WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church.

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 Summer is here.

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 I'm glad to see some of you waving the fans.

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 If you do get hot during the service,

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 the service is being streamed in our overflow rooms

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 and air conditioning, I believe.

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 Right, Corbin?

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 Yes, so there's an overflow room downstairs

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 in the new edition that's air conditioned.

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 You can watch the service down there.

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 The fellowship hall, we also have the speaker on down there.

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 You can go there.

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 Or here's an even better option.

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 If you've been coming to Trinity for four to six months,

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 you can volunteer with children's ministry,

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 which means that you can then enjoy the service

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 in air conditioning while you spend time with children,

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 which is probably one of the best things

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 you can do for your soul, is spend time with kids.

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 Because Jesus said,

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 that's who the kingdom of heaven belongs to.

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 So, with that being said,

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 why don't we turn to Revelation chapter 22.

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 We've come to the end of our series in Revelation today.

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 Today, we are going to be considering verses 6 through 21.

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 These verses form the epilogue,

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 the kind of final words of this majestic book of Revelation.

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 That's the last page in the Pew Bible.

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 If you'd like to turn there with me,

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 I will pray for us, and then I'll read,

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 and then we'll dive in.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, we have just sung about the wondrous mystery

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 of the incarnation of your Son,

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 the perfect life of your Son,

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 the atoning death of your Son,

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 the glorious resurrection,

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 and his mighty return.

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 Father, this is what we want to see more and more of,

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 Christ in all his glory and beauty.

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 Because we know that as we behold Christ,

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 we are not just changed into his likeness more and more,

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 but you receive more and more of the glory and praise

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 that you deserve,

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 that we were created to give you.

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 We find the very purpose for which we were made.

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 So help us in these few moments

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 as we turn to this final passage

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 of this great book of Revelation

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 to help us to see more and more of Christ

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 by the power of your Spirit.

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 Amen.

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 All right, Revelation 22, 6 through 21.

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 Remember, John, at this point in the book,

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 has just been shown by an angel

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 the glorious vision of the new heavens and the new earth,

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 the future that God has in store for his people

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 and for his creation.

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 And then we read this.

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 And he, that is the angel, said to me,

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 these words are trustworthy and true,

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 and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,

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 has sent his angel to show his servants

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 what must soon take place.

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 And now John hears the voice of Jesus himself saying,

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 and behold, I am coming soon.

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 Blessed is the one who keeps the words

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 of the prophecy of this book.

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

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 and when I heard and saw them,

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 I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel

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 who showed them to me.

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 But he said to me,

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 you must not do that.

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 I am a fellow servant with you

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 and your brothers, the prophets,

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 and with those who keep the words of this book.

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 Worship God.

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 And he said to me,

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 do not seal up the words of this prophecy,

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 of this book,

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 for the time is near.

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 Let the evildoer still do evil,

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 and the filthy still be filthy,

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 and the righteous still do right,

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 and the holy still be holy.

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 And again, John hears the voice of Jesus say,

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 behold, I am coming soon,

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 bringing my recompense with me

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 to repay each one for what he has done.

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 I am the alpha and the omega,

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 the first and the last,

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 the beginning and the end.

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 Blessed are those who wash their robes

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 so that they might have the right

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 to the tree of life,

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 and that they may enter the city by the gates.

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 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers,

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 and the sexually immoral,

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 and murderers and idolaters,

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 and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

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 I, Jesus, have sent my angel

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 to testify to you about these things

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 for the churches.

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 I am the root and the descendant of David,

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 the bright morning star.

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 The spirit and the bride say,

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 come.

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 And let the one who hears say,

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 come.

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 And let the one who is thirsty,

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 come.

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 Let the one who desires,

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 take the water of life without price.

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 I warn everyone who hears the words

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 of the prophecy of this book.

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 If anyone adds to them,

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 God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

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 And if anyone takes away from the words

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 of the book of this prophecy,

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 God will take away his share in the tree of life

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 and in the holy city,

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 which are described in this book.

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 He who testifies to these things says,

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 surely I am coming soon.

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 Amen.

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 Come, Lord Jesus.

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 The grace of the Lord Jesus

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 be with all.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, what is the final word

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 of this great and powerful book of Revelation?

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 What's the last thing that God wants

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 ringing in our ears

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 as the Bible comes to a close?

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 Well, three times

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 we hear the voice of Jesus say,

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 I am coming soon.

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 Verse 7,

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 verse 12,

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 and verse 20.

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 Behold,

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 surely

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 I am coming

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 soon.

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 The imminent return of Jesus,

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 that is the nearness

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 of his return,

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 that's the parting word.

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 That's the final chord struck

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 as the great symphony of Scripture

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 comes to a close.

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 And I want to ask

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 two simple questions then

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 as we draw our sermon series

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 to a close.

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 First,

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 what does it mean

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 that Jesus is coming soon?

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 And second,

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 how should we live now

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 in light of that?

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 What does it mean

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 that Jesus is coming soon?

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 And how do we live now

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 in light of that?

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 And as we answer

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 those two questions,

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 we'll see that this final passage

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 of Revelation

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 actually gathers together

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 many of the great themes

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 of this book

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 one more time.

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 So here we actually

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 have a great summary

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 of the application

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 of this book

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 as we draw our series

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 to a close.

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 So first,

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 consider with me,

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 what does it mean

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 that Jesus is coming soon?

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 Now perhaps,

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 before we consider

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 the soonness

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 of Jesus' return,

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 maybe we need to pause

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 on the mere fact

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 of his return.

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 You see,

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 nearly all the New Testament

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 writers,

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 and as a result,

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 all of the historical creeds

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 and confessions

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 of Christianity

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 through the ages

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 have affirmed

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 that Jesus will return.

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 And not just spiritually

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 or symbolically,

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 but he will return bodily.

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 Now of course,

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 the idea of the bodily

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 return of Christ

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 can at first feel

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 a little strange, right?

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 How exactly are we supposed

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 to imagine this kind of

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 bodily return of Jesus

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 from heaven?

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 And yet,

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 this is indeed

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 what the New Testament teaches.

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 As the angels said

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 to the disciples,

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 do you remember

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 on the day of Jesus' ascension?

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 The angels turned

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 to the disciples

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 and said,

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 this Jesus who was taken

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 up from you into heaven

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 will come in the same way

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 as you saw him go

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 into heaven.

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 So it may sound

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 strange at first,

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 but it is undoubtedly true.

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 It stretches our imagination,

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 but the stretching

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 of our imagination

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 is not a bad thing.

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 After all,

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 we need our finite imaginations

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 stretched a little bit,

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 don't we,

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 so that we can begin

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 to wrap our minds

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 around the wonder of God

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 and God's ways.

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 Now you'll remember

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 Revelation has given us

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 multiple images

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 of Christ's bodily return,

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 hasn't it?

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 Jesus will be like a groom

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 coming for his bride.

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 Jesus will be like

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 a warrior king

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 returning to bring peace

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 and freedom to his country.

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 Jesus will be like a judge

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 coming to finally put things right

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 and issue lasting justice.

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 But if you struggle

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 with the fact of Jesus' bodily return,

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 I wonder if you realize

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 what good news it is.

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 After all,

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 the bodily return of Jesus,

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 it tells us something staggering,

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 doesn't it?

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 If Jesus is indeed

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 to return in a body,

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 does not that mean

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 that our loving Savior

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 who united himself

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 to our humanity

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 in his incarnation,

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 if he's going to return

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 in that same body,

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 don't you see what that tells us?

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 It tells us

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 that Christ has not let us go.

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 He has not let our humanity go.

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 God the Son,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 will become

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 and has become

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 one with us forever.

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 I mean,

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 what greater token of love

00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:12.299
 could there be?

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 Even in his glorious return,

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 Jesus will remain

00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:16.340
 our incarnate Lord

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 and our divine lover

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 who took the form of a servant,

00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:20.960
 humbled himself to death

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 on a cross,

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 who rose on the third day

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 in love,

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 Jesus took our flesh

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 and even in glory,

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 he's not let it go.

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 It's kind of like

00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.100
 the soldiers

00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:32.079
 on the front lines of war,

00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:32.279
 you know,

00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:33.399
 who kind of carry

00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:35.299
 in their innermost pocket

00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:35.980
 of their vest

00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:37.360
 a picture of their loved ones

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 or their family

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 who they cherish.

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 They take with them

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 what matters most

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 into battle

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 and home again.

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 It's like that.

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 Jesus has assumed our flesh.

00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:47.319
 He's kept it close

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 and he's going to carry it

00:09:48.699 --> 00:09:49.419
 for eternity.

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 To put it simply,

00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:53.240
 do you wonder

00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:54.300
 if God loves you?

00:09:56.280 --> 00:09:57.260
 Then consider Christ

00:09:57.260 --> 00:09:58.540
 will return in a body

00:09:58.540 --> 00:09:59.860
 marked with scars

00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:01.160
 because he loves you.

00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:04.060
 But if you're still

00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:04.560
 kind of wrestling

00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:05.280
 with this fact

00:10:05.280 --> 00:10:06.620
 of Jesus' bodily return,

00:10:06.760 --> 00:10:07.400
 consider not just

00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:07.940
 what it tells us

00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:09.740
 about God's love for us,

00:10:09.760 --> 00:10:10.680
 but also what it tells us

00:10:10.680 --> 00:10:12.160
 about this material creation,

00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:13.980
 this bodily existence

00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:14.940
 that we inhabit.

00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:16.980
 You know,

00:10:17.020 --> 00:10:17.980
 many religions of the world

00:10:17.980 --> 00:10:19.160
 see as their goal

00:10:19.160 --> 00:10:20.660
 the kind of escape

00:10:20.660 --> 00:10:22.120
 of the material world,

00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:22.480
 right?

00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:24.440
 In their view,

00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.360
 this material world

00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:26.180
 is full of change

00:10:26.180 --> 00:10:26.760
 and suffering

00:10:26.760 --> 00:10:27.379
 and the body

00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:28.500
 is finite and frail,

00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:29.860
 so the goal then

00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:30.940
 is to escape the body,

00:10:31.020 --> 00:10:32.600
 to escape the material world.

00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:36.200
 But that's not Christianity.

00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:38.520
 Christianity,

00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.800
 while acknowledging

00:10:39.800 --> 00:10:40.680
 the brokenness

00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:41.480
 and fallenness

00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:42.000
 of the world,

00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:44.700
 affirms the material world's goodness,

00:10:44.900 --> 00:10:45.840
 affirms bodies

00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.240
 and bodily existence.

00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:51.500
 How does it do that?

00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:51.840
 Well, friend,

00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.360
 if the Lord of the universe

00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.379
 chose to come

00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:55.299
 and to live

00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:55.740
 and to die

00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:56.220
 and to rise

00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:57.120
 and even return

00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.440
 in a material body,

00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:00.740
 then these bodies of ours

00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:01.560
 must be

00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:03.460
 of incalculable worth.

00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:07.740
 You won't find

00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:08.180
 a worldview

00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:08.940
 or a religion

00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:10.180
 that is as embracing

00:11:10.180 --> 00:11:11.899
 of material creation

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.259
 and bodily existence

00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:14.939
 than the faith

00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:15.639
 that centers

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.860
 around Jesus Christ.

00:11:18.939 --> 00:11:19.919
 And this is why

00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:20.919
 Christians care so much

00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:21.519
 about work

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.360
 and art

00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.480
 and culture,

00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:25.220
 because these material

00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:26.759
 means are part

00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:27.879
 of the worship

00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.679
 of the incarnate

00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.879
 and returning Lord.

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.939
 and this is why

00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:34.919
 Christians care so much

00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:35.659
 about what we do

00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:36.419
 with our bodies,

00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:36.820
 right,

00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:37.519
 and what happens

00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:39.539
 to our fellow humans' bodies,

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.259
 right?

00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:43.000
 We care about these bodies

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.080
 that God has given us,

00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:46.019
 whether it's an unborn child

00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:48.159
 or an international refugee

00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.120
 or an elderly neighbor.

00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.220
 Christians affirm

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:52.980
 the dignity

00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:55.759
 of every human body,

00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:56.360
 regardless

00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:59.860
 of how politically

00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:01.320
 or culturally fashionable

00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:02.460
 or unfashionable

00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:03.940
 that affirmation may be.

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.759
 Because our ethics,

00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:07.080
 friends,

00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:07.800
 they're tethered.

00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:08.519
 What are our ethics

00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.779
 tethered to as believers?

00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:11.840
 Not to the passing whim

00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.600
 of our kind of

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.500
 social sensibilities,

00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:15.600
 but what we believe

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.500
 is right and good

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.460
 and the fullness of life.

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.060
 What's it tethered to?

00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:18.700
 It's tethered to

00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:19.840
 the body of Jesus,

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:22.500
 a body that's broken for us,

00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:24.480
 a body that's been risen for us,

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.500
 and a body that's

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.560
 returning in glory.

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:30.379
 So the fact

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.519
 of the bodily return

00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.119
 of Christ

00:12:32.119 --> 00:12:32.879
 is good news.

00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:33.500
 It's good news

00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:34.459
 that God loves us,

00:12:34.599 --> 00:12:35.399
 and it's good news

00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.559
 that this material world,

00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:37.719
 this bodily existence

00:12:37.719 --> 00:12:38.259
 that we inhabit

00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:38.919
 is good.

00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.819
 But what about

00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:43.459
 the nearness

00:12:43.459 --> 00:12:44.819
 of Jesus' return?

00:12:45.979 --> 00:12:46.359
 Behold,

00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:47.639
 I'm coming soon,

00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.439
 Jesus says.

00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:50.279
 Now,

00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:50.899
 we have to be honest,

00:12:50.979 --> 00:12:51.179
 right?

00:12:52.319 --> 00:12:53.099
 Living nearly

00:12:53.099 --> 00:12:54.259
 2,000 years

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.699
 after Jesus' ascension,

00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.879
 it doesn't exactly feel

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.940
 like Jesus' return

00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.780
 is soon,

00:12:58.900 --> 00:12:59.220
 right?

00:13:02.020 --> 00:13:03.420
 But we have to remember

00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:05.680
 that the nearness

00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.280
 of Jesus' return

00:13:07.280 --> 00:13:09.580
 isn't necessarily

00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:11.480
 a chronological statement.

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.560
 It's a redemptive

00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:15.140
 historical statement.

00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.100
 Here's what I mean.

00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:21.020
 That Jesus' coming soon

00:13:21.020 --> 00:13:21.920
 isn't about measuring

00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:22.860
 hours and days

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.920
 and months and years,

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.259
 right?

00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.000
 That's chronology.

00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:27.000
 That's clock time.

00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:28.059
 That's kind of ordinary time.

00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:29.000
 That's not the sort of

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.059
 nearness we're talking about.

00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:30.279
 Rather,

00:13:30.339 --> 00:13:31.339
 what we're talking about

00:13:31.339 --> 00:13:33.259
 is what part of the story

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:33.740
 we're in.

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.679
 In the story of redemption

00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:38.459
 that began in Genesis 3,

00:13:39.459 --> 00:13:40.819
 when God promised

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:43.219
 to send one

00:13:43.219 --> 00:13:43.799
 who would crush

00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.659
 the head of the serpent,

00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:45.879
 when redemptive history

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:47.319
 began from that moment,

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:49.579
 what chapter are we in?

00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:51.299
 Are we in the first chapter

00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:52.159
 with many to go?

00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:53.139
 Are we in the second,

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.639
 the third?

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:54.879
 No, friends,

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.879
 we exist

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.319
 in the last chapter

00:13:59.319 --> 00:14:01.240
 of God's redemptive history.

00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:02.299
 This is it.

00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:05.000
 The Messiah has come.

00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:07.080
 The decisive victory

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.799
 has been won

00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.659
 over sin and death

00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.340
 in His death

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:09.879
 and resurrection.

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.159
 He has ascended

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.039
 to His throne.

00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.340
 His message

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.059
 of forgiveness

00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:15.120
 and freedom

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.879
 is resounding forth

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.700
 to the nations

00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:18.779
 through the proclamation

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:20.019
 of the gospel of grace.

00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:23.240
 the movement of Jesus.

00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.819
 The kingdom of God

00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:25.639
 has advanced

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.799
 around the world.

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.100
 This is the last chapter

00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:30.199
 that we're living.

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.600
 Or as the New Testament writers

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.799
 say over and over again,

00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.840
 these are the last days.

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:40.919
 And what is it we're waiting for

00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:42.259
 in these last days?

00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:45.460
 Well, there's one last part

00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:46.120
 to the story.

00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.840
 The return of the King.

00:14:50.819 --> 00:14:51.559
 At any moment,

00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.659
 the trumpet could sound,

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.399
 the clouds could part,

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.120
 and the Lord Jesus

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.220
 will descend in glory.

00:14:59.139 --> 00:14:59.460
 You see,

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.120
 from the perspective

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.059
 of redemptive history,

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:01.860
 from the perspective

00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.700
 of the story

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:04.000
 we find ourselves in,

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.720
 Jesus is coming soon.

00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.439
 Soon,

00:15:07.819 --> 00:15:08.799
 the heavenly groom

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:10.019
 will come for His bride,

00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.259
 and we will feast

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.000
 with Him in love.

00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.240
 Soon,

00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.360
 the divine champion

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.960
 will come

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:16.519
 to defeat His enemies

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:18.139
 and liberate creation

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.779
 from oppression.

00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.220
 Soon,

00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.740
 the perfect judge

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.299
 will come

00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:23.899
 to put all things right

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.639
 and justice will flow

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.799
 like rivers and streams.

00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:28.840
 Soon,

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.059
 the sun and moon

00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.100
 will be outshone

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:33.840
 by the glory of God

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.439
 and the Lamb

00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:36.019
 dwelling in the midst

00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:36.799
 of the new city

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.000
 where people

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:38.899
 from every tribe

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.699
 and tongue and nation

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.480
 will gather

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.280
 to worship Him

00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:42.680
 and to reign with Him.

00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:44.940
 Soon,

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.840
 there will be

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.560
 no more death,

00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:49.180
 no more decay,

00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:50.960
 no more tears,

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:53.220
 and no more sin.

00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:56.140
 On that day,

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:58.320
 what a great day,

00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:00.160
 it will be impossible

00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:00.980
 for us

00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:02.580
 to sin.

00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:04.700
 There will be no going back

00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.600
 to the old ways.

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.800
 God will be all in all.

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:11.000
 There will be no ocean

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.559
 of chaos

00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.459
 or destruction

00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:13.240
 or death,

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:15.179
 only an ocean

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:17.079
 of triune love,

00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:18.299
 the bottom of which

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.519
 we will never reach

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:21.179
 world without end

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:23.259
 soon.

00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:27.240
 And that's why we pray

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.919
 with verse 20.

00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:30.379
 Come,

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.199
 Lord Jesus.

00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:31.360
 Jesus.

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:34.540
 The church eagerly

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:36.680
 longs for the return

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.340
 of Christ.

00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.060
 As the Apostle Paul

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:41.480
 says in 2 Timothy 4,

00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:41.800
 8,

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.600
 we love His appearing.

00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:48.620
 Do you love His appearing,

00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:49.660
 brothers and sisters?

00:16:50.400 --> 00:16:51.379
 Are you eager

00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:52.520
 for His day to come?

00:16:53.040 --> 00:16:53.800
 Do you pray,

00:16:54.020 --> 00:16:54.420
 come,

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.080
 Lord Jesus?

00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:56.720
 That's one of the most

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.259
 ancient prayers

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.059
 of the church.

00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:01.879
 We see it reflected

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.720
 in verse 17.

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.799
 The spirit and the bride

00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.079
 say,

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:04.539
 come.

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.819
 Let the one who hears

00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.099
 say,

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:06.599
 come.

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.700
 And then there's a twist.

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:10.180
 Let the one who is thirsty

00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:10.960
 come.

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.619
 As we pray this prayer

00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.859
 for Jesus to come,

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.940
 it's also an invitation

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.059
 to the thirsty.

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.660
 For the soul

00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.400
 that's thirsty

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.019
 for hope,

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.460
 come.

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.879
 Let the one who desires

00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:24.440
 take the water of life

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.259
 without price.

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:27.279
 this drink

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.680
 will satisfy you.

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.140
 This drink

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.339
 will give you a hope

00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.059
 like no other.

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:34.740
 Jesus has paid the price

00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.420
 so you can drink deeply

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.180
 of His grace

00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:37.819
 now,

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.839
 of His life

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.539
 now,

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.599
 and when He returns,

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.279
 you will drink

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.940
 the fullness

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.940
 of unending joy.

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.819
 We long

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.660
 for His coming

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:50.579
 like thirsty people

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.000
 longing for a drink.

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:55.480
 Of course,

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.039
 there will be some

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:57.160
 who scoff at this idea.

00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.279
 The Apostle Peter

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.519
 speaks to this very thing

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.259
 in the reading

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.180
 that we heard earlier

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.779
 in the service.

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.980
 Where is the promise

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.660
 of His coming,

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.380
 some were saying,

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.200
 even in Peter's day.

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.400
 But you remember

00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.059
 how the Apostle

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.500
 responded to that?

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:11.819
 He said,

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.880
 don't overlook this fact,

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.180
 beloved,

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.900
 that with the Lord

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:16.539
 one day is as a thousand years,

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.019
 and a thousand years

00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.680
 is one day.

00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:21.420
 The Lord is not slow

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.600
 to fulfill His promise

00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:23.880
 as some count slowness,

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.660
 but is patient toward you,

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.560
 not wishing that any

00:18:27.560 --> 00:18:28.220
 should perish,

00:18:28.820 --> 00:18:29.799
 but that all should

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.500
 reach repentance.

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.539
 You see,

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:33.980
 if,

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.580
 from our finite perspective,

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:36.680
 the Lord seems to be

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.080
 delaying His return,

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.740
 it's not because

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.400
 His promise is untrue,

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.820
 but because His patience

00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:44.920
 is so great.

00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:48.340
 You see,

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.660
 the truth about us

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:52.539
 is that we've lived

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.259
 our lives

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.660
 in our own steam.

00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.560
 You know,

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.120
 you and I,

00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:00.120
 you've been your own master,

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.279
 your own king,

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.600
 your own savior.

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.900
 You've dug your own wells.

00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.740
 We all have.

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:10.140
 But they can't hold any water.

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:11.779
 You see,

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.900
 in running our lives

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.900
 our own way,

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.560
 the prophet Jeremiah says,

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:17.000
 we've rejected the fount

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.800
 of living water,

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.400
 and we've dug our own wells

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.759
 that can't even hold any.

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.300
 But what is repentance?

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.460
 Repentance is admitting

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.840
 that you've been running

00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:30.720
 your life your own way,

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:33.120
 and it's turning

00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:34.759
 to surrender your life

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:36.040
 to the one who lived

00:19:36.040 --> 00:19:36.860
 and died for you,

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.259
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:39.800
 Repentance means

00:19:39.800 --> 00:19:41.080
 admitting you're not God

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:43.099
 and taking Jesus as Lord.

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.519
 Repentance means

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.759
 admitting that you can't

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.399
 please God

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.419
 by your own good works

00:19:47.419 --> 00:19:49.579
 and resting completely

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.919
 in Jesus' record

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:51.639
 instead of your own.

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:53.559
 See,

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.059
 at its heart,

00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:54.659
 repentance,

00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:56.619
 it's a transfer

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.799
 of trust,

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.240
 you see.

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.500
 In our natural

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.099
 fallen state,

00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:02.179
 we trust in ourselves,

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.740
 we trust in created things.

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.639
 That's actually

00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.139
 what the Bible

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.480
 defines as sin.

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:10.039
 trusting in ourselves

00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.279
 and in created things.

00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.940
 But repentance means

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.539
 to transfer our trust

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:16.079
 from those things

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.140
 to the risen Jesus.

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.039
 And here's the truly

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.880
 amazing thing.

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.839
 Consider what Scripture

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.720
 says is true

00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.039
 for all who make

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.440
 that transfer of trust

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.460
 the Bible calls repentance.

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.559
 We come bankrupt

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.440
 to Jesus,

00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.720
 and we are given

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.339
 the riches of His grace.

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.620
 We come spiritually dead

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.319
 and we're made

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.299
 spiritually alive.

00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.559
 We come dirty

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.460
 and full of shame

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.279
 and we're clothed

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:45.299
 in glory and honor.

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.299
 We come as rebels

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:48.099
 and we're embraced

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.960
 as sons and daughters.

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.360
 We come as moral failures

00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.380
 and we're credited

00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.339
 with perfect righteousness.

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.980
 We come with empty hands

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.420
 and we're given

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.299
 a full measure,

00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.039
 shifted and shaken down

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.799
 and overflowing,

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:59.019
 put right into our lap.

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:02.079
 We come without hope,

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.779
 with no future

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.819
 to look forward to,

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.860
 and we're given

00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:09.019
 eternity.

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:12.660
 An ever-satisfying

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.559
 eternity

00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:16.500
 that causes us to pray,

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.160
 come, Lord Jesus.

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:22.779
 So this is what it means

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:24.140
 that Jesus is coming soon.

00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:25.940
 That's the first question

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.560
 we've been asking

00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.500
 of this final section

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.060
 of Revelation.

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.320
 Behold, I'm coming soon.

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.900
 It means that we live

00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.360
 in the last act

00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.320
 of the drama of redemption

00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:35.320
 and Jesus could return

00:21:35.320 --> 00:21:36.680
 in glory at any moment

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:38.180
 to judge and to save.

00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:41.240
 So we long for that moment

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:43.519
 and we prepare for that moment

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.879
 with genuine repentance.

00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.720
 But now we need to ask,

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.680
 how do we live now

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.559
 in light of His coming soon?

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.900
 How do we live

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.839
 knowing that Jesus

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.759
 is coming soon?

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:56.440
 Well, with the little bit

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.059
 of time we have left,

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:58.200
 let me mention just four things

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.259
 we see in our passage.

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.460
 As we eagerly long

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.379
 for Jesus' return,

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.319
 as we pray,

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.539
 come, Lord Jesus,

00:22:03.639 --> 00:22:04.700
 with our hearts aflame

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.879
 with love and expectation,

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.359
 this passage presents

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.960
 four practical ways to live

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.559
 and each of these

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.720
 actually harkens back

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:12.279
 to a major application

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.059
 of the whole book

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.640
 of Revelation.

00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.360
 So what do we see first?

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.860
 First, we're told

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:19.380
 to worship God alone.

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.559
 In verse 8,

00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:23.039
 John falls down in worship

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.500
 before the angelic messenger

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.160
 who showed him

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.819
 all these things,

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.220
 but the angel says,

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.319
 don't do that.

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.799
 I'm a servant just like you,

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.400
 like all who hear this book.

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.180
 Worship God.

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.340
 And friends,

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.340
 hasn't that been

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.519
 the great theme

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.319
 of this book?

00:22:40.459 --> 00:22:41.000
 God.

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.199
 He alone

00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:44.000
 is worthy

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.119
 of worship.

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.220
 Reread chapters 4

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.899
 and 5,

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.559
 the great throne room

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.759
 scene in heaven.

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.839
 Let this book

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.779
 remind you

00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:55.279
 that all the imitations

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.199
 of this world,

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.019
 the dragon

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.359
 and his beasts

00:22:58.359 --> 00:22:59.359
 of power

00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.379
 and prosperity,

00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.519
 none of that

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.740
 should capture our hearts.

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.639
 Only God.

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:07.880
 fear God

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:09.480
 and you have

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.420
 nothing to fear.

00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.440
 But this book

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.259
 has also showed us

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.520
 who God is.

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.000
 God is not

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:19.100
 some distant deity.

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.980
 He's not some

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.660
 philosophical construct,

00:23:21.800 --> 00:23:22.900
 some unmoved mover.

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:23.320
 No,

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.740
 the one true God

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.100
 has made himself

00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.740
 known

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.460
 in the face

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.400
 of Jesus Christ.

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.580
 Sitting on the throne,

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.300
 worthy of worship,

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.940
 is whom?

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.119
 The Lamb.

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.139
 Worship God,

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.980
 the angel says,

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.579
 and all of heaven

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:42.940
 and earth

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.579
 worships

00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.940
 the Lamb.

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.279
 And this is

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.059
 no contradiction

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.899
 because Jesus

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:50.019
 is one

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.899
 with God the Father.

00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.659
 As he says here

00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:53.299
 in verse 13,

00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.759
 Jesus says,

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.279
 I'm the alpha

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.779
 and the omega,

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.079
 the first and the last,

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.200
 the beginning and the end.

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:57.619
 Do you remember

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.139
 where we heard

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:59.039
 those words earlier

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.619
 in this book?

00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:01.899
 All the way back

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.500
 in chapter 1,

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:02.979
 verse 8,

00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:03.919
 those very words

00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.479
 are spoken

00:24:04.479 --> 00:24:05.679
 by the Lord God,

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.339
 God the Father.

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.219
 Here is Jesus

00:24:07.219 --> 00:24:08.279
 saying the same

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.119
 exact thing

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.679
 because the Father

00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:11.199
 and the Son

00:24:11.199 --> 00:24:11.959
 are one.

00:24:14.959 --> 00:24:16.059
 So we long

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.299
 for Jesus' return

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.919
 and we don't give

00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.519
 our hearts

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.059
 allegiance

00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.819
 to any lesser God

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.259
 than the Lamb

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.139
 who sits on the throne.

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.200
 You know,

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.539
 it's interesting

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.179
 that John here

00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:26.740
 was tempted

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.839
 to worship

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.440
 the one who brought

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.399
 him this message.

00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:33.200
 And can't that

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.720
 sometimes be

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.619
 our temptation too?

00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:35.799
 To revere

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.419
 kind of a great

00:24:36.419 --> 00:24:37.079
 Christian leader

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.159
 or to sort of

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:38.879
 revere a great

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.579
 Christian movement.

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.519
 We sort of place

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.519
 them on a pedestal

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.139
 but when we find

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.559
 that they have

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.359
 feet of clay,

00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:45.919
 what happens?

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.859
 Suddenly our faith

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.399
 is shaken.

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.399
 No, friends,

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.440
 we must worship

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.559
 God,

00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.899
 not the messenger.

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.980
 We can thank God

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.539
 for those who have

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.139
 mentored us

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.980
 and discipled us.

00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:59.259
 These are great gifts.

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.460
 It's good to have

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.259
 heroes of the faith

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.740
 to emulate.

00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:04.339
 But we must not

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:04.919
 worship them.

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.839
 Our worship belongs

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:08.119
 to Christ alone.

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.940
 So that's the first

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.599
 practical way

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.399
 we live now

00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.619
 in light of Jesus'

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.559
 coming soon.

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.839
 We worship God alone.

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:17.879
 Second,

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.000
 we persevere.

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.399
 In holiness.

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.779
 In verses 10 through 14,

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.299
 we hear the angel

00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.119
 tell John,

00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.700
 don't seal up the book.

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.059
 Now it's interesting,

00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:28.579
 that's the exact opposite

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.339
 of what the prophet

00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.279
 Daniel was told

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.819
 all the way back

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.599
 in Daniel 12.

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.619
 For Daniel,

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.579
 the events that he saw

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.619
 were a long way off

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.200
 so the angel said,

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.079
 seal up the book.

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.039
 But for John,

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.480
 these events

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.419
 were underway.

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.720
 So he's told,

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.799
 don't seal it up.

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.319
 Let its message go.

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:46.980
 And then in verse 11,

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.679
 we have this

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:49.119
 strange message.

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.919
 Let the evildoers

00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.599
 still do evil,

00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:52.740
 and the filthy

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.519
 still be filthy,

00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:54.899
 and the righteous

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.879
 still do right,

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.000
 and the holy

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.139
 still be holy.

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.399
 That's a strange verse,

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:00.679
 isn't it?

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.119
 At first,

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.519
 it kind of sounds

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.460
 a bit fatalistic,

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:03.819
 right?

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.159
 A bit resigned.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.279
 Well,

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:06.899
 if evil people

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:07.720
 are going to do evil,

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.819
 we might as well

00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.179
 let them,

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:09.579
 right?

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:11.720
 But I don't think

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.399
 that's the point

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:14.099
 that is being made.

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.500
 Rather,

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.059
 the meaning

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:17.220
 seems to be this.

00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.079
 Even if

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:20.579
 evildoers

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.779
 go on doing evil,

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.839
 even if the shameful

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.559
 go on doing

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.439
 shameful things,

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.059
 and they will,

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.480
 you must be different.

00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.439
 Let the righteous

00:26:30.439 --> 00:26:31.859
 still do right,

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.279
 and the holy

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.439
 still be holy.

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.079
 Persevere

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.500
 in Christ's likeness,

00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.919
 even if the world

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:39.460
 around you

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.100
 is not.

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.700
 And again,

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.340
 hasn't this been

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:43.920
 a great theme

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.700
 of Revelation?

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:45.940
 The theme

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.579
 to overcome,

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.620
 to be conquerors.

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.440
 Conquerors,

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.660
 not in a worldly sense,

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:52.079
 but in the Christian sense,

00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:53.059
 that is to remain

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.579
 faithful to the Lord Jesus,

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.200
 even though the world

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.660
 may despise you for it.

00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.519
 And what is the incentive

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.279
 for doing so?

00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.960
 Verse 12,

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.400
 Behold,

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.200
 I'm coming soon,

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:04.900
 Jesus says,

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.740
 bringing my recompense

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.220
 with me

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.980
 to repay each one

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.940
 for what he has done.

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:13.039
 A perfect reckoning

00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.680
 is coming,

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.500
 and soon.

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.860
 For those who persist

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:20.519
 in rejecting God's grace

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.339
 in this life,

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.200
 their works will be found

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.920
 wanting.

00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:26.099
 Those who seem to be

00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:26.940
 on the inside

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.880
 in this life,

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.259
 verse 15 says,

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.039
 they will be forever

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:31.000
 on the outside

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.420
 of the eternal city,

00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.640
 never to enter.

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.960
 But for those

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.900
 who have been washed

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.960
 in the saving blood

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.640
 of Christ,

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.720
 those who have received

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.340
 a righteousness

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.500
 not their own,

00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.720
 those who have

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:45.280
 humbled themselves

00:27:45.280 --> 00:27:46.080
 before the throne

00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:46.500
 of God

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.140
 to be saved

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.000
 by his grace

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.080
 and not their works,

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:50.860
 we're told

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.900
 something wonderful

00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.560
 will be true

00:27:52.560 --> 00:27:53.980
 and almost too hard,

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:55.640
 almost hard to believe.

00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.259
 We're told

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.400
 that the good works

00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.940
 Christians have done

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.759
 in this life,

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.660
 though they will not

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.480
 be what saves us

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.539
 or justifies us

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.680
 or earns God favor,

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.619
 even so,

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.900
 those humble,

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.720
 imperfect,

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.119
 good works of ours

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:13.319
 will be rewarded

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.559
 in the new heavens

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.119
 and new earth.

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.740
 It will be grace

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.740
 upon grace.

00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.960
 We will be saved

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.079
 by grace alone,

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.779
 and yet,

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.559
 even our imperfect deeds

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.180
 done in faith

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.759
 in this life

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.180
 will receive a reward

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:27.920
 from Christ.

00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.539
 What a gracious king.

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:33.599
 He will give us

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.039
 a reward

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.059
 holy by grace,

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.940
 holy as an act

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.879
 of loving kindness.

00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:39.539
 You see,

00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:40.420
 every act

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.700
 of persevering faith,

00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.839
 every good work

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.680
 done in secret,

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.779
 every sacrifice,

00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:46.839
 every kind word,

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:47.579
 every act

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.140
 of forgiveness,

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.799
 Christ will acknowledge

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.460
 them all

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:53.900
 and they will receive

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.559
 their reward.

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:58.019
 of course,

00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.980
 the greatest reward,

00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.220
 though,

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.940
 won't be what God

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.919
 chooses to give

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:02.799
 for our imperfect

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.519
 good works.

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.539
 The greatest reward

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.460
 we will receive

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:08.019
 will be the presence

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.919
 of Christ himself.

00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.579
 We will have the right

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.779
 to the tree of life,

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:13.940
 the right to enter

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:15.059
 the city by the gates,

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.440
 and who is in the midst

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.059
 of that city?

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.859
 Who is the tree of life?

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.720
 It's Christ.

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:20.920
 Christ.

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.460
 Now,

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.120
 as we long

00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:26.960
 for Christ's return,

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.559
 as we long

00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.400
 for this eternity

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.019
 with him

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.620
 in the new heavens

00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.160
 and new earth,

00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:32.100
 we can't help

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.279
 but want to be like him

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.079
 in this life.

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.299
 You know,

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:35.880
 isn't that true

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.460
 of the sort of

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.200
 earthly heroes

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:38.360
 or people you

00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:39.660
 kind of admire?

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.240
 You study them,

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.900
 you see them,

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.339
 and you start

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.240
 to emulate them,

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.480
 right?

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.819
 You start to imitate them.

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:47.000
 It's the same

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.720
 in our relationship

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.359
 with Christ.

00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.619
 He should be the one

00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:51.639
 we ultimately worship

00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:53.399
 and we ultimately emulate,

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.579
 and as we long

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.299
 for his appearing,

00:29:55.419 --> 00:29:56.039
 for his return,

00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.539
 as we long

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.379
 to be with him,

00:29:58.379 --> 00:30:00.720
 we live more

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.419
 and more like him.

00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:02.579
 Nearly every New Testament

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.399
 writer draws

00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:04.139
 this connection.

00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:06.200
 The Apostle Peter says,

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.879
 what sort of people

00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.599
 ought you to be

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:09.319
 but those who live lives

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:09.759
 of holiness

00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.460
 and godliness,

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.899
 waiting for and hastening

00:30:11.899 --> 00:30:12.720
 the coming of the day

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.159
 of God?

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.779
 The Apostle Paul says,

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.659
 keep the commandment

00:30:16.659 --> 00:30:17.659
 unstained and free

00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:18.339
 from approach

00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:19.519
 until the appearing

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.879
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.339
 which he will display

00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.339
 at the proper time.

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:25.000
 He who is the only

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.359
 blessed and only sovereign,

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.220
 the King of kings

00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.019
 and Lord of lords.

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.139
 And the Apostle John

00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:30.740
 probably says it

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.319
 the most clear.

00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:31.619
 He says,

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:31.919
 beloved,

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.279
 we are God's children now

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.539
 and what we will be

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.500
 has not yet appeared,

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.319
 but we know

00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.759
 that when he appears,

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.919
 we shall be like him

00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:40.159
 because we shall see him

00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:40.819
 as he is.

00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:42.279
 And then he says,

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:43.599
 and everyone who thus

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.519
 hopes in him

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:46.400
 purifies himself

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.660
 even as he is pure.

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.180
 So as we long

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:52.180
 for Christ's coming soon,

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.839
 we persevere

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.879
 in Christ's likeness,

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.759
 wanting to become

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.680
 like this one

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:58.200
 we are longing to see.

00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:01.019
 So how do we act now

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:02.000
 in light of Jesus' coming?

00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.139
 We worship God alone.

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.839
 We persevere in holiness.

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.319
 And third,

00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:07.599
 we hold fast

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:09.639
 to the whole word.

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.279
 We hold fast

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.200
 to the whole word.

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.259
 In verses 19,

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.640
 in verses 18 and 19,

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.799
 there's a warning.

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.200
 There's a warning

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.779
 against those

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.700
 who might add

00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.620
 or take away

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.700
 from what's written

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.720
 in the book of Revelation.

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.799
 And this is an echo

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:25.080
 from the book of Deuteronomy.

00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:26.720
 As Moses is sort of

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.940
 beginning the final book

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.440
 of the law

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:28.940
 on the brink

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.940
 of the promised land,

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.140
 God tells Israel

00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.740
 through Moses,

00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:33.039
 you shall not add

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.460
 to the word

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.259
 that I command you,

00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:35.640
 nor take from it

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.779
 that you may keep

00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.279
 the commandments

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.059
 of the Lord your God

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.960
 that I command you.

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.620
 It's a similar thing

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.319
 John is saying here

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.139
 at the end of Revelation.

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:44.199
 Here, as this book

00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:44.879
 comes to an end,

00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:45.919
 we find a similar warning.

00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:46.919
 Don't add

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:48.359
 and don't take away.

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.359
 You see,

00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:51.879
 there's always

00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:52.799
 the temptation

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:55.279
 when reading God's word

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.679
 to add

00:31:56.679 --> 00:31:58.000
 or to take away.

00:31:59.219 --> 00:31:59.959
 So often,

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.479
 we want to add things

00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:02.039
 that we think

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:03.000
 ought to be there.

00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:05.479
 Or we want to take away

00:32:05.479 --> 00:32:06.399
 things that we think

00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:07.179
 shouldn't be there.

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:11.060
 And John says,

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:11.519
 when it comes

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:11.960
 to this book

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.519
 of Revelation,

00:32:13.080 --> 00:32:13.980
 don't add anything,

00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.620
 don't take anything away.

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.920
 Now, if Revelation

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.120
 is about anything,

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:19.960
 what is it about?

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.980
 Well, I hope we've seen

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.600
 that it's about

00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:23.779
 the gospel itself,

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.820
 that God is the creator

00:32:25.820 --> 00:32:26.640
 of all things,

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:28.600
 that humans have tragically

00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:29.360
 rebelled against

00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:29.940
 their creator

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:31.740
 and deserve eternal death

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.420
 for their sin.

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.840
 But God,

00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.799
 in his unimaginable grace,

00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.860
 did the unthinkable

00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:38.899
 instead of condemning

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.899
 humanity justly,

00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:41.019
 he became a human being

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.799
 and was condemned.

00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:43.240
 He was willing

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.240
 to become himself

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.979
 the substitute

00:32:44.979 --> 00:32:46.219
 for the very creatures

00:32:46.219 --> 00:32:47.119
 who offended him.

00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:48.179
 And in so doing,

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.019
 he satisfied

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:50.219
 both his justice

00:32:50.219 --> 00:32:51.119
 and his mercy.

00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.719
 In justice,

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.919
 the penalty of death

00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:54.879
 against sinful humans

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.619
 was paid.

00:32:56.659 --> 00:32:57.419
 In mercy,

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:58.179
 there's forgiveness

00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:59.539
 for all who trust

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:01.000
 in the substitute

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.279
 who is the Lamb,

00:33:02.699 --> 00:33:03.699
 the Lord Jesus.

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:03.900
 Jesus.

00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.120
 Now, too often

00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.740
 when we think about

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.480
 that message,

00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.779
 too often we want

00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.539
 to add to it,

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.160
 right?

00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:13.440
 We don't believe

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.559
 that God would save

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.880
 through grace alone,

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.799
 by faith alone,

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.779
 so we add to it.

00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.140
 We add something to it.

00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:21.440
 We add certain rules,

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:22.100
 we add certain

00:33:22.100 --> 00:33:22.940
 cultural practices,

00:33:23.120 --> 00:33:23.660
 we add certain

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.500
 religious rituals

00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:25.080
 or rites.

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:25.960
 And it's funny

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.559
 that the tradition

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.100
 of the church,

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:27.660
 if you look through

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.360
 the history of the church,

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.120
 it's sort of this

00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:30.019
 constant battle

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.819
 with being tempted

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.799
 to add something

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:33.359
 to the message

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.319
 of salvation

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.160
 by grace

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:35.759
 through faith.

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.660
 But in adding

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.279
 to the words

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.819
 of Scripture,

00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:42.900
 John says something

00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.519
 pretty scary.

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.680
 We're actually adding

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.980
 judgment upon ourselves.

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.339
 He says,

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:47.920
 the plagues

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.200
 described in this book

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.000
 will be added

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.500
 to those who add.

00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:55.420
 And that makes sense,

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:55.900
 actually,

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.900
 when you think about it.

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.319
 Because if we think

00:33:58.319 --> 00:34:00.019
 that we can't be saved

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.299
 by just grace alone,

00:34:02.159 --> 00:34:03.099
 if we think that we can

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:04.899
 contribute to our salvation,

00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.200
 and if we twist the Bible

00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.059
 so that others start

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:09.319
 to think the same thing,

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.679
 then what's happening?

00:34:10.799 --> 00:34:11.420
 The more and more

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.179
 we do that,

00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.699
 the farther and farther

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:15.019
 we're separating ourselves

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.699
 from Christ,

00:34:15.799 --> 00:34:17.159
 the only hope of salvation.

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.219
 Paul says something

00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:20.460
 very similar in Galatians

00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:21.299
 when he's talking

00:34:21.299 --> 00:34:21.940
 about people who think

00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:23.059
 that you need to be circumcised

00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:23.679
 in order to be saved.

00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:23.920
 He says,

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.119
 look,

00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.819
 if you pursue that path,

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.940
 you're actually cutting yourselves

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.779
 off from Christ.

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.019
 Because you're trusting

00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:29.980
 in your circumcision,

00:34:30.120 --> 00:34:30.820
 not in Jesus.

00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.480
 If we had,

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:37.700
 we're separating ourselves

00:34:37.700 --> 00:34:38.340
 from Christ.

00:34:39.660 --> 00:34:40.840
 But the opposite tendency

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:41.600
 is also true.

00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:42.300
 We're also tempted

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.860
 to take away,

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.300
 aren't we?

00:34:44.640 --> 00:34:45.620
 The book of Revelation

00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:46.480
 has shown us

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:49.200
 the reality of God's judgment,

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.800
 hasn't it?

00:34:50.120 --> 00:34:51.340
 The awesomeness

00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:52.559
 of His holiness.

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.860
 The incompatibility

00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:56.760
 of a lifestyle of sin

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.660
 with a profession

00:34:57.660 --> 00:34:58.380
 with a profession of Christ.

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.940
 So we're tempted

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:03.940
 to take those things away.

00:35:05.100 --> 00:35:06.300
 Take away God's wrath

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:06.940
 against sin.

00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:08.880
 Take away God's call

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:10.200
 to holiness in the church.

00:35:12.040 --> 00:35:13.460
 But when we take away

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.260
 God's holiness

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:15.460
 and God's wrath,

00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.880
 we take away

00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.700
 the very heart

00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.980
 of the gospel itself.

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:23.659
 for the gospel says

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.679
 that God does

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:26.460
 and will judge sin.

00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.119
 Friends,

00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:29.219
 you and I are sinners

00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:30.440
 who deserve wrath.

00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:33.039
 Without that,

00:35:33.260 --> 00:35:35.000
 the gospel makes no sense.

00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.740
 Think about it.

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.820
 Why in the world

00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:39.519
 would Jesus

00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:40.440
 have to die

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.360
 on a cross

00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:43.880
 if our sins

00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:44.860
 weren't more terrible

00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.719
 than we could imagine?

00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:48.599
 Why would Jesus cry out,

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:49.279
 my God,

00:35:49.359 --> 00:35:49.879
 my God,

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:52.379
 why have you forsaken me

00:35:52.379 --> 00:35:55.059
 if there were no wrath

00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.779
 against sin?

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:58.379
 If you take away

00:35:58.379 --> 00:35:59.139
 God's wrath,

00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.099
 you simultaneously

00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:01.819
 take away God's love

00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:03.359
 because then the cross

00:36:03.359 --> 00:36:04.279
 is just a tragedy.

00:36:04.439 --> 00:36:05.299
 It's just a mistake.

00:36:05.399 --> 00:36:06.279
 It's just an accident

00:36:06.279 --> 00:36:06.919
 of history.

00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:10.659
 But what is the cross,

00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.039
 really?

00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:13.079
 The cross

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:14.599
 is the greatest demonstration

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.779
 of the love of God.

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:18.019
 That from eternity,

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:19.559
 God set his saving love

00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:20.279
 on lost sinners

00:36:20.279 --> 00:36:21.880
 and planned to redeem them

00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:23.480
 through an infinite cost

00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.099
 to himself.

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.779
 That he would bear

00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:26.539
 the cost

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.739
 of the just wrath

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:28.559
 against our sin

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:30.179
 in love for us.

00:36:32.299 --> 00:36:32.960
 And as Revelation

00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:33.619
 has told us

00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:34.460
 more than once,

00:36:34.799 --> 00:36:35.860
 the Lamb's book of life

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:36.299
 was written

00:36:36.299 --> 00:36:37.480
 before the foundation

00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.279
 of the world.

00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:41.000
 This had been God's plan

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:42.000
 all along.

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:44.480
 So we must not

00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.280
 take it away.

00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.500
 So we must remain

00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.639
 faithful in our message.

00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.659
 Neither add

00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:53.039
 nor take away.

00:36:54.260 --> 00:36:54.659
 And friends,

00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:55.280
 we won't always

00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:55.800
 get it right.

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.460
 Sometimes our interpretation

00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.219
 of things

00:36:58.219 --> 00:36:59.940
 will not be right.

00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:00.920
 You know,

00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.760
 when we all get to heaven

00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.239
 one day,

00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:03.420
 I'm sure the Lord

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:03.880
 is going to say,

00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:04.519
 you know those things

00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:05.059
 that Nick taught you

00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:05.860
 about the book of Revelation?

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:06.619
 You know,

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.159
 some of those things

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:07.820
 were a little off.

00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:08.519
 I don't think he got

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.340
 all those symbols right.

00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:09.579
 Right?

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:09.820
 You know,

00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:10.580
 we won't always

00:37:10.580 --> 00:37:12.039
 get the interpretation right.

00:37:13.140 --> 00:37:13.800
 But that's different

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:15.140
 than adding and taking away.

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:18.539
 We have to always

00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:19.900
 come back to Scripture.

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.660
 We have to always

00:37:21.660 --> 00:37:22.800
 come back to these words

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:24.320
 that God breathed out

00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:25.539
 for our teaching,

00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.360
 our reproof,

00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:27.160
 our correction,

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.160
 our training

00:37:28.160 --> 00:37:28.880
 in righteousness.

00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:30.760
 You see, friends,

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:31.740
 it's through the canon

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.500
 of Scripture

00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.820
 that the King

00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.820
 leads His church.

00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:37.620
 So we cherish

00:37:37.620 --> 00:37:38.600
 every word

00:37:38.600 --> 00:37:41.820
 and we hold it up

00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:43.059
 knowing that this book

00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:44.180
 is good news,

00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.660
 that the gospel

00:37:45.660 --> 00:37:46.840
 it proclaims

00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:48.220
 is the power of God

00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:48.820
 for salvation

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.960
 to all who believe.

00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:53.720
 So as we eagerly long

00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.760
 for Jesus to return,

00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:55.760
 we hold fast

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.000
 to the whole word.

00:37:57.680 --> 00:37:58.660
 Every word is precious.

00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:00.580
 You know,

00:38:00.600 --> 00:38:01.340
 if you found a box

00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:01.840
 of letters

00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:02.840
 in your attic

00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:04.940
 from a late grandparent,

00:38:05.220 --> 00:38:05.440
 you say,

00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.280
 I mean,

00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:07.440
 wouldn't you prize them

00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.420
 if you discovered them?

00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:09.059
 You know,

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.740
 what if you discovered

00:38:09.740 --> 00:38:10.460
 that they were all

00:38:10.460 --> 00:38:11.559
 actually addressed to you?

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.980
 What if you discovered

00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:15.340
 a whole trove of letters

00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:16.180
 full of wisdom,

00:38:16.640 --> 00:38:17.400
 full of stories

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.740
 about your family history,

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.300
 full of expressions

00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:21.780
 of love for who you are

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:23.160
 and who you'll become,

00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:24.280
 full of stories

00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:25.019
 about how

00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:27.660
 that great grandparent

00:38:27.660 --> 00:38:29.980
 sacrificed for you?

00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:32.519
 If you found

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.260
 something like that,

00:38:33.300 --> 00:38:34.219
 you would prize

00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:35.219
 every word.

00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:37.300
 And friends,

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:38.199
 that's exactly

00:38:38.199 --> 00:38:38.800
 what we have

00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.300
 in Scripture.

00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:42.159
 The King of creation

00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:43.019
 has given us

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:43.719
 these writings

00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:45.300
 so that we might know

00:38:45.300 --> 00:38:46.139
 who we are

00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:47.840
 and whose we are

00:38:47.840 --> 00:38:49.760
 and all that He's done

00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:50.440
 and will do

00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:51.559
 to bring His promises

00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.340
 to fulfillment.

00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.400
 I mean,

00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:55.699
 how could we ever imagine

00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:57.380
 adding or taking away

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.760
 from such a precious gift?

00:38:58.760 --> 00:38:59.360
 No,

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.540
 even when the words

00:39:03.540 --> 00:39:03.940
 of Scripture

00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:05.400
 are hard to understand,

00:39:06.220 --> 00:39:07.180
 even when we wrestle

00:39:07.180 --> 00:39:07.900
 to interpret,

00:39:08.180 --> 00:39:09.220
 we hold fast

00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:10.360
 to the whole Word,

00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:13.420
 knowing that one day soon

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:15.740
 we will meet the author

00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.780
 face to face.

00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:21.080
 So what's last then?

00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:22.520
 As we live now

00:39:22.520 --> 00:39:23.780
 in light of Jesus' coming soon,

00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:24.920
 we worship God alone,

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:26.080
 we persevere

00:39:26.080 --> 00:39:27.080
 in Christ's likeness,

00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:28.119
 we hold fast

00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:28.980
 to the whole Word.

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:29.940
 Finally,

00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:32.880
 we end with grace.

00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:35.000
 We end with grace.

00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.679
 The grace

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:37.239
 of our Lord Jesus

00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:39.000
 be with all.

00:39:39.739 --> 00:39:40.099
 Amen.

00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:42.279
 Church,

00:39:42.360 --> 00:39:43.079
 may we keep

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.819
 His grace

00:39:43.819 --> 00:39:44.980
 ever in our sights.

00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:45.619
 You know,

00:39:45.659 --> 00:39:46.279
 in the midst of all

00:39:46.279 --> 00:39:46.960
 the rich symbols

00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:47.579
 of this book

00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:48.440
 that are so powerful,

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.460
 dragons and beasts,

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:50.440
 seals and trumpets,

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:51.279
 the message

00:39:51.279 --> 00:39:52.039
 at the end of the day

00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:53.099
 is a message of grace.

00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:54.599
 There's nothing

00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:55.259
 we have done

00:39:55.259 --> 00:39:56.219
 to earn His love.

00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:58.299
 And if you're in Christ,

00:39:58.379 --> 00:39:58.879
 there's nothing

00:39:58.879 --> 00:39:59.899
 you can do to lose it.

00:40:00.779 --> 00:40:02.379
 We've been forgiven much,

00:40:02.459 --> 00:40:03.259
 so we persevere

00:40:03.259 --> 00:40:04.459
 and we forgive in return.

00:40:04.919 --> 00:40:05.639
 He's laid down

00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.679
 His life for us,

00:40:06.779 --> 00:40:07.819
 so we willingly

00:40:07.819 --> 00:40:08.699
 lay down our lives

00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:09.259
 for Him,

00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:10.519
 knowing that to lose

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:10.939
 our lives

00:40:10.939 --> 00:40:11.699
 is to find it.

00:40:11.739 --> 00:40:12.739
 It's all grace.

00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:15.679
 The grace of the Lamb

00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:16.539
 who was slain

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:18.219
 and who will return soon

00:40:18.919 --> 00:40:21.000
 to redeem His beloved

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:22.119
 and renew creation.

00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:25.099
 And by His grace,

00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:26.179
 church,

00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:28.000
 we will overcome.

00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:30.960
 Through external pressures

00:40:30.960 --> 00:40:31.859
 and persecution,

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:33.500
 through internal conflicts

00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.339
 and compromise,

00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:37.420
 His grace will be with us.

00:40:38.819 --> 00:40:40.179
 But there's an even greater

00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:42.019
 future grace in store.

00:40:43.359 --> 00:40:45.159
 We long for the Lord's return.

00:40:45.319 --> 00:40:45.880
 We pray,

00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:46.980
 come, Lord Jesus,

00:40:47.139 --> 00:40:49.699
 because of grace to come.

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:51.779
 Do you think

00:40:51.779 --> 00:40:52.739
 these last two chapters

00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:53.439
 of Revelation

00:40:53.439 --> 00:40:54.139
 that we've been studying

00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:54.899
 these last few weeks,

00:40:54.939 --> 00:40:55.439
 do you think that they

00:40:55.439 --> 00:40:56.859
 exhaustively contain

00:40:56.859 --> 00:40:58.599
 everything God has

00:40:58.599 --> 00:40:59.619
 in store for His people?

00:41:00.339 --> 00:41:01.079
 Streets of gold,

00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:02.759
 waters of life,

00:41:03.319 --> 00:41:03.960
 trees of life.

00:41:04.039 --> 00:41:04.579
 Do you think that's it?

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.579
 How could they?

00:41:07.799 --> 00:41:08.960
 How could they possibly

00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.859
 be it?

00:41:10.819 --> 00:41:12.279
 The infinite God

00:41:12.279 --> 00:41:14.299
 has yet more grace

00:41:14.299 --> 00:41:16.059
 in store for His people.

00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:19.059
 What no eye has seen

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:20.759
 nor ear heard

00:41:20.759 --> 00:41:23.039
 nor the heart of man imagined.

00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:25.400
 That's what God has prepared

00:41:25.400 --> 00:41:27.219
 for those who love Him.

00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:29.119
 So we pray,

00:41:29.219 --> 00:41:29.480
 come.

00:41:30.679 --> 00:41:32.039
 The Spirit and the Bride

00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:32.719
 say, come.

00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.619
 Let the one who hears

00:41:34.619 --> 00:41:35.440
 say, come.

00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.900
 And if you're thirsty,

00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:39.239
 come.

00:41:40.699 --> 00:41:42.219
 Let the one who desires

00:41:42.219 --> 00:41:44.199
 take the water of life

00:41:44.199 --> 00:41:45.219
 without price.

00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:47.900
 There's grace here for all.

00:41:49.059 --> 00:41:49.659
 Come.

00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:51.860
 Let's pray.

00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:57.960
 Lord Jesus,

00:41:58.360 --> 00:41:59.079
 we pray

00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:01.599
 for You to come.

00:42:02.139 --> 00:42:03.840
 Come in Your perfect timing.

00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:06.159
 Glorify Your name

00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:08.219
 and bring all Your promises

00:42:08.219 --> 00:42:08.940
 to fulfillment.

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:12.039
 And Lord,

00:42:12.119 --> 00:42:13.119
 in Your sovereignty

00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:14.480
 as You tarry,

00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:17.760
 we pray that Your patience

00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:19.260
 would not be despised

00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:19.860
 by us.

00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:22.820
 That as we look forward

00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:24.460
 to Your return eagerly,

00:42:25.159 --> 00:42:26.400
 we would be marked

00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.199
 by lives

00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:28.400
 of turning,

00:42:28.740 --> 00:42:29.500
 of repentance.

00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:32.420
 And Lord,

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.159
 as You tarry,

00:42:33.260 --> 00:42:33.980
 we pray that You would

00:42:33.980 --> 00:42:35.599
 pour out Your Spirit afresh

00:42:35.599 --> 00:42:37.880
 on those who do not know You.

00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:40.019
 Cause their eyes

00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:40.639
 to be opened.

00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:42.000
 Cause their hearts

00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:42.780
 to come alive

00:42:42.780 --> 00:42:43.559
 to see

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:46.260
 that You are King,

00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:47.760
 that You are

00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:49.300
 the one true Savior,

00:42:50.219 --> 00:42:51.159
 and that the fullness

00:42:51.159 --> 00:42:52.639
 of life is found in You.

00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:55.500
 Would they come

00:42:55.500 --> 00:42:56.619
 to the water and drink,

00:42:57.780 --> 00:42:59.079
 placing their trust in You?

00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:01.039
 And would they join

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.639
 with the church

00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:02.340
 and with the Spirit

00:43:02.340 --> 00:43:03.000
 and say, come.

00:43:04.059 --> 00:43:04.860
 We pray this,

00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:05.539
 Father,

00:43:05.639 --> 00:43:06.840
 in Jesus' mighty name.

00:43:07.780 --> 00:43:08.000
 Amen.

00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.119
 Amen.

00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:08.179
 Amen.

00:43:08.179 --> 00:43:08.199
 Amen.

00:43:08.199 --> 00:43:08.239
 Amen.

00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:08.280
 Amen.