WEBVTT

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 Well, as you know, we're going to spend the summer months meditating on Revelation 2 and 3,

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 and whether we just continue on in this book after that, I don't know yet.

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 We'll see how the Lord leads.

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 But what we find in chapters 2 and 3 are John's record of seven messages

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 that Jesus sends to seven first century churches.

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 Before we ever zoom in to really think about the details of each of these messages,

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 we need to see the bigger picture of the setting and structure of this book.

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 We really need to see how they fit in the very unique New Testament book of Revelation,

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 and we need to understand why these addresses remain relevant to the church today,

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 because they are.

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 They are addressed to seven historic churches,

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 but that doesn't mean that they are irrelevant to us.

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 So that's really our goal for today.

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 We want to see the setting and the structure of these first three chapters of the book of Revelation.

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 So let's think about the book as a whole for just a moment.

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 The book of Revelation stands out because it is unique.

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 It is so unique that there are many Christians who obsess over it,

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 that you will be familiar with them.

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 This becomes a very divisive book for many people.

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 They have their positions that they cling to at all costs,

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 some even making it a point of fellowship with other believers,

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 which is absurd when you think about it from that perspective.

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 It is a popular book in that sense.

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 It is a book that some of us may be afraid of because of that.

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 But it is a unique book, and I want to explain why.

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 Let me just kind of set the tone of the genre of this book for you.

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 You know, in the Bible, we have narrative books.

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 We have letters, epistles.

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 Here's what Revelation is.

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 It stands out in this way.

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 It is an apocalyptic prophecy in the form of a circular letter.

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 It's an apocalyptic prophecy in the form of a circular letter.

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 Let me explain what that means.

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 It comes, all of these words come directly from chapter one.

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 First, it's an apocalypse.

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 Look at verse one, chapter one, the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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 What's translated in English as revelation is the literal word apocalypse.

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 The apocalypse of Jesus Christ is how we might refer to it.

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 An apocalypse is something that typically concerns itself

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 with what takes place at the end of history.

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 So we're looking at the consummation of history

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 and of the kingdom of God, the establishment and return of Jesus Christ.

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 What will happen at the very end, okay?

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 Second, it's a prophecy.

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 So if an apocalypse concerns itself with what happens at the end of history,

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 prophecy concerns itself with events in the flow of history leading up to that end, okay?

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 We get this from verse three.

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 John says, blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy.

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 So it is an apocalyptic prophecy that is telling us about the end

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 and the events in the flow of history that lead up to the end.

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 And then thirdly, it is a circular letter.

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 This is the form that it takes, the written form it takes.

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 So verse 11, we just read it.

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 Write what you see in a book.

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 Send it to the seven churches.

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 And I have a map here for you to see

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 because we're going to deal with these seven churches so much.

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 I don't know if you can see that very well.

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 When we say circular letter, we're really referring to a circular path

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 that a messenger would have carried this letter.

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 And so it starts here in Ephesus.

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 You'll notice this is the order in which the sermons are laid out in chapter two and three.

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 It starts in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum.

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 Then it begins to work its way back around.

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 Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

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 This is most likely the route that whatever messenger is carrying this letter from John

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 takes in the process of distributing this to the seven churches that are mentioned here.

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 And so it's a circular letter.

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 It's a letter, letter form, but it is an apocalyptic prophecy.

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 So what does all of that mean?

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 Here's what it means as we come to the book.

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 Revelation intends to unveil Jesus' return at the end of time.

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 The end of time, he's going to judge all that is evil,

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 and he's going to establish the new heavens and the new earth for his people.

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 Okay?

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 It foretells historic events that lead to the return of King Jesus.

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 Some events that await the future.

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 Some events that have already happened at least in our past,

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 but are recorded here in the future in the first century, in the future tense.

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 And then it instructs the church to persevere in faith and obedience until the king returns for his bride.

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 That's essentially what this book is about.

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 Jesus is coming back.

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 When he returns, he is going to judge all evil, and he is going to set up his kingdom.

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 And in the intermediate time between now and that return, there is a war raging, a spiritual war,

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 between the serpent in the garden, Satan, and the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ.

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 And we're going to see great tribulation.

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 We're going to see great hardship, even for Christ's people,

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 all leading up to his return when he returns to get his bride.

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 And so in the process of this, Revelation instructs the church.

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 This is how we are to persevere in faith and in obedience so that we may conquer.

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 And of course, there's lots of images used throughout the book, but that will suffice for us for now.

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 Now, I want to suggest that the sermons to the seven churches in chapter 2 and 3

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 present somewhat of a key to unlocking the meaning and purpose of the rest of the book.

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 And as we examine them, we need to keep in mind that they are preceded by this magnificent vision of the risen Christ.

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 And then they are immediately followed by a series of images reflecting the power of Christ in judgment and in salvation.

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 Jesus' words to the churches include his desires and his promises for his people as they navigate this spiritual war that begins to unfold here.

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 And even the structure of each message reflects the overall theme of the book.

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 Jim Hamilton says the opening words of each message in chapters 2 and 3 point us back to chapter 1.

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 They do that with those opening Christ titles.

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 When Jesus says who he is, he gives a description of himself that John then uses in chapter 1 in this vision.

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 So it's pointing us back to chapter 1, the person of Christ.

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 The contents of each message signify what will be described in chapters 4 through 20.

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 That's this tremendous war, this tribulation, this hardship.

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 And then the conclusion of each message promises blessings that the faithful enjoy in chapters 20 to 22 in the new heavens and the new earth.

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 Of course, before we can ever rightly understand the messages to the churches,

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 we need to carefully consider what John has to say about this vision in chapter 1.

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 Like I said, it's an amazing description of the glory of the risen Lord.

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 Along with this exchange between him and John,

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 it really is fundamental to everything that we read in the subsequent chapters.

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 Who Christ is matters.

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 So that revelation is not merely the unveiling of an event.

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 Revelation is the unveiling of a person.

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 The person of Christ in all of his exalted glory and power.

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 It is an unveiling of Jesus from verse 1 all the way to the end of chapter 22.

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 This is about Jesus and nothing else.

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 That's why we begin our study here.

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 And so before we get into this setting though of verses 9 through 20,

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 let's just talk about the structure of chapters 2 and 3 for just a moment, okay?

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 So let's look at the structure here.

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 Three structural notes that I want to point out to you.

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 First, these are sermons, not letters.

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 Sermons, not letters.

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 We typically refer to them as letters.

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 And so really what I'm dealing with is a proper classification

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 of what these messages are in chapter 2 and 3.

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 It's better for us to understand them as something more akin to what the prophets have to say in the Old Testament.

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 These various proclamations.

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 Now, the difference between a letter and a sermon is not all that great.

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 But in these messages, there is certainly this, thus says the Lord dynamic.

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 Do you remember in reading through the Old Testament prophets,

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 whenever God would have a specific message for his people or for other nations even,

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 through Isaiah or Jeremiah or a number of the other prophets,

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 remember there was a specific message that they were to deliver.

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 And they often began with, thus says the Lord.

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 Hear the word of the Lord or the burden of the Lord.

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 That's what the sense that we get here.

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 As John is writing these, it has come directly from Jesus.

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 And the opening statements of the messages have this, thus says the Lord.

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 Hear the words of the one who was dead but is now alive.

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 Hear the words of the one who has for a tongue a two-edged sword.

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 So on and so forth.

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 And what we see unfolding in this is that these are sermons.

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 They are proclamations.

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 Here, Jeffrey Weymus says it this way.

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 He says it better than me.

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 The best option is to identify the seven messages as prophetic oracles.

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 Messages delivered by an inspired prophet

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 dealing with a specific situation that currently confronts the people of God.

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 A modern, more user-friendly designation for a prophetic oracle is sermon.

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 So that's what we're going to call them, the seven sermons.

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 Because that's what it is, isn't it?

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 Isn't that what a sermon is Sunday by Sunday as I stand up?

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 It is delivering a message from the word of God to a particular people at a particular time in a particular situation.

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 And that's exactly what these letters are.

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 They are sermons from Jesus to the churches.

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 Second, let's think about the external structure here.

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 So how these seven sermons fit together.

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 Now remember, it's seven sermons addressed to specific churches, real churches in the first century.

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 But together, they paint a picture of the condition of the whole church.

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 And following Jesus' direction, I want to show you something that John does.

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 A literary device that is common to the Bible called a chiasm.

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 Have you ever heard that term before?

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 You know, okay, one person.

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 Well, I'm going to enlighten you a little bit today.

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 I didn't know this either.

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 But let me explain what a chiasm is.

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 It comes from the Greek letter chi, which looks like a capital X.

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 Okay?

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 Chi, not K-A-I, kids.

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 That's not the word I'm looking for on Thursday night.

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 This is C-H-I, chi.

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 It's a letter.

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 Looks like a capital X.

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 What a chiasm does is it's a literary device that starts at a broad point,

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 narrows in, and then works its way back out to another broad point.

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 And it mirrors itself as it goes through.

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 Now, I want to show you how John does this with these churches.

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 You see, it starts with Ephesus and ends with Laodicea.

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 Ephesus and Laodicea are akin to one another in that they have a similar problem.

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 The lukewarmness of Laodicea is very similar to the loss of love in Ephesus.

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 Okay?

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 Then we move one step in.

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 Smyrna and Philadelphia.

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 They're the only two churches who are not corrected.

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 They're the only two healthy churches in this whole scenario.

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 And they mirror each other in the context of what John is writing.

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 Then the three churches in the middle are very unhealthy churches,

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 but they progress from bad to worse.

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 So we see Pergamum is beginning to give in to false doctrine.

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 They're standing against some things.

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 They're not committing sexual immorality yet.

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 They're not going quite so far.

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 But they are giving in to false doctrines.

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 Then we get to Thyatira.

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 Not only are they committing themselves to false doctrines,

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 but now they've taken a step forward,

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 and they're incorporating the evil work,

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 the sinful actions from this prophetess Jezebel.

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 Then we go one step further in Sardis,

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 and Jesus says,

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 you have the reputation of being alive,

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 but you're dead.

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 So it goes false teaching,

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 false teaching plus sinful works to completely dead.

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 They're on the last lifeline of support,

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 and there's only a few people in the church that are even saved anymore.

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 They're even saved at this point.

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 And then it begins to work its way out.

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 Now let me explain why this is so significant.

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 Again, recognizing the intentional structure of this is important

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 because it emphasizes the universality of these sermons to all churches.

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 To all churches.

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 This is not just about these seven churches in history.

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 This is, they are representative of all churches,

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 of the general condition of the church of Christ,

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 and what we must do in persevering in faith and obedience with Him.

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 This is further supported by the constant refrain,

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 as we read earlier,

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 he who has an ear,

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 let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, plural.

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 So as this is read to each church,

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 it is clearly intended not just for them,

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 it is intended for us all.

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 And this chiastic structure

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 shows the overall condition of the church

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 and Christ's concern that all of them be faithful and healthy.

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 And at the very heart of this chiasm

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 is a statement of Christ's lordship over His church.

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 The middle statement of the middle sermon says this,

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 Revelation 2, 23,

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 And all the churches will know

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 that I am He who searches mind and heart,

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 and I will give to each of you according to your works.

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 This is this significance in the literary device that John's using here.

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 He starts in Ephesus,

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 and He works all the way here.

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 And when He gets here,

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 Jesus says that all the churches may know

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 that I am reigning over them.

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 That's the point.

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 That's the main point.

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 Listen to Him.

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 Hear His words.

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 He is Lord.

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 We are His church.

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 His glory and power are at the very heart of these sermons.

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 And it is to Jesus that we must cling in faith and in obedience.

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 We must hear His judgments.

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 We must repent of our sinfulness.

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 We must conquer through faith.

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 That's the point.

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 So that's the external structure.

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 Let's say a few things about the internal structure,

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 and then we're going to get to chapter 1, okay?

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 The final structural note here has to do with how each sermon is shaped.

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 They follow a particular pattern.

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 And let me just give you,

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 we're going to deal with this in great detail each week for the next eight weeks,

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 but let me just give you kind of the categories here.

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 It always starts with the church's identity and a Christ title.

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 And the Christ title always reflects something in the message itself.

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:46.299
 Take, for instance, the church at Smyrna,

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:49.039
 which is the second church mentioned, chapter 2 and verse 8.

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:54.000
 The Christ title is the one who died and came back to life.

00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:59.939
 And this corresponds to His challenge for them to be faithful unto death

00:16:59.939 --> 00:17:05.480
 and His promise that whoever conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:09.659
 So the sermons themselves, both the challenge of the sermons,

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.720
 the correction of the sermons, the promise of the sermons,

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:16.940
 are all rooted in the person of Jesus Christ.

00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:18.579
 That's significant, okay?

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.500
 That's how they begin.

00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:24.140
 The next part is a commendation, complaint, and correction.

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.079
 If there's something good to say, Jesus says it.

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:29.880
 If there's something bad to say, Jesus says it.

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:33.640
 If there's something to correct, Jesus corrects and calls them to repentance.

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:38.980
 And then the final category includes a statement of Christ coming.

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.220
 I will come.

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:43.019
 Sometimes He's coming in the form of judgment.

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:46.200
 Sometimes He's coming in the form of rescue.

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:48.779
 Depends on the nature of the message to the church.

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.519
 But He emphasizes His coming.

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:53.180
 He gives the conquering formula.

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:57.400
 Whoever conquers, remains faithful through all of this,

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:59.980
 will receive the promise.

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:04.779
 And then there is a call for all to hear.

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:09.599
 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.079
 All right.

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.120
 Are you still with me?

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:14.380
 You haven't reached those deep stages of anesthesia yet.

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.039
 All right.

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.539
 That's the structure.

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.799
 Now let's get to the setting, okay?

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.460
 That's where we're going to get to chapter one.

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.700
 Three primary things I want to point out here.

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:26.079
 First, where John was.

00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:28.339
 Where John was.

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.519
 Look at verse nine.

00:18:30.459 --> 00:18:34.539
 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:37.619
 and the patient endurance that are in Jesus

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:40.319
 was on the island called Patmos

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:45.639
 on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:50.019
 This is what marks the beginning of John's vision.

00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:53.839
 And this vision is going to continue all the way to the end of the book.

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.839
 And what he does right here from the beginning

00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:01.199
 is he identifies with his audience, these believers.

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:04.819
 Notice he says that he is their brother.

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:10.500
 Recognizing the familial relationship that we all share in Christ.

00:19:10.959 --> 00:19:14.220
 I, John, your brother in Christ.

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:17.559
 He is also their partner.

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:21.379
 That's the koinonia word I like to talk about so much.

00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.940
 That's the word he's using here.

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.079
 He is their partner.

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:25.440
 And look what he's a partner in.

00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:31.859
 I am a partner in your tribulation and kingdom hope.

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:36.259
 These two things are also rooted in Christ.

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:41.180
 And there's a sense in which John's opening greeting here

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:43.779
 sets the context of the entire book.

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:47.759
 As is made clear in Revelation and through the New Testament,

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:55.299
 the kingdom of Jesus is entered through the patient endurance of suffering.

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.500
 Of suffering.

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.940
 Of tribulation.

00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.279
 Of hardship.

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.839
 Jesus said this in Matthew 24.

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:05.500
 In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus said,

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:10.500
 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:14.900
 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake.

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:19.799
 That was a promise made from Jesus to his disciples.

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.279
 Acts chapter 14, verse 22.

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:26.039
 Paul was strengthening the souls of the disciples,

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:28.400
 encouraging them to continue in the faith,

00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.779
 saying that through many tribulations,

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:34.640
 we must enter the kingdom of God.

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:38.700
 And we can hear John's words here, even at the very beginning,

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:43.839
 being informed by those conquering formulas of the seven sermons.

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:49.319
 There's a guarantee of hardship and tribulation for those of us who know Christ.

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:51.299
 But there's also a promise.

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:57.920
 A promise of eternal salvation for all who patiently endure suffering

00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:01.680
 through faith in Jesus Christ.

00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:06.240
 I'm your brother, and I'm your brother in tribulation,

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:10.519
 but also in kingdom hope and patient endurance.

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:13.279
 And how could John relate to them on this level?

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.960
 Well, he tells us right here.

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:17.860
 I, John, your brother and partner in tribulation,

00:21:18.060 --> 00:21:19.140
 the kingdom, patient endurance,

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.880
 was on the aisle called Patmos

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:24.060
 on account of the word of God

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:25.840
 and the testimony of Jesus.

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.900
 John was suffering in that moment

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.340
 because he had been exiled,

00:21:30.540 --> 00:21:32.980
 banished by the Roman proconsul

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:35.100
 to the isle of Patmos.

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.880
 And we need to have the right idea of this.

00:21:38.020 --> 00:21:40.120
 Patmos wasn't, it wasn't a prison.

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:43.900
 It wasn't a Lord of the Flies kind of situation here,

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.120
 as sometimes we picture it.

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:46.940
 Patmos was civilized.

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.820
 It actually had a small community on it.

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:51.100
 It had a Roman garrison there.

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.960
 And what was happening here

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.920
 was not the same thing that was happening with Paul in Rome.

00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:58.240
 John had been banished there.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.940
 He had freedom on the island.

00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:02.620
 He had community in some sense,

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:05.180
 in the fact that there were other people there on the island.

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.840
 And he was free there.

00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:07.759
 He just couldn't leave.

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:09.740
 That was the significance of his banishment.

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.779
 Eventually, he would leave,

00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:14.940
 but not before Jesus did this amazing thing in the Revelation.

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:17.000
 So how is it that he's suffering then?

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.279
 If he has freedom and there's people there,

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:23.700
 and well, he's suffering physically due to his age.

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:27.360
 He's nearing a century years old at this point.

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.720
 There's a rugged terrain there.

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.799
 He's suffering in that sense.

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.660
 He's suffering socially due to the dishonor

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:36.799
 of an honor-shame culture.

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:40.140
 He's been banished, publicly humiliated

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:44.160
 by the rulers in his area in Ephesus.

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:48.920
 He suffered emotionally due to being separated

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:51.140
 from fellow Christians and family.

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:55.840
 And all of it was as a result of his faithfulness to Jesus,

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.400
 preaching the gospel.

00:22:58.140 --> 00:23:02.880
 He says, I'm on Patmos and I'm there due to the word of God,

00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:05.519
 due to the testimony of Jesus.

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.540
 That's why I'm here.

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:07.660
 That's why I've been banished.

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.840
 So I'm your partner in this.

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.860
 I know what you're going through, John says.

00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:13.759
 Now hear what I saw.

00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:15.459
 Hear what I saw.

00:23:17.219 --> 00:23:18.399
 Now then he says in verse 10,

00:23:18.479 --> 00:23:20.139
 I was in the spirit on the Lord's day

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:22.939
 and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

00:23:22.939 --> 00:23:25.959
 saying, write what you see in a book.

00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:28.259
 Send it to the seven churches.

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:31.079
 So this marks the beginning of the vision here

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:33.119
 and it's going to continue all the way to the end.

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:36.959
 In the spirit is a phrase that's used four times in Revelation,

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:42.279
 each time marking a significant movement in John's vision.

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:45.840
 And here, what John is about to see

00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:50.240
 is an encounter with the risen Christ

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.039
 in all of his glory.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:56.000
 So he hears the voice and then he turns.

00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.319
 That's where John was.

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:59.660
 Now I want to show you what John saw

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:02.380
 or who John saw, excuse me, who John saw.

00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:03.980
 Look at verse 12.

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:07.620
 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:11.579
 and on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:13.980
 and in the midst of the lampstands,

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:16.120
 one like a son of man,

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.740
 clothed with a long robe,

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.420
 with a golden sash around his chest.

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:24.160
 The hairs of his head were white,

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.900
 like white wool, like snow.

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:30.099
 His eyes were like a flame of fire.

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:33.159
 His feet were like burnished bronze,

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.339
 refined in a furnace.

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:37.699
 His voice was like the roar of many waters.

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:41.039
 In his right hand, he held seven stars.

00:24:41.719 --> 00:24:44.559
 From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword.

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.859
 His face was like the sun,

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.919
 shining in full strength.

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.959
 So as John turns around,

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:54.279
 the first thing he sees is seven golden lampstands,

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.980
 which verse 20, if you just look ahead,

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.679
 verse 20 goes on to tell us,

00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:00.420
 represent the seven churches.

00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.759
 The seven churches.

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.279
 Verse 20,

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.660
 as for the mystery of the seven stars,

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.799
 the seven golden lampstands,

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:07.360
 the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:11.000
 He also saw someone like a son of man,

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.660
 a reference to Daniel chapter seven.

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:17.299
 The son of man coming to the ancient of days

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:18.820
 to receive the kingdom.

00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:21.400
 He's using the image of the Old Testament here.

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.880
 He says there was someone standing

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:25.200
 in the midst of the lampstands,

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:27.019
 like a son of man.

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:29.119
 And in his right hand, John says,

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.379
 he was holding seven stars.

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:34.759
 Well, verse 20 tells us that the seven stars

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:38.900
 are the angels of the seven churches.

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:42.099
 Now the one in the midst of the leaven,

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:44.200
 of the, which, and by the way,

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:46.000
 the angels there I take to be

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.859
 the pastors of these churches.

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:49.579
 I don't take them to be actual angels.

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.500
 People disagree with me.

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.400
 Believe what you want.

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.359
 I think they're the pastors.

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:55.119
 And we'll get into that each week as we go on.

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.519
 But the one in the midst of the lampstands

00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.599
 is the one that we need to see.

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.479
 This is where the description is.

00:26:01.199 --> 00:26:01.979
 It's Jesus.

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.539
 It's Jesus.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:07.299
 And John begins to provide this amazing,

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.359
 amazing description of him.

00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:13.319
 Like I said, it's informed by both images

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.240
 in the Old Testament.

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:18.960
 And it's John using what Jesus says of himself

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.660
 in the seven sermons.

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.440
 He's going back at the beginning,

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:24.200
 writing after seeing that vision.

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.039
 And he's writing this description.

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:28.660
 So it's not that what John is seeing

00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:32.660
 is a man with Jesus standing in front of him.

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:35.240
 And he actually has a sword protruding out of his mouth.

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:37.539
 Or that his eyes are literally on fire.

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.900
 That's not what John is seeing.

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:42.039
 He's describing Jesus in a particular way.

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:43.899
 And what he's describing of Jesus

00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:46.399
 is his power and of his glory.

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:49.279
 And what we see John doing here at the very beginning

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:54.839
 is he is unfurling the divinity of Jesus Christ,

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:57.279
 the deity of Jesus.

00:26:58.680 --> 00:27:01.440
 Using language that the Bible reserves

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:04.039
 only for the Almighty God,

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:07.579
 John emphasizes that who he saw

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:10.180
 was Jesus, the sovereign Lord,

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:14.620
 who reigns over all time and space and matter.

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:17.100
 Jesus is God.

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:19.360
 And the events of this apocalypse

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:22.840
 are under his sovereign control.

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:26.279
 But notice where Jesus is in the vision.

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.519
 This is so important.

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.980
 Notice where Jesus is standing in the vision.

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:33.400
 He is in the midst of the churches.

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:37.120
 And he's holding the angels of the churches

00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:38.940
 in his right hand,

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:41.280
 his hand of power and control.

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:44.320
 Now the significance of this

00:27:44.320 --> 00:27:46.019
 is that before these churches

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:49.480
 can ever understand the sermons that Jesus sends,

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:54.440
 they must realize that Jesus is in their midst.

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.740
 He stands among them.

00:27:56.740 --> 00:28:00.140
 Just as his power and his glory

00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:01.680
 are at the heart of the sermons,

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:05.920
 so is Jesus himself present with these churches.

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:09.880
 He is ruling over them as the Almighty God.

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:13.880
 Jesus, the omniscient, omnipresent,

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:16.660
 omnipotent God hears them.

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.920
 He knows them.

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.340
 He sees them.

00:28:20.580 --> 00:28:24.800
 He diagnoses everything that is true of them.

00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:28.300
 He knows the truth of their works.

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:32.380
 And he knows the reality of their suffering.

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:36.240
 He is in the midst of his people.

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:39.660
 He stands among his churches.

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.620
 So that when we get to this description of Jesus,

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:46.300
 we see two prominent themes of the New Testament

00:28:46.300 --> 00:28:47.620
 coming to the surface here.

00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:49.919
 First, he is Lord.

00:28:50.959 --> 00:28:53.779
 And he is Lord of his church.

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:59.239
 Meaning, we must submit to him.

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:01.699
 He is our authority.

00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:04.279
 We obey him.

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.259
 We follow him.

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:08.239
 We trust him.

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:10.799
 He is Lord of his church.

00:29:10.959 --> 00:29:13.639
 So that when John begins to write these sermons

00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:14.959
 from Jesus to the churches,

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.379
 sermons of correction,

00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:19.240
 the only proper response for a church

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:21.480
 that calls itself by the name of Christ

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:25.260
 is to repent in the way that Jesus calls them to repent.

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:25.980
 Why?

00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.860
 Because he is Lord.

00:29:28.540 --> 00:29:30.360
 He's the risen Lord.

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:33.840
 But he's also Savior.

00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:35.560
 He's Savior.

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:41.259
 Why is it so significant that Jesus stands in the midst of these churches

00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:46.679
 when he's saying that they're about to go through a season of intense suffering?

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:49.680
 He tells some of these churches,

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:51.519
 you're about to die.

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:54.180
 You're going to be killed.

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.680
 And when they look back at this chapter one,

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:59.560
 what is it that should bring them comfort?

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:02.799
 The fact that their Savior is with them.

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.660
 He knows their suffering.

00:30:05.340 --> 00:30:07.340
 He is with them through their suffering.

00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:10.500
 And he maintains this wonderful promise

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:13.319
 that if they conquer in faith,

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:16.879
 they will receive eternal life.

00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:20.139
 And how will he know if they conquer in faith?

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.879
 Because he is with them.

00:30:22.679 --> 00:30:23.759
 He is in their midst.

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:30.699
 I've taken tremendous comfort in this this week.

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:37.360
 That our church is not just here.

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:39.160
 And Jesus is there.

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:42.120
 And we're just doing our best and trying our hardest.

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:45.559
 No, he is with us.

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:49.299
 He stands among us as a people.

00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.759
 He knows us.

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.059
 He sees us.

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.840
 He understands us.

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.860
 He's working in us.

00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:01.019
 He is reproving us.

00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:05.599
 And he continues to issue his promise of grace to us

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.399
 as a people.

00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:11.359
 And then when I see that he holds these angels

00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:12.339
 in his right hand,

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:16.500
 which I genuinely believe represent pastors,

00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:18.139
 do you know how comforting it is to know?

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:20.479
 I am in his hand.

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.679
 I am his.

00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.839
 He is mine.

00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:27.719
 Jesus.

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:30.779
 He is among his people.

00:31:31.439 --> 00:31:32.839
 He is among his churches.

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.619
 And we can take comfort in this.

00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:37.539
 And we must obey.

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:42.319
 Finally, I want you to see what John heard.

00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.619
 What John heard.

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.399
 Verse 17.

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:51.659
 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:54.980
 But he laid his right hand on me.

00:31:56.040 --> 00:31:57.060
 Saying, fear not.

00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:59.640
 I am the first and the last.

00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:01.400
 And the living one.

00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:04.279
 I died and behold, I'm alive forevermore.

00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:08.120
 And I have the keys of death and Hades.

00:32:09.540 --> 00:32:15.160
 John responds to this vision the same way any sinner would respond to a vision being encountered

00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:16.500
 with the risen Christ.

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:19.940
 He falls flat on his face thinking that he's about to die.

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:21.019
 He understands.

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:23.900
 He's in the presence of God Almighty.

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:27.240
 This is the only proper response.

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:30.859
 But John's been in this situation before.

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.400
 He's been here before.

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:35.180
 Flip in your Bibles to Matthew 17.

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.720
 Just quickly here.

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.259
 Matthew 17.

00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:45.200
 The first thing that John hears is the same thing he hears in Matthew 17.

00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:47.880
 He hears words of comfort.

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:55.000
 This is Matthew's account of the transfiguration of Jesus.

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:59.100
 Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain.

00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:05.379
 He's transfigured before them so that momentarily the veil of his humanness is lifted.

00:33:05.899 --> 00:33:10.139
 And they see Jesus in his glorified state shining in front of them.

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:16.059
 And he appears there with Moses and Elijah, representatives of the law and the prophets in the Old Testament.

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:19.179
 Jesus being the fulfillment of both things.

00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:22.359
 And remember, Peter speaks up foolishly.

00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:29.240
 And he says, Jesus, oh, we can just stay here and we'll make a tent for you and a tent for Moses and a tent for Elijah.

00:33:29.439 --> 00:33:33.500
 And then all of a sudden they're overwhelmed by the cloud of God's presence.

00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:35.079
 And a voice comes out of the cloud.

00:33:35.219 --> 00:33:38.159
 God the Father saying, this is my beloved son.

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:40.479
 Listen to him.

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:43.500
 And then what do the disciples do?

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.379
 Verse 6.

00:33:44.659 --> 00:33:48.979
 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:50.479
 So think about this.

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.459
 John's been here before.

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:56.740
 He's seen this vision of the, at least temporarily, of the glorified Christ.

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:58.400
 And his response was the same.

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.360
 He hit the floor.

00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:01.380
 He trembled before the Lord.

00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:05.440
 He trembled before the voice that thunders like many waters.

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.940
 And then notice what happens.

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:08.679
 Verse 7.

00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:16.420
 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, rise, have no fear.

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:21.900
 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:25.360
 Now, go back to Revelation chapter 1.

00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:28.160
 What happens with John here?

00:34:28.680 --> 00:34:30.720
 Same thing that happens in Matthew 17.

00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.840
 He hits the floor.

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.460
 And what does Jesus do?

00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:37.500
 He walks over and he puts his hand on him.

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:40.360
 And he says, John, fear not.

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.720
 Don't be afraid.

00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:43.879
 And why does he tell him not to be afraid?

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:47.000
 Look at the verse again in verse 18.

00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:48.399
 Or excuse me, verse 17.

00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.159
 Fear not.

00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:50.879
 I am the first and the last.

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.319
 I am the living one.

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.439
 I died.

00:34:53.959 --> 00:34:56.939
 And behold, I am alive forevermore.

00:34:57.139 --> 00:35:00.439
 I have the keys of death and Hades.

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:05.720
 You see, there are many people who, being encountered with the glory of the risen Christ,

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:10.860
 have no other way to see him except as a sovereign judge.

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:14.240
 And they tremble in terror before him.

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:16.960
 That's what's going to happen at the end of this book.

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:20.260
 The wicked of this world, those who do not believe,

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:24.179
 will face the judgment and the wrath of the risen Lord.

00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:29.980
 And they will tremble in terror before they are cast into eternal fire in hell.

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:33.800
 But those who know Christ, they don't experience the terror.

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.820
 We don't see him as judge.

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:37.500
 We see him as savior.

00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:41.380
 And for those of us who know Christ, who trust in his name,

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:43.659
 Jesus lifts us up.

00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:45.719
 And he says, fear not.

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:48.980
 I died for your sin.

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:52.860
 And I rose again for life evermore.

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:55.260
 I have the keys over death.

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:57.460
 I have the keys over hell.

00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:59.059
 Do not be afraid.

00:35:59.059 --> 00:36:00.779
 You are mine.

00:36:01.739 --> 00:36:03.159
 He hears comfort.

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:09.119
 The only comfort you could possibly have is the comfort that comes from the gospel of grace

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:11.599
 in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:15.219
 That he is the one who died but is now alive.

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:17.659
 And he holds the keys to death and hell.

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:21.000
 And if you will trust him, he will lift you up.

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:24.299
 And you will hear the same words of comfort that John heard,

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:26.519
 which is fear not.

00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:30.480
 But if you do not trust him, and you will not follow him,

00:36:30.640 --> 00:36:33.680
 and you follow your own path, and you seek your own way,

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:35.360
 you will not hear fear not.

00:36:35.600 --> 00:36:38.420
 You will hear, depart from me, you workers of iniquity.

00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:42.340
 Depart from me into eternal death and hell.

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:44.780
 I never knew you.

00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:47.340
 So he hears comfort.

00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:48.680
 Then he hears commission.

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.740
 Look at verse 19.

00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:54.320
 Write, therefore, the things that you have seen.

00:36:55.680 --> 00:37:02.000
 Those that are, that are, and those that are to take place after this.

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:08.840
 Now notice, it is on the basis of the vision of the Lord Jesus

00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:12.139
 that John is to write this authoritative sermon.

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:14.619
 He is Lord.

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.400
 He is God.

00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:20.380
 He has all authority in heaven and on earth.

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:24.539
 The things that you have seen refers to this vision.

00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:27.880
 This vision of the risen Christ from chapter one.

00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:34.420
 The things that are refer to the condition of the churches in chapters two and three.

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:42.380
 The things that are to take place after refers to the events recorded in chapters four through 22.

00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:47.260
 And John is to write all of it on the authority of the risen Christ.

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:54.480
 It is on the basis of the gospel that revelation finds its authority and its power.

00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:56.699
 The gospel of Jesus.

00:37:57.719 --> 00:38:00.079
 Write, therefore, because of who I am.

00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.519
 Write what you see.

00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:03.320
 Send it to the churches.

00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:07.320
 Jim Hamilton, again, is so helpful.

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.440
 He says,

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:11.260
 The incomparable glory of the risen Christ

00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:17.280
 is meant to motivate John's audience to heed what John has been commissioned to write.

00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:22.660
 The matchless splendor of heaven's king will attract the attention

00:38:22.660 --> 00:38:26.720
 and compel the obedience of the churches John addresses.

00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:33.420
 The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches.

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:38.140
 If you want a theme for Revelation two and three, it's that phrase.

00:38:39.080 --> 00:38:45.680
 The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches.

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:45.839
 Jesus.

00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:48.460
 Well, let's finish it here.

00:38:49.879 --> 00:38:51.440
 Why are we going to study this?

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:58.159
 Why take the whole summer to just think about two chapters in Revelation?

00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:06.500
 Well, like I said, though the sermons of two and three were addressed to real historic congregations,

00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:11.119
 they are representative of Jesus' message to all the churches.

00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:15.960
 Their problems, as we will come to see, are our problems.

00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:20.699
 Their promises, our promises.

00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:24.940
 So what Jesus has to say to these seven churches,

00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:29.839
 he has to say to the church at Lake Norman, so to speak.

00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:35.340
 I was told this has been probably six months ago.

00:39:36.760 --> 00:39:41.539
 I was told that someone said that our church is destined to fail.

00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:42.380
 That was their words.

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.740
 Our church was destined to fail.

00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:47.019
 And they had a few reasons for that.

00:39:47.120 --> 00:39:53.079
 They couldn't understand why we would encourage family integrated worship.

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:57.779
 They saw no way of how that could ever be successful in this particular culture.

00:39:58.519 --> 00:40:04.099
 Remaining wholly committed to the word of God in everything that we believe and practice

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:06.779
 and promote and confront in our culture.

00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:08.159
 It didn't make a lot of sense to them.

00:40:09.039 --> 00:40:13.980
 And their judgment at the end was,

00:40:14.219 --> 00:40:15.340
 this will never last.

00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:16.500
 It cannot make it.

00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:19.699
 That's a distorted view of what the church is, for one.

00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:25.419
 But fortunately, I find no cause for concern there.

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:28.679
 Because as I understand Revelation chapter 1,

00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:31.399
 this is Jesus' church.

00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:34.319
 We are in his hand.

00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:37.919
 He is in our midst.

00:40:38.019 --> 00:40:41.339
 Which means that whether or not we success or fail,

00:40:41.439 --> 00:40:43.579
 if those are even categories that are worth using,

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:47.759
 whether or not we remain or do not remain,

00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:50.300
 is ultimately up to the Lord Jesus.

00:40:51.060 --> 00:40:52.820
 And whatever he decides to do with us.

00:40:53.240 --> 00:40:54.760
 And to do with our church.

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:57.420
 He rules over his people.

00:40:58.060 --> 00:40:59.560
 He walks in our midst.

00:41:00.580 --> 00:41:02.680
 The only way this church can fail

00:41:02.680 --> 00:41:06.340
 is if we stop listening to the words of Jesus.

00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:10.200
 If we stop obeying his truth.

00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:12.839
 And in the case of such rebellion,

00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:15.119
 according to chapter 2 and verse 5,

00:41:16.460 --> 00:41:20.000
 a failure is actually a judgment from his hand.

00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:23.179
 Not because we haven't followed the proper paths

00:41:23.179 --> 00:41:25.960
 of church growth and methods.

00:41:27.419 --> 00:41:28.359
 Now, it's also true

00:41:28.359 --> 00:41:33.000
 that we will inevitably face tribulation in this life

00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:35.759
 as individuals and as a church.

00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:38.960
 We have loved ones like Beverly

00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:40.580
 who is enduring this now.

00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:43.080
 There will be times and seasons

00:41:43.080 --> 00:41:45.140
 that our church goes through tremendous hardship

00:41:45.140 --> 00:41:47.580
 and persecution from the community around us

00:41:47.580 --> 00:41:49.920
 simply for the fact that we follow Christ

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:51.580
 and that we stand on his word.

00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:52.620
 It is coming.

00:41:53.040 --> 00:41:54.220
 If it has not come already,

00:41:54.540 --> 00:41:55.720
 it is going to come.

00:41:56.420 --> 00:41:58.820
 It's a guarantee from the word of God.

00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:00.820
 And what we need

00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:03.540
 is for these sermons to remind us

00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:05.219
 that Jesus is with us.

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:08.900
 That he has conquered for us.

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:12.860
 We need these sermons to teach us

00:42:12.860 --> 00:42:13.779
 how to persevere.

00:42:14.679 --> 00:42:16.440
 How to cast ourselves wholly

00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:17.880
 on the risen Christ

00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:19.719
 who died but is now alive.

00:42:20.460 --> 00:42:21.960
 We don't need to fear death

00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:23.599
 because he defeated it.

00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:25.920
 We don't need to fear tribulation

00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:28.279
 because he reigns over it.

00:42:28.280 --> 00:42:30.680
 Finally,

00:42:31.180 --> 00:42:32.480
 our greatest need

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.920
 is not a building.

00:42:34.720 --> 00:42:36.340
 Though we are so thankful

00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:38.820
 that there is an open door for us,

00:42:38.900 --> 00:42:39.360
 it seems,

00:42:39.940 --> 00:42:40.519
 at the school.

00:42:40.640 --> 00:42:41.660
 And as we transition there,

00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:42.519
 things are going to get

00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:43.640
 a little easier for us,

00:42:43.680 --> 00:42:44.000
 I think,

00:42:44.040 --> 00:42:45.260
 on a week-by-week basis.

00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:46.260
 We're thankful for that.

00:42:46.480 --> 00:42:47.820
 But that's not our greatest need.

00:42:48.340 --> 00:42:49.220
 Our greatest need

00:42:49.220 --> 00:42:50.000
 isn't finances,

00:42:50.240 --> 00:42:50.740
 it's not

00:42:50.740 --> 00:42:52.380
 better strategies,

00:42:52.740 --> 00:42:53.340
 it's not

00:42:53.340 --> 00:42:53.960
 more

00:42:53.960 --> 00:42:54.960
 programs

00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:56.019
 that would be attractive.

00:42:56.380 --> 00:42:57.640
 Those aren't our greatest needs.

00:42:57.639 --> 00:42:59.619
 our greatest need

00:42:59.619 --> 00:43:01.619
 is to be faithful to Jesus,

00:43:02.039 --> 00:43:04.139
 to hold fast

00:43:04.139 --> 00:43:05.219
 to the gospel,

00:43:05.779 --> 00:43:07.339
 to live lives

00:43:07.339 --> 00:43:08.119
 that are pleasing

00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:09.339
 and obedient

00:43:09.339 --> 00:43:10.480
 to him.

00:43:11.559 --> 00:43:12.559
 And what we have

00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:14.099
 in these seven sermons

00:43:14.099 --> 00:43:15.460
 to these seven churches

00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:16.319
 is a message

00:43:16.319 --> 00:43:17.599
 directly from Jesus

00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:19.619
 as to what he wants

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:21.139
 and desires for us.

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:23.159
 It's his blueprint

00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:25.099
 for a healthy church

00:43:25.099 --> 00:43:25.960
 that conquers.

00:43:25.960 --> 00:43:27.420
 And that's why

00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:27.840
 we'll spend

00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:28.860
 the next eight weeks

00:43:28.860 --> 00:43:30.840
 studying this passage together.

00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:31.360
 Well,

00:43:31.360 --> 00:43:31.539
 that's why

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


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00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.539


00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:46.820
NINGNING

00:43:46.820 --> 00:43:46.820


00:43:46.820 --> 00:43:46.820


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