WEBVTT

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 Now, let's turn to our Bibles, Revelation.

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 We're in the book of Revelation, chapter 2, verses 8 to 11.

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 Short but very powerful and punchy passage, Revelation chapter 2, verses 8 to 11.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father, address us from your Word again so that our lives are defined and directed

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 not by the course of this world but by the foundation of your Word.

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 Enlarge our vision of Jesus once again as the one who has conquered death,

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 who has the keys to death and Hades, who is alive forevermore,

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 so that we as your disciples do not fear, but instead are faithful unto death.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Please stand for the reading of God's Word from Revelation chapter 2, verses 8 to 11.

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 Amen.

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 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

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 the words of the first and the last who died and came to life.

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 I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich.

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 And the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not,

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 but are a synagogue of Satan.

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 Do not fear what you are about to suffer,

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 behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,

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 that you may be tested,

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 and for ten days you will have tribulation.

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 Be faithful unto death,

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 and I will give you the crown of life.

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 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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 The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 If we're not serious enough about our faith to die for Jesus,

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 then we are not serious enough.

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 This is not some radical extremist talk from Sean.

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 This is what Jesus says in this main exhortation of this passage.

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 Be faithful unto death.

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 There's a lot of wars going around in the world right now,

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 and think of all the soldiers who have died in wars throughout human history

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 for the sake of their king or their general or their country or their family.

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 If even unbelievers can do that,

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 should we do less as Christian soldiers,

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 as soldiers of Christ Jesus, as 2 Timothy 2 says.

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 And I don't want us to think that this is a lofty, unattainable standard.

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 This is the normal standard for the Christian,

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 because Jesus said in Matthew 16, 25,

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 for whoever would save his life will lose it,

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 but whoever loses his life for Jesus' sake will find it.

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 So how can we live that way?

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 Revelation 2, 8, 11 teaches us how.

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 It teaches us that by looking to Jesus,

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 who died and came to life,

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 we too must endure persecution and be faithful unto death.

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 And I'm once again going to follow the overarching structure

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 of these seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3

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 by first looking at the recipient to the angel of the church in Smyrna,

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 and then the author, the words of the first and the last who died and came to life,

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 and then the evaluation of Jesus of this church,

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 and then his exhortation to the church,

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 and then his invitation,

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 finally his promise of rewards for those who do endure and conquer.

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 So let's look at the recipient of this letter.

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 This letter is addressed to the angel of the church in Smyrna.

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 Once again, the letter is addressed to the heavenly representative of this earthly church

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 to show that there is a real vital connection

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 between what's going on here in our church even now

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 and what's going on in the throne room of God in heaven.

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 Though the church is on earth,

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 it is an eternal and heavenly reality,

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 and each church, no matter how small,

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 every local church has the listening ears

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 and the watching eyes of the Lord God himself upon them.

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 Smyrna, along with Philadelphia,

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 are two churches that hear only commendation

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 and no correction from Jesus among the seven churches.

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 I hope we can be a church like that.

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 Smyrna is the second church on the list.

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 Philadelphia is the second to last church on the list.

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 They match each other in their content as well

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 in that they only receive commendation,

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 and they also are facing persecution

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 from the synagogue of Satan, as Jesus calls them,

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 which is a reference to wicked Jews.

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 And the first church on the list,

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 Ephesus, that we looked at last week

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 also matched the last church on the list, Laodicea,

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 because they are both on the verge

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 of losing their very identity as a Christian church.

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 So there's kind of this matching structure,

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 mirroring structure of these seven letters.

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 And the middle three churches all receive

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 a mixture of commendation and correction.

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 They're all struggling with different levels,

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 degrees of compromise with false teaching

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 and idolatry and immorality.

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 And the overall effect of this structure,

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 by putting the struggling churches

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 right in the middle, in the center,

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 and the really, really struggling churches

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 right at the beginning and at the end,

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 John is here conveying to us

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 in the structure of the seven letters

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 that by and large, the capital C church,

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 the universal church, in this life,

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 in this broken world, are struggling.

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 Struggle is a normal part of the church's life.

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 Only two out of the seven churches

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 receive only commendation.

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 But Jesus is nonetheless among all of those churches,

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 all of those lampstands,

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 tending to them to make sure

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 that the light of the gospel does not go out.

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 And in our passage today,

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 Jesus is concerned with Smyrna.

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 Smyrna was a major city in ancient Asia Minor.

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 It's where the city Ismail is today

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 in modern-day Turkey.

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 It was a major city on the western coast,

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 about 40 miles north of Ephesus.

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 And according to the Annals,

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 which is a work of history written by a Roman

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 named during the reign of Tiberius to that of Nero,

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 it was written by a historian named Tacitus.

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 He writes that Smyrna was one of the 11 cities

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 in the Roman Empire that was vying for the honor

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 of becoming the host city of a new temple

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 dedicated to Caesar and to Roman religion.

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 So much like how cities nowadays vie

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 or compete for the privilege of hosting

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 the Olympic Games or the World Cup

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 because it's lucrative for them culturally,

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 economically, it increases their prestige as a city.

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 So in a similar way,

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 Smyrna was in the running,

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 competing for their dubious honor

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 of having this pagan temple

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 dedicated to Caesar and to Roman religion.

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 And one of Smyrna's chief claims,

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 their main arguments for why they should be chosen

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 was that they were the first city

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 in the Roman Empire

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 to build a temple in honor of Rome.

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 This was in Asia Minor.

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 And this was apparently a convincing argument

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 because the Roman Senate did award Smyrna

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 the second temple dedicated to Roman religion

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 and to Caesar.

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 And so this historical context is important

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 because it shows us just how prominent

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 the emperor cult was in Smyrna,

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 the worship of Roman religion was in Smyrna,

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 and how much hostility Christians would have faced

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 for refusing to join their pagan worship

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 and for refusing to bow down before Caesar

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 and the idols of Caesar

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 and confessing him as their lord.

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 They were deemed an affront

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 to the patronage of the Greco-Roman gods,

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 and they were seen as an unpatriotic bunch

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 that threatened the Roman civic order.

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 As a derogatory term,

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 the Romans referred to Christians as atheists

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 because they refused to worship the Roman gods.

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 So it is not surprising

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 that how Jesus identifies himself

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 in the second half of verse 8.

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 As I mentioned last week,

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 the phrase,

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 the words of,

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 is more literally translated,

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 thus says.

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 So it's the Old Testament formula

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 for introducing the words of God himself.

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 Thus says the Lord.

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 Jesus is speaking here with full divine authority.

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 And the description of Jesus himself

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 harkens back to the glorious vision

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 we saw earlier in Revelation 1, 17 to 18,

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 where Jesus said,

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 Fear not,

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 I am the first and the last

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 and the living one.

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 I died,

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 and behold,

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 I am alive forevermore.

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 And I have the keys of death and Hades.

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 In saying that he is the first and the last,

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 Jesus is identifying himself

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 with the Ancient of Days,

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 the Lord God,

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 who describes himself in chapter 1, verse 8,

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 as the Alpha and the Omega.

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 It explained to us

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 that Alpha is the first letter

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 in the Greek alphabet.

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 Omega is the last letter.

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 And so together,

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 they represent the first and the last.

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 It represents God's sovereignty

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 over all,

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 all of history,

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 and in all time.

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 The risen Jesus Christ

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 is the second person

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 of the triune Godhead.

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 He is the first and the last.

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 And if Jesus is the first,

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 that means Jesus is the sovereign Lord

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 over the earliest history

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 history that we can imagine.

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 I mean,

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 we had,

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 I think,

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 the men's,

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 during the men's retreat

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 this past weekend,

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 one of the icebreaker questions was,

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 what's the earliest memory

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 you have of your father?

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 Whatever the earliest memory

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 of the most ancient

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 and oldest creatures

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 in the world might be,

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 Jesus was there before that.

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 Whatever the oldest thing

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 you can imagine

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 might be in creation,

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 Jesus was there before that

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 because he's the first.

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 He was in the beginning

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 with God

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 and he,

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 the word was God,

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 as John 1 says.

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 That means he has seen it all.

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 But Jesus is also

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 the last word.

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 When all the kings

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 and the kingdoms

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 and the nations

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 and institutions

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 have passed away,

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 Jesus will remain.

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 Every Roman emperor

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 from the times

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 of the early church,

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 Nero,

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 Domitian,

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 others have all faded away.

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 But Jesus remains

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 forever.

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 He is the last.

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 And that's helpful for us

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 because that means

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 no matter how messed up

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 your past is,

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 no matter how sordid

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 your history,

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 no matter how dark

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 your past was in the past,

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 Jesus is sovereign over it.

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 He's the first.

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 He was there.

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 And no matter how uncertain

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 your future might be,

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 you can also rest assured

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 that Jesus is the last.

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 He is sovereign.

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 There's no gap

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 in Jesus' knowledge

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 and there's no gap

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 in his rule.

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 And this is meant

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 to be a comfort

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 to the suffering church

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 in Smyrna.

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 Jesus also reminds them

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 that he is the one

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 who died and came to life.

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 And Jesus is emphasizing

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 that because

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 the church in Smyrna

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 is facing persecution

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 and they need to be faithful

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 unto death.

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 Jesus is not telling

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 the Christian Smyrna

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 to go where he hasn't

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 himself already gone.

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 Jesus has already been

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 faithful unto death.

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 He died and came to life.

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 And now Jesus is reassuring them,

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 don't be afraid of dying.

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 I've already died

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 and I have risen.

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 As Jesus said early

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 in Revelation 118,

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 fear not,

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 I am the first and the last

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 and the living one.

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 I died and behold,

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 I am alive forevermore

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 and I have the keys

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 of death and Hades.

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 Throughout human history,

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 no man and no woman

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 has ever been able

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 to reopen the doors of death

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 once it has been shut.

00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:25.159
 Even in examples

00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:27.519
 of the reanimations

00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:28.479
 of dead people

00:13:28.479 --> 00:13:29.859
 in Old Testament

00:13:29.859 --> 00:13:30.319
 that you see

00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:30.859
 when the prophets

00:13:30.859 --> 00:13:32.039
 raised people from the dead,

00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:34.319
 it's temporary reanimation.

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.759
 It's not a resurrection,

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:36.779
 a full resurrection

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:38.039
 because they will die again.

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.319
 Nobody can reopen

00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:41.459
 the doors of death

00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:43.059
 once it shuts

00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:45.159
 except for Jesus.

00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:48.139
 Jesus defeated death.

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.039
 He was raised

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.219
 from the dead

00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:52.099
 and he's alive

00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:53.539
 forevermore.

00:13:53.959 --> 00:13:55.199
 He has the keys

00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:57.719
 to the doors of death

00:13:57.719 --> 00:13:58.459
 and Hades

00:13:58.459 --> 00:13:59.039
 and that means

00:13:59.039 --> 00:13:59.519
 that the door

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:01.279
 can never be shone on him.

00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:03.939
 And he is our Lord.

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.759
 That means we do not

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.419
 need to fear death

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.240
 because Jesus has the keys.

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:09.320
 In order for us

00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:10.940
 to obey the later exhortations

00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:11.659
 in verse 10

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:12.659
 to not fear

00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:14.080
 and to be faithful unto death,

00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.159
 we need to know

00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:16.639
 that Jesus is the one

00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.240
 who died

00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.720
 and came to life.

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:21.340
 In order not to fear death,

00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.740
 we have to fear Jesus.

00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.139
 We need to have

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:26.879
 an appropriately big

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.799
 and high view of Jesus

00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.560
 because that's

00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:31.060
 the only time

00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:33.000
 when we will have no fear

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:33.799
 in the face of death.

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:38.500
 The key to Christian courage

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.740
 in the face of persecution

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.359
 and death

00:14:40.359 --> 00:14:41.399
 is knowing that Jesus

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.139
 is the one

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:43.500
 who has conquered death.

00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:45.639
 So that's the recipient

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.299
 and the author

00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:47.139
 of this letter.

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.299
 Now we get to the third part,

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.179
 Jesus' evaluation

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:50.439
 of the church in Smyrna.

00:14:51.099 --> 00:14:52.019
 He says in verse 9,

00:14:52.079 --> 00:14:53.839
 I know your tribulation

00:14:53.839 --> 00:14:55.179
 and your poverty,

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.039
 but you are rich.

00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:59.159
 And the slander of those

00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.339
 who say that they are Jews

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:00.939
 and are not,

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:03.660
 but are a synagogue of Satan.

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.080
 Once again,

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.760
 we hear those two comforting words

00:15:06.760 --> 00:15:07.280
 of Jesus,

00:15:07.520 --> 00:15:08.200
 I know.

00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.380
 Jesus knows the tribulation

00:15:11.380 --> 00:15:12.580
 of the church in Smyrna.

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.380
 He knows the hardships

00:15:14.380 --> 00:15:15.400
 that they are facing

00:15:15.400 --> 00:15:15.960
 and enduring.

00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.020
 Sometimes in the midst

00:15:18.020 --> 00:15:19.580
 of suffering and heartache,

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.600
 we just want someone

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.360
 to know

00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.600
 what we're going through.

00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.400
 We just want someone

00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:25.420
 to understand.

00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.240
 And Jesus assures us

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.340
 he knows.

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:32.100
 When we are snubbed

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:33.480
 and downtrodden,

00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:35.399
 Jesus knows.

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:39.480
 When we are discriminated against

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.519
 because of our faith

00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:41.740
 and allegiance to Jesus

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:44.879
 in the workplace,

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.720
 at school,

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.440
 Jesus knows.

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.879
 When we are overlooked

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.940
 because of our

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.019
 Christian convictions,

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:57.600
 when we are falsely accused

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.680
 or ridiculed by people

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.879
 because we believe

00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.580
 what the Bible actually says,

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.540
 Jesus knows.

00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.920
 We are people

00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:06.639
 who are known

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.340
 and loved

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.100
 by our Savior.

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.639
 And Jesus knows

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.980
 the true reality of things.

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.139
 The church in Smyrna

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.420
 suffered from poverty.

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.879
 Their earthly poverty

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.840
 is likely connected

00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.420
 to the fact

00:16:18.420 --> 00:16:19.960
 that there was persecution.

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:23.040
 the worship of the Roman emperor

00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.720
 was so deeply embedded

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.580
 in the culture

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:26.259
 of Asia Minor

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:26.780
 at the time

00:16:26.780 --> 00:16:28.139
 that it would have been

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.180
 virtually impossible

00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:30.379
 for someone

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.139
 to climb

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.740
 the socioeconomic ladder

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.980
 without compromising

00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:35.860
 and worshiping

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.820
 the emperor.

00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.300
 To refuse to participate

00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:40.100
 would mean

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.000
 being labeled

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:45.560
 and being ostracized

00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:47.080
 as an unpatriotic

00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.300
 and nonconformist

00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.799
 as a threat

00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:51.359
 to the civic order.

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.539
 You would lose

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.939
 networking opportunities.

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.639
 You would lose opportunities

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.479
 to make an impression.

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.339
 You would offend

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:58.500
 the powers that be,

00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.779
 people who are in charge

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.399
 of giving out posts

00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.919
 and positions.

00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.680
 So it's not surprising

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.740
 that the church in Smyrna

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.940
 was impoverished.

00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:12.000
 And this is not uncommon

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.899
 in parts of the world

00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:14.720
 where there's intense persecution

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.539
 against Christians

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.920
 to lose their jobs,

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.659
 fired for no reason whatsoever

00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:21.279
 than the fact

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.420
 that they go to church

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.000
 every Sunday.

00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:30.220
 It's not as obvious

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:31.759
 in our context,

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.539
 but in subtle ways,

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.480
 Christians here,

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:34.940
 even here,

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.920
 can face some economic pressure

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.480
 because of their faith.

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:42.059
 more and more stories

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:42.720
 are popping up

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.440
 throughout the country

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.920
 of Christian teachers

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:46.279
 in public schools

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.460
 getting fired

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:49.039
 for believing

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.059
 that God has created

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.720
 human beings

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.019
 either as male or female

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:54.319
 and for refusing

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.500
 to use a student's

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.259
 preferred pronoun

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.460
 or for informing

00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:58.559
 that student's parent

00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.700
 about his or her

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.779
 gender identity

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.339
 in school.

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:06.699
 A Christian mail carrier

00:18:06.699 --> 00:18:08.379
 named Gerald Groff

00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:10.159
 just won a unanimous decision

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:11.619
 at the Supreme Court

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.679
 a few months ago,

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.419
 June 2023,

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:16.839
 but he was previously fired,

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:17.959
 and that's why

00:18:17.959 --> 00:18:18.659
 he went to court,

00:18:18.959 --> 00:18:20.419
 by the U.S. Postal Service

00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:21.799
 for refusing to work

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.500
 Sunday shifts

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:24.579
 because he was saying

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.459
 that Sunday is reserved

00:18:25.459 --> 00:18:26.139
 for worship

00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.019
 and for church.

00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.740
 Though it's harder

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.259
 to measure,

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.720
 several of our own

00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.460
 church members

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:34.200
 in academia

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:36.039
 have suspected

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:36.720
 that the way

00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.579
 they expressed

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:39.039
 their Christian faith

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.379
 in their personal statements

00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:42.180
 and or in their

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.000
 diversity, equity,

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.140
 and inclusion statements,

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.799
 which are often

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.720
 mandatory nowadays

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.519
 in academic applications,

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.539
 negatively affected

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.900
 their faculty applications,

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:51.539
 their chances.

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.099
 I know that these are

00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:57.220
 comparatively speaking

00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:58.220
 to some of the persecution

00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:58.660
 that people,

00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.579
 Christians throughout the world

00:18:59.579 --> 00:18:59.960
 are facing,

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.500
 small,

00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:02.720
 but they can nonetheless

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.600
 be real economic pressures.

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.960
 And when that happens,

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.880
 we can take comfort

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.940
 in knowing that Jesus

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:11.500
 knows our poverty.

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.759
 And not only does Jesus

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.620
 know our poverty,

00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.880
 he also assures us,

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.160
 you are rich.

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.160
 As Christians,

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.640
 we might be poor on earth,

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:24.220
 but we are rich in heaven

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.740
 because as heirs of God

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.240
 in Christ,

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.940
 we have an inheritance

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.000
 that is imperishable

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.900
 and undefiled

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.740
 and unfading

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.480
 kept in heaven for us.

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.099
 As Jesus taught us,

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.900
 we do not seek

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.420
 as Christians

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.279
 to lay up for ourselves

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.400
 treasures on earth

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.900
 where wrath and moths

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.380
 destroy

00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:40.960
 and where thieves

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.000
 break in and steal.

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.559
 Rather,

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.339
 we seek to store up

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:44.180
 our treasures in heaven

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.059
 where moths and rust

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.920
 do not destroy

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.900
 and where thieves

00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:48.319
 do not break in and steal.

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:50.960
 So whether you are investing

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.939
 in stocks

00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:53.779
 or bonds

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:55.519
 or gold

00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:59.359
 or in the U.S. dollar

00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.359
 or in Bitcoin,

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.439
 I'm sure some of you guys

00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:03.720
 have it,

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.240
 I know you do.

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.139
 Our world's currencies,

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.259
 all of them,

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.159
 every single one of them

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:11.500
 will lose all of their value

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.319
 when we die.

00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.299
 Every single one.

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.579
 You will not have

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.639
 a single value.

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:20.200
 All those who accumulate

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.620
 wealth here on earth

00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.700
 are stockpiling

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.700
 an expiring currency.

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.500
 But as Christians,

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.320
 we have our eyes

00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:30.120
 set on eternity

00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:32.000
 and we are storing up

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.880
 heavenly riches

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:35.880
 and we have to remember

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.000
 that our lives here on earth

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.000
 is just a blip

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.420
 in light of eternity.

00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:41.200
 So even if we are poor here,

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.660
 it's temporary,

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:44.300
 it's momentary

00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:46.340
 compared to the riches

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.720
 that we will enjoy forever.

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:50.079
 So don't be disheartened

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.879
 that you are poor,

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:53.240
 especially if you become poor

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.079
 because of your allegiance

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.639
 to Jesus.

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.039
 Remember that you are

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.439
 actually rich,

00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.240
 richer than any of your friends

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.779
 or peers

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:02.439
 or people on the Fortune 500 list

00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:03.159
 can imagine.

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:08.880
 It's better to be like the church

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.380
 in Smyrna

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.860
 that's poor materially

00:21:10.860 --> 00:21:11.759
 but rich spiritually

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.740
 than to be like the church

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.480
 in Laodicea

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.220
 which we'll see later

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.080
 in Revelation 3

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:16.900
 which is rich materially

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:18.180
 but poor spiritually.

00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:21.660
 The Christians in Smyrna

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:23.019
 were also suffering poverty,

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.060
 not only poverty

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:25.040
 but also the slander

00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:25.740
 of those who say

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.500
 that they are Jews

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.060
 and are not

00:21:27.060 --> 00:21:28.600
 but are synagogue of Satan.

00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.740
 Instead of recognizing

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.720
 Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah,

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.299
 many Jews sadly rejected Jesus

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.759
 and in turn

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.819
 slandered the Christians.

00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:40.319
 We see many examples

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:40.980
 of this throughout

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.779
 the book of Acts.

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.079
 In Acts 13

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.019
 when Paul's ministry

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.279
 attracts large crowds

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.759
 in Antioch and Pisidia,

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.660
 the Jews are filled

00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.319
 with jealousy

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:48.920
 and they begin

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:50.140
 to contradict everything

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:51.160
 that Paul is saying.

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.559
 They start to revile him.

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.839
 They even go so far

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.500
 as to incite

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.460
 the political leaders

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.039
 of the city

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.279
 to stir up persecution

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.700
 against Paul and Barnabas.

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.200
 In Acts 14

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.079
 in Iconium

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.279
 when a great number

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.399
 of both Jews and Greeks

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.299
 come to saving faith

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:05.700
 in Jesus

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.399
 because of Paul

00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:07.839
 and Barnabas' ministry,

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.299
 it says that

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.200
 the unbelieving Jews

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.319
 stirred up the Gentiles

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:12.039
 and poisoned their minds

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.960
 against the brothers.

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.579
 In Lystra,

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.759
 in Acts 14, 19

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:18.039
 the Jews opposed Paul,

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:20.039
 persuade the crowds

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:21.079
 to stone Paul

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:22.960
 and leave him for dead.

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:27.160
 In Thessalonica

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:27.980
 and Acts 17,

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.660
 once again,

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.620
 the Jews get jealous

00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.800
 of Paul and Silas

00:22:30.800 --> 00:22:32.580
 and then they incite

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.300
 a rabble

00:22:33.300 --> 00:22:34.800
 to form a mob

00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:36.000
 and to set the city

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.980
 up in an uproar

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.240
 and they accuse

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.000
 Paul and Silas

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.000
 of acting against

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.360
 the decrees of Caesar

00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:42.440
 saying that there is

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.300
 another king,

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.380
 Jesus.

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.800
 That last instance

00:22:46.800 --> 00:22:48.259
 is a good example

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.960
 of how the Jews

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.620
 may have slandered

00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.120
 the Christians

00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.680
 in Smyrna.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.080
 Even though faithful Jews

00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:54.040
 also refused

00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:55.420
 to worship the Roman gods

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:57.120
 because of their antiquity

00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:57.779
 and because of their

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.640
 long-term presence

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.700
 within the Roman Empire,

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.400
 the Jews were tolerated

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.580
 by the Roman authorities.

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.759
 They let the Jews,

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:07.019
 instead of making sacrifices

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.080
 to Caesar as God,

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.300
 they let him just offer

00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:10.500
 sacrifices to him

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.460
 as an emperor

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.360
 to honor him

00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.660
 and so they kind of

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.360
 let them slide

00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:15.039
 in some ways

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.960
 even though some Jews

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.019
 were syncretistic

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.300
 and were idolatrous.

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:22.099
 And so the Romans,

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.759
 because they saw Christians

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:26.419
 as arising from the Jews

00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.539
 because he was born out

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.859
 of the Jewish synagogues

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:31.220
 and the earliest Christians

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.159
 were all Jews,

00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:34.299
 they naturally saw Christianity

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:36.139
 as a Jewish sect

00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:37.579
 because they proclaimed

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.759
 the Jewish Messiah.

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:41.700
 But it was all too easy

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.559
 for the Jews

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.919
 than to turn around

00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:45.619
 and disavow those Christians

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.759
 and say,

00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.179
 oh no,

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.579
 actually those guys,

00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:49.259
 they're not Jews.

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.959
 They're not one of us.

00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.519
 They're dangerous.

00:23:55.479 --> 00:23:56.839
 Here's a newfangled religion.

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.459
 They don't honor Caesar

00:23:58.459 --> 00:23:59.159
 like we do.

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:01.619
 They proclaim Jesus as king.

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.759
 They're a threat

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.159
 to the Roman Empire,

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.219
 to Caesar himself.

00:24:11.399 --> 00:24:13.799
 This is a false accusation,

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:14.139
 of course,

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:16.320
 because Jesus explicitly said

00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:17.120
 his kingdom is not

00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.740
 of this world.

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.120
 He said,

00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:19.940
 render unto Caesar

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.480
 what is Caesar,

00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.300
 render unto God

00:24:21.300 --> 00:24:22.120
 what is God's.

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.100
 We're taught

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.340
 in 1 Peter 2.17

00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.660
 to honor the emperor.

00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:27.000
 We're taught

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.960
 in Romans 13

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.660
 to be subject

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.680
 to the governing authorities,

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:31.000
 not to rebel against them.

00:24:32.560 --> 00:24:34.040
 But despite all of this,

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.800
 the Romans often believed

00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:37.340
 the slander of the Jews

00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.220
 and Christians

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.680
 became easy scapegoats.

00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:42.080
 And recall that

00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:43.580
 Smyrna is distinguished

00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:45.720
 for their dedication

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.980
 to Caesar.

00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.439
 They have two,

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.000
 not one,

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.740
 two temples

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.960
 dedicated to Caesar

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.859
 and to Rome.

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.059
 And so the slander

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.720
 that Christians

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.619
 refused to worship

00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.699
 Caesar would have been

00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:58.419
 a very damning critique

00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.279
 for them.

00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.960
 But once again,

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.079
 Jesus sees past

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.199
 the appearance of things

00:25:04.199 --> 00:25:05.799
 and knows the reality

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.240
 of things.

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.139
 The church in Smyrna

00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:07.740
 was poor,

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.619
 but from God's point of view,

00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.179
 they're rich.

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.660
 Similarly,

00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:11.320
 though the Christian

00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:12.320
 Smyrna have been

00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:13.820
 disavowed by the Jews,

00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:15.200
 from God's point of view,

00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.660
 they are the true Jews.

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.140
 And the Jews

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:18.900
 who slander them

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.180
 are the false Jews.

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.100
 Jesus calls them

00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.779
 those who say

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.660
 that they are Jews

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.420
 and are not,

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.259
 but are a synagogue

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.400
 of Satan.

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:29.799
 This is not anti-Semitic.

00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:31.600
 Jesus was an ethnic Jew.

00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.000
 Rather,

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:34.100
 this is the penetrating

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.180
 observation

00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:36.360
 of the Jewish condition

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:38.139
 by the Jewish Messiah.

00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:40.639
 It's similar to

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.319
 what Jesus says

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:42.179
 in John 8, 44,

00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:44.019
 that instead of being

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.099
 children of Abraham

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.299
 as the Pharisees

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.839
 claimed to be,

00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.339
 they are actually

00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.399
 children of the devil

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:50.199
 because they were lying

00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:51.319
 and trying to kill Jesus.

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.000
 And that's what

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.659
 the devil does.

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.299
 He lies

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.139
 and he kills.

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.799
 The Jews

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.399
 who slandered

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.439
 the church in Smyrna

00:25:58.439 --> 00:26:00.019
 were physical descendants

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.619
 of Abraham,

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.399
 but they were not

00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:02.519
 the spiritual descendants

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.099
 of Abraham.

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.519
 And this is a very important

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.719
 theological point

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.460
 for understanding

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.660
 many different parts

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.299
 of the New Testament.

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.799
 The promises

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.740
 that God gave

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.440
 to the Jews

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.500
 in the Old Testament

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.740
 do not belong

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.420
 to the children

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.440
 of the flesh,

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.600
 but rather to the children

00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:18.460
 of the promise,

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.240
 as Paul argues

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.000
 in Romans 9.

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.579
 It's those who have

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:23.279
 faith in Jesus Christ

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.240
 who are the true

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.200
 children of Abraham,

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.220
 and therefore

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.700
 they are the true Jews.

00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.279
 For it says

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.880
 in Romans 2, 27 to 28,

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.019
 no one is a Jew

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:33.819
 who is merely one outwardly,

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:35.400
 nor is circumcision outward

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.019
 and physical,

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.220
 but a Jew is one inwardly,

00:26:38.300 --> 00:26:38.920
 and circumcision

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.080
 is a matter of the heart

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:41.120
 by the spirit,

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:43.140
 not by the letter.

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:44.700
 And by this,

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.580
 I don't mean that God

00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:46.580
 doesn't have any plans

00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.600
 for ethnic Jew

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:49.400
 and for the nation of Israel.

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.000
 I do believe

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.040
 he has plans for them

00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:53.460
 as Romans 11 indicates,

00:26:54.040 --> 00:26:55.620
 but only those Jews

00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.720
 who put their faith

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.519
 in Jesus

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.720
 as the Christ

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.340
 and the Messiah

00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.840
 and the Savior

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.680
 of the world

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.880
 will be saved.

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:04.180
 The Christians

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.660
 in Samyana

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.320
 were slandered

00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:06.300
 by their own people,

00:27:06.780 --> 00:27:08.040
 by their fellow Jews.

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.000
 And this also happens

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.500
 to Christians

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.340
 all over the world.

00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:13.500
 In the Muslim world

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.860
 governed by Sharia law

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:16.520
 and in many devout

00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:18.140
 Buddhist and Hindu circles

00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.660
 as well,

00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:20.120
 converts to Christianity

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:21.260
 are disowned

00:27:21.260 --> 00:27:22.440
 by their own families

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.720
 and persecuted

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:25.040
 by their own tribes.

00:27:26.020 --> 00:27:27.140
 And throughout history,

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.860
 many Christians

00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:29.220
 have also been slandered

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.860
 and maligned

00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:31.519
 by other so-called Christians.

00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.779
 Those who belong

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.039
 to other denominations

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.400
 who say,

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.940
 we're the true Christians.

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.339
 They're the heretical sects.

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.460
 We don't believe

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.740
 the kind of fundamentalist

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.579
 thing that they believe.

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.740
 But the Lord knows

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.779
 those who are His.

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.319
 True Christians

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.160
 are not necessarily

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.000
 those who belong

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:55.360
 to the most historic denominations

00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:57.799
 or have nice church buildings.

00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.099
 true Christians

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.599
 are those who can trace

00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.940
 their spiritual lineage

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.500
 and their heritage

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.759
 to Jesus Christ.

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.859
 So whether you are a Jew

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.839
 or a Gentile

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.779
 in terms of your

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.639
 ethnic ancestry,

00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.619
 true Christians

00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:15.659
 are those who confess

00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.259
 with their mouth

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.180
 that Jesus is Lord

00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.200
 and believe in their heart

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.839
 that He was raised

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.419
 from the dead.

00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.279
 And according to

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.259
 Jesus' evaluation,

00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:24.240
 the church in Smyrna

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.700
 were faithful Christians

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:27.079
 and therefore true Jews.

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.440
 And that brings us

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.359
 to the main exhortation

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.099
 of this letter,

00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:32.019
 the church in Smyrna

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.659
 in verse 10.

00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.259
 Do not fear

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.740
 what you are about to suffer.

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.279
 Behold,

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.119
 the devil is about

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:39.099
 to throw some of you

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.680
 into prison

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.940
 that you may be tested

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:42.559
 and for 10 days

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.819
 you will have tribulation.

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.379
 Be faithful unto death

00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:47.579
 and I will give you

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.859
 the crown of life.

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.659
 There are two main commands here.

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.720
 Do not fear

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:55.200
 and be faithful unto death.

00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.920
 And Jesus tells them

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.779
 not to fear

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.880
 even as He's telling them

00:28:58.880 --> 00:29:00.000
 they're about to suffer.

00:29:01.080 --> 00:29:02.720
 That's a hard command.

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.860
 Sometimes for us

00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:05.420
 we fear

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:07.200
 even when there's

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.380
 just a remote possibility

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.920
 of suffering.

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.980
 But Jesus tells them

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:13.039
 you're about to suffer.

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.740
 You're going to certainly suffer

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:16.460
 but do not fear.

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:19.299
 And He warns them

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.799
 that the devil

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.559
 is about to throw

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.559
 some of them into prison.

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.759
 This is a helpful thing

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.179
 to remember

00:29:23.179 --> 00:29:24.559
 because it's not the devil

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.159
 that's physically

00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:26.039
 throwing them into prison.

00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:27.119
 It's the Romans

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.839
 who are doing that.

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:31.039
 But Jesus ultimately

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.679
 attributes this

00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:32.460
 to the devil

00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:34.839
 because He is

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.359
 the spiritual ruler

00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:38.179
 among the sons

00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:38.759
 of this world.

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.500
 He's the driving

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.700
 spiritual influence.

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.859
 It's an application

00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.740
 of the teaching

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.159
 in Ephesians 6.12

00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.039
 that we as Christians

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.859
 do not wrestle

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.119
 against flesh and blood

00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.459
 but against the rulers

00:29:51.459 --> 00:29:52.500
 and against the authorities

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.939
 and against the cosmic powers

00:29:53.939 --> 00:29:55.319
 over this present darkness.

00:29:55.919 --> 00:29:57.379
 Against the spiritual forces

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:57.959
 of evil

00:29:57.959 --> 00:29:58.799
 in the heavenly places.

00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.839
 So even when people

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:02.739
 persecute us

00:30:02.739 --> 00:30:03.719
 and slander us

00:30:03.719 --> 00:30:04.559
 and even kill us

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.319
 our true enemy

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:07.219
 is not them

00:30:07.219 --> 00:30:08.199
 but the devil.

00:30:09.179 --> 00:30:10.139
 The spiritual forces.

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.119
 And I'm not saying

00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.839
 that these people

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.399
 who do evil

00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:15.219
 are not responsible.

00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:16.199
 They are responsible

00:30:16.199 --> 00:30:17.000
 for what they do.

00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.919
 But we need to remember

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.440
 the demonic influence

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.039
 behind them.

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.560
 It's easy

00:30:22.560 --> 00:30:23.900
 if you're facing

00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.779
 severe persecution

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.700
 for a long time

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.460
 to forget this.

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.880
 To give you an example

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:29.100
 Armenian Christians

00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:30.440
 ethnic Armenians

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.840
 not theological Armenians

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:33.519
 ethnic Armenian Christians

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.360
 have historically

00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:35.080
 suffered

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:36.480
 much Islamic

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:38.500
 persecution.

00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:41.680
 During the Armenian genocide

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.840
 in the late 1800s

00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.940
 and the early 1900s

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.420
 around 1 million Armenians

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.019
 most of them

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.200
 professing Christians

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.019
 were killed

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.039
 were killed

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.019
 by the Ottoman Empire.

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.539
 And just last month

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.559
 September

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.860
 the New York Times

00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:54.279
 journalist

00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:55.120
 Nicholas Kristof

00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.840
 reported that

00:30:55.840 --> 00:30:56.279
 there has been

00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.180
 a quiet genocide

00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:57.860
 happening

00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:59.799
 among the Armenians

00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:02.120
 in Azerbaijan

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:03.519
 in the Muslim country.

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:06.019
 And then on September 20th

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.840
 this year

00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:07.640
 Azerbaijan

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:09.019
 forcibly seized

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:10.620
 the Armenian enclave

00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:12.220
 there in Azerbaijan

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.500
 and they displaced

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.140
 19,000 Armenians

00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.799
 for historically Christians.

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.840
 19,000 people

00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.340
 all of a sudden

00:31:19.340 --> 00:31:19.900
 no home

00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.860
 no place.

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.039
 And when you suffer

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.740
 so intensely

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.840
 at the hands of others

00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:27.220
 it's easy to antagonize them

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.000
 and hate them

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.360
 as your enemies.

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.039
 And there are some

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.580
 Armenians

00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:32.460
 who unfortunately

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.720
 hate Muslims

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.880
 and hate the Azerbaijani

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:38.039
 and have exacted

00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.860
 eye for eye

00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:40.240
 violent retribution.

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:43.120
 but Jesus reminds us here

00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:44.359
 that our true enemy

00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:45.920
 is not flesh and blood

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:47.620
 but the devil

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:49.079
 the spiritual forces

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.420
 of the heavenly places.

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.120
 Jesus also tells them

00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:54.259
 that they will be tested

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.279
 and have tribulation

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.200
 for 10 days.

00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.819
 Since the book of Revelation

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.599
 uses numbers

00:31:58.599 --> 00:32:00.079
 in highly symbolic ways

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.779
 this is likely

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.900
 also not literal

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.480
 10 days

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.500
 but symbolic

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.680
 for a defined

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:06.240
 complete period of time.

00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:07.160
 10 can be a symbol

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.920
 for completeness.

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:09.820
 It's also likely

00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:10.420
 an allusion

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.800
 to the 10 days

00:32:11.800 --> 00:32:12.360
 of testing

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:12.880
 that Daniel

00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.779
 and his friends

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.640
 endured

00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:16.420
 during their

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.480
 sojourn

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.940
 in the Babylonian Empire.

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.680
 We have already seen

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.920
 in the first two chapters

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.500
 that Revelation

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.900
 often alludes

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.960
 back to the book of Daniel

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.980
 so the connection

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:29.440
 is likely intentional.

00:32:30.800 --> 00:32:31.380
 And also

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:32.940
 Daniel chapter 1

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.880
 is the only place

00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.600
 in the Old Testament

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.840
 where a period of testing

00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.720
 for 10 days

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.200
 is mentioned

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.200
 and it's mentioned

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.279
 there three times.

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.200
 It's emphasized

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.779
 and repeated.

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:42.860
 And so this is actually

00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.940
 a very appropriate

00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.779
 biblical allusion

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.720
 because just like

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.799
 the church in Smyrna

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:48.140
 facing pressures

00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:48.700
 and persecution

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.920
 from the Roman Empire

00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:51.279
 Daniel and his friends

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.160
 faced persecution

00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:52.620
 and pressures

00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:53.960
 from the Babylonian Empire.

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.920
 The Romans

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.920
 demanded that Christians

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.819
 worship Nero

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.740
 and Domitian

00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:00.100
 and other Roman emperors

00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:01.700
 just as the Babylonians

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.620
 demanded that Christians

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:04.160
 worship Nebuchadnezzar

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.920
 and Darius

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:06.820
 and other Babylonian kings.

00:33:08.120 --> 00:33:08.980
 The Romans

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:10.259
 sacked Jerusalem

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.660
 and destroyed the temple

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.600
 in 70 AD

00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:15.019
 just as the Babylonians

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.360
 sacked Jerusalem

00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.360
 and destroyed the temple

00:33:17.360 --> 00:33:18.920
 in 586 BC.

00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:20.700
 That's why

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:22.100
 after 70 AD

00:33:22.100 --> 00:33:23.500
 the Jewish literature

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.140
 often

00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:24.900
 from the time

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:26.560
 often refers to Rome

00:33:26.560 --> 00:33:27.860
 as Babylon

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:29.759
 as a kind of

00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:30.480
 code language

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.340
 for the epitome

00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:32.440
 of a wicked city

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.240
 that is in opposition

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:33.759
 to God.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.880
 And that's the way

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:35.900
 the book of Revelation

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.960
 refers to use

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.759
 the word Babylon.

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.920
 It uses the name

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.660
 seven times

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.759
 to refer to the city

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.400
 that's in opposition

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:41.920
 to God.

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.460
 So in Daniel 1

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:46.079
 we see Babylon

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.819
 King

00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.839
 Babylonian King

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.620
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.799
 embark on a

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:51.059
 systematic program

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.839
 to assimilate

00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.779
 the Jewish religion

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.319
 and culture

00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.279
 into Babylonian

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.160
 religion and culture.

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.420
 I think

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.099
 for some of you guys

00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.740
 who read my

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.720
 Ask Your Pastors

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.880
 post on food

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.340
 and eating

00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:01.720
 I think

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.520
 already familiar

00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:02.980
 with this

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:05.220
 he takes

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.360
 all the furnishings

00:34:06.360 --> 00:34:07.180
 of the Jewish temple

00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:08.019
 and then he puts them

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.099
 in the temple

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:10.140
 of his God

00:34:10.140 --> 00:34:11.400
 the treasury

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.200
 of his God.

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.680
 This is his attempt

00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:14.340
 to assimilate

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.099
 Jewish religion

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.720
 and worship

00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:17.019
 into Babylonian worship

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:18.880
 and then he handpicks

00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.960
 some very gifted

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:21.260
 Jewish youth

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.519
 so that they can be

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.380
 taught the literature

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:23.980
 and language

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:25.380
 of the Chaldeans

00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.260
 and so that they

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:26.900
 could be competent

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.660
 to stand

00:34:27.660 --> 00:34:29.140
 in the king's palace

00:34:29.140 --> 00:34:30.160
 as court officials.

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:31.399
 This is the

00:34:31.399 --> 00:34:33.440
 Babylonian re-education

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:33.980
 program

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.759
 to indoctrinate

00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:36.799
 and assimilate

00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.940
 the most promising

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.859
 Jewish youth

00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:40.359
 into Babylonian culture.

00:34:41.379 --> 00:34:41.839
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:42.639
 also gives

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.679
 these Jewish youth

00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:45.059
 new Babylonian names.

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.179
 They previously

00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.000
 had names

00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:47.579
 that honored

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.359
 the Hebrew God

00:34:48.359 --> 00:34:49.339
 the Ar God

00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:49.980
 the Lord God

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.480
 the Yehovah

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.379
 but now

00:34:51.379 --> 00:34:52.059
 they give them

00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:52.639
 new names

00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.460
 that honor

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.599
 the pagan Babylonian

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:54.960
 gods.

00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.639
 And lastly

00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:58.339
 as part of this

00:34:58.339 --> 00:34:59.199
 assimilation program

00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:00.019
 these gifted youth

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.739
 would be assigned

00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:01.619
 a daily portion

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.279
 of the food

00:35:02.279 --> 00:35:03.219
 that the king ate

00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:04.399
 and of the wine

00:35:04.399 --> 00:35:05.159
 that he drank.

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.719
 This was intended

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:08.500
 to give these youth

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.099
 Jewish youth

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.879
 a taste

00:35:09.879 --> 00:35:11.500
 for Babylonian luxury

00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.980
 and to convey

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.519
 the message

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.139
 that you are

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.919
 to be dependent

00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:15.819
 on me

00:35:15.819 --> 00:35:16.500
 as king.

00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:17.939
 I am your patron.

00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.519
 I am your provider.

00:35:19.879 --> 00:35:20.899
 You are my subject.

00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:22.099
 You come to me.

00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:22.739
 You're dependent

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.419
 on me.

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:28.639
 Because people

00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.480
 usually don't bite

00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:29.860
 the hands

00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.360
 that feed them.

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.300
 But because

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:34.420
 Daniel and his

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.220
 three friends

00:35:35.220 --> 00:35:35.980
 were loyal to God

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.619
 they resist

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.599
 this assimilation

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.079
 program

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:39.000
 and in order

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.500
 to maintain

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.240
 their distinct

00:35:40.240 --> 00:35:41.019
 Jewish identity

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.840
 Daniel,

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:42.539
 Hananiah,

00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:43.059
 Mishael,

00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:43.960
 and Azariah

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.420
 they referred

00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.000
 to each other

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.639
 by their Hebrew

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.079
 names

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:47.380
 and they refused

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.059
 to defile

00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:48.480
 themselves

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.500
 with the king's

00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:49.840
 food.

00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.119
 Instead

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.740
 they have

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.279
 vegetables

00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:53.000
 and water

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:53.599
 brought in

00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.059
 separately

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.439
 so that

00:35:54.439 --> 00:35:54.719
 they don't

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.579
 have to depend

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.879
 on the king's

00:35:56.879 --> 00:35:58.139
 choice provisions

00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:59.779
 and they enter

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.799
 a period of testing

00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:01.979
 for ten days

00:36:01.979 --> 00:36:02.919
 to prove

00:36:02.919 --> 00:36:03.439
 that they can

00:36:03.439 --> 00:36:04.099
 keep up

00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.719
 with these

00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:05.719
 other Jewish youth

00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:06.599
 who are eating

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.539
 at the king's table

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.059
 and eating

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.819
 the king's food

00:36:08.819 --> 00:36:09.819
 and that they

00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:10.399
 can be just

00:36:10.399 --> 00:36:11.079
 as healthy

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:11.739
 and fit

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.219
 to serve

00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:12.979
 as they are.

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:14.899
 And God

00:36:14.899 --> 00:36:15.719
 cares for Daniel

00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:16.479
 and his three friends

00:36:16.479 --> 00:36:17.539
 and at the end

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.559
 of the ten days

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.259
 of testing

00:36:19.259 --> 00:36:19.619
 he says

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:19.959
 that they are

00:36:19.959 --> 00:36:20.979
 better in appearance

00:36:20.979 --> 00:36:21.459
 and fatter

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:21.900
 in flesh

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.599
 than all the youth

00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:22.940
 who ate

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.579
 the king's food

00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:24.500
 and not only

00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.099
 that at the end

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:25.920
 of the Babylonian

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:27.099
 assimilation program

00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.840
 it is said

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.139
 that among

00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.079
 all the gifted

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:29.780
 Jewish youths

00:36:29.780 --> 00:36:30.260
 that were singled

00:36:30.260 --> 00:36:31.659
 out by the king

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:33.280
 none was found

00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:33.860
 like Daniel

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.519
 Hananiah

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.159
 Mishael

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:36.119
 and Azariah

00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:36.900
 and in every

00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:37.599
 matter of wisdom

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.159
 and understanding

00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.860
 about which the king

00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.420
 inquired of them

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:40.099
 he found them

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:41.599
 ten times better

00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:43.420
 than all the magicians

00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:44.159
 and enchanters

00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.039
 that were in all

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.539
 his kingdom.

00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:46.500
 So Daniel

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.500
 and his three friends

00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.780
 endured ten days

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.480
 of testing

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:50.920
 trying to maintain

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:52.199
 their distinct identity

00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:52.960
 as people

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.460
 who are loyal

00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:53.920
 to God

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:55.420
 and they come out

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.420
 of that trial period

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:56.900
 as people

00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.920
 who are ten times

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.320
 better

00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:00.099
 ten times more

00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.519
 effective

00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:01.699
 than all the wise

00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:01.980
 men

00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:03.500
 of the Babylonian

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:03.900
 empire

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:08.500
 and this is why

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.160
 they were able

00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:09.820
 later on

00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:10.500
 when they're actually

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.539
 threatened with death

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.820
 Daniel's three friends

00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:13.500
 are threatened with

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:13.860
 being thrown

00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:14.599
 into the furnace

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.780
 Daniel's thrown

00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.619
 into the lion's den

00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:17.599
 they are faithful

00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:18.440
 unto death

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:19.820
 because they

00:37:19.820 --> 00:37:20.460
 were faithful

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:21.760
 during their testing

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:23.000
 to maintain

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:24.139
 their distinct identity

00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:28.160
 you can see now

00:37:28.160 --> 00:37:28.800
 why this is the

00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:29.860
 perfect Old Testament

00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:30.820
 example to allude

00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:32.039
 to here in Revelation 2

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:34.259
 Jesus is exhorting

00:37:34.259 --> 00:37:35.300
 the church in Smyrna

00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:36.460
 to follow the example

00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:36.900
 of Daniel

00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.800
 and his three friends

00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:39.400
 you will be tested

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:40.420
 and for ten days

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:40.880
 you will have

00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:41.480
 tribulation

00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:43.000
 but do not fear

00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:43.759
 what you are about

00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.400
 to suffer

00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.980
 I will be with you

00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:46.679
 the same way

00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:47.500
 I was with Daniel

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:48.719
 and his three friends

00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:50.199
 maintain your identity

00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:50.739
 as Christians

00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:51.940
 and be steadfast

00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.500
 to me

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:54.119
 do not worship

00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:55.259
 the Roman emperor

00:37:55.259 --> 00:37:57.139
 or their pagan gods

00:37:57.139 --> 00:38:00.559
 it's far more subtle

00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.440
 for us

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:03.239
 but the world's

00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:04.179
 assimilation program

00:38:04.179 --> 00:38:05.380
 is still going on

00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:07.119
 all around us

00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:09.940
 we are bombarded

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.639
 with messages

00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:11.960
 and images

00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:13.179
 all day long

00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:14.000
 that seek to make us

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:15.420
 conform to the world's

00:38:15.420 --> 00:38:15.860
 values

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.639
 and priorities

00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.739
 and ideologies

00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:19.880
 in the ads

00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:20.559
 that we see

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.619
 in the shows

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:22.239
 that we watch

00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:22.719
 in the books

00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:23.299
 and magazines

00:38:23.299 --> 00:38:24.039
 that we read

00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.699
 in the newspaper

00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:26.059
 articles that we read

00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:27.039
 in the lessons

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.480
 we are taught

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.039
 in schools

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:28.579
 and the things

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.079
 that we hear

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.860
 from our neighbors

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:32.140
 it's all over

00:38:32.140 --> 00:38:34.880
 if you watch

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.640
 either of

00:38:35.640 --> 00:38:36.740
 our country's

00:38:36.740 --> 00:38:37.140
 parties

00:38:37.140 --> 00:38:38.720
 national conventions

00:38:38.720 --> 00:38:40.900
 you can very clearly

00:38:40.900 --> 00:38:41.280
 see

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:42.460
 how the political

00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:43.320
 leaders of our country

00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:44.460
 try to co-opt

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.079
 Christianity

00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.740
 to advance

00:38:45.740 --> 00:38:46.720
 their political agenda

00:38:46.720 --> 00:38:51.440
 but our ultimate

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:51.820
 allegiance

00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:52.800
 is not to any

00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:53.640
 earthly ruler

00:38:53.640 --> 00:38:54.760
 or party

00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:56.820
 but to King Jesus

00:38:56.820 --> 00:38:59.400
 we bow our knees

00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:00.240
 before no one

00:39:00.240 --> 00:39:01.680
 but King Jesus

00:39:01.680 --> 00:39:04.559
 and faithfulness

00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:04.920
 to Jesus

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:05.820
 does not guarantee

00:39:05.820 --> 00:39:06.600
 that the Christians

00:39:06.600 --> 00:39:07.420
 in Smyrna

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:07.960
 will get out

00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:08.880
 of their imprisonment

00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:10.280
 and make it out

00:39:10.280 --> 00:39:10.700
 of their period

00:39:10.700 --> 00:39:11.480
 of testing alive

00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:13.019
 because Jesus says

00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:13.960
 in verse 10

00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:14.640
 be faithful

00:39:14.640 --> 00:39:15.660
 unto death

00:39:15.660 --> 00:39:16.460
 and I will give you

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:17.440
 the crown of life

00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:20.580
 the days of testing

00:39:20.580 --> 00:39:21.440
 might very well

00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:22.400
 end in martyrdom

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:24.860
 and as Christians

00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:25.840
 we need to be prepared

00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:26.340
 for that

00:39:26.340 --> 00:39:28.360
 because here in the West

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:29.480
 we live in

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.880
 relative comfort

00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:31.539
 as Christians

00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:32.860
 it's easy for us

00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.300
 to forget

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:34.000
 this call

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.900
 to discipleship

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.599
 but I want to

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.519
 remind you again

00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:37.220
 of what Jesus said

00:39:37.220 --> 00:39:37.940
 in Matthew 16

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:38.480
 if anyone

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:39.440
 will come after me

00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:41.019
 let him deny himself

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:41.800
 and follow me

00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:42.519
 if anyone does not

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.320
 carry his cross

00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:43.920
 and follow me

00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:45.059
 he's not worthy of me

00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:46.500
 what does it mean

00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:48.019
 to carry our cross

00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:50.139
 cross is an instrument

00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:50.739
 of death

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:53.799
 when we carry

00:39:53.799 --> 00:39:54.519
 our cross

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:54.980
 we're saying

00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.400
 Jesus

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.000
 I'm going to be

00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:56.639
 faithful to you

00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.359
 unto death

00:39:57.359 --> 00:40:04.859
 when Daniel's

00:40:04.859 --> 00:40:05.379
 three friends

00:40:05.379 --> 00:40:05.839
 were threatened

00:40:05.839 --> 00:40:06.579
 with being thrown

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:07.239
 into the burning

00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:08.179
 fiery furnace

00:40:08.179 --> 00:40:09.339
 for refusing to

00:40:09.339 --> 00:40:09.699
 bow down

00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:10.639
 to the golden statue

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:12.219
 of King Nebuchadnezzar

00:40:12.219 --> 00:40:13.900
 they said this

00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.000
 if this be so

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.319
 our God

00:40:16.319 --> 00:40:17.219
 whom we serve

00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:18.699
 is able to deliver us

00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:19.319
 from the burning

00:40:19.319 --> 00:40:20.119
 fiery furnace

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:22.079
 and he will deliver us

00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.699
 out of your hand

00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:23.079
 O king

00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:25.159
 but if not

00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:26.679
 be it known to you

00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:27.019
 O king

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:28.259
 that we will not

00:40:28.259 --> 00:40:29.460
 serve your gods

00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:30.599
 or worship the golden

00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:31.519
 image that you have

00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.019
 set up

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:34.659
 God can deliver us

00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:35.920
 from the persecution

00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.779
 and from death

00:40:36.779 --> 00:40:37.699
 and from the furnace

00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:40.259
 but even if he doesn't

00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:41.599
 we will not

00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:42.599
 serve your gods

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:43.940
 and we will not

00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:45.039
 bow down before you

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:46.400
 that's the call

00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:47.519
 to Christian discipleship

00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:53.460
 the center for the study

00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.280
 of global Christianity

00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.139
 based at Gordon

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:55.559
 Commonwealth

00:40:55.559 --> 00:40:56.460
 Theological Seminary

00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.539
 estimates that more

00:40:57.539 --> 00:40:58.599
 than 70 million

00:40:58.599 --> 00:41:00.320
 Christians have died

00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:01.239
 as martyrs

00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:02.559
 for their faith

00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:03.320
 over the last

00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:04.400
 2,000 years

00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:07.059
 70 million

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:09.619
 more than half

00:41:09.619 --> 00:41:10.440
 of those martyrs

00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.139
 died not

00:41:11.139 --> 00:41:12.380
 long time ago

00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:14.259
 in a far away land

00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:15.400
 but in the 20th century

00:41:15.400 --> 00:41:17.060
 under fascist

00:41:17.060 --> 00:41:18.060
 and communist

00:41:18.060 --> 00:41:18.700
 regimes

00:41:18.700 --> 00:41:24.060
 martyrdom has been

00:41:24.060 --> 00:41:24.700
 the reality

00:41:24.700 --> 00:41:26.340
 of the church

00:41:26.340 --> 00:41:27.000
 and of Christians

00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:28.340
 throughout our history

00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:30.540
 2nd century

00:41:30.540 --> 00:41:31.080
 church father

00:41:31.080 --> 00:41:31.960
 Tertullian

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.780
 once wrote to those

00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:33.420
 who are persecuting

00:41:33.420 --> 00:41:33.880
 the church

00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:34.200
 quote

00:41:34.200 --> 00:41:35.440
 we multiply

00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:37.640
 when you reap us

00:41:37.640 --> 00:41:38.500
 meaning when you

00:41:38.500 --> 00:41:39.160
 cut us down

00:41:39.160 --> 00:41:40.600
 we multiply

00:41:40.600 --> 00:41:41.940
 when you reap us

00:41:41.940 --> 00:41:43.099
 the blood

00:41:43.099 --> 00:41:43.920
 of Christians

00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:44.980
 is seed

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:48.480
 indeed

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:49.280
 the blood

00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:50.360
 of the martyrs

00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:51.659
 has been

00:41:51.659 --> 00:41:52.639
 the seed

00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.320
 of the church

00:41:53.320 --> 00:41:56.380
 brothers and sisters

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:58.179
 we have to

00:41:58.179 --> 00:41:58.880
 remember this

00:41:58.880 --> 00:42:00.280
 survival

00:42:00.280 --> 00:42:02.179
 and security

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:03.599
 are not

00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:04.280
 the highest

00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:04.740
 goals

00:42:04.740 --> 00:42:05.019
 of our

00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.940
 earthly lives

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:11.300
 survival

00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:19.060
 our highest

00:42:19.060 --> 00:42:19.440
 goal

00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:19.780
 is

00:42:19.780 --> 00:42:20.600
 faithfulness

00:42:20.600 --> 00:42:21.160
 to Christ

00:42:21.160 --> 00:42:24.200
 loyalty

00:42:24.200 --> 00:42:25.000
 to Christ

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:26.300
 service

00:42:26.300 --> 00:42:27.039
 to Christ

00:42:27.039 --> 00:42:27.960
 love

00:42:27.960 --> 00:42:28.640
 of Christ

00:42:28.640 --> 00:42:31.519
 and those

00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:31.740
 who are

00:42:31.740 --> 00:42:32.060
 faithful

00:42:32.060 --> 00:42:32.480
 unto that

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:32.700
 Jesus

00:42:32.700 --> 00:42:32.940
 says

00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:33.300
 I will

00:42:33.300 --> 00:42:33.740
 give you

00:42:33.740 --> 00:42:34.360
 the crown

00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:35.060
 of life

00:42:35.060 --> 00:42:36.220
 it's amazing

00:42:36.220 --> 00:42:36.740
 paradox

00:42:36.740 --> 00:42:37.019
 right

00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:37.360
 it's those

00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:37.820
 who die

00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:38.380
 for Jesus

00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:39.120
 who are

00:42:39.120 --> 00:42:39.340
 going to

00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:40.240
 get life

00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:42.259
 the crown

00:42:42.259 --> 00:42:42.699
 of life

00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:43.619
 is a

00:42:43.619 --> 00:42:44.019
 picture

00:42:44.019 --> 00:42:44.639
 of a

00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:44.979
 wreath

00:42:44.979 --> 00:42:46.079
 that

00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:47.319
 the victor

00:42:47.319 --> 00:42:47.759
 in the

00:42:47.759 --> 00:42:48.339
 Olympic games

00:42:48.339 --> 00:42:49.000
 would receive

00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:50.319
 it's also

00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.079
 talking about

00:42:51.079 --> 00:42:51.399
 how

00:42:51.399 --> 00:42:52.179
 Christians

00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:52.859
 who are

00:42:52.859 --> 00:42:53.399
 faithful to

00:42:53.399 --> 00:42:53.599
 him

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:53.879
 to the

00:42:53.879 --> 00:42:54.139
 end

00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:54.439
 will

00:42:54.439 --> 00:42:54.859
 share

00:42:54.859 --> 00:42:55.319
 in the

00:42:55.319 --> 00:42:55.599
 reign

00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:55.739
 of

00:42:55.739 --> 00:42:56.019
 Christ

00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.259
 in the

00:42:56.259 --> 00:42:56.479
 rule

00:42:56.479 --> 00:42:56.659
 of

00:42:56.659 --> 00:42:57.019
 Christ

00:42:57.019 --> 00:42:57.659
 because

00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.279
 only kings

00:42:58.279 --> 00:42:58.879
 wear

00:42:58.879 --> 00:43:00.039
 crowns

00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:01.559
 and Jesus

00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.179
 elaborates

00:43:02.179 --> 00:43:02.479
 in verse

00:43:02.479 --> 00:43:02.759
 11

00:43:02.759 --> 00:43:03.099
 the one

00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:03.679
 who conquers

00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:04.159
 will not

00:43:04.159 --> 00:43:04.659
 be hurt

00:43:04.659 --> 00:43:05.099
 by the

00:43:05.099 --> 00:43:05.439
 second

00:43:05.439 --> 00:43:05.879
 death

00:43:05.879 --> 00:43:07.119
 later

00:43:07.119 --> 00:43:07.559
 revelation

00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:07.839
 20

00:43:07.839 --> 00:43:08.139
 14

00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:08.579
 tells us

00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.019
 explicitly

00:43:09.019 --> 00:43:09.440
 that the

00:43:09.440 --> 00:43:09.719
 second

00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:10.059
 death

00:43:10.059 --> 00:43:10.500
 is the

00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:10.759
 lake

00:43:10.759 --> 00:43:11.360
 of fire

00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:11.759
 it's a

00:43:11.759 --> 00:43:11.960
 reference

00:43:11.960 --> 00:43:12.500
 to hell

00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:13.219
 and the

00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:13.480
 judgment

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:13.980
 of God

00:43:13.980 --> 00:43:14.980
 the wrath

00:43:14.980 --> 00:43:15.320
 of God

00:43:15.320 --> 00:43:15.699
 in hell

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:18.159
 so let me

00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:18.500
 ask you

00:43:18.500 --> 00:43:18.900
 what's the

00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:19.440
 point

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:21.219
 of prolonging

00:43:21.219 --> 00:43:22.019
 our earthly

00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:22.500
 lives

00:43:22.500 --> 00:43:23.199
 for a few

00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:23.719
 more

00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:24.420
 measly

00:43:24.420 --> 00:43:24.900
 years

00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:26.039
 only to

00:43:26.039 --> 00:43:26.480
 succumb

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:26.880
 to the

00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:27.119
 second

00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:27.440
 death

00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:31.739
 which is

00:43:31.739 --> 00:43:32.139
 eternal

00:43:32.139 --> 00:43:34.579
 we as

00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:34.880
 humans

00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:35.420
 make so

00:43:35.420 --> 00:43:35.739
 much

00:43:35.739 --> 00:43:36.119
 provision

00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:36.519
 for our

00:43:36.519 --> 00:43:36.759
 lives

00:43:36.759 --> 00:43:37.019
 here on

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:37.199
 earth

00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:37.559
 don't we

00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:38.360
 we try

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:38.920
 so hard

00:43:38.920 --> 00:43:39.400
 to fight

00:43:39.400 --> 00:43:39.619
 the

00:43:39.619 --> 00:43:40.279
 ineluctable

00:43:40.279 --> 00:43:40.779
 progress

00:43:40.779 --> 00:43:41.239
 of old

00:43:41.239 --> 00:43:41.579
 age

00:43:41.579 --> 00:43:42.799
 we use

00:43:42.799 --> 00:43:43.500
 anti-aging

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:43.940
 creams

00:43:43.940 --> 00:43:45.259
 which I

00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:45.659
 should use

00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:46.000
 actually

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:48.799
 and I

00:43:48.799 --> 00:43:49.099
 call them

00:43:49.099 --> 00:43:49.440
 character

00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:49.779
 lines

00:43:49.779 --> 00:43:51.559
 and then

00:43:51.559 --> 00:43:52.400
 we use

00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:52.820
 I don't

00:43:52.820 --> 00:43:53.139
 know

00:43:53.139 --> 00:43:54.000
 we do

00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:54.340
 strength

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:54.940
 exercises

00:43:54.940 --> 00:43:56.599
 because we

00:43:56.599 --> 00:43:56.799
 don't want

00:43:56.799 --> 00:43:57.079
 to lose

00:43:57.079 --> 00:43:57.860
 muscle mass

00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:58.639
 we eat

00:43:58.639 --> 00:43:58.960
 healthy

00:43:58.960 --> 00:43:59.500
 food

00:43:59.500 --> 00:44:01.799
 we dye

00:44:01.799 --> 00:44:02.380
 our hair

00:44:02.380 --> 00:44:03.320
 gray hairs

00:44:03.320 --> 00:44:04.539
 or pluck

00:44:04.539 --> 00:44:04.900
 them

00:44:04.900 --> 00:44:10.720
 it's

00:44:10.720 --> 00:44:11.180
 all fine

00:44:11.180 --> 00:44:11.599
 but do

00:44:11.599 --> 00:44:11.980
 you spend

00:44:11.980 --> 00:44:12.320
 as much

00:44:12.320 --> 00:44:12.559
 time

00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:12.860
 thinking

00:44:12.860 --> 00:44:13.099
 about

00:44:13.099 --> 00:44:13.300
 the

00:44:13.300 --> 00:44:13.700
 second

00:44:13.700 --> 00:44:14.139
 death

00:44:14.139 --> 00:44:16.119
 for those

00:44:16.119 --> 00:44:16.300
 of you

00:44:16.300 --> 00:44:16.500
 who do

00:44:16.500 --> 00:44:16.820
 not yet

00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:17.000
 know

00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:17.300
 Jesus

00:44:17.300 --> 00:44:17.559
 I want

00:44:17.559 --> 00:44:17.960
 to ask

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.240
 you

00:44:18.240 --> 00:44:18.720
 are you

00:44:18.720 --> 00:44:19.260
 prepared

00:44:19.260 --> 00:44:19.740
 for the

00:44:19.740 --> 00:44:20.200
 second

00:44:20.200 --> 00:44:20.619
 death

00:44:20.619 --> 00:44:26.320
 heaven

00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:26.900
 is real

00:44:26.900 --> 00:44:29.400
 hell

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.000
 is real

00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.660
 and it's

00:44:31.660 --> 00:44:32.160
 only those

00:44:32.160 --> 00:44:32.579
 who carry

00:44:32.579 --> 00:44:33.059
 their cross

00:44:33.059 --> 00:44:33.460
 and follow

00:44:33.460 --> 00:44:33.799
 Jesus

00:44:33.799 --> 00:44:34.139
 who will

00:44:34.139 --> 00:44:34.480
 inherit

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:34.860
 eternal

00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:35.259
 life

00:44:35.259 --> 00:44:39.099
 Jesus

00:44:39.099 --> 00:44:39.460
 said in

00:44:39.460 --> 00:44:39.659
 Matthew

00:44:39.659 --> 00:44:39.900
 10

00:44:39.900 --> 00:44:40.159
 20

00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:40.599
 do not

00:44:40.599 --> 00:44:40.940
 fear

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:41.139
 those

00:44:41.139 --> 00:44:41.279
 who

00:44:41.279 --> 00:44:41.539
 kill

00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:41.699
 the

00:44:41.699 --> 00:44:41.940
 body

00:44:41.940 --> 00:44:42.099
 but

00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:42.400
 cannot

00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:42.880
 kill

00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:43.099
 the

00:44:43.099 --> 00:44:43.420
 soul

00:44:43.420 --> 00:44:44.279
 rather

00:44:44.279 --> 00:44:44.599
 fear

00:44:44.599 --> 00:44:44.980
 him

00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.139
 who

00:44:45.139 --> 00:44:45.299
 can

00:44:45.299 --> 00:44:45.599
 destroy

00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:45.880
 both

00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:46.299
 soul

00:44:46.299 --> 00:44:46.539
 and

00:44:46.539 --> 00:44:46.880
 body

00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:47.259
 in

00:44:47.259 --> 00:44:47.599
 hell

00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:49.500
 are you

00:44:49.500 --> 00:44:49.739
 gripped

00:44:49.739 --> 00:44:50.259
 more by

00:44:50.259 --> 00:44:50.820
 the reality

00:44:50.820 --> 00:44:51.099
 of the

00:44:51.099 --> 00:44:51.380
 first

00:44:51.380 --> 00:44:51.699
 death

00:44:51.699 --> 00:44:51.980
 than the

00:44:51.980 --> 00:44:52.219
 second

00:44:52.219 --> 00:44:52.559
 death

00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:54.579
 are you

00:44:54.579 --> 00:44:56.039
 gripped

00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.539
 more by

00:44:56.539 --> 00:44:56.860
 the fear

00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:57.320
 of man

00:44:57.320 --> 00:44:58.420
 than the

00:44:58.420 --> 00:44:58.559
 fear

00:44:58.559 --> 00:44:59.019
 of God

00:44:59.019 --> 00:45:04.019
 the

00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:04.539
 reason why

00:45:04.539 --> 00:45:04.860
 we as

00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:05.199
 Christians

00:45:05.199 --> 00:45:05.639
 need not

00:45:05.639 --> 00:45:05.800
 fear

00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:05.960
 the

00:45:05.960 --> 00:45:06.219
 second

00:45:06.219 --> 00:45:06.519
 death

00:45:06.519 --> 00:45:06.679
 is

00:45:06.679 --> 00:45:06.920
 because

00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:07.239
 Jesus

00:45:07.239 --> 00:45:07.639
 has

00:45:07.639 --> 00:45:08.139
 conquered

00:45:08.139 --> 00:45:08.480
 sin

00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:08.639
 and

00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:08.840
 death

00:45:08.840 --> 00:45:09.099
 on our

00:45:09.099 --> 00:45:09.480
 behalf

00:45:09.480 --> 00:45:10.380
 it

00:45:10.380 --> 00:45:10.579
 says

00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:10.759
 in

00:45:10.759 --> 00:45:11.000
 Romans

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.420
 6

00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:12.019
 23

00:45:12.019 --> 00:45:12.739
 for

00:45:12.739 --> 00:45:12.880
 the

00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.280
 wages

00:45:13.280 --> 00:45:13.480
 of

00:45:13.480 --> 00:45:13.719
 sin

00:45:13.719 --> 00:45:13.900
 is

00:45:13.900 --> 00:45:14.239
 death

00:45:14.239 --> 00:45:14.440
 but

00:45:14.440 --> 00:45:14.599
 the

00:45:14.599 --> 00:45:14.880
 free

00:45:14.880 --> 00:45:15.239
 gift

00:45:15.239 --> 00:45:15.400
 of

00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:15.659
 God

00:45:15.659 --> 00:45:15.780
 is

00:45:15.780 --> 00:45:16.239
 eternal

00:45:16.239 --> 00:45:16.639
 life

00:45:16.639 --> 00:45:16.800
 in

00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:17.139
 Christ

00:45:17.139 --> 00:45:17.539
 Jesus

00:45:17.539 --> 00:45:17.920
 our

00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:18.300
 Lord

00:45:18.300 --> 00:45:19.340
 as

00:45:19.340 --> 00:45:19.679
 sinners

00:45:19.679 --> 00:45:20.259
 all

00:45:20.259 --> 00:45:20.440
 of

00:45:20.440 --> 00:45:20.699
 us

00:45:20.699 --> 00:45:21.179
 deserve

00:45:21.179 --> 00:45:21.699
 death

00:45:21.699 --> 00:45:23.599
 and

00:45:23.599 --> 00:45:24.019
 eternal

00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:24.500
 punishment

00:45:24.500 --> 00:45:24.679
 in

00:45:24.679 --> 00:45:24.900
 hell

00:45:24.900 --> 00:45:25.639
 but

00:45:25.639 --> 00:45:25.920
 instead

00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:26.340
 of giving

00:45:26.340 --> 00:45:26.559
 us

00:45:26.559 --> 00:45:26.739
 what

00:45:26.739 --> 00:45:26.900
 we

00:45:26.900 --> 00:45:27.400
 deserve

00:45:27.400 --> 00:45:27.880
 God

00:45:27.880 --> 00:45:28.239
 showed

00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:28.400
 us

00:45:28.400 --> 00:45:28.960
 mercy

00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:29.260
 by

00:45:29.260 --> 00:45:29.619
 sending

00:45:29.619 --> 00:45:29.820
 his

00:45:29.820 --> 00:45:30.180
 only

00:45:30.180 --> 00:45:30.599
 son

00:45:30.599 --> 00:45:31.360
 Jesus

00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:31.760
 Christ

00:45:31.760 --> 00:45:31.920
 to

00:45:31.920 --> 00:45:32.099
 pay

00:45:32.099 --> 00:45:32.280
 the

00:45:32.280 --> 00:45:32.619
 penalty

00:45:32.619 --> 00:45:32.900
 for

00:45:32.900 --> 00:45:33.200
 our

00:45:33.200 --> 00:45:33.700
 sins

00:45:33.700 --> 00:45:34.119
 by

00:45:34.119 --> 00:45:34.500
 dying

00:45:34.500 --> 00:45:34.700
 on

00:45:34.700 --> 00:45:34.840
 the

00:45:34.840 --> 00:45:35.260
 cross

00:45:35.260 --> 00:45:35.700
 for

00:45:35.700 --> 00:45:36.180
 us

00:45:36.180 --> 00:45:37.800
 and

00:45:37.800 --> 00:45:37.980
 it's

00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:38.500
 because

00:45:38.500 --> 00:45:38.760
 the

00:45:38.760 --> 00:45:39.200
 price

00:45:39.200 --> 00:45:39.400
 of

00:45:39.400 --> 00:45:39.599
 death

00:45:39.599 --> 00:45:39.880
 has

00:45:39.880 --> 00:45:40.240
 already

00:45:40.240 --> 00:45:40.500
 been

00:45:40.500 --> 00:45:41.059
 paid

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:41.539
 that

00:45:41.539 --> 00:45:41.720
 we

00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:41.920
 are

00:45:41.920 --> 00:45:42.139
 no

00:45:42.139 --> 00:45:42.579
 longer

00:45:42.579 --> 00:45:43.119
 under

00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:44.460
 the

00:45:44.460 --> 00:45:44.980
 dominion

00:45:44.980 --> 00:45:45.160
 of

00:45:45.160 --> 00:45:45.539
 death

00:45:45.539 --> 00:45:46.059
 that

00:45:46.059 --> 00:45:46.320
 death

00:45:46.320 --> 00:45:46.480
 no

00:45:46.480 --> 00:45:46.680
 longer

00:45:46.680 --> 00:45:46.940
 has

00:45:46.940 --> 00:45:47.360
 claim

00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:47.559
 on

00:45:47.559 --> 00:45:47.900
 us

00:45:47.900 --> 00:45:48.320
 but

00:45:48.320 --> 00:45:48.639
 instead

00:45:48.639 --> 00:45:48.860
 we

00:45:48.860 --> 00:45:48.980
 are

00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:49.320
 destined

00:45:49.320 --> 00:45:49.559
 for

00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:50.000
 eternity

00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:52.200
 so

00:45:52.200 --> 00:45:52.360
 we

00:45:52.360 --> 00:45:52.660
 also

00:45:52.660 --> 00:45:52.820
 need

00:45:52.820 --> 00:45:52.940
 to

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:53.200
 follow

00:45:53.200 --> 00:45:53.380
 in

00:45:53.380 --> 00:45:53.519
 the

00:45:53.519 --> 00:45:53.820
 footsteps

00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:54.079
 of

00:45:54.079 --> 00:45:54.360
 Jesus

00:45:54.360 --> 00:45:54.579
 and

00:45:54.579 --> 00:45:54.720
 be

00:45:54.720 --> 00:45:54.980
 faithful

00:45:54.980 --> 00:45:55.380
 unto

00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:55.640
 death

00:45:55.640 --> 00:45:55.840
 because

00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:56.180
 that's

00:45:56.180 --> 00:45:56.340
 the

00:45:56.340 --> 00:45:56.680
 way

00:45:56.680 --> 00:45:57.119
 we

00:45:57.119 --> 00:45:57.740
 conquer

00:45:57.740 --> 00:45:58.680
 not

00:45:58.680 --> 00:45:59.099
 by

00:45:59.099 --> 00:45:59.660
 killing

00:45:59.660 --> 00:45:59.920
 but

00:45:59.920 --> 00:46:00.260
 by

00:46:00.260 --> 00:46:00.880
 dying

00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:05.920
 Polycarp

00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:06.760
 was

00:46:06.760 --> 00:46:07.300
 born

00:46:07.300 --> 00:46:07.500
 in

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:07.960
 69

00:46:07.960 --> 00:46:08.380
 AD

00:46:08.380 --> 00:46:09.240
 and

00:46:09.240 --> 00:46:09.360
 he

00:46:09.360 --> 00:46:09.599
 was

00:46:09.599 --> 00:46:10.320
 discipled

00:46:10.320 --> 00:46:11.000
 by

00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:11.500
 Apostle

00:46:11.500 --> 00:46:11.700
 John

00:46:11.700 --> 00:46:12.220
 himself

00:46:12.220 --> 00:46:13.640
 and

00:46:13.640 --> 00:46:13.980
 he

00:46:13.980 --> 00:46:15.140
 Apostle

00:46:15.140 --> 00:46:15.280
 John

00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:15.680
 wrote

00:46:15.680 --> 00:46:15.840
 the

00:46:15.840 --> 00:46:15.980
 book

00:46:15.980 --> 00:46:16.099
 of

00:46:16.099 --> 00:46:16.500
 Revelation

00:46:16.500 --> 00:46:17.340
 and

00:46:17.340 --> 00:46:17.760
 eventually

00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:18.500
 Polycarp

00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:19.019
 became

00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:19.320
 the

00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:19.740
 pastor

00:46:19.740 --> 00:46:20.119
 and

00:46:20.119 --> 00:46:20.820
 overseer

00:46:20.820 --> 00:46:21.019
 the

00:46:21.019 --> 00:46:21.240
 elder

00:46:21.240 --> 00:46:21.380
 of

00:46:21.380 --> 00:46:21.500
 the

00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:21.880
 church

00:46:21.880 --> 00:46:22.240
 in

00:46:22.240 --> 00:46:22.800
 Smyrna

00:46:22.800 --> 00:46:23.660
 the

00:46:23.660 --> 00:46:23.860
 very

00:46:23.860 --> 00:46:24.200
 church

00:46:24.200 --> 00:46:24.420
 that

00:46:24.420 --> 00:46:24.660
 John

00:46:24.660 --> 00:46:24.760
 is

00:46:24.760 --> 00:46:25.000
 writing

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:25.199
 to

00:46:25.199 --> 00:46:25.400
 here

00:46:25.400 --> 00:46:25.559
 in

00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:25.760
 this

00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:25.980
 letter

00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:26.199
 not

00:46:26.199 --> 00:46:26.440
 John

00:46:26.440 --> 00:46:26.719
 Jesus

00:46:26.719 --> 00:46:26.940
 is

00:46:26.940 --> 00:46:27.119
 writing

00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:27.320
 to

00:46:27.320 --> 00:46:27.739
 in

00:46:27.739 --> 00:46:27.920
 this

00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:28.159
 letter

00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:29.960
 and

00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:30.400
 it

00:46:30.400 --> 00:46:30.679
 seems

00:46:30.679 --> 00:46:30.860
 that

00:46:30.860 --> 00:46:31.800
 Polycarp

00:46:31.800 --> 00:46:32.559
 heeded

00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:33.500
 the

00:46:33.500 --> 00:46:33.780
 message

00:46:33.780 --> 00:46:33.940
 of

00:46:33.940 --> 00:46:34.360
 Jesus

00:46:34.360 --> 00:46:35.840
 to

00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:36.019
 be

00:46:36.019 --> 00:46:36.440
 faithful

00:46:36.440 --> 00:46:36.820
 unto

00:46:36.820 --> 00:46:37.239
 death

00:46:37.239 --> 00:46:38.820
 because

00:46:38.820 --> 00:46:39.179
 Roman

00:46:39.179 --> 00:46:39.760
 authorities

00:46:39.760 --> 00:46:40.280
 assisted

00:46:40.280 --> 00:46:40.619
 by

00:46:40.619 --> 00:46:40.820
 their

00:46:40.820 --> 00:46:41.119
 Jewish

00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:41.619
 have

00:46:41.619 --> 00:46:42.639
 respect

00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:43.000
 for

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:43.139
 your

00:46:43.139 --> 00:46:43.360
 old

00:46:43.360 --> 00:46:43.800
 age

00:46:43.800 --> 00:46:45.619
 swear

00:46:45.619 --> 00:46:45.860
 by

00:46:45.860 --> 00:46:46.039
 the

00:46:46.039 --> 00:46:46.320
 fortune

00:46:46.320 --> 00:46:46.500
 of

00:46:46.500 --> 00:46:46.840
 Caesar

00:46:46.840 --> 00:46:47.860
 repent

00:46:47.860 --> 00:46:48.639
 and

00:46:48.639 --> 00:46:48.860
 say

00:46:48.860 --> 00:46:49.260
 away

00:46:49.260 --> 00:46:49.519
 with

00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:49.679
 the

00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:50.340
 atheists

00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:51.099
 atheists

00:46:51.099 --> 00:46:51.260
 are

00:46:51.260 --> 00:46:51.679
 Christians

00:46:51.679 --> 00:46:51.980
 that's

00:46:51.980 --> 00:46:52.159
 how

00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:52.500
 Romans

00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:53.099
 derogatorily

00:46:53.099 --> 00:46:53.400
 called

00:46:53.400 --> 00:46:54.880
 swear

00:46:54.880 --> 00:46:55.260
 and I

00:46:55.260 --> 00:46:55.539
 will set

00:46:55.539 --> 00:46:55.660
 you

00:46:55.660 --> 00:46:55.800
 at

00:46:55.800 --> 00:46:56.139
 liberty

00:46:56.139 --> 00:46:57.019
 reproach

00:46:57.019 --> 00:46:57.700
 Christ

00:46:57.700 --> 00:46:59.480
 but

00:46:59.480 --> 00:47:00.059
 Polycarp

00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:00.539
 declared

00:47:00.539 --> 00:47:02.180
 eighty

00:47:02.180 --> 00:47:03.079
 and six

00:47:03.079 --> 00:47:03.599
 years

00:47:03.599 --> 00:47:04.460
 have I

00:47:04.460 --> 00:47:04.860
 served

00:47:04.860 --> 00:47:05.220
 him

00:47:05.220 --> 00:47:06.800
 and he

00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:07.300
 never

00:47:07.300 --> 00:47:07.740
 did me

00:47:07.740 --> 00:47:08.220
 any

00:47:08.220 --> 00:47:08.980
 injury

00:47:08.980 --> 00:47:10.460
 how

00:47:10.460 --> 00:47:10.720
 then

00:47:10.720 --> 00:47:11.099
 can I

00:47:11.099 --> 00:47:11.900
 blaspheme

00:47:11.900 --> 00:47:12.740
 my king

00:47:12.740 --> 00:47:13.539
 and my

00:47:13.539 --> 00:47:13.980
 savior

00:47:13.980 --> 00:47:19.599
 the

00:47:19.599 --> 00:47:20.099
 proconsul

00:47:20.099 --> 00:47:20.280
 then

00:47:20.280 --> 00:47:20.480
 said

00:47:20.480 --> 00:47:20.639
 to

00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:20.920
 him

00:47:20.920 --> 00:47:21.619
 I

00:47:21.619 --> 00:47:21.780
 have

00:47:21.780 --> 00:47:22.119
 wild

00:47:22.119 --> 00:47:22.559
 beasts

00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:22.760
 at

00:47:22.760 --> 00:47:23.099
 hand

00:47:23.099 --> 00:47:23.780
 to

00:47:23.780 --> 00:47:24.019
 these

00:47:24.019 --> 00:47:24.179
 I

00:47:24.179 --> 00:47:24.320
 will

00:47:24.320 --> 00:47:24.639
 cast

00:47:24.639 --> 00:47:24.880
 you

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:25.659
 unless

00:47:25.659 --> 00:47:25.880
 you

00:47:25.880 --> 00:47:26.280
 repent

00:47:26.280 --> 00:47:27.719
 but

00:47:27.719 --> 00:47:27.860
 he

00:47:27.860 --> 00:47:28.219
 answered

00:47:28.219 --> 00:47:28.599
 call

00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:28.820
 them

00:47:28.820 --> 00:47:29.099
 then

00:47:29.099 --> 00:47:29.740
 for

00:47:29.740 --> 00:47:29.880
 we

00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:29.980
 are

00:47:29.980 --> 00:47:30.159
 not

00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.579
 accustomed

00:47:30.579 --> 00:47:30.820
 to

00:47:30.820 --> 00:47:31.179
 repent

00:47:31.179 --> 00:47:31.380
 of

00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:31.519
 what

00:47:31.519 --> 00:47:31.679
 is

00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:32.099
 good

00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:32.400
 in

00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:32.519
 order

00:47:32.519 --> 00:47:32.679
 to

00:47:32.679 --> 00:47:33.019
 adopt

00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:33.420
 that

00:47:33.420 --> 00:47:33.619
 which

00:47:33.619 --> 00:47:33.800
 is

00:47:33.800 --> 00:47:34.159
 evil

00:47:34.159 --> 00:47:35.059
 and

00:47:35.059 --> 00:47:35.199
 it

00:47:35.199 --> 00:47:35.340
 is

00:47:35.340 --> 00:47:35.599
 well

00:47:35.599 --> 00:47:35.840
 for

00:47:35.840 --> 00:47:35.960
 me

00:47:35.960 --> 00:47:36.079
 to

00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:36.199
 be

00:47:36.199 --> 00:47:36.599
 changed

00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:36.820
 from

00:47:36.820 --> 00:47:36.980
 what

00:47:36.980 --> 00:47:37.099
 is

00:47:37.099 --> 00:47:37.360
 evil

00:47:37.360 --> 00:47:37.539
 to

00:47:37.539 --> 00:47:37.679
 what

00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:37.840
 is

00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:38.280
 righteous

00:47:38.280 --> 00:47:39.980
 but

00:47:39.980 --> 00:47:40.260
 again

00:47:40.260 --> 00:47:40.480
 the

00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:40.940
 proconsul

00:47:40.940 --> 00:47:41.179
 said

00:47:41.179 --> 00:47:41.340
 to

00:47:41.340 --> 00:47:41.579
 him

00:47:41.579 --> 00:47:42.279
 I

00:47:42.279 --> 00:47:42.440
 will

00:47:42.440 --> 00:47:42.840
 cause

00:47:42.840 --> 00:47:42.980
 you

00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:43.119
 to

00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:43.259
 be

00:47:43.259 --> 00:47:43.679
 consumed

00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:43.900
 by

00:47:43.900 --> 00:47:44.420
 fire

00:47:44.420 --> 00:47:45.360
 seeing

00:47:45.360 --> 00:47:45.500
 you

00:47:45.500 --> 00:47:46.000
 despise

00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:46.139
 the

00:47:46.139 --> 00:47:46.340
 wild

00:47:46.340 --> 00:47:46.699
 beasts

00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:46.940
 if

00:47:46.940 --> 00:47:47.139
 you

00:47:47.139 --> 00:47:47.340
 will

00:47:47.340 --> 00:47:47.579
 not

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:48.039
 repent

00:47:48.039 --> 00:47:49.039
 but

00:47:49.039 --> 00:47:49.579
 Polycarp

00:47:49.579 --> 00:47:49.840
 said

00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:50.460
 you

00:47:50.460 --> 00:47:50.900
 threaten

00:47:50.900 --> 00:47:51.159
 me

00:47:51.159 --> 00:47:51.380
 with

00:47:51.380 --> 00:47:51.840
 fire

00:47:51.840 --> 00:47:52.059
 which

00:47:52.059 --> 00:47:52.440
 burns

00:47:52.440 --> 00:47:52.659
 for

00:47:52.659 --> 00:47:52.819
 an

00:47:52.819 --> 00:47:53.159
 hour

00:47:53.159 --> 00:47:53.739
 and

00:47:53.739 --> 00:47:54.019
 after

00:47:54.019 --> 00:47:54.299
 little

00:47:54.299 --> 00:47:54.559
 is

00:47:54.559 --> 00:47:55.360
 extinguished

00:47:55.360 --> 00:47:55.880
 but

00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:56.000
 are

00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:56.340
 ignorant

00:47:56.340 --> 00:47:56.599
 of

00:47:56.599 --> 00:47:56.739
 the

00:47:56.739 --> 00:47:57.259
 fire

00:47:57.259 --> 00:47:57.539
 of

00:47:57.539 --> 00:47:57.699
 the

00:47:57.699 --> 00:47:58.059
 coming

00:47:58.059 --> 00:47:58.599
 judgment

00:47:58.599 --> 00:47:58.940
 and

00:47:58.940 --> 00:47:59.079
 of

00:47:59.079 --> 00:47:59.500
 eternal

00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:00.079
 punishment

00:48:00.079 --> 00:48:00.799
 reserved

00:48:00.799 --> 00:48:01.279
 for

00:48:01.279 --> 00:48:01.500
 the

00:48:01.500 --> 00:48:02.119
 ungodly

00:48:02.119 --> 00:48:03.079
 but

00:48:03.079 --> 00:48:03.440
 why

00:48:03.440 --> 00:48:03.639
 do

00:48:03.639 --> 00:48:03.759
 you

00:48:03.759 --> 00:48:04.079
 tarry

00:48:04.079 --> 00:48:04.779
 bring

00:48:04.779 --> 00:48:05.259
 forth

00:48:05.259 --> 00:48:05.579
 what

00:48:05.579 --> 00:48:05.719
 you

00:48:05.719 --> 00:48:06.000
 will

00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:08.340
 and

00:48:08.340 --> 00:48:08.460
 then

00:48:08.460 --> 00:48:08.559
 he

00:48:08.559 --> 00:48:08.699
 was

00:48:08.699 --> 00:48:09.000
 burned

00:48:09.000 --> 00:48:09.139
 at

00:48:09.139 --> 00:48:09.260
 the

00:48:09.260 --> 00:48:09.539
 stakes

00:48:09.539 --> 00:48:11.840
 and

00:48:11.840 --> 00:48:12.039
 this

00:48:12.039 --> 00:48:12.219
 is

00:48:12.219 --> 00:48:12.579
 recorded

00:48:12.579 --> 00:48:12.840
 in

00:48:12.840 --> 00:48:12.980
 the

00:48:12.980 --> 00:48:13.400
 martyrdom

00:48:13.400 --> 00:48:13.619
 of

00:48:13.619 --> 00:48:14.260
 Polycarp

00:48:14.260 --> 00:48:14.880
 ancient

00:48:14.880 --> 00:48:15.380
 writing

00:48:15.380 --> 00:48:20.980
 we

00:48:20.980 --> 00:48:21.139
 can

00:48:21.139 --> 00:48:21.400
 only

00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:21.619
 do

00:48:21.619 --> 00:48:21.980
 that

00:48:21.980 --> 00:48:22.639
 be

00:48:22.639 --> 00:48:22.940
 faithful

00:48:22.940 --> 00:48:23.179
 unto

00:48:23.179 --> 00:48:23.539
 death

00:48:23.539 --> 00:48:24.679
 if

00:48:24.679 --> 00:48:24.820
 we

00:48:24.820 --> 00:48:25.179
 know

00:48:25.179 --> 00:48:25.420
 that

00:48:25.420 --> 00:48:25.760
 Jesus

00:48:25.760 --> 00:48:25.960
 is

00:48:25.960 --> 00:48:26.059
 the

00:48:26.059 --> 00:48:26.340
 one

00:48:26.340 --> 00:48:27.099
 who

00:48:27.099 --> 00:48:27.460
 died

00:48:27.460 --> 00:48:27.619
 and

00:48:27.619 --> 00:48:27.739
 is

00:48:27.739 --> 00:48:28.139
 alive

00:48:28.139 --> 00:48:28.800
 forever

00:48:28.800 --> 00:48:29.179
 more

00:48:29.179 --> 00:48:29.739
 he

00:48:29.739 --> 00:48:29.880
 has

00:48:29.880 --> 00:48:30.280
 conquered

00:48:30.280 --> 00:48:30.679
 death

00:48:30.679 --> 00:48:31.159
 and

00:48:31.159 --> 00:48:31.320
 the

00:48:31.320 --> 00:48:31.599
 second

00:48:31.599 --> 00:48:31.840
 death

00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:32.019
 has

00:48:32.019 --> 00:48:32.179
 no

00:48:32.179 --> 00:48:32.400
 hold

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:32.539
 on

00:48:32.539 --> 00:48:32.800
 us

00:48:32.800 --> 00:48:35.360
 so

00:48:35.360 --> 00:48:35.679
 let's

00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.019
 be

00:48:36.019 --> 00:48:36.639
 faithful

00:48:36.639 --> 00:48:36.880
 unto

00:48:36.880 --> 00:48:37.119
 death

00:48:37.119 --> 00:48:37.340
 brothers

00:48:37.340 --> 00:48:37.500
 and

00:48:37.500 --> 00:48:37.820
 sisters

00:48:37.820 --> 00:48:40.580
 faithful

00:48:40.580 --> 00:48:40.900
 unto

00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:41.220
 death

00:48:41.220 --> 00:48:42.460
 let's

00:48:42.460 --> 00:48:42.720
 pray

00:48:42.720 --> 00:48:54.000
 yes

00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:54.260
 Lord

00:48:54.260 --> 00:48:54.640
 Jesus

00:48:54.640 --> 00:48:59.700
 we

00:48:59.700 --> 00:49:00.180
 confess

00:49:00.180 --> 00:49:00.620
 with

00:49:00.620 --> 00:49:00.780
 our

00:49:00.780 --> 00:49:01.140
 mouth

00:49:01.140 --> 00:49:03.120
 that

00:49:03.120 --> 00:49:03.320
 you

00:49:03.320 --> 00:49:03.480
 are

00:49:03.480 --> 00:49:03.860
 Lord

00:49:03.860 --> 00:49:10.460
 and

00:49:10.460 --> 00:49:10.640
 when

00:49:10.640 --> 00:49:11.079
 you

00:49:11.079 --> 00:49:14.460
 confess

00:49:14.460 --> 00:49:14.900
 our

00:49:14.900 --> 00:49:15.180
 name

00:49:15.180 --> 00:49:15.380
 when

00:49:15.380 --> 00:49:15.579
 you

00:49:15.579 --> 00:49:16.320
 profess

00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:17.620
 our

00:49:17.620 --> 00:49:18.000
 name

00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:19.500
 in

00:49:19.500 --> 00:49:19.700
 the

00:49:19.700 --> 00:49:19.960
 heavenly

00:49:19.960 --> 00:49:20.280
 court

00:49:20.280 --> 00:49:20.680
 before

00:49:20.680 --> 00:49:21.360
 God

00:49:21.360 --> 00:49:21.480
 the

00:49:21.480 --> 00:49:21.800
 father

00:49:21.800 --> 00:49:24.039
 how

00:49:24.039 --> 00:49:24.440
 can

00:49:24.440 --> 00:49:24.680
 we

00:49:24.680 --> 00:49:25.019
 deny

00:49:25.019 --> 00:49:25.400
 you

00:49:25.400 --> 00:49:25.660
 here

00:49:25.660 --> 00:49:25.780
 in

00:49:25.780 --> 00:49:25.900
 the

00:49:25.900 --> 00:49:26.120
 courts

00:49:26.120 --> 00:49:26.280
 of

00:49:26.280 --> 00:49:26.480
 men

00:49:26.480 --> 00:49:32.960
 Lord

00:49:32.960 --> 00:49:34.240
 define

00:49:34.240 --> 00:49:34.980
 our

00:49:34.980 --> 00:49:35.519
 reality

00:49:35.519 --> 00:49:36.639
 take

00:49:36.639 --> 00:49:37.139
 hold

00:49:37.139 --> 00:49:37.320
 of

00:49:37.320 --> 00:49:37.539
 our

00:49:37.539 --> 00:49:37.920
 minds

00:49:37.920 --> 00:49:38.079
 and

00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:38.280
 take

00:49:38.280 --> 00:49:38.699
 hold

00:49:38.699 --> 00:49:38.920
 of

00:49:38.920 --> 00:49:39.099
 our

00:49:39.099 --> 00:49:39.559
 hearts

00:49:39.559 --> 00:49:41.699
 so

00:49:41.699 --> 00:49:41.820
 that

00:49:41.820 --> 00:49:42.000
 we

00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:42.340
 see

00:49:42.340 --> 00:49:42.780
 things

00:49:42.780 --> 00:49:43.079
 the way

00:49:43.079 --> 00:49:43.320
 you

00:49:43.320 --> 00:49:43.500
 see

00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:43.679
 them

00:49:43.679 --> 00:49:43.980
 Lord

00:49:43.980 --> 00:49:48.240
 so

00:49:48.240 --> 00:49:48.320
 that

00:49:48.320 --> 00:49:48.440
 we

00:49:48.440 --> 00:49:48.599
 can

00:49:48.599 --> 00:49:49.000
 see

00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:49.519
 Jesus

00:49:49.519 --> 00:49:49.960
 the way

00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:50.260
 you

00:49:50.260 --> 00:49:50.599
 see

00:49:50.599 --> 00:49:50.840
 them

00:49:50.840 --> 00:49:51.199
 Lord

00:49:51.199 --> 00:49:54.039
 so

00:49:54.039 --> 00:49:54.159
 that

00:49:54.159 --> 00:49:54.300
 we

00:49:54.300 --> 00:49:54.500
 might

00:49:54.500 --> 00:49:54.740
 be

00:49:54.740 --> 00:49:55.099
 faithful

00:49:55.099 --> 00:49:55.420
 unto

00:49:55.420 --> 00:49:55.780
 death

00:49:55.780 --> 00:50:07.860
 in

00:50:07.860 --> 00:50:08.100
 Jesus

00:50:08.100 --> 00:50:08.340
 name

00:50:08.340 --> 00:50:08.500
 we

00:50:08.500 --> 00:50:08.760
 pray

00:50:08.760 --> 00:50:09.600
 amen