WEBVTT

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 So, turn with me please in your Bibles. If you haven't got a Bible, there's plenty just at the stand there.

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 It will help you if you do have a Bible, and it will help you to see that what I am saying is also from the Bible.

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 So we're going to be looking at the letter, the book of Revelation.

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 We're also going to be studying it in our home groups, and the way we're doing it in our home groups,

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 we're looking at the passage that we're going to be looking at on a Sunday.

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 So, on Wednesday just past, we looked at the first part of the first chapter.

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 So hopefully, if you came, some of these things will be fresh in your mind, and you'll understand them.

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 If you missed it, don't worry, all will be made clear. Thank you very much.

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 Thank you.

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 Now, I don't want anybody reading it. I want you to be listening.

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 But there it is. If you didn't pick up your copy, there's plenty as you came in through the door this morning.

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 So let's read Revelation, chapter 1, verses 1 to 8.

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 The Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.

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 He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw.

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 That is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

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 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy.

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 And blessed are those who hear it and take it to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

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 John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia, grace and peace to you from him who is and who was and who is to come,

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 and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,

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 the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

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 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.

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 To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

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 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him,

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 and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him.

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 So shall it be. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

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 Let's pray.

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 We are created.

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 You, Almighty God, are our creator.

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 And we need you.

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 We need your help.

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 We need the power of your Spirit

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 to take the words that we read and think about together

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 and push them deep into our hearts and lives

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 so that we are filled afresh

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 with the vision of the Almighty God,

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 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

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 so that we live lives

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 that are faithful towards you

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 and honour you.

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 Help us now, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 I recently received an urgent message from a friend in India.

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 Johnny,

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 please pray for six young mothers

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 who've been arrested at a birthday gathering in a nearby village.

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 Their crime?

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 They were all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Imagine, for four weeks,

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 they were denied bail,

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 left in a cell,

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 separated from their husbands and children.

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 Thankfully, I received another message to say they've all been released.

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 But it's a reminder of what to expect in some parts of the world

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 when you follow Jesus Christ.

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 Now, you and I may not fear arrest or prison this week.

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 But if we are Christians and if we're part of this church,

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 we do face an increasing opposition and persecution.

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 Being a Christian today is tough.

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 It's not easy.

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 The voice of the church is silenced

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 while a secular agenda is promoted.

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 Christianity, we are told,

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 has had its day.

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 It's finished.

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 It's over.

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 Our views of sexuality and gender are outdated.

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 Our message of a gospel about repenting and turning in faith

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 is completely irrelevant.

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 It's time to move on.

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 You see, it's hard, isn't it,

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 to be a witness for Christ.

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 It's costly.

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 You may feel isolated at work,

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 perhaps ignored by friends

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 or even misunderstood by family.

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 It can be lonely.

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 Christianity is for losers.

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 Christ and his church are finished.

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 That's the message we get.

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 And of course, this is nothing new.

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 As John, the author of this book of Revelation,

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 as he wrote,

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 Christians at this time in the first century

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 were living under the rule of the Roman Empire

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 and the emperor,

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 Nero.

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 A great fire had broken out in Rome

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 and Nero blamed it on the Christians.

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 He found their beliefs

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 anti-social

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 and it was an excuse to get rid of them.

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 Hundreds were arrested and convicted

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 for a crime they never committed.

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 One historian at the time,

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 a Roman historian,

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 Tacitus explained it like this.

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 Mockery was heaped on them in their deaths.

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 They were covered in the skins of wild beasts,

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 torn to death by dogs,

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 crucified or set ablaze,

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 so that when night time fell,

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 they lit up everything like torches.

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 Human street lamps ablaze.

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 Nero opened up his own gardens for this spectacle

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 and gave a show in the arena

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 where he mingled with the crowd

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 or stood in the garb of a charioteer in a chariot.

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 Being a Christian is hard.

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 And that's why

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 we've been given the book of Revelation.

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 This book has been given to

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 encourage believers

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 today who are facing

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 trials and struggles.

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 Rather than a Christian manual

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 to predict the future,

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 it is a pastoral letter

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 to strengthen

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 the church.

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 That's an important phrase.

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 We'll say it much

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 through our studies.

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 It isn't a manual

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 to predict the future.

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 It's a pastoral letter

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 to strengthen

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 and fortify the church.

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 So,

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 let's get straight into Revelation

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 and see

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 how we can be strengthened

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 and encouraged.

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 Three things we're going to look at.

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 God's perspective revealed,

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 God's servants blessed,

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 and God's victory assured.

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 God's perspective revealed,

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 God's servants blessed,

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 and God's victory assured.

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 First then,

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 God's perspective revealed.

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 Now, I'll admit,

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 if you've read it or flicked through it,

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 Revelation can be confusing.

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 There's a lot of strange creatures.

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 There's a lot of blood.

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 There are colourful visions.

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 And it can be hard to understand

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 what's it all about.

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 In fact,

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 some teachers,

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 if you were to listen to them today

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 and read their books,

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 it's presented like

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 they've been given

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 a special code

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 to unlock its hidden meaning.

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 And we're like,

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 what's the special code?

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 Well,

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 Revelation hasn't

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 been written

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 to confuse

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 or conceal.

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 It was written

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 to ordinary believers

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 just like us.

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 And it's meant to

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 reveal

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 and

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 unveil.

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 Look at verse 1.

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 The revelation

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 from

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 Jesus Christ,

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 which God gave him

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 to show his servants

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 what must soon

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 take place.

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 Revelation

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 simply means

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 to

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 reveal.

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 It's in the word itself

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 to reveal

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 or

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 make known.

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 It's like

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 the pulling back

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 of a curtain

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 in the morning time

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 where you just go

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 whoosh

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 and the sun

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 comes blazing through.

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 Well,

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 we hope it does

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 anyway.

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 It unveils

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 what is hidden.

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 Now,

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 this unveiling

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 comes to us

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 through the word

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 of God.

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 There's a chain

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 of communication

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 that helps us

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 seize it.

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 Follow with me

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 in verse 1.

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 Follow this chain

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 of communication.

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 The revelation

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 from

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 Jesus Christ,

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 which God

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 gave

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 Jesus

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 to show

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 his servants

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 what must

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 soon take place.

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 He,

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 that's Jesus,

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 made it known

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 by sending

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 his angel

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 to his servant

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 John.

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 So,

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 we can follow

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 the chain,

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 can't we?

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 God

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 revealed it

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 to Jesus

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 who revealed it

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 to his angel

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 who revealed it

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 to John

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 who wrote it

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 all down

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 to reveal it

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 to God's

00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:05.259
 servants.

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 servants.

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 That's us.

00:12:07.939 --> 00:12:08.500
 Christians

00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:09.419
 today are

00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.220
 God's

00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:10.559
 servants

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 and he's

00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:12.460
 made known

00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:13.039
 his word

00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:13.500
 to us.

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.860
 He's revealed,

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:15.939
 he's unveiled

00:12:15.939 --> 00:12:16.559
 what was

00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.179
 concealed.

00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.360
 That's how

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.059
 all scripture

00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:20.899
 should be seen.

00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:22.700
 It's God's

00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:23.179
 word

00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:24.500
 unveiled,

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.819
 revealed

00:12:25.819 --> 00:12:26.679
 to us

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.340
 by him.

00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:28.919
 So,

00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:29.360
 what's the

00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.259
 great revelation?

00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:31.659
 what is God

00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:32.759
 revealing

00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.759
 to us?

00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.700
 What is being

00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:36.980
 unveiled behind

00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:37.600
 the curtain

00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.240
 as it were?

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.159
 Well,

00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.539
 we get a glimpse

00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:44.840
 of heaven's

00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:45.460
 perspective.

00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.740
 Let's look at

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.480
 verse 1 again.

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.799
 The revelation

00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:49.720
 from Jesus

00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:50.379
 Christ

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:52.080
 which God

00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:52.700
 gave him

00:12:52.700 --> 00:12:53.259
 to show

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.080
 his servants,

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.100
 that's us,

00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:56.500
 what must

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.120
 soon

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.639
 take place.

00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.639
 Now,

00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:00.059
 that little

00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:00.460
 phrase,

00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:01.039
 what must

00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:01.480
 soon

00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.220
 take place,

00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:02.620
 is what

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.120
 scripture

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.919
 refers to

00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:05.220
 as the

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:06.080
 end times

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.439
 or sometimes

00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:08.100
 called the

00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:09.240
 last days.

00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:10.539
 It's the

00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:11.220
 period of

00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.080
 time between

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.279
 the resurrection

00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.240
 of Jesus

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.340
 and the

00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:16.240
 return of

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:16.600
 Jesus.

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:18.659
 Nearly

00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.600
 2,000 years

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:19.879
 ago,

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:20.600
 Jesus was

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.399
 raised from

00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:21.980
 the grave.

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.159
 He hasn't

00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:23.899
 yet returned,

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.580
 but one day

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.039
 he will

00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:25.519
 return.

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.460
 But it's

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.120
 that period

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.600
 of time,

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:28.200
 what must

00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:28.920
 soon take

00:13:28.920 --> 00:13:29.440
 place is

00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:30.060
 this period

00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:30.480
 of time

00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.080
 between the

00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:31.660
 resurrection

00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:32.340
 of Jesus

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.560
 and the

00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:34.480
 return of

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:34.840
 Jesus.

00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.660
 And we're

00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:37.580
 somewhere along

00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:38.160
 that line.

00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:38.879
 We're living

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.000
 in that age

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:40.420
 today.

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.060
 Jesus has

00:13:42.060 --> 00:13:42.660
 been raised,

00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:43.300
 but he hasn't

00:13:43.300 --> 00:13:43.840
 yet come,

00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:44.759
 and we're

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.660
 living somewhere

00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:46.300
 along that

00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:46.660
 line,

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:47.740
 because we

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.160
 don't know

00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:48.520
 when he's

00:13:48.520 --> 00:13:49.280
 coming back.

00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:50.759
 Look at

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.300
 verse 2.

00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:54.540
 John testifies

00:13:54.540 --> 00:13:55.680
 to everything

00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:56.379
 he saw.

00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.539
 as we

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.179
 read through

00:13:58.179 --> 00:13:58.679
 Revelation,

00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.179
 we'll see

00:13:59.179 --> 00:13:59.860
 that John

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:01.139
 receives a

00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:01.899
 series of

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:03.039
 visions that

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.120
 enables him

00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:05.899
 and us to

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:07.399
 see what

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:08.399
 is going on

00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:08.980
 in the world

00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:09.620
 and what we

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.580
 can expect to

00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:10.919
 happen.

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.139
 Of course,

00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:12.519
 we're not

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.159
 given all the

00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.240
 minute details.

00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:15.159
 We aren't

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:15.980
 given kind of

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.820
 like what's

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.559
 happening next

00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:18.639
 week or next

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.419
 year or in

00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:19.939
 ten years'

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.080
 time or on

00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.759
 such and such

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.259
 a date.

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.759
 But we are

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.580
 given a big

00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:25.080
 picture.

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.360
 But this is

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:27.840
 where we need

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.379
 to be very,

00:14:28.540 --> 00:14:29.160
 very careful.

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.759
 Revelation

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.820
 isn't to be

00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.560
 used as a

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.840
 manual to

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.440
 predict the

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:34.860
 future.

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.700
 It's not

00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.200
 like kind

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:36.879
 of a

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.379
 Christian

00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.120
 version of

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.240
 reading your

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.360
 cards or

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.700
 going to a

00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:42.600
 palm reader

00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.460
 and predicting

00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.020
 what your

00:14:44.020 --> 00:14:44.680
 future is.

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.300
 That's how

00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:45.980
 many people

00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.120
 do.

00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:46.620
 They flick

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.060
 through all

00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.440
 kinds of

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:47.620
 things.

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.360
 Oh, a

00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.180
 blood-red moon.

00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:49.700
 Do you know

00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.080
 what that

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.520
 means?

00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.000
 Oh, a

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.680
 plague.

00:14:53.400 --> 00:14:53.820
 There's been

00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:54.500
 a virus.

00:14:54.900 --> 00:14:55.200
 Will I

00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:55.500
 tell you

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:55.860
 what that

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:56.280
 means?

00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:58.379
 No, it's

00:14:58.379 --> 00:14:59.720
 not this

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.400
 kind of

00:15:00.400 --> 00:15:01.840
 picture of

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.460
 the future

00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:02.879
 and we

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.320
 know all

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:03.920
 the details

00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.400
 of what's

00:15:04.400 --> 00:15:05.040
 going on.

00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.080
 No, it's

00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.700
 showing us

00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.080
 what is

00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:07.680
 happening in

00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.300
 history and

00:15:08.300 --> 00:15:08.540
 in the

00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:09.460
 world from

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.140
 God's

00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:11.080
 vantage point

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:12.800
 because he's

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.400
 the maker

00:15:13.400 --> 00:15:14.500
 of the

00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:16.020
 world and

00:15:16.020 --> 00:15:16.760
 he sees it

00:15:16.760 --> 00:15:17.400
 all from

00:15:17.400 --> 00:15:17.980
 the beginning

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.480
 to the

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:18.960
 end.

00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.560
 Sometimes

00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.240
 John will

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.520
 see into

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:22.860
 heaven.

00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:23.559
 Sometimes

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.179
 he hears

00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:24.759
 a voice

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.879
 from heaven

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.699
 but each

00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:27.919
 time God

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.579
 is revealing

00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:29.860
 to us

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:30.379
 what is

00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.000
 happening

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:32.720
 from God's

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.279
 perspective.

00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:35.319
 You see,

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.139
 every time we

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.759
 turn on the

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.279
 television,

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.100
 every time we

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.759
 scroll through

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.360
 our social

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:40.759
 media,

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.559
 what do we

00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:41.980
 get?

00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:43.939
 We're getting

00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:44.559
 a view,

00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.299
 an opinion

00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.059
 of the world

00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:46.899
 from an

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:47.600
 earthly

00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:48.379
 perspective.

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.199
 Every news

00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:50.639
 program,

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.379
 every tweet,

00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.240
 every post,

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.200
 is just a

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.460
 commentary from

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.500
 somebody's

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.439
 limited,

00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:57.860
 self-focused

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.519
 life.

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.759
 But when we

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.759
 read Revelation,

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.439
 God is

00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:05.379
 inviting us to

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.240
 see the world

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.980
 from heaven's

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.559
 perspective.

00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.500
 It's as if God

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.059
 is saying to

00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.299
 you, look,

00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.500
 pull back the

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.580
 curtains, let

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.360
 me show you

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.340
 what is really

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.120
 going on.

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.799
 You think the

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.720
 world's leaders

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.820
 run this place?

00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:21.300
 Putin and

00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:22.060
 Biden and

00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:22.879
 the UN and

00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.960
 everybody else?

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.820
 Well, you

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.440
 read this and

00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.240
 let me show you

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.020
 who is really

00:16:28.020 --> 00:16:28.760
 in charge.

00:16:30.400 --> 00:16:31.540
 You think the

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:32.040
 church is

00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.660
 insignificant,

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.900
 that the world

00:16:33.900 --> 00:16:34.580
 has rubbished

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.220
 the church and

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:35.900
 there's no place

00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:36.220
 for it?

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.200
 Well, let me

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.120
 show you what's

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.080
 going to outlast

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.840
 every single

00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.220
 kingdom.

00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.140
 You think

00:16:45.140 --> 00:16:46.240
 Christianity has

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:46.800
 had its day

00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:47.380
 that it's for

00:16:47.380 --> 00:16:47.780
 losers?

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:50.899
 Well, let me

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.720
 show you who's

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.419
 going to win.

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.299
 You think this

00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.220
 world is all

00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:57.699
 there is that

00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:58.299
 we just live

00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:58.839
 and we die

00:16:58.839 --> 00:16:59.559
 and that's it,

00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.480
 end of story?

00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:02.959
 You ain't seen

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.799
 nothing yet.

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.980
 Let me show

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.700
 you the new

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.019
 creation where

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.599
 everything is

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.099
 put right.

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.619
 You see, as we

00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.639
 read Revelation,

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.920
 it's like one of

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.759
 those unveilings

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.240
 where somebody

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.859
 gets to pull

00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.299
 the cord.

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.180
 I'd love to be

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.740
 the one to do

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:19.900
 that.

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:20.759
 You pull the

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.680
 cord and the

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.299
 curtains wish

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:22.920
 open, don't

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.140
 they?

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.440
 Well, this is

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.079
 what Revelation

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.339
 is.

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.539
 God is pulling

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.180
 the cord,

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.200
 the curtains

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.299
 unveil, what

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.180
 was hidden and

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.519
 concealed is now

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:33.480
 unveiled and

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:33.920
 revealed.

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.839
 We are

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.640
 invited to

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.480
 come and see

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.559
 the world from

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.200
 God's perspective.

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:43.519
 and if you

00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.380
 want to know

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:46.080
 what's going

00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:46.620
 on in the

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.120
 world and

00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:47.660
 what we can

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.259
 expect,

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.180
 well, come

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:50.819
 back next

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:52.220
 week and

00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:52.580
 the week

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.400
 after as we

00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.080
 continue to

00:17:54.080 --> 00:17:54.720
 look through

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.900
 Revelation.

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:59.380
 So, God's

00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:00.019
 perspective

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.559
 revealed.

00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.400
 Second, God's

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:04.900
 servants

00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:05.600
 blessed.

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.019
 You see, the

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.639
 purpose of

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:08.819
 this unveiling,

00:18:08.959 --> 00:18:09.819
 this revelation

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:12.299
 is to bless

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.399
 God's people

00:18:13.399 --> 00:18:14.379
 who are under

00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:14.980
 attack and

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.599
 feel they're

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.179
 losers and

00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:16.619
 nothing's

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.159
 happening and

00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:17.559
 nothing's

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.000
 working.

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.559
 Verse 3,

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.419
 blessed is

00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:22.039
 the one who

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.039
 reads aloud the

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.799
 words of this

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:25.000
 prophecy and

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.659
 blessed are

00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.439
 those who hear

00:18:26.439 --> 00:18:27.019
 it and take

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.539
 it to heart

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.219
 what is written

00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.480
 in it because

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.219
 the time is

00:18:31.219 --> 00:18:31.599
 near.

00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:34.740
 To be

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.339
 blessed,

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:37.439
 is to

00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:38.059
 know and

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.839
 experience

00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.480
 God's

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:41.059
 favour in

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.639
 our life.

00:18:42.459 --> 00:18:42.879
 It's to

00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:43.819
 enjoy all

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.159
 of his

00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:44.719
 blessings.

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.240
 In other

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.419
 words, reading

00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:48.399
 Revelation is

00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:49.199
 not to be

00:18:49.199 --> 00:18:49.659
 used to

00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:50.779
 speculate about

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.399
 the future.

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.779
 We are to

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.839
 go away, we

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.559
 are to leave

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.319
 this building

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.859
 blessed and

00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.659
 encouraged.

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.939
 As we see

00:18:59.939 --> 00:19:00.579
 what's going

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.519
 on from God's

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.980
 perspective, yes,

00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:03.899
 there will be

00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.619
 parts that we

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.079
 will find

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.639
 difficult.

00:19:06.439 --> 00:19:07.259
 But if we

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.359
 persevere in

00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.199
 reading it and

00:19:09.199 --> 00:19:10.639
 studying it, we're

00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.439
 going to come

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:13.279
 away blessed.

00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:15.119
 We are going

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.059
 to experience

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:17.159
 God's favour

00:19:17.159 --> 00:19:18.220
 in our lives.

00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.460
 So rather than

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:19.799
 look at

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.359
 Revelation and

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:20.699
 go, you know

00:19:20.699 --> 00:19:21.699
 what, I don't

00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:22.259
 know what this

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.879
 is about, what's

00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:23.519
 the point, I'm

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.339
 not coming next

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:24.699
 week.

00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:25.500
 It's too

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.179
 complicated.

00:19:26.939 --> 00:19:27.460
 Not getting

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.119
 into it.

00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:31.119
 rather than

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:32.359
 ignore Revelation,

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.019
 see the

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.179
 promise of

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:35.619
 God.

00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:36.519
 Verse 3,

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.139
 blessed is the

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:38.979
 one who reads

00:19:38.979 --> 00:19:39.579
 aloud the

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.219
 words of this

00:19:40.219 --> 00:19:41.259
 prophecy and

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.119
 we will read

00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:42.759
 aloud the

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.459
 words of this

00:19:43.459 --> 00:19:44.359
 prophecy each

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:46.039
 week so that

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.739
 we can be

00:19:46.739 --> 00:19:47.699
 blessed.

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:47.940
 blessed.

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.860
 But how this

00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.580
 blessing is

00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:52.660
 experienced is

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.220
 crucial.

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.039
 You see, it's

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.759
 not just a

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:58.480
 mechanical reading

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.700
 of Revelation that

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.500
 we kind of turn

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.940
 up, we read it

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.059
 aloud, we hear the

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.620
 words and we

00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:04.400
 think, oh that's

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.059
 it, I'm blessed

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.400
 now.

00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.519
 No, look what it

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.039
 says.

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.360
 End of verse 3.

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:11.259
 Blessed are

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.379
 those who hear

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:14.879
 it and what?

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.039
 Take to heart

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.959
 what is written

00:20:18.959 --> 00:20:19.819
 in it.

00:20:21.219 --> 00:20:22.279
 We're to take

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.019
 it to heart.

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.599
 It's another way

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.219
 of saying we're

00:20:25.219 --> 00:20:26.659
 actually to reflect

00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.359
 on it.

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.639
 Not just to

00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:29.359
 listen to it on

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.119
 Sunday morning,

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.339
 but through the

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.740
 week, reflect on

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.279
 it, meditate on

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.379
 it, study it,

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.599
 come along to

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.339
 home groups and

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.240
 explore it a bit

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.680
 further.

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:42.720
 We are to obey

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.120
 the words of

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.880
 this revelation.

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.299
 And as we

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.259
 listen to it, it's

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.519
 going to shape

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.660
 our lives and

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:52.279
 transform us to

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.819
 help us to live

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.980
 life in God's

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.299
 world.

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.640
 As heaven's

00:20:57.640 --> 00:20:58.500
 perspective is

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.559
 unfolded before

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.640
 us, it's going

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.339
 to strengthen

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:02.700
 you.

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.140
 It's going to

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.099
 encourage you to

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.799
 live your life as

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.880
 a Christian, at

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.900
 work, in school,

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.099
 in your family.

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.819
 It will enable

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.460
 you, when the

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.539
 hard times come,

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:14.200
 to persevere and

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.900
 to push on

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.220
 through.

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.680
 It's going to

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:18.059
 bless you.

00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.420
 You see, reading

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.480
 Revelation is not

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.200
 an intellectual

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.720
 exercise to gain

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.700
 more information

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.660
 or to batter

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.519
 somebody over the

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.140
 head with some

00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:30.599
 wonderful meaning

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.400
 of the future.

00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.400
 God's

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:32.660
 love.

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.680
 It's going to

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.300
 fill you with

00:21:34.300 --> 00:21:36.140
 peace and

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.320
 grace and

00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:38.100
 hope and

00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.480
 confidence and

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.500
 assurance.

00:21:42.580 --> 00:21:43.700
 That's what I

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.400
 need today.

00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.220
 That's what the

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.000
 church needs

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.360
 today.

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.400
 We need the

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.320
 blessing of God

00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:50.280
 and we have

00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:51.800
 been promised

00:21:51.800 --> 00:21:52.240
 it.

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:56.900
 So, the

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.920
 revelation which

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.160
 comes to us

00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.900
 is going to

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.539
 bless us

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.400
 because,

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.039
 number three,

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.440
 the big

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.460
 blessing is

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.339
 God's victory

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.440
 is assured.

00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:14.599
 This revelation

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.759
 given to John

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.740
 has been written

00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:17.160
 down.

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.079
 Look, verse

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.500
 four.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:22.220
 John, to

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.839
 the seven

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.639
 churches in

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.279
 the province

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.779
 of Asia.

00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:26.059
 That's modern

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.699
 Turkey.

00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:28.559
 Now, we'll

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.199
 get to these

00:22:29.199 --> 00:22:30.099
 seven churches

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.859
 over the next

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.519
 few weeks.

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.639
 They're in

00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:33.379
 chapters two

00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:33.759
 and three.

00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.220
 If you just

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.919
 turn a page,

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.579
 you'll see to

00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.439
 the church in

00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:37.099
 Ephesus, to

00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.819
 the church in

00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.500
 Smyrna and

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.000
 so on.

00:22:39.439 --> 00:22:40.039
 We'll look at

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.699
 these seven

00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:41.419
 churches.

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.839
 But what was

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.519
 written to

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.379
 those seven

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.379
 churches then

00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:45.960
 in the first

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.639
 century is

00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:48.120
 written to

00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:48.740
 the church

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.840
 today in

00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.600
 all times

00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:50.940
 and in

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.580
 all places,

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:52.480
 including

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.259
 Carigoline

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.720
 Baptist

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.380
 Church.

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:55.900
 It's God's

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.320
 word to

00:22:56.320 --> 00:22:57.080
 his church,

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.759
 to his

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.660
 believers.

00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:03.460
 This letter

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.520
 then, from

00:23:04.520 --> 00:23:06.800
 John, he

00:23:06.800 --> 00:23:07.480
 wants us to

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.640
 see who is

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.600
 the ultimate

00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.440
 author.

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.180
 It's a

00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.720
 letter from

00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.560
 God to

00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:15.140
 us to

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:15.880
 strengthen us.

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.300
 Look at the

00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:16.680
 rest of

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.200
 verse four.

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:21.160
 grace and

00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:21.740
 peace to

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.440
 you from

00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:25.820
 him who

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:26.880
 is and

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.580
 who was

00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.700
 and who

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.320
 is to

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:29.640
 come.

00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:31.660
 It's a

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.440
 message, a

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.940
 letter from

00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.700
 the sovereign

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:36.960
 father, from

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.720
 him, from

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.320
 God the

00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:39.940
 father who

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.100
 is and

00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:41.800
 who was

00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:42.900
 and who

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.300
 is to

00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:43.620
 come.

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:44.840
 This is

00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:46.320
 the self

00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:46.900
 existing

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.580
 God.

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:50.000
 No one

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.220
 created

00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.500
 God.

00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:51.860
 Someone

00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:52.600
 created you,

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.320
 God created

00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:53.740
 you, but

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.500
 no one

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.000
 created

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.500
 God.

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.920
 Nobody

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:58.180
 thought up

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.600
 God.

00:23:59.340 --> 00:23:59.780
 He has

00:23:59.780 --> 00:24:00.980
 no beginning

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:03.400
 and he

00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.019
 has no

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.500
 end.

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:05.740
 Get your

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.180
 head around

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.660
 that one.

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.320
 Verse eight.

00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.640
 He says,

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.259
 I am the

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.820
 alpha

00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:12.640
 and the

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.100
 omega.

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.759
 the

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.740
 A to

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.859
 Z, says

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.279
 the Lord

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.279
 almighty, who

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.980
 is and who

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.119
 was and who

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.139
 is to come, the

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:20.879
 almighty.

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.019
 He is the

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.099
 first in

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.179
 history and

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.899
 he is the

00:24:24.899 --> 00:24:25.959
 last in

00:24:25.959 --> 00:24:26.379
 history.

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.559
 There was

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.500
 never a

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:30.500
 time when

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.159
 God was

00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:31.899
 not there

00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:33.459
 and there

00:24:33.459 --> 00:24:34.199
 will never be

00:24:34.199 --> 00:24:34.939
 a time when

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:36.659
 God is not

00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.019
 there.

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.379
 He is,

00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:40.280
 verse eight.

00:24:41.260 --> 00:24:42.560
 The almighty.

00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.180
 He owns

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.820
 all things.

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.160
 He rules

00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.760
 all things.

00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:47.980
 He endures

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.680
 over all

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.040
 things.

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:49.620
 He is

00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.360
 over every

00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:51.040
 nation and

00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:51.780
 every kingdom

00:24:51.780 --> 00:24:52.520
 and he

00:24:52.520 --> 00:24:53.400
 outlasts

00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:54.700
 every person

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.500
 and ruler.

00:24:57.800 --> 00:24:58.660
 This is

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.660
 my world,

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.020
 says God.

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.240
 This is

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.140
 my

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:04.040
 universe.

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:05.880
 I am

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.460
 over your

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:06.980
 life and

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.720
 over every

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.460
 single thing

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.100
 that happens.

00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:10.540
 you may

00:25:10.540 --> 00:25:11.160
 feel it's

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.580
 out of

00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:11.980
 control,

00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.080
 but I

00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:14.480
 am in

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.900
 control.

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.180
 I know

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.600
 what you

00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.340
 will face

00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:20.260
 and I

00:25:20.260 --> 00:25:20.680
 know what

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.020
 you will

00:25:21.020 --> 00:25:21.400
 need.

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.100
 I am

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.840
 working out

00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:24.880
 everything for

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.620
 your good

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.880
 and my

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.260
 glory.

00:25:28.780 --> 00:25:29.660
 I am

00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.060
 your

00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:31.500
 sovereign

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.060
 father.

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.160
 This is

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.540
 who it's

00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:35.840
 from,

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:37.720
 but not

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.220
 just from

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.760
 the sovereign

00:25:38.760 --> 00:25:39.280
 father.

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:41.560
 look at

00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:42.660
 end of

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.240
 verse 4.

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.320
 Grace and

00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:45.640
 peace to

00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:45.940
 you from

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.640
 him who

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.040
 is and

00:25:47.040 --> 00:25:47.500
 who was

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:47.760
 and who

00:25:47.760 --> 00:25:48.040
 is to

00:25:48.040 --> 00:25:48.260
 come,

00:25:48.760 --> 00:25:49.300
 and who

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.660
 else?

00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.480
 From the

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.120
 seven

00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:51.820
 spirits

00:25:51.820 --> 00:25:52.600
 before his

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:52.920
 throne.

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.840
 Well, I

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.180
 thought there

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.540
 was just

00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:56.460
 one spirit.

00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:57.860
 Why are

00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.580
 there seven

00:25:58.580 --> 00:25:59.080
 spirits?

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.600
 Well, turn

00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:01.940
 with me.

00:26:02.020 --> 00:26:02.560
 We looked

00:26:02.560 --> 00:26:03.000
 at this,

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:03.860
 I hope you

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.300
 did in your

00:26:04.300 --> 00:26:04.820
 home groups

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.220
 at least

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.559
 anyway,

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:06.139
 Isaiah

00:26:06.139 --> 00:26:07.099
 chapter 11.

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.439
 Just have

00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:08.939
 a flick

00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.419
 back to

00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:09.839
 Isaiah

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.559
 chapter 11.

00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:10.799
 It's

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.299
 almost in

00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:11.619
 the middle

00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:11.899
 of your

00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.279
 Bible.

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.779
 Isaiah

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.759
 chapter 11.

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.200
 Here the

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.079
 prophet Isaiah

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.139
 is speaking

00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:26.339
 about the

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:26.779
 coming

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.720
 servant of

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.179
 the Lord.

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.720
 and it

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.200
 tells us

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.560
 something

00:26:31.560 --> 00:26:32.220
 about him.

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.539
 We'll

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:35.820
 pick it

00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:36.100
 up in

00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:36.660
 verse 2,

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.140
 chapter 11

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.799
 verse 2.

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.000
 When the

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.620
 servant of

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:41.960
 the Lord

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.539
 comes,

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:46.400
 look at

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.720
 what we're

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.140
 told.

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.779
 The

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.860
 spirit of

00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.500
 the Lord

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.500
 will rest

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.019
 on him.

00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:54.580
 The

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.480
 spirit of

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.080
 wisdom and

00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:56.779
 the spirit

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.700
 of understanding.

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.980
 The

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.759
 spirit of

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.460
 counsel and

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.140
 the spirit

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.820
 of might.

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.240
 The

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.080
 spirit of

00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:04.700
 the knowledge

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.140
 and the

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:05.759
 spirit of

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.240
 the fear

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:06.539
 of the

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:06.840
 Lord.

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.840
 And he

00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.620
 will delight

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:11.220
 in the

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.640
 fear of

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.060
 the Lord.

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.600
 In other

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:13.940
 words,

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.519
 the fullness

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.900
 of the

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.860
 spirit will

00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.500
 be on

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.660
 this

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.039
 servant.

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.519
 So it's

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.299
 not seven

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.880
 different

00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.380
 spirits.

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.160
 It's the

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:23.740
 one Holy

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.360
 Spirit in

00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.039
 all his

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:26.240
 perfection

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.440
 and

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.160
 completeness.

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:30.660
 let's go

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.360
 back to

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.019
 Revelation.

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:33.759
 And that's

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.180
 John's

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.920
 point here.

00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:36.080
 He

00:27:36.080 --> 00:27:37.000
 introduces us

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.500
 to the

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.580
 one Holy

00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:39.440
 Spirit in

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.799
 all his

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.940
 fullness to

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.640
 say to us

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.039
 that the

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.759
 Holy Spirit

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.860
 is for

00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.180
 us.

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:45.920
 All his

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.420
 wisdom,

00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:47.620
 all his

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.340
 understanding,

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.240
 all his

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.720
 counsel,

00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.539
 all his

00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:50.920
 might,

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.680
 all his

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.160
 knowledge,

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:52.900
 all his

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.460
 fear of

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:53.759
 the Lord,

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.980
 the spirit

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.480
 of the

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:55.799
 Lord,

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.460
 who knows

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.180
 all things,

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.140
 who sees

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.779
 all things,

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.620
 and is at

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.180
 work in

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.880
 all things,

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.779
 is for

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.180
 you.

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.480
 You may

00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.319
 feel alone,

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.960
 hopeless and

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.299
 helpless.

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:10.960
 You may

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.759
 struggle and

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.500
 lose heart,

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.640
 but I am the

00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.620
 eternal spirit

00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.279
 before the

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.539
 throne.

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.299
 I am

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.220
 ensuring that

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.039
 God's rule

00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.660
 in heaven

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:21.360
 will be done

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:22.620
 on earth.

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:24.719
 I will

00:28:24.719 --> 00:28:25.399
 not abandon

00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:25.839
 you in

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.439
 your struggle.

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.939
 I will

00:28:27.939 --> 00:28:28.479
 not leave

00:28:28.479 --> 00:28:28.799
 you in

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:28.979
 your

00:28:28.979 --> 00:28:29.399
 suffering.

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.179
 I am

00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:31.879
 present with

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.219
 you in

00:28:32.219 --> 00:28:32.939
 all my

00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:33.519
 fullness

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.879
 and

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.699
 completeness.

00:28:37.959 --> 00:28:38.939
 So this

00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.819
 revelation is

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.379
 from the

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:40.919
 sovereign

00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:41.479
 father,

00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:42.539
 the eternal

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.059
 spirit,

00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:43.779
 and third,

00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:45.819
 it's from

00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.179
 the,

00:28:46.459 --> 00:28:47.039
 whoops,

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:47.439
 we missed

00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:47.839
 out one,

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:49.319
 the conquering

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.779
 son.

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.639
 Verse

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.099
 five,

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.939
 it's

00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:54.639
 from

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.979
 Jesus

00:28:55.979 --> 00:28:56.519
 Christ,

00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:56.939
 who is

00:28:56.939 --> 00:28:57.139
 the

00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.619
 faithful

00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.039
 witness,

00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:58.319
 the

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:58.879
 firstborn

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.279
 from the

00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.500
 dead,

00:28:59.739 --> 00:29:00.279
 and the

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.879
 ruler of

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.319
 the kings

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.599
 of the

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:01.919
 earth.

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.379
 Jesus

00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:04.619
 is the

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.819
 faithful

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.179
 witness.

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:06.699
 He lived

00:29:06.699 --> 00:29:07.219
 his life

00:29:07.219 --> 00:29:08.079
 in perfect

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.939
 obedience to

00:29:08.939 --> 00:29:09.439
 the father.

00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:10.319
 Despite

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.000
 all his

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.579
 sufferings

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:11.859
 that he

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.319
 went through,

00:29:12.699 --> 00:29:13.779
 he faithfully

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.259
 followed.

00:29:16.479 --> 00:29:17.039
 And

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.759
 through his

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.299
 work,

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.059
 he defeated

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.739
 the fear

00:29:20.739 --> 00:29:21.179
 of death.

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.679
 He is the

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.480
 firstborn

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.580
 from the

00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:23.880
 dead.

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.160
 He destroyed

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.080
 the powers

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.720
 of darkness.

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.799
 He is the

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.600
 conquering

00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.240
 son,

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:30.400
 who,

00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:30.900
 look at the

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.160
 end of

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.799
 verse five,

00:29:32.580 --> 00:29:33.340
 is now the

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.940
 ruler of

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.519
 the kings

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:35.900
 of the

00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.240
 earth.

00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:37.799
 He's the

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.240
 one in

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:38.720
 charge.

00:29:39.600 --> 00:29:40.019
 He's the

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.360
 one who

00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:40.900
 sits on

00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.380
 the throne.

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.620
 Now,

00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.299
 says Jesus,

00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:47.100
 I want you

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:47.580
 to know

00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:48.100
 what I've

00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:48.779
 done for you,

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:50.500
 and what I've

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.000
 called you

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.440
 to be.

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.399
 This is

00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:54.079
 what my

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:55.759
 suffering has

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.500
 achieved for

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:56.799
 you.

00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:57.920
 Do you see

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.519
 what it says

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:58.980
 in the middle

00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.639
 of the second

00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.119
 part of

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.720
 verse five?

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.960
 To him

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.539
 who loves

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:05.420
 us and

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:05.980
 has freed

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.440
 us from

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.039
 our sins

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.799
 by his

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.259
 blood.

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.639
 Jesus has

00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:10.480
 died for

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.859
 us and

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.559
 dealt with

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.160
 our sin

00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:13.319
 once and

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:13.899
 for all.

00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:16.300
 verse six,

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.000
 and has

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.920
 made us

00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.540
 to be a

00:30:18.540 --> 00:30:18.920
 kingdom

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.640
 and priests

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.880
 to serve

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.840
 his God

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.540
 and Father,

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.560
 to him be

00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:25.160
 glory and

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.940
 power forever

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.440
 and ever.

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.220
 Amen.

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.620
 Jesus is the

00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.420
 faithful witness

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.320
 and now he

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:31.180
 turns to his

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.759
 church, to

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.420
 people like

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.200
 us, and he

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.780
 says, I've

00:30:33.780 --> 00:30:34.480
 freed you.

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.400
 I've dealt

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.820
 with your

00:30:36.820 --> 00:30:37.940
 sin so that

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.780
 you today

00:30:38.780 --> 00:30:39.660
 become a

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.080
 kingdom

00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:42.620
 and priests

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:44.119
 to serve

00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.599
 God

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:46.679
 and Father.

00:30:48.179 --> 00:30:48.619
 You

00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:50.019
 are now

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.739
 my faithful

00:30:50.739 --> 00:30:51.259
 witnesses.

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:53.179
 I know

00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:53.599
 it's going

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.219
 to be hard

00:30:54.219 --> 00:30:54.619
 for you.

00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:56.699
 I know

00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:57.239
 that as you

00:30:57.239 --> 00:30:57.679
 be my

00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:58.419
 faithful witness

00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:58.899
 you're going

00:30:58.899 --> 00:30:59.439
 to suffer.

00:31:01.219 --> 00:31:01.979
 I know

00:31:01.979 --> 00:31:02.379
 that for

00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:03.019
 some of you

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.859
 following me

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.879
 it's going

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:05.399
 to cost

00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:06.179
 your life.

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.139
 But just

00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:09.579
 as my

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.139
 suffering

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:10.979
 ended in

00:31:10.979 --> 00:31:11.299
 victory,

00:31:11.459 --> 00:31:12.019
 just as I

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.440
 was the

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.099
 firstborn

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.720
 to come

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.079
 through

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.599
 death,

00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:16.400
 so you

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.019
 will follow

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.500
 me and

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:17.980
 come through

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.000
 death and

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.839
 your suffering

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.539
 will end

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.759
 in victory.

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.160
 Building the

00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.700
 kingdom of

00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.359
 God will be

00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:27.839
 costly,

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:30.019
 but it will

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.460
 end in

00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:30.839
 glory.

00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.660
 There's going

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.500
 to be blood,

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.400
 sweat and

00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.460
 tears, but

00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.420
 victory is

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:36.859
 assured.

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:39.279
 You might

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.119
 feel like your

00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:40.779
 efforts are

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.220
 useless.

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:42.980
 You may

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.539
 feel you

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.299
 make little

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:44.960
 impact, not

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.579
 even a

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.019
 dint.

00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:48.000
 You can

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.059
 think, what's

00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.480
 the point?

00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.059
 We're on the

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.779
 losing side,

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.319
 nothing's

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:51.639
 happening.

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.200
 But remember

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:56.379
 Jesus, I

00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:56.779
 am over

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.420
 death and

00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:57.819
 darkness.

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.379
 I have

00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:01.099
 won the

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:02.819
 battle and

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:04.859
 you are

00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.160
 on the

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.960
 winning side.

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:07.519
 I am the

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.720
 all-conquering

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.819
 son.

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.799
 You see,

00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.240
 being a

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.779
 Christian is

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.200
 hard.

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.100
 Look at

00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:17.660
 us for a

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:17.940
 minute.

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.740
 Look around

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.019
 you.

00:32:21.840 --> 00:32:22.220
 Go on,

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.759
 look around.

00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:25.100
 We're just a

00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:25.840
 tiny bunch,

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.319
 aren't we?

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.620
 We often

00:32:27.620 --> 00:32:28.279
 say it,

00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:29.860
 rattling

00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:31.220
 around in a

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.759
 big hole.

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.200
 Nothing

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:33.819
 special,

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:36.119
 grand.

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:37.839
 No one's

00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.359
 making the

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.159
 headlines in

00:32:39.159 --> 00:32:39.839
 the newspaper.

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.599
 Nobody's

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.299
 banging on

00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:42.639
 the door

00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.319
 saying, can

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:43.740
 I come

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.019
 in?

00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:44.839
 Can I

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.799
 join too?

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:48.679
 No one's

00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:49.279
 giving us a

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.919
 platform to

00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.460
 say, would

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.039
 you please

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:52.220
 come and

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.799
 share with

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.339
 us the

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:53.720
 gospel?

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:56.960
 We're not

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.559
 flavour of

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.019
 the month.

00:32:59.379 --> 00:33:00.119
 We're not

00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:00.879
 getting award

00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.819
 for community

00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.539
 of the year.

00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:05.200
 In fact,

00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:05.839
 in multiple

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.579
 ways every

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.939
 day, we

00:33:07.939 --> 00:33:08.659
 are subtly

00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:09.119
 ignored,

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.059
 quietly

00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.720
 hushed.

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.639
 The church

00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.000
 has had

00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.480
 its day.

00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:17.079
 Christianity

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:18.659
 is finished.

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.019
 Go home.

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.619
 Do something

00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:23.220
 useful with

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.779
 your life.

00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:26.919
 Well,

00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.619
 says God,

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.679
 pull back

00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:30.279
 the curtains.

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.599
 Let me

00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.160
 give you

00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:33.779
 my perspective.

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.339
 Verse 7,

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:37.139
 look, and I

00:33:37.139 --> 00:33:37.700
 want us to

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.079
 do this.

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:38.759
 You go

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.500
 outside through

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.079
 those doors

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.519
 and I want

00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:40.960
 you to look

00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.779
 and look up

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.039
 and I

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.379
 guarantee

00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:42.779
 there'll be

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.259
 clouds.

00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.480
 There's never

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.279
 blue skies.

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.539
 Look at the

00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.879
 clouds and be

00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:48.619
 reminded of

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.019
 this.

00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:50.599
 Look,

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.259
 he,

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.319
 Jesus,

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.359
 is coming

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.160
 with the

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:55.639
 clouds.

00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:56.819
 The all

00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.359
 powerful,

00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.819
 all-conquering,

00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.899
 victorious

00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:00.439
 champion

00:34:00.439 --> 00:34:02.279
 is coming.

00:34:04.159 --> 00:34:05.019
 And every

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.459
 eye will

00:34:05.459 --> 00:34:06.000
 see him.

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.719
 Every

00:34:07.719 --> 00:34:08.400
 person.

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.079
 Even

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.659
 those who

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.039
 pierced

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.199
 him,

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:12.079
 his enemies.

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.619
 And all

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.380
 peoples on

00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:14.839
 earth will

00:34:14.839 --> 00:34:15.139
 mourn.

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.019
 All those

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.719
 who opposed

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:18.019
 Christ and

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.039
 his church

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:21.679
 will bow

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.400
 down before

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.880
 the King

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.359
 of Kings

00:34:23.359 --> 00:34:23.719
 and the

00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.099
 Lord of

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.480
 Lords.

00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:26.940
 and we

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.460
 will be

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:29.300
 on the

00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:29.619
 victory

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.159
 side.

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.019
 Revelation

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:35.740
 is not a

00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.119
 Christian

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.900
 manual to

00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:37.420
 predict the

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.800
 future.

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.440
 It's a

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:39.920
 pastoral

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.500
 letter to

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:40.980
 strengthen

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.579
 the church

00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.380
 and what

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.059
 we read

00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:43.699
 in Revelation

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.280
 will show

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.820
 us what we

00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:45.460
 can expect

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:45.960
 to happen.

00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:46.719
 There will

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.440
 be opposition

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.740
 but let us

00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:49.360
 not lose

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.860
 heart.

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:51.980
 Victory

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:52.960
 is assured.

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:55.179
 God is

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:56.440
 for you.

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:57.880
 He is

00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.500
 with the

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:58.900
 church,

00:34:59.280 --> 00:34:59.480
 the

00:34:59.480 --> 00:34:59.980
 sovereign

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.579
 father,

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:01.340
 the

00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:01.840
 eternal

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.539
 spirit,

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:03.740
 the

00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:04.380
 conquering

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:04.800
 son.

00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.740
 We are

00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:08.780
 not losers.

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.900
 We are

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.240
 winners.

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:13.659
 Let's

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:13.960
 pray.

00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.079
 Amen.

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.139
 Amen.

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.199
 Amen.

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:14.220
 Amen.

00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:14.260
 Amen.

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:14.320
 Amen.

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:16.139
 Amen.

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:18.139
 Amen.

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:18.199
 Amen.

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:18.220
 Amen.

00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:18.260
 Amen.

00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:18.320
 Amen.

00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.260
 Amen.

00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:19.320
 Amen.

00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:20.260
 Amen.

00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:20.320
 Amen.

00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.260
 Amen.

00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:22.260
 Amen.

00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:22.320
 Amen.

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:22.940
 Amen.

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:32.500
 Father,

00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.400
 forgive us

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:36.539
 because we

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.659
 see life

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:39.880
 from our

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.420
 limited,

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.780
 self-centered

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:42.720
 perspective.

00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:45.460
 We busy

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.039
 ourselves

00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.619
 with all

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.139
 kinds of

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.559
 things.

00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:49.699
 We can't

00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.220
 even see

00:35:50.220 --> 00:35:50.699
 in front

00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.000
 of the

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.639
 next day.

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:53.379
 and yet

00:35:53.379 --> 00:35:54.139
 we pretend

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.799
 as if we

00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:55.139
 are in

00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:55.639
 control

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.819
 of

00:35:56.819 --> 00:35:57.279
 everything.

00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.279
 Forgive

00:35:59.279 --> 00:35:59.779
 us

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:02.179
 and cause

00:36:02.179 --> 00:36:02.679
 us to

00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:03.159
 lift our

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.579
 eyes

00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:06.159
 to see

00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:06.420
 the

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:06.920
 almighty

00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.440
 God,

00:36:08.379 --> 00:36:09.379
 Father,

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:09.980
 Son and

00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.379
 Spirit.

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.659
 Help us to

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.239
 see his

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:13.859
 perspective,

00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:15.559
 that he

00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:15.860
 will

00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:17.620
 and

00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:19.599
 will

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:21.700
 and

00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:22.539
 will ensure

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.940
 that we

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.480
 go to

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:24.980
 victory

00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:26.240
 and to

00:36:26.240 --> 00:36:26.640
 glory.

00:36:28.300 --> 00:36:29.280
 Encourage us

00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:29.680
 today,

00:36:31.180 --> 00:36:32.260
 fortify us

00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:34.120
 and help us

00:36:34.120 --> 00:36:35.140
 in Jesus' name.

00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:36.480
 Amen.

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.620
 Amen.

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:48.859
 There's a

00:36:48.859 --> 00:36:49.319
 mystery

00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:51.500
 about much

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:51.940
 of what we're

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.559
 looking at.

00:36:53.359 --> 00:36:54.299
 That mystery

00:36:54.299 --> 00:36:54.819
 will be

00:36:54.819 --> 00:36:55.679
 unveiled in

00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.139
 part.

00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:57.659
 But part

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:57.940
 of that

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.579
 mystery is