was threatened with the burning of the stake, and his response was,

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 The fire you threaten me with only burns for a short time, and then it goes out.

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 You are ignorant of the future fire of judgment, which is never put out,

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 and which is reserved for the ungodly.

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 And so what are you waiting for?

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 Do what you want to do.

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 Polycarp was let out to be burnt at the stake,

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 and as was the normal custom, they tied the person to the stake,

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 but they also nailed them to the stake.

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 And they didn't do that for Polycarp.

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 He said to them, Leave me as I am,

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 for he that gives me strength to endure the fire

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 will also enable me, without your securing me,

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 to remain in it without moving.

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 So he says, I'm not going to run.

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 I'm going to run away.

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 And so on the 23rd of February in the year 156,

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 the fire was lit, Polycarp died,

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 and in dying he received the crown of life.

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 Now Polycarp was discipled by the Apostle John,

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 who wrote Revelation that we're looking at right now.

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 And it was the Apostle John who ordained Polycarp

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 as the Bishop of Smyrna.

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 And so in Revelation 2, verse 8,

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 Jesus tells John to write to the angel of the church in Smyrna.

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 And he says in verse 10,

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 Do not be afraid of what you're about to suffer.

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 Be faithful, even to the point of death,

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 and I will give you the crown of life.

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 The message of these three verses,

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 the message of the life of people like Polycarp

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 and many thousands who have followed him,

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 is that Jesus is more precious than life itself.

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 I announced, sorry, I didn't announce,

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 I mentioned last week when I was preaching

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 that each of these messages to the seven churches,

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 although written to specific situations,

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 to specific churches,

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 were in fact, were for all the seven churches

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 in Asia Minor.

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 And also for us too.

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 They are letters for us.

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 Each one of these messages,

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 the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3,

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 are messages for us too.

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 I also mentioned that each of them

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 had a specific structure.

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 For instance,

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 notice that they all begin

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 by stating something

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 about the aspect of Jesus' glory

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 that John saw in his vision of Jesus

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 from Revelation chapter 1.

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 And in each case,

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 the aspect of Jesus' glory

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 that is mentioned

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 at the beginning of each one of the seven churches

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 is relevant for the content

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 of the rest of that particular letter

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 for that church.

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 So last week,

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 Jesus is mentioned as the one

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 who walks among the seven golden lampstands

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 as the Lord of the church.

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 And then a little later,

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 he threatens to remove the lampstand

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 from that church in Ephesus

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 because of their lack of love.

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 Connection between who Jesus is

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 and the application for the church.

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 And so writing to the church in Smyrna,

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 in verse 8,

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 we see Jesus identifies himself

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 as the first and the last

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 who died and came to life again.

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 And then in verse 10,

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 he says to this church,

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 Do not be afraid of what you're about to suffer.

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 Be faithful,

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 even to the point of death,

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 and I will give you the crown of life.

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 Jesus,

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 I was dead,

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 I'm alive now.

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 Be faithful to death,

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 and I'll give you the crown of life.

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 In every case,

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 it is the vision of Jesus,

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 his splendor and his glory

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 that drives the application

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 for each one of these churches.

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 Now there is a depth

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 in the vision that John received here

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 of Jesus

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 and that gets reflected here

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 in this church at Smyrna

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 that really just cannot be plumbed

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 by mere mortals like us.

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 He identifies himself

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 as the first and the last

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 who died and came to life again.

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 And so as far back as your mind can go,

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 and Jesus was there before all of that,

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 he is the first.

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 He was the first,

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 before all else,

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 before anything else was,

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 he was.

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 He cannot be preempted.

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 Now you need to be careful

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 because thinking about him

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 as the first and the last

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 will tax your mental capacity

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 until your brain kind of wants to explode.

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 Or in my case,

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 I turn on the TV and get distracted.

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 Jesus is bigger

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 than our ability to understand.

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 He is also the last.

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 Nothing will endure beyond Jesus.

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 He is before and after everything.

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 He is the master over all things,

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 over all time and space.

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 He stands as Lord of all of that.

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 He is the one who died

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 and came to life again.

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 Now that blows your mind.

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 How does the one

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 who is the first and the last,

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 who never had a beginning,

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 never will have an end,

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 also die?

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 He is before and after all that is

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 and yet he enters into the progress of history.

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 He was killed and rose from the dead.

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 There are no categories

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 in the philosophies and the religions of the world

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 that makes this stuff fit,

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 that makes claims like this.

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 The death and resurrection of Jesus

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 ultimately means that death has now power over him.

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 He is bigger than death.

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 Our last and final enemy,

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 Jesus has conquered it.

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 He is bigger than it.

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 And if he is bigger than death,

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 he is also bigger than life.

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 And so after Jesus announces himself in verse 8,

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 he says in verse 9

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 that he knows three things

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 about this church in Smyrna.

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 He knows their afflictions,

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 their poverty,

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 and the slander that's made against them.

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 What could be more comforting

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 than for this Jesus,

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 the first and the last one

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 who's dead and alive again,

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 to come to this church in Smyrna

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 and say,

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 I know.

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 I know it all.

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 I know what's going on.

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 Jesus does not trivialise their suffering

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 by telling them,

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 it's not really that bad after all.

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 He doesn't demean them

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 by telling them

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 if they were a little bit stronger,

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 they wouldn't be feeling it so much.

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 They wouldn't bother them so much.

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 He doesn't cheapen their experience

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 by offering them unsympathetic advice,

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 you know,

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 well, you know,

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 it'll be better one day.

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 Jesus honours their suffering

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 with a simple and comforting words,

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 I know.

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 I know.

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 Your afflictions.

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 One of the most discouraging impacts

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 of suffering

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 is the feeling of loneliness.

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 And Jesus here reminds this church

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 of his presence.

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 I'm with you.

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 I know your afflictions.

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 Jesus also knows their poverty.

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 The irony is that Smyrna

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 was known as the glory of Asia.

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 It was an affluent city,

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 a highly regarded city,

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 an up-and-coming city.

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 And the church in this city

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 stood in stark contrast.

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 The church was poor.

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 Their affliction most likely

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 came from the people of influence

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 in Smyrna.

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 They opposed Christianity

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 because they thought

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 it was not going to appease

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 the gods of the Roman Empire.

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 They thought it wasn't going to make

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 Caesar happy.

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 And they thought

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 it wasn't going to do

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 the reputation of Smyrna

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 any good either.

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 And so this little church

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 in Smyrna

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 was opposed

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 by the power structures

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 of the empire.

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 It had no financial resources,

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 no influence in society.

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 Or so it seemed.

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 Jesus says to them,

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 I know your affliction.

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 I know your poverty.

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 This means

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 that the true Lord of Lords,

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 the King of Kings,

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 the one whom

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 Caesar

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 will bow the knee to,

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 knows them.

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 He knows their need.

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 And he says,

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 despite how it looks,

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 you're rich.

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 It's the same paradox

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 that the Apostle Paul expressed

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 when he describes himself

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 in 2 Corinthians 6 verse 10

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 as poor

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 and yet making many rich,

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 as of having nothing

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 and yet possessing

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 everything.

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 In Jesus,

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 we are rich

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 because we have

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 what will save life

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 into all eternity.

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 the only thing

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 that will matter

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 is whether or not

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 you have the gospel.

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 And if you have the gospel,

00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:23.899
 you are rich

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 because you have life.

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 You possess

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 eternal life

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 and this wealth

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 is yours

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 if you trust

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 in Jesus.

00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:35.039
 Jesus also knows

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 the slander

00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:36.579
 of those who say

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 that they are Jews

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 but they are not,

00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.799
 but are of the synagogue

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 of Satan.

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 You see,

00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:42.500
 the Roman Empire

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:45.539
 had exempted Jews

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 from participating

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 in the Roman Imperial cult,

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:49.440
 you know,

00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.740
 the sort of pagan idolatry

00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:52.759
 of the Roman Empire.

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:53.879
 Jews sort of got

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.620
 like a free ticket,

00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:55.679
 didn't have to be part of that.

00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:57.600
 Everyone else

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.919
 was required

00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:00.019
 to participate

00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:02.500
 and obviously

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.399
 Christians would not

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.279
 want to participate

00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:06.240
 in Roman idolatry

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.360
 and all their festivals

00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.240
 and celebrations

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.720
 and it seems

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.399
 that the Jewish

00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:11.320
 slander here

00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:12.779
 probably has to do

00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:14.240
 with the Jews

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.960
 dobbing in the Christians

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.180
 for not participating,

00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.100
 taking them

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.899
 to the authorities,

00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:19.340
 you know,

00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:20.320
 ringing up the police

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.120
 and saying the guys

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.980
 they're not there

00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:23.620
 enjoying in the festivities.

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:23.860
 Jews.

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.279
 And so the might

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.419
 of the empire

00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:28.879
 is coming upon them.

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.919
 And what Jesus

00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:31.659
 says here

00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:33.639
 is that he denies

00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.659
 the status

00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:35.600
 of Jew,

00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.500
 a person of God

00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:38.080
 to those

00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.940
 who do not serve

00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:39.779
 the Jewish king

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.740
 Jesus himself.

00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:42.759
 He identifies

00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:44.120
 their true allegiance.

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:44.440
 He said,

00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:46.220
 they are those

00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:47.220
 who gather

00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.120
 in synagogues

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:48.799
 in churches

00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:50.440
 to celebrate

00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:51.480
 Satan's kingdom

00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.700
 and not God's.

00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:55.860
 all who oppose

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:56.539
 King Jesus

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.279
 are aligned

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.340
 to a rebel kingdom

00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.240
 whose Lord

00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.899
 is a liar

00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:01.060
 and a murderer

00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:02.179
 who hates

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:03.519
 those who serve Jesus.

00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:04.639
 You see,

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.440
 Satan's plan

00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.600
 is to wreak havoc

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.500
 upon the people

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:07.940
 of God

00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:08.639
 and Jesus says,

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.179
 I know,

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.340
 I know it.

00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:14.019
 In times of hardship

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.620
 and affliction

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.320
 for the gospel,

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.419
 I think frankly

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.100
 we need to know

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.879
 that he knows.

00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:21.039
 He wants us

00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.299
 to know

00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:21.899
 that he knows.

00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.580
 It's a word of comfort.

00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:26.159
 But also

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.279
 what Jesus does here

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.419
 is he brings perspective

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.100
 to this church

00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:29.659
 at Smyrna.

00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:30.980
 At first,

00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:31.519
 at the beginning

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.419
 of verse 10,

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:34.860
 he tells them,

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.899
 do not be afraid

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.519
 what they're about

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.039
 to suffer.

00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.039
 And the only thing

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.019
 that will keep them

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:42.460
 from fearing

00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:45.840
 is what Jesus

00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:46.980
 has already told them.

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:50.279
 who he is,

00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:51.600
 he's announced

00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.519
 himself as the first

00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.039
 and the last

00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:53.460
 who died

00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.480
 and came to life again.

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.600
 And he's assured them

00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:57.480
 that he knows

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.360
 about their suffering.

00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.779
 He knows

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.420
 who their enemies are.

00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.000
 And they don't need

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.580
 to be afraid

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.860
 because of who he is,

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:07.080
 what he's done,

00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.100
 that he knows

00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.240
 and that he is near.

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.659
 That's a bit of perspective.

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.319
 The second bit

00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:12.919
 of perspective,

00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:15.159
 he identifies

00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.559
 who's at work

00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:17.399
 in their suffering.

00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:18.379
 It's the devil

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.240
 who will put some

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.899
 in prison.

00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.219
 There is no question here

00:15:22.219 --> 00:15:23.759
 about who's in the right

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.600
 and who's in the wrong.

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.240
 The devil has a plan

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.519
 to perpetrate evil

00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.860
 against God's people.

00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:29.360
 He wants them

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.659
 to be faithless to Christ.

00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:33.019
 And so the purpose statement

00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:34.480
 following the announcement

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.779
 that Satan,

00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:36.620
 the devil,

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.500
 is going to put

00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:38.779
 some of you

00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.299
 in prison,

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.699
 there's a purpose statement

00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.439
 there that follows.

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:41.980
 It says,

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:43.480
 to test you.

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.620
 I don't think

00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.940
 that's Satan's purpose.

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.260
 I actually think

00:15:47.260 --> 00:15:48.460
 that's God's purpose.

00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:50.020
 It seems

00:15:50.020 --> 00:15:50.760
 it's one of those

00:15:50.760 --> 00:15:52.260
 texts in Revelation,

00:15:52.400 --> 00:15:52.660
 in fact,

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.320
 in the Bible,

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.120
 that indicates

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.660
 that God is using

00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:58.320
 Satan to accomplish

00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.480
 his good purpose.

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:01.640
 What Satan wishes

00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:02.420
 for ill,

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.220
 God turns around

00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:05.560
 and uses for good.

00:16:05.880 --> 00:16:06.660
 God is using

00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.660
 the devil's persecution

00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.540
 to test

00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:09.940
 and to approve

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.660
 his people

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.559
 the hardship

00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.199
 is God's

00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.159
 polishing cloth,

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:13.740
 if you like,

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.480
 on his people.

00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:16.459
 And when his people

00:16:16.459 --> 00:16:18.299
 come through the test,

00:16:18.719 --> 00:16:19.980
 they make Jesus

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:22.120
 look magnificent.

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:28.240
 They make Jesus

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.719
 look more valuable

00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:31.179
 than life itself.

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:35.579
 because only God

00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.399
 could preserve them

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.299
 through such a trial.

00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.699
 There was a lady,

00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.539
 this was written,

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.639
 I remember the first sermon,

00:16:42.719 --> 00:16:42.959
 you might,

00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:43.799
 this is taking you back

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.179
 a little bit,

00:16:44.239 --> 00:16:45.239
 very first sermon here

00:16:45.239 --> 00:16:46.299
 in Revelation.

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:48.120
 this was written

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.120
 in the time

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.979
 of the Emperor

00:16:49.979 --> 00:16:50.899
 Domitian.

00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:52.859
 He was the kingpin

00:16:52.859 --> 00:16:54.479
 in the Roman Empire.

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.319
 And one of the,

00:16:56.319 --> 00:16:59.439
 one of the acts

00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.279
 of Domitian

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:02.240
 was he

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.240
 persecuted

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.180
 a Christian family.

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.180
 There was a Christian

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.200
 lady who had

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.339
 seven sons.

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:14.259
 and he

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.359
 had each,

00:17:15.459 --> 00:17:15.919
 put each one

00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:16.199
 of these

00:17:16.199 --> 00:17:18.099
 family on trial

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:19.339
 and particularly

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.559
 persecuted the mother

00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.299
 who was a known

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.519
 of the high society

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.699
 as a quite,

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:25.319
 a famous Christian lady.

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.079
 And the way

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:28.439
 he persecuted her

00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:29.299
 was to line up

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.319
 her seven children

00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.240
 and kill them

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.099
 one by one.

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.139
 Declaring each one

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.899
 of these children

00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:36.700
 to give up

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.319
 on their faith

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:37.839
 in Jesus.

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.279
 And none of them

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.579
 would.

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.599
 And he didn't

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.619
 just do it,

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.639
 denounce Jesus,

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.000
 no,

00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:44.659
 God,

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.319
 denounce Jesus,

00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:45.639
 God.

00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.879
 It wasn't just

00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:47.960
 a flash in a moment,

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.000
 it was over

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.359
 the course of months.

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.460
 He stretched it out

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:55.059
 to try and force

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.159
 her to break.

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.319
 And so one by one

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.599
 in front of her,

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.220
 her children

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.839
 were killed.

00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:03.359
 One thrown

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.079
 over a cliff,

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.159
 another one

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.720
 fed to the lions,

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:07.919
 two beaten

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.359
 to death

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.039
 with clubs,

00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:10.240
 couple burned

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.819
 at the state.

00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:13.500
 Until finally

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.740
 all her kids

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.159
 dead,

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:16.460
 tortured for

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.079
 another bunch

00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:17.579
 of months,

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.059
 she refused

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.720
 to give in

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.799
 until it was

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.240
 her time

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.019
 for execution.

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:25.039
 and she

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.480
 died,

00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:26.639
 committed

00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.379
 to Christ

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:29.119
 and

00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:31.259
 the Roman

00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:31.720
 Empire,

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.359
 people in

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.839
 Rome,

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.920
 watched it

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.460
 all happen

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:34.879
 over the

00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:35.319
 course of

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.759
 months.

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:36.940
 And when

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:37.799
 she died,

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:38.680
 the gospel

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.660
 just spread.

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.039
 She died

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.579
 with joy

00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:43.940
 and made

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.619
 Jesus look

00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.480
 magnificent.

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.139
 Her kids

00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:48.019
 died with joy

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.359
 and made

00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.160
 Jesus look

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:49.960
 magnificent.

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.700
 and so

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.160
 God was

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:52.779
 glorified.

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.340
 What the

00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:55.740
 devil

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.680
 perpetrates

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.480
 for evil,

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.840
 God uses

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.740
 for his

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.079
 good,

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:00.840
 for his

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.259
 glory.

00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.120
 And Jesus

00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:04.100
 brings further

00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.860
 perspective to

00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.259
 them when he

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:05.720
 said that

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.340
 they will

00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.340
 suffer persecution

00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:07.960
 for ten

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.500
 days.

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.480
 It seems

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.000
 that ten

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.660
 days here

00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.240
 points to

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.340
 a full

00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:12.799
 but a

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.120
 limited

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.620
 amount of

00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.079
 time.

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.019
 The point

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.440
 is to

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:15.920
 communicate

00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.480
 to these

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:16.840
 Christians

00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:17.440
 in Smyrna

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.240
 that Jesus

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.000
 knows that

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.200
 they're

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.579
 suffering.

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:20.420
 He knows

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.099
 how long

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.380
 they're

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:21.880
 suffering

00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.380
 for,

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.460
 how long

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:23.759
 it's going

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.460
 to last,

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.460
 and it

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.339
 is relatively

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:29.420
 short in

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:32.160
 comparison to

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.559
 the second

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:32.880
 death.

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.240
 And it's

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.480
 on the

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.119
 basis of

00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:39.859
 that perspective

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.640
 that Jesus

00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.460
 brings to

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.279
 this church

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.099
 in Smyrna

00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.980
 that we

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.539
 have this

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.240
 audacious

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.940
 command,

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.539
 be faithful,

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.779
 even to

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.319
 the point

00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.000
 of death.

00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.259
 Only Jesus

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.819
 could make

00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.299
 that kind

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.799
 of command.

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:56.960
 Only

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.759
 Jesus has

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.259
 the authority

00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.039
 necessary to

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.619
 place this

00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.000
 kind of

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.680
 obligation

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.680
 upon his

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.220
 people.

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.960
 He is

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.500
 the master

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.180
 of all

00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:08.720
 history.

00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:09.759
 He is the

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.319
 one who has

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.019
 laid down

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.599
 his life.

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.220
 He is the

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.200
 great martyr

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.619
 himself,

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.160
 the one who

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.599
 was dead

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.279
 but is alive

00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.660
 forever.

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:17.140
 he knows

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.600
 what these

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.440
 Christians in

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.160
 Smyrna are

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.120
 facing and

00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:20.640
 he says,

00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:21.759
 be faithful.

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.640
 Notice,

00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.259
 this is not

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.180
 a letter of

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.240
 condolences to

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.820
 the church at

00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:28.180
 Smyrna.

00:20:30.820 --> 00:20:32.060
 Jesus isn't

00:20:32.060 --> 00:20:32.980
 saying that it

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.860
 was infinitely

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.900
 sad what they

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.500
 were facing.

00:20:36.800 --> 00:20:37.740
 He wasn't

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.500
 saying, I'm

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.420
 so sorry for

00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:39.740
 getting you

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.240
 into this.

00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.900
 He didn't

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.460
 say, I don't

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:42.940
 know what went

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.299
 wrong.

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.019
 He's calling

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.620
 his church to

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.120
 take up their

00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:49.700
 cross and be

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.200
 faithful to

00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.440
 him.

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.180
 He's calling

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.019
 to press on,

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.519
 to run the

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.180
 race and

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.840
 finish the

00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:57.039
 course with

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:59.440
 joy because

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.400
 Jesus is

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:01.940
 greater than

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.320
 life.

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.019
 Only Jesus

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.460
 has the

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.400
 ability to

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.279
 reimburse

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.700
 those who

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.299
 would obey

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.240
 this command.

00:21:11.820 --> 00:21:12.500
 The command

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.839
 to be

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.359
 faithful to

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:13.940
 death means

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.779
 that it

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.359
 is more

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.039
 important to

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.559
 be faithful

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.140
 to Jesus

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.680
 than it is

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.180
 to go on

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.480
 living.

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.079
 Because of

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.599
 who he is

00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.039
 and what he's

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.619
 achieved for

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.000
 us through

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.519
 his death,

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.759
 Jesus is

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.380
 worth dying

00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:24.759
 for.

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.640
 And if he's

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.240
 worth dying

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.480
 for, then

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.200
 he is certainly

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:28.839
 worth living

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.180
 for.

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.539
 Only those

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:33.819
 who are

00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.279
 gripped by

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:34.680
 something

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:37.279
 worth more

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:37.920
 to them than

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.839
 life itself

00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.480
 will be truly

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:39.980
 courageous.

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:43.039
 encourages

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:44.059
 precisely here

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.620
 what Jesus

00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.259
 calls this

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.720
 church in

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.220
 Smyrna to

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:46.500
 in this

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:46.900
 command.

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.559
 He is

00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.240
 proclaiming

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:48.860
 that he

00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:49.799
 is better

00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.920
 than life

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.819
 itself.

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.920
 It's what

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.440
 the psalmist

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.000
 said, Sam

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.539
 read out to

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:55.980
 us from

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.900
 Psalm 63,

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.599
 because your

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.220
 love is

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.680
 better than

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.920
 life, my

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.720
 lips will

00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.640
 glorify you.

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:06.900
 The great

00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.660
 irony here is

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.080
 that Jesus

00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:09.020
 promises life

00:22:09.020 --> 00:22:09.660
 to those who

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.080
 are faithful

00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:10.700
 to death.

00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.240
 Faithful to

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.540
 death, I'll

00:22:13.540 --> 00:22:13.800
 give you

00:22:13.800 --> 00:22:14.320
 life.

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:14.820
 It's in

00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:15.259
 verse 10,

00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.780
 be faithful

00:22:15.780 --> 00:22:16.120
 even to the

00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.580
 point that I'll

00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:17.640
 give you the

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.580
 crown of

00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:19.259
 life.

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.680
 The crown

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.280
 of life.

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.020
 Now the

00:22:22.020 --> 00:22:22.780
 crown here is

00:22:22.780 --> 00:22:23.440
 not the crown

00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.840
 that you would

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.220
 put on the

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.540
 head of a

00:22:24.540 --> 00:22:24.980
 king or a

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.300
 queen.

00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:26.660
 This is the

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.660
 crown, the

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.460
 wreath if you

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.040
 like, that was

00:22:29.040 --> 00:22:30.000
 put on the

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.759
 head of the

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.380
 victor of the

00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:31.960
 games.

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.320
 It is the

00:22:35.320 --> 00:22:36.580
 reward, the

00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:37.360
 prize, the

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:39.080
 gift of the

00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:40.440
 victor, the

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.040
 one who has

00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:41.940
 overcome.

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.300
 He says, keep

00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:44.960
 running, keep

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.580
 going, keep

00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:46.580
 enduring, keep

00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:47.340
 being faithful,

00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:49.020
 and I will

00:22:49.020 --> 00:22:49.660
 give you, and

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.100
 this is the

00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:51.020
 literal translation,

00:22:51.540 --> 00:22:52.840
 the Stephanus of

00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:53.340
 life.

00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:55.380
 That's what my

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.100
 name means.

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.100
 Stephen means

00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:58.580
 crown.

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.940
 And these

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.740
 Christians, these

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.620
 early Christians,

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.080
 would have

00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:05.780
 known about

00:23:05.780 --> 00:23:08.820
 Stephanus, the

00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:09.480
 first Christian

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:11.060
 martyr, who

00:23:11.060 --> 00:23:11.940
 was crowned by

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.320
 Jesus with

00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:14.259
 eternal life.

00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:15.259
 And Jesus

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.840
 is saying, it

00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:16.440
 isn't just for

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:18.200
 Stephen, it is

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.420
 for all who are

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.640
 faithful, all who

00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:21.720
 are faithful receive

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.540
 the victor's

00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:22.900
 wreath.

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.700
 This crown

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.720
 imagery here is

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.120
 so significant for

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:27.880
 this church in

00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:28.320
 Smyrna.

00:23:29.060 --> 00:23:29.600
 You see, this

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.759
 city in which

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.580
 they lived, this

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.319
 city of Smyrna,

00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.059
 had gone through

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:34.019
 a very significant

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.799
 transformation.

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.419
 700 years before

00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.119
 this, it was

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.579
 destroyed, flattened.

00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.079
 And it laid

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.419
 flattened for

00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:42.980
 300 years.

00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:44.720
 And then it was

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.419
 rebuilt.

00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.139
 And it was

00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:49.319
 rebuilt quite

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.059
 significantly.

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.960
 It had been

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.119
 regarded as a

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.919
 city that had

00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:54.779
 come back from

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.359
 the dead.

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.419
 And it was

00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.240
 the crowning

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.240
 jewel of the

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.879
 Roman Empire, a

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:01.199
 city of affluence

00:24:01.199 --> 00:24:02.159
 and beauty.

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.259
 A very

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.219
 significant city.

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.099
 And one of the

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.000
 symbols for the

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.099
 city of

00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:10.240
 Smyrna was

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.819
 the crown.

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.219
 And Jesus

00:24:14.219 --> 00:24:15.579
 offers this

00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.240
 church in

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.019
 Smyrna an

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.699
 alternative.

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.559
 Deny me and

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.439
 pursue the crown

00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.099
 of Smyrna.

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.779
 Smyrna, take

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.500
 your place in

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.299
 the society of

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:27.819
 Smyrna, or

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.740
 remain faithful to

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.359
 me and receive

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:29.980
 the crown of

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.319
 life.

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.740
 It's quite

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.500
 significant for

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.059
 Jesus to

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.699
 promise his

00:24:39.699 --> 00:24:41.019
 church, suffering

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.799
 at the hands of

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.299
 this city, the

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.559
 crown of life, the

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.259
 other side of

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:45.599
 death.

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:47.179
 Because death is

00:24:47.179 --> 00:24:48.039
 the only way to

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.519
 life.

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:48.599
 life.

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.879
 Jesus dies on

00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.500
 the cross and

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.279
 he rises to

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.759
 life.

00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.359
 Jesus dies on

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:55.839
 the cross and

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.619
 gives us eternal

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:57.139
 life.

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.660
 And the great

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.740
 irony is that

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.460
 death is the

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.160
 only way to

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:01.579
 life.

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.480
 Death to

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:04.519
 self, death

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.259
 to sin.

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.660
 When we are

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.440
 dead to self

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:08.980
 and dead to

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.700
 sin, then we

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.359
 will be dead

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:10.920
 to the world

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.379
 and we'll be

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.240
 dead to fear.

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.139
 But we'll also

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.960
 be alive to the

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.519
 power of the

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.700
 spirit through

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.599
 faith in Jesus.

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.440
 And so this

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.039
 letter to this

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.440
 church at

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.519
 Smyrna closes by

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.420
 calling those who

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.980
 have ears to

00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:25.000
 hear what the

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.720
 spirit says to

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.400
 the churches.

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.000
 And then the

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.900
 promise of life

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.259
 in verse 10 is

00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.420
 reinstated in

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.240
 different language

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.700
 in verse 11 where

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.039
 it says,

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:35.099
 he who overcomes

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:36.819
 will not be hurt

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.859
 at all by the

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.599
 second death.

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:38.659
 death.

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.319
 As one of the,

00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:48.240
 I think it was

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.980
 Saint Jerome,

00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:49.839
 one of the

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.039
 martyrs of the

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.959
 Roman Empire

00:25:51.959 --> 00:25:53.039
 said,

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:56.240
 you may take

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.539
 my life but

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.179
 you will not

00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:58.779
 hurt me in the

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.339
 second death.

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.619
 Overcoming here

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.219
 means from

00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:05.019
 remaining faithful

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.019
 to Jesus even

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.559
 to death.

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:06.639
 death.

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.679
 And we see

00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:08.240
 what the second

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:09.179
 death is in

00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:10.119
 chapter 20 verse

00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.159
 14 where it

00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:11.879
 says the lake of

00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.419
 fire is the

00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.019
 second death.

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.539
 If anyone's name

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.319
 is not written in

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.379
 the book of life,

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.079
 he was thrown

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.159
 into the lake of

00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:19.500
 fire.

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.919
 And the second

00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:23.059
 death is infinitely

00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:25.720
 worse than dying

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.500
 a first death.

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.299
 And the only way to

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:29.059
 avoid it is to put

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.980
 your trust in Jesus,

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.159
 to give your life

00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:31.940
 to the one who

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.919
 offers you life

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.460
 forever.

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.840
 And so God

00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.700
 gets the glory

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:40.039
 for his martyrs

00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:41.560
 because he is the

00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.039
 one who has

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.880
 convinced them that

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.920
 his love is better

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.539
 than life.

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.920
 He is the one

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.820
 who's worth their

00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:47.700
 death to declare.

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:49.580
 He is the one

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.259
 who has so

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.519
 satisfied their

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.279
 hearts,

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.779
 so filled them

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.759
 with joy and

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.279
 contentment that

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.539
 they cannot deny

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:57.940
 him.

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.680
 His love is

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.740
 greater than life.

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.860
 In April

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:08.620
 2007,

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:09.759
 five young

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.120
 Muslim men

00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:12.820
 stormed into

00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.600
 the office of a

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.500
 Christian publishing

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.779
 company in

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.600
 southeastern

00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:17.140
 Turkey.

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.920
 They tortured

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.880
 and killed three

00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.740
 young Christians

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.480
 because they

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.580
 regarded them

00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:24.360
 as a threat

00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.600
 to Islam

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.440
 and to their

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.940
 country.

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.880
 And these

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.620
 three young

00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.160
 lives,

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:30.600
 which were

00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.019
 taken,

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:31.400
 were the

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.180
 first known

00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:34.019
 martyrdoms of

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.380
 Turkish Christians

00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.880
 who had

00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.680
 converted from

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:38.080
 Islam since

00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:38.600
 the founding

00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:38.960
 of the

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.279
 Turkish

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.259
 Republic in

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.420
 1923.

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.060
 Days later,

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.700
 the funeral

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.360
 for one of

00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:46.940
 them murdered

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.800
 was conducted

00:27:47.800 --> 00:27:48.200
 at the

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.680
 Anglican

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.220
 Church in

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.700
 Esmir.

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.200
 That was

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.779
 his hometown.

00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:54.600
 That's where

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.220
 he came to

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.740
 Christ.

00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:58.580
 Esmir is

00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.259
 modern-day

00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.840
 Smyrna.

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.640
 And even

00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.420
 now, God

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.100
 is calling

00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:04.960
 his people

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.759
 to be

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.360
 faithful to

00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:07.800
 him, even

00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.420
 to death.

00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:10.680
 Many have,

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.200
 many still

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:12.620
 do.

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.180
 Many of

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.440
 us are

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:14.960
 aware of

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.420
 what's going

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:15.900
 on right

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.420
 now with

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:16.840
 our brothers

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:17.640
 and sisters

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:19.320
 in northern

00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:19.960
 Iraq.

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.220
 May their

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.720
 joy be

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.180
 complete.

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:28.960
 more

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.400
 Christians

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:29.900
 died

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:30.480
 because of

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.620
 their

00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:31.160
 faith in

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.820
 Jesus in

00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:32.440
 the 20th

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:32.980
 century than

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.320
 all the

00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:33.720
 previous

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.180
 centuries

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.720
 combined.

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:38.759
 Christ is

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.380
 still calling

00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:41.880
 people to

00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.339
 be faithful

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.779
 even to

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.100
 death.

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.299
 Nowhere does

00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:45.620
 the New

00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.000
 Testament

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.420
 promise

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:46.980
 freedom from

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.500
 suffering in

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:47.920
 this life.

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.319
 In fact,

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:48.799
 without the

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.259
 cross there

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.240
 is no

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.819
 crown.

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.559
 My friends,

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.019
 we're not

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.460
 sitting in

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.059
 northern Iraq,

00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:55.519
 we're sitting

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.259
 in Chatswood

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.640
 and we

00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.279
 need these

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.920
 verses from

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.400
 Revelation

00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.200
 chapter 2.

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.059
 Not just

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:04.259
 because there

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.940
 may be some

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.480
 of us sitting

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.339
 here now who

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.140
 may die

00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:08.440
 because of

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:08.799
 Jesus,

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.980
 but because

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.619
 all of us

00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:12.079
 live.

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.240
 That's why

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.759
 these verses

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.180
 are so

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.619
 essential.

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.660
 All of us

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.240
 live.

00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:19.579
 And because

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.059
 all of us

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.460
 live, we

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:20.960
 face the

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.539
 question,

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.619
 is Jesus

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.259
 more precious

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.460
 to me than

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.240
 life itself?

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:33.599
 will I be

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.160
 faithful to

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.879
 Jesus and

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.460
 to carry the

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.259
 cross even

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:36.920
 this week?

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.940
 And if we're

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.500
 going to do

00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:39.920
 that, we

00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:40.460
 need to know

00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:40.980
 that Jesus

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:43.099
 knows everything

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.879
 we face.

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.680
 We need to

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:47.980
 know that

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.720
 Jesus has a

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.400
 purpose in

00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.039
 whatever we're

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.599
 going through.

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.359
 We need to

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.339
 be full of

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.059
 confidence in

00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:56.000
 Jesus and

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.740
 not resting

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.160
 on our

00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.019
 own resources

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.759
 to endure

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.180
 and to

00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.819
 overcome.

00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.220
 And we

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.539
 need to

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.440
 think constantly

00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.140
 on what

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.759
 Jesus has

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.319
 promised to

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.200
 those who

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.799
 overcome that

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.779
 victory wreath,

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.660
 that crown of

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.339
 life that will

00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:11.059
 never fade.

00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:14.339
 Jesus is

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.180
 bigger than

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:16.160
 life itself.

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:18.300
 can you say

00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:18.580
 with the

00:30:18.580 --> 00:30:19.400
 apostle Paul

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.200
 to live is

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.600
 Christ,

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.340
 to die is

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:21.740
 gain?

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.600
 Can you

00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.060
 say with

00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:23.640
 the psalmist

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.840
 because your

00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.560
 love is

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:26.040
 better than

00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:28.400
 life, my

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.160
 lips will

00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:30.220
 glorify you,

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.400
 my lips will

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.420
 praise you and

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.180
 honour you and

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.300
 love you and

00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:35.300
 esteem you.

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:39.419
 when Polycarp

00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.119
 was tied to

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.919
 the stake for

00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:42.200
 his execution,

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.619
 he prayed

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:46.139
 this prayer.

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.059
 It is a

00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.519
 prayer that

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.379
 expresses that

00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.899
 Jesus is more

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.599
 precious than

00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:52.480
 life for him

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:54.180
 and far from

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.059
 being a tragedy,

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:55.940
 it was his

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.339
 joy.

00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.680
 Let's pray.

00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:57.740
 Let's pray.

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:57.779
 Let's pray.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:59.740
 Let's pray.

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.740
 Let's pray.

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:05.279
 Let's pray.

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:07.539
 Now, Lord God

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.279
 Almighty, the

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.319
 Father of your

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.119
 beloved and

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.899
 blessed Son,

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.879
 Jesus Christ,

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.700
 I give you

00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.519
 thanks that you

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.399
 have counted me

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.279
 worthy of this

00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.019
 day and this

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.559
 hour, that I

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.460
 should be part

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.579
 in the number,

00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.819
 have a part in

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.399
 the number of

00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:23.200
 your martyrs,

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.519
 among whom may

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.559
 I be accepted

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.240
 this day.

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:28.079
 I praise you

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.160
 for all things,

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.680
 I bless you,

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:32.259
 I glorify you,

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.579
 along with the

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.639
 everlasting and

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.039
 heavenly

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.039
 Jesus Christ,

00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:36.700
 your beloved

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:38.220
 Son, with whom

00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:38.879
 to you and

00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.720
 the Holy Spirit

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:41.599
 be glory both

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.619
 now and to

00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.500
 all coming

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.180
 ages.

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.659
 Amen.

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:45.840
 Amen.